Traveling, doing

A loooooong break was taken, I see. I'm sorry. I had a less traumatic--indeed, positively fun--visit to Boston--or more specifically, Cambrige--last weekend, which kept me busy.

In fact, I went to my college reunion, and it was amazing. No one looked any different, and it felt like I had run into all these people at the dining hall last week (and we did re-enter the dining hall to eat the famed broccoli and cheese chicken, a Sunday brunch staple also affectionately called "Hangover Chicken." It looks like it is made of chemicals).

I loved college. Adored it. Lurved it. But I don't talk about where I went to school too often because it has a certain baggage. We all spent freshman year answering questions of where we go to school with a vague "In Boston," hoping to avoid further probing (just FYI, not answering a question is usually a bad way to avoid further probing). And I certainly don't bring it up now (though our FSNs in Dhaka often could not be stopped--they liked getting a reaction out of the schoolchildren I'd go talk to about the U.S. political system).

Feeling like the scion of a rich family who cannot escape the burden of the family name and the expectations that go with it, I was embarrassed by Harvard; it was inconvenient. But keeping this analogy going a bit, it sure was nice to go back to the family mansion and bask in its comforts. Even if the comforts included a twin extra-long bed in a cinder-block cell of Mather House (just kidding, I LOVE Mather House!), a communal bathroom, and dining hall hash browns. (Yeah, I think we all collectively decided that for the ten-year, it's time to splurge for a hotel room.)

We had a ridiculously great time, and the school kept up their end of the bargain with open bars at every event, from brunch to field day to multiple prom-like tented-dance-floor parties. Sadly, James couldn't make it (especially sad since we met in college and we both belong to the same class) due to his brother's college graduation (though, you know, that's important too :)).

But I got back to FSI and realized, oh good gracious, where has the time gone? It feels like departure is imminent--in 2.5 weeks that I know will FLY BY, it will be one month away. (I have a count-down the count-down.) How crazy is THAT???