After my first email (6 weeks into my journey through PA school) I had hoped to be able to send out updates every 6 or 8 weeks.  This, obviously, did not happen.  It seems that exams and classes got the better of me and now I find myself only 2 ½ weeks from the end of the semester and just now sending my second update.  You’ll forgive me I’m sure.  
 
So here’s a glimpse at what the past 4 months has looked like for me.
 
Classes and Where I’ve Been…
If I remember correctly, the last time I wrote I had just finished a month of all day- everyday Anatomy and started into a full schedule of all my fall classes.  Classes have been extremely challenging but I have been enjoying what we are learning and doing my best to keep up.  Over Labor Day weekend I traveled to North Carolina for two days to visit with friends and then headed to VA beach to watch some friends run the half marathon.  It was a great time of refreshment and relaxation.  When I returned to PA the exams began.  From there on out we had at least two exams a week.  The second to last week in September and the first week in October saw three exams each.  Those weeks were long and tiring but I made it through.  The weekend of October 13th I returned to NC for the wedding of some good friends Kevin and Shannon.  It was again a great time to see friends, be refreshed, and celebrate the marriage of the Ferguson’s!  When I returned to PA that Sunday night I couldn’t bare the thought that it would be 2 ½ months until I was able to return so I made the decision to come back to NC two weeks later (over my fall break) and I was able to join my old Sunday School class for their annual fall retreat to the mountains.  What a joy it was to join friends, fellowship and worship, and enjoy God’s amazing creation!  I returned to PA once again, refreshed and ready to finish out the semester.  
 
The last four weeks have been challenging but also encouraging.  I finally seemed to find that “groove” everyone had assured me I would find and the day in/day out grind of classes, studying, and exams became more bearable.  Last week I was able to go home to Pittsburgh and be with my family for Thanksgiving.  It was just what I needed.  The time with my parents and my aunt and cousins was encouraging and refreshing and I was more than spoiled during the time.  In five short days we ate a lot of turkey, went to the movies twice, the symphony and the theater once, and my stepmother even took me shopping.  All things that I haven’t been able to do since starting school!  
 
Last Monday morning we started the road to the end of the semester.  This and next week are the wrap up of all our classes and the beginning of finals.  I have two finals next week, three the following week, and two the week after that.  And then we have an entire month off for Christmas before returning in January!!!
 
 
 
Philadelphia, Roommates, and Life in General…
I had hoped that after my last email I would be able to write and say how well I had settled in to life in Philadelphia, that living arrangements had worked out great and that I had found an amazing church to attend.
 
Unfortunately this just isn’t the case.  I have struggled on a daily basis with life in Philly.  I have tried my hardest to reach out to my roommates but am continually met with disdain.  I have attended 8 or 10 different churches without really feeling like I fit anywhere.  But I am encouraged to know that this was the path God carved out for me and as long as I am where He wants me to be then I will be fine.  Not every day can be a day surrounded by friends and I am certain that at the end of my journey through school I will be able to understand more fully the lessons that He is teaching me through these struggles.  For now, I have found a church that I believe teaches the solid word of God and even though I don’t feel like I really fit in, I know that I will able to be encouraged through solid teaching each week.  I will continue to try to reach out to my roommates, and classmates, and try to remember that it is not me they don’t like, it is my unwillingness to buy into the lies of the world.  
 
Coming up…
I am so excited that in 2 ½ weeks I will have completely finished my first semester of grad school.  My last final is on December 18th and I will most likely stick around Philly for a few days to take care of things that have been neglected for the last six months (like the two foot tall stack of unopened mail) and to pack up everything I will need for the next month.  I will be spending Christmas back at home in Pittsburgh and then I will be traveling back to North Carolina to spend some time relaxing, catching up with friends, and seeking out opportunities to do some of my rotations there in the spring of ’09.  Most importantly I will be going down for the birth of my friend Sara’s first baby.  
 
Next semester will come quickly and will be even more challenging than the first.  I’m excited that we’ll be planning and scheduling year two of clinical rotations and look forward to putting “it all” together and in to practice.
 
Well, that’s about it. I know it was a long letter, but it’s been a long 4 months.  I appreciate the emails and phone calls more than you’ll ever know and encourage you to keep ‘em coming!  :o)-  The days I get emails or phone calls are so much brighter.
 
For those of you in North Carolina, I look forward to seeing you soon and for everyone else, I wish you the best Christmas full of blessings!
 
Love,
 
Stephanie