P.S.

Just went on a walk. I lied and haven't started my work yet. There was a lot on my mind. I think that the weirdest feeling about being here is not wanting to go back home. This whole trip has made me wonder a lot about identity, home, people, and culture are attached. I think I am feeling homesick, I would never admit it, and I miss people, that I will, but being in a totally different world with completely new people, a completely new community has a weird feeling to it. I can't describe it better than that at this time. Just a weird feeling. If you ever watched Arthur and remember the part in the series when Buster went away with his dad flying around the world, then that might help. He was out of the series for a long part of the season, and when he came back everything had changed. He was different, and everyone adjusted as if he were never there. That was my favorite part of the series, and it was kind of sad, too. But I like such things.

I guess I might say that I feel like a foreigner everywhere right now. Now starting to break away from habits I wouldn't have even noticed at home, and developing new ones. I have absolutely no idea what will be the outcome of this type of experience, and I guess that is what makes it most exciting.

I also expect that this feeling will only increase over the time I'm here, so I might promise to be reticent and not mention it again. Even if I do get homesick.

One last thing. I just happen to think of a passage from Tess that might appropriate this situation and put into practice what I should be doing in my essays:

"Moreover, when two people are once parted--have abandoned a common domicile and a common environment--new growths insensibly bud upward to fill each vacated place; unforeseen accidents hinder intentions, and old plans are forgotten".

New growths insensibly bud upward to fill each vacated place.