Le Cygne

Le Cygne (The Swan) from Camille Saint-Saëns's Le carnaval des animaux (The Carnival of the Animals). 

So beautiful.

Jar of Hearts

Ever since I found out about making salads in mason jars last year, I've been recycling old jam/spaghetti jars for use around the house. I've used them for storing utensils, as water glasses, yogurt bottles...I even used one as a flower pot for my scrappy, succulent plant. I thought I was being so creative, BUT today, I stumbled across these amazing canning jars from Germany! Not only are they so much more aesthetically pleasing than my numerous ragu bottles, they also come in many different sizes and shapes. These jars are not too expensive (although definitely a little more pricey than ball jars found at Amazon/Kroger), but I think it would be worth the splurge to have something charming like this around the house. Can't you just imagine using these as drinking glasses or as pitchers for homemade teas and juices in the summer? 

Photos from Terrain.

Celebration of Cultures

The UTSW multicultural show was this past Friday! It was also MS0 weekend, which meant that friends, families, prospective and current UTSW students all came together in a 'celebration of cultures'. There were so many amazing acts - including multiple Indian dances, opera and jazz singing, a mariachi band,  belly dancing and a Tae-Kwon-Do skit where someone actually kicked an apple hanging 6 feet in the air from the tip of a sword into a million pieces. I was amazed and so excited to see how talented everyone at Southwestern was. The MS1 band -- The Circadian Rhythms -- were the opening act! We performed a Disney medley, and it was so much fun. After all our hard work, I thought I'd share it with you guys. Plus, who doesn't love a little Disney every once in a while?

White Coat Ceremony

We finally had our white coat ceremony this past weekend! 

(Running a little late)

Eagerly awaiting those white coats.

With my mommy.

Workin' those white coats. (Don't we look legit?)

It was such a wonderful day. Especially since my two best friends from high school ended up driving to Dallas just for this occasion. It wouldn't have been the same without you guys (more pictures to come!) I'd also like to give a special thanks to everyone who's helped me get to where I am today (you know who you are :). I couldn't have done it without you. <3

The Little Things

Sometimes, I think we're taught from a young age to expect the worst in the people. From the early warnings of not taking candy from strangers, to the self doubt that we feel when we are alone and on our own, to famous quotes saying "Always expect the worst and you will never be disappointed", its easy to think that the world is a harsh and lonely place. But sometimes, people can really surprise you. 

I was feeling kind of down today. Blame it on the hormones or the four and a half hour long CPR training session this afternoon, but I was so ready to just go home. When I got to my door, I saw an envelope wedged beneath it from one of my neighbors. Now, keep in mind, even though I've been in this complex for about two months already, I haven't really had the chance to meet anyone on my floor. So, of course the first thing that popped into my mind was -- oh crap, my neighbor's probably writing to tell me to stop playing the friggin' guitar and singing so late at night (which I admit, am guilty of on numerous occasions). But it wasn't that at all. A couple of days ago, I had seen an older woman walking down the hall with a bunch of heavy bags and I helped her to her door since we were going the same way anyways. She told me about how she had come to help her daughter who had gotten sick and was at the hospital. I didn't think much of it. Well, her daughter was the one who had written me the note. It was really simple thank you for helping her mom when she was sick, but it made my day knowing that something I did (something that I thought was so insignificant) was actually appreciated. 

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, the little acts of kindness that you do in your everyday life doesn't go unnoticed. And people rarely react the way you expect them to. Even though few people may actually verbalize their appreciation for your actions, it's still there. I'm not saying you should go out way to be nice, or just be nice to get thanked. Instead, it's what you normally do that makes the biggest impact even if you think it doesn't. I think a better quote to describe what I'm trying to explain would be "Hope for the best, expect the worst, but always be prepared to be surprised."

Rain Room

The Barbican's Curve Gallery in London currently has this amazing installation. It's a rain room that allows visitors to walk through without getting wet. Rain pours from the ceiling, but cameras with sensors can map human movement in the room and send instructions for the rain to fall around the people as they cross the room. Doesn't this look amazing? Makes me want to hope on a plane to London. right. now. :) 

Lymph Notes

Interview season has started up again at UT Southwestern. Every Friday and Saturday, I see people dressed up in black suits and high heels walking around our campus. It feels so weird to see them because it feels just like yesterday that I was in their place. 

I have to admit, Southwestern has a unique interview schedule. Interviewees start arriving Thursday night/Friday for a mixer and welcome interview dinner on Friday, and then the actual interview and tour is on Saturday. I'm pretty sure it was the only school that I interviewed at that had its interviews on the weekends. The schedule works well because everything is spaced out and organized and nothing feels too rushed. Also they feed you!! (and by you, I mean me AND the interviewees :). 

Earlier in the semester, I tried out for the acappella group on campus. I was really surprised when I got in since I didn't really have any previous acappella experience. As part of the Lymph Notes (get it?), we perform at the interview dinners pretty much every week. I finally managed to get a copy of a video of us singing today and thought I'd share it with you guys. The quality isn't the best, but the sound should be fine. We're working on a new song for next week, so stayed tuned!