Turkey Day

Today did not start off the greatest.  Okay, I got up and finished my bacon (which is always a good thing) and then it was explosion Wednesday on Wheezy Waiter and that's always exciting.  But then I started looking into travel plans, and then I started to look into the small details of "How to get to the hostel from the airport" and "Where to go now that my Eurail pass can't take me to Tromso, Norway?" and "Is there dog sledding in Trondheim?"  And then I made a pros/cons list of the two hostels I was thinking about in Helsinki and decided on the private room hostel (free internet throughout, free sauna, middle of the city, etc).  And for some reason, I started to get stressed and nervous about this whole traveling bit, and it started to cry.

I have a feeling there was more to this cry than "I don't wanna plan all these complicated details! Can't I just go home now?" but I couldn't pinpoint it then.  Instead, I had my cry and ended the tears when it was time to go to class. 

Had a nice walk through Piccadilly Circus because I got off a stop before Oxford Circus.  Went to a Costa because it was cold and I wanted a pastry.  Bought myself some peppermint tea (yum!) and a chocolate Chistmas log (double yum!)  But it wasn't until I was walking to Black Dog from class that I started to really think about home and how everyone's going to stuff their faces with turkey and how much I love doing that.  And really, how the hell am I going to get stuffing over here when I haven't seen stuffing mix at Tesco?  I think that last bit is what set me off.  But these were small tears and were easily cleared away when I got to Black Dog.

The exhibition had just started when I got there.  It was a nice exhibition.  There was wine (of which I was welcome to) and some juice and water.  Duncan's son came but kept to Duncan (being a small boy in a sea of adult strangers, I don't blame him).  I sat behind Marianne's usual desk with a few piles of books in front of me.  If anyone wanted to buy one, it was my job to take care of the money matters.  And so I sat and sang to myself and people watched.  I even left a few minutes early because Libby said it was almost nine and I could get going if I wanted to.  The exhibition party was dying down anyway.  So I talked to Marianne and she paid me and I left. 

And then I really let go.  There was no stop to the tears from King's Cross all the way to the dorm.  I got off at Waterloo in hopes of stopping at either M&S in the station (which only sold sandwiches and insta-meals.  ugh) or the Sainsbury's Local just outside.  The Sainsbury's had TURKEY BREASTS so naturally I got those.  And then I got another pack of grapes because I felt like I should treat myself in my distressed emotional state.  Then I got some potatoes because if I can't have stuffing I can at least have something akin to mashed potatoes.  And, just for good measure, a giant chocolate and caramel bar.  (But what about all the Belgium chocolate I bought?  I don't want to eat ten bars of chocolate in a distressed state!  I won't enjoy it then!) 

Got home, boiled the potato with some pasta, fried one of the four turkey breasts, poured the rest of my milk in a glass, and I was set to go whine to my parents about how much I miss home and how much I wanted a conversation.  I had finished half the breast and just discovered that I didn't boil the potato all the way when the fire alarm went off. 

I was upset at first, but I'm not anymore.  For although everyone had to leave the dorm, I ran into Alysia on the way down.  My eyes were red and swollen so she asked what was wrong, and I said that I didn't know at first, and then I said that I was homesick (why deny it, right?).  She sympathized and rubbed my arm and invited me to her room when we got back into ours.  Then Siri noticed and she sympathized with being homesick as well.  Siri's family was over just barely a week ago and when they left, Siri felt homesick even though she had just seen her family!  So she can really relate.  Outside, in front of the dorm, Carina gave me a hug and told me it would be alright and that I would do great things even so far away from home.  Everyone commented on how far away from home I must be and all that.  They also said that a month and a half will go buy really fast, especially because I'll be busy the entire time. 

I don't know how much time we spent out in the cold, but it was long enough to talk with a girl from Colorado I don't remember meeting before, Camille from third floor, Alysia and Siri and Carina of course.  And we also saw Joe and Emanuele said "Hi.  It's cold."  I told him life out here would be better if I had some pants, and I got a funny comment from that one.  (Skirt and leggings.  These leggings don't generate their own heat, but they show promise when grouped in layers.) 

The fire came from a pizza on the eighth floor. 

When we were all allowed back inside, Alysia, Siri, and I convened in Alysia's room on the sixth floor.  Siri had a bottle of wine she had yet to finish and we said that we'll help her.  I brought my computer because I at first thought this would be a "sit quietly at your own thing" hang out session, but there was a lot of conversation instead.  And that really helped.  I was invited to a Denmark/English Christmas Market on Sunday and now I'm going to see Les Miserables tomorrow.  (Excitement!!)  They asked where Wisconsin is, and I pulled up a map on Google Maps, and then the family called in the middle of their Thanksgiving dinner.  I introduced them to my family and they thought it was really neat.  Mom and Dad let me go because I was obviously with friends and we'll talk tomorrow.

The three of us exchanged numbers so we can meet up for the musical tomorrow.  And then we parted because Alysia has to wake up early (I do too, but I want to finish this first).  We promised to finish the bottle tomorrow after the musical, so now I can't wait for that.

So today started off on the wrong foot, but it made me get back on the right one.  Here's a list of what I'm grateful for:

- the opportunity to be abroad
- Alysia and Siri
- Oscar
- friends like the above mentioned names
- turkey and potatoes in the fridge
- the giant chocolate bar
- a new charger cord for my iPod (did I mention that I can't find mine?  I asked Kevin if I could borrow his and he gave it to me straight up.  Said I could keep it, I think.  How nice.)
- an internship with a good reputation that makes me feel cultured (I joined a conversation briefly where Matt in graphics explained Black Dog's good reputation in the art-book world -- as opposed to DK which employs people via six month contracts)
- a dorm in a good location that's not really Central London but still close enough to remain in Zone 1 (and thus cheaper Tube rates)
- A family way back home who's supportive enough to help but still teases me to keep me humble
- Friends back home who still marvel at me being in London
- food in the fridge
- a roof over my head
- a Bucky full of Mom-Hugs

Love you!  Miss you!  See you in January!