So grad school is a silly place, especially if your program is only 10 months, which mine is. I got here in July and graduate in May, crazy right!? Right. It's the most whirlwind (hhwhhirlhhwhhind, that's a fun one!) experience ever to live in New York for a year ish and be doing grad school simultaneously. Let's think back to our senior year in college (or if you have not been there yet, just go with me on this) when people are constantly asking you your favorite question ever!!!! "So what are your plans for next year?" Yes that question. You know the real fun of grad school? I get to have that question not just once, but TWICE! I was asked that all year last year, and wait, this year too! Yay me! But unlike last year when I was unsure of my choice to go to grad school (which I now realize was 100% the right thing for me this year! Phew!) and unsure of what I really wanted to do with social work, I actually think that question is more fun. What???? Yes! It's true! I LOVE being asked what I'm doing next year, because I love my plans for next year and the future in general! But wait, there's more!
So now you are just like on the edge of your seat, DYING to find out what is this crazy girl doing next year? Yes well, I will tell you because I really care about your feelings and want you to be kept in the loop at all times. After much consideration on where I want to live, where I want to work, etc. I have decided to move to San Francisco, California! Digest, feel free...let your anger out if you are mad I'm not moving back to the Emerald City (tear I know, I'm really sad about it too), let your excitement out if you are pumped I'm moving closer to where you live!
....
Okay are you settled now? So why San Francisco you might be wondering? Well as some of you know I have been dating this one guy, his name is Eric, for quite some time now (3+ years, WOAH I KNOW!) and we have decided to make the decision together, cheesy right? But we are tired of commuting to see each other whether that be a 45 minute bus ride from the U District to Capitol Hill or the 6 hour plane ride from Seattle to New York I think it's about time we, gulp, move in together in the same city!! Yay love! So after brainstorming places to live the top two were San Francisco and Seattle of course. After realizing that I might not be ready to move back to my favorite city ever and that I will be ready to get out of the cement jungle of New York city where tourists outnumber actual New Yorkers (this is an issue people and yes I count myself as a New Yorker because let's be real, I have plenty of sass to be a New Yorker) we decided that San Francisco is a great happy medium! Not only that, but my genius boyfriend got an amazing job offer from his dream job, Google or as we lovingly refer to it, Googs!
I wanted to be back on the West Coast because this 3 hour time difference is getting redick and I wanted to be near and dear to my family and friends because being this far away from everyone made me truly understand how important that is to me. So even though I won't be completely back in the city I call home, I do expect you all to follow me there. HAHA, seriously you think I am kidding, but oh no I am not. Now you have plenty of notice and warning, it's December after all, so start job hunting and I'll see you in there in let's say...August 2013? Great! But seriously. I'm still not kidding...
So anyway, long story short. I am graduating in May (yay!) I will be going on a trip I fondly refer to as, the South American Sweep, that's right I am going to South America for 6-8 weeks (TBD) to celebrate being done with 5 years of school and being able to be called Master Mandi (Master Thomas? You can decide, I will answer to either...hahaha just kidding, but really you can if you feel inclined...I'll allow it). And then I will be packing my things and moving back to the West Coast, Best Coast! Don't worry I have even started looking for the perfect Mandi/Eric apartment! It's all quite exciting. It's going to be the second biggest move ever (because let's be real nothing will really ever top my move to the big apple), and I am going to pursue a career in social work hopefully at a hospital, but if not working at a clinic or nonprofit in the city. I'll keep my options open, but my dreams big!
In other news, finals are killing me. Death by paper is how I will go. I have 5, 10 page papers, literally...due in the next week and then I am home free! Wish me luck and start your plans moving to California!
Happy Christmakuh friends! I am so thrilled it's the best time of the year. And nothing is more special than getting to see New York in the Christmas time, I feel so lucky to be in such a magical place at such a magical time of year!
In love and California, Seattle, and New York City,
Mandihattan
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thankful
Winter is rolling in here in the big apple with wind chills that make your nose red, your ears burn, and your hands too cold to pull out of you pockets. Yes, it sure is almost December. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, I hope you all had a lovely holiday! I sure did. Here are some highlights and things I am thankful for this year.
Alex came to New York to visit me and we had the absolute best time romping around the city. We walked through central park as the last of the leaves were falling off the trees, the ice skating rink is in full swing, and all of the petty cabs have blanket-covered passengers. We shopped in SoHo on the infamous black Friday finding that the later the day got, the more people were in the stores. I think the best thing I bought were super discounted gladiator sandals. Gladiator sandals you ask? Yes, gladiator sandals, a winter essential. Not actually, obviously I am not that crazy! Or am I? But no, I am not. They were just INSANELY discounted so obviously I will save them and longingly dream of warm weather and my Christmas vacation in southern California where they will surely be accompanying me. We found a fantastic falafel place with arguably the best falafel in the city. We explored the high line and all Chelsea had to offer while the high line was the most deserted I have seen it since it was about 40 degrees outside. We also kicked ass at cooking our first Thanksgiving feast, and we did not leave anything out! Oh well, except the turkey, but hey I'm a vegetarian! Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberries, stuffing, it was all there and it was delicious. Lastly, and most importantly, we went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. HOLY COW what a dream that was! I could not believe we were there, watching this infamous parade live from the streets of New York. It was pretty unforgettable.
I am so thankful this year for my amazing friends that have kept in such great contact with me as I embark on this journey 3,000 miles away from home. I feel so thankful to be surrounded by such amazing people doing such incredible things, whether it's in grad school, a year in service, or the real world big kid job. I am thankful for my family for supporting me on my journey to New York and being patient as I figure out the time difference with phone calls and skype dates. I am thankful for my apartment and that I had a roof over my head during Sandy and the upcoming freezing winter, that I have heat and power. I am thankful for my education and the opportunity to study at the same school as so many great leaders in history. I am just so thankful in general to be where I am today. I would not be here at all without YOU, yes YOU and so I thank you for that and I thank you for checking in on my blog and seeing what I am up to. I hope that we can skype, text, facetime, email, phone chat, snail mail soon, unless I don't know you in which case it's kind of weird/cool that you are reading my blog!
On that note, I am up to a little bit of field practicum madness. I have been dropped from my practicum at Bellevue because they will not be reopening their doors until February or March. Wow, right? You are shocked right now I am sure. Well don't worry, so was I, but I am much calmer than I was upon first finding out. And for those of you who really know me and know about my practicum mishaps last year than you know that I HAVE to get the best job ever next year right? Because I have put up with all of this craziness?! I sure hope so. In the meantime I am finally moving forward. After weeks, literally WEEKS of frustration they are finally placing me at a new hospital. Tomorrow I go speak with a possible new supervisor who is a social worker at the ER of Bronx Lebanon Hospital. This is great news actually because although it isn't Bellevue, it is in the ER, which is where I really want to be and it is only a 30 minute commute versus an hour! What a bonus!
I will keep you updated on the status of my practicum, here's hoping I love my supervisor tomorrow and can start on Wednesday. In the meantime, wish me loads of luck as I have 6 papers to write in the next 3 weeks until the holiday break and who knows how I can possibly get that all done PLUS do everything Christmas-y in New York possible! I think my priorities are with Christmas I will not lie to you...
Until next time,
-Mandihattan
Alex came to New York to visit me and we had the absolute best time romping around the city. We walked through central park as the last of the leaves were falling off the trees, the ice skating rink is in full swing, and all of the petty cabs have blanket-covered passengers. We shopped in SoHo on the infamous black Friday finding that the later the day got, the more people were in the stores. I think the best thing I bought were super discounted gladiator sandals. Gladiator sandals you ask? Yes, gladiator sandals, a winter essential. Not actually, obviously I am not that crazy! Or am I? But no, I am not. They were just INSANELY discounted so obviously I will save them and longingly dream of warm weather and my Christmas vacation in southern California where they will surely be accompanying me. We found a fantastic falafel place with arguably the best falafel in the city. We explored the high line and all Chelsea had to offer while the high line was the most deserted I have seen it since it was about 40 degrees outside. We also kicked ass at cooking our first Thanksgiving feast, and we did not leave anything out! Oh well, except the turkey, but hey I'm a vegetarian! Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, cranberries, stuffing, it was all there and it was delicious. Lastly, and most importantly, we went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. HOLY COW what a dream that was! I could not believe we were there, watching this infamous parade live from the streets of New York. It was pretty unforgettable.
I am so thankful this year for my amazing friends that have kept in such great contact with me as I embark on this journey 3,000 miles away from home. I feel so thankful to be surrounded by such amazing people doing such incredible things, whether it's in grad school, a year in service, or the real world big kid job. I am thankful for my family for supporting me on my journey to New York and being patient as I figure out the time difference with phone calls and skype dates. I am thankful for my apartment and that I had a roof over my head during Sandy and the upcoming freezing winter, that I have heat and power. I am thankful for my education and the opportunity to study at the same school as so many great leaders in history. I am just so thankful in general to be where I am today. I would not be here at all without YOU, yes YOU and so I thank you for that and I thank you for checking in on my blog and seeing what I am up to. I hope that we can skype, text, facetime, email, phone chat, snail mail soon, unless I don't know you in which case it's kind of weird/cool that you are reading my blog!
On that note, I am up to a little bit of field practicum madness. I have been dropped from my practicum at Bellevue because they will not be reopening their doors until February or March. Wow, right? You are shocked right now I am sure. Well don't worry, so was I, but I am much calmer than I was upon first finding out. And for those of you who really know me and know about my practicum mishaps last year than you know that I HAVE to get the best job ever next year right? Because I have put up with all of this craziness?! I sure hope so. In the meantime I am finally moving forward. After weeks, literally WEEKS of frustration they are finally placing me at a new hospital. Tomorrow I go speak with a possible new supervisor who is a social worker at the ER of Bronx Lebanon Hospital. This is great news actually because although it isn't Bellevue, it is in the ER, which is where I really want to be and it is only a 30 minute commute versus an hour! What a bonus!
I will keep you updated on the status of my practicum, here's hoping I love my supervisor tomorrow and can start on Wednesday. In the meantime, wish me loads of luck as I have 6 papers to write in the next 3 weeks until the holiday break and who knows how I can possibly get that all done PLUS do everything Christmas-y in New York possible! I think my priorities are with Christmas I will not lie to you...
Until next time,
-Mandihattan
Sunday, November 4, 2012
How to: Survive a hurricane
I feel like it's important to update my blog post Sandy, and I feel like I really left you hanging since you might think I am floating down the East River by now. My grandma, who also happens to be named Sandy, is my biggest fan and lover of my blog and so I dedicate this blog to her and Bops.
