Adjusting

I'm having a rough time, guys. It's getting hard to wake up, and go to class, and hang out. I skipped my only class on Friday, and both my classes yesterday. (It's not as COMPLETELY bad as it sounds, they record the lectures and post them online, so I'm still getting the material...) I'm feeling very alone and homesick, even though I Skype with my family almost everyday. I'm feeling very down, and don't feel like leaving my room much. I get tired very easily and am starting to take naps too often.

This chart was given to me by the International Center before I left home. And I think I'm right there between 2 and 3. So I know things will get better, and I'm having a great time. The problem is it's not that different, but just different enough that I have to adjust. But there isn't a complete change in culture. Home and here are very similar in most ways, but the little differences are just starting to get to me.

I know the more time I spend outside my room, making more friends, the better it will be and the faster I will adjust fully to my new environment. But it's hard to put that in practice, because I just want to be alone and be in my room talking to family and friends from home.

It's also really hard because I'll be here for my birthday in April, and I won't have a get-together with my family. I'll miss Easter as well, which isn't a huge holiday for my family, but we do have a dinner and get together with all of us. I won't get that this year.

And hardest of all is missing Rodney at home. He turned eight months old yesterday. He's getting so big, and he can stand all by himself now. I know he'll start walking soon, and I won't be there for it. And I miss my dogs. I just wanna cuddle with Penny and have Niko jump all over me, and throw a stick for Copper. I miss cuddling with Penny at night. I don't sleep well here, and she would make it so much better.

And my boyfriend. I miss Josiah, too. We didn't get to be together on Valentine's Day (the first Valentine's Day that we are officially together. We've been together for most Valentine's Days, even when we weren't a couple.) I won't see him until I go home in June. And you wouldn't think that this would be a big deal, since we don't see each other when I'm at home either, but it's been really tough.