November has brought epic foliage, cool weather, and 4:30 sunsets.
I am happy about one of those things.
Munger Meadow in the morning frost
Morses Pond right off Crosstown Trail, seen mid-run
Two weeks ago, I hadn’t even broken out my lightweight puffer jacket, and now it’s cold enough for my parka in the mornings. I moisturized my hands for the first time in months and went running in leggings, not shorts. My sandals won’t see much wear for a while.
Green Hall last Sunday
November also changed my schedule. Now that crew season is over, I’ve been working out when the gym opens at 7 a.m. I wake up at 6:40, not 4:17. Crew now takes up one or two hours a day, not four. That extra free time has come in clutch. I made a spontaneous phone call to my friend in London and stayed until the end of house council on Tuesday.
That said, I still have a lot going on. Intro bio is making my week challenging: homework for Monday, lab assignment for Wednesday, lab Wednesday, test Thursday, lab practical Friday. I spent a good share of last Wednesday afternoon in office hours, talking about peer reviews and scuba diving with my lab instructor.
One of many vegan s’mores
Last night, Hillel hosted Havdalah (the service to honor the end of Shabbat) at the Lulu firepit. We introduced ourselves, shared our favorite color for a toothbrush, and made s’mores. I ended up hanging out in my friend Alison’s room, shopping for cheap running shoes and wondering how we’re perceived, until the ungodly hour of 11:30 p.m. (At least I got my extra hour last night, I guess?)
Today I took the Spanish placement exam for my study abroad program (a big this is really happening moment), helped a teammate fix her flat bike tire, and watched two other teammates practice their stand-up comedy routines for their theater studies midterm. I think I need to take that class.
Course registration is coming up this week. It feels bizarre not to be scouring the course catalog and making lists of first- and second-choice classes. In two months, I’ll be on my way out of the country and starting classes in the Galápagos, not here.