John and I are on a diet. We're spending this month focusing on diet and exercise - with the hopes of losing weight, being healthier, and saving money.
Now me? I've been trying to lose weight for at least two years now - ever since I started taking birth control pills and jumped 50 lbs in 6 months. I don't have to be the same size I was in college, but I'd like to not be in the "overweight" category!
On the other hand, John seems to have no real trouble with his weight. When he's busy or stressed or happy, he sometimes forgets to eat, and loses weight no problem. But he's a big guy, and it wouldn't hurt him to lose a bit of weight as well. His motivation right now is China.
See, he's working in a lab that is full of Chinese people. The primarily language of the lab is Mandarin, and John is loving it. We both had Asian roommates in college, so we're much more familiar with the culture than most Americans (I think). Both of us are interested in the possibility of moving to China or Taiwan or someplace someday.
And Chinese people (for the most part) are much smaller than Americans. They don't weigh as much, and there is a greater emphasis on appearances there. If we are working towards being able to move there and be a part of that culture, the best thing for us to do is to work on trying to "fit in" - as much as we can, of course.
And while my short-term motivation happens to be my brother's wedding (he still hasn't asked her yet - but it's supposed to be this summer!), I will admit that I'd certainly feel better moving to China if I were about 30-40 lbs lighter ...
Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
School Update - with an expected apology for my hiatus with an unexpected explanation
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!!
Sorry for the brief hiatus - life got crazier than usual lately. Which I will detail a bit in a later post. Just as an appetizer ... the story may involve the police, a van full of mexicans, loose cows, and a car chase.
Not necessarily in that order.
Anyway ... update on John's schooling...
John really likes the lab he's currently in. He loves the research (eye research - something he's been interested in for years)He gets along very well with the PI, who is and would be working closely with him. The only other grad student in the lab is graduating after 4 years (would have been 3.5 years, but she had to take a personal leave of absence for a few months) and is the most decorated and honored student on campus. Not even exaggerating - she received about 4 different awards and scholarships at the beginning of the year.
That being said, there's two things against her ... one, she's thinking about moving on. She's putting out feelers to move to another university. If that goes through, then John would have to move with her. There is no guarantee that if she moves, that John will be able to get into the new university (especially with his record of having dropped out of medical school). Also, he loses all kinds of contacts from this school; as well as being faced with people accusing him of "coming in the back door". Second, he's not sure that this lab would put him where he wants to be long term. It would be amazing for the short term 5-10 years. But not where he wants to be in 15 years.
So, we're back to the original first lab. It might not be as ideal in the short term - but it really is pointing him to where he wants to be in 10-20 years. And to be honest, that is the biggest difference between John and his classmates; he knows what his final goal is. They are focused on the here and now. He is focused on where he wants to be.
Yesterday John signed up for his elective classes for next semester. The lab he wants to go into requires a certain class - Genomic Medicine - and as of now he's the only one signed up for the class. He's excited because all the people teaching the class have been some of best lecturers this semester - and having a one-on-one class would be an interesting experience!
He still has some decisions to make, and details to work out. But at least we're headed in a specific direction.
I'd better pick up that Mandarin Rosetta Stone course again. Something tells me it would be a good idea to learn it.
Sorry for the brief hiatus - life got crazier than usual lately. Which I will detail a bit in a later post. Just as an appetizer ... the story may involve the police, a van full of mexicans, loose cows, and a car chase.
Not necessarily in that order.
Anyway ... update on John's schooling...
John really likes the lab he's currently in. He loves the research (eye research - something he's been interested in for years)He gets along very well with the PI, who is and would be working closely with him. The only other grad student in the lab is graduating after 4 years (would have been 3.5 years, but she had to take a personal leave of absence for a few months) and is the most decorated and honored student on campus. Not even exaggerating - she received about 4 different awards and scholarships at the beginning of the year.
That being said, there's two things against her ... one, she's thinking about moving on. She's putting out feelers to move to another university. If that goes through, then John would have to move with her. There is no guarantee that if she moves, that John will be able to get into the new university (especially with his record of having dropped out of medical school). Also, he loses all kinds of contacts from this school; as well as being faced with people accusing him of "coming in the back door". Second, he's not sure that this lab would put him where he wants to be long term. It would be amazing for the short term 5-10 years. But not where he wants to be in 15 years.
So, we're back to the original first lab. It might not be as ideal in the short term - but it really is pointing him to where he wants to be in 10-20 years. And to be honest, that is the biggest difference between John and his classmates; he knows what his final goal is. They are focused on the here and now. He is focused on where he wants to be.
Yesterday John signed up for his elective classes for next semester. The lab he wants to go into requires a certain class - Genomic Medicine - and as of now he's the only one signed up for the class. He's excited because all the people teaching the class have been some of best lecturers this semester - and having a one-on-one class would be an interesting experience!
He still has some decisions to make, and details to work out. But at least we're headed in a specific direction.
I'd better pick up that Mandarin Rosetta Stone course again. Something tells me it would be a good idea to learn it.
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