Friday, May 05, 2006
Leaving - 3:56 PM
80% of the dorm dwellers have departed Mcdonel Hall. Its the end of the Spring semester, and what lies ahead for each is a mystery: whether its work, travel, or just plain bumming, I'm sure its all gonna be good. After all, its the summer, where there is plenty of sunshine to go around.Since last week, I have seen the gigantic SUVS and trucks sprawled on the lawn where students usually laze, when the weather is fine, of course. It is the exact same image as I remember late last August, on move-in day. This is the only time I am really sad to be leaving East Lansing. As I see people bid farewell to one another (some for a short 15week break, some for good), I remember how I said goodbye to Kimmi and the other Korean Girls last year. They have returned to their native Korea after 2 semesters in MSU, and me? I'm back here, for another year, and another year. Come to think of it, I wonder how they're doing? Hmmmm
One great thing about living somewhere where there are very distinct seasons is that they let you know what time of the year you are at. When the fall semester starts, for example, its warm and you're constantly surrounded by greenery. And then it starts to cool down a little bit, and you find urself lulling around in sweatshirts. And then the leaves turn shades of yellow, then gradually gold and brown. I love this time of the year, when you trod on fallen leaves. The morning air is moist and it smells of earth. Football season hits you hard, and you find people tailgating, drinking beer every Saturday morning in the fields outside the stadium.
By Career Expo day (first Tuesday of November), it would had gotten colder and you may need coats. Daylight saving would had begun, and you get hungry, thinking its 7 when its only 5. By now, all the leaves would had been swept away, and all you see are bare trunks standing in the midnight gray. By Thanksgiving, it would had already started snowing. Thats when flight delays reign, especially over in Chicago O'Hare International, and travelers, anxious to be home for the holidays, find themselves in despair. 3 weeks after Thanksgiving would be Winter Break! So since I'm never around for Winter Break, I wouldn't know whats going on here. But it should be the same, harsh, and cold...and it would so remain, for the next 2 months.
Winter in January and February are the worst of the lot. Sometimes, it gets so cold, your face feels like its being ripped apart by the wind. Your ears turn raw with redness, and your fingers are not spared either. Thankfully, February is a short month, and the snow ceases by late. And we come to March. March is filled with excitement, as the 2nd week is Spring Break! Spring Break is just given the name Spring, even though we're still pretty much in Winter. March Madness is the term given to college basketball season, where players jostle and fight to get into the playoffs, and to ultimately raise the coveted cup, and hopefully get drafted into the NBA.
By April, daylight savings will end, and now, all of a sudden, you no longer feel hungry at 7, choosing to eat at 8 instead. This is when the sun sets at 8pm, confusing your body clock a little bit. Mid April, the buds on the trees suddenly sprout, as if saying 'I've slept long enough, now let me stretch my limbs'. And so it stretches, and blooms. Hurray, the trees are no longer naked! Keep your coats, a light sweater is often enough! Of course, April is my birthday month, and it rains, and rains, and rains. After all, they have a saying 'April showers, bring May flowers'. Hey, its true! By May this time, I see tulips in full force over at the Hannah Adminstration building, and all sorts of wild colors pop out from nowhere. Alas, this beautiful scene won't last, cos very soon it will be the hot summer, where tulips probably won't survive. But I guess they will at least hang on for a couple more weeks. At least let the graduating students and their parents take the last pictures with them, in their full glory.
Speaking of Graduation, I wonder what the HB Seniors are doing now? Hanging out with their family who have come from everywhere to attend their graduation tomorrow? Probably, since they've come from afar just to witness yet another milestone of their child. I'm now set to graduate in December 2007. Do I want to have my convocation in December when its all gloomy n gray? I think I would definitely prefer to have my graduation pictures taken OUTDOORS, amongst the flowers and stuff. I bet my parents will appreciate visiting in May too.
As I packed up my TV, fridge, microwave, yada yada... I couldn't believe it. I looked at my possessions, all 8 cases : THIS IS MY LIFE? THIS IS ALL I HAVE!! I couldn't help but sit here and take it all in. Did every friday afternoon feel like this? I've sat in front of the computer on Fri afternoons countless times... but yet, today felt so different? Last year this time, I left for Chicago to Taipei to Singapore. This year, I don't enjoy the good fortune of doing that. But instead, I'm going to New York, where Ruoxi is. Melissa asked me 'why are you going to New York? where are you gonna stay?' I told her that I'm going to live with my sister in New York, because that is where it gets closest to home.
At times like these, I can't help but pity myself. Pack and go, unpack and stay. All in 9 months. Come August, it will be another cycle. Exactly the same. I can't even buy little silly things just cos 'they look cute'. I have to think about packing them in when I have to move in a few months time. And when its time to move, I can't even bring everything with me. I am like a nomad, where home is nothing but a mere memory. Thankfully, I still have Manhattan. Its weird how tons of people gush about New York City, and here I am, not appreciating it enough.
Anyway, I will be, again, on the Northwest, flying East. I used to think how flying is mega cool and only important/busy/cool people get to fly all the time. I am honestly, a little sick of it. If only travelling came without the excess baggage of transportation to/from the airport, security checkpoints, and overweight luggage. OH well, so I guess I'll cya in New York!
Bright Lights, Big City! Can you handle it?