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!
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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