So I am alive! I made it through my first hurricane disaster, or as they began referring to her at the end as, a tropical cyclone or something like that. To me a cyclone sounds much more terrifying than a hurricane, but maybe that's just me. Apparently Sandy was not warm enough at her core, what a cold-hearted bitch. Excuse my language, but I think it's safe to say that Sandy really is quite the beeze. She destroyed homes, lives, power, subways, etc. She really left no prisoners. But anyway, I made it safely in the Upper Upper West Side, yes that's what I lovingly refer to my home neighborhood as because let's face it no one knows where Morningside Heights is and let's just call a spade a spade, I live in Harlem. Anyway, here's a list of weird things that happened before, after, or during the hurricane that are something to write home about, or something to blog about in this case.
1. Insane amounts of power outages in the most populated city in the country.
2. Subway tunnels are literally (still) filled from track to ceiling with water. Talk about flooding, yeesh.
3. People at home on the west coast knew more about the storm than I did without a television. I also am pretty sure the news scared more people than helped anyone as per usual. Way to go news.
4. I mean I knew about the storm because I looked outside my window, but as far as what was happening besides outside my window, I was at a loss.
5. Hurricanes destroy any and all trees, just snap them right in half.
6. People are a lot nicer in the big apple post-Sandy. It became a friendly time.
7. Trader Joe's had lines literally, LITERALLY wrapped around the building pre-Sandy. People were stocking up for centuries, but seriously then tell me why they were sold out of pumpkin puree? Was everyone making a quickie pumpkin pie before the hurricane? New York is filled with a bunch of pumpkin maniacs! Also, I really just needed wine. There should have been a separate wine line. A wine line. La la la that rhymes and is fun to say hence the repetition. The line for the wine, okay I'm done now.
8. Bellevue Hospital (also known as my field practicum) is a biohazard as of now. It lost power, doctors and nurses were carrying patients down hundreds of flights of stairs to ambulances to other hospitals. Bellevue is currently closed and has millions of gallons of water in their basement after backup generators failed during the storm. MILLIONS. Bellevue does not have running water and toilets overflowed. TBD when I return to practicum. Srsly. This is not a drill, this is my luck with field practicums. BOO SANDY.
So I survived and you can too next time a hurricane rolls through your town, which I sincerely hope it doesn't for your sake and your house's sake, and your public transportation's sake. And now, a quote from my favorite mayor in the whole universe, Mayor Bloomberg.
“Our climate is changing...And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it may be — given the devastation it is wreaking — should be enough to compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.” -Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of NYC
I think that he is a pretty amazing mayor seeing as he is an Independent and has been mayor for 10 whole years, WOAH 10 years! And he is basically just nailing life as a mayor. Let's also give credit to Governor Christie who also kicked ass fighting Sandy. Way to go leaders of the East, way to keep us safe!
In other news, I literally do not know when I will be returning to work at Bellevue, they say maybe 2-4 weeks, so we shall see. I will keep you updated. In the meantime, stay safe out there friends! Apparently we're in for another storm this weekend, oh boy! But on the bright side, one of my favorite people is coming to visit this weekend, Beth! Yay Beth! So I get to have some Seattle time in the big apple with the lovely Beth! A blog post about our adventures to come.
Oh also, I do not have school this week because of Election Day. So guess who's going to be glued to her computer all day Tuesday? This girl. Here's hoping that Jay Inslee wins, gay marriage is approved, marijuana is legalized, charter schools go to hell, the seawall gets built, and oh yeah, Obama gets another 4 years. Awkward, now you know what I voted for! But this is my blog and I'll do what I want to and shoot I will cry if I want to depending on the results of Tuesday.
All is fair in love and elections,
-Mandihattan
So I am alive! I made it through my first hurricane disaster, or as they began referring to her at the end as, a tropical cyclone or something like that. To me a cyclone sounds much more terrifying than a hurricane, but maybe that's just me. Apparently Sandy was not warm enough at her core, what a cold-hearted bitch. Excuse my language, but I think it's safe to say that Sandy really is quite the beeze. She destroyed homes, lives, power, subways, etc. She really left no prisoners. But anyway, I made it safely in the Upper Upper West Side, yes that's what I lovingly refer to my home neighborhood as because let's face it no one knows where Morningside Heights is and let's just call a spade a spade, I live in Harlem. Anyway, here's a list of weird things that happened before, after, or during the hurricane that are something to write home about, or something to blog about in this case.
1. Insane amounts of power outages in the most populated city in the country.
2. Subway tunnels are literally (still) filled from track to ceiling with water. Talk about flooding, yeesh.
3. People at home on the west coast knew more about the storm than I did without a television. I also am pretty sure the news scared more people than helped anyone as per usual. Way to go news.
4. I mean I knew about the storm because I looked outside my window, but as far as what was happening besides outside my window, I was at a loss.
5. Hurricanes destroy any and all trees, just snap them right in half.
6. People are a lot nicer in the big apple post-Sandy. It became a friendly time.
7. Trader Joe's had lines literally, LITERALLY wrapped around the building pre-Sandy. People were stocking up for centuries, but seriously then tell me why they were sold out of pumpkin puree? Was everyone making a quickie pumpkin pie before the hurricane? New York is filled with a bunch of pumpkin maniacs! Also, I really just needed wine. There should have been a separate wine line. A wine line. La la la that rhymes and is fun to say hence the repetition. The line for the wine, okay I'm done now.
8. Bellevue Hospital (also known as my field practicum) is a biohazard as of now. It lost power, doctors and nurses were carrying patients down hundreds of flights of stairs to ambulances to other hospitals. Bellevue is currently closed and has millions of gallons of water in their basement after backup generators failed during the storm. MILLIONS. Bellevue does not have running water and toilets overflowed. TBD when I return to practicum. Srsly. This is not a drill, this is my luck with field practicums. BOO SANDY.
So I survived and you can too next time a hurricane rolls through your town, which I sincerely hope it doesn't for your sake and your house's sake, and your public transportation's sake. And now, a quote from my favorite mayor in the whole universe, Mayor Bloomberg.
“Our climate is changing...And while the increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it may be — given the devastation it is wreaking — should be enough to compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.” -Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of NYC
I think that he is a pretty amazing mayor seeing as he is an Independent and has been mayor for 10 whole years, WOAH 10 years! And he is basically just nailing life as a mayor. Let's also give credit to Governor Christie who also kicked ass fighting Sandy. Way to go leaders of the East, way to keep us safe!
In other news, I literally do not know when I will be returning to work at Bellevue, they say maybe 2-4 weeks, so we shall see. I will keep you updated. In the meantime, stay safe out there friends! Apparently we're in for another storm this weekend, oh boy! But on the bright side, one of my favorite people is coming to visit this weekend, Beth! Yay Beth! So I get to have some Seattle time in the big apple with the lovely Beth! A blog post about our adventures to come.
Oh also, I do not have school this week because of Election Day. So guess who's going to be glued to her computer all day Tuesday? This girl. Here's hoping that Jay Inslee wins, gay marriage is approved, marijuana is legalized, charter schools go to hell, the seawall gets built, and oh yeah, Obama gets another 4 years. Awkward, now you know what I voted for! But this is my blog and I'll do what I want to and shoot I will cry if I want to depending on the results of Tuesday.
All is fair in love and elections,
-Mandihattan
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Wine and Sandy
As the impending hurricane is about to hit New York I figured what should I do right now?! Set up candles? No. Make sure my flashlights are charged? No! Charge everything? NO! Update my blog?! YES! So here I am, you are so welcome for taking your entertainment into consideration instead of my safety.
So here's the thing. I went to Napa Valley last weekend and had literally one of the best weekends in the history of my 22 years of life. Mitch (my oldest cousin) got married the lovely Jill at a culinary institute in St. Helena, Napa Valley. I got there on Friday, meeting Alex and Eric right at my gate! My flight was delayed even so these two were troopers awaiting me with open arms. And after we had all flown miles to meet at the wedding we were ready for some In N Out! Trust me, In N Out is still delicious for us vegetarians...there is something called a grilled cheese plus amazing french fries and a Neapolitan shake obviously. Then we all went back to the hotel and passed out. Thrilling Friday night for the Thomas' huh? Saturday was the big day so naturally it was only smart to go wine tasting in the morning, 10am and Cathy, Greg, Alex, Eric, and I all roll up to Mumm Napa, a sparkling wine vineyard! Om nom nom indeed. The drinking began. Mumm Napa was by far my favorite, which was not a surprise to me since mimosas have always been one of my favorite treats, but this champagne did not need any OJ that is for sure!
On to the wedding. The wedding was gorgeous, amazing, and the most fun wedding I have ever been to! It was nonstop fun, dancing, drinking, and eating. I definitely cried during the beautiful ceremony that fit my cousin and his new wife so well. It was sweet and silly all at the same time. We laughed, we cried, you know the deal. Then we took some pictures ate some appetizers, drank some drinks and then migrated upstairs where the real fun began! We celebrated all night, dancing, eating, drinking and I am just so happy for the new Thomas family member! What a blast. Congratulations to one of my favorite couples :)
Sunday we went to three more vineyards and tasted tons more wine. It was really fun to finally figure out what kind of wine I actually like besides $2 buck chuck haha. I am such a classy wine connoisseur now watch out world! Just kidding though, kind of.
After the best weekend ever I have had a rough week getting back into the swing of things, but when in New York I must make the best of things as I always do! Plus now we have a hurricane named Sandy rolling through to spice things up! This is my first ever Hurricane. It's weird because I definitely know what to do when an Earthquake happens, but what the hell does one do when a hurricane happens? Thank God for Google and the internet sheesh. I naturally, google'd "what to do in a hurricane" and now am feeling quite prepared. I dug out my headlamp, all of my delicious Anthropologie candles (what a candle snob I know, but shoot you are just jealous your house doesn't smell as amazing as my apartment will), stocked up on food, drinks, and water and am charging all electronics should we experience a power outage. I also scrounged up my Taboo, Catch Phrase, and Phase 10 should a game night be in order! Which I mean, it definitely will be because games are just fun! So I am ready for you Hurricane Sandy, Frankenstorm as they are calling it.
Wish me luck friends and family! I will updated again soon as long as I make it through the storm! Haha just kidding sort of.
In love and hurricanes,
-Mandihattan
So here's the thing. I went to Napa Valley last weekend and had literally one of the best weekends in the history of my 22 years of life. Mitch (my oldest cousin) got married the lovely Jill at a culinary institute in St. Helena, Napa Valley. I got there on Friday, meeting Alex and Eric right at my gate! My flight was delayed even so these two were troopers awaiting me with open arms. And after we had all flown miles to meet at the wedding we were ready for some In N Out! Trust me, In N Out is still delicious for us vegetarians...there is something called a grilled cheese plus amazing french fries and a Neapolitan shake obviously. Then we all went back to the hotel and passed out. Thrilling Friday night for the Thomas' huh? Saturday was the big day so naturally it was only smart to go wine tasting in the morning, 10am and Cathy, Greg, Alex, Eric, and I all roll up to Mumm Napa, a sparkling wine vineyard! Om nom nom indeed. The drinking began. Mumm Napa was by far my favorite, which was not a surprise to me since mimosas have always been one of my favorite treats, but this champagne did not need any OJ that is for sure!
