San Pedro with Chris ..
I'm back finally from a long morning. I woke up later than I would've liked and hauled ass to class. Afterward, I had every intention of getting my package. I begged my parents to mail one of my MCAT books (I know, it's ridiculous) and they added some other stuff. So I head downtown with some of the guys who tell me they're doing the same after a little shopping. We get there and before you know it, they're buying alcohol. Then there's wandering involved and someone we end up on a tour of the city. For 2 hrs! It was ridiculous. I finally have to just hop in a cab back. I go to the coffee shop for a cafe au lait and a brownie then walk home in the rain. Showered. My roommate and some people went to lunch but I stayed in to make a sandwich. It's already 2:30pm and I've done nothing all day. It's just going to be one of those Fridays .. how terrible.
The Mann in Westwood.
It's weird to break up. It's surreal. You look back and remember when you used to be in love, and it's weird that you're not anymore. Then it becomes weird that you ever were. It's another life, another time. You were different people, and now you might as well be strangers.
My feet at Mile Square Park.
So I am still sick. So sick that I've left mid-way through lecture twice now. So sick that I lost my voice yesterday. Uuuugh, and every time I go into coughing fits, I hate my roommate just a little bit. I'm sorry Avneet, I still love you deep down.
I hate phlegm. I HATE phlegm. I hate being sick. I hate coughing uncontrollably. I hate life right now. I just needed to get that out.
On the plus side though, being sick and without a voice really bodes well for studying.
Grand Anse beach at sunset.
I am writing to you sick and tired. I spent all of my weekend in bed trying to kick this cold that's being passed around, and it was a miserable 3 days.
I last spoke to Chris on Thursday, and in that conversation, he said I think entirely too much, that that's the reason for most of my problems, and while I'd agree with that about the past, I think I've since kicked the habit. I've been more preoccupied with doing lately and just letting life come at me. Plus my schedule is so packed that there's hardly any room to obsess anyway. I'm not altogether sure which one I like better. Everyone keeps talking about how you eventually find your way and your footing with time, that age really does make you wiser, and all I can say is I can't wait. With the big 25 just two months away, I'm ready to be someone better.
The picture was taken randomly one night while I was relaxing in my room. I put it up because the card is from Chris whom I miss terribly. I haven't taken a whole lot of pictures lately due to my crazy schedule, but I will get around to them soon.
So ... I'm here. The first few days were pretty rough. The stupid Liat airline lost all my luggage and I didn't get them back until 6 days later. I had to rely on other people's altruism, which luckily everyone seemed to have a hefty supply of.
By the way, as I write this, I am on hold with Travelocity, which has really been trying my patience during this past month. No one knows anything. They've just sent me an email saying my return flight has been changed, and somehow I've spent the last half hour on the phone repeating my name 5 times and listening to the guy read me the email that was sent. I know this - I got the email hence the call.
So anyway, I've been meeting great people and am overall having a good time despite the underlying stress. My living situations are funny though; it's like being on the Real World where everyone's chummy for the first 2 weeks before the neuroses and palpable tension emerge.
I miss home though and being away is turning out to be much harder than I expected. It's strange to think that getting away was precisely what I wanted for a while because now I spend my days wondering why. I miss my parents, my bed, my room, my car, my friends. For now I'm trying to focus and enjoy what's in my lap, but life just isn't as sweet when you've left your heart in California.
Santa Monica Pier, 2009.
Hello world. It feels a lot longer than it's actually been since I last wrote here. I leave in less than a week, and still, the reality hasn't quite hit me yet so I didn't know what else to do but write.
I've been reflecting on the year and what a rocky start 2009 was, but in the end, it all worked out. I've decided on some plans, my research finally paid off, I got out of a bad relationship with a good guy, and I've met some wonderful people along the way.
I finally talked to Lina the other night, and she reminded me of how normal it is to freak out when you're young and hitting rock bottom for the first time. It's what you make of your mess that counts. If you know me at all, you know I'm the eternal planner. Everything has a timeline, a set date, but as it turns out, almost nothing has gone according to plan. And yet, I feel things are exactly the way they should be.
Taken at Vinh Ha Long in Viet Nam.
Three thoughts: I had an excellent time with Neal, I am a failure at multi-tasking lately, and I just saw a photoblog that put mine to shame. So I think I will take a hiatus to be a better Phuong.
That is all.
San Pedro with Chris ..
