First of all, I've obviously been incredibly busy.
I finished my junior year of college (three semesters left because my major's requirements are more stringent than those of the university). I got Dean's List honours this term as well as last and a 3.65 GPA, which, I should point out, is considered remarkable in my major. Just finishing the UMass Japanese programme, assuming I do, is considered a minor feat of strength; I was surprised to learn how highly we're apparently regarded in my field. Anyway, more importantly, I firmed up some friendships this semester too. I had a fight with a friend on the weekend of Easter, which was also my birthday and Anime Boston, but that seems to have, finally, been resolved. I've been on various reading and watching binges. As one would expect I'm neck-deep in Korra right now and have outstanding commitments for various reasons to Heartcatch Precure, The Twelve Kingdoms, and Natsume Yuujin-chou.
I have an entirely unreasonable if not outright alarming degree of FEELINGS about The Prague Cemetery, mostly because it's genuinely terrifying. I had a perhaps more to be expected set about Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman, which made me absolutely bawl.
I was also elected to public office! I'm a member of the Town Meeting of Amherst, Massachusetts, a quaint form of local government used in New England. I'm one of 246 members and I was pretty involved in some controversial zoning votes (our side won in that the terrible development ideas that we were being presented with won't go through this year; we won only by a few votes!). I can talk more about what these controversies were and what the experience in general has been like in the comments if anybody is interested.
A week ago from the day that it now technically is on my side of the International Date Line I was finally officially confirmed in the Episcopal Church. It was the last set of confirmations for Bishop Scruton, whom I'm going to miss a lot. I'm not sure what I think of his potential successors, on whom we have not yet voted.
This summer I'm going to spend some time in Amherst with my friends and also at home with my family, doing a lot of gardening actually. A few weeks ago I finished, at long, long last, the writing project I'd been working on for two and a half years, and I've got something new going on! I've also been working on translating from a Noir artbook that I got at Anime Boston.
I also have a tumblr now!
I'm so sorry about my prolonged absence! How has everybody been?
- Current Mood:
tired
Comments
I've just finished my fourth and final year at Edinburgh. I'm moving to North Carolina for a master's degree next year, which is both exciting and absolutely terrifying.
North Carolina is very vaguely within potential travel distance of me if you're ever interested; it's fair to say it's a very different milieu to Scotland, though. How extensively have you visited?
I'm in Amherst, Massachusetts, which is about twelve hours up I-95 from Durham, for most of the year, and the Princeton, New Jersey area, which is a more reasonable drive in the same direction, during the summer (although I'm also going to be in Sapporo, Japan, which is NOT in driving distance of North Carolina reasonable or otherwise, for part of next summer if all goes well). Both places where I spend most of my time are also easily accessible on a rail corridor that goes through Raleigh. I could take the train down into that area but probably would not be able to drive, in which case you'd have to come visit me.
Sorry if this is a little early to be planning, especially as I imagine you'll be in North Carolina for at least two years, but the prospect of finally meeting you face-to-face is very exciting, since I've known you online for so long (almost five years, now!).
Edited at 2012-05-19 10:04 pm (UTC)
It's certainly not to early to be planning. I'm happy to jump on a train if we can find a date that works for us both. I won't have access to a car and I expect I'm just as excited to meet you.
ETA: Also, do you expect to have a phone number I'd be able to reach you at?
Edited at 2012-07-18 10:38 pm (UTC)
I don't have a phone number yet, but I will shortly after I arrive. It's cheaper to buy a new phone over there than find a better contract for my existing phone.
All right, just let me know when you have a number I can contact you at.
I will!
Edited at 2012-08-06 07:10 am (UTC)