Tuesday 1: Into the Exotic Territories!

On Friday, September 31st, my dad and I set out en route to the University of Waterloo, in Canada, where I will start a PhD program in social psychology.  I offer a 3-part reflection.

Part One: Frustration & Delight

After

scrambling to collect documents,

a frantic embassy rush

calling, e-mailing to no avail

trying to find a diplomat to personally vouch for me (haha),

asking neighbors for advice,

a last-minute money order,

overnight FedExing,

MANY forms and MUCH anxiety....

It turns out you bring a few documents, wait ten minutes at the border, and a jolly man says, "stapler me" and attaches your new 5-yr study permit to your passport.

Just cancel that other slow application.

In fact, I only actually had evidence of financial support for 2 years, 

but he threw in the extra 3-- what the heck!

I spent the rest of the ride very conflicted

and giddy...

and antsy for my mysterious new life...

while eating way too many peanuts because that's all that was in the car-- dad.

(Butterflies don't mix well with peanuts)

Part Two: French Cheerios & Bagged Milk

A new variation on an old theme

Part Three: A Comparison

First few memories, first-year undergrad--

First few memories, first-year grad--

Ok so maybe it isn't that bleak, but room/bank/appliance/grocery orientation certainly do come before social orientation this time (officially tomorrow!)  

What's worse, though, is that in that endless sea of organizing, there is not even the slightest distraction to grab onto: NO NETFLIX, HULU, PANDORA, or even any inferior equivalents in this country!! I don't even normally resort to watching shows, but there I was, finally in my time of need-- and no streaming-- nothing.  

Canada will have to make up for this. 

And so it is, in my search for joyous reprieve, I returned to the raw distraction of years past, my native love: tweezing.  My pores are irritated, to say the least. But, in the event that someone catches a glimpse of me through a magnifying mirror in a well-lit room tomorrow, boy, will they be impressed.

Wish me luck!