New Faces, New Places

"Sometimes it's all so beautiful--just this whole experience--that it makes me want to cry," I told a friend the other night while we were at the pub.  Harlaxton, though I've only been here for a few days, is more than I ever dreamed it would be. You know how sometimes you just know that something, some moment in time is so important, so formative, so memorable? I've been feeling that way at least once a day. From finding dusty secret passageways in the manor while exploring with friends, to taking pictures of the gardens and statues, to sitting at the High Table dinner in smart dress, or to walking through the forest with new friends--every moment is so beautiful.

I feel at home here--more so than I ever felt at HLG. The people are so interesting, so diverse. And the manor is quite charming. If you walk down to the basement and look up towards the ceiling at the pipes, you can see the signatures of students who lived here before. ( I was even able to find Nick's name. =) )

I don't think it would be out of line to guess that these students were never the same after they left here. Sure, it sounds like a stupid, hyperbolic thing to say, but I like to believe that it's true. I don't feel the same as I did when I left home, and I'm sure that feeling of change, of growing up, will only grow the longer I'm here.

Although, I'm stressed with classes starting, I'm expecting great things. Plus, I'm going to London this weekend, so that's pretty exciting, too. Well, cheers, all.