Claremont

I'm back in Claremont, which feels more like home than anything else. I'm glad to see all my friends again, and especially Taylor, who picked me up from the airport. It's a little strange that classes start up again tomorrow. This semester I'm taking Italian, Intro to Sociocultural Anthropology, Death (which is a humanities/philosophy class), Empire Power and Culture in Early Modern Britain, Heretics Outcasts and the Other in Early Christianity, and Turbo Kickboxing. Hopefully all my classes are interesting. I already have my Italian books, but I ordered the ones for the other 4 online today. They wanted 20 books total, and from the college bookstore they cost $560. I was able to find some on Amazon significantly cheaper however. The only downside is that I have no idea when they'll be here.

I have lots to say about Dubai, and lots of pictures to post, but for now I'm still jet lagged and getting tired already. I'll write about it soon. Pinky swear.

Welcome to Finals Week

This week was so busy. All my classes had large assignments due last week, since this week will be finals week. I had regular classes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday were "Reading Days," which meant we had no classes and could use that time to do all the last minute homework that was due. I did a couple of large labs for my marine biology class, and a large section of my 10 page research paper, which I finally finished today. Good riddance.

Last night was the last 5-college party of the semester/calendar year. Harvey Mudd either trucked in or made snow and had a holiday themed dance party. It was not the same as snow at home. And it got gross pretty quickly.

Mom and Dad sent me a care package through the school with all sorts of snack foods and coffee and tea and popcorn and candy. It was the perfect thing for this weekend, while I was really stressed.

And now I'm sick, which is super lame! I have a really bad sore throat and just want to seclude myself in my room, which is actually pretty conducive to getting work done. Hopefully I'm all better before my finals start on Wednesday.

Only 6 more days until I'm home!!!

Christmas Spirit!

School right now is downright awful. So much work! So, we're not going to talk about that this week, alright?

Sunday night, on a break from my research paper, I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Island of Misfit Toys with Abby and Dinah while we made paper snowflakes to decorate our doors and hall. We've been listening to a lot of Christmas carols here too. Our dorm has a (fake) Christmas tree in the living room.

Saturday night Harvey Mudd threw a party. It was a pretty classy event, and we spent way more time than we needed too getting ready in pretty dresses.

December

This month has had pretty good weather so far. It's consistently been in the low 70s which is reasonable. Portland's going to be freezing compared to this. But I think I'm ok with that.

Next week is going to be brutal. I have a lab rewrite, a new lab to write up, an oral Italian exam, and a 10 page research paper. And then it's final week. The Field House where I work is bringing in a massage therapist for 3 days during final week, which is awesome. I'm pretty excited.

I'm really looking forward to going home in 2 weeks.
Here are some things I miss about Portland:
the rain
Shari's
friends and family
saturday market
conifers
my cats
Multnomah village and Fat City Cafe
Powells
good Chinese food
my knitting
christmas trees