Returning to school is definitely harder than I thought it would be. It's heart-wrenching to be away from Amelie for so many hours, and it's hard making new friends in a class that's already established its cliques. Being at home for a year, surrounded only by loving and caring people (who I had the luxury to screen if need be) has made me slightly more introverted amongst strangers. Even when I muster enough courage to put myself "out there," very few of my classmates are responsive. It seems they are tired of obligatory first week of school-small talk - and frankly, so am I. One can only ask "where are you from?", "what undergrad did you go to?" and "so, do you commute or live around here?" so many times before both the flatness of your voice and complacency in your smile betray how disinterested you truly are.

School. Ugh.