There and back again, again.

I'm writing this from a hotel in New York City, waiting out an intense layover, and for the second time this year I travelled during the daylight savings time shift. Hello, ten-hour time difference between my two homes!

The last DST shift was in March (I can never remember which one is turning DST "on" and which one is turning it "off") during my NYU Abu Dhabi Candidate Weekend. Back then my biggest issues were trying to pronounce my roommate's name (Ahmed, not Aaaahhhhsscchcchscja-med) and figuring out if the guy doing the hotel wake up call was speaking English or Arabic. I still don't know, to this day. Anyway, now I have to worry about arranging my own flights and ground transportation, eww. Guess that means I'm...I'm...I'm an...adult...!!!? It had to happen eventually. Egh.

And I hate this traveling. When I arrived last Thursday night at the Abu Dhabi bus station, I was frantic, standing for 30 minutes in a miles-long line moving the speed of a glacier before I realized that it was the line for Sharjah, not Dubai. I was already thinking of ways to tell my mom that I wouldn't make it home, or, at best, to explain why I had to spend $100 on the two-hour taxi ride to the Dubai airport, but instead I grabbed a seat just in time on the last very comfortable and very cheap bus bound for my destination.

All nervousness aside, this week has been super. I saw pretty much everybody I've ever met in existence. All the humans. All of them! (sort of X-Men 2 reference, yeees?)

It's also been magnificent not having to worry about homework, even though I have a buttload to do when I get back. And as I've been telling people all week, I realize now how separate my two worlds are: life doesn't stop in Abu Dhabi when I'm gone, nor did it stop back in Minnesota. Definitely did not. I feel like when I get back to my dorm room, my life will, somehow, have been reset and I'll have to introduce myself to everyone all over again. Please remember me, UAE.

Randomization

Topics for today's blog:  Halloween, Veganism, and Belly Fat.

Let's start with Veganism.  Have I ever mentioned I once was a hipster/still kind of am?  But not really.  But maybe. I just don't like admitting it.  Maybe.  Nonetheless.  I saw my cousin for the second time in like .. 8 years.  Perhaps longer.  He took me to get tea.  His name is Max and he reminds me of Michael Cera.  It is creepy.  They have the same hair/eyes/basic facial structure, and the same voice.  Very creepy, man.  We talked about life and I brought up that I once tried being vegan, but PETA ticked me off so I stopped.  Peta still ticks me off.  I MEAN COME ON, PETA!  VEGETARIAN PORN!?  Anyways.  He told me .. some things that made me even more mad.  I feel so betrayed.  The video I watched on their website didn't even happen in the US...  You have no idea what I am even talking about.  ...  Sorry. ... I drank a bubble tea latte,  it tasted like a liquidized cookie with gooey balls at the bottom.  Yum?

HALLOWEEN!  I was a ghostbuster. .. Who ya gunna call?  Molly.  Cause I was a ghostbuster.  I went to the Cat Girl's college and party hopped with her.  I missed that woman.  I'd post other pictures of us, but I think you get the gist of how awkward we are when we get together.  True love, right there.  Through thick and thin.  So here is a little tid-bit of what happened that night:  I accidentally molested a poor adorable Asian boy dressed as a priest.  Yup.  Forgive me, Bible Boobs, it was very dark outside, and you were in black and standing next to the black railing.  It was an honest mistake.  I also I met a boy who was dressed as a ghostbuster as well.  Pretty sure he was very upset with me, and I saw him everywhere that whole night.  Might have had to do with the fact that I faceplanted into him on the bus.  There was nothing to hold on to,  could have happened to anyone.  I also met another boy who looked EXACTLY like Michael Jackson, before he went all creepy.  That boy had everything down to the short pants.  I love Michael Jackson, with a fiery passion.  Pretty sure that boy was creeped out by my love of his costume.  Oh well, not the only guy I frightened that night.  Dang it.

Lastly, Belly Fat.  I have gained some serious weight since I came to college.  So much food.  So.  Much.  Food.  Alright, so I am (was) a skinny white girl, if you couldn't tell, and for the first time in my life my stomach has started to move.  It is the strangest feeling in the entire world.  ENTIRE WORLD.  I have never felt this before and it is just so .. bizarre.  Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of girls stomachs move when they walk, but it's normal because they have a figure!  Boobs and hips and the works.  Like what a normal girl would have.  But I, sadly, have none of these.  I am a wonderful stick, who now has a tummy.  Curses.

CONNOR COMES HOME TOMORROW.  I miss that boy.  I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM.  We will take lots of pictures, don't you worry.  And play lots of games.  And eat lots of food.  And tell lots of stories. And I will give him lots of gifts.  And stroke his curly blonde hair.  And there will be so much love in the air that children will cry.