I just realized today that it has been a year since I last updated my About Me page, and a lot has happened since. Now you can find the updated version right here, or in the side menu.

I know that most of my readers already know me well, but even those who do might find something new or interesting there. Anyway, it is the basics about me, so its a good place to start.

Believe it or not, I’m taking the night off and going to a Halloween party. Happy Halloween!

With an hour before my next class begins, which is not enough to allow proper concentration on studying for tomorrow’s mid-term, this is the closest I have been to resting for a long time.

This is a time of reflection. E. is getting close to calling it quits, but I have given up too much to come here. I want to finish what I started and at least come back home with a Masters degree in my hand. Also, I think it is too early to make such decisions. We need to try for a little longer. My experience of relocation makes me believe that it can take up to a year until we feel comfortable here. On the other hand, we have been facing several obstacles. The latest one was revealed yesterday, when E. found out that some financial promises that were made before we came here are unlikely to be kept. I am trying to be as optimistic as I can.

Tomorrow Deviant Brainwave will celebrate six years of existence. How time flies… I don’t know if I’ll have the time to post anything tomorrow, so I’ll just say it in advance: Happy Birthday me!

Here’s one thing I noticed in the States, that will probably not be new to anyone, but is still amazing as a realization of the American stereotype: the Americans clearly prefer quantity over quality. Everything here is BIG: BIG country, LONG roads, BIG cars, BIG money, BIG houses, BIG bags of stuff at Costco, BIG Mac, GRANDE latte, BIG time, BIG DEAL! You can get a huge bucket of really shitty coffee at Starbucks, and the locals think it’s great. They just don’t know any better, I guess. Unfortunately, some nations (most of all, Israel) aspire to be like America, and I really can’t understand why.

We had a couple of BIG experiences this weekend, spending BIG money on the way.

We bought a car, to help us get through the LARGE distances that have abandoned the idea of quality public transportation. It’s a 2000 Nissan Altima, and it’s dark green! It is what the locals call “compact”, though it is a bit BIGGER than what I would have liked to drive. Really small cars here are very rare, though I have seen a few. Even Smarts! (P., you will regret to hear that I am back to saying “Smart!” whenever I see one).

Shortly after we got the car, we drove to fill it’s boot with content of BIG packages from Costco. It was our first time there, and it was quite an anthropological experience. Everything in XL! We even saw a HUGE pack of laxatives. I just didn’t want to know! The only MULTI-thing we haven’t found there is a box of LARGE bottles of diet cola for E., strangely, they only had cans.

P. sent me an IM today warning me that he was about to start the process of issuing a search warrant for me. Clearly a sign that I haven’t been blogging or spending much time online recently.

I must admit that I have been keeping my various IMs offline in the past couple of weeks, in order to prevent distraction from my studies while I’m using my computer. I know, this is extremely anti-social and unpleasant of me, but it seems to be the only way I can find to ensure that I do the best I can to overcome the huge workload. It has been less than two weeks since the beginning of term, and I’m already behind. Being stressed about it doesn’t help, but I can’t help myself.

E. has been documenting everything he has been going through in weekly reports on his blog. Maybe I should do that too, but I am not sure I have the time. I think it will have a beneficial therapeutic quality, as long as you, my dear reader, don’t mind serving as my psychologist. Meanwhile, go read E’s report!

The main things I can add to E’s weekly blog is that I have not been as cheery this week. I find it hard to handle the workload, while I still want to do my best and excel. Furthermore, much emphasis is put on the run towards the best summer co-op one could possibly get and from it to the best possible job. It feels too soon for me to add a job hunt to my list of stress factors. Yet, I have updated my resume (you see? I’m using the American word for CV!) and I might even have an interview in a couple of weeks.

Last night I couldn’t fall a sleep. I lay in bed thinking about how much I’m missing Willy and Sebastian, and how I want to know that they are happy where they are. I wish I could pet Willy’s tummy before I fall a sleep, and wake up to Sebastian’s meows demanding my attention. I wish one day I will live in one place long enough to know that I can adopt a cat that will not be traumatized by constant changes. I wish one day I will be able to feel that I’m settled in my life to the degree that I will not have to worry about where I will be a year or two later or whether some item may become a burden that needs to be packed and moved to the next place.

I guess I’m just homesick. Hopefully, this place will feel like a home soon, making everything so much better.