On to the wedding. The wedding was gorgeous, amazing, and the most fun wedding I have ever been to! It was nonstop fun, dancing, drinking, and eating. I definitely cried during the beautiful ceremony that fit my cousin and his new wife so well. It was sweet and silly all at the same time. We laughed, we cried, you know the deal. Then we took some pictures ate some appetizers, drank some drinks and then migrated upstairs where the real fun began! We celebrated all night, dancing, eating, drinking and I am just so happy for the new Thomas family member! What a blast. Congratulations to one of my favorite couples :)
Sunday we went to three more vineyards and tasted tons more wine. It was really fun to finally figure out what kind of wine I actually like besides $2 buck chuck haha. I am such a classy wine connoisseur now watch out world! Just kidding though, kind of.
After the best weekend ever I have had a rough week getting back into the swing of things, but when in New York I must make the best of things as I always do! Plus now we have a hurricane named Sandy rolling through to spice things up! This is my first ever Hurricane. It's weird because I definitely know what to do when an Earthquake happens, but what the hell does one do when a hurricane happens? Thank God for Google and the internet sheesh. I naturally, google'd "what to do in a hurricane" and now am feeling quite prepared. I dug out my headlamp, all of my delicious Anthropologie candles (what a candle snob I know, but shoot you are just jealous your house doesn't smell as amazing as my apartment will), stocked up on food, drinks, and water and am charging all electronics should we experience a power outage. I also scrounged up my Taboo, Catch Phrase, and Phase 10 should a game night be in order! Which I mean, it definitely will be because games are just fun! So I am ready for you Hurricane Sandy, Frankenstorm as they are calling it.
Wish me luck friends and family! I will updated again soon as long as I make it through the storm! Haha just kidding sort of.
In love and hurricanes,
-Mandihattan
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Health Care
Hello dedicated blog reader, or newcomer. I'll pretend I'm not offended that it took you three months to start reading my blog, I'm just glad you finally made it! Today is quite a heavy topic to start on though so feel free to read a different one first and then come back to this one when the time is right...haha just kidding, but seriously...health care.
I'll start with a disclaimer. I am a social worker. I am 22 years old and I am a woman. Since this is my blog I will do what I want and if you are here reading this, you must kind of like me at least a little so I do not wish to break up with you and I wish that you still like me after this post. If you disagree with my political post than you should stop reading here, because once again, I am a social worker, I am 22 years old and I am a woman. Now, not all social worker women that are in college are liberal, but let's be honest here...I'd venture to say it's the majority. Knowing that, tread lightly on the rest of the blog because it's about time I got political on here. Come on, just this once okay?
Health care. It's my number one passion right now. Health care is a right. I basically eat, sleep, breathe, and dream health care. I watch all the documentaries I can get my hands on that relate to health care, read books on health care, and oh wait I'm in a class all about health care policy. So look at that, big surprise that I want to talk about it right? Let's talk about the Affordable Care Act. Let's just go there for a moment. Come with me to the land of Obamacare and what it all means.
I'll explain it short and sweet because I think that health care is so large and in charge that it's difficult to wrap your brain around. And if you are a privileged one like me, you have had health insurance your whole life and have probably hardly thought once about how lucky that makes you.
The ACA has 6 main components to it. Feel free to skip ahead if you already know this.
1. Guaranteed issue: You cannot be turned away for a preexisting condition.
2. Individual mandate: Everyone is mandated to get health care or else will pay a fine. This aspect is particularly important because without the mandate we risk "free-riders" who will not get insurance until they get sick. Driving up the cost of health insurance and insurers would NEVER agree to guaranteed issue, lifetime caps, and annual limits if we did not have the mandate.
3. Employer mandate: Employers are given incentives to provide ESI (employer-sponsored insurance) to their employees as well as health care subsidies if they have 25 or less employees in their company.
4. Medicaid expansion: THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Medicaid currently, is categorical and means-tested. This means that everyone below 100% of the Federal Poverty Line will receive Medicaid as long as they stay below this line. With Medicaid expansion everyone below the 133% of the FPL will receive Medicaid. Can you imagine for a moment what it would be like to be that poor? It would be devastating. What would really be glorious is Medicaid expansion to below 250% of the FPL, but really...baby steps people, baby steps. With the supreme court ruling in 2012, states get the right to choose if they wish to expand or not. This is a PROBLEM. Many states think that it will cost them more money to expand, when in reality the benefits of expanding far exceed the cost.
5. Health insurance exchanges: People will have numerous choices of insurance coverage options through the exchanges and there will be a minimum standard that all of the insurance plans must meet. From there, people have the right to choose what will fit their lives the best. Either the states will set these up or the federal government will for them.
6. Community rating: Premiums based on the community you live, not your career. This helps the poor who tend to have higher-risk positions and get hit the hardest with high premiums. It will be based on your geographic location, your literal community.
Now that we have reviewed the 6 main components of the ACA don't you feel so much better? Now let's talk about this. Sure, it's not a perfect plan, but can we agree that it's a step in the right direction? Take Massachusetts for example. They essentially have the ACA in place right as we speak and I have a few very dear friends who have had only the best experiences with health care in Massachusetts.
It is an issue that politicians want to overturn the ACA and for that matter that politicians do not wish to expand Medicaid. It literally sickens me to think about the 45,000 people who die every year from lack of health care. I am not saying who to vote for, but don't turn a blind uneducated eye to the damage that this election can cause on real lives. Read about it, watch the documentary: Escape Fire (it's amazing bee-tee-dubs), read the book Health Care Reform (it's a comic book people, about health care! GENIUS I TELL YOU!). Learn what you are really voting for. And then vote for whomever you damn well please.
Working at Bellevue has taught me a lot and one of those things is about health care. LITERALLY, every day my patients ask me how they will pay the hospital bill. Thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt people go to save their own lives and their loved ones. Health care is not getting any cheaper. In fact, if the price of bread has been increasing at the same rate as health care we would be paying at least $30 for a loaf. $30 for a loaf of bread. How would we eat toast!?
Alright. Let's all take a deep breath. We made it, we made it through Mandi's political rant. Phew! Congratulations, very few people are usually in on these rants. Mostly my boyfriend and closest friends who are also fans of ranting about health care get the honor and privilege of hearing these rants. Now take a moment, and stop hating me for being such a "crazy liberal" and move on with your life. You already knew this about me.
Here are some silly things that have happened to me this week to lighten the mood:
1. I got semi-accosted by a man who wanted money from me after working at Bellevue one day. He came right up to me and started hitting me with his baseball cap right in a large throng of people waiting for the light to change. It was the strangest experience. Needless to say, he did not get money from me. I mean would it have killed him to at least ask nicely?
2. I watched the debate. I mean silly is the understatement of the century. 2 little boys fighting. It was so mature.
3. I went to Target and spent probably $20 on Halloween candy and Dove chocolate. Judge me I dare you! You're just jealous because Amelia and I ate all of the Twix because we realized we really really like Twix! Is that even how you spell Twix? I wouldn't know since they are all gone...
4. Derek Jeter injured himself therefore bringing the demise to the New York Yankees. <Insert evil laugh here>. Just because I moved to the big apple does NOT mean I would sell out to the worst team in baseball. Oh shoot, are sports teams more dangerous to talk about than politics?
5. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin martinis, and pumpkin doughnuts, all in the same week. It's not an addiction, but it might be pumpkin abuse. To be determined by the end of the fall season.
Alright ladies and gentlemen. We made it! How are you feeling? Feelings check! Good? Me too. It's far past my bedtime now as I have to wake up quite early to begin the commute of another day. In other news, I will be on the best coast this weekend to see my oldest cousin Mitch get married to his 7 year girlfriend, the lovely Jill. I am beyond excited to spend the weekend with the Thomas family drinking lots of wine in Napa Valley and dancing the evenings away, not to mention there is a swimming pool at the timeshare we are staying at! Weeee who doesn't love a great wedding!? See you all on the other side! I promise a less intense, lots of drinking stories, post next week.
I love you...you still love me right? :)
-Mandihattan
I'll start with a disclaimer. I am a social worker. I am 22 years old and I am a woman. Since this is my blog I will do what I want and if you are here reading this, you must kind of like me at least a little so I do not wish to break up with you and I wish that you still like me after this post. If you disagree with my political post than you should stop reading here, because once again, I am a social worker, I am 22 years old and I am a woman. Now, not all social worker women that are in college are liberal, but let's be honest here...I'd venture to say it's the majority. Knowing that, tread lightly on the rest of the blog because it's about time I got political on here. Come on, just this once okay?
Health care. It's my number one passion right now. Health care is a right. I basically eat, sleep, breathe, and dream health care. I watch all the documentaries I can get my hands on that relate to health care, read books on health care, and oh wait I'm in a class all about health care policy. So look at that, big surprise that I want to talk about it right? Let's talk about the Affordable Care Act. Let's just go there for a moment. Come with me to the land of Obamacare and what it all means.
I'll explain it short and sweet because I think that health care is so large and in charge that it's difficult to wrap your brain around. And if you are a privileged one like me, you have had health insurance your whole life and have probably hardly thought once about how lucky that makes you.
The ACA has 6 main components to it. Feel free to skip ahead if you already know this.
1. Guaranteed issue: You cannot be turned away for a preexisting condition.
2. Individual mandate: Everyone is mandated to get health care or else will pay a fine. This aspect is particularly important because without the mandate we risk "free-riders" who will not get insurance until they get sick. Driving up the cost of health insurance and insurers would NEVER agree to guaranteed issue, lifetime caps, and annual limits if we did not have the mandate.
3. Employer mandate: Employers are given incentives to provide ESI (employer-sponsored insurance) to their employees as well as health care subsidies if they have 25 or less employees in their company.
4. Medicaid expansion: THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Medicaid currently, is categorical and means-tested. This means that everyone below 100% of the Federal Poverty Line will receive Medicaid as long as they stay below this line. With Medicaid expansion everyone below the 133% of the FPL will receive Medicaid. Can you imagine for a moment what it would be like to be that poor? It would be devastating. What would really be glorious is Medicaid expansion to below 250% of the FPL, but really...baby steps people, baby steps. With the supreme court ruling in 2012, states get the right to choose if they wish to expand or not. This is a PROBLEM. Many states think that it will cost them more money to expand, when in reality the benefits of expanding far exceed the cost.
5. Health insurance exchanges: People will have numerous choices of insurance coverage options through the exchanges and there will be a minimum standard that all of the insurance plans must meet. From there, people have the right to choose what will fit their lives the best. Either the states will set these up or the federal government will for them.
