Water, California, and Medicine

Yesterday I arrived back from San Diego after delivering a drive away car. Let me tell you, driving from Salt Lake (or anywhere) to California on Memorial Day is a HORRIBLE idea. I didn't realize it was possible to run into gridlock, bumper to bumper traffic, in the middle of damn nowhere. We were about 100 miles from Las Vegas in the middle of the desert, surrounded by California license plates, in a car with no air conditioning. I think I have decided there are too many people from California. We drove for over 13 hours . . . and didn't even make it all the way to San Diego! But the next day, we woke up at 6:30 AM and got there. Then we got to spend the day at the San Diego Zoo!!! There was some amazing shit there, let me tell you . . . lots of pigs and hogs, lots of pigs (well, and just a few others things). Oh yeah, BTW, on the flight back from San Diego we stopped in Las Vegas, and I gambled for the first time. It was AWESOME, but I don't think I'll ever do it again ;)

Today, my scuba lessons officially ended and I passed my "final" with flying colors! All that is left is an open water (i.e. really deep) dive test. Let me just say, deep water and Jeff do not bode well together. The experience will be . . . interesting.

And to top of scuba diving, I went into the University of Utah Medical School office to talk about admissions and found out some great news! Things are looking very good in terms of my application, especially considering that the U of U does not consider MCAT scores or grades after the first selection round. That is to say, the selection committee DOES NOT SEE GRADES OR SCORES at all! They have no access to them in fact. I personally think this is great, as it means other aspects of an applicant are given more importance (that and the fact that my grades are not stellar). The woman I talked to thought that I had most things covered quite well! Watch out world, here comes Dr. Jeff!!!

So I arrived safely back in Utah the night before last, after some 1600 miles/24 hours of driving! Let's just say my tailbone hurt a bit; my bony butt does not provide much cushioning. The pain was worth it however . . . to see my dogs and family was awesome. And yesterday I started scuba dive certification! The prospect of diving in water which I cannot see the bottom of kinda scares me. I guess I will just have to deal with it :)

Utah!

In Price, UT. So close to home! Only a few more hours . . .

Going, Going, Gone!

As I just crossed the Mississippi River, I officially left Wisconsin! Goodbye . . .

At left is a photo I took while driving over the Mississippi (I know, I shouldn't be taking pictures while driving; I couldn't help it though!).

Send me SOMETHING! :)

Letters this summer would be greatly appreciated! I would love get a postcard or two! The address I'll be at from June 17th to August 13th is:

AMIGOS de las Americas
Jeffrey Norris
Apartado Postal #1334
C.P. 68000
Oaxaca, Oax
México

My Plans for the Summer & Beyond

For those of you I have not gotten a chance to talk to, I am headed to Oaxaca State in Mexico on June 17th for two months. I'll be in a little town somewhere up in the mountains doing nutritional education. The prgoram, called "Amigos de las Américas", is seeking to reintroduce a plant called amaranth, an awesome grain that has promise in solving many nutrition problems. Basically it is packed with protein and other goodies. Next time you are at the grocery store, see if you can find it! It tastes really great and you can make just about anything wheat can be used for!

After Oaxaca, it's back to Salt Lake City to take the MCAT's, then off to Wyoming to backpack for a week or so. After that, WHO KNOWS WHAT! I don't really have a plan after that . . . whatever happens, pictures will be posted.

Above is a beautiful picture of the Sun setting over Lake Mendota here in Madison. The view is from Nottingham, the cooperative I've made my home over the past 10 months. The vista from the balcony is quite amazing :)

The Angelic - A Goodbye

A couple of night ago, I invited some people to the Angelic here in Madison for one last good time. Sorry to those of you I did not communicate this to. I just sent an email to those in my recent email list :(

It was a great time, and I got to see so many people I know I will miss when I leave Madison. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my life here in Madison. It has been an amazing time.

The First Baby Step

My undergraduate career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has come to a close. So much happened in the last few years I cannot even begin to describe how different I am today. And now I enter a new chapter in my life, leaving the protective bubble of a university campus. I await the world and all it has to offer . . .

I wanted to create this blog to keep connected with all the amazing people I have met in my 22 years of life. As I enter the real world, I do not wish to lose those connections I have made. "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold".