I know. You can't believe you're reading this. It feels like a lifetime since I have been active on this blog, and I hope you'll excuse my absence. I have been active in other ways since my return to the states almost three months ago - academically, socially, and physically. I'll try and update you on many things and articulate my being back at Stanford, as I finish up this blog for now. I mean, who knows when some more exploria-ing might need to happen and an older blog might need to be taken of that virtual shelf and wiped of its dust.
Coming back to school after a break, for most students, is a little rough. For me, having had a break that was essentially nine months, I feel as though it was probably a little rougher. Don't get me wrong - I did go to school and work fairly hard while I was abroad, it was just a different kind of work. It was taking three hours to read twelve pages in French or spending days working on presentations about spirituality in Germany. Suffice it to say, my transition back to Stanford was a bit shocking to my system. Suddenly there was 500 pages of reading and two response papers and a presentation and a research proposal, all for one of my five classes, in one week. Welcome back, Doria!!! There are a couple things that I did not expect to encounter upon my return. Such as an overwhelming feeling that I am no longer fully American. Now, I know that I am technically European (as I have my German passport), but it wasn't as if I got my passport in the mail and instantly felt European. It's more as if I don't feel fully American anymore, and there has been an obvious impact on my identity from the European countries where I've lived. It's an odd neither here-nor-there type of thing that has been interesting to navigate.
Luckily, being back with my amazing friends and wacky family has made up for my academic and personal disorientation. Hopefully, my grades won't be too horrifying and it will all be great come next Thursday, when I will be a senior in college. SO CRAZY.
My quarter has been extremely busy, even by my standards. For those of you who are curious, here's a bit of what I've been doing:
- Jew-ing! I was elected the President of the Jewish Student Association in April, and it's been a great quarter filled with joyous Shabbatot, interesting speakers, fun events, and a lot of meetings.
- Dancing! I've finally gotten back into shape, at least a little bit, in regard to dance - yay! There will be a lot more to come this summer and next year, but it's felt really good to be back in a studio.
- Researching! I'm currently working on developing a project that will hopefully take me back to France, which is about the encounter between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews in Strasbourg, France after the 1962 Algerian War.
- Chilling! I know that sounds, well, chill; however, there's a weird sense of urgency around summer vacation and graduation - so, I've gotta get in all the time with my senior friends as I can!
- Family-ing! I'm lucky to live near my school, and it's been really fun being back with my family. In the past few weeks, we've had three birthdays, two graduations (one in Rhode Island - fun!), and a couple holiday celebrations.
As school wraps up this week, I'm very much looking forward to the summer. I'll be working a few jobs including doing research for the Institute for Jewish Community Research, teaching cooking and nutrition classes to people in transitional housing with an organization called Collective Roots, coaching a youth swim team at the Pacific Athletic Club, and dancing and babysitting too :) Also looking forward to a lot of picnics and outings with friends and family alike.
I wanted to thank you all again for reading this blog and keeping in touch during this wonderful year. It meant so much to me to hear from you and reconnect with some of you who I had lost contact with years ago. I hope that you'll continue to update me on your lives and I look forward to sharing more journeys with you in the future. Wishing you all fantastic summers,
With love,
Doria
