Its also been a month since I told everyone I would send out blog updates regularly. So, this is a little later than planned, but I think I've finally figured out the whole blog thing besides how to upload video (our connection is horrible, so I'll have to find a better connection or figure out some way to do it where the upload won't get interrupted after a few hours) and how to get our little family picture (above) to upload in the appropriate size. I've figured out how to do posts, anyhow, and that is what matters most.
In a nutshell, Ben's school has been harder than he expected, finding friends has been easier than either of us expected, being at home with Whitney has been more fun than I expected, and Texas has been just as hot and humid as we both expected.
While Ben has done well so far in school, he has been a little bit surprised at how difficult it has been. The classes are very fast. He said that he learns in one day what it took him a week or more to learn during his undergrad. The classes are also extremely comprehensive. For example, Ben took two anatomy classes in his undergrad and aced them both. This one, even after only a few weeks, has been a lot more detailed and complicated than either of the classes he took before. This anatomy class focuses a lot more heavily, not only on the names and locations of everything, but what everything interacts with and how it interacts (e.g. nerves to muscles, muscles to bones, etc.). Thankfully, this first semester is pass/fail. Two weeks ago he passed his first biochemistry test, though not with the score he would have desired. Shockingly, a third of the class DIDN'T pass that test. I told Ben to count his blessings. Essentially, though things have been harder than he thought, he feels like he is keeping up.
Ben goes to school with 6 other LDS boys (men?), and has gotten to know them all very well. The church has many benefits, one of them is automatic friendships. Ben and I have been able to do several things with these students and their wives already--among them is BYU football, of course. Its been very nice to have someone to hang out with! Ben has also made friends with some other students. He doesn't like the idea of having an exclusive "Mormon clique". He has made good friends with all of his "tank mates" (3 students who share a cadaver with him ) as well as another student and his wife who are coming over to dinner this weekend.
I've really enjoyed this month of being at home with Whitney. While it gets a bit boring being at home all of the time, it has been fulfilling to build our relationship and work on her development. She started crawling maybe a week and a half after we got here, and yesterday she stood up by herself for the first time. Though I enjoy watching these developments, it has also made more work for me. She likes exploring the house and recently discovered the fridge and the cupboard with the cleaning supplies.
We like Texas a lot. BUT we still don't understand why there is so much Texas pride. Its not just a stereotype. People down here are REALLY proud of their state. If you EVER see an American flag, there will be a Texas flag (of equal if not greater height) right next too it. On advertisements Texas is used to boost people's products. For example, "Texas-style (this)" or "the size of Texas", or "best in Texas". While the people here are very friendly, and there are a lot of fun things to do, we still don't buy into the whole "Texas is best" mentality. Utah is totally better.
Anyway, this post is running a little long. Quickly, here are some fun things we've done this month: going to a Ranger's game, seeing the HUGE train set at the Children's Medical Center, going to the Irving acquatics center, hiking in the local nature preserve, Ben's birthday (we played wuffle ball, and it was a blast). I'll be better about updating next time so you won't get a TON of information all at once with very little detail about any one thing. I also plan to post pictures and video, but as I said above, I tried to upload pictures and some video I took, but our connection couldn't handle it. After we upgrade, I'll try again.
6 comments:
Hey! Glad to hear everything is going well. I think I have a small understanding of what Ben is going through. Just tell him to pace himself and don't worry so much about the grade. Get enough to pass and move on. You can't keep up that kind of pace forever, trust me, I know. Anyway, a bit of free, friendly advice. Take it for what it's worth. I know he'll do great and you guys will be blessed. Can't wait to get more updates!
Aersta
glad to finally see you are safe and sound and having fun! I've never been to Texas but hope to go someday to see all this Texas Pride!
We miss you!
keep the posts coming. can't wait to see pictures!!
How cute your blog is! And don't worry about writing too much--we love hearing about all of it! I would love to see Whit opening the cupboard doors and pulling things out. How fun for her to be in this mobile discovery mode. If you can, take photos of that and post them when you get better internet. Way to go on passing that first exam Ben! You rock! Loves and hugs to all three of you!
We we happy to see that you are settling in well. It would be so depressing to be in the third of the class that failed the biochem class. Congrats, Ben, on passing! And yes, Debi, being home with a little one can definitely be boring. You'll have to find some creative way to alleviate the cabin-fever monotony or else you may slowly go insane. No offense intended to Whitney and all those humans her age, but what can I say? I work with middle school students, the most amazingly unboring age group to observe as they cope with the quirks of growing up. A new 8th grade girl just moved into the school. And yes, she's beautiful, and (less important to the hormone driven middle school male) she's very smart. You should have seen the boys tripping over each other, drool running down their chins, trying to get her attention. During lunch a mild shoving match happened between the boys sitting by her already and the boy who ALSO wanted to sit by her at the lunch table but wasn't yet. As an adulet observing, it was very hard to keep a straight face. The young beauty just smiled shyly and blushed. Perfect. Just think. One day that may be Whitney. Otherwise...I think you'll be able to cope with Texas pride by smugly noting to yourself that you are from somewhere better, as you mentioned. Have fun with your weekend dinner guest!
Next time I post a blog, I'll read it and correct the typos before I permanently humiliate myself.
It was great to hear from you. You are so funny, Debi. I laughed out loud several times. And believe me, I needed to laugh out loud. Not to be rude, but I have wondered how a couple of grandpa's doctor's did in their anatomy classes. They must have passed eventually, but hmmmmm. It sounds like you've done more in a month than we do in a typical year. That's great--don't let anything pass you by. You won't want to wish you did such-and-such while you were there. Write as much as you want to. I love it!
Aunt Janny
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