Hi, my name is Mary Dell Ruane. I am a student at Texas Lutheran University and I am currently studying both art and biochemistry. I am a performer in the school's orchestra as a violinist and I have many hobbies, including fiber arts, watercolor, creative writing, sewing, and cooking. I also try to be active beyond just my hobbies, I love hiking and I have a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do (a korean martial art).
I have spent most of my life living in Texas, I live between New Braunfels and Seguin outside the city limits. There, I live with my parents, little brother, and my dog. Before we settled down in Texas, we lived in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, and Illinois as we followed my Dad's jobs.
My father is a professor of Organic Chemistry, and he helped inspire me to choose one of my current degrees, biochemistry. Biochemistry is the study of the molecular and chemical processes that make life possible, bio- meaning life and -chemistry indicating chemical processes. I chose this degree because I love studying the human body, and I love animals (especially fish and cats). I hope to use this degree to develop medications and help people in the future. I plan to use my time in Japan to learn more about their biochemical industry, the researchers there are at the forefront of genetics and I hope to work with them in the future.
My other prospective degree, a bachelor's degree in fine art, stems from my art hobbies. I love to draw and paint, and I will be studying Japanese art while I am in Tokyo! I particularly admire Japanese watercolors and ink works, the control over the brush exhibited by Japanese painters is incredible!
Life in Tokyo will be very different for me, I will have to learn a new language and I will be living in a city for the first time in my life! I am nervous about the changes, but I know that I will enjoy my time there. Please enjoy traveling with me, let's learn together!
