B Block Exam Week

So in between my 2 quizzes this week and my 4 finals (all between today and tomorrow) I decided to take a minute to breath tonight and not study for 20 min to update everyone on my week.

Because the classes are so short (this semester or "block" for me is only 6 weeks long) we are constantly having tests, papers, and exams. This week I have been in the library early every day before classes and left when they kicked me out at 11. My mom says I sound just like I did when I was at Michigan. Stressed, frazzled and strung out. Funny how our school habits never change.

I had my final exam in food safety (mmmm bacteria and illnesses) as well as my final in gastronomy today and turned right back around to the library to study for my math and product knowledge finals tomorrow. (If anyone needs to know the quality and condition factors for picking/ receiving bunched baby candy strip beets or kabocha squash let me know and I'll help you out).

Yesterday I spent an hour in the large store room cooler just smelling herbs. Smelling marjoram, tasting marjoram, smelling oregano, tasting oregano, smelling chervil tasting chervil, you get the point......In the citrus cooler I studied amazing wild mushrooms including hedgehogs, black trumpets, enoki, and so many more. Who knew there were so many wild mushrooms we have yet to figure out how to grow and still have to be foraged?!

In my actual product knowledge class yesterday we had a tasting of 24 different types of cheeses. Just a sampling of the 70+ cheeses standard in the cooler here at school. Everything from fresh cheese including goat and feta, to semi soft cheeses, hard cheeses, grating cheeses, and the, oh so delicious, blue cheeses. A toasted baguette, fabulous cheese, good classroom conversation about different types and uses. We were in business! (I skipped lunch because I knew I had to save room for class- where else can you say that?!)

Back to the studying I go, but I have to say I am loving every minute of it. I can't think of anything better than studying produce for hours on end and freezing in the cooler (massive walk in refrigerator) as I study and review the produce. I know that sounds sarcastic, but I am dead serious.

Even on days I have exams, I am thrilled to be here. I think that pretty much says it all!