6. Community rating: Premiums based on the community you live, not your career. This helps the poor who tend to have higher-risk positions and get hit the hardest with high premiums. It will be based on your geographic location, your literal community.
Now that we have reviewed the 6 main components of the ACA don't you feel so much better? Now let's talk about this. Sure, it's not a perfect plan, but can we agree that it's a step in the right direction? Take Massachusetts for example. They essentially have the ACA in place right as we speak and I have a few very dear friends who have had only the best experiences with health care in Massachusetts.
It is an issue that politicians want to overturn the ACA and for that matter that politicians do not wish to expand Medicaid. It literally sickens me to think about the 45,000 people who die every year from lack of health care. I am not saying who to vote for, but don't turn a blind uneducated eye to the damage that this election can cause on real lives. Read about it, watch the documentary: Escape Fire (it's amazing bee-tee-dubs), read the book Health Care Reform (it's a comic book people, about health care! GENIUS I TELL YOU!). Learn what you are really voting for. And then vote for whomever you damn well please.
Working at Bellevue has taught me a lot and one of those things is about health care. LITERALLY, every day my patients ask me how they will pay the hospital bill. Thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt people go to save their own lives and their loved ones. Health care is not getting any cheaper. In fact, if the price of bread has been increasing at the same rate as health care we would be paying at least $30 for a loaf. $30 for a loaf of bread. How would we eat toast!?
Alright. Let's all take a deep breath. We made it, we made it through Mandi's political rant. Phew! Congratulations, very few people are usually in on these rants. Mostly my boyfriend and closest friends who are also fans of ranting about health care get the honor and privilege of hearing these rants. Now take a moment, and stop hating me for being such a "crazy liberal" and move on with your life. You already knew this about me.
Here are some silly things that have happened to me this week to lighten the mood:
1. I got semi-accosted by a man who wanted money from me after working at Bellevue one day. He came right up to me and started hitting me with his baseball cap right in a large throng of people waiting for the light to change. It was the strangest experience. Needless to say, he did not get money from me. I mean would it have killed him to at least ask nicely?
2. I watched the debate. I mean silly is the understatement of the century. 2 little boys fighting. It was so mature.
3. I went to Target and spent probably $20 on Halloween candy and Dove chocolate. Judge me I dare you! You're just jealous because Amelia and I ate all of the Twix because we realized we really really like Twix! Is that even how you spell Twix? I wouldn't know since they are all gone...
4. Derek Jeter injured himself therefore bringing the demise to the New York Yankees. <Insert evil laugh here>. Just because I moved to the big apple does NOT mean I would sell out to the worst team in baseball. Oh shoot, are sports teams more dangerous to talk about than politics?
5. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin martinis, and pumpkin doughnuts, all in the same week. It's not an addiction, but it might be pumpkin abuse. To be determined by the end of the fall season.
Alright ladies and gentlemen. We made it! How are you feeling? Feelings check! Good? Me too. It's far past my bedtime now as I have to wake up quite early to begin the commute of another day. In other news, I will be on the best coast this weekend to see my oldest cousin Mitch get married to his 7 year girlfriend, the lovely Jill. I am beyond excited to spend the weekend with the Thomas family drinking lots of wine in Napa Valley and dancing the evenings away, not to mention there is a swimming pool at the timeshare we are staying at! Weeee who doesn't love a great wedding!? See you all on the other side! I promise a less intense, lots of drinking stories, post next week.
I love you...you still love me right? :)
-Mandihattan
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Bellevue
Disclaimer: I really took this blogpost seriously and went a little overboard on the information so it's quite long. I apologize in advance, carry on if you wish and have the time and the energy. I will try to make it worth your while.
So in case you didn't know there are two Bellevues. Well actually there are probably way more than two, but let's not get too technical here. There is a Bellevue in Washington, across the water from Seattle where the lovely Eric Spishak is from and there is a Bellevue Hospital in New York City, which consequently is the oldest public hospital in the United States. Pretty awesome right? That's pretty awesome because I work there. No big deal, but it is a really big deal. For those of you from Seattle, working at Bellevue is probably similar to working at Harborview, only crazier because let's be real here, there are definitely more crazies in New York than in Seattle. It's arguable at least. But enough about crazies because that's not appropriate for me to refer to potential clients as crazy people haha.
So I work at Bellevue Hospital and if you've been keeping up on my blog you know that this was not an easy task. It took 3 whole weeks to get contracts figured out, but on Monday, October 1st, I got to walk through the doors of Bellevue for my first shift and I was...51 minutes early. Being early is part of my charm though, I am a very punctual person who thinks that being 15 minutes early is being on time. It just works for me alright? So because I was worried about being lost I left in plenty of time and got to Bellevue at 8:09. Nailin' it. It also takes me an hour to get there, so it's not an easy commute, there are three subways involved. I take the A-7-6 on the way there and the 6-7-1 on the way home, that is 6 SUBWAYS in ONE DAY! I'm such a good sport. I did get lost the first day I went to get my badge, etc. so in my defense, it was smart to leave early in order to avoid that hot mess from happening again. I gathered myself in the lobby and drank some coffee before finding my way around the 25 story hospital building to the meet and greet. Once there I met my supervisor and got to check out my office.
Let's talk about my office for a hot second. My office is a closet. Imagine a closet, picture it...now picture me sitting at a desk in your closet. This is not Harry Potter okay? This is worse because there is trash on the floor of my office and dust everywhere. Don't worry, I'll clean it. But seriously. The door doesn't even have a window and doesn't stay open so once it closes it's just me in this closet, a box if you will. But on the bright side, I have big decoration plans so I'll keep you posted. Maybe I'll post pictures even, if you're good.
Moving on, at least I have an office right? I mean it's not like I'm an important staff member, I'm an intern you know? So I work on the ICU and the Surgical Unit. My internship will be a rotating one. I will be rotating units and social workers each month. The first month I will be in the Critical Care Cardiac Unit, the CCU, see how we're missing a C? Clearly I am not quite sure of the abrevs and names of units yet, but basically it's where people go if they've had a heart attack, heart failure, etc. People are very sick here, obviously. I work with a social worker named Naomi who serves as my task supervisor. My actual supervisor, supervises all of these other social workers who I hang out with so she's a pretty big deal and really nice. She's also getting married in a month! Big surprise since everyone and their mom is getting married right now. Anyway, so for October I will be in that unit. I start Wednesday. In November I will be with Peggy on the SICU, the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and in December I will be with Stephen on the Surgical Unit. I am thrilled about all of this because Peggy and Stephen are definitely my faves, I'll tell you why now.
I shadowed Peggy on my second day at Bellevue (Wednesday) and she is the best. She is a sassy Jewish lady who has worked at Bellevue for 2 1/2 years so she is super experienced. She is funny because you would think she wouldn't be as sassy as she is from first glance, but then she'll swear and you just laugh because you're just like "oh pegs", you know that kinda thing. Anyway, we went to rounds in the morning where the social workers, charge nurses, management and financial reps, and case managers go and then doctors come in and update us on the patients. The rumors about doctors are half true, they are the cockiest people ever who have huge egos and think they are God, but then some of them are super nice and that's not true at all, but it's just funny how the stereotype is kind of true. Also, most of the male doctors are extremely good looking...I feel like I'm in Grey's Anatomy. I'm just saying, the facts are the facts. Moving on, rounds were just a blur of medical terms that I feel like I should take a class on diagnoses because I just sat there wide eyed wondering what the heck illnesses all of these people have. Later Peggy assured me I would start to understand certain ones so I am really not that worried. Plus I know all of the old people illnesses from last year's practicum experience. After this Peg and I did the rounds we just checked in on her clients and did some discharge planning, made chart notes, harassed a resident doctor for a discharge summary that was due at 11:00am and he got it to us at...4:30 PM. He did not nail it. But apparently that's normal. Hence the annoyance with some doctors. We had all sorts of patients and it was a really great day! I learned so much.
Day two was a little less exciting except for the fact that I got lost in the morning and I did my first psychosocial assessment of a patient all on my own! I got on the wrong train in the morning, got off on a random stop, had to go above ground to get service and re-route my darn trip and then ended up on a bus, but still made it on time! See this is why you give yourself plenty of time to arrive. Being punctual is really a strength of mine if I do say so myself. By the time I got to work I was quite disheveled because this humidity is really lingering and just being in those damn subway tunnels is brutal, but I pulled myself together and checked in with my supervisor. We did rounds again and then she gave me three patients to do psychosocial assessments on. One was a crime victim with stab wounds to his face, which weirdly made me excited to hear his story, but anticlimactic because he was sedated and intubated all day so I never got to do the assessment, lame. But I did do one with a man who mainly spoke Arabic. Now, I do not speak Arabic in case you were impressed thinking I did or something. But alas, we struggled through some of the assessment until he told me he was tired and I was so tired from trying to understand what he was telling me that we mutually gave up. Ultimately a failure, but I'll do better next time haha. It was my first one alright people?!
All in all, I really really like my internship! It's so exciting to learn all about hospitals and everyone's roles and finally be working with clients and see how kick-ass social workers are in hospitals. Seriously, social work is SO COOL. I love it. Everyday I just get so excited and anxious to finally be one! WEEEEE. Okay anyway, sorry this blog is so darn long. I had a lot to tell you! I doubt you made it this far, but if you did you deserve a prize so why not go get yourself a pumpkin spice latte? You earned it! Until next time, I will inform you of other silly things that happen at Bellevue, I am sure there will be plenty!
Over and out,
-Mandihattan
So in case you didn't know there are two Bellevues. Well actually there are probably way more than two, but let's not get too technical here. There is a Bellevue in Washington, across the water from Seattle where the lovely Eric Spishak is from and there is a Bellevue Hospital in New York City, which consequently is the oldest public hospital in the United States. Pretty awesome right? That's pretty awesome because I work there. No big deal, but it is a really big deal. For those of you from Seattle, working at Bellevue is probably similar to working at Harborview, only crazier because let's be real here, there are definitely more crazies in New York than in Seattle. It's arguable at least. But enough about crazies because that's not appropriate for me to refer to potential clients as crazy people haha.
So I work at Bellevue Hospital and if you've been keeping up on my blog you know that this was not an easy task. It took 3 whole weeks to get contracts figured out, but on Monday, October 1st, I got to walk through the doors of Bellevue for my first shift and I was...51 minutes early. Being early is part of my charm though, I am a very punctual person who thinks that being 15 minutes early is being on time. It just works for me alright? So because I was worried about being lost I left in plenty of time and got to Bellevue at 8:09. Nailin' it. It also takes me an hour to get there, so it's not an easy commute, there are three subways involved. I take the A-7-6 on the way there and the 6-7-1 on the way home, that is 6 SUBWAYS in ONE DAY! I'm such a good sport. I did get lost the first day I went to get my badge, etc. so in my defense, it was smart to leave early in order to avoid that hot mess from happening again. I gathered myself in the lobby and drank some coffee before finding my way around the 25 story hospital building to the meet and greet. Once there I met my supervisor and got to check out my office.
