60 Miles of Books

I am loving my time here at UW. I keep surprising myself with how much I am enjoying it. At times it is a little stressful being so independent and having to seek out opportunities, yet at the same time I am really growing out of my shell.
Today in class we split into small groups and I was completely embarrassed by myself. My fellow classmates mentioned that I was stressed out, and I just started laughing rather hysterically in front of everyone. It was incredibly awkward and I don't even know why I reacted in such a weird way. The room was silent and everyone stared at me as I started to turn red. Although I was chagrined, I also felt I was able to realize something so intrinsic in my behavior. I have a particular habit of worrying, and I need to be more aware of how I exhibit my anxiety. The best way to tackle the problem of my stressful nature is to reduce the stress itself. I am very glad that I have met friends who are actually willing to tell me the straight truth, and for once I feel like I can progress in life.

I have a whole plan to reduce my stress load. It is simple.

-Aim to complete designated daily tasks (hw, chores, etc.)
-Get at least 7 hours of sleep
-Exercise 4 days of the week
-Meditate each morning
-Eat well

There are plenty of other suggestions and ideas; in the long-term I would like to find a hobby and once I am more settled in school a club. I want to devote time to simply sitting outside or exploring the city. I hope to relax with friends each day. My hope is that with these simple life changes and my new mindset of hope, optimism, and serendipity, I can reduce my stress and really find happiness and harmony. However I need to start with this simple plan.

Meanwhile, I did my fair share of exploration today. I went to the library during class and I discovered just how large the library at the university is. There are literally 60 miles of books in the UW library system! If you lined those up from Seattle those would go all the way to Olympia; quite impressive if I say so myself. There are so many resources at your fingertips and they are truly of great quality here. Not to mention that the Seattle Public Library is probably one of the best systems in the country; I really need to get that library card. I love that feeling of checking out a huge pile of books and carrying it around so full in your arms that you feel like you are exploding with literature.

After my excursion in the library, I headed to the dorm to eat lunch with friends and then had a pleasant session of "Food with Faculty." I got to meet a professor of dance and the cultural history behind it as well as my RA for this year. I really was encouraged by the friendliness of all these people. More students sat down with us, from places like Yakima, Albuquerque, and Las Vegas. The diversity of the student body here really impresses me and reminds me that everything I want can be found right here at UW. No matter how close to the valley of Issaquah it feels in maybe the weather it is so dramatically different in its culture, dynamism, and atmosphere. It feels so much more real, so much more alive, as if all the bricks have a story to tell just like the thousands of voices from this fantastically diverse set of students. I am really inspired here; I am amazed.

"Alors on danse" - Stromae



Rwandan-Belgian guy with really cool bow-ties. Life is perfect :)