First and foremost, understand that your physical well-being is of utmost importance. In the absence of adequate information and knowledge about your well-being, you will not be able to take charge of your life. It is very important to both your physical and psychological well-being that you visit the doctor and get what all tests need to be done. Many rape survivors do not seek medical attention for various reasons:  You are in a state of shock and unable to come terms with the fact that you have been violated and are unable to think of the future course of action. You are engulfed by fears of having to face social stigma and criticism. You are uncertain of being believed and you are unsure that you'd receive support and empathy from different people such as family, friends, police, or medical professionals. You are so overcome by feelings of shame and embarrassment and by what is yet to come (in terms of probing questions, evidentiary physical examination, or a fear of testing positive for STIs). You feel so intimidated that you just prefer to wait for the symptoms to disappear on their own without anybody having to know anything. If you feel like you need moral support while you're at the doctor, bring a trusted friend or family member with you. This person may be able to help explain your situation if you are unable to talk about it. A rape can leave the survivor emotionally scarred. But there is also the physical aspect associated with rape. There may be physical damage, including a sexually transmitted infection or other type of injury. Having a full physical examination will help you establish if there are any physical problems. One question that most rape survivors wonder is if they could have contracted a sexually transmitted infection. The possibility of contracting an STI increases if the rape was unprotected sex. Confusion, doubts and worries may arise in the event of not getting tested. This can rob you of your peace of mind. In the event that you don't rule out a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you may live in constant worry about your psychological and physical condition.  Don't wait for signs of an STI. Some STIs remain concealed for a long time before they manifest as symptoms. Even if physical symptoms are absent, it is essential to get tested for the presence of STIs in latent form. When they're detected in the early stages, most STIs are curable and treatable. If you ignore symptoms, an STI could become a serious and chronic medical problem that will be hard to treat and cure.

Summary: See your doctor. Take a trusted friend with you. Get a thorough physical examination. Get tested for sexually transmitted infections.


When you squeeze it, a ripe apricot should indent slightly beneath your fingers, but it should not be overly soft. You can also smell near the fruit’s stem, since a ripe apricot will have a sweet scent.  Although the color of the fruit will depend on the variety, a ripe apricot should be uniform with no green patches.  Avoid fruit with large bruises, as these will be mushy and have no flavor. This rinse will help to remove any bacteria from the fruit. Rinse the apricots under cool running water and pat dry. Washing the apricots before you boil them keeps contaminants from cooking into the fruit. Bring a large stockpot of water to a boil, then drop the apricots into the water for between 30 seconds and 1 minute. This keeps the skins from becoming tough during the freezing process.  Do not overcook the apricots, especially if you are planning on freezing the fruit while it is fresh. If you are peeling the apricots, you don’t have to blanch them. However, it does make removing the peels easier. If you are freezing a large quantity of apricots, you may want to blanch them in smaller batches, depending on the size of your stock pot. After the apricots have boiled for 30-60 seconds, use a slotted spoon to remove the apricots from the boiling water. Plunge them into ice-cold water right away to immediately stop the cooking process, then drain them and pat them dry. If you blanched the apricots, or if they are especially ripe, you should be able to easily remove the skins with your fingers. Otherwise, you can use a sharp paring knife to peel the fruit. If you’re pureeing the apricots, you will need to remove the skins. Use a small paring knife to slice through the fruit, sliding it around the pit. Twist the halves of the apricot to separate it, then use your fingers or a spoon to scoop out the pit.  If you’re freezing the apricots fresh, you can leave them in halves, or you can cut them into quarters or slices if you prefer.

Summary: Choose fruit that is fully ripe but still firm. Wash the apricots with a mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Blanch the apricots in boiling water if you are leaving the peels on. Dip the apricots in ice-cold water after you blanch them, then drain and dry. Peel the apricots unless you plan to leave the skins on. Slice the apricots in half and remove the pits.


Long distance relationships are much easier to maintain today than they were a long time ago. With text messaging, social media, and video chatting, technology can allow long distance couples to feel closer to one another, even when they are far apart.  There are apps for smartphones that allow you and your partner to touch your thumbs to the same spot on the screen and your phone will emit a vibration.  Video chatting services like Skype and FaceTime allow for those in long distance relationships to have face-to-face conversations rather than just talking on the phone. Download a video chatting service and get a webcam! Most new laptops come with web-cameras built in. It's safe to say that most people use text messaging very often in their everyday lives. Use it as a way of sending messages and photos to your significant other while you are apart. It will help you feel more connected and more like you are a part of each other's day-to-day lives. If you go to college far away from one another and decide to maintain a long distance relationship, make sure you are both clear on what you expect from one another. Be open and honest about your needs and where you want the relationship to go. Don't be afraid to tell your significant other if your needs aren't being met, or if you think you both should work towards making some changes. A long distance relationship, particularly one that is made more difficult by the stresses and responsibilities that come along with college life, is an entirely different entity than the average, geographically close relationship. As college students, you are more than likely living on a small budget. With tuition, rent, food, and transportation costs, college is an expensive time in anyone's life. So, budgeting for trips to visit your significant other might seem like a difficult task.  Book airline tickets well in advance. A few months to about 8 weeks before is a good window for purchasing. You can even create a price alert on some travel websites and get an e-mail or text alert when plane tickets for your route go down. Try planning a trip to a third location—rather than you going to see them or them coming to see you, plan to meet in the middle, or meet up in some other fun, interesting location. Not only will it keep things interesting, but the effort will feel more balanced on both sides. Consider taking a bus. It isn't as time efficient, but new express bus services in the US can take you pretty long distances for a low fee.
Summary: Take advantage of technology. Acknowledge the needs of both partners. Avoid comparing this relationship to relationships you have had in the past. Budget for visits.