Let's talk about my office for a hot second. My office is a closet. Imagine a closet, picture it...now picture me sitting at a desk in your closet. This is not Harry Potter okay? This is worse because there is trash on the floor of my office and dust everywhere. Don't worry, I'll clean it. But seriously. The door doesn't even have a window and doesn't stay open so once it closes it's just me in this closet, a box if you will. But on the bright side, I have big decoration plans so I'll keep you posted. Maybe I'll post pictures even, if you're good.
Moving on, at least I have an office right? I mean it's not like I'm an important staff member, I'm an intern you know? So I work on the ICU and the Surgical Unit. My internship will be a rotating one. I will be rotating units and social workers each month. The first month I will be in the Critical Care Cardiac Unit, the CCU, see how we're missing a C? Clearly I am not quite sure of the abrevs and names of units yet, but basically it's where people go if they've had a heart attack, heart failure, etc. People are very sick here, obviously. I work with a social worker named Naomi who serves as my task supervisor. My actual supervisor, supervises all of these other social workers who I hang out with so she's a pretty big deal and really nice. She's also getting married in a month! Big surprise since everyone and their mom is getting married right now. Anyway, so for October I will be in that unit. I start Wednesday. In November I will be with Peggy on the SICU, the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and in December I will be with Stephen on the Surgical Unit. I am thrilled about all of this because Peggy and Stephen are definitely my faves, I'll tell you why now.
I shadowed Peggy on my second day at Bellevue (Wednesday) and she is the best. She is a sassy Jewish lady who has worked at Bellevue for 2 1/2 years so she is super experienced. She is funny because you would think she wouldn't be as sassy as she is from first glance, but then she'll swear and you just laugh because you're just like "oh pegs", you know that kinda thing. Anyway, we went to rounds in the morning where the social workers, charge nurses, management and financial reps, and case managers go and then doctors come in and update us on the patients. The rumors about doctors are half true, they are the cockiest people ever who have huge egos and think they are God, but then some of them are super nice and that's not true at all, but it's just funny how the stereotype is kind of true. Also, most of the male doctors are extremely good looking...I feel like I'm in Grey's Anatomy. I'm just saying, the facts are the facts. Moving on, rounds were just a blur of medical terms that I feel like I should take a class on diagnoses because I just sat there wide eyed wondering what the heck illnesses all of these people have. Later Peggy assured me I would start to understand certain ones so I am really not that worried. Plus I know all of the old people illnesses from last year's practicum experience. After this Peg and I did the rounds we just checked in on her clients and did some discharge planning, made chart notes, harassed a resident doctor for a discharge summary that was due at 11:00am and he got it to us at...4:30 PM. He did not nail it. But apparently that's normal. Hence the annoyance with some doctors. We had all sorts of patients and it was a really great day! I learned so much.
Day two was a little less exciting except for the fact that I got lost in the morning and I did my first psychosocial assessment of a patient all on my own! I got on the wrong train in the morning, got off on a random stop, had to go above ground to get service and re-route my darn trip and then ended up on a bus, but still made it on time! See this is why you give yourself plenty of time to arrive. Being punctual is really a strength of mine if I do say so myself. By the time I got to work I was quite disheveled because this humidity is really lingering and just being in those damn subway tunnels is brutal, but I pulled myself together and checked in with my supervisor. We did rounds again and then she gave me three patients to do psychosocial assessments on. One was a crime victim with stab wounds to his face, which weirdly made me excited to hear his story, but anticlimactic because he was sedated and intubated all day so I never got to do the assessment, lame. But I did do one with a man who mainly spoke Arabic. Now, I do not speak Arabic in case you were impressed thinking I did or something. But alas, we struggled through some of the assessment until he told me he was tired and I was so tired from trying to understand what he was telling me that we mutually gave up. Ultimately a failure, but I'll do better next time haha. It was my first one alright people?!
All in all, I really really like my internship! It's so exciting to learn all about hospitals and everyone's roles and finally be working with clients and see how kick-ass social workers are in hospitals. Seriously, social work is SO COOL. I love it. Everyday I just get so excited and anxious to finally be one! WEEEEE. Okay anyway, sorry this blog is so darn long. I had a lot to tell you! I doubt you made it this far, but if you did you deserve a prize so why not go get yourself a pumpkin spice latte? You earned it! Until next time, I will inform you of other silly things that happen at Bellevue, I am sure there will be plenty!
Over and out,
-Mandihattan
Monday, September 24, 2012
Autumn
My thoughts for the week:
I can't seem to figure out why New York does not understand the concept of a coffee shop and how I would absolutely ADORE to get my coffee and study in the same location at preferably a big oak table that I can spread out at. Is that too much to ask?
I can't understand why I still have not started my internship at Bellevue Hospital. Word on the street is, I'll be starting Monday. Fingers crossed. And yes, that's next week. So we wait yet another week.
I can't figure out why Broadway shows are so darn expensive. I went to see Wicked this week and I had bought the second cheapest seats and they still broke the bank. I understand there is the "cheaper ticket" booth thing in the middle of Times Square and student rush tickets, but why do Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and the Lion King feel that they are too good for that? Come on people, I want to see The Book of Mormon for under $159, which is their cheapest seat ticket price.
I love pumpkin so much, I would probably eat it in anything. This is why fall is the best season sans Christmas season, but technically that's not an official season so we'll go with fall as the winner. So far I have made pumpkin pancakes. Mmmm I am hungry just thinking about how delicious they were.
Eating pizza at 4:00am is much better than eating pizza at any other time. It's just the facts. If you haven't done it then you should definitely visit me, I'll show you the light.
Health care. Let's talk about it. I will talk to you about it for hours. It is my latest passion, something that I will literally bring up in almost every conversation. If you don't want to talk about it then you should probably avoid me. I've read a whole book on it already, plus half of my textbook for my health care policy class. I can't get enough of it either! I'm going to a Medicaid expansion talk tomorrow during my lunch break. It's nerdy, but I like it and you should too. Let's talk about health care together.
Postcards are my favorite thing ever. I think I am going to start a wall of postcards because I have the best friends in the world who send me the cutest and nicest postcards while I am far far away. It warms my heart and my soul so keep them coming friends. I really don't know how I got this lucky with friends, but I am not going to question it and I am going to send postcards right back to you! Plus I have adorable stamps that have Pixar movies on them. I mean how cute is that!?
Missing Stumptown, Oddfellows, and the Elliott Bay Book Store more than ever,
Mandihattan
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Remember when I went to the wrong class on the first day of school?
I'm going to tell you a little story about my freshmen year at Seattle University. Imagine little freshmen Mandi from California, pinkish-purple Jansport backpack packed and ready to go for her first ever class in college, this was before Mandi knew it was cool to have a Timbuk2 or a hipster bag that makes you look like you ride a bike everywhere you go. Anyway, Mandi went to find her math class in the Bannan building (5th floor I believe it was). Mandi made the huge mistake of entering through the Engineering building, which has a sign that says Bannan (what is with that!?). Mandi was then late to her first ever class in college by 20 minutes because she was waiting outside of a 5th floor class in the Engineering building instead of Bannan, wondering where the rest of class was. This was Mandi 4 years ago.
Let me tell you a little story about my first day of fall semester at Columbia. Backpack packed, ready to go, this time my customized Timbuk2, moving up in the world from Jansport. Had my classes all written down in my Columbia planner and ready to go to room 405. Little did I know that I had written the wrong classroom number down for my very first class. You know that feeling when you think something is wrong or out of place, but are not sure what? Yes, I had that feeling. As I look around the room and realized no advanced standing kids were in my class and there were 7 guys (7 GUYS!?! What is this, an engineering class!? Haha), must have been all of the guys in the whole program, haha just kidding but seriously probably. About halfway through class my professor (who was awesome bee-tee-dubs) calls roll and wants to hear where our field placements were. At this point I just knew, I just knew my name would not be on the roll sheet. And there it was, the question after she called everyone else's name, "is there anyone's name I didn't call?" I was mortified, but think I played it cool saying "oh yeah my schedule's been really screwed up, Mandi Thomas is my name and social work is my game." Well I didn't say that last part, I added that for flair for your reading pleasure. Anyway, after I left I moseyed over to my next class hoping no one would know I was not supposed to be in that class and hoping that my actual professor would forgive me for missing the first day of class. It felt like freshmen year all over again. Needless to say, I found out my class was supposed to be in room 305 (3 & 4, easily messed up right?!) and my professor, I think, forgave me and I will be seeing him this Tuesday. The rest of the day went smoothly though, don't worry, here's the highlights.
Class one: Wrong class, awesome professor, 7 guys.
Class two: Huge class, sat in the group of advanced standing kids, rad professor, but probably a little boring class since it's an evaluation class (so basically research, but like not).
LUNCH: Went to the Kitchenette (which if you come visit, trust me I will take you there, it's amazing) and had a delicious maglicious veggie sandwich and giant garlic potato wedges, om nom nom. Plus recapped my morning to my friends and we all talked about our schedules. Everyone's quite excited.
Class three: Human Sexuality. Hilarious professor who is a sex therapist. In it with my roommate Jill and friend Bethany, met a girl who was wondering why she's never recognized me before until I told her it's because I'm advanced standing therefore made a new friend. Had to make a list of all things sex, our list was extensive and included: orgasm, missionary, making out, well I think you catch my drift and I would like to keep my blog PG...but trust me that our list was not PG and it was probably the most outrageous thing I've ever done in a classroom haha.
Class four: Health Care Policy. I am SO EXCITED about this class. I almost did Policy at Columbia so I cannot wait to learn more about one of the things I am most passionate about. Plus our professor is from Portland, Northwest represent! She's awesome and we are reading some great books, one is a comic book that helps explain health care policy easier. Winning. I'm also learning how frustrating health care is.
Class five: Chemical dependency. My professor is HILARIOUS. He is an outrageous man who tends to go on and rambles about random stories and picks on you in a funny way. For example, I sneezed (for those of you who know me, my sneezes are strange...) and he was like "was that a sneeze?", I was like yeah, my sneezes are really weird. He then went on to laugh at how I did a "public health sneeze" into my elbow. Ridiculous man. I feel like this class will be far too similar to my undergrad addiction studies course, but am looking forward to broadening my knowledge on the subject as it is one that interests me greatly.
Now if you add up all of those classes you will see that yes, I did have class from 9:00am until 8:00pm, but do not worry about my sanity because it is only one day a week! And I even get Wednesdays off! Go hump day! As for my practicum at Bellevue Hospital, we are at a stand still. There are quite a lot of drama llamas hanging around and I will not be starting my internship on Monday as everyone else is. Columbia and Bellevue are in some sort of contract war and therefore all of us at Bellevue this year are not "approved" to work there yet. Talk about frustrating! I'll keep you updated on that hot mess of a situation, hopefully I will know more this week and will be starting as soon as possible. In the meantime, more time to do the piles of reading I have been assigned.
