(The wall of a furniture store in Old Ellicott City, April 2009)
The semester is coming to an end and getting all stressful, I need a distraction!
I've been thinking a lot about what I'm going to miss (and if I'm being really honest, a few things I won't miss) about life here when I'm abroad.
Of course there are a few things that practically go without saying: I'm going to miss my family (and Sina!) so much I don't know how I'll stand it. Not being able to bother my mom a dozen times a day is going to be a stretch for me (thank goodness for Skype). I'm also really going to miss visiting with my extended family, so I've resolved to make my rounds and spend some quality time with everyone over the summer.
I'd also say I'm really going to miss my friends, but everyone's so busy and spread out over the country (and the world!) that going abroad for a few months shouldn't add much of a noticeable break. On a related note, I'd like to mention how excited I am that Katharine, the love of my life, will be in the same time zone as me while I'm abroad, studying in Prague!
Some of the non-human aspects of home that I'll miss surprised me. Although some days it can be a pain, there are a few things about driving to school everyday that I will miss, like listening to audiobooks in the car and taking the long way home through old Ellicott City. Although I'm also really looking forward to using the vast amount of public transportation in Germany (especially trains).
I'm really going to miss my car. I thought about it just sitting in the driveway by itself, and it made me sad. I am not going to miss parking at UMBC, all the stop signs on the loop, or all the parking meters I routinely feed my change to.
I am probably going to miss all the convenience of life in the United States, like going to CVS really late at night for some basic grocery items, at least at first. However, I'm really excited to spend some time in a country where 24-hour groceries are not as much of a priority as ensuring that clerks don't have to work that miserable late night shift. I also hear that I'm going to miss some basic things we take for granted in the U.S., like complimentary water and ice in sodas.
I will probably miss catching up with American TV shows on the internet, but I'll get over it. I've decided that I'm blocking Hulu and all related sites for the duration of my stay abroad-- it would be such a waste to spend my limited time overseas tethered to my laptop!
That's all for now, I'm sure I forgot some things. Feel free to chime in.
