eek! more decisions!

so i was bragging to a friend about how i get spring break now that i was back in school...but oh no, it was no break. i mean, i went home and visited my family, but i did work much of the time. apparently, that's how it is for most grad students-which, i might point out, they did NOT tell us at orientation (disappointed face).

anyway, friday i went to graduate studies day at american university in dc. it was mostly for people who had applied and were accepted, but i thought it would be a good idea to go and check out the anthropology program. i'm already interested in applying, (i know, even after i said i didn't want to go into a doctoral program) mainly because they offer a concentration in race, gender, and social justice.
most of the orientation was pretty boring, except for the marine biologist from australia (or new zealand?) who gave a presentation on his research on the sex habits of hermit crabs (funny, and a bit creepy)
next we met with our departments, which was basically a question and answer time. they presented themselves as striving to make anthropology more available to the masses. the chair of the department was pretty adamant that public and applied anthropology were different things. in his mind, public anth took it a step further. although i didn't really agree with them, i was impressed with the fact that they had both a master's only program (in public anthropology) and a doctoral program, of which half of the graduates go on to non-academic careers. i talked with one of the professors who looked not much older than me, and was also studying the african diaspora. the more conversations i had with her and other students, the more i felt like i could really see myself in that program. of course i would have to finish at maryland first, but it looks like i may apply next year!
wow! phd. it wasn't even in my realm of thinking when i finished college.
i even liked the campus. i like maryland, but it's entirely too big, which contributes to all the grad students being so isolated in their departments. i'll probably take some classes there next year since they're part of the consortium, that way i'll really get a better sense of the department.
sooo..that means more decisions, more applications, more debt, more schoolwork...yipeee!! i'll be in debt for the rest of my life! yay! oh well, i'd rather be in debt doing something i love, then out of debt doing something mediocre that i hate. it will totally be worth it.
obligatory photos of my adorable and brilliant nephews: