Hi peeps,

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm home for reading week this week. It's like being on vacation, only better - not only do I not have to worry about food/laundry/entertainment, but I also get to cuddle my puppy whenever I want. WIN.

Another upside to being home for longer than a weekend is that I'm able to reconnect with people I know here. Not just friends, either - I visited my old workplace on Tuesday and talked to my former bosses and coworkers. It was nice to catch up!

Of course, I get to spend time with my family as well. I know my sister has missed my twisted sense of humour, as have my parents. And it's great to be able to talk things through with my mom in person, instead of over MSN*. Some things just translate better in person.

Stay tuned for next week's post.
Me


*Yes, I still use MSN. Just because I've been using it since elementary school doesn't mean it's obsolete.

As the title suggests, this is basically just a short post to assure you that I am in fact alive and well. I don't really have much to say - it's the end of midterms for most people, which means that there isn't a heck of a lot going on. This is unfortunate for people like me who finished their exams last week.

I suppose that I can tell all 3 of you who don't know that I'm going home for reading week next week. I'm VERY excited about this - there are certain things that just aren't the same here. For instance, it's hard not being able to see my puppies every day. And I REALLY miss sleeping in a bed that doesn't cause back problems. And having to pay $10 to do your laundry is kind of a pain. While I can live without all of these things, it's certainly nice to have them, even if it's only for a little bit. The saying "There's no place like home" really rings true now!

So... yeah. That's about all the excitement I have to report for this week. I promise I'll check in next Wednesday with something a little more exciting.

Slainte,
Me

Turkey and exams. 2 things that will forever be linked in my mind. *Sigh*

It's kind of funny when you think about it, since they symbolize entirely opposite things. Turkey is a symbol of food, family and relaxation, while midterms make you think of sleep deprivation, self-imposed isolation and stress. And yet, thanks to the school's timing, the two are intertwined. You've gotta wonder if they do it on purpose...

Anyways, I guess I should report on midterms first. They've been going on for the past 2 weeks, during which everyone has collectively lost it. After all, people are still adjusting to the fact that they're really only accountable to themselves. There's the dawning realization that while you can party 24/7, you will pay for it eventually. You'll also pay for not doing your homework and/or doing your reading - even if it's not for marks, it's pretty important because it helps you understand the material instead of just memorizing it. And you'd better think again if you believe that the profs are going to chase after you and/or make sure you're doing OK in class. It's sink or swim here, and a lot of people (myself included) are just barely treading water.

To counteract the midterm stress, I spent Thanksgiving weekend with the "New Brunswick crew"*. My visiting grandma invited me to stay with my aunt and uncle, which was awesome! Aside from the free (and delicious) food and the fact that I had my laundry done for me (thanks Grandma!), it was nice to just spend the weekend with everyone. We went to a birthday party Saturday night, where I met family I didn't even know I had. Those same family members then came over for dinner on Sunday - there were 20 of us in total. Monday was spent driving out to Perth to see my great-grandma's beautiful old farmhouse, then we were back in time for leftovers that evening. It was nice just being able to relax and not stress for a bit!

Speaking of stress, I'm sorry my posting's been so erratic. The past 2 months have been kinda crazy - I've been hit with one thing after another. Hopefully it'll all settle down after I take my last midterm tomorrow, and then I'll be able return to regularly scheduled programming.

Adios for now,
Moi

*For those of you playing along at home, the "New Brunswick crew" consists of the 16 or so people that spend every summer and/or Christmas at my grandparents' house in (you guessed it) New Brunswick.

So last week was a bit crazy. Stress, hormones, homesickness... it all piled up and kind of exploded in my face on Wednesday/Thursday. I was kind of a mess and ended up going home for the weekend, just to get away for a bit. I really needed a good dose of unprocessed food, sleep in my comfy bed and cuddle time with my puppies. And, y'know, seeing my family.

I don't mind admitting that deciding to go home was kind of a hard decision. There's a big attitude here about how you should be able to handle everything on your own because you're a Big Kid now. While I agree with that attitude in some respects (it's not unreasonable to expect us to be able to feed ourselves or do laundry on our own, for example), it does make it tough to admit that you're having trouble. Trying to tell someone that you went home for the weekend brings the phrase "crying home to Mommy" to mind.

The truth is, though, that sometimes you just can't handle everything on your own. Starting university (especially if you're living on your own) is a big transition - not only do you have to deal with assignments and exams, but there's also dealing with the fact that you're starting out with little to no friends, woefully inadequate time management skills and a completely different financial situation. Trying to juggle all of these is a lot to handle for someone who just finished high school! Pair that with the aforementioned attitude, which says that even if you have a support system you shouldn't use it, and you have a recipe for disaster.

In the end, I'm really happy that I decided to go home for the weekend. Sure, it screwed up my plans (I can't believe I missed the Smart Chicks tour!), but it allowed me to take a step back from the crap that was building up here and think it over from a different angle. I didn't even know how much I needed that until I was back again!

Oh, and cuddling with my puppies and seeing my friends back home didn't hurt either :)

TTFN. I have a midterm to study for.
Me