Back to reality part 2

So it's now three weeks into the new year and I've made it through two and a half weeks of school. It's Saturday morning and it's raining outside. My feeling of epic drowning has moved into more of a semi-floating, semi-flailing phase, and I'm hoping by the end of next week to have made it to some kind of semi-swimming state, so things are looking up. I was quite excited to have four days in a row of (mostly) blue sky this week, and it was nearly not dark when I walked home at 5pm yesterday evening, the weather seeming eager to prove a similar point.  

Three things I've realised over the last couple of weeks:

1. I'm not in the privileged majority for the first time in my life. What I have experienced I am sure is mild in comparison to the experiences of many others, and it is in most cases so subtle an onlooker would miss. The easiest way to explain it is that I find myself fighting for things which in the past were givens, and justifying choices which in the past were understood. It makes one more aware of other people who deal with similar circumstances.
2. Isolation is one's worst enemy, support is one's greatest friend. We are social beings, designed to form connections with each other, even us introverts. I've been very fortunate to find myself in the company of many supportive people, at work, at home, and on the other side of the world. I would never have made it to here without them (mostly you wonderful people), and I am so grateful.
3. I'm far more patriotic than I ever thought. I find myself saying all the time, how things are done in New Zealand, or what things are like in New Zealand, or what the weather is like in New Zealand. I've become that person who always irritated me so much. My challenge is to remember that I chose to be here, for however short a time it may be. New Zealand will still be there when I'm done and my job right now is to accept my choice and be as adaptable as I can.

On the lighter side of things, I went swimming last weekend with an old friend in London, using swimming in the loosest way possible. I'm not sure I earned the pizza that followed but it was a fun much-needed day nevertheless. The plan this weekend is some more local exploration mixed in with school work, nothing too exciting. 

However I have successfully filled all my term breaks and mid term breaks with holidays, the first of which is in three weeks and just quietly is going to be awesome. I'm looking forward to all the photo opportunities to come!