Most anyone who knows me can attest that I like to plan things. Possibly to an excessive level — but it’s how I’ve always been. Or, at least, I can’t imagine a time when I behaved otherwise.
And that’s fine. I know that I’m not someone who’s wildly spontaneous — if I could, I would plan out in detail at least ten years into the future. But I know that doing so isn’t reasonable, nor is it feasible. So I try to take things a week at a time.
Being in Scotland can make things seem more up in the air at times — back home I’m used to having a far more solidified schedule, with more work due each week, and many events being held on campus/in my house. Edinburgh isn’t quite like that. This is not to say that it’s bad — far from it, but it’s something I’m still not wholly used to, nor am I sure if I ever will be completely used to it.
It’s made me realize just how lucky I am back at Smith. I don’t have any formal assignments due until towards the end of March, and this is incredibly bizarre for me. I’m used to being hit with essays by week 3 of my semester, and here I am, week 6, and I’ve only had readings and a few non-graded problem sets for historical linguistics. It fills me with a mixture of both relief and increased anxiety, since the essays I will have to hand in count for significantly more of my grade than I’m used to back at home.
So I’ll have to do my best.
… and figure out exactly how to format them for submission, and how to submit them online. But I suppose it is all part of the learning process, in the end.
The need to plan also ties into my adventuring. I have a deep level of wanderlust (I blame it in part on living in California at a young age and going to visit family on the East Coast). But I can’t just hop on a plane/train/whatever unless I’ve had significant time to plan.
I’ve seen people who are on study abroad who have literally popped off to Greece/Switzerland/Ireland for the weekend, and I find myself asking “… but how?” in a state of awe. But that’s okay. I’m going to aim to travel to Stirling this weekend — planning on going by the train station tomorrow to see about how one procures tickets.
Here’s to Emily’s version of spontaneity!
Love,
Emily
PS: I finished the book, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler today, and wow, was it fantastic. One of the best books I’ve read in a while. Though Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, which I also read recently was fantastic. As was Amy Poehler’s memoir. Okay, I’ve read a number of lovely books recently, but We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves deserved mentioning. Also the cover for the UK edition is gorgeous. (I’m not sure if it’s different in the US, but below is a photo procured from the internet for your viewing pleasure):