Until next time, I'm off to sweat another day. If I were to ever live on the East Coast long term, I would indeed need to purchase a home in the Hamptons, you know just your normal mansion to cool off in for the summer...haha. You know that sinking feeling you get when you are sweating underground waiting for the damned subway and it finally arrives and you step onto the car and WHAM you insta-realize it is the one car not air conditioned. Yes, these are the daily issues I deal with. Talk to me when it's the dead of winter and I am begging for that moment in the subway.
Love from the big apple,
-Mandihattan
Let me tell you a little story about my first day of fall semester at Columbia. Backpack packed, ready to go, this time my customized Timbuk2, moving up in the world from Jansport. Had my classes all written down in my Columbia planner and ready to go to room 405. Little did I know that I had written the wrong classroom number down for my very first class. You know that feeling when you think something is wrong or out of place, but are not sure what? Yes, I had that feeling. As I look around the room and realized no advanced standing kids were in my class and there were 7 guys (7 GUYS!?! What is this, an engineering class!? Haha), must have been all of the guys in the whole program, haha just kidding but seriously probably. About halfway through class my professor (who was awesome bee-tee-dubs) calls roll and wants to hear where our field placements were. At this point I just knew, I just knew my name would not be on the roll sheet. And there it was, the question after she called everyone else's name, "is there anyone's name I didn't call?" I was mortified, but think I played it cool saying "oh yeah my schedule's been really screwed up, Mandi Thomas is my name and social work is my game." Well I didn't say that last part, I added that for flair for your reading pleasure. Anyway, after I left I moseyed over to my next class hoping no one would know I was not supposed to be in that class and hoping that my actual professor would forgive me for missing the first day of class. It felt like freshmen year all over again. Needless to say, I found out my class was supposed to be in room 305 (3 & 4, easily messed up right?!) and my professor, I think, forgave me and I will be seeing him this Tuesday. The rest of the day went smoothly though, don't worry, here's the highlights.
Class one: Wrong class, awesome professor, 7 guys.
Class two: Huge class, sat in the group of advanced standing kids, rad professor, but probably a little boring class since it's an evaluation class (so basically research, but like not).
LUNCH: Went to the Kitchenette (which if you come visit, trust me I will take you there, it's amazing) and had a delicious maglicious veggie sandwich and giant garlic potato wedges, om nom nom. Plus recapped my morning to my friends and we all talked about our schedules. Everyone's quite excited.
Class three: Human Sexuality. Hilarious professor who is a sex therapist. In it with my roommate Jill and friend Bethany, met a girl who was wondering why she's never recognized me before until I told her it's because I'm advanced standing therefore made a new friend. Had to make a list of all things sex, our list was extensive and included: orgasm, missionary, making out, well I think you catch my drift and I would like to keep my blog PG...but trust me that our list was not PG and it was probably the most outrageous thing I've ever done in a classroom haha.
Class four: Health Care Policy. I am SO EXCITED about this class. I almost did Policy at Columbia so I cannot wait to learn more about one of the things I am most passionate about. Plus our professor is from Portland, Northwest represent! She's awesome and we are reading some great books, one is a comic book that helps explain health care policy easier. Winning. I'm also learning how frustrating health care is.
Class five: Chemical dependency. My professor is HILARIOUS. He is an outrageous man who tends to go on and rambles about random stories and picks on you in a funny way. For example, I sneezed (for those of you who know me, my sneezes are strange...) and he was like "was that a sneeze?", I was like yeah, my sneezes are really weird. He then went on to laugh at how I did a "public health sneeze" into my elbow. Ridiculous man. I feel like this class will be far too similar to my undergrad addiction studies course, but am looking forward to broadening my knowledge on the subject as it is one that interests me greatly.
Now if you add up all of those classes you will see that yes, I did have class from 9:00am until 8:00pm, but do not worry about my sanity because it is only one day a week! And I even get Wednesdays off! Go hump day! As for my practicum at Bellevue Hospital, we are at a stand still. There are quite a lot of drama llamas hanging around and I will not be starting my internship on Monday as everyone else is. Columbia and Bellevue are in some sort of contract war and therefore all of us at Bellevue this year are not "approved" to work there yet. Talk about frustrating! I'll keep you updated on that hot mess of a situation, hopefully I will know more this week and will be starting as soon as possible. In the meantime, more time to do the piles of reading I have been assigned.
Until next time, I'm off to sweat another day. If I were to ever live on the East Coast long term, I would indeed need to purchase a home in the Hamptons, you know just your normal mansion to cool off in for the summer...haha. You know that sinking feeling you get when you are sweating underground waiting for the damned subway and it finally arrives and you step onto the car and WHAM you insta-realize it is the one car not air conditioned. Yes, these are the daily issues I deal with. Talk to me when it's the dead of winter and I am begging for that moment in the subway.
Love from the big apple,
-Mandihattan
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Trains, Planes, and Automobiles
Let's talk about the subway for a moment. I have been riding the subway for a little over a month now and there are a few things I feel that we should discuss. For those of you who know me, you know that I grew up in Southern California, land of the car and the worst traffic in the country (don't argue with me about this if you have never driven in LA, because you will lose because you are wrong, it is a parking lot on the freeway at all hours except for like 4:00am). I then moved to Seattle, land of the bus and for those privileged enough you might have a car, but pay an extraordinary amount for parking. Now I live in New York where you can walk around and just below you is a complex system of train tracks and subways speeding by, but you would just never know it! And on top is a sea of yellow taxis, black town cars, and the occasional normal car, but with a bumper protector (hilarious, those really exist and they make any car look really stupid, but is really smart because apparently everyone sucks at parking here hahaha oh New York). So here I am and there are busses, which I still wonder why or where people take them to when you can just pop on the subway and be anywhere you need to go in a flash! Subways are truly a magical thing. I also like to play a little game where I try to spot the gigantic, oversized rats in the subway, it's quite fun if you aren't squeamish! They are nasty little suckers, it's really the tail that gets ya! There are a few creepy things about subways though, besides the rats. I always have this fear that I am going to have to pee and my subway is going to get trapped in the dark tunnels. Yes, that is a real fear okay? It's also so dark and boring down there, I do miss busses and all the scenic drives I had. But all in all, I'd choose a subway over a bus any day! The East Coast really is nailin' it.
In other news, I've had a nice vacation week with no school, tons of sleep, lots of slices of pizza, and hey I've even been going to the gym a bunch! I also got to go on a super fun and super free boat cruise thanks to Columbia School of Social Work where I got a free meal (dessert included, om nom nom) and amazing views of the city plus a raging dance floor full of social workers! It was hilarious actually, I am sure those crew members didn't know what hit them when we broke it down on that tiny dance floor. Afterwards a bunch of us went out to some bars in the area (meatpacking/chelsea), which were quite overpriced as is everything in the big apple, but super fun nonetheless. I loved getting to know more people in my advanced standing cohort and paying $12 for a rum and pineapple juice...oh wait I didn't love that part.
All in all I have been enjoying New York and feel really lucky to be able to explore all the city has to offer in just this 10 month period! I try my best to get out and do silly tourist things each week because I know that once school starts my life is over. Haha well that's dramatic, but hey maybe it's true...we'll see what happens! I got to see the Newsies recently, which was amazing bee-tee-dubs, HIGHLY recommend it. Really attractive men, that's all I'm saying. And now I leave you knowing that pumpkin spice lattes are returning to a Starbucks near you this TUESDAY. They really should pay me for this publicity. You're welcome, go get yourself a soy one (with WHIP CREAM OBVIOUSLY, do not cheat yourself!) and just think of me, we can pretend we're drinking them together.
Until next time, I have my first day of school on Tuesday so expect a really stressed out blog post next! Haha just kidding, kinda...
May the force be with you (shoutout to Celesticles for the idea who comes back into the United States in 3 days, FINALLY geez Europe),
-Mandihattan
In other news, I've had a nice vacation week with no school, tons of sleep, lots of slices of pizza, and hey I've even been going to the gym a bunch! I also got to go on a super fun and super free boat cruise thanks to Columbia School of Social Work where I got a free meal (dessert included, om nom nom) and amazing views of the city plus a raging dance floor full of social workers! It was hilarious actually, I am sure those crew members didn't know what hit them when we broke it down on that tiny dance floor. Afterwards a bunch of us went out to some bars in the area (meatpacking/chelsea), which were quite overpriced as is everything in the big apple, but super fun nonetheless. I loved getting to know more people in my advanced standing cohort and paying $12 for a rum and pineapple juice...oh wait I didn't love that part.
All in all I have been enjoying New York and feel really lucky to be able to explore all the city has to offer in just this 10 month period! I try my best to get out and do silly tourist things each week because I know that once school starts my life is over. Haha well that's dramatic, but hey maybe it's true...we'll see what happens! I got to see the Newsies recently, which was amazing bee-tee-dubs, HIGHLY recommend it. Really attractive men, that's all I'm saying. And now I leave you knowing that pumpkin spice lattes are returning to a Starbucks near you this TUESDAY. They really should pay me for this publicity. You're welcome, go get yourself a soy one (with WHIP CREAM OBVIOUSLY, do not cheat yourself!) and just think of me, we can pretend we're drinking them together.
Until next time, I have my first day of school on Tuesday so expect a really stressed out blog post next! Haha just kidding, kinda...
May the force be with you (shoutout to Celesticles for the idea who comes back into the United States in 3 days, FINALLY geez Europe),
-Mandihattan
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Politically Correct
Being "PC" or politically correct is a difficult thing to accomplish 24/7. Someone is always getting offended and as Avenue Q puts it, "everybody's a little bit racist". If you have not seen Avenue Q it is hilarious and consequently is playing Off Broadway in this lovely city that I live. Being politically correct in the field of social work is especially important, but how does one keep up with the ever-changing terminology? This thought invaded my head when I was in class the other day and my professor informed us that one must not say "committed suicide", that is no longer a "PC" way to say it. Who knew? Saying that someone committed suicide places blame where blame should not be placed. Instead the politically correct way to say it is, "died by suicide". So in the unlikely and saddening case that you need to know this, consider yourself informed and see a social worker for a bereavement group.
In other, more upbeat news, I am still alive and well. I have been busy with school where we changed over classes and got tragically split up! In a less dramatic way, we are all now in our "methods" (me in clinical, others in policy, etc etc.). I have the same ridiculous professor who is now teaching us about couples and family counseling. A little different than the DSM class we had, and yet I am still analyzing my own life as we learn about the appropriate way to counsel couples and families. It is a little less depressing than diagnosing myself with schizophrenia though I'd say (haha). I love this class though and feel that I am learning a ton, not to mention we are the only section that does not have piles of reading each night, lucky ducks that we are!
