Happy American Thanksgiving

Well folks, for those of you who are up on your American Hollidays (and even for those of you who aren't), you ought to know that this is a big one. American thanksgiving. The fourth Thursday of November. So in honor of it (or more precisly, the day off that I get because of it) I'm writing a post.

It has been mentioned that I haven't been writing all that much interesting and personal stuff on here. I guess it's true. I would have to admit that I have become so successful at procrastinating in other ways that I'm having a hard time justifying yet another procrastination tool, like blogging. Also, as previously noted, blogging requires thinking and writing, which resembles school, so it is even harder to procrastinate in this way. Nevertheless, it is hard to pretend that these are more than just excuses.

So I'll talk a little about what I'm thankful for, and hopefully you'll learn a bit more about my life in the process.

I am thankful for my move to Pasadena to study at Fuller.

I really have to say that things are great here. I have said it before to people here and there (maybe even on the blog), but it seems worth reiterating. Given the opportunity to be anywhere else and doing anything else, I wouldn't take it. Why, you ask?

a. The program. A combination of psychology education, theology education, clinical training and research integrating the three together makes for a pretty unique program.

b. My cohort. I know a few people have expressed distate at the use of this word. But suck it up. Anyways, my cohort is the about 40 or so 1st year doctoral psych students (I wrote about this previously). Getting to know the class, having social activities, having study groups and collaborative learning, has been really fun. Our class is really social and supportive. Actually, we are downright voiciferous, you should hear us standing outside during break, it's so funny because we are so loud.

c. My research group. Working with Al Dueck, the Chair of Integration of Psychology and Theology, means we have two lab meetings. One is a theoretical group, where we investigate "integration," which means reading and discussing literature relating to clinical psychology, theology and philosophy, and an empirical lab, where we're coming up with research questions based on data from interviews and questionnaires from Prostestants, Catholics, Muslims and Jews. The integration lab is really interesting. Every one has a very different background and interest. But it is also very warm and personable. I feel welcome there. Which isn't a word one might normally expect to hear in describing an academic discussion group. But I would use it, and it is really significant for me.

I am thankful for my family.

a. Immediate family. On the whole my familial relationships are as good as they've been, I'd say. I speak semi-regularly with my parents and brother on the telephone, and I'm looking forward to spending time with them when I get home. My family is very supportive of what I'm doing, which is really good. I can share what's going on, or not, and that's okay. And they are respectful of my time, which can be busy.

b. Extended family. I have meaningful relationships with my extended family. They are sometimes sporadic, depending on location and circumstance, that hasn't generated animosity or resentment, only appreciation when present. Specifically noteworthy is time spent chatting with my cousin Blake on messenger, who is studying journalism. And a phone call earlier this week from my Aunt Doria in Providence (which came at like 10:15pm Pacific, so 1:15am Eastern!!). And emails from my cousing Monica. I also think of my grandparents, with whom I am privileged to share a very close relationship since they opened up their house to my during my undergrad study. And I am thankful for my grandpa, who is now able to spend time overseas with family and doing well and receiving support. I am thankful that Teta is no longer suffering.

So there you have it. Expansions on two elements of thankfulness in my life for American thanksgiving. You go and be thankful now too.