Adventures take a toll on us. I returned from London in the middle of April to enter Wyoming in a blizzard. My mom came and picked me up from the airport and I went and spent the night with my best friend in Cheyenne. The next day I had to pack up and drive back to Laramie taking Highway 287, because of the snow. I made it back to Laramie and crashed at Allisons house. The next three to four weeks were spent at Keileighs, Angelas, Taylors and then into the residence halls at UW. Through all of this I jumped back into work, I saw some amazing people, I went to my friends prom and had countless dinners, coffee dates and so many hugs that I was one happy panda. But things started to sink in. No one really knew what was going on with me and I didn't especially. I was realizing the world moved on without me. Some people really didn't miss me, some were mad I had left and others were so happy to see me back on campus. There was a lot I now had to go through... the list runs long. Friends, roommate, old apartment, new job, catchup, car insurance, phone, cleaning, living, money, graduation, parents divorce, and all the things I ran from and procrastinated. The world came back and I was dealing as best I could.
I was tired, happy, sad, confused and lonely. Only Taylor and a few people who have lived abroad even knew what I was feeling. Culture Shock. Culture shock didn't hit me much in London, a few nights of homesickness but other than that I thrived in the city. Coming home, I was called a "fag" my first day back, I wasn't making eye contact because Londoner's don't do that, and I would really venture out like I used to. Things were so odd and different but I worked back into a routine. Giving campus tours in the Admissions Office saved my life, I went back to large crowds of strangers, facts of campus and worked back into a new routine. I started to love Laramie again. Honestly, Taylor got me through a lot. It's so weird that I changed in so many ways and so did everyone else really. Astonishing how much you miss in such a small amount of time.
I crave the next thing I find to dive into, my life is in limbo until the next step falls into place and I think I'm ready for that step once it's ready for me. I feel like this is a good time for me to get ready for a big move to start a new life in about a year. I want to pursue grad school in student affairs, maybe travel around a lot and see what's out there. Mostly I want to go someplace that I'll love and that will love me. I'm leaving my UW home and I want to make my new home just as special. That's the funny thing. I've been moved around so many places that I often feel like I don't have a home. UW was my home and I will always love it. Now the new one better make itself shown soon ;)
