Getting Out of the Comfort Zone

So I've been remiss about updating recently.  Not a lot has been going on, but I've been trying to get stuff organized and in place for starting some solid research for my EngD.  As of yesterday, I've been in the UK for a full three months!  Crazy how fast the time has gone by!  I've really enjoyed my experiences so far.

So last week and weekend, I felt like the message that was being thrown at me from several angles was the need to get out of my comfort zone and really push myself to find, explore and grow.   I had a very enlightening chat with Jay last Friday that helped to give me some directive with ideas I have been having of where to focus with my work.  It is easy to get pulled into a lot of interesting things in grad school, and I need to make sure what I am doing is going to benefit where I go with my degree work.  The group project with the other EngD students is also taking form, though we seem to have a lot of different, very interesting ideas and we are having a hard time nailing one down.  On Monday, we went to Loughborough University (about a 45 minute drive from University of Warwick) to get a briefing on the Engineering Yes competition we are doing at the end of May.  Even the sermon at church was about getting out of the comfort zone!  I feel that I am a very adaptable person (most of the time) and I've been really pushing myself to be even more so these past few months.  Relocating to a new country to do research on a whole new area for me.  I am excited and nervous to explore the personal aspects of growth that I know will be coming out of this life experience.

Ruth got me the coolest tea mug for work last week too.  It's pink!  It also came with instructions on how to inspect my breasts for cancer.  Now I need to just drink tea and inspect at the same time.... :)

My tea mug for work, complete with instructions.  

I did make the Rocket Pesto (recipe here: http://irishherault.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/rocket-recipes/) last weekend from the Rocket that Jan gave me from church.  I think it turned out pretty good!

Rocket Pesto with sauteed mushrooms and tomatoes and mozzarella melted on top of bread.

Otherwise, it has been a pretty low-key week.  Every one was on break or getting ready for the Easter break, it seemed.  They have a four-day weekend for Easter here- the banks are closed on Good Friday and a holiday they like to call Easter Monday.  I'm going to get a lot of reading done!  :)

Sagar's birthday was on Tuesday....I crocheted a thumb warmer for him, after the Hungry Caterpillar from the Eric Carle book.  I think it turned out well.

Hungry Caterpillar thumb warmer I made.  

Monday night, we hung out, had pizza, watched the first episode of the second season of Game of Thrones over at Murray's house and played some Guitar Hero.  I am excited for the new season since I just finished the second book (that this season is based on!) We also may have bought some alcohol for hanging out...I got some Ginger Beer!  It was tasty.

Our cart of alcohol for Monday night.  Does England have a drinking problem?  Nah.  My stuff was in the top left side of the cart.  Yep, that Guinness was mine.  :)

Tomorrow is Easter, and I'm going to church, probably early.  Communion is at 8am, so I want to make that. Then, I've been graciously invited for a roast, where I can stop being a vegetarian!  I'm super excited about that.  Not that it's been that hard not to eat meat...just mildly inconvenient at times.
Happy Easter, everyone!  :)

The tag that came with my shoes.  It says, "Safety for ladies."