Updates, Apologies, and Announcements

I promise that I haven't forgotten about you. This week has been the one that keeps on giving. Last Friday I got sick, resulting in having to take some time of work. Fall midterms are also hitting particularly hard right now. This week I had three. Last year I had five, so I suppose I should be counting my blessings, really. With the illness, however, it’s been unbearable.

It turns into a vicious cycle. I feel sick, so studying takes longer because I'm cognitively slower, so I stay up later to have more hits in a day, but that makes it tougher to get well again. The real light at the end of the tunnel is this weekend, when I can sleep in past seven.

Writing this blog is my break from studying today. My very last midterm is at two tomorrow afternoon, so I'm in full cram mode. I've read many many studies on why you shouldn't do this, but with the midterms piling up in only a few days, it can't be helped much. So I've been spending my waking hours just forcing knowledge in.

There is something else I wanted to mention. I could wait a little longer, but there isn't time like the present. If you watch the BBC program Sherlock, you might recall on the first season when Holmes gets bored, he starts yelling "BORED" and shooting the wall (More on Sherlock to come soonish...but you can watch that clip here.). That's how I feel, minus the guns. I'm having a quarter-life crisis. I suppose it's preferable to a midlife crisis. People tend to be more accepting pod you're quirks when you're younger. I've felt this for probably a month now. Nothing is wrong. Nothing bad happened to me. I just have this nagging unfulfilled feeling. Everything is only okay. It's not good. Not great. Just okay. And that's not okay. I don't want an okay like, I want a great one. I want nothing short of fanatic.

When I was in high school, I toyed with the idea of doing an exchange, but it never worked out. It was never a good time, and I'd never gone anywhere alone, and 16 seemed like it wasn’t the right time to start. It's daunting to go to a separate country alone. Do you know how to take the intimidation out of something? You just close your eyes, and jump in.

I have a full year of electives saved up, to use on any courses that I want, so I've resolved to do that exchange. I went to the study abroad office, filled out the application, passed it in and booked a consultation with one of my universities academic advisors to discuss what must be done for me to graduate on time, but still be able to go. I've picked my school overseas, and will probably tell you about it when the time comes if I get in. I did act very quickly, but if hadn't, I don't think I would have the courage to go through with it. It is in my senior year, which is a little scary, but I'm told that it's doable. Even recommended. I'm terrified. I can't wait to get started on the application process, and I'll keep you posted.

Hopefully I’ll have more things to talk about this week, including my new book of the week.