1 week until Tacoma

I will admit that it has been a fairly easy transition back in to America. I haven't found myself with any complete culture shock or anything. There are some social references that seem to go right past me, but that seems to be the same with any person without cable. It has been difficult knowing that there have been social changes amongst friends and that when I go back to school I will have no influence on them and that things have definitely changed. It may have changed for the better or for the worse, I have no idea.

I was offered a position as an RA again, but I had to decline. I would like just one semester of limited responsibility where I can just enjoy myself. I feel like I haven't been doing much of that my college career, hard to believe...

My time in Dallas has really been amazing. I'm having difficulty motivating myself to pack up once again and leave. I know where I am going back to and it isn't as ambiguous as London, but it is another time to pack up my life and move. This break I have seen my friends a lot more than I usually do and it has made the time really fly by. I'm not ready to leave them just yet, but I do know that we will keep in touch. That's just the kind of people we are. Drunk calls always happen, texting, facebook, and so many other methods allow us to keep in touch and stay connected.

For awhile I was scared that when I went back to Tacoma no one would really notice I had been gone. I think that will happen eventually, but it will be nice to be reunited. These are people that I haven't seen for around 7 months and it feels like forever. I'm nervous about seeing people I consider best friends! Crazy.

For Christmas my mom and dad got me a first edition copy of John Keats' entire collection of poetry. It is something I will treasure forever. I love poetry and writing. I recently finished reading The Lovely Bones and it was so great! I am about to start reading the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I saw the movie and am excited to read the stories that inspired the movie. Its difficult to remember what reading for fun feels like, but it is the most amazing feeling! I also love new music. I've been listening to The Weepies, Amos Lee and so much more.

I enjoy growing. And I feel like I've been doing quite a bit of that. I haven't fought with my parents the entire break. My attention is more focused on what I can do to be productive and to have a happy day rather than being a couch potato. I have been trying to exercise more and live a healthier life. It is quite difficult though to go for walks/runs when the high is 26 degrees! What is Texas thinking?! It has been so cold. We've had two days of snow and more below freezing days than I ever remember. Geesh.

Well, its time for bed. Hopefully I can stay warm and not become a popsicle!