Coffeestops!

Time flies, doesn’t it?

In a few days time, 3 full moons would have passed before me. I shuddered at the trails I have blazed and wondered how 3 months could have shifted the tectonic plates of one’s believes and horizon.

I first settled here in Ann Arbor in the baby mornings of the summer, when trees still bore the colors of green, and the sun still shone so bright. The slipping sands of time silenced the summer and forced the dawn of autumn. Verdant greens gave way to moody browns. Trees hung their heads in sadness as they shed their happy friends to embrace the solitude of silence. 

It was so funny that it was only in the depths of autumn did the campus spring alive. Soldiers of scholars tracked the wide stretched roads, scuttling to their nearby classes. Respective clubs erected their fortresses to galvanize young blood into their cause. Fresh-ies mustered into the semi-warmth darkness of Crysler Arena for our big send off.

Welcome to Michigan!! Class of 2012!

New Student Convocation at Crylser Arena

New friends were made; old threads of camaraderie maintained…..

Volunteers to direct us to an event!

Clubs set up tents to woo students!

University of Michigan celebrated its renewal.   

—

I took my first baby steps towards the beginning of academia in the energized halls of Ann Arbor. Brimmed with overflowing exuberance, I wanted it all. Defied the advice of my academic advisor, I stocked up my classes to its full. Armed with Economics from both the micro and macro realm, Calculus, Undergraduate Research and the Art of Film…..I cajoled myself: I am all that I thought I could be.

“Sign up first, think later” was my motto. Any club that expressed a remote interest in me earned my signature and contact info. I was too excited to turn any clubs down. And soon, I had a nice collection of them….brilliant, no?

But exuberance is fire in disguise. In moderation, it is one’s greatest ally. Unchecked, it is one’s greatest enemy.

I was blind slighted. Visible cracks splintered across the shaky grounds in which I was threading. I chose not to heed it; brushing it as mere illusions of grandiose distractions. But as time slipped further into it’s place of origin; as the weight of my workload began to pile up; as my own ignorance consumed me…..

The shaky grounds gave way. I plunged into defeat. 

—

Saddled with Bs and Cs for my midterms, my ego was bruised. It was hard to reconcile with the truth that I was not as smart as I think I was; and that the epoch of easy grades and kick-ass-Jian-Wei was long over. I am new, fresh and untrained.

I picked my pieces together and with cups of bubble teas, I began my downward spiral into self re-evaluation.

I was the Humpty Dumpty. I had a great fall.

—

I knew I had to get away….at least for a while. I boarded a train to Chicago alone to heal the wounds of my ego. Vincent, my future colleague was kind enough to spare me some space within the walls of the University of Chicago. 

Vincent, BNM scholar and I in his room (University of Chicago)

In Millennium Park, Chicago

Snapshot from the boat ride! The best part of the tour!

I walked down the streets of Chicago; gave free hugs; got really lost; ate good food; journeyed good rides; hatched new memories…..

Deep Dish Pizza! The famous pizza in Chicago! It was orgasmic pleasure man!

Free Hugs! I wonder why we can’t have these things in Malaysia….

Things start to look right again. I knew what I had to do.

Humpty Dumpty climbed up the wall.

—

I deferred my Calculus, narrowed in on clubs…and soon I was running again. 

With a renewed spirit, a heck lot more time, and memories from healed wounds, I danced a different waltz. 

I took myself less seriously; appreciate my new friends a little more; pampered myself with new books and yes…studied way ahead of time.

Humpty Dumpty saw sunshine!

—

It went really well. 

Not only did I have more time for my work, but I appreciated each second of my life more. It was only then I realized how much 3 months can do to a person. 

LiXian, another BNM scholar and I during Michigan’s Hari Raya Celebration!

I bagged a string of As for my second midterm; I plucked apples!; I visited Chicago TWICE; I found re-newed purpose for all that I have given up on….

My first experience for apple picking! My friends are behind me!

Life is great people! Life is great! =)

Humpty Dumpty is staring across his bedroom window, and is awed by the little droplets of snow. 

Last 5 posts by Jian Wei

• How does one say goodbye? - January 6th, 2009
• Happy Birthday Papa! - October 4th, 2008
• What's In a Name? - September 15th, 2008
• Happy Mooncake Festival - September 14th, 2008
• A Gift from the United States - September 2nd, 2008