The Good Where You Find It

To counter-balance any lounging by canals in warm sunlight, I crashed my bike on Monday morning. I literally fell back to reality. The reality that I needed a new wheel and some actual tread on my back tire so I could, well, stop. It sucked, but the only real damage was to my ego, the skin on my knee, and the wheel.

I obviously walked into class with a less-than-sunny outlook on life. Nothing like starting off your morning by falling off your bike, damaging it and having to walk the rest of the way. We got our tests and papers back, and I did well. Thank god I did, because if I hadn't I'm pretty sure I would have got up, left, and shut myself in the bathroom for a few hours until I was ready to face the day again.

Now, Barney is fine. He is as mobile and squeaky as ever. I am hoping I am not jinxing myself by saying that. And honestly, I'm just glad I still have him. Two people from my program have had their bikes stolen.

Coming back from class, I bought a pack of stroopwaffels and found a place to watch The West Wing online. Nothing is a better cure than cookies and witty repartee. This needed to happen before I went and got my bike fixed.

I've been incredibly busy. I don't think I've really mentioned this before, but I have ridiculous amounts of work. I know way more about the law of the sea and maritime jurisdiction than I ever wanted to. I also know a lot of statutes regarding self-defense and dog restrictions under California state law thanks to the most random assignment ever (thanks, comparative law seminar! You're the best!). I'm also spending a lot of time at the boathouse, whether rowing or completing our off-water workouts. Seeing as spending time there takes about 40 minutes of bike ride each way, it eats up a lot of time.

Things are good. They really are. I mean, honestly, this is the experience of a lifetime. But that in itself can't stave off all flickers of homesickness. And today, on a cloudy, chilly day in Amsterdam in which I'm supposed to read a case entitled the Fisheries Jurisdiction Case (UK v. Iceland), I would much rather be at home next to a wood stove with my family or having brunch with my Maryland girls or running around with the team and roommates in Ithaca.

And I don't care if I sound like a tea-party member when I say it, but I would just like to go one single day in which I understand every word spoken to me. Or around me. I am just tired.

I realize that in light of my last post, this may seem sudden. But it's just normal. You have your days, and take the good where you find it, shrug the bad off your shoulders, and mark on your calendar the day you'll see the people you so dearly miss.