10,000 years will give you such a krick in the neck*

…and 8 hours of class will make you a little stir crazy.

today was my first full day of class. i mean that literally. while i am taking a kappa haka class (i’ll explain that later), today was my first day of my public health classes. each of them is from 9-5. no misprint…9-5. and when you consider that i have to take the bus over at 8 and wait for the bus to drop me off at half past 5 well…you get the point.

in some respects it was great. i met classmates – finally. i have been eager to see who shows up in class and to hear what they do…and oh what they do.

we have many doctors – from all over the world. a sister from sudan, a brother iraq…then of course we have a guy from social work making a career change. 46 of us. 46 in an 8 hour graduate class is a lot.

but i’m pleased to note that we have maori and pacific island voices being heard. and i ended up running my mouth to a woman who works for the government in maori health. say what you will about my talking but i have to admit i’m loving this current incarnation of my father.

let me explain for anyone who has never met my dad…he is friendly. he speaks to everyone…all the time…in all places. he can hold a conversation with a 5-year-old or an 85-year-old, it is just who he is. and when i was younger i groaned and rolled my eyes. and when i got older i ignored it or smiled in his general direction as if i were the parent and he were my wayward child. now that i’m closer to grown myself…i see that part of him emerging in me…and i like it. i understand why he does it.

all that said…8 hour classes are brutal and i have another one this friday…bear with me as i try to hunker down and get used to this change in schedule.

*Disney’s Aladdin