Homesickness But Not Really, Day 123

This past week, I’ve been getting all teary eyed at the smallest of things. It all started after I watched the movie The Notebook. I’ve watched it so, so many times and have not once cried but there I was getting all emotional as the characters recited lines I memorized long ago. Then came emails from my mom which got me all worked up, and a documentary on tv about a group of poor boys who won $200,000 scholarships to one of the most prestigious schools in the world (Harrow). I began to wonder if all these tears was a sign of the homesickness that everyone told me I’d experience. Before I left for London, I was so scared about being homesick because I did not want to look back on my year off and only remember missing home. What I summed it down to today is this: I have been getting all emotional because I am constantly reminded of how much love I have surrounding me, something that is easily forgotten when you’re miles and miles away from your home and familiar surroundings. My mom for instance-writing me the most comforting email that reminded me she could be thousands of miles away and still make me feel better about any situation. Or yesterday, my not-related-to-me-but-apart-of-my-family aunt called me and left a simple message on my phone, letting me know she missed me. Or my friends, who write epically long emails (Pona wins the award this weekend I think for possibly the longest email EVER written) to fill me in on everything. So thank you everyone, for making me cry out of happiness and reminding me how lucky I am! Oh god-now I’m crying. No, just kidding.

Today we all got dressed up to go out for breakfast (Ava laid the dress she wanted me to wear on my bed! I thought that was the sweetest) and then changed into more appropriate clothing to teach Ava to ride her bike without training wheels.

There were a few tears,

and some smiles

and about 2.5 seconds of riding on her own!

We then decorated the cake,

and frolicked in the backyard,


and did some sunbathing!
(Please note Maude’s “sunbathing” outfit).

Today the air smelt sweet (you know, that mixture of grass and earth and rain?) and I experienced that feeling of realization I get once a year that it’s spring, and the weather is only going to get warmer. It’s the smell that defines it for me and just makes me feel so excited!

xxxxx