“You look the same. Do you feel the same?”
Dr. Thompson, my academic advisor at OSU, asks me as I walk into his office and take a seat. An overwhelming feeling comes over me as I immediatly answer, “No”.
My grandma called on one of my last days in Dublin. I was alone in one of the science practical rooms in the Ag Block. Writing on the chalkboard. Studying. She talked about Christmas and snow and missing me. She asked if I was ready to come home- if I wanted to at all. At this question, there was a long pause as I considered how to answer–the pause said it all. “Not even a little?” she asked.
As I came back, battled my way through the Chicago airport, talked to friends, and contemplated what my first impressions back in America were(McDonalds food and American accents), life here looked different. As I knew it would.
My first days were bittersweet. Adjusting to time change and not sleeping. Missing carefree Ireland while not sleeping. Loving Christmas at home with family. Hanging out with friends. Telling them stories. Catching up. Thinking about school. Wanting not to go back to school. Thinking about how close graduation is coming as soon as I go back to school. Contemplating going back to school in Ireland. Wanting to graduate this year. Seeing the dwindling sum of money in my bank account. Realizing more money is needed for Ireland. Thinking about friends back at school in Corvallis. Thinking about the fireplace at school and the beach room. Mom buying a new mattress for my poor sore back for the bed in the beach room. Wanting to sleep on the new mattress more than the one that broke my back in Dublin.
Driving around Eastern Oregon for a day with Seth and Alex. Attempting to attempt snowboarding in the rain. Catching up with Shannon. Running with Kari. Eating Mexican food and making it a daily event for lunch at Hale’s. Experiencing Hermiston. Attending the last annual dinner at Trevor’s. Arriving in Corvallis to the first (informal) dinner party of the term. Hashing out details with Kaci. Getting motivated by Dr. Thompson. Adding my Irishness to Anneke’s to complete the decor of our Irish house.
Arriving late (and yet mysteriously on-time) daily to Animal Nutrition. Crawling over lots of pre-vet animal science girls when late (and mysteriously on-time) for Animal Nutrition. Attempting to contrive friendliness out of pre-vet animal science girls (and winning).
Going to class at 8:00 am. Attendance required to go to class at 8:00 am. Assignment due every time I walk in the door to class at 8:00 am. Arriving late and tardiness being counted for class- again at 8:00 am.
Not going out on a Wednesday night. Going out Tuesday night instead. Deciding it probably wouldn’t be in our best interest to go out on a Tuesday night. Going out on a Friday night. Realizing some things never change.
Loving. Loving. Loving. American friends. Missing Irish friends.
Missing rhubarb yogurt. Trying to find the best American yogurt to rival rhubarb yogurt. Failing- yet- still looking.
Loving the fireplace. Realizing wood needs to be split for the fireplace to be loved. Asking Anneke to split the wood (again) :)
Realizing that I love being home in Oregon. Still missing Ireland.
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:03 am
I miss running with you. I’m not going to lie….your post makes me miss Corvallis a little. One day my gypsy feet will lead me there.
There is a run in Seattle in April, just a 5k. How do you feel about this?