Happy New Year 2008 !!!

Since I've been in Arlington, VA for about 4 days, I was a bit worried about spending the new year away from my family in Puerto Rico. This was, the first time. I was even more worried and sad about that day when I learned that my sister had to work from 7pm 'til 3am (she works at a hotel) I did a quick search for fun activities in DC, I got a whole lot of nothing, mostly hotels and restaurants offering huge buffets and music for a huge amount of money. I then read about First Night in Alexandria..... just what I wanted.

As we ate a late lunch at Red Robbin, we began planing what we could do for New Year's Eve, my brother-in-law didn't seem so excited about the options. I couldn't believe that there were no outside, fun activities going on in DC, he said that they were more common for the fourth of July. A bit disconcerted, I checked online and saw again the First Night in Alexandria event, checked out their website and decided to tell them about this. It was the perfect choice! We got there at 9:15pm just in time for great modern jazz from the Jonathan Parker Quartet. The Quartet was composed of young musicians, they all gave an amazing performance. After the jazz at the Atrium Building, we walked a block over to the Lyceum and saw Quin Tango ! The group is composed of two violinist, a cello player, bass player and a pianist. The little concert had pieces by Carlos Gardel and Piazzolla ! Needless to say, I was in musical paradise. When the first chords from :"Para una Cabeza" from Carlos Gardel played, I went into the nostalgic world of tango music, one that I have a great love for. We were all delighted.


The weather was incredibly cold, with 30 something degrees I was sure to bundle up. We walked and took a bus, complimentary with our cool First Night Alexandria passes, to the George Washington Memorial for a great concert from the Perennial all male a capella singers, while we waited for the New Year to arrive. There were a lot of people there but just enough to make it fun and comfortable. We took pictures and got New Year's hugs while we watched an amazing fireworks display, just for us.






I have been very negative about this trip, mainly because I wanted to share it with two special people in my life, one did make it. It felt rewarding to have chosen activities that were both fun for me and my family. We had a great time, and I feel even more independent and at ease.

Sure, I missed all my family and friends back home, but I got a great experience and it was all because I didn't give up on having fun.

My dad and brother-in-law talked about New Year's resolutions, it seems like its something people do and never own up to it, but it is always good to set goals for yourself, that keeps me even more motivated in life. For 2008, I expect great things and lots of changes, my graduation, my niece's kindergarden graduation, starting medical school and hopefully meeting new people. I feel very optimistic and ready for the challenges, 2008..... here I go!


While speaking to my brother-in-law about the wonderful world of human relationships, and people making up excuses he quotes.....
"EXCUSES are like armpits, you have a couple of them and they both stink !"

In The United States

As I get ready to go out with part of my family to explore new places, I decided that I am going to leave some things behind, and worry about the people that actually care about me. Time to finish getting ready !

Merry Christmas

This Christmas brought a bunch of food, amaazing & hillarious times with family and friends plus a lot of things to do......

More to update when I arrive in The United States, if I have time, ugh.

He is back !

Last night, we went to the airport to pick up Emi ! I was so so glad to see him, since being away from your best friend is a tough thing sometimes. We went to dinner with his parents, and took a ride in my cool european car. :)

Ouchies!

While trying to iron my shirt for the interview I had an accident involving heat...and so, I had to take whiny pictures of it, now it's hurting even more :(


The interview outfit......



Go ahead...tell me what you just thought.

Why oh why

Are there SO MANY perfume comemrcials during this season?

To each it's own

Yesterday, I embarked on a journey that will potentially lead me to a new step in my life. As I rode around in my “new” red car I decided to put some of my own CDs, instead of listening to the sometimes boring, radio. With “In My Place” playing it’s wonderful melodies, I lower my windows and realize I’m at the highest part of the highway, surrounded by mountains. The cold breeze tickles my arms and brushes my hair, and all of a sudden, the music, scenery, breeze and mood felt just perfect. That same road has been taken before, with family, friends and even by myself but I must say it was the best drive I’ve had by myself.

With my first interview ever at Ponce School of Medicine, I was a bit worried today. I dressed up, told my sister I looked like a teacher and headed off to the campus. After waiting for a while, I was sent in the dry heat of Ponce, to other buildings. Both interviews turned out to be good, the second better than the first. My second interviewer an Anatomy professor, seemed very impressed by me, and she let me know. Her compliments made me feel like all the hard work had not been done in vain. I was satisfied and proud. They both seemed interested and entertained by the conversation, lasting both interviews over 30 minutes.

I had to opportunity to have lunch with my sis, eat a Limbertito and chat with her some more at the house. Driving back to my hometown made me feel excited about this new step. I thought about things that I should change, and overall had a great time.

As I talked with my second interviewer about people who are tough to deal with, I realized that I had learned so much about that subject in the past semester. Even when the people you love the most disappoint you, you must move on and let them live as they wish.

