And after a while, though the memories still hurt, they're revisited not out of longing for the old or a wishing for a future that could have been, but for a deeper understanding of who you were and who you can be.

The Quirks of a Different Culture

Work-wise: Work hours are 9-6pm. Pretty much never any longer, oftentimes shorter.

Socially: Lots of actual social drinking. Not social drinking as in parties (though ofc those are big too), but sitting at a bar talking and drinking, or playing cards are drinking. Lots of smoking too, which I wasn't expecting.

Food: Everything is delicious. Also some variations on food we have - kiwi yogurt, Schweppes Agrum, the best baguettes ever, well-made coffee... I wasn't a coffee drinker before I came here and I probably won't be one when I leave, but I can always do a cafe lait or caffe latte or cafe con leche or whatever you want to call a coffee with milk. Dinner is also best eaten at like 10pm.

You know, I really like France (and Europe). Not sure I would ever live here permanently, but I could see myself spending a year or two here. Of course, all this traveling and good food might be biasing me...

Bread, cheese, and fruit Schweppes. Perfect midnight snack ♥

Un petit chat qui rate sa famille

It's been a week.

Sort of crazy to think I've already been here a week... And only been here a week. I feel like I've done quite a bit of labwork (though it being research I'm not used to may factor into that), plus I've spoken more French in the past week than the past year (though that's not saying much). But I've also organized a spontaneous weekend trip to Italy, wandered around cities without a GPS or map or knowledge of the official language, and spent more money in the past few days than I care to admit.

It's pretty amazing.

I really am missing my family and friends though - I would be lying if I said more than a small part of me wishes I were back in the States. That's not to say I'm not enjoying my time here... Just that I miss everyone back home.

But I'll make the most of the time I have, and try not to be so worried about everything all the time (relevance of labwork, travelling plans, GRE...).

Meanwhile, in case you haven't seen them on Facebook, here are a couple of photos from the weekend!

First Day Abroad!

Travelling is tiring man. 

 I'm not exactly sure what to say. I didn't do much today - grabbed a couple groceries, took a really long afternoon nap. I'm actually pretty homesick... A combination of not knowing anyone nearby and not speaking French (at least well enough to get around) is just... It makes me feel lonely. Hopefully things will get better tomorrow after I meet with Andreea and Wolf and get to know the lab. Still need to set up my phone, get groceries, hopefully explore a bit and book some trips to Barcelona, Geneva, etc.

Started with a cancelled flight, ended with barred entry to the UK for a year...

Well, that was a disaster. (In the words of Inside Out, which was an -amazing- movie!)

Unfortunately I won't be able to go to Edinburgh this summer, which is actually quite a disappointment since I had looked forward to it ever since I heard of the program... I feel it's going to be one of the bigger regrets I have looking back on my experience, is not being able to have done this. The research that I would have been a part of seemed really awesome, and the group members were really nice too... It's really just a shame.

I might be able to go to France instead, but I don't want to get my hopes up again. In any case, something will work out...

...No more Scotland?

Visa application denied. Honestly so discouraged and sad and frustrated right now...

Edit: Just feeling so empty and lost. I don't want your pity, and I don't want to worry anyone, but... I'm not okay.

I'll miss you less than I think I will.

Too many voices, all of them mine...

Thoughts

Second (and beyond) chances should be given, but don't be naive or stupid in giving them. Eventually, it has to stop.

It annoys me when people can't see their own flaws, or present them in a way that seems holier-than-thou without realizing, just because I find myself always acutely aware of mine. 

And there's another one.

***

Got my biometrics taken. Mailed in my visa application. All that's left is to wait (and maybe go back to California. Still TBD).

I got a box of salt water taffy today from Kirsten for always trying to make the department a better place. I feel amazingly loved and appreciated, but don't really know what she was talking about... But if you're reading this and in Princeton, feel free to let me know if you want some salt water taffy!

Oh, all the problems...

Update: Apparently we -don't- actually need a visa, but were supposed to go in as visiting students and not tourists nonetheless so IIP still screwed up in telling us what to do... Or rather, in failing to tell us what to or not to do... Submitted my online visa application, going to my biometrics appointment and submitting the paper copy on Friday, and hopefully it won't take too long after that for my visa to be granted and for me to head back to the UK... I've read reviews saying the consulate takes up to a month to post the passport and visa back even if the decision is granted in a week though, so I'm a bit hesitant...

I'll just try my best to enjoy my time here I suppose, and use it wisely in studying for the GRE or whatnot...

Scotland for a Day

Quite literally. So -after- having my flight not only delayed for 5 hours but eventually cancelled and rebooked to two days later, I finally get to Scotland and find out I don't have the proper visa to enter the country. You know, the visa IIP was explicit in telling me I didn't need. So now I'm sitting in the airport waiting to be shipped back to the US. Needless to say I am quite miffed with IIP and unhappy that 1) I have no idea whether I'll be allowed to obtain a visa now that I've been refused entry, 2) I don't know how long obtaining a visa, if possible, will take, and I'd be losing a lot of lab time as well as time exploring Edinburgh/UK/Europe and 3) I'll have to have multiple more 7-hour plane rides assuming I can even get back to this country.

This is absolutely ridiculous and I have no idea what IIP was thinking, trying to get us to trick customs into letting us in when they knew we needed a visa...

On the other hand, I had a lovely day - my flatmate Luke and Sarah, one of the other interns, took me around Edinburgh a bit and we grabbed dinner and everything. I'm bummed to be going back but I guess it'll give me a little more time with friends (and potentially family as I'll fly back to California if the visa is predicted to take a while) and spare time to study for the GRE...

Congrats Christie and the Class of 2015!

It was a very rainy graduation ceremony but you're done! So so proud of my roomie and all of the wonderful friends in the Class of 2015 that I've made throughout the years. You have all been so amazing and such role models. I can't even thank the PEF seniors and chemistry upperclassmen who have helped me through so much my first three years here. Best of luck with all your future endeavors and may you always remember to give back to Princeton in annual giving! =P

And so the year ends...

It's been almost three weeks since my last post! Lots of craziness with prepping for Scotland, packing, and finals, not to mention getting horribly sick during finals. But junior year has come to an end - crazy to think I'm 3/4 of the way through with my Princeton experience (and only a couple months away from grad school applications and senior year!). 

But the end of the year has brought lots of moving boxes, debauchery at Reunions, God's grace with grades among everything else, and now commencement activities for the Class of 2015! A huge congrats to all of my friends graduating from Princeton in two (!) days - you guys have been such role models, sources of advice, and wonderful friends. An especially huge congrats to my absolutely lovely roommate Christie Elford for being such a boss! =]

T-2 days until Commencement.
T-3 days until Scotland.