Six Months Later...

Hi, everyone! I'm hoping to change the once-every-six-months update schedule. Here's a recap of the changes in my life since the day I walked out feelin' funny and free.

South America

The trip to Chile was wonderful. We spent several days driving around Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, two small Chilean towns in the northern portion of Chilean Patagonia. A big highlight was seeing Lago Todos Los Santos, a lake with a gorgeous snowcapped volcano in the background. We also heartily enjoyed the German/Chilean beer found in that area, many thanks to the Germans who settled there. Where else can you find empanadas, chirimolla fruit, kuchen, and German beer? Ok, probably other spots in South America, but it still felt special. :)


Goizueta Business School

I flew back to the U.S. and immediately started business school at Emory University. The first few days involved orientation on campus, and then we took a class retreat to WinShape. I enjoyed meeting new classmates and was fascinated by the diversity of backgrounds. WinShape was by far my favorite part of orientation... ever a fan of cheesy teambuilding activities, I was a silly, grinning girl when we undertook ropes courses, jumped off telephone poles, and all the other stuff that makes most people cringe. I'll always be a camp counselor at heart!

And then classes started. I was just not ready for the amount of work that it all would be. So many people joke that business school is itself a joke - a time to drink beer, play golf, and do the occasional team project. And I can see how that could conceivably be the case for someone who has an undergraduate business degree and who has worked in industry prior to starting business school -- say, for a dual-degree finance and accounting graduate who has worked as an analyst, or an investor. Conceivable. But this is NOT me! Goizueta represented the first math I'd done since I was 18, and my very first business classes EVER. First semester was grueling, as I timidly approached this schedule: first-ever accounting class (with CPAs!); my first-ever finance course, first-ever statistics (God help us all), economics, management practice, leading organizations & strategy, marketing, and professional communications. The workload swallowed me, and was more time-consuming for me than practicing law! But I learned a TON, relished my courses in marketing, strategy, and communications, and made some really wonderful new friends. I finished exams and began enjoying AN ENTIRE MONTH of vacation.


Christmas Break, and More Patagonia

Was fantastic. I caught up with friends, family, and sleep. Our family had a fantastic Christmas spending time together. And on December 27, I flew out once again for Chile - this time craving summer weather. I arrived the 28th, and that same day, Alvaro and I flew down to Punta Arenas in the very southern tip of Chile. Our plan was to undertake an 8-day hike of Torres del Paine. I'd trained, we'd bought gear and read maps and hikers' accounts of the trek. Armed with packs aplenty and new gear, we set out on our hike. Our first few days gave us beautiful weather and fun new friends on the trail, great pictures, and the gift of seeing avalanches (far away from us, no worries), the French Valley, calving glaciers, and stunning landscapes. But New Year's Day welcomed us to 2010 with eight hours of hiking -- four of which were in cold, drizzling rain. We made it to a very nice hosteria within the park (Hosteria Las Torres - something like a five-star "rustic" lodge), shelled out whatever they asked for a room, and decided that permanent shelter cannot possibly be overrated. After the first shower in 4 days, a fabulous dinner, warm and dry beds, a lazy breakfast, and a few drinks at the bar, we decided that we weren't psychologically prepared to get back into a tent ... so we left the park! We took a mini-tour of little towns and b&bs in Chilean and Argentine Patagonia. We saw the Perito Moreno glacier in El Calafate, Argentina -- and I made it to Argentina for the first time! We then flew back to Santiago for a few lazy summer days (for me, at least ... he had to work). A much more relaxing time was had by all. :)


Stateside Again ... and Third Time's the Charm?

So I arrived back in the U.S. on January 13, and classes began the next day. I'm looking forward to this semester very much, as I can choose electives and set my own schedule. I feel very in-shape after training for the hike we kind of took, and after four days of pretty intense toting of a heavy backpack. I don't want to lose that, so I'm trying to train for the ING half marathon (again). I say "again" because I've tried twice before to train, but I've lost discipline and steam about 4-5 weeks into the training schedule. Hopefully, not this time! I've emailed friends to keep me accountable for the training, and I hope to blog about my progress (or potential lack thereof?) here.

I have run the last 5 miles of several half marathons, jumping in to run with my friends and family who actually train and run. I registered and trained for one half marathon with my friend Cam several years back, and she gave me a "13.1" silver charm necklace as inspiration, and I still got a tshirt, though I didn't do the race (injury - that time I had a legitimate excuse; torn calf muscle, couldn't run). I can't bring myself to wear any of my half marathon garb without having completed a half ... I want to earn my jewelry! I'm off on my first run this morning...

So wish me luck! Actually, more than that, wish me discipline. Feel free to pester, hound, or call me out if I seem to be slacking. :) I have to remember that the time commitment to running is very temporary -- less than 3 months -- and I'll be so proud of myself if I finally do this!