Frazzled

I'm working on my visa application today, which is almost done. I have office hours right now for the class I TA, and then that class from 2-3:30, then I want to run 6-8 miles, then game night with friends. I'm still constantly making lists in my head, on paper, and on my computer. I'm not necessarily overwhelmed by everything I have to do (yet), but I can't stop thinking about everything that's coming up. I think I will feel much better after the half marathon is over, since that is one thing that I'm really nervous about and can't do much for in the meantime. I'll run 12 miles Saturday morning, and then do a few short runs next week, and then Saturday the 13th, it will be over.

Then I can worry about term papers, doing something fun for Jeff's birthday, packing, grading final exams, and actually leaving for India, where I'll be living alone for the first 3.5 weeks. Yikes.

I've been thinking, too, about how time here absolutely flies, and I've been taking it for granted that it will there, too. But when I think back on my time in Senegal, I remember how living in a slower-paced society (as someone who likes to be busy and stressed), time actually moved quite slowly. Even though I loved being there, I'm pretty sure that was the slowest six months I can remember. I'm nervous about living alone in a new place for almost a month in a place where time will likely feel much slower.

My plan for now is to take a lot of movies and TV shows that I haven't seen, bring yarn for knitting projects, and have family and friends at the ready for Skype dates. And, y'know, make friends there quickly and learn to cook cool things and go shopping.