So the roomie has been gone for a couple weeks now and it's been fabulous. Let me tell you, I could get used to this whole living in my own room thing. But it's not time to go getting too comfortable now. I will be getting a new roommate next semester, and have already had someone ask to move in. We'll be having lunch sometime to figure out if we'll be a good fit for each other. We'll see.
Last weekend (technically two weekends ago now) was the 2010 World Butoku Sai (aka Winter Camp) at the Oceanfront. (Now's a good time to note that most everyone who went is now sick. Including me...again) It was cold, windy, sunny, amazing, beautiful, and immensely painful all at the same time. There was less water training than expected, and mostly less training in general than was expected. Still, it was good to get to see everyone again. A touch awkward in some cases, but hey that's life. It's amazing to look at the pictures from this camp compared to winter camp 5 years ago, 8 years ago. We're almost all in college now if not graduated. To quote Meredith Grey, "We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?" The history you build with people, the friendships you form, it's amazing to look at that and think about how much time has passed. It's been over ten years now that I've trained. Nothing compared to so many of my fellow martial artists. We actually celebrated our 45th anniversary of the international branch of our organization. I'm merely a pup compared to my teachers. All of us are. Even though there are those of us who would like to think otherwise. I do believe these are the same folks who have some humility scheduled to be knocked back into them. And I do mean that quite literally! We're all scheduled for some life lessons. But I think we're getting to the ones that you're parents and teachers can't help you prevent. They can tell you what to do and what not to do till they're blue in the face, but there's lessons you learn only by experience and nothing else. Some of these are the lessons that really seem to suck. But whatever. All in due time.
Speaking of time, I can't believe the semester is almost over! There's just three full weeks of classes (not counting Thanksgiving break) before exams, then it's Christmas. Time has flown! But let me tell you, college, it's not all that fun. It's hard work, it's late nights, it's not going out on the weekends when you really want to. Sometimes it's okay though. The music scene around here is rather inviting after all. From the start of the semester I've seen Jack Johnson, Matt Hires with opener Wakey!Wakey!, Blitzen Trapper, Sarah Barilles with Greg Laswell and Holly Conlan, Passion Pit, and Matt Costa. This isn't counting the three Celtic Thunder shows (and the fourth in a few days). I also decided last minute to pick up a ticket to go see The Weepies in a neighboring city. Should be a good show!
But more than anything I'm looking forward to being back on the beach. Although I had my definition of "city" redefined for me in Chicago a few weeks ago, this place is still very different. It's a very high-paced, high-occupancy life. No one here has time for each other. You don't spend 5 minutes chatting about your day with the librarian, your professor maybe has a couple minutes to talk strictly about class matters. No one truly knows anyone. It's all about time is money and money is time. I swear I need 12 more hours in my day to get everything finished. Speaking of which, it's time to tell yous all goodnight. Here's to a pleasant tomorrow!
Peace,
Elina
The photo hosts some brilliant autumn colors from somewhere in County Derry.
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