The New Year

I didn't go out last night with the girls. They were going into town. I didn't participate in the new year celebration at our restaurant with my family either. Why's that? Well, I was sick. I'm still sick. But that's ok. I don't think that I really missed out on much. To be prefectly honest, I'm over the New Year Celebration thing. Really!

I think that in general, there's too much silliness for just one night. Drunk drivers, drunks in general, young hooligans etc. Like I said, it's the general situation not just the company one chooses to keep. Of course I'm not discribing my family's way of celebrating but it's just things around you really.

"Well, that's not a very happy way of looking at the transition into another year" is prehaps what you're thinking. But I actually have a pretty good attitude to the new year in general. And I think I had a good new year's eve :) I spent a few hours on the phone instead of being out and about. Mum was home before 12:30 so I sat and spoke to her for ages after that too. We reflected on the previous year and commented on what we wanted to acheive in this new one.

So, my big plans for this coming year? Well... for one thing, I'm going to be a clinical student. How exciting! I'm looking forward to it :) I'll most likely be living alone (after Feb) so that's going to be a learning experience. I've got a couple of new year's resolutions but haven't gotten it down on paper yet. I know that this year will be a year of growth and new challenges. Even though I'm not feeling 100% (health-wise) I'm still ready for all the challenges that lie ahead. Bring it on!

adventures continue

After shooting up with caffine, Jeff and I were ready to hit the road. We had interesting conversation on the road, talking about everything from Coon hunting to politics...
Once in houston, we went on an exploration around the Intercontinential airport to find the United Airlines ticketing counter.

The woman at the counter refused to help and said that I needed to book the ticket on the phone, again. eek! Not the automated service all over again! Jeff took the inititive and assertively demanded that they assist me. It wasn't long after this that the moment finally arrived. Everything fell into place and I had my ticket from Memphis to Sanfransico! I could hardly believe it and had to have Jeff confirm that all the details on the ticket were correct. Finally, I'm going to Memphis Tennesse, home of Elvis Presley!

Then... lunch, great food, great service, you know- the usual Texan goodness :)

We went to a market, where we found some of the essentials (eg. lemongrass) in order for me to cook for the Abt family. Mmmmm, generic asian food. This is the conversation that Jeff had with Abbey
A: Thida's goin to cook Thai for us
J: I thought Thida was Cambodian?
A: She is but... you know how "all Asian's look the same"? Well, it's the same with their food. lol

Abbey was kidding! (Just in case you all couldn't tell)

I am going to interject into my story now because I should probably explain why I'm going to Memphis.

Back in July of this year, I went to an International Christian Medical & Dental Assoication ( ICMDA) conference in Sydney. This is where I met a Sydney Dent student (Jesse). After the conference, we stayed in touch and became pretty good friends. Jesse is orginally from Tennesse and his parents still live there. AND to make things even more interesting his mother is a Pediatric anesthesiologist! With my free ticket, Abbey adamantly refused to let me go anywhere in the states without knowing people at the destination or having someone go with me on my trip. This seemed really limiting at the time, but then Jesse came to the rescue and suggested I go stay with his parents.

I get to shadow a brilliant doctor ( Jesse's mum) and see another part of the United States, having even more fun adventures!! I'm also really looking forward to going to Jesse's home church. From what I've heard about his church and the sermons I've listened to, it sounds really great. It'll also be cool to meet Jesse's family, whom I've heard so much about.

So, things seem to have worked out beautifully now that I've got my plane ticket :)