Fight of the Navigator

Week... what, five now? I had an excellent week off to rest and unpack and catch my breath after the past four weeks. The sabbath is over, though, and I have three more weeks of classes ahead of me. I can't decide if that is a lot of time or not. So far I haven't been mugged, or sunburned to a crisp, my mother's two main concerns going into this venture (I hope you didn't place any bets on that.)

Before this trip my experience with Miami consisted of one round trip through the city on my way to the Keys with my family, over 5 years ago. On the first leg of the trip, one of my parents (no names, protecting the innocent) decided it would be a good idea for my 16-year-old sister to practice her driving skills through Miami. On the return leg, I got to navigate through the city (this was before the time of GPS, kids.) You can imagine then, that when I found out I'd be driving myself through this city I was a little less than excited. All I could think of was dodging cars and trucks in Costa Rica just to cross the street for a roasted ear of corn. I expressed this unease to my supervisor, and she promised me I'd get a GPS with my rental car. Hello, Mayhem.

I love that GPS, except when I don't. For the most part it's not the technology's fault. The roads in Miami all seem to have at least three names: County Road 453, Highway 776, Sgt. John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt Boulevard. The GPS never knows all three of them.

GPS: In point4miles. Turn right. On. CountyRoad453.

Me: Yeah, sure. Hey look, Vizcaya!

GPS: Prepare to. Turn right.

Me: Who was Sgt John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt? Wait... you didn't mean that road did you?

GPS: Turn. Right. Now.

Me: But, but... there are five different roads coming into this intersection!! (No kidding. Who thought that up?)

GPS: Recalculating. Turn right. On. Highway778.

Me: How do they fit so many roads into one intersection???!!

GPS: Are. You. Blind?

Me: *wails*

GPS: Recalculating. You. Moron.

Out of pure frustration I switched that condescending voice to the French one. Now I get condescended to in French, but at least I'm learning something at the same time.

All my classes this week will be for just one course, we'll touch on genetics, neuroanatomy, and the renal and digestive systems. Neuro and genetics have always been two of my favorite subjects. I particularly like teaching neuro because it's quite a heavy topic, and overwhelming to learn, let alone teach. My mother, from day one of my first neuro class, kept telling me the only people she ever knew who understood and enjoyed the topic were incurably strange.

I'll take that for what it's worth. So far it's got me to Miami.