The World is My Playground

Apparently, the Universe didn't read my last blog entry. I still haven't heard back from Pitzer, even though their deadline was April 1, but I did get rejected from Pomona and Brown. I suppose I'm not too surprised. I've had the worst luck with college applications between this year and last year, but at least I'm super good at taking rejections now. However, to be frank, I was a little ticked off at Brown. Last year, they had the courtesy to wait list me, but this year was a flat out no. What, have I decreased in character this past year or something? DARN YOU FRANCE! (I wish there was a little emoticon shaking his fists up at the Heavens right now haha :p) After that disappointment, I mourned for about 1 hour, shook it off, and moved on. After all, Brown Admissions is a bunch of cotton-headed ninny muggins and I've got better things to do with my time.

So, with the very probable chance that Pitzer completely forgot about me, I'm headed off to Boston College next year. Sure, I'll have to take about a cajillion core classes and be taught by some of those crazy Jesuits, but I'm trying to look on the bright side. For example, I might find my future J.Crew-clad husband within the next four years and now I'll get to buy a whole new set of Boston College apparel. I've got my eyes set on a gray zip-up yoga hoodie that I saw online. So, if anyone wants to give me 52 bucks or send me a Boston College Women's Yoga Jacket available at the Boston College Online Book Store, you are welcome to do so.

This past weekend gave me a much needed distraction from all this college business. All of the 450 + exchange students living in France this year congregated in Annecy for a huge Rotary weekend. And oh my goodness I love exchangers! Being with the other exchange students is literally a home away from home and you somehow find yourself surrounded by so many best friends. I ended up sharing a room with Carolina, and Pruthvi stayed in the room right next to us. I also spent a big part of the weekend talking to Julia, who's been my friend since Kindergarten (Go Norwich!!) and it was just so much fun to talk and dance and party it up. 

This whole weekend reminded me of another thing that I forgot to mention until now: patriotism. I've never felt as patriotic in my whole life as much as this one year on exchange. However, my patriotism is slightly different than when I left for France. I've always felt incredibly lucky and proud to come from a country revolving around freedom and liberty. And don't get me wrong; I still am. It's just that now I have patriotism for a lot of other countries too! I feel like a part of me now belongs to France, Brazil, and India (among many others). In the course of several hours this weekend, I found myself gathered around the American exchange students singing the National Anthem, chanting Bra-sil over and over and singing songs in Portuguese with the Brazilians, and walking around Annecy with the Indian flag draped around my shoulders all day. I love every country represented here and they are all a part of me.

This whole year has made me so aware of myself and of others. I used to think that I knew everything about, well, everything. I honestly didn't think there was that much room for me to grow on exchange because I already felt so mature. Now I look back on that person and realize how wrong I was. If anything, this year has opened my eyes to how little I know and how much there is for me to still find out. Everything from my interests to my future plans and personality have changed because of this year. Brown might not like it, but I do. In fact, I love it. I love all the countries and cultures which make us different and unite us at the same time. I love discovery and adventure. I love exchange. I love my families. I love my friends.  

And I love myself.