Last weekend was Head of the Charles, the largest regatta in the world, which takes place on the river where my team rows every day. I raced HOCR for the first time, and it was incredible. So many people cheered for us along the course: students, alums, faculty and staff, parents, friends. The day was beautiful and sunny, albeit windy, but coming through Eliot Bridge toward the finish line was so much fun. All I want is to race HOCR again.
On Tuesday, with our fall racing season over, we had a 2000m erg test. I took a risk by going out hard and ended up beating my old personal record by 6 seconds. Getting stronger is addicting. We waited out the wind and rain of the nor’easter and returned to the river on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for our last rows of the season. The sun didn’t rise until we’d already docked. I stopped bothering with sunglasses or a hat.
Yesterday, after our soaking-wet final practice of the fall, I told my assistant coach that I’m going abroad in the spring, and I almost cried. I already have FOMO about missing the spring season. The team is going to do so well, and I’m not going to be there.
I booked my ticket to Quito yesterday. I’ve been reading my study abroad program’s handbooks and getting excited to go back to Ecuador in just over two months. No, I won’t be watching the sun rise on the Charles with my teammates, but I will be snorkeling with turtles and reuniting with my old host family. I can’t be in two places at once, so I plan on being fully there.
But for now, I want to enjoy the next month and a half at Wellesley, while I’m here.
Me and my boatmates post-race
Coming toward the finish line