Introduction from a Coffee Connoisseur

  Image information: Personal photo at Coffee Shop and Pizzeria in Italy May 2015

         Coffee is available in all types of flavors and states; you have hot coffee, frozen coffee, coffee beans, chocolate covered coffee beans, frappes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos. Beyond the different consistencies of coffee there are thousands of flavors. Life is a lot like a cup of coffee. At first, coffee can be bitter, but you learn to love it or find another blend that best suits you. I've always loved coffee, but there are definitely a few flavors that prefer over the rest. Everyone has different aspects of their lives that they enjoy and choose highlight. Now, you will learn about the favorite aspects of my life, (outside of the coffee). {A hot caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso is my go-to beverage all year round.}


My full name is Hannah Elisabeth Pope and I’m a full-time junior here at the OU. I’m studying Health and Exercise Science/Pre-Medicine with a minor in African American Studies. In addition to being enrolled at OU, I am also enrolled at Oklahoma City Community College earning an associate’s degree and certification in Medical Assisting. Both of my parents attended and graduated from the University of Oklahoma; therefore, I can truly sat I am “Sooner born and Sooner bred.” It doesn’t stop there. My second oldest sister graduated from OU as well. My younger sister, who is a junior this year, is planning on applying to OU. With that being said, our family loves the University of Oklahoma, Sooner football-anything OU. I was in President’s Leadership Class my freshman year, and I worked as a student athletic trainer on campus for two years.


Personal Image: OU Athletics Alumni (my sister and dad ) with Coach Berry Switzer  November 2015

Now that I have gone on and on about the Sooner legacy and my love for the University, I can finally give you a sample of other flavors of my caffeinated life. My aspiration in life is to become an orthopedic surgeon with a specialization in sports medicine. I’ve grown up around athletics and was involved in track and field, basketball, and cheerleading. My father also played OU football in 1985, the year of one of OU’s national championships. From this information, you can see why I want to be around the sports arena and athletics forever. Outside of being a surgeon, you can find me watching Grey's Anatomy or singing (here's a sample). Also, I hope to get married, have a child or two, eventually own my own practice, and travel the world. I’ve already had the chance to venture into foreign seas. I was able to study abroad in Italy following the spring semester of 2015. It was the most amazing experience plunging into a different culture. If I could catch a flight to Italy now, I would; however, the semester is just starting. That is all of me for now. Arrivederci!

Comments

  1. Hannah, being a huge coffee lover myself, I loved reading the introduction to your post! It definately is different and catchy. What is your favorite blend? Can you suggest a few local places in Norman that serves good coffee / cappuccino?

    Also, where in Italy did you study and what does "Arrivederci" mean?

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    1. Vera, thanks for reading my blog pos! I studied in Arrezzo, but I took day trips to Florence, Sienna, and Rome. The scenery is beautiful. "Arrivederci" is Italian for "good bye" or "so long."

      Here are a few coffee shops in Norman:
      Grey Owl
      Screen Door
      Syrup (more of a restaurant but I like the coffee)
      Second Wind

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  2. Hi Hannah,

    Wow, just the title got me excited! I LOVE coffee! I'm a Starbucks Gold Member, and while I do love Starbucks, I also do have a great appreciation for local coffee shops. My favorite cup of coffee has to be from Einstein Brothers, and my favorite place to get a latte has to be Grey Owl. I like how you took the theme of coffee to connect your life. The line "I can finally give you a sample of other flavors in my life" definitely made me laugh! I am looking forward to reading more of your posts, and know more about you as the semester goes on!

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  3. Hi Hannah! I’m also a coffee lover. That being said, I loved enjoying your connection to your own life with the usage of coffee. 1, 2, 3 PLC! I truly miss the people we met in PLC, and need a reunion soon! Wow, I love your passion for OU. I think that is one thing that makes OU such a strong campus. It is so awesome to see how you are pursuing your dreams. Did you visit any coffee shops in Italy? One thing I really want to do in Italy is try their coffee! Let me know if you have any suggestions.

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    1. I did visit coffee shops in Italy. It's much different than American coffee. The coffee is much stronger and more poignant. I loved it. Most people in the Italian culture don't order flavored coffee. I went to Sandy's in Arrezzo.

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  4. I love coffee too, Hannah, both real AND metaphorical, ha ha. And have you tried chai? In honor of Indian Epics, you might need to give chai a try! Lately I've been obsessing over Nature's Guru Masala Chai: yummm! And sports medicine is a career you can take anywhere in the world... including Italy and beyond, so that sounds great! For this class, maybe you will want to explore yoga and other Indian healing traditions. Some of the yoga positions are even named for characters you will meet in the epics like the eagle god Garuda who gives his name to the Garudasana pose. I'm not sure knowing who Garuda is will make the pose easier... but it might make it more meaningful! :-)

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  5. Hannah,

    It is so nice to meet you. I love a quote that you said in your intro. Life is like a cup of coffee, it can be bitter at first.." I completely agree with the quote. Life can be hard but you will learn to love it. I also think that you work so hard! Do not over work yourself. I am not a big sports person, but I enjoy your enthusiasm for sports. Also, you are so lucky you got to study abroad! I am so jealous. I hope to just visit abroad soon.

