What did I do with my time since arriving in 2001
1. Had a great time
2. Made new relationships with really great people, bought my first house
3. Coached IU swimming for 4 years (part of a team that won Big Tens twice - go Hoosiers)
4. Got my masters degree
5. Experienced some life changing moments - lost my way for a year or two
6. Found my way back :), sold a house and bought my second house
7. Completed my Ph.D
- After a year of anticipation my defense was finally upon me, along with the worst cold I have had in years (argh), I drove back to Bloomington, Indiana on Monday October 19th feeling feverish and awful. I finally arrives almost 12 hours later!!. Jesse and his roomate JJ had made dinner :), so I ate and went straight to bed......................... the next morning I felt worse but with a presentation to prepare i forced mysefl up and to my old office I went. I did get to spend some good time with my advisor and all in all thursday came around, my defense went good. Well, it was good after the nerves subsided, after I presented and after they told me I done with no revisions to make .... Yippeeeeee
My time at IU definitely had its ups and downs (as all graduate students will understand), but that was my home, I had friends in the student system and I had friends from the community. I love Bloomington, it has everything you need, great University Town, good restaurants, wonderful surrounding countryside..................... and more to the point a fabulous triathlon community (hence being named as one of the top 20 places to live and train as a triathlete). I didn't think anything was ever going to be like Bloomington (part of me still doesn't). However, my new home (Houghton, MI) is definitely growing on me, I like it here and I am meeting some really great people (who also do triathlons and such- yeah). I am looking forward (still with anticipation) to the winter and snow that is coming (probably very soon).