Making the List

Last week as I walked out of my class I noticed that the school had posted the new Honor Roll, Dean's List and President's List for the spring quarter.  My name wasn't on the Honor Roll nor the Dean's list, but it was on the President's List.  I was/am very excited.  I worked hard for that and I did it with bronchitis, strep and pneumonia. Out of the entire school only 8 of us made that list.  Yay!

It's not over though.  That was just quarter one.  I still have several quarters to go.

Back in the Kitchen Again.

Last quarter ended with bronchitis that turned into pneumonia and a slip in the kitchen on the last day of school that landed me in the E.R. with a head injury.  I have to admit I ended my first quarter of culinary school feeling defeated and discouraged. I began to question if I was supposed to be there. 

I had a chance to recuperate on vacation in LA.  Away from the kids and the demands of college.  As my strength returned and the knot on my head shrunk I realized all that I had accomplished that last week of school.  With pneumonia,and the fever that accompanied it, I not only passed all  5 of my exams, I aced them.  So, I ended the quarter with a 4.0 GPA and the knowledge that I am stronger than I think I am.

Last week quarter two started.  It is good to back in the kitchen again.  I missed my classmates and the fast pace of the kitchen.  I am so determined to finish this thing and nothing is going to stop me.

This is your flight attendant. Please prepare for your final approach!

Yes my friends, finals are approaching.  I am excited that first quarter is about to wrap up. It means quarter two is just around the corner. I am not excited about the studying that awaits me. I am already preparing and freezing meals, trying to get things cleaned and organized and of course making sure that each of the children has a survival buddy. I am loading up on green tea, coffee is too strong, (I might not be saying that in a few days).  I have all my 300 and something notecards and I am ready to go.  Countdown to finals is on!  Five days until the first test. Wooooo!   Bring it on!

Not Everyone Has to Like You

I just completed week four of culinary school and I have to say I LOVE IT!!!  The gals in my kitchen lab, (I call them the kitchen sirens), are awesome.  I love working with them. I love the chefs that I am learning from. I love learning all the techniques and even the book stuff. The kitchen is definitely where I belong.

The kitchen sirens and I are taking this culinary school thing seriously. Not only are we getting good grades but we are also very hard workers.  As a result we have caught the eye of our instructors and classmates.  In the case of our instructors this is a positive.  They see our hard work and initiative. We are the first ones to volunteer for the extra duties. In the case of our classmates it's quite the opposite, well, at least with some of them.  I don't know if it is because they see us as a threat, competition or that they see us as the suck ups.  Whatever the reason, they DO NOT like us.  It is very obvious and even other people have picked up on it.

Let me explain something, (that's for you Rosie).  I really could care less if they like me or not.  I'm not here to make friends.  This isn't a game or a way to pass the time.  This is my future.  So if they don't like us, that is fine.  They are one less distraction on my way to my goals and dreams.

It amazes me that in college people still behave like they are in Junior High. Grow up people!