(no subject)
Well, I wrote this almost a week ago, but my internet has been down!
I’ve gotta say, I’m a pretty happy camper here in Europe.
I was thinking about how usually when I go to a new place for a short amount of time, I try and jot down everything I’m thinking about, and hold onto every little scrap that might help me remember all the fun times. Here, though, I’ve been trying to keep only what seems really important, and haven’t really felt much like writing, because my brain is going too fast! Although as I pondered that, I realized that there are some things that maybe I’ll want to look back on later - things about how this experience is the same as or different from how it’s “supposed” to be.
I didn’t really expect to be homesick (like you’re “supposed” to be), because that’s just not my style - I’m usually pretty content just to be wherever. I didn’t expect to be THIS comfortable, though! I think maybe what feels remarkable is that it’s not a comfort in being settled, but a comfort in all the new. I really can’t imagine being ready to leave here in three and a half months - there is so much more I want to do, and so many people I want to really get to know well. Maybe it’s because I never went away to school that this is such a big thing for me, but I really like the quick connections that come with sharing this experience with 20-30 other people and all being sort of inherently reliant on each other. Already we fall asleep on each other’s shoulders, and everyone is so quick to lend a helping hand. As of Thursday I’ll have been here a month. I can’t believe it! I know that studying abroad is “supposed” to be some sort of a life-changing experience, but I didn’t really think much of that. I knew it’d be a great time and I’d learn a lot, but I figured - it’s just Rotterdam, it’ll be really cool to have a change of scenery and faces and new opportunities, but basically the same formula as life at home. I think maybe they were right, though! I’ve been really enjoying just taking walks and not even looking where I’m going, just thinking over all that’s going on. And I keep coming home from places and just lying face-up on my bed and thinking “wow!” for a good long time. Can’t even really explain what or why that is; all I know is that it’s good.
I’ve gotta say, I’m a pretty happy camper here in Europe.
I was thinking about how usually when I go to a new place for a short amount of time, I try and jot down everything I’m thinking about, and hold onto every little scrap that might help me remember all the fun times. Here, though, I’ve been trying to keep only what seems really important, and haven’t really felt much like writing, because my brain is going too fast! Although as I pondered that, I realized that there are some things that maybe I’ll want to look back on later - things about how this experience is the same as or different from how it’s “supposed” to be.
I didn’t really expect to be homesick (like you’re “supposed” to be), because that’s just not my style - I’m usually pretty content just to be wherever. I didn’t expect to be THIS comfortable, though! I think maybe what feels remarkable is that it’s not a comfort in being settled, but a comfort in all the new. I really can’t imagine being ready to leave here in three and a half months - there is so much more I want to do, and so many people I want to really get to know well. Maybe it’s because I never went away to school that this is such a big thing for me, but I really like the quick connections that come with sharing this experience with 20-30 other people and all being sort of inherently reliant on each other. Already we fall asleep on each other’s shoulders, and everyone is so quick to lend a helping hand. As of Thursday I’ll have been here a month. I can’t believe it! I know that studying abroad is “supposed” to be some sort of a life-changing experience, but I didn’t really think much of that. I knew it’d be a great time and I’d learn a lot, but I figured - it’s just Rotterdam, it’ll be really cool to have a change of scenery and faces and new opportunities, but basically the same formula as life at home. I think maybe they were right, though! I’ve been really enjoying just taking walks and not even looking where I’m going, just thinking over all that’s going on. And I keep coming home from places and just lying face-up on my bed and thinking “wow!” for a good long time. Can’t even really explain what or why that is; all I know is that it’s good.