Midwest = Midbest

My roommate is a fantastic writer and her blog is so cool. I’ll never blog like her, but I should at least be blogging like I said I would.

It’s been just over a month since I started university, and there’s tons to write about. To keep it simple, and inspired by My Brilliant Roommate, here is a listicle of things that have happened. Starting from August 3rd, when I left Eden Prairie and started my Minnesota uni-life.

Living situation part 1

• Moved into Centennial Hall at UMN
• Room was standard single dorm. The light from the fire alarm was flashing on and off all night. But otherwise it was quiet (except when there were thunderstorms, they tend to sound like the whole sky is crumbling—or when a helicopter occasionally flew into the ER, which was right next door)
• I slept so well on the hard dorm mattress. i love hard mattresses it seems.
• But I was STRESSED from not having a fridge and barely (barely!) a kitchen space to work with. That was the biggest drawback by far. I felt like a little mouse so much of the time, because I tried to live off the bagged nuts we got as snacks during the school day, as well as small stuff like babybel cheese at CVS. Longed for the day i could keep some cheese and ham in the fridge and make a sanwhich whenever i wanted.

Living situation part 2

• Finally moved into my long-term place in a hip young cool charming slightly scruffy Minneapolis neighborhood two weeks ago. My first meal there was a cheese and ham sandwich.
• The relief I felt when my mattress was installed, a couple of groceries were in my fridge, and I knew that while I had a lot of things to get settled, I finally had everything I strictly needed in one place… unmatched
• My roommates are so cool. One is UWC, actually. The other one is from Ohio and in the beginning she kept reminding me of the college girl from Judy Moody Goes to College (biggest compliment). Both roommates are hard working and present in their IRL lives. Admirable.
• ^We had our first party/gettogether two weekends ago. We each invited a couple of friends. It was so great to see everyone get along. It also felt good to do something the three of us. My two roommates have already lived together for a while and are very good friends, but have been nothing but inclusive. I’m losing the stupid feeling I sometimes get, ever since ski camp, that people don’t want me around (only comes back, a little bit, when I’m stressed or worried)

School stuff

• We had a three week introduction course, for all of us international students at the program. It was mostly interesting things. I struggled getting into a healthy routine though, and felt so tired at the end of the day, most days. I think it mainly had to do with the food thing, see “living situation part 1” bullet point 4.
• Now we’ve done 1 week of law school classes. In not fully certain about my course selection, but am getting there fast. Lots of reading, already in the first week! But I’m so happy to learn. I think I’m learning a lot.

Miscellaneous Minnesota

• Is it still 2004 here?! Sometimes it feels that way. Ahhh. I love it. Something about the air, the houses around my neighborhood, and the way people look. My roommates being so Present, also! That contributes a lot.
• It’s still tricky, but doable, to do everything I need to do sans car. The bus has not been as sketchy as I had heard it could be, even at night. But it’s so infrequent, especially after afternoon falls and on the weekends. That’s hard, because I have had a couple evening&weekend engagements over the last few weeks, and think I’ll keep at that for a while. I really don’t like paying for uber! But it comes in a clutch.

Hmm. I actually don’t know what else I need to say right now. I went on a trip to Two Harbors, on Lake Superior, but that’s not listicle-material. There’s also my friends, and other colorful characters I’ve met so far. But I think this post is just for catching up on the basic things.

I’m finishing this on the phone, by the way. First time not blogging on my computer. For a while I thought it was better to keep blogging as a ceremonious Big Screen-activity. But this is so useful. For instance, right now I’m sitting on a chair outside of chick-fil-a (they are so kind, I think they don’t mind), waiting for my friends to pick up. It’s raining lightly, on and off. Everyone around me is either rushing somewhere or walking with friends. It feels niiiice to be in my own world right now. The world can wait. For five more minutes. That’s when my friends get here, yay.

I’ll round of with a picture. I don’t know which one, have to see what I find in my camera roll.

Actually, I’ll take a picture of my view right now.

You can only be one place at the time, and this is where I’m at right now. East Bank Stadium, near the University.

In Minneapolis.

Minnesota.

USA.

!!!