I'm in!

So I had a great trip to the Pacific Northwest! I was accepted to both schools; I received the acceptance letters on my birthday! I fell in love with Bastyr University in Seattle and have sent my letter of intent to start their ND program in the Fall. Now all I have to do is successfully complete my last prerequisite, a General Psychology class which starts in two weeks.

Here's a couple of links with a little more information on the program in addition to naturopathic medicine:
Explorehealthcareers.org
Bastyr

14 Mindfulness Trainings

In preparing for naturopathic medical school interviews next week, I have been looking at many common interview questions. One was: name three people, dead or alive, that you would invite to dinner and why? This got me really thinking. I initially wanted to spend it with some family members, some dead and some in California, but then I thought about the actually opportunity this dinner would provide. I decided there were three people I was interested in meeting, each covering the training of my mind, body and spirit.
Mohatma Ghandi-famed social justice activist, Rodney Yee-my favorite yoga guru ;) and Thich Nhat Hanh- a buddhist monk famous for his spiritual guidance. I know these may sound like cliche choice, but I think it would be a life changing dinner! (Anyone else notice the Eastern connections??)

In that spirit I decided to take the next 14 days to practice Thich Nhat Hanh's trainings in mindfulness. Today:

Openness

Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, I am determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help me learn to look deeply and to develop my understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill or die for.

Personality Type!!

I am an INFJ! They are sometimes described as counselors, a very unique and most rare personality type, I believe it accurately described me in many ways, especially myself in work and personal relationships. Interesting discovery...

Find out your type here

Some Famous INFJs:
Gandhi
Sidney Poitier
Eleanor Roosevelt
Jane Goodall
Emily Bronte
Sir Alec Guiness
Carl Jung
Queen Noor
Aung San Suu Kyi

New Beginnings???

It's been over two years since I've been back from Africa and let my blogging come to an end. I spent the good part of those two years taking classes at UNCG in order to enter a medical school program. Along the way I found a part-time job at the local hospital as a transporter/clinical assistant.

These past two years, I have tried to help Ousmane with his transition to life in the US. It has been very rough at times but I think we've come a long way. Despite his stubbornness and his keen ability to drive me crazy I love him with all my heart.

I'm flying out next week to the northwest to interview at two schools for their Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine program. Bastyr University in Seattle and National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, so excited and nervous at the same time!

Post-Africa

Ousmane and I spent two months living in the Parcelles neighborhood of Dakar. I guess, I can check another item of my "things to do before 30" list. Dakar was okay, expensive so kind of frustrating to live there, unemployed and on a budget. But I gotta say living right on the beach with my husband for those two months was like an extended honeymoon. On November 6th, exactly one month after our first trip to the embassy, Ousmane received his visa.

After Ousmane got his visa, we decided to high-tail it back to Kedougou to spend the Senegalese holidays there with his family (unfortunately my camera broke before the holidays so no pics). Tabaski was great, the previous volunteer who lived with his family, along with the current volunteer who lives there, were both present. We had a really big sheep and ate meat for a week- yum yum!!

I got back to North Carolina on Dec. 13th after a 9 hr delay (can't complain too much, South Africa put me in first class from DKR to JFK). Ousmane should be here before I start classes next month(Jan. 19). Until then, I'm enjoying my first snow in over three years, hanging out with mom, getting ready for a visit from Kenny, and helping mom with the Christmas baking!