April 20: Two Days Stateside, Awaking To The Dulcet Tones of The Next-Door Construction Site

So here we are again, back in the states. I would've titled this post "In A State of Confusion," but the 4/20 jokes are just too easy. Honestly though, it's a little hard wrapping my head around everything that's happened and realizing that it wasn't actually all one big dream. The construction sounds from next door are just as permeating as ever, so at least some things didn't change.

First up, sorry about the typo on Wednesday - not only is "meetnig" supposed to be "meeting," I wasn't even "meeting" anyone but it was actually just "interacting" but in a tired, warped state. Derp.

As of today, I've been stateside for just over 48 hours. It's a little weird how easily I've fallen into life here, but some things do feel incredibly odd - my bed is gigantic, even the small coffee mugs are too big, being in a car instantly makes me feel out of control, and just being on the other side of the river makes me feel isolated. Granted, the two nights I've had here have been filled with Kasteelan dreams, so just sleeping and waking up surrounds and then removes me of friends: the first, we were all actually at a summer camp instead of just joking about it, and last night we all had our Farewell event at an underground establishment ("U Sudu?") that then turned into a five-story Houses battle with Nerf guns.

Wednesday was, as expected, indescribable. After a solid 10 minute nap, I called goodbyes out the window to Mel and Lucas (they left early) and then somehow managed to haul my two nearly-overweight bags down the stairs, one only on my right shoulder (which is still a little bruised); the kitchen had strawberries at breakfast for once, so that was a veritable Hunger Games on its own. Fully loaded with two wheelie bags, the lulu bag, and a purse, we passed in the keys to our parallel universe and crossed the moat for the last time. The amazing staff - OSA, cleaning, and kitchen - who had taken such good care of us the whole semester had lined the bridge to send us off, accepting teary hugs and wishing us all the best of luck in our endeavors. On the bus, Emily was playing around with her Pooh bear and telling us the story of their first meeting - exhaustion really brings out the best in people, I have to say.

Cozied up in my highly stylish UMD sweatpants, Kasteel Spring 2012 tee, and Amsterdam hoodie, I fell asleep almost immediately after we hit the highway. I'm pretty sure I was the only person without fitted pants (that includes jeans, leggings, and jeggings) and my god did that work in my favor. +2 hours of sleep. Grand total: 2 hours, 10 minutes. Score.

This time, since Robbert and Dojna had picked us up, Johnny and René dropped us off. As such, we stood outside for a good five minutes that we didn't really need to and then didn't quite know what to do regarding self-check in, bag check-in, getting to the other kiosk a few halls away to pay for our extra bags, and then getting back to the group (/whether or not we were even supposed to go to the other group).
Cue rainstorm.

We each hugged René and Johnny, getting words of advice and jokes from our adventures - Johnny had to crouch to my height and I promised René to always sing for the night bus in his honor and we had a short duet in the middle of Schipol Airport, like this sort of thing happens every day. Basically, I was trying to laugh off the fact that I won't see these crazy guys for a very long time. Honestly, something I really regret now is not getting closer with OSA, particularly during some times when I knew I needed someone to talk to about various problems but didn't let myself let anyone in. Frankly, that was selfish - maybe I don't hurt as much now that we're apart, but that's also a team of relationships that I kept up a wall against and essentially just let slip.

But then I said goodbye to Michelle. She was one of my biggest surprises at the Kasteel and from what I can tell I was a pretty big surprise to her too. She was going on a different flight, so we probably won't meet up again until the fall. Honestly, I have no idea what country she's in right now but wherever she is she's making it a blast.

Now then, something funny: as any international traveler knows, you have to go through a passport check before security. We all fell into line, the same physical space as when we went to Madrid but emotionally on a completely different plane, and wound our way up to the desks. Then, my turn.
"Morning."
"Morning!" (don't mind the puffy eyes, sir, my body's kind of got a lot going on today)
"[checking the passport, boarding pass, receipt - stamped!] Okay, have a good day."
"Dankuwel!"
".... HAHAHAHA!"
"Wait no what? What'd I do? I just said thank you! Did we cross into Germany when I wasn't looking?"
The world may never know.

Walking along with a small group, we suddenly realized that we were already at the gates, not security.
I beg your pardon?

