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Change always seems to strengthen thoes personality traits that tended to blend into the background in other environments. I always forget how accustomed I am to the country (or at least suburbia) until I go to the city. Mostly I just get some sensory over-stimulation. So many lights, so many different people, so much to look at, so much noise. In some ways I am fascinated, but then it gets to be too much and I'm irritated. The car is the hardest, I love to ride (look at all the buildings the architecture, etc), but have to concentrate very hard when I'm driving (plus I'm not used to all the traffic.) It's fine, I'm adjusting. I drove to and from school today (about 45 min. each way with moderate traffic. I drive through the city, I'm avoiding the beltway.)
(It seems I've always been a little [overly] sensitive to environmental things. I can't stand to have cold air blowing on me, for example--this has caused some fights in the car--and have a very specific noise threshold. My family says that I've always been that way. When I was a kid I would hold my hands over my ears when the fourth of July parade was still way down the street because the noise was too loud, for example.)
A trip to Ikea this Saturday (my first, I was unprepared), made me want to crawl into one of those sensory deprivation beds, where it's dark, silent, and there's an even physical sensation. I almost started crying because it just became too much (also hadn't eaten for a while so low bloodsugar), and we were rushing, so I didn't have the chance to slow down and take everything in at my own pace, (plus it was Sat. afternoon so everyone brought their small children, I like children, but they are another moving thing that catches my attention.) Anyway, pulled it together and didn't not freak out at ikea (even when the desk I want is on backorder) and we successfully purchased shelves for Denis's office area and a cabinet for the bathroom. We had underestimated the time needed for the whole ikea experience, so were an hour late for dinner with the Mindy. Luckily Mindy, Mexican food, and Ben&Jerry's at Dupont Circle cemented my sanity.
My first day of school went well (amazing how I still always get nervous at the first day of school.) I drove in around noon. Went to get a parking permit and discovered that I should have done that online in July so ended up in the far, far away parking lot (only about a 15 min. walk to the student union and a 20-25 min. walk to the art/sociology building, so not too bad, plus there's a shuttle) but that entailed a lot of walking around campus. It was good to get orientated, even if it meant some time being lost. I'm not used to the 100% humidity and got a headache. It's strange, it just hovers around 100%, it will sprinkle a little, then stop, etc. etc. I got so sweaty. Denis was licking my tummy while I was trying to read the mail and said I taste really salty (sorry for the image.) My class went well (Rembrandt portraiture, the prof. is a Nat'l Gallery curator and some of our classes will be at the NGA looking at the Rembrandts, yay!). Talked to some other grad. students and everyone is very friendly. The upperclassmen say they really like the program and there is a grad. student outing to a UMD football game this weekend that we might attend. (Haven't been to a football game since freshman year at Dartmouth so will be interesting. The email specified that it wasn't about football, but about meeting other grad. students "you might want to hang out with.")
The apartment is right on that line between lovely-clean-peaceful-sanctuary and slightly-messy-low-grade-stressful-due-to-unpacked-boxes-and-unpaid-bills but that should be fixed by the weekend. We continue to make progress, but the further along we get the less dramatic it is. It will help when the shelves are up and my desk comes in. It'll be interesting to see how my Balkan history class goes tomorrow. I've never taken a history class before (since highschool) but the topic is good and we do some textual interpretation in art history. I'm looking forward to it.
(It seems I've always been a little [overly] sensitive to environmental things. I can't stand to have cold air blowing on me, for example--this has caused some fights in the car--and have a very specific noise threshold. My family says that I've always been that way. When I was a kid I would hold my hands over my ears when the fourth of July parade was still way down the street because the noise was too loud, for example.)
A trip to Ikea this Saturday (my first, I was unprepared), made me want to crawl into one of those sensory deprivation beds, where it's dark, silent, and there's an even physical sensation. I almost started crying because it just became too much (also hadn't eaten for a while so low bloodsugar), and we were rushing, so I didn't have the chance to slow down and take everything in at my own pace, (plus it was Sat. afternoon so everyone brought their small children, I like children, but they are another moving thing that catches my attention.) Anyway, pulled it together and didn't not freak out at ikea (even when the desk I want is on backorder) and we successfully purchased shelves for Denis's office area and a cabinet for the bathroom. We had underestimated the time needed for the whole ikea experience, so were an hour late for dinner with the Mindy. Luckily Mindy, Mexican food, and Ben&Jerry's at Dupont Circle cemented my sanity.
My first day of school went well (amazing how I still always get nervous at the first day of school.) I drove in around noon. Went to get a parking permit and discovered that I should have done that online in July so ended up in the far, far away parking lot (only about a 15 min. walk to the student union and a 20-25 min. walk to the art/sociology building, so not too bad, plus there's a shuttle) but that entailed a lot of walking around campus. It was good to get orientated, even if it meant some time being lost. I'm not used to the 100% humidity and got a headache. It's strange, it just hovers around 100%, it will sprinkle a little, then stop, etc. etc. I got so sweaty. Denis was licking my tummy while I was trying to read the mail and said I taste really salty (sorry for the image.) My class went well (Rembrandt portraiture, the prof. is a Nat'l Gallery curator and some of our classes will be at the NGA looking at the Rembrandts, yay!). Talked to some other grad. students and everyone is very friendly. The upperclassmen say they really like the program and there is a grad. student outing to a UMD football game this weekend that we might attend. (Haven't been to a football game since freshman year at Dartmouth so will be interesting. The email specified that it wasn't about football, but about meeting other grad. students "you might want to hang out with.")
The apartment is right on that line between lovely-clean-peaceful-sanctuary and slightly-messy-low-grade-stressful-due-to-unpacked-boxes-and-unpaid-bills but that should be fixed by the weekend. We continue to make progress, but the further along we get the less dramatic it is. It will help when the shelves are up and my desk comes in. It'll be interesting to see how my Balkan history class goes tomorrow. I've never taken a history class before (since highschool) but the topic is good and we do some textual interpretation in art history. I'm looking forward to it.
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I'm glad that things are starting to come together at the new place. I hope everything continues to settle.