Perspective

First reality check: I got a new flatmate yesterday, Peng Yuan, who left her 7 month old baby back home with her mother-in-law for the month she's here. Now, I love you all but you all were easy to leave behind comparatively. Rachel and I looked at each other and were like "I guess this was an easy move for the both of us!" I guess she started her program here, then got pregnant...so instead of staying she went home to have the baby and is now going to travel back and forth while doing her PhD...crazy! But I guess quitting/delaying grad school due to getting pregnant or wanting to get pregnant is not uncommon. The Minnesotan I meet last week fell in love here, got married and had a baby so she quit her PhD program and is doing a MS program part-time instead. Robert even mentioned that I can't do that...I assured him I wouldn't...there's much debate about whether having a baby during grad school or while you're trying to gain tenure is easier...I don't think it makes much difference...not that that situation is going to happen any time soon!

Second reality check: How lucky I am to be doing what I love! So last night I was playing cards and drinking with the flatmates and a mate of Robynne's - finally I've learned how to play poker! Robynne and her friend are both in medical programs with about a year left and are not completely happy with it but totally feel stuck after all their effort in their education...yikes! I'm told that in England you have to make the decision to pursue medicine at 16 or 17 years old. Hell, I was about 23 before I even knew I wanted a biology-based career and still didn't know exactly what type of career I wanted. Well, hopefully she goes after the psychology aspect of it that she does like...

So I've come to the conclusion that my life is pretty frickin' grand right now! Not that I don't know this but it's good to be reminded!