Change

Today marks my last day as a student in the Child Language program.

I'll start the Early Childhood Unified Education program in the Special Education department at the University of Kansas this summer.  I'm thankful for what I've learned as a student in Child Language, but I'm really excited about being a teacher for itty bitty kiddos.  It means two more years of school, but in the end I'll be able to do what I love!  I'll keep my job as a GRA in the Fragile X lab, so I'll continue to travel on home visits and such.  I'll just be part of a different academic program.  While the change is a bit scary, I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life.

Performing Arts

One perk of being a student at a large public university is the wide variety of performances I have the opportunity to attend.  Friday night I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the National Acrobats of the People's Republic of China at KU's Lied Center.  Last year I saw Fiddler on the Roof, and later this school year I'll see two Broadway shows - South Pacific and Mamma Mia!, as well as the Celtic Tenors and Mannheim Steamroller.  What a year!

Semester 2, Week 1

Whew! I've made it through a full week of classes (though one hasn't met yet, so technically I'm not out of the woods yet).  So far I like them, but it will be a much busier semester than Fall '09.  However, I'm all for that.  I didn't really feel challenged and fully engaged last semester, but I know I will this time.  I've got some great professors and at least three major projects.  Of course they all want me to do 'something relevant or practical' with the project.  I agree, but I don't know if I can come up with 3 separate parts of a potential Masters thesis that fast!  I guess we'll see how it goes.

In other news, I'm excited to have two consecutive weekends in which I do not have to traipse across the country.  I enjoy the trips - both the flying and the visiting - but it is also very nice to have my weekends to myself.  I never really realized how much I look forward to them!  I think this will be my last respite for a while, however, because we've got quite a few families to see over the coming months.  During the school year, we usually can only see the kids on the weekends, because we and they have class during the week.  Thankfully we try to make sure we balance the trips such that no one travels more than 3 weekends in a row.  Still, those three weekends can be exhausting!  And usually there's only one weekend 'off' before jumping back in.

Choir

I had a great time tonight at the KU chamber and concert choir performance.  I got to catch up with a friend from Bellevue UMC and try out a local ice cream shoppe!  Part of what made the concert so nice for me was that they sang a few songs I have performed.  The second piece was my favorite arrangement of "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (arr. Gilbert Martin), and when they sang "Beati Quorum Via" I was transported back to my days as a Ballard HS Madrigal.  And to top it all off, the last song was Moses Hogan's "The Battle of Jericho", which is always a treat to sing or to hear.  Though I didn't understand most of the German lyrics, I did catch a few 'nights' and 'thankyous' in the three pieces.  I wasn't sure if I'd be able to make it through without coughing, but I managed to hide it by coughing during the clapping.  I'm really glad I was able to go!