Arriving back in Eugene!

Katie D.

September 5, 2011 - 5:26 AM

Happy Labor Day, and greetings from the Las Vegas airport, where I'm sitting awaiting my flight home to Eugene. It's been a great weekend at my cousin's wedding, and now I am finally on my way back to Oregon.

Since I began blogging almost three years ago, this summer has been the longest I've been away from Eugene. As I've thought more about this summer, I'm really proud of the work I've done in Honduras and Central America, and am extremely excited about transforming my research into a thesis. It seems like this summer, while very difficult, has also been one of enormous growth and change.

But more than anything, I am thrilled to be heading back. I love Oregon, and I love my college life. I can't wait to settle back into the community there, and to get ready for school, which starts the 27th. I have three weeks to move into my new apartment (I can't wait to write about this-my first experience living alone begins TOMORROW in a beautiful little studio near campus) and to run all the errands and settling-in rituals of a new school year. I have articles to write and classis to register for, and the chance to really cook for myself for the first time in months. It actually feels like there is a ton of work to do, and that these three weeks of organizing time will help set the tone for this entire year. I will be less busy with coursework, but more busy with independent research and projects. Hopefully this will mean more emotional space, greater creativity, and the ability to fully take advantage of this last year in Eugene, with all its events, natural beauty, and interesting people. And the food. By this afternoon, I will have eaten at Café Yumm! I have been thinking about that first Yumm bowl for weeks.

I have a lot of dreams and goals for this year, and a lot of hopes for my new home and changing social situation. Many of my friends have now graduated and moved, which means that I hope to fully take advantage of all the wonderful folks in my CRES cohort, as well as reconnecting with some friends I've lost touch with. I'm also hoping that the freedom and autonomy of a single apartment will help me get out more, and to take advantage of living close to campus and some of my favorite hang-out spots.

More than all of this, I cannot wait to get my head back into the academic world. I have work to do! I have a thesis to write, and other projects that emerged this summer I hope to take advantage of. I will be taking classes again, and working as a GTF, which is my favorite part of my current life in Eugene.

Essentially, I feel like I've stalled long enough, and that it's time for things to begin anew. I am so glad that I took this time at home with my family, to readjust after this summer, and to spend some serious time with the family for the first time in years. And now I'm off! Launching back into my real life and real work, returning to beautiful Oregon, which has become my true home.