Time to do the avoid-dance

I was avoiding doing homework by working on my long neglected wedding album, and I am now avoiding working on the wedding album by playing online. It's a vicious cycle, and I've made a mess in the living room with all my scrapbooking stuff. Sigh

It's been a year since I started grad school. It's funny that I just came to that realization today. I was picking classes for Spring quarter and trying to figure out how long it's going to take me to graduate. That was a little depressing, so I decided to ignore how long it takes and just keep moving forward one class at a time. I think I'm actually going to take an elective next quarter, perhaps Management of International NGO's or Urban and Community Development.

Home Again

Advanced Hem Training Group

After a wonderful and exhausting week in Rwanda I am happy to be back home. We arrived in Kigali on Saturday and headed to Rwamagana on Sunday. Rwanagama is a little town about an hour outside of Kigali. There isn't a lot going on there, there's a prison, a church, a nursing school, a hospital, assorted shops, and a couple hotels. The training went well, I even got to do some teaching myself.

We went out to Kigali on Saturday to do some sightseeing. We went shopping at some local stores, I got some stuff for myself and some Christmas presents (yes, I am awesome at shopping ahead of time). We went to the Genocide Memorial as well. It was really devastating. I cannot understand the evil that led to all that death and horror that the Tutsis and moderate Hutus went through. It was really good for me to experience the museum, and increase my understanding of the history of Rwanda, but I don't think that I could visit it again.

Journeying Again

I'm heading to Rwanda on Friday for my first solo work trip. A week in Rwamagana for an advanced hematology, should be an interesting experience!!

Flash back

Mmmm, watching Say Yes to the Dress, makes me want to be in wedding dresses. It's amazing how looking back you can forget how horrible trying dresses was. None of them fit. It was awkward, and depressing and demoralizing. But, there is something magical about wedding dresses. Here is what I wore and a couple other dresses that are super dreamy in case anyone is looking...

http://www.houseofbrides.com/allure-women-wedding-dress-style-w243-p-3-147-5373.aspx#

http://www.unique-vintage.com/unique-vintage-exclusive-white-floral-rhinestone-swing-dress-p-8901.html

http://www.unique-vintage.com/fancy-york-wedding-dresses1950s-style-cuff-short-sleeve-belted-length-wedding-dress-p-7323.html

http://www.romanticgowns.com/collection/product-page.asp?SKU=GB1003



Meeting

I may be closer to a promotion than I thought. I was called into the boss' office today and told that I am "kicking ass". I was also told that they would be pushing for a promotion and a raise when the time comes (you can only get promoted in July). So that's pretty cool. I just have to keep working myself until I feel like I'm going to fall apart, and then I'll make associate manager.

I leave in one week for my first solo training. It's in the middle of nowhere, which might be good and might be bad. The consultants seem awesome so I think that they'll make the training easier, but some of our in country partners are difficult so it could go either way. It makes me nervous but I look at it like acting, I have to act the part of the confident person and then I'll be confident.

Plans for 2011

Get a promotion and a raise: I deserve it
Be a better spouse: always want to work on this
Get through another year of school: tentative graduation... sometime in 2013
Lose some weight/be healthier: I won't aim for college weight, but for pre wedding weight
Get super flight status: I want to travel enough for work that I get special travel perks
Take more pictures: and print them
Take a vacation: europe perhaps?

Happy New Year!

I personally rang in the new year by sleeping. I know, I'm so cool. Thought I'd take a quick nap at 7 after delicious Chinese dinner, and then I woke up at 11am. Yikes!!!

Oh well, Cheers to a well rested start to the new year!