The issue with not having tons of reading though is this feeling of unrest that I have starting at NOON. That is a little early for me to be bored and yet I make it happen. I am so not used to this lack of schedule that we have going on. So I go to the gym, but an hour later now what do I do with myself? I read 50 Shades of Grey is what I do. Yes, I am declaring that in my blog for all to see. I have succumbed. But do not fret, I am analyzing from a social work perspective each character in the book. Maybe I'll write you an in-depth analysis of them after I finish all three, haha just kidding. But seriously maybe I will.
In this city that never sleeps though you get this constant feeling of, "holy cow should I be doing something?", "what zoos, aquariums, and museums are free for me today?", and "how can I be bored when I am in New York City?". Don't worry though, the Bronx Zoo is free Wednesdays, the MoMa is free with your Columbia ID, and the aquarium is free after 3:00 on Fridays. In case you wanted a play by play of the rest of my poor-college-student week and in case you live here and want free things to do! Oh also it's not technically free, but it's suggested donation and I am suggesting a $0 donation.
Until next time, something I learned this week was to not drink all of the free mimosas that you can at drunk brunch for risk that you will in fact, be hungover at 6:00pm and not happy about it as well as you might buy a $30 calendar from Paper Source because you have drank as many free mimosas as your bladder and the bartender will serve. Sigh, lesson learned.
x's and o's and lots of missing you all (still in need of a cool way to sign off and there have still not been any good suggestions. I am disappointed in you friends),
-Mandihattan
In other, more upbeat news, I am still alive and well. I have been busy with school where we changed over classes and got tragically split up! In a less dramatic way, we are all now in our "methods" (me in clinical, others in policy, etc etc.). I have the same ridiculous professor who is now teaching us about couples and family counseling. A little different than the DSM class we had, and yet I am still analyzing my own life as we learn about the appropriate way to counsel couples and families. It is a little less depressing than diagnosing myself with schizophrenia though I'd say (haha). I love this class though and feel that I am learning a ton, not to mention we are the only section that does not have piles of reading each night, lucky ducks that we are!
The issue with not having tons of reading though is this feeling of unrest that I have starting at NOON. That is a little early for me to be bored and yet I make it happen. I am so not used to this lack of schedule that we have going on. So I go to the gym, but an hour later now what do I do with myself? I read 50 Shades of Grey is what I do. Yes, I am declaring that in my blog for all to see. I have succumbed. But do not fret, I am analyzing from a social work perspective each character in the book. Maybe I'll write you an in-depth analysis of them after I finish all three, haha just kidding. But seriously maybe I will.
In this city that never sleeps though you get this constant feeling of, "holy cow should I be doing something?", "what zoos, aquariums, and museums are free for me today?", and "how can I be bored when I am in New York City?". Don't worry though, the Bronx Zoo is free Wednesdays, the MoMa is free with your Columbia ID, and the aquarium is free after 3:00 on Fridays. In case you wanted a play by play of the rest of my poor-college-student week and in case you live here and want free things to do! Oh also it's not technically free, but it's suggested donation and I am suggesting a $0 donation.
Until next time, something I learned this week was to not drink all of the free mimosas that you can at drunk brunch for risk that you will in fact, be hungover at 6:00pm and not happy about it as well as you might buy a $30 calendar from Paper Source because you have drank as many free mimosas as your bladder and the bartender will serve. Sigh, lesson learned.
x's and o's and lots of missing you all (still in need of a cool way to sign off and there have still not been any good suggestions. I am disappointed in you friends),
-Mandihattan
Saturday, August 11, 2012
4:00am
4:00am, this is a normal time for New Yorkers to stay out on the weekends, shoot even on the weekdays! It's 4:00am and you are not alone on the subway. It's 4:00am and you are definitely not alone at the closest pizza place. Shameless. Pizza slices the size of your face, I'm all over that at 4:00am. Now for those of you who know me you know that if I am not out of my house by 9:30-10:00pm then I am not budging from my comfy spot on the couch. But here in the big apple is a whole different story! I have been here for 2 weeks now and 4:00am is now an acceptable time for me to roll in to my apartment and crash, literally toss shoes and crash face first into my pillow! Side note: I never do it when I have class the next day alright? I am no freshmen in college anymore! I am a grad student people, I have dignity! Or something like that.
In other news, school is going well, that is why I am here right?! Not to go out until 4:00am, but come on, it's still summer okay? We ex-quarter schedule people are not in school mode until September so give me a break! Also I can only eat pizza slices the size of my face for so long, at least until my metabolism catches up with me! We finished our first session of learning about the DSM-IV and learning how to diagnose clients. It was so interesting, I cannot believe how much I have learned already! But I am glad that part is done and over with, test and all! I hated sitting in class diagnosing myself with every mental illness in the book! Haha, but seriously I did that.
Our next session is on group work and the art of leading groups. I say it is an art because it really is! There are so many things you can say or do wrong in leading a group so it is important to have this information pounded into your head until you're blue in the face. That metaphor didn't match perfectly, but you get my drift. I absolutely LOVE this professor, I think all of us do, let's be real. He's hilarious. He's a New Yorker, from Brooklyn born and raised and he has the accent and mouth to prove it. Here's a few fun quotes directly from him, don't mind the swearing mom and grandparents, it's normal here and he's in his 60s, which makes it even more outrageous!
-Upon introducing himself, "I swear a lot and if you come from a place that you aren't used to that, then fuck you."
-Discussing how as a group leader we must tell ourselves, "keep your mouth shut you moron."
-On social workers, "we are boo boo kissers" & "social workers love, love"
-On self care for our difficult jobs, "I always sugest running, exercise, and making passionate love in the afternoon."
Those are just some of the best ones. I've been keeping a running list just for you! More to come on this hilarious professor and the role play exercise that a group of us randomly got trapped into doing on Monday! Yeesh!
Today I went to the MoMA (Modern Museum of Art) with some friends (Yes, I still have friends who are just delightful!) and walked around until we all did not even have the energy to talk anymore. Art sure does take it out of you doesn't it!?
What I really think we need to talk about is the weather. Now, East Coast summers. Woah. They are not kidding about them are they!? No one is joking around when you wake up sweating and not from a bad dream, but from the severe heat seeping into your 3rd floor, not air conditioned, New York apartment. I get warm just from walking the 5 steps from my room to the bathroom! It is that ridiculous. I have two fans in my room, one directly clipped onto my bed and the other in the window and let me tell you, the heat is winning. Mother nature, you win. Now that I surrender we can move on right? I want to drink pumpkin spice lattes, wear boots, dig out my three thousand scarves, and watch the beautiful fall leaves change colors. But then let's stop there right? Let's not speed into winter, but yes, let's speed into fall because I cannot stick my head in the freezer for much longer! I am melting away over here people!
Anyways, I miss you all dearly. I cannot believe I have been here for 2 weeks! I cannot decide if time is going fast or slow, that's a strange feeling isn't it?
Hakuna matata,
Mandihattan
(I do not think hakuna matata is a keeper, but I figure I have 10 months to think of something creative sheesh!)
In other news, school is going well, that is why I am here right?! Not to go out until 4:00am, but come on, it's still summer okay? We ex-quarter schedule people are not in school mode until September so give me a break! Also I can only eat pizza slices the size of my face for so long, at least until my metabolism catches up with me! We finished our first session of learning about the DSM-IV and learning how to diagnose clients. It was so interesting, I cannot believe how much I have learned already! But I am glad that part is done and over with, test and all! I hated sitting in class diagnosing myself with every mental illness in the book! Haha, but seriously I did that.
Our next session is on group work and the art of leading groups. I say it is an art because it really is! There are so many things you can say or do wrong in leading a group so it is important to have this information pounded into your head until you're blue in the face. That metaphor didn't match perfectly, but you get my drift. I absolutely LOVE this professor, I think all of us do, let's be real. He's hilarious. He's a New Yorker, from Brooklyn born and raised and he has the accent and mouth to prove it. Here's a few fun quotes directly from him, don't mind the swearing mom and grandparents, it's normal here and he's in his 60s, which makes it even more outrageous!
-Upon introducing himself, "I swear a lot and if you come from a place that you aren't used to that, then fuck you."
-Discussing how as a group leader we must tell ourselves, "keep your mouth shut you moron."
-On social workers, "we are boo boo kissers" & "social workers love, love"
-On self care for our difficult jobs, "I always sugest running, exercise, and making passionate love in the afternoon."
Those are just some of the best ones. I've been keeping a running list just for you! More to come on this hilarious professor and the role play exercise that a group of us randomly got trapped into doing on Monday! Yeesh!
Today I went to the MoMA (Modern Museum of Art) with some friends (Yes, I still have friends who are just delightful!) and walked around until we all did not even have the energy to talk anymore. Art sure does take it out of you doesn't it!?
What I really think we need to talk about is the weather. Now, East Coast summers. Woah. They are not kidding about them are they!? No one is joking around when you wake up sweating and not from a bad dream, but from the severe heat seeping into your 3rd floor, not air conditioned, New York apartment. I get warm just from walking the 5 steps from my room to the bathroom! It is that ridiculous. I have two fans in my room, one directly clipped onto my bed and the other in the window and let me tell you, the heat is winning. Mother nature, you win. Now that I surrender we can move on right? I want to drink pumpkin spice lattes, wear boots, dig out my three thousand scarves, and watch the beautiful fall leaves change colors. But then let's stop there right? Let's not speed into winter, but yes, let's speed into fall because I cannot stick my head in the freezer for much longer! I am melting away over here people!
Anyways, I miss you all dearly. I cannot believe I have been here for 2 weeks! I cannot decide if time is going fast or slow, that's a strange feeling isn't it?
Hakuna matata,
Mandihattan
(I do not think hakuna matata is a keeper, but I figure I have 10 months to think of something creative sheesh!)
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Overwhelmed
Pronounced, overhhwhhelmed. If you have not seen Hot Rod, this hhwhhill not make sense to you.
In other news, I made it. I made it to the big apple, the city that never sleeps, the greatest city in the world, New York City that is! Here is what the past week has been like for me. I want you to know, that I am sitting in the dark in my room with a fan literally in my face. I'd be dying otherwise. Talk about no air conditioning in the middle of an East Coast summer, YEESH! Anyway.
