Catching On...

Today, I started to feel things click into place. For once, I dressed appropriately for the weather: a turtleneck sweater, jeans and runners, with that quilted puffy vest Meg gave me. I was quite comfortable, and had fun feeling like I was incognito as a UVic student. Last time I bussed to school, I missed my bus by a few seconds, and it was half an hour until the next one came. However, I now discovered that there is another route very close to me where the bus comes every ten minutes (or less) and which gets me to the University at better times. I saw a bus zip by while I was walking out to Richmond, and thought I'd missed it, and then I realised that it was the bus that comes seven minutes before mine! Crazy.

So, I've mastered the bus system and the weather (even packed an umbrella, just in case), and then I had a rocking good class; I even managed to socialise with all the fellow-students. I did not feel lonely while I was at the University, I ran into people I knew at the library, and I came home to find out that I'm leading a workshop on my thesis research findings in November! Hooray, another presented paper on my CV, and in time for SSHRC applications! Huzzah.

I can't describe what a relief it is, starting to feel familiar with this place. It's terrible feeling lost and panicky in a new place. I'm even getting more outgoing again; I voluntarily went to the beginning-of-the-year Departmental Faculty/Grad Student party and carried on long conversations with people that I just met! I'm making friends within my department!

Now, the next question: what angle should I take for my workshop paper? I want to talk about something that will be interesting and generate discussion, and something that won't take too long to explain. It'll be fun having more feedback and chance to discuss all this, in the wake of the defense. Also, it'll be nice being back into Weimar, during this semester without European history.

I am listening to: "Steal My Kisses" by Ben Harper;
I am procrastinating from: reading The American Adam by R.W.B. Lewis (I'm presenting on it in class next week, and then handing in a book review the next week).
I'm waiting for: Chris to come home.
I'm feeling: cozy.

One final note, regarding campus insanity: okay, I'm starting to really notice that I'm part of an excessively quirky campus. I guess the unicyclist wasn't my first clue, but it's really starting to sink in. Today, I noticed (and not for the first time) this group out in the middle of the green doing what I can only describe as a cross between interpretive dance, yoga (the way they had someone facing them, leading the happening), and line dancing without music. Chris first pointed this group out to me a few weeks ago, and how passersby seemed to drift into the group and join in/imitate and then leave. However, that time was early afternoon, and this time it was suppertime, and so I don't know if it's a different group, or if they're just always dancing. I think I love this place.