Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Butterflies Fly...

So here I am, sitting here in my pyjamas in bed, feeling the chilled breeze of the late-night summer air flowing in through my bedroom window, listening Ingrid Michaelson's rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and reflecting on an evening which I spent with some of my closest friends. An evening I'm sure I'll remember on those inevitable early days in Aberdeen where I'll feel a bit lonely. An evening that pushed me a little closer to the realization that my flight leaves in one week. I know it wasn't the last time I'll see those 3 amazing girls that I've come to love so much, but still, leaving them tonight, after saying goodbye, I couldn't help but feel a pang. The thought that my time with them before my departure are numbered now. Before I never had to count, I just knew that there'd be plenty of time to see them again before I leave. But things like a departing gift (MUCH appreciated, by the way! That was totally unnecessary for you to do and appreciated and I can't wait to use it!) make it seem all the more real. Slowly it's beginning to come that this is really happening. This trip that I've been planning for over a year is finally taking shape. It's finally becoming my reality. And I can't wait!! Everything is numbered now. I'm numbering, most obviously, the days until I leave. 7 days. 1 week. Can you believe it? I'm numbering the costs of things I'm buying for my trip. Clothes, accessories, etc. The countdown is officially on. Well, it's been on for a long time, but now the numbers are big and red and flashing with anticipation. Flashy, flashy, neon lights. Like the OPEN, OPEN, O-P-E-N sign that I saw with AChan. In less than a week, I will have already experienced the last meeting with many of my great friends for a year. A year of travels and exploration and laughter and probably tears and schoolwork and new friends and new places. It's weird that I have to budget the time I have left to my friends and family, and plan out where I'm spending my days, who I'm seeing, what I'm doing...sometimes a year seems so long for something that's 'short-term'-- and yet, I'm sure it'll fly by! I've met a girl who is sharing the same res as me and its comforting to know that I have someone I "know" who's in the same boat. Well, not in the same boat, maybe in the same fleet, though. She's brand new to the whole university thing, and I'm an old dog at it. I've got the other challenge of adapting to a new country as well! In no way do I feel better prepared for the things that lie ahead, it's just that I've been through frosh week before, albeit at a different school in a different country. Although this time around it'll be called "freshers" week and there'll be a whole whack of new cultural things to learn, I believe that a huge part of beginning university is learning how to be independent, how to meet new people, how to survive on your own and budget your time. I've learned a LOT in the past 2 years at university, and I'm looking forward to using those skills to my advantage! :) I'm more than exited to get a second shot at frosh week. Erm, freshers. Not that I didn't love my own frosh week 2 years ago, but because it's just such an exciting time of year! Everyone seems excited and nervous and there's so many chances to meet everyone. It's so exciting to be able to start fresh, not knowing much of anything, and learning through doing things! My res situation was a bit mixed up, as I changed residences from my first assignment, and then met my neighbour through facebook, who then preceded to change residences to another building (for reasons not involving me, as she says, and I like to assume she's being honest!). The girl I mentioned above who is also on my floor seems nice as well, and like I said, it's nice to have that little bit of contact before arriving. As for the rest of the organizing, here's where it stands: Flight: going standby, arriving in the city a few days early. Packing: I've been going shopping almost every day, buying things I need for travel, and a few pieces to add to my wardrobe. I've already filled a giant suitcase with jackets, shoes, other small items, and that's NOT INCLUDING CLOTHES! We'll see how this one turns out...hrrrrmmmm Res: Figured out, I even got some pictures! People: I met a few people from uni already -- a few who play trombone, a few in my res, and a few in my program -- facebook really can be a wonderful networking place...who knew? Excited factor: This one deserves a bit of an explanation. Like I mentioned above, it's starting to dawn on me more and more each day as I make preparations and visit people, that I'm leaving quite soon. My excited-ness factor is probably a 5 on a scale of 1-10. I mean, of COURSE I'm excited, and I know in my BRAIN that I'm excited. There's going to be so much to do and see and try, and my parents are coming with me to share the experience, and I'm almost all packed...And yes, it's all SUPER exciting -- but I don't feel that gut feeling yet. I don't feel the butterflies yet. I get little swarms of them sometimes, when I think really hard about it. But as of now, my reply to the question "are you excited?" (which, by the way, is an obviously answered question, don't you think?) is more in my face and brain than in my gut. Get it? I'll keep you updated on the Excitedness Factor. The E.F. The butterfly talk has reminded me: I've really noticed the butterflies coming at important times. For example: last Friday after a gig I was saying goodbye to band-members who I won't see again until I'm back in a year. That's it for a year. Saying goodbye to them, as well as to my summer-term co-workers was strangely moving because I KNEW that I wasn't going to see them for a long time. It's not even that I was particularly close with any of them. Just again, the realization that SCOTLAND IS COMING! Erm...well, I'm coming. Or going. Or both?? Now I'm just confused. So yea! That about sums it all up. I hope you're enjoying reading these blogs I'm writing...apologies for my rants and sentences leading nowhere. I really just start thinking and then whatever comes into my mind gets typed out. I'm really going to try to be more consistent with these once I get settled. Everything is just happening so fast nowadays! Aaaaaaah! :) Did I mention I'm SO EXCITED? And eek! Butterflies just happened :) In one week, that's a mere 168 hours, I will be en route to the beautiful Scotland. On a plane, somewhere over the rainbow. Thanks for reading, Beckers xxx