A Post from the Crookston blog - fyi

Here is our little update, so everyone can know what is happening with us in Michigan (also, so I can procrastinate doing my homework for just a little bit longer). We are both very busy with school. Katsu is mostly very busy working. He is a graduate research assistant (that is how he gets his assistantship - i.e. free tuition + health insurance + stipend). It is both good and bad. Good in that he gets paid (yeah!) and he gets a good start on his research, for his dissertation, etc. Bad in that he is working about 40 hours a week (that does not include the school part of his PhD). He is taking two classes - an Exercise Physiology class and a Nutrition class (that is through the School of Public Health). Oh, and for those who don't know, this is all for his PhD in Kinesiology (study of movement).
On a more fun note for Katsu, he is on the soccer intramural team with other church members from our stake as well as some other students. They are doing pretty well and he loves getting a bit back into soccer. He is also very busy with church - he just got called a couple weeks ago to be in the Elders Quroum Presidency (again!) and is busy with that. We are also in the ward choir and Katsu has been asked to sing a solo as part of one of our pieces for next week. Everyone loves his voice.
I (Amanda) am very busy. i have a fellowship this year, so I don't have to work, but school work is really overwhelming in my department. I really am not enjoying grad school, so it looks like I probably won't be pursuing a PhD, but just a Masters at this point. We'll see. I am taking three classes - a probability class, a math class for signal processing majors, and a medical imaging class where we study things like MRI, Ultrasound, etc. The material is interesting, but it's very competitive - about 75% of my classmates are international students who came from top notch colleges around the world. So, that's me - my degree will be in Electrical Engineering Systems with a major in Signal Processing (and maybe a minor in Biomedical).
I have fun, too. Katsu and I are both ushers for the University Musical Society. This is one of the top ten venues in the US for performances. So, we are part of the Jazz and World Music Crew. We come an hour early to performances and take people to their seats and then get to see the show for free. So far, I have seen Sonny Rollins, the jazz great, and Pat Metheny and trio. It's a lot of fun and we get to meet new people too. I am the primary pianist in the ward (again!) and choir, etc. etc.
Miss everyone tons! If you are ever in Detroit or Ann Arbor or even Michigan, come visit!!!!!!!

Monday

It's Monday and once again I have basically done no homework. Last week, my excuse was an eye doctor appt (that was a good one - dilated eyes are absolutely no help); this week, my excuse is a dentist appt that I just got back from. But excuses or no, I really need to do my homework.

So the consensus is ... amanda does not like grad school. I really hate it at the moment. I am only taking 3 classes - really how hard could that be. Well, it's not going so hot. My class that was supposed to be hardest, a probability course, is fast-paced, but by far my favorite class. The exams are going to be a killer (which is why I should be studying now) but I really like the class. My second class has no point yet, at least none that I can see. Midterm is fastly approaching and I still have no idea what the class is about - feel free to enlighten me ... the name is like Mathematical Models for Signal Processing or something elusive like that. And finally my Medical Imaging class. ugh. The class itself is fine, but each week, I optimistically look at the homework, take a stab, and then realize I have no idea how to do any of the problems. maybe I am just not made out for grad school. Who knew half of my life here would be spent in office hours. Oh, well. I really am also not feeling competitive which is part of the problem. I just want to learn something, you know? I don't want to have to try to learn it better than every other person.

But so goes life. Katsu's classes aren't too bad but he's in the lab 40 hours a week (that does not include class time!) which I think is quite a bit for a first year student. I think it stresses him out some. But thankfully, he is doing intramural soccer which is helping. He really enjoys that and it is something new for him. Together, we are also ushers for the University Musical Society. We got the jazz & world music series which I was initially bummed about, but I think it will still turn out fine. I went to do a Sonny Rollins concert while katsu was at the Priesthood meeting and I enjoyed it a lot. And I didn't fall taking people up and down stairs in the balcony before the show. Yeah for us.

We are starting to plan a trip to London for spring break. I am so excited. Katsu is concerned that I have this idea in my head that we are millionaries and thus should go traveling so often. I don't think that ... it's just one more trip, right? Before we settle down? Or something like that. Though I do have that Jerusalem travel book sitting on the book shelf just dying to be used (not to mention Morocco and Italy) .... but don't worry, Mom.

Well, off I must trudge to office hours. "Can you help me, because boy do I need it?"