Beginnings

Today was good. I got an introduction to the university through the international office. I was able to see a bit of the surrounding area with some folks that I met. I met some other international students. It was good. Good to get out, and to meet folks who are, at least in one respect, in a similar place as me. It's funny, when people ask me where in the States I am from, I first say Michigan, and then I try to explain it, and they all seem to inevitably ask "is it by Lake Michigan?" I guess I didn't realize the big lake was so well known... It's always interesting to find these things out.

Uxbridge seems very quaint, cute, very "English suburb" kind of a place, while at the same time having two shopping malls and a tube station squatting right in it's center. I had dinner in town at some weird place that was infatuated with chicken, it was kind of Mongolian barbecue meets burger king meets applebees. And then went and sat in a pub and had a drink. It

After spending all day doing things and being around people by 9 I really needed some time to myself. I felt kind of lame leaving the group, I took a little razzing for it. But I guess in the midst of all of this exploration and extension I still gotta be me. And take some time to recharge and process, and unwind.

I have a lot of overwhelming feelings right now, and I am exhausted. I feel like I have been here for two seconds and also like I have been here for two years, I feel like I am wake up and tomorrow it will all be over, and like it will never start. I feel like half of the time I have the eyes of a newborn child seeking to take in as much as possible and the other half I have the far off stare of an old soldier who's seen too much. I feel like I really need to make sure I am taking advantage of everything I can, and also remaining true to myself. I feel overwhelmed.

I am doing my very best to believe in my abilities.

"If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning."
-Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi-