Three Things

1. I got another interview!!!! This one is at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. I think I am going to take the train up there! And that, my friends, is terribly exciting. [both the interview and the train!]

2. I am obsessed - no really, obsessed - with Nova (don't I sound all local!) weather right now. It is gorgeous. For my Georgia friends - it is like those beautiful, perfect two weeks of fall weather we get between the really hot and really cold. I went exploring in the Great Falls National Park yesterday and today, and I was just blown away by how nice the weather and scenery were.

3. I am pumped to start classes. I know that is dorky and I will probably be eating my words in a month or two, but right now I am so very excited. Check out my stack of new books!!

Oh yes. 12 brand new books. I'm so ready!!

Love from Nova!!

Lauren

First Interview!!

I have my first med school interview invitation!! hooray!!

I had hoped I would get interview invitations, and planned on going to a few, but somehow actually seeing the words in an email is just waaaay too exciting!

So. Sometime in October I will be traveling back to good old Georgia to interview at MCG!

Wahoo!

Hope you all have the same excitement this lovely Monday.

:-)

Lauren

Apologies

Okay. I know I owe all your faithful readers (do I really have those?) an update. Actually, I owe you many, many updates. Updates like woah. Here goes.

The last few days before I moved were, in fact, completely crazy.

[Mostly because I procrastinated on packing until the last minute. And I do, in fact, mean THE last possible minute.]

Saturday I went to the Georgia season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette. It was SO much fun to be back between the hedges cheering on my bulldogs!! Plus, I got to go with Hilary and we had tons of fun hanging out before I had to move. Besides some serious sunburns and an extremely anxious wait for tickets at a Fed Ex store, it was an entirely successful and enjoyable day.

Sunday, mom, Hilary and I went shopping and I started the looong process of transforming my wardrobe from college to professional. I took some baby steps, I suppose. Progress is good, yes? Yes.

Then, I started packing. Oh yes. STARTED. To leave the next day. SO ridiculous. SO overwhelming. SO. Much. Stuff.

Monday, it was time to pack the car.

Guys.

I had SO much stuff.

I have never seen my car so packed.

Hats off to dad for a stellar car packing job.

[This is just the back and the passenger seat. The trunk was also utterly ridiculous. HOW do I have this much stuff?!?]

Got a call as soon as the car was loaded that I HAD A HOST FAMILY!!! Yay!! Talked with them and started my drive with a real, live destination.

Monday: 6+ hours to Durham.

Tuesday: 4+ hours to Great Falls (my new hoooome!)

Unloaded my stuff at my new house and went to lunch with my host parents.

Headed to the church where I got to finally meet the other Fellows on the receiving end of all those emails we had been getting since May!

We headed out on our kickoff retreat for the week - no cell phones, laptops or ipods allowed. There are 11 of us, so the first van ride was full of the standard hometown/major/college/internship/host family type questions. Of course, without electronics and lots of free time each day, we got down to much more serious discussions soon enough. And played card games. Lots and lots of card games. It was cold. I wore many, many layers. And used blankets. We laughed a lot. Had a bonfire. Went on the zipline. Slept in the cabins. Went on walks. Cooked together. Prayed together.

Basically, it was a pretty stinkin awesome week.

We came back today and went to a picnic where we all met our host families. Fortunately, I was a little ahead of the game, so my host parents and I just enjoyed lunch and headed home. I spent the afternoon unpacking, ate dinner with them and chatted for awhile.

Tomorrow is our first Sunday at McLean Pres! We are being introduced at church, meeting the kids in our ministry areas [children's! yay! :-) ], meeting the parents of the kids in our ministry areas, and attending the young adult service. Whew. Monday we start our usual class/round table schedule. Things are really starting to get going!

I'm really, really happy and excited to be in Capital Fellows this year. [see my post here for what this program is and how you can get excited too!] The summer was the longest summer, literally, I have ever had. It was crazy busy at times and really calm at others, but by the end of it I was so very ready to move up here and start the next chapter. The church, the Fellows directors, our host families, our mentors, and the Fellows themselves are just wonderful people to be around to learn and grow with and from for this year. I. Can't. Wait.

