I'm finally "settled in" in my suite and I've gotten to know the rest of my suite mates. They're all very friendly and easy to get along with. Two from Australia, one from Sri Lanka, and one from Canada. That being said, I LOVE my accommodation here. I'm assigned to the housing for international students that just recently opened a few months back. I'm the first one to live in my room! The building is beautiful; brightly colored walls and streamlined furniture (think 'IKEA'). It's very clean and offers lots of venues for socializing, including a recreation room with 2 pool tables, 2 ping pong tables, and a "movie room" with bean bags and a projector screen.
The process of meeting new people has been a slow one. Most social events are associated with alcohol so I've been really keen on making friends in class. It's only Wednesday but I've met some very interesting people so far.
One thing I love about campus is that there are always people walking their dogs or going out for a jog- people who aren't students- and I always find that to be reassuring. In a sense, living on a college campus is a lot like being trapped in a bubble. Surrounded by people who are all around your same age, all there for the same reason (for the most part), all there doing the same thing. Back in NY I made it a point to get off campus at least once a week, to stay in touch with the "real" world, the world outside of academics and studying and stress. I like that I get a taste of that here without even trying. A good reminder that life exists outside the world of university. Keeps me sane.
Homesickness is a funny thing. Some days I find that my mind has wandered off thousands of miles from where I am. It's like something's tugging at me or turning my head; a longing in a sense, but for what, I'm not sure. It's hard for me to feel "homesick" since I've long dismissed "home" as being just one place, or a place at all. What I do know is that on these days, nothing is more pleasant than running into an old friend, and for me, that has been the trees. I find it so comforting that on my way to the tram I can stop and smell the peony bush that spills over the fence, or smile at the lantana camara blossoms that line some of the streets. I always linger around the willow with the smooth, peeling bark on my way to class and make it a point to greet the palms and the pines. Each one is significant of a time or place that I love.
Class has finally started and I'm hoping to start developing a routine. I have a pretty relaxed 4-day school week, leaving plenty of time for adventure!
The process of meeting new people has been a slow one. Most social events are associated with alcohol so I've been really keen on making friends in class. It's only Wednesday but I've met some very interesting people so far.
One thing I love about campus is that there are always people walking their dogs or going out for a jog- people who aren't students- and I always find that to be reassuring. In a sense, living on a college campus is a lot like being trapped in a bubble. Surrounded by people who are all around your same age, all there for the same reason (for the most part), all there doing the same thing. Back in NY I made it a point to get off campus at least once a week, to stay in touch with the "real" world, the world outside of academics and studying and stress. I like that I get a taste of that here without even trying. A good reminder that life exists outside the world of university. Keeps me sane.
Homesickness is a funny thing. Some days I find that my mind has wandered off thousands of miles from where I am. It's like something's tugging at me or turning my head; a longing in a sense, but for what, I'm not sure. It's hard for me to feel "homesick" since I've long dismissed "home" as being just one place, or a place at all. What I do know is that on these days, nothing is more pleasant than running into an old friend, and for me, that has been the trees. I find it so comforting that on my way to the tram I can stop and smell the peony bush that spills over the fence, or smile at the lantana camara blossoms that line some of the streets. I always linger around the willow with the smooth, peeling bark on my way to class and make it a point to greet the palms and the pines. Each one is significant of a time or place that I love.
Class has finally started and I'm hoping to start developing a routine. I have a pretty relaxed 4-day school week, leaving plenty of time for adventure!
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