Settling Down

I have been home for almost three weeks, and for the first time in those three weeks I am finally starting to come to peace with all that has changed in the past month.

Not to be dramatic, but life at home is a little miserable. My internship at the Washington Times-Reporter is great, and it feels good to be writing again, but I feel like pieces of me are spread all over and country and I severely miss everyone from  DC. I wasn't expecting this adjustment period to be so hard.

Last weekend I took a much needed road trip to Taylor. It was so good to be in the company of great friends. I realized how much I missed out on during the past three months. I needed the reminder of the great group of friends I left for a whole semester and how excited I am to get them back in my life on a daily basis in the fall.

This week has been much better than last, and I feel much more content with my current status on the home-front  Feeling like there is nothing to do here, I have decided to cut the pity party and start enjoying my summer that is going to slip away all too soon.

At first I was disappointed that my job for the summer was going to be much less intense than I had planned. Now, I am grateful, and am working on some major revamping of relationships, a word that just keeps popping up this summer.

My best friend/lover/roommate Ericka reminded me this past weekend that the summer is shorter than the semester I just spent away in the city. I think that is just what I needed to hear to remind myself that every chapter of life is going to have its rough moments, but when I sit and sulk in my sorrow I'm only letting these moments get the best of me.

There are a million tough things going on right now, none of which I have any control over. What I can control is how I chose to respond. I can't make any decisions for anyone but myself, as much as I would like to.

To keep me focused on myself (not in a conceded way, just in a way to keep me motivated for the future) I've decided to find some fashion trend I'm obsessed with and post it on a page of my blog once a week. This will also keep me accountable for blogging! I got this idea a few weeks ago when I met a very important person in the fashion industry. She told me to start blogging about fashion, and while I'm sure no one could care less what I have to say, it is one of my passions and I love sharing!

I hope this wasn't just a mess of complaints. I have been annoying myself with all the complaining I have been doing this month, but it is time to get over it and move on!

Life is changing, and it is not going to wait for me to be happy.

Culture Shock

Im writing this post from my own bed, in good ol' East Peoria, Illinois.

It is hard to believe that my time in the city is over, and so much has happened in the past week. We made the most of our last nights in the city, going out and just enjoying everything around us. I am so happy that one of my last memories is sitting on the steps of the Capitol with everyone, staring down the dark mall, only lit by the Washington Monument in the background.

Then Friday morning before I left I was able to meet the editor-in-chief of Elle magazine. Talk about a perfect end to the semester. I wish I could have stayed long with the Georgetowner, because I am sure the great opportunities would have continued.

The goodbyes were rough. Out last day of class we spent sharing memories of the semester and giving everyone "verbal gifts". I really didn't get emotional until I had to say goodbye to Gretchen and the roommates before hitting the road.

But before we hit the road, my parents experienced the city in a way they are not used to. As we were moving my things from the apartment to the car, Dad left he car unlocked for about five minutes, a big no no in the city! Someone had taken Dad's wallet and my GPS in those short minutes, so we had a much more stressful move-out than anticipated.

We finally got on the road, and made it to Upland, Indiana for the night. The stop was intended for rest, but after dropping Mom and Dad off at the hotel, I decided to surprise my best friends on campus. We stayed up til 7 a.m. talking on the porch. After breakfast with my parents then it was back on the road for another four and a half hours until we reached beautiful East Peoria.

Well that last statement may be quite sarcastic. I have had trouble adjusting to the climate change from 85 degrees to barely 50. Along with the climate my whole schedule has been shaken, and I really do miss the city. It is quiet here, and I don't see any business suits walking around. It is weird to drive, and I cannot believe the price of gas! Here I thought the prices in the city were high just because I was in the city, but it turns out gas is over $4 everywhere!

The much slowed down pace is relaxing, but quite a culture shock.

I am loving being home with my family and spending time with my nephew Colton, who somehow turned into a little man while I was gone.

I miss my roommates terribly, but have tried to keep in touch via text or Facebook.

Although my time in the city is done, I learned so much about myself and my future I would not have traded any of the struggles or frustrations it took to get me through the semester. I am so blessed to have met everyone I did and form the life long relationships I will continue to treasure.

It is hard to not focus on the past and I find myself referring to DC on a daily basis, but I know that the memories are forever, and returning to that great city is nowhere out of the question.