More soon from a happy Fellow! :-)

Lauren

Crazy.

Things. Are. Crazy.

What do you mean I'm moving to DC in ten days?!?

What do you mean I haven't started packing???

Are you sure I still have secondaries to finish?

Why do I have so many people I want to see before I leave?

Hilary really moved away to college? Really?!?

I've had somewhere to be every weekend? Are you sure? [Oh yes. Helen. Athens. North Carolina. More Athens.]

This is crazy, guys. So much to do, so little time.

Love from one busy kid,

Lauren

Hired!!

yep, that's me! Officially the newest scribe hire at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington! Wooo!! :-)

So excited to have this part figured out.

Oh, and I get to wear scrubs. At work. How official am I?

The big move is only three weeks away! Trying to make it to all my Georgia friends and favorite places in those three weeks. Oh, and finish all my secondary applications. And pack.

But for now, it is just time to enjoy having a JOB.

Love from one happy scribe,

Lauren

DC Cupcakes

Well, I am back from a busy two days in DC! Obviously, many things were accomplished. Obviously, it was a quick trip with much to do.

The real news of this whirlwind trip is obviously not the interview itself.

It's the cupcakes!!

Watch the show "DC Cupcakes" and you will know what I am talking about. An adorable little cupcake shop that has completely taken off and now requires waiting in a line out the door and down the street to even walk in. And now has a reality TV show about the shop and the sisters who own it. And I actually went there! Oh yes. Be jealous. To answer the question I know you are dying to ask, I had a red velvet cupcake. It was to die for. Yummmmm.

Now, the more grown up, "I-was-actually-there-for-a-job-interview" part of the trip. The interview Tuesday went well, I think. It was a group interview and very practical to the job. Basically, I would be working in an ER with a doctor - seeing patients, completing charts, taking medical histories, etc. (SO exciting!!!!) So the interview involved several listening and note-taking type exercises. Praying that this job works out. If not, the search continues!

The most amazing part of the trip to me was not the interview, or the city, or even the cupcakes (shocking, I know). It was the people helping me out from the Fellows program along the way.

See, I had to get to the interview on Tuesday, which was a good distance outside of the city. The Metro couldn't get me there, so I was trying to get creative between the Metro, taxis, and buses. Instead, our director said, here, take my car. and my GPS. see you in a few hours. I mean, that is some serious trust in another person. And a big sacrifice to give up your car for a day. But he did it without a second thought and it made my interview day a hundred times easier.

Our assistant director offered me her apartment Monday night. I had a place to sleep, a shower to use, and coffee to drink in the morning (basically, everything I need!). Not to mention she picked me up at the airport, drove me around town, and answered every question I threw her way (not easy).

I know these people have lives. Very busy ones, in fact. Which makes their sacrifices for me even more amazing. And makes me that much more excited to live, work, learn and serve there in less than a month!!!

For now, much love from the Peach State,

Lauren

Woah.

Woah.

That is all I can say.

Craziness has officially ensued.

This past week, I worked at a high school band camp as their woodwind staff person. It was:

a) super fun to be back in the music world and actually use things I learned in college (what a concept)

b) super rewarding to see how the kids improved throughout the week

c) super long days and

d) super hot. super super duper hot.

Friday, I got home from camp, showered, packed a bag and headed to Helen, Georgia for a family (mom's side) reunion weekend. I have always loved my extended family, but somehow as I get older I appreciate them more and more. We are a pretty cool bunch, if I do say so myself. Fifteen members of the extended Cramer fam made it to a b-e-a-utiful mountain cabin for the weekend from all over the east coast. Between lots of food, great conversation, some hiking and multiple visits to the cabin's hot tub, the weekend was a great success!

And now, the craziest of all.

I'm going to Washington, D.C.

Tomorrow.

Yes, tomorrow.

To go to a job interview for this upcoming year with Fellows. *Send up some prayers! It is Tuesday at 2. :-)*

So, tonight will be spent packing and organizing and tomorrow, I'm off again!

Like I said. Woah.

Love from a (still) happy traveler,

Lauren