This week full of really highs and really lows, and not many in betweens. Wednesday I had an English paper due, Taylor had two midterms, Veronica had a paper due, and a test. Cadeem was feeling sick. We knew it was going to be an awful day, so we decided to add it to our celebration day list, whereupon we treat ourselves to something at the end of the day. This time, it was Indian food. We called a few places trying to find a cheap one, and after 1/2 an hour we'd decided. Unfortunately, the name online wasn't the same as the name on the street, and so it took us quite a while walking trying to find it. The wind was icy! Eventually we phoned for directions. By the time we got there we were freezing and very hungry, which is good, because otherwise we wouldn't have stayed because they prices were higher than we were told. That being said, it was so good. We walked up the street to Metro (grocery store) and bought some dessert. I came home with a pumpkin pie and a can of whipping cream. I was so looking forward to it, too bad I got home and found out it was frozen. No big deal, we have a microwave? But someone else had just burned popcorn in it. Burned popcorn pumpkin pie? I don't think so. Taylor suggested I try defrosting it with my hair dryer. More to make everyone laugh than to actually try it, I pulled out my hair dryer, thinking it'd get a funny reaction from Cadeem who had momentarily left the room.
I think he just thought I'd hit my head or that the waiter had put something in my drink.
So I ended up using the microwave several minutes later, and put the pumpkin pie in a container with a lid. Then my chemically-enhanced aerosol whipping cream melted deliciously over my scary bought pumpkin pie.
Thursday morning I woke up after a bad sleep to an even worse stomach ache, but not form the food. Really. I logged on to Virtual Campus to check if my politics mark had been posted, and instead found out that our exam is tentativly scheduled for December 22nd. So I'm not going to be home before school's out. I'm not going to be home for the typical parties, for the Bethlehem walk, for gift wrapping in the mall, for celebrations at church, or to see my friends before they go away. And, because of how late I have to fly it's going to cost even more to go home, to not do all the things I want to do. Last time I checked, it's cheaper to fly to Europe than Victoria at Christmas time.
As if that wasn't bad enough, I got my politics paper back later that day and the mark was lower than I had expected - and I don't understand why. I'm interested in what we're studying, but I hate not fully understanding. And I hate that I have to get used to lower grades. And I hate that I need good grades so that I can renew my scholarship so that I can afford to go to school next year.
Too bad I didn't grow up in Sweden.
I came back to my room and cried for a while, consoled myself with pie and whipping cream. Tim pointed out that it'd probably make things worse. The sad truth is that I don't really remember what real food tastes like, and so it wasn't a problem consuming more chemicals than calories. Later in the afternoon I borrowed Veronica's guitar and spent some time with God. I'm still in one piece. No need for crazy glue, staples, or duct tape yet, Emily. But a hug would be nice.
I'd promised myself that I would go for a run this week, so Amber and I met up around 8:20 to at least go for a walk. We ended up running almost at least 6 km, plus I ran the distance from her place back to the university, maybe 2 km (?) I didn't even think that was possible for me. My knees were at least twice the size they should be when I got back, and my legs were exhausted. But it felt so good to run! Running with Amber was great - we agreed on the speed and how long we'd run before taking a break, and we got to talk at the same time.
Taylor's friend was staying the night, because the two of them were taking a bus to another friend's place for Thanksgiving on Friday. So we had one extra in our room. On top of that, everyone was having a party before going home, and it was a LOUD party. We ended up with a lot of people in our room as usual. This time, no telling secrets, but Michael sang and danced along to a wide variety of music for three hours, and two girls from the other side of the floor kept coming by providing some pretty good entertainment. Not a great first impression for Taylor's friend, but it was a lot of fun. By 2:30 everyone had left our room, and we talked for a while, like at a sleep over, before bed. It was a really good way to end the day, and luckily my class on Friday wasn't until 2:30 in the afternoon.
Yesterday I woke up and remembered that I had my first "Discipleship Group" meeting through Campus for Christ. This is going to be a small group (5) of girls who live in rez, and we'll be doing bible study together throughout the year, led by Angela who works for Campus for Christ. Everyone was so nice, and I'm excited to be building deeper relationships with God and other Christians as well.
It was a rainy afternoon, and by the time I walked to the library to get rid of my books from researching for English, and then to the other end of campus for my English class, my jacket was pretty wet, but I was thankful that underneath I was warm and dry. When English was over, I was done for the day, since my French prof had said that he wouldn't be taking attendance, or introducing new material, and that if nobody came, he'd go home and enjoy his long weekend, "hint hint." Instead I got to go grocery shopping, a task which I now despise whole-heartedly. On top of the ridiculous prices for food, I have to remember that anything I buy I also have to carry back, this time, in the rain. And unlike at home when I know that it'll get better - progressing to either just clouds or maybe even sun, here, it's going to progress to freezing cold and snow....so grocery shopping is just going to get worse. So as I walked the 1-2 km to the University, with three very large, heavy reusable bags full of food, and wet jeans, and wet hair, I was thankful that it was just rain. And that I had boots on, so at least my feet were dry.
This weekend I'm going to try and make some food and freeze it in the communal freezer. I've discussed tactics with the other girls who cook, first, only put it in if it looks discusting, or requires a serious amount of cooking (like raw meat.) Second, rather than labelling "do not eat" or "Jennifer Emery" label with some date in early September. Third, anything that doesn't fully meet the first two points is to be wrapped in a couple plastic bags and tied at the top, because the guys are two lazy to look.
On top of my grocery shopping endeavor, yesterday I also got to watch suitcases rolling around behind happy students heading down the elevator, or around campus. And I watched students run up to their families and hug them. And I watched smiles, and laughter, and some times tears as they loaded into the car, or headed off to the bus station.
"Happy Thanksgiving, have a good weekend!" everyone said to me as they left the building. Their is a sign in our bathroom that the very thoughtful CA put up which reads "Sad and lonely because you didn't go home for Thanksgiving? Bring a plate and utensils to the 90 U lounge for dinner on Saturday at 6:30" I think that might be the most depressing invitation I've ever read.
Though I desperately want to go home, so far, I'm not doing to badly. There is a really nice girl from my floor (Melanie) who I though was going home but is staying. Last night we had a great time watching really weird movies, eating pie (she bought an apple pie, so we had both..), and drinking the hot apple cider which we made. Then we both went into a cleaning frenzy at 3 in the morning, yes, that was a result of stress for me - I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier.
Today I'm planning on studying, I have two mid terms next week. I'm having some sort of Turkey dinner tonight, and tomorrow I'm going to Lianne's for some real food. Monday, Veronica comes home and she'll be toting left overs. So even though my weekend is without my family, and without my closest friends,
Thankfully,
it's not without turkey.
Oh, I forgot to mention something random which happened yesterday. I got an email from someone I don't know asking if I'd be willing to write a 150 word text to go on the back of the bulletin which are used by many presbyterian churches across the country, ironically enough, not mine! I said yes, as secretly, I've always wanted to at least know the person who wrote the story on the back of the bulletin. I have to write it by November 15, and I'll be getting a $75 honorarium. And, for all of you who want to rush out to a presbyterian church and find your beloved Jennifer's writing on the back of the bulletin, write it on your Calendar for "Christian Family Sunday" (in the rest of the world's mind, that's Mother's Day) May 8, 2011. Yes. 2011....I'm pretty sure I'll have forgotten about it by then!
Now, truthfully, I hope that all of you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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