My hands are shaking

I was called by Ponce School of Medicine to attend an interview on Tuesday. I spent all day yesterday looking for a nice, professional but cute shirt. Being almost done with my atire, I find myself a bit worried. I've never had a formal interview. All that keeps me calm is the notion that I enjoy long conversations and think I'm pretty good at verbal expression. Hopefully, I'll keep my cool and have a nice time. I'll pack everything tonight and head to my sister's house (who lives close to Ponce) tomorrow evening. Wish me luck !

Memories, will they stay?

My computer recently screwed up and someone formatted it..... I lost everything.

Today, as I began to set it up again I thought about all the things that were only kept in that terrible hard drive. I thought about all the music my friends had sent me, all the photos from family and friends, the documents that marked the endless hours I've spent working on my College and even Highschool life. What hurt most were the photos and I feared that without them I could potentially forget certain memories hidden behind the images. I also remembered keeping old IM conversations that were interesting to read at times. So now, fearing that I'll forget I must write that, I've met wonderful people, spent amazing times with family and friends, he loved me once, there were fights, lots of work and links of funny things. And gladly, I still have the important people in my life to take more photos and have even more memories.

I guess I don't need an image to remind me.



Just found out that I don't have Microsoft Word.....crap. Excuse any grammar mistakes.

My day

At 8:15am the phone rings, and a very sleepy me answers.....

Me: "Hello..."
My sister: "Ok, Cristie, I need your help! How do you spell, Chicken?"
Me: “What?"
Sister: "How?!?!?!"
Me: "C-H-I-C-K-E-N"
Sister: "Ok, now, potatoes???"
........

She pretty much made me spell a bunch of words. I figured she was doing English homework with my niece, but the weirdest thing is that, my sister is fully bilingual (Spanish & English). So I didn't understand why she needed my help to spell those words. I went back to sleep and later asked her what was wrong. "I was late and my mind got blocked!” she replied. I can't grasp how a professional, with a master's, who does business in the United States and has ranked as one of the best in her field could forget that, she's so funny.


__________________


"It's just too bad he's not willing to step out of his comfort zone to reach you." A stranger says as I stand in the check out line at the Supermarket. I turn to my right and stare at his piercing brown eyes. He smiles, wishes me a goodnight, and walks away to another, more empty line.

Analogía de una mariposa

I wrote this on Novemeber 14, 2007, at about 6:15pm while I was waiting in a train station. I was searching through my psychology notebook to keep writing my autobiography, and found it. I'm willing to share.....


La mariposa que arrullaste
en tu pecho al nacer
creció lentamente
con el empeño de tu querer.

Ella volaba como gaviota
embellecieron sus alas
no importaba si aqui no estabas
la teníamos atrapada

Pero, una noche, a ella decidiste herir
cortándole una ala
con muy poco que decir

Y así cayendo con el tiempo
tratando de subir
Pensabas que sanaría
para tu vida bendecir
Y llegar a ese lugar del cual nunca tuviste que mentir.

Pero, si fueras un sabio
podrías decir
que debrías darle cuidado
para que vuele y pueda ir.

Decidiste perderla
y ahora, no te puede bendecir
porque a esta gloriosa mariposa
dos la deben recibir.

©Cristina Alvarado Nieves, 2007.

Roles

Aurea (my 5 year old niece): (while dancing) "I'm a Bratz!"
Mom: (Sarcastcally) "And I'm Indiana Jones."
Aurea: (After thinking and smiling for a few seconds) "HAHA, you're a boy!!!"


Hillarious.

Today

I had forgotten my duties as the "get everything settled" daughter until this morning. The noisy neighbor called, saying that a few letters had arrived. That made my plans for the day shift and so I had to go down to Bayamón in order to get the letters. Then, she asks: "So when is your dad coming back?" I don't know. After, she continued to ask questions that would have made me feel umcomfortable a few moths ago but I just replied :"He just needs to live his life the way he chooses to, and that's it." Groundbreaking? No, but it's important to let others be who they are and live as they want without getting frustrated over their decisions.

I must point out that I keep falling in love with my anatomy book. Last night, I discovered a CD-ROM that comes with the book, detailing the concepts of physiology. Muscle contraction is so much fun!!!!!

Men & Christmas

Really, sometimes I don't understand them. To what has been bothering me like crazy for the past few weeks, confuses me even more when I get a call from my sister today. "Whaaaaaat?!" I replied. She laughs and says , "I have no idea what the deal is." So we decided to let nature take it's course, let's see how long we last like that. ;)

Today was a very sad day in my French-lessons-legacy. So now, I've spent about an hour memorizing verbs......au passé simple. It's still fun.

I'm starting to feel the Christmas spirit and it makes me want to buy a pine tree and decorate it. Soon, I'm sure.

Some friends and I decided to take a Picture with Santa on Saturday. He was a jolly nice man, as we saw him with a tropical shirt and shorts, setting up the space. He disappeared for a while and came back with an awesome costume. When it was finally time to take the picture, he wanted Zahíli and I to sit on his lap, what a naughty Santa! Too bad for Sammy who wanted that place.



We sang!



Then, I danced!



And tried on some hats!



The end!