What I've been up to . . .

Okay. Time for a new post. I don't even have anything of great importance to be writing about, but I thought that I would update anyways.

Life has started to get much busier here for me. The first couple weeks were very slack, with quite a bit of free time in my schedule. It was nice. I would like to say that I used all that extra time for working ahead, but no, things just don't work that way. Unfortunately, the period of free time has now come to an end, and we are in full force now. Midterms started this week (Jan.31) - and will basically be dragged out until near the end of the semester. I'm not looking forward it. We have learned a lot of clinical techniques so far this semester - slit lamp, retinoscopy, subjective refraction, gonioscopy. I feel now like I am actually becoming an optometrist. I enjoy doing the practical stuff, although it can be frustrating at times, when I just can't get it right. Retinoscopy is pretty hard - but I am getting better at it. All of the profs say that it will probably be the hardest thing that we learn, and that it will take a long time for us to feel really comfortable with it, so I don't worry too much about it. Learning all these techniques means that a significant amount of time has to be spent in the Pre-Clinic, as we have practical exams later in the semester.

Outside of school, I have had some time to enjoy myself. One of the best things that I have done in the past couple weeks was go to an exhibit called BodyWorlds 2 at the Ontario Science Centre. For those of you who may not have heard anything about this exhibit, it features real human bodies that have undergone a process called plastination, leaving the body essentially as plastic. The bodies have been dissected, and posed in various positions - skiier, pole vaulter, skateboarder, diver, soccer player, figure skater, etc. It is fascinating to see the anatomy of the human body so up close and life-like. It sounds like it might be a bit creepy, since the bodies are all real bodies - but in my opinion, it was just really neat. The human body has always fascinated me - how complex and intricate it is - and this exhibit once again proved that. It's amazing how everything just works so perfectly. God really knew what he was doing.

I've had more chances to spend time with my friends here as well. Last Friday, I spent the evening with my school friends, eating supper at my friend Lindsey's house, and then going bowling together. Now I don't want to brag, but I just have to mention my score for the second game of bowling - I got 237! Without a doubt, that is the best game that I have ever bowled - I even surprised myself with that one! Last Thursday, I went out for supper with a great group of girls from the church. There were four of us - me, Gracie (my housemate), and two other girls, Amy and Elizabeth. It was awesome to just spend time talking, and getting to know each other. We decided to try and get together as often as possible, even every week, if it works out. Even though we have just started this, I feel really blessed to have these three girls. I have really missed having close friends here, who I can just hang out with, and talk with whenever I need to - and I have a feeling that these girls might become that for me here in Waterloo.

Not much else to tell. I have lots of feelings and thoughts flowing through me right now, but it is too difficult to put them down into words right now. Besides, my "Diseases of the Eye" notes are calling my name right now. It's time to get to work! I hope you are all having an awesome day!