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  6. Hi Hannah! Nice to meet you! Wow, you really seem to like coffee haha. I enjoy the taste of coffee, but I can’t drink too much of it since it raises my heartbeat too high or makes me even sleepier than I was. I learned that the hard way my freshman year when I bought a huge Starbucks drink in the hopes of studying all day and just crashed in my dorm bed the rest of the day. I see that you are Pre-Med and a junior which means you will be taking the MCAT and applying soon! I hope that you do well and get in to whichever school you want . That’s so exciting that you got to go to Italy! What was your favorite part or memory of the trip?

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  7. Hi Hannah, as a coffee addict myself I loved reading your intro. Caramel macchiato’s are my favorite!! I think it’s super cool that you aspire to be an orthopedic surgeon with specialization in sports medicine. That sounds super intense but I’m sure it will be worth it in the end and a very rewarding profession. That’s awesome that you got to study abroad in Italy. I’m sure that was so fun. Nice to meet you!

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  8. Hello Hannah! I use to be a coffee addict myself but the caffeine headaches were too much for me. Our families seem fairly similar in the aspect of being sooner born and sooner bred; minus the whole former OU champ football player as a dad! It's really cool that you are interested in sports medicine. I wish I had a passion for something in the medical field but I pass out when I encounter my own blood. Good luck in the future and I hope your plans of being a surgeon for athletes comes true!

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  9. Hi Hannah!! Your introduction was so cute and unique! I loved how you tied coffee into the other aspects of your life. I am the first in my family to go to OU, and hope to have a story similar to yours by raising my kids to be little Sooner fans!! This university is seriously the best! I've also had the opportunity to travel abroad, and it really has been the highlight of my college career. OU provides so many awesome opportunities and I hope you get to go on another trip soon. I look forward to reading your story for this week!! Hope you had a great weekend!

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  10. Hello Hannah. It was definitely fun to read about your and it seems that you have a lot of the stuff in life that you want figured out. It is cool that your parents went to OU and now that you are. That is awesome that your dad was a part of the 1985 football team!

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  11. Hannah, do you have any recommendations of some good coffee places in Norman or OKC? I like coffee too but I like "frilly" drinks. I can't stand black coffee, it has to be pretty sweet for me. You have some very big dreams and seem to be working really hard to achieve them! I'm the first in my family to go to OU (but also one of the firsts to go to college). Thanks for sharing!

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  12. Hi Hannah, very nice to meet you. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but my girlfriend loves the stuff. You sound good! I really enjoyed the video. I am a music major here and enjoy all kinds of genres. The high note at 2:00 was really nice! Keep it up! Good luck with the rest of your semester.

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  13. I love the coffee metaphor you’ve got going here—it’s so true, and so worth keeping in mind, at this stage of life especially. Your family’s connection with OU and sports is so cool, too; your career goal sounds perfect for you on so many levels, and you’ll clearly bring a great perspective to your job and patients. Good luck with that, and I hope you get to visit Italy again sometime!

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  14. Hi Hannah, loved your intro and coffee talk! That metaphor was cute and definitely showed a little bit of your spunk. :) I think it's great that you have a plan for what you want to accomplish. Setting goals and making plans to achieve them are so important, and it looks like you are on the right track. Also, it's super cool that your dad played football in 85'. Nice to meet you!

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  15. I love your passion for coffee! I never knew that there were so many different styles and types of coffee. I think that the trainers on campus are pretty cool! What sport did you do it for? Do you know any of the players? I also love Grey’s Anatomy! It is such a great show. I am so jealous that you got to study abroad! Would you ever do it again?
    Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Hey Hannah, nice to meet you! I see you love coffee! I don’t know as much about coffee because I do not drink it! I am also a Health and Exercise Science Major! It is awesome that you and your family have grown up OU fans! I was the complete opposite, however, my brother and I are both here but everything happens for a reason! Best of luck!

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  17. Hey Hanna, nice to meet you! I am not the biggest coffee fan and rarely drink it but I will have to give it another shot after reading your opening paragraph. That is so cool that your dad played for OU and won a national championship. Coach Switzer is the man! That would be awesome if you got to work as the head trainer for OU athletics. Nice to meet you!

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  18. Hi, Hannah!
    It’s great to meet another coffee connoisseur! While reading through your introduction, I was amazed on all the different aspects that make you who you are. One thing in particular was your voice! You have an absolutely beautiful voice and range! Anyway, I hope you get everything you’re striving for – career, marriage, kids, etc. – because you definitely deserve it! :) Good luck on everything and good luck on the rest of the semester!

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  19. Hey Hannah!

    First of all, I absolutely love the title of your blog post, coffee is great. But, I have to say, as much as I love coffee, I think I like tea better. I like you incorporated facets of coffee into the rest of your introduction, that was really interesting! Also, orthopaedics is an awesome field and I hope you get to become an orthopaedic surgeon one day. It was great to learn a little bit about you. Good luck on all your current & future endeavors!

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  20. Hannah,
    Wow! So much history at OU in your family. I think it is great that you and your sisters have continued to stay true to the legacy. I have never thought of life as a cup of coffee, but I totally agree and it is my favorite drink. Becoming an orthopedic surgeon would be an amazing career! I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

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