Settling In

8-25-09

I have textbooks. I have a job. I have a bunch of new clothes that I bought today. I have school supplies.

Now I just need classes to start.

It feels weird, being back on campus. I feel sort of...disconnected, or like I've woken up from a coma and have to re-learn the ropes of everything again. In a strange sort of way, I suppose that's really what it is. At least I'm aware of the times when I am reacting strangely to some new event. Like oohing over new renovations that everyone's been used to for a year--or feeling the slightest bit annoyed when I see that someone has put an almost entirely full plate of food on the conveyor belt (I mean, come on, food costs money, and at least this food is fresh). It's the little things that can trip a person up, like the rows and rows of canned vegemeat in Wal-Mart, or the fact that one's dorm room is about half the size of one's apartment the year before. Stuff like that.

I'm so very happy that I have a Student Missions Club to be actively involved in--as well as other clubs and diversions and what not. But I just want school to start and learn to get back into the swing of things. The waiting (which I should, by this point, be used to) is starting to grate. I want to hang out with people, and I can't seem to find them on this very big campus (which makes me glad that I don't go to a ginormous university).

I don't want to gain what I lost--nor lose what I've gained. But it seems as if it will be very, very easy for my viewpoint, my focus, to shift in lots of different ways. I've heard someone say that the college life is one of the most hedonistic lifestyles ever--and that's probably very, very true. A lot of the time it seems to be all about the hypothetical ME, and I don't want to slip into that. I want the focus to be on the I AM. Unfortunately, there will probably be times when I slip up and lose focus and lose sight--but I know that I'll get a nice reminder somehow and get my head set on straight again.

Happy news! I spent less than $300 buying a lot of stuff for school. Yay clearance and discounts and coupons and back-to-school sales. Also, thanks to the three ladies who taught me to look for such things: Mom, Cindy, and Trish. You three rock. And saved me a lot of money. It's why I passed on a really great looking shirt that was way overpriced.

More later.