I left on Sunday evening, the redeye flight on Delta airlines. If you have never flown Delta airlines, please do not start now, they are an incredibly terrible airline. They charge for every bag ($25, $35, $125 respectively) therefore moving across the country and checking bags, is not an option. Secondly, they charge $90 on top of the $25 for an overweight bag, whether you cry in front of them or not (this did happen and I still paid $150 for my trip). Anyway, I got on the plane at 11:10pm and arrived at JFK at 7:00am. I got my bags and stumbled around JFK to find myself my first New York taxi (well first since I moved here that is). I negotiated a $50 taxi ride and made it safely to my apartment by 8:30am. Now, you should know that orientation for the MSW program started at 9:00am, just 30 minutes later. BUT! There was more to be done! I got let in by my new roommates and then dropped my stuff and ran to the housing office where I was to fill out and sign my lease and then get my keys from my "super". About an hour later I walked across the street(!!!! so close!!) to the social work building for my LONG day of orientation, which I was fashionably 30 minutes late for.
Orientation was extremely long and extremely boring, but all of the professors and faculty members were the sweetest. You can always count on that in social work! :) Orientation dragged on from 9:00-5:30pm, no joke, but at least we got free New York pizza for lunch! Om nom nom. After orientation they held a happy hour for all of the new advanced standing students at this bar called Havana Central where we got 2 free beers/wine/well drinks (Blue Moon in my case) as well as bomb appetizers (empanadas, yes please). It was a fun time getting to know other people, there are only 2 guys in my program and then everyone is from literally everywhere. One is from Burma! Awesome! Another is from Nepal and another from South Africa! After happy hour, I am sure you can imagine that I was EXHAUSTED. So naturally I stayed up too late and then crashed hardcore into the most uncomfortable twin size dorm bed ever.
A little info about my apartment now. My apartment is an over 100 year old building literally across the street, LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET (it's really awesome so should be emphasized) from the social work building. I have a room about the size of my junior year room so that's nice! It's fully furnished and I live with 2 other girls in my program, but with different methods of concentration. We have one bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a guest bedroom!! So please feel free to visit, you will get nice accommodations. I love my apartment because it's silly and old and very New York although my room gets like no daylight, so that's depressing, but whatever I do not plan to be in my room much. I have a lovely view of a brick wall, classy huh?
The rest of the week has been jam packed with classes, I am taking two: one from 9:00-12:00 on M,T,W,Th and one from 2:00-4:00 on T, W. Both of my professors are really great and I am learning a lot already! Right now we are studying the DSM-IV and learning to diagnose and prescribe medications (even though I cannot prescribe technically), so that's really interesting and stuff I have never learned about! 9:00am is pretty early to start talking about psychotic disorders though, heavy stuff! We all start diagnosing ourselves with schizophrenia! Eek! Just kidding, but seriously it's intense. There are 54 girls (well and 2 boys) in my program and we will have this schedule for the next 4 weeks, then we get a week off (Hamptons anyone?!) and then we start fall SEMESTER (semesters?! what is this!?).
I am having a good time, but am definitely missing Seattle and all of my friends like crazy! New York is no Seattle, I don't care what anyone says! There are pidgins everywhere! It really is gross haha. And they don't recycle or compost and they leave their trash on the side of the road. People go overboard with using their horns so honking is constant and everyone is super pushy and quick, which I actually really like. I love how they are so blunt and like yelling at you, it keeps me on my toes and I just laugh because I'm such a mess always! Oh yeah and no one takes debit cards around here without a minimum, so cash is a necessity, which is kind of annoying.
I ventured out to Trader Joe's today on the 1 subway, where I purchased all of my favorite foods and got my monthly metro pass for $104. Basically I've spent my life savings already hahaha just kidding, but seriously. Then I went to Central Park and wandered around for a bit with some friends that I've made! Yay for not being a complete loner! I took the C subway there. After Central Park we of course needed to stop at the Pinkberry because we were dying of heat and exhaustion and well, we needed frozen yogurt.
All in all, I have been doing well for these first 4 days. I definitely have felt overwhelmed and out of place, but I think it will get better. Classes have been interesting, I've had homework every night, and I have begun exploring the city that I still cannot believe I am lucky enough to live in. I still cannot believe I go to school at Columbia University and am constantly in awe of who have walked the halls before me, I have some big shoes to fill! Sorry this was a long post, if you have made it this far then I am sure you are missing me insanely, HAHA just kidding! But anyway, I hope I can make contact with each of you soon, sorry if I've fallen off the Earth this week, I'm just trying to keep my head above water. I'll update again next week! I'll try to be an actually good blogger and next time I will even add pictures! I miss you all dearly and am thinking of you constantly.
Xoxo,
Gossip girl.
Hahaha just kidding, I really need to sign my blogs in a clever way... :/
-Mandihattan
In other news, I made it. I made it to the big apple, the city that never sleeps, the greatest city in the world, New York City that is! Here is what the past week has been like for me. I want you to know, that I am sitting in the dark in my room with a fan literally in my face. I'd be dying otherwise. Talk about no air conditioning in the middle of an East Coast summer, YEESH! Anyway.
I left on Sunday evening, the redeye flight on Delta airlines. If you have never flown Delta airlines, please do not start now, they are an incredibly terrible airline. They charge for every bag ($25, $35, $125 respectively) therefore moving across the country and checking bags, is not an option. Secondly, they charge $90 on top of the $25 for an overweight bag, whether you cry in front of them or not (this did happen and I still paid $150 for my trip). Anyway, I got on the plane at 11:10pm and arrived at JFK at 7:00am. I got my bags and stumbled around JFK to find myself my first New York taxi (well first since I moved here that is). I negotiated a $50 taxi ride and made it safely to my apartment by 8:30am. Now, you should know that orientation for the MSW program started at 9:00am, just 30 minutes later. BUT! There was more to be done! I got let in by my new roommates and then dropped my stuff and ran to the housing office where I was to fill out and sign my lease and then get my keys from my "super". About an hour later I walked across the street(!!!! so close!!) to the social work building for my LONG day of orientation, which I was fashionably 30 minutes late for.
Orientation was extremely long and extremely boring, but all of the professors and faculty members were the sweetest. You can always count on that in social work! :) Orientation dragged on from 9:00-5:30pm, no joke, but at least we got free New York pizza for lunch! Om nom nom. After orientation they held a happy hour for all of the new advanced standing students at this bar called Havana Central where we got 2 free beers/wine/well drinks (Blue Moon in my case) as well as bomb appetizers (empanadas, yes please). It was a fun time getting to know other people, there are only 2 guys in my program and then everyone is from literally everywhere. One is from Burma! Awesome! Another is from Nepal and another from South Africa! After happy hour, I am sure you can imagine that I was EXHAUSTED. So naturally I stayed up too late and then crashed hardcore into the most uncomfortable twin size dorm bed ever.
A little info about my apartment now. My apartment is an over 100 year old building literally across the street, LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET (it's really awesome so should be emphasized) from the social work building. I have a room about the size of my junior year room so that's nice! It's fully furnished and I live with 2 other girls in my program, but with different methods of concentration. We have one bathroom, kitchen, living room, and a guest bedroom!! So please feel free to visit, you will get nice accommodations. I love my apartment because it's silly and old and very New York although my room gets like no daylight, so that's depressing, but whatever I do not plan to be in my room much. I have a lovely view of a brick wall, classy huh?
The rest of the week has been jam packed with classes, I am taking two: one from 9:00-12:00 on M,T,W,Th and one from 2:00-4:00 on T, W. Both of my professors are really great and I am learning a lot already! Right now we are studying the DSM-IV and learning to diagnose and prescribe medications (even though I cannot prescribe technically), so that's really interesting and stuff I have never learned about! 9:00am is pretty early to start talking about psychotic disorders though, heavy stuff! We all start diagnosing ourselves with schizophrenia! Eek! Just kidding, but seriously it's intense. There are 54 girls (well and 2 boys) in my program and we will have this schedule for the next 4 weeks, then we get a week off (Hamptons anyone?!) and then we start fall SEMESTER (semesters?! what is this!?).
I am having a good time, but am definitely missing Seattle and all of my friends like crazy! New York is no Seattle, I don't care what anyone says! There are pidgins everywhere! It really is gross haha. And they don't recycle or compost and they leave their trash on the side of the road. People go overboard with using their horns so honking is constant and everyone is super pushy and quick, which I actually really like. I love how they are so blunt and like yelling at you, it keeps me on my toes and I just laugh because I'm such a mess always! Oh yeah and no one takes debit cards around here without a minimum, so cash is a necessity, which is kind of annoying.
I ventured out to Trader Joe's today on the 1 subway, where I purchased all of my favorite foods and got my monthly metro pass for $104. Basically I've spent my life savings already hahaha just kidding, but seriously. Then I went to Central Park and wandered around for a bit with some friends that I've made! Yay for not being a complete loner! I took the C subway there. After Central Park we of course needed to stop at the Pinkberry because we were dying of heat and exhaustion and well, we needed frozen yogurt.
All in all, I have been doing well for these first 4 days. I definitely have felt overwhelmed and out of place, but I think it will get better. Classes have been interesting, I've had homework every night, and I have begun exploring the city that I still cannot believe I am lucky enough to live in. I still cannot believe I go to school at Columbia University and am constantly in awe of who have walked the halls before me, I have some big shoes to fill! Sorry this was a long post, if you have made it this far then I am sure you are missing me insanely, HAHA just kidding! But anyway, I hope I can make contact with each of you soon, sorry if I've fallen off the Earth this week, I'm just trying to keep my head above water. I'll update again next week! I'll try to be an actually good blogger and next time I will even add pictures! I miss you all dearly and am thinking of you constantly.
Xoxo,
Gossip girl.
Hahaha just kidding, I really need to sign my blogs in a clever way... :/
-Mandihattan
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Anticipation
Anticipation, noun: expectation or hope.
Preparation, noun: the action of making ready or being made ready for use.
These are two nouns that have been prominent in my life this summer. As I squander my last few weeks away in Seattle I begin to anticipate and prepare for my upcoming New York City adventure.
If you have not been following closely, I have been accepted to Columbia University's School of Social Work as an Advanced Standing student for the degree of MSW (Master of Social Work). In just ten short months and at the ripe age of 22, I will indeed be a master of social work, or so I hope. School begins on July 31st, preceded by orientation on July 30th, and my red-eye SEA-JFK flight arrives at 7:25am on the morning of orientation. It will be a whirlwind of sorts, but I anticipate and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
New York City, the city that never sleeps, I am ready for you.
Preparation, noun: the action of making ready or being made ready for use.
These are two nouns that have been prominent in my life this summer. As I squander my last few weeks away in Seattle I begin to anticipate and prepare for my upcoming New York City adventure.
If you have not been following closely, I have been accepted to Columbia University's School of Social Work as an Advanced Standing student for the degree of MSW (Master of Social Work). In just ten short months and at the ripe age of 22, I will indeed be a master of social work, or so I hope. School begins on July 31st, preceded by orientation on July 30th, and my red-eye SEA-JFK flight arrives at 7:25am on the morning of orientation. It will be a whirlwind of sorts, but I anticipate and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.
New York City, the city that never sleeps, I am ready for you.
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