-I think my academic apathy (or lack of academic motivation, whatever you want to term the whole phenomenon of me becoming un-academic...I've taken to calling it "collegiate grief") is growing at an alarming rate. I mean, I'm not exactly captivated by any of my classes this semester (and one is particularly bad), but when I try to do the reading for these classes or try to follow the class discussions, it's like everyone's purposely trying to confuse me. I can probably come up with a Coldplay lyric to fit almost any given situation, but the line "I feel like they're talking in a language I don't speak" is particularly fitting to how I feel: I read a ridiculous piece of postmodern fiction for my literature class this week and I didn't understand a word of it (even though it almost won a Pulitzer), and I can barely follow the discussion in my World War I class because I'm so rusty on that bit of American history, and because I don't give a crap (nor have I ever) about foreign policy or economic history. People could be stringing together random words that don't relate to each other and it would make just about as much of an impact on me. I'm reviewing the basics of the 1920s and 30s America to make it go easier, but I don't think I could have ever mustered any interest in economic history even when I actually liked school. I think this semester is pretty doomed. The idea of not getting anything less than a superb grade in each of my modules still puts a tiny mote of concern in my stomach, but the rest of me says "eh, as long as I graduate." Which I will. I couldn't ever become so apathetic as to not care at all. Still, I find this all a bit troubling. All I want to do is sleep, travel, and go to pubs with my friends or have more low-key parties in our kitchen (one of note was an impromptu grilled-cheese-making party at one in the morning last week). In my downtime, I want to watch the West Wing and write and read books of my own choosing. I don't really think anything besides the travel is too much to ask. Har har har.

-Greece is still happening, and I'm thrilled. The plan has changed a bit: it's no longer a bunch of us Norwich Dickinsonians renting a villa in Santorini, it's five Norwichers and three other Dickinsonians from other programs that are friends of friends staying in a hostel in Athens for a week, with potential daytrips to various Greek islands, but I'm completely fine with the alterations to the plan. I still get to go to Greece, and I still get to go with some friends, all for about $300 for the week, plus the cost of food and incidentals. I do hope we can try to do a day trip to Santorini or another similar island, though. We hope to have everything booked by next week. I have yet to work out where and when my second spring break trip will take place. The options seem to be Croatia, Prague, and Sweden as of right now.

-I'm going to Paris for a long weekend with Alex and Anne, and I can't wait. The first time I was in Paris two summers ago, I didn't have any hard feelings towards it, but it wasn't exactly the city for me, despite all the culture and things to see. It was too hot, it was too crowded, it was too dirty, and it was too in-your-face. I'm hoping that by going in early February rather than mid August will change at least my complaints of the extreme heat and the extreme crowds and vendors trying to sell you things, and I demand to see Versailles this time. I also hope to pay a visit to my favorite painting in the Louvre, stock up on some Claire Fontaine stationery products, and spend extended time away from an institution of higher education.