The Reality: A Random Smattering

A series of things loosely based on a message I sent to my friend Anna last week.

• Spring break in Wales was one of the top 2 greatest experiences of my life
• I feel closer to everyone in my house all of a sudden
• I started riding my bike again after almost two months of only walking
• Stonehenge really is just a big pile of rocks
• But an impressive pile of rocks
• I've woken up before 9am almost every day the past week and a half
• And I'm happy about it
• The staff and other speakers have made history more interesting than it ever was before
• I climbed a cathedral tower with 332 steps
• It's been in the 50s almost every day for the past few weeks
• And the sun's been out
• Prawn cocktail (aka shrimp cocktail) Pringles are really good
• I ate half a jar of peanut butter for lunch yesterday and learned a lot about my life
• Making myself feel better about stuff doesn't always mean sitting alone and crying
• But it also doesn't always mean forcing myself to socialize and get plenty of exercise
• I'm really bad at judging the size of international stamps when writing postcards
• Adult things are stressful
• But they don't have to be
• One thing at a time, right?
• Oliver Cromwell disapproved of the Magna Carta and instead called it the "Magna Farta"
• Actually a large majority of historical figures had senses of humor and/or did stupid things that are extremely amusing
• There is pen all over my hands for the first time in a long time because let me tell you ink does not dry quickly when applied to the backs of postcards
• Online groceries are a godsend
• I am about to read a lot of books in a very short amount of time
• The British education system is wonderful but I miss having month-long (or more) warnings for my paper prompts
• And only writing papers with a small number of short sources
• And only having to walk 2 minutes to class instead of biking 15+ or walking 40+
• I miss restaurants and stores that are open past 6pm
• I miss Taco Bell
• I miss living in the Eastern time zone
• I miss driving
• I miss reading books for fun
• I miss the rest of my wardrobe
• I miss having a roommate
• Especially one who manages to ruin my life in a good way
• I miss not being surprised by the conversion rates when I check my bank balance
• But soon I'm going to miss living in a house with 30+ other people
• I'm going to miss morning and afternoon tea
• I'm going to miss late nights in the kitchen talking about life
• I'm going to miss the staff and tutors and JDs and other Oxfordians that have taken such good care of us
• I'm going to miss large group meals and fumbling through recipes we found online
• I'm going to miss having dozens of heavy coins in my wallet that add up to almost $20
• Okay that was a joke
• I can't wait to get back to mostly paper money
• I'm going to miss the insane library system
• I'm going to miss the sight of a crowded Cornmarket Street
• I'm going to miss my daily passing of buildings older than America
• I'm going to miss Oxford and all these wonderful people
• When the time comes I know I'll be ready to go
• Ready to see family and friends again
• But right now I have a book to read, a paper to write, and groceries on the way
• I hope you all have a wonderful week