Life update
So, new things have happened in the last year or so! I'm back in school. I started a masters program at UHCL (which, thankfully, is really close to my house) last fall (2011) in environmental geology. Seriously, I didn't realize just how much I missed learning until I started school again. It's ridiculous how much knowledge I felt was lost and/or wasted while I searched for a job. While I had one, even.
So, school started last year. It's been very busy and quite intense because masters programs require so much outside-of-class work. Then, this March, two days before my birthday, I got a job at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as an investigator! It's also been very intense and, for the most part, interesting. I've been there about six months now and some days I feel like ripping my hair out and wondering what the hell I'm doing here, but most days it's been good. One thing I do hate, though, is the commute. It takes about an hour each way every day to get to and from work. That eats about eleven hours out of my day! (one hour for lunch at work, etc)
Full time school and full time work is really hard to balance. Classes started up again two-ish weeks ago and I'm already feeling pretty overwhelmed. I'm so thankful that I still live at home, though. First, it helps me save money that would otherwise go in rent. Second, my mom's an angel and I don't have to do cooking or anything like that. So I can focus on school work when I get home instead of cooking for the evening or week.
One of my dad's cousins and his family came to Houston two years ago and we became pretty close with the three daughters (they're young, but not too young - 13, 18, and 20 years old). Well, the dad found a job in New York and took his family with him, but the oldest daughter is still in university here, so she's come to live with us. I thought at first that it would be difficult to manage a new person, but she's so sweet and helpful and she's been really great so far!
Another big thing is that I bought my first car last month! It's an adorable minicooper that's this beautiful bright blue color with white stripes and disco lights on the inside (seriously, it feels like a club at night when you're driving where there are no street lights because I can set it to change colors continuously instead of one color at a time)! I will put up a picture. :D
I've been getting to spend more time with my bestie here in Houston, which has been really nice. We both need the time away from other people and with each other, so I feel we've gotten closer the last few months. I'm glad for that. Nicole, my bestie from Alabama, flew into town yesterday to go for her uncle's wedding in College Station today, so I picked her up from the airport and got to spend a few hours with her, too. That was really nice because I haven't seen her in a few years. We went to a Spanish tapas place downtown and they had live flamenco dancers and singer and guitarist and drummer there! It was really entertaining. That place is great!
So yes, that is the update on Hina's life. It's been a while since I posted, but everything's been on the up and up since I started school last year and I'm incredibly thankful to feel like I'm moving forward again in life. Love you all!
So, school started last year. It's been very busy and quite intense because masters programs require so much outside-of-class work. Then, this March, two days before my birthday, I got a job at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as an investigator! It's also been very intense and, for the most part, interesting. I've been there about six months now and some days I feel like ripping my hair out and wondering what the hell I'm doing here, but most days it's been good. One thing I do hate, though, is the commute. It takes about an hour each way every day to get to and from work. That eats about eleven hours out of my day! (one hour for lunch at work, etc)
Full time school and full time work is really hard to balance. Classes started up again two-ish weeks ago and I'm already feeling pretty overwhelmed. I'm so thankful that I still live at home, though. First, it helps me save money that would otherwise go in rent. Second, my mom's an angel and I don't have to do cooking or anything like that. So I can focus on school work when I get home instead of cooking for the evening or week.
One of my dad's cousins and his family came to Houston two years ago and we became pretty close with the three daughters (they're young, but not too young - 13, 18, and 20 years old). Well, the dad found a job in New York and took his family with him, but the oldest daughter is still in university here, so she's come to live with us. I thought at first that it would be difficult to manage a new person, but she's so sweet and helpful and she's been really great so far!
Another big thing is that I bought my first car last month! It's an adorable minicooper that's this beautiful bright blue color with white stripes and disco lights on the inside (seriously, it feels like a club at night when you're driving where there are no street lights because I can set it to change colors continuously instead of one color at a time)! I will put up a picture. :D
I've been getting to spend more time with my bestie here in Houston, which has been really nice. We both need the time away from other people and with each other, so I feel we've gotten closer the last few months. I'm glad for that. Nicole, my bestie from Alabama, flew into town yesterday to go for her uncle's wedding in College Station today, so I picked her up from the airport and got to spend a few hours with her, too. That was really nice because I haven't seen her in a few years. We went to a Spanish tapas place downtown and they had live flamenco dancers and singer and guitarist and drummer there! It was really entertaining. That place is great!
So yes, that is the update on Hina's life. It's been a while since I posted, but everything's been on the up and up since I started school last year and I'm incredibly thankful to feel like I'm moving forward again in life. Love you all!