Although we initially thought that we had just bypassed security at an international airport (uh...), it came to pass that actually each gate in Schipol had its own security line. Genius in many ways, except that unfortunately there was no duty-free shop on the other side - just chairs, the gateway, and a wonderful bridge that actually - get this - went over the tarmac directly to the plane door. Talk about a novelty.
Fun fact: the security guys at Schipol have a sense of humor. One of the girls had her wand in her carryon and took it out for security. One of the workers picked it up, looked at her, and then... started casting spells.
YES

Piled around each other in a giant mess of snacks, internet, bags, and emotionally exhausted students, we waited for around 10 minutes to start boarding. I felt a weird pull at my thistle necklace while putting my scarf back on but didn't think much of it.
Five minutes later, I realize that I lost it again.
Erin: "Jeez, aren't you the one who keeps losing jewelry?"
"... Yes."
"Didn't you lose that one already?"
"... Yes."
"What superlative did you get, most likely to lose things?"
"No, most likely to pop, lock, and drop it."
"HAHA that one's pretty perfect though. Sorry about your necklace!"
"Well... I mean, I did drop it, so..."
Luckily, someone found it and we were reunited after a short 10 minutes. Yay Delta!

Sticking to our pre-agreed Siesta Fiesta plan, within two minutes after takeoff I was fully reclined and iPoded up with noise-canceling headphones. A great deal of time later, I woke up thinking we had reached Boston.
Nope, four more hours to go, so...
Grand sleeping total: 6 hours, ten minutes.

So then I did what any sane person would do and watched the first two Harry Potter movies. The plane even fed us! We didn't do anything and we all got drinks and a sandwich and ice cream anyway!

Just before landing, we were all frantically brushing our teeth and trying to plan our first meals and witty lines back in the US. We stood around a sweltering customs line in all of the layers we didn't dare pack into already-stuffed bags, explaining that "yes, multiple bags of stroopwafel were totally necessary" to the check-in workers (I said my food was just stroopwafel but completely forgot the pindakaas, nutella, mixed nuts, bag+ of candy, and 14 packets of instant soup also packed. Oops)

Reunited with our bags, we wheeled through another passport check and through the doors I remembered so well from last year, waiting on the other side for Katie's return. The first thing I saw?

Dad's beard.

He and Mom came to pick me up, complete with a bouquet of hot pink tulips. I took another eight minutes running through the crowds hugging people and we got to the car, me waving and singing at people as we went. Back home, first things first: lunch of various salads (<3), then a quick doctor run, unpacking the first bag, and starting on laundry. Dinner at 6pm brought my adventures to a full circle with egg in the hole and bacon, the same I had for breakfast on departing day. Mom ran off for volunteer work, Dad kept me awake until 8pm, then after my first US shower in months I crashed into bed, falling asleep around 9.

At 4:50 I woke up fully rested. The solution: bathroom and go back to sleep.

At 9am (Apr 19), my day started, prepping for a trip into the city for Mom's iPad drama, reunions for me, and lunch at Max Brenner's on Boylston. Suddenly, I could understand the people on the street and not need to get excited about catching bits of English conversations; once I got to the Emerson campus, I kept thinking that any English I heard was from a Kasteel kid right behind me. Nope.
On my way to the EDC, I ran into Emily F from the suite; we talked for a few minutes and let each other get back to our actual trajectories. Life being what it is, a tour group was walking directly beside me as I went into the LB.
"Oh, now this is a cool building!"
Lady, you have no idea.

I saw a black ponytail and pair of glasses peeking out over a computer and then the both of us threw protocol to the wind and dashed forward, colliding into one of the tightest hugs I'll probably ever have. Then I'm just standing there, in the middle of the EDC, with my head in my best friend's shoulder, on the other side of a window from a fairly sizable tour group, and suddenly my breath catches and I'm crying and it's all horribly dramatic but it's also true, and Ally is right next to me returning equipment and we hug too, and I realize now that even though my first year at Emerson was frankly a disaster I wouldn't have gotten any of these people or experiences or knowledge or even turned out the way I have if I hadn't stuck my heels in at this school.

Anyway.
About six bouts of hugs and explanations later I head back to meet up with Mom, as on time as the Hohenboken gene allows, now equipped with a certified Alivan's wand - not kidding - courtesy of Katie. Pat was (hopefully) joking around that I make myself useful and get him a coffee, but as I was already late and not on the clock...

The Asian salad at Brenner's absolutely hit the spot and I got to catch up/trade a few Kasteel stories with Danni while she was working. Cue dinner party plans.

Since I was hanging out with mom, our next stop was shopping, then home to seal 333 envelopes for her volunteer group before a celebratory welcome home/have a safe flight dinner with Dad. My body is still immensely whacked out from the trip and as such I couldn't enjoy the amazing dinner as much as possible, but another 9+ hour rest is getting me re-situated to Boston time.

Now, at 4:25 on April 20th, I'm sitting on the floor of my bedroom with my bed and Fatboy covered in stacks of clothes (unpacked, freshly laundered, reunited, and donation) and a package of stroopwafel at my side. My parents are running around packing for Vegas/Utah and I'm still reeling from the reality of Spring 2012, never mind how independent I'll be for the next stretch of time. There are so many things to do I don't know what to start first.