In the Red

So as of about seven this evening, I am officially in debt for the first time in my life. $50,000 for just the first year. Go big or go home I guess. The scariest part is that they gave me a estimated salary calculator and they recommend that I don't take out more than $60,000 total. I'm clearly not the only one who has had to take out student loans for optometry school, but they did a good job scaring me. Ick. At least all of my applications for financial aid are done.

On a much brighter note Dad threw me a going away party on Saturday. It was sooo much fun!! All of the family was us from the Milwaukee/Racine area and Nicole invited some of my friends. I was so glad that I got to see everyone one last time. Anna even drove all the way from Elkhorn and everyone with dogs brought them. Dad grilled for everyone and quite a few people brought a ridiculous amount of food. Dad and Brett were up until midnight for the last couple of nights trying to get ready for the party. Dad is in the process of remodeling the house and until the middle of the week was sleeping in the living room while the drywall was being redone in the bedrooms. It was incredibly sweet of everyone involved to go through the trouble (and the expense) of throwing me the party!!

Seven Days

****Disclaimer: My spelling and grammar may make all of my former English teachers grimace. Please refrain from trying to correct me. I will do my best, but I am really more worried about my grammar in my second language right now*****



I have exactly seven days left on the mainland. I'm still not sure that the reality of how quickly August 1st is approaching has really hit me. I still have way too much packing/organizing/putting away stuff left to do. Its amazing how 50 lbs of stuff doesn't amount to that much. It is such a trade off because I have to get all of this stuff done, but I really just want to be able to spend my last week with my friends and family. I am going to miss everyone so much.

I'm really and truly excited about all that is about to happen. It is pretty amazing that I am about to move to one of the most beautiful places in the world to go to school and when I am done, I am going to have my dream job. I just wish I could bring everyone with me. Since I can't, I really going to try to enlist the help of everyone who is important to me. I think I will feel a whole lot less homesick if I feel like I am still in the loop. Optometry school is going to be intense, so please don't ever feel neglected. My education is my main focus for the next four year and I promise to not be as self-centered when it is all over. Moral of the story, please read this and comment, and call me (even if I can't always talk) and email me and text me.

I am so glad that Wendy is moving me down to school. I think it is part of what is keeping me from entirely freaking me out. Just her being there will give me a week to transition. I know she will help me get everything set up so that it feels like home. I have had apartments where I never took the time to nest, and I just never felt settled. I am really going to need this to feel like a home to me. This first week is going to be an adventure in itself. I'm sure I'm about to get a really good idea of how little Spanish I really know. Shopping in Spanish for items I don't have words for is going to be comical. At least Wendy will be right by my side....probably laughing at me.

Hopefully this last week here will help me get a few things worked out so I can feel a little comfortable with the situation. I wish I could say that I know exactly what I am getting myself into, but I don't. At the current moment, I don't even know what my new address is going to be. I don't know anything about my soon to be roommates (including their names) and I still have to sit down with Dad this weekend and figure out what my best option is for financial aid (which they tell me won't go through til mid Sept). Ugh.

Well, I will keep you all updated.

Lots of love,
Nikki