As you saw from my last post I spent nearly 8 weeks at home in England. It was a well needed break and I couldn't have had a better time there. I simply spent 8 weeks relaxing and living the British life. It was perfect. Most importantly I learned how lucky I am to have the friends and family I have. Many people will come in and out of your life, but those select few that stick around - even when you move out of the country - I owe them so much.
Coming back to Cali was an easy transition. When I look back to January, the two return trips couldn't have been more different. Last time it took a lot to get me on my feet again. I was battling incredible homesickness and was miserable. I've never been so unhappy. This time it was different though. This time I merely had the time difference to get used to, and thanks to the wonderful hospitality of the Allen family I didn't need to worry about anything else. Nothing seemed different or new and so I simply fit back into life here like I'd never left.
It wasn't long before I found myself back into university life, and this term feels like the busiest I've ever been. With teaching classes, working in Athletics, completing my masters, and the self-inflicted coaching observation hours and book reading, I've been working non stop. I get up, go to work, go home, go to bed. I'm barely awake for any social life after that. All my efforts have been on simply day to day functioning, and that often spills over into the weekend. I flew in on the 17th august which means I've not been back a month yet, and it feels like so long since I was at home in England with my puppy.
Needless to say I get very little time to think about anything else, which means Sundays are my down days. Sundays I get space from school. Sunday's I wear my Brunel hoody and stay in my Pj's. I wake up, have a proper cup of tea, and make egg burritos. I Skype my parents on Sundays. We might go to the store or go to dinner, but mostly Sundays are for doing nothing. Tonight we're going to watch the 49ers game at our friends house. Sundays are the days I try and get my head around what the hell happened this week, and to remember where I am and why I'm here. Unsurprisingly that means - Sundays are my homesick days.
As crazy as it's all been I can easily see how fast I've had to grow in such a small space of time. I keep thinking back to last year and where I was this time last year. In fact this time last year I was probably still hiding in my bedroom at weekends, not knowing people and Skyping my parents alone and scared. Those first few months seemed crazy. Yesterday I was trying to remember what I used to do on weekends at Brunel. I don't remember. It feels like a lifetime ago. It's a weird feeling when a place like Brunel, that felt so much like home and such a big part of me, now just feels like a memory from when I was a kid. That hurt more than anything because I still have so much Brunel pride, but I don't feel a part of that place anymore. I feel like a different person now, so for me to go back and pretend like nothing has changed would be a lie. I never expected to feel that way.
My brother is starting his second year of uni now. I can't believe it. I feel like I'm missing out on him growing up.
It's not all misery though, and to pretend like it is would be over dramatic and unfair. After being here a year I know how it all works life in America is finally easy. I have some really great friends and as a result I get to do things like wine tasting and go to fundraiser dinners. I love what I do and I'm learning so much everyday. I can see how I'm developing from undergrad to masters. I work hard as a teacher and I get a huge sense of achievement when one of my students learns something! When I look back at interviewing for this job I really didn't know what to expect, but if I'd imagined the best possible scenario, I am living it now.
Before I finish rambling, I would like to publicly thank Kayleigh for inspiring my blog today. After 11 years and from thousands of miles away she is still supporting me. Thanks Kays.
Oh also! My last post sent my blog above 1000 veiws. Now I'm fairly sure even my mum doesn't have time to read my blog 1000 times, so to who ever you are, thank you for reading. My blog is well needed therapy for me, as well as a piece of mind knowing I can keep my friends updated with my little adventure - so thank you very much for reading because it really means a lot to me. As a reward to you all, here are some gifs of cats which I think are really funny.
