Sunday, December 14, 2008
Sweet moments.
Well, I did grad school. So that's done.
Things are happening fast right now. I feel like I'm holding on to a something moving so fast, and I won't be able to catch my breathe until April.
4 Days: last final
5 days: Rob comes to get me
6 days: move to Texas
8 days: start work
11 days: Christmas (I haven't bought ONE gift)
18 days: New Years party
20 days: go to Florida
27 days: engagement party
50-ish days: bridal shoot
75-ish days: wedding shower
91 days: wedding shower
97 days: everyone comes to Houston
98 days: wedding
99 days: married life begins
But, I'm very happy these days. Wedding planning is fun and non-consuming, and I find myself highly annoyed when people assume the planning has taken over my life or that I'm stressed about the event.
I've hit a wall with school (hence, this post). My schedule for the past 2 and next 2 days: write, coffee, study, pack, write, coffee, study, pack... With only one massive law paper and one final exam left, I find myself apathetic about inequitable recording contracts and only slightly interested in UNESCO's influence on America's international public arts policies. Even in my dreams last night I was asking myself how much I care about my GPA.
Thursday was our last day of class. My Taiwanese friend, Salina, was doing the final class presentation in our PAC management class. She spoke without any notes in perfect English and a steady voice - so different than the timid international student I did my first grad school presentation with 3 semesters ago. I was so proud of her that I teared up while she was telling us about the technical specifications of some theater in California.
Our going-away party was the best the Arts Admin program has seen in years - our class is just so tight and special. Clare made a slide show - pictures from our class's Chicago trip, practica, concerts, and lots from our little house where all the parties were hosted. Kelly and Liska had organized a secret ballot election and we all got very official-looking certificates signed by Dr. Rushton and Susan. I was voted "most smartest." I was more excited when my two roommates got voted "dynamic duo." They are most known for coming late to everything, constantly typing on their laptops, and not putting up with slacking professors. Eric got "most creative," my bald friend Pat got "best hair," and Salina got "most likely to make you smile." You will be able to meet all of these crazy, wonderful people at my wedding. I'm so glad they're coming! Knowing we'll see each other that weekend is making leaving a bit easier on as all, so we can thank Rob for that. :)
Sweet Tracy brought two "Congratulations!" cakes to the party for me and Anna - we both got engaged this summer and were this semester's token "engaged grad students." Such a sweet surprise. We also commissioned our classmate Jenny to create a collage of Dr. Rushton on a white horse (something he had joked about once - never joke with your grad students. They remember everything and follow through.) We presented this wonderful piece of art to him at the party and he was truly without words. He said he's taught many classes at many universities but has never seen one like ours. http://mirushto.blogspot.com/2008/12/class-of-2009.html
We also made our own yearbook. Everyone created a unique page and we put them together in a photocopied little book. Now we have documentation of everyone's personality, all the funny professor quotes, and all the sweet classmate memories.
After the party, our little group of six piled in my car and drove around to different grocery stores asking for boxes so we could all pack up our houses. We got take-out and I snuggled up with Salina while we watched our favorite Arts Admin slapstick comedy at the guys' house.
I am leaving with one or two regrets, but with trust that God uses prayers just as he can use people, and that He is sovereign and in control of hearts, not just situations.
He gives grace and is faithful even when we are distracted. He is the giver of good gifts and such sweet moments.
Things are happening fast right now. I feel like I'm holding on to a something moving so fast, and I won't be able to catch my breathe until April.
4 Days: last final
5 days: Rob comes to get me
6 days: move to Texas
8 days: start work
11 days: Christmas (I haven't bought ONE gift)
18 days: New Years party
20 days: go to Florida
27 days: engagement party
50-ish days: bridal shoot
75-ish days: wedding shower
91 days: wedding shower
97 days: everyone comes to Houston
98 days: wedding
99 days: married life begins
But, I'm very happy these days. Wedding planning is fun and non-consuming, and I find myself highly annoyed when people assume the planning has taken over my life or that I'm stressed about the event.
I've hit a wall with school (hence, this post). My schedule for the past 2 and next 2 days: write, coffee, study, pack, write, coffee, study, pack... With only one massive law paper and one final exam left, I find myself apathetic about inequitable recording contracts and only slightly interested in UNESCO's influence on America's international public arts policies. Even in my dreams last night I was asking myself how much I care about my GPA.
Thursday was our last day of class. My Taiwanese friend, Salina, was doing the final class presentation in our PAC management class. She spoke without any notes in perfect English and a steady voice - so different than the timid international student I did my first grad school presentation with 3 semesters ago. I was so proud of her that I teared up while she was telling us about the technical specifications of some theater in California.
Our going-away party was the best the Arts Admin program has seen in years - our class is just so tight and special. Clare made a slide show - pictures from our class's Chicago trip, practica, concerts, and lots from our little house where all the parties were hosted. Kelly and Liska had organized a secret ballot election and we all got very official-looking certificates signed by Dr. Rushton and Susan. I was voted "most smartest." I was more excited when my two roommates got voted "dynamic duo." They are most known for coming late to everything, constantly typing on their laptops, and not putting up with slacking professors. Eric got "most creative," my bald friend Pat got "best hair," and Salina got "most likely to make you smile." You will be able to meet all of these crazy, wonderful people at my wedding. I'm so glad they're coming! Knowing we'll see each other that weekend is making leaving a bit easier on as all, so we can thank Rob for that. :)
Sweet Tracy brought two "Congratulations!" cakes to the party for me and Anna - we both got engaged this summer and were this semester's token "engaged grad students." Such a sweet surprise. We also commissioned our classmate Jenny to create a collage of Dr. Rushton on a white horse (something he had joked about once - never joke with your grad students. They remember everything and follow through.) We presented this wonderful piece of art to him at the party and he was truly without words. He said he's taught many classes at many universities but has never seen one like ours. http://mirushto.blogspot.com/2008/12/class-of-2009.html
We also made our own yearbook. Everyone created a unique page and we put them together in a photocopied little book. Now we have documentation of everyone's personality, all the funny professor quotes, and all the sweet classmate memories.
After the party, our little group of six piled in my car and drove around to different grocery stores asking for boxes so we could all pack up our houses. We got take-out and I snuggled up with Salina while we watched our favorite Arts Admin slapstick comedy at the guys' house.
I'm excited that we're spreading out now: Sarah's off to Sundance Film Festival, Pat's going to the Kennedy Center, Eric has a job at Aspen Music Festival, Jenny's going to the IMA, Jen's going to a theater in Times Square, Courtney's off to work in Germany, and lots more.
I know I belong in Houston. God's given me a fiancee, a family, a home, a church, and a job that I love - all in Houston. I can't even think of one more thing He could give me. But I will miss having a group of friends nearby, I'll miss living with two girls that make me laugh constantly, I'll miss City Bakery and Soma, I'll miss pondering things I've never thought about in Rushton's class and I'll miss the fast pace of simultaneously working on five different projects with 23 different people. I'll miss knowing that Chicago is just 4 hours away, and I'll even miss crazy Cardinal and the freedom I had to completely reorganize the whole office any day I felt like it.I am leaving with one or two regrets, but with trust that God uses prayers just as he can use people, and that He is sovereign and in control of hearts, not just situations.
He gives grace and is faithful even when we are distracted. He is the giver of good gifts and such sweet moments.
