Glittering Eyes

I was just thinking right now, how beautiful it is when you see someone talk about what they are passionate about in life. Their eyes really do glitter up a bit more, they are excited, or have this really heartfelt tone to their voice. It really is beautiful, as I am now recalling those sweet moments of friends talking about what they do in life, or whether they just fell in love with someone. It brings a smile to my face thinking about how others are so happy. I think that's what I've seen as I was traveling throughout Europe and couchsurfing with strangers. Finding people talk about themselves and noticing those small sparkles.

Back in the United States

I've been so busy since the moment I landed back in the country, actually even before then, that I do wonder if I should put in some time to write right now. I always say I'm busy, have stress piled on me, but in general, I'm doing a lot of things that are keeping me busy and perhaps a bit stressed out, but I put it upon myself to do so and do enjoy what I do. Yesterday night felt like the only time I actually came home at 9:45pm after class and didn't do anything in terms of work, and needed that break to just chat with some friends and catch up. And not really think about space, the subject that has consumed by life. I haven't had time to really have a social life besides meeting the necessary classmates to get work done--I was so excited last week when I went out to dinner with my good friend from Bahrain, and looking forward to another friend's house party this Friday...the two social events so far not connected to space studies at all.

My bed hasn't been set up yet, the drawers in my dresser have not be re-arranged and organized, nor the books on my bookshelf. Somehow I took the lead in coordinating a 10 page conference paper with 6 people in 5 different time zones (Seattle, Montreal, DC, somewhere in Brazil, somewhere in Sweden, and Kiev). I am the project co-lead for the Space Generation Congress happening in Glasgow at the end of this month. All while job searching, taking 3 night classes, and being continually piled up with work. ahhh the wonderful life of a student. I really don't know how people do it- I feel that as I grow older, the more friends I make, the less time I have to enjoy each of their company. And I try so hard to maintain it all, ie. catching up as I'm walking home from classes, facebook, gmail chat, skype... I have to say I've been quite lucky with the conference paper team I've been coordinating to have such great people willing to put in 110% of their efforts to help out in other team mate's sections that they didn't write, trying to make it the best paper possible. I am a bit touched to say that when my Brazilian friend asked me about the name format for the paper, I suggested that we would put it in alphabetical by last name, he said, NO, your name is first.

I love my new place in DC, the roommates are nice, and we quite established that we're straightforward with each other, unlike my past roommate experience. At least this time I've signed a contract. What's crazy is that during the past 3 times I've found places online with completely random strangers and didn't sign a lease, it was the past one (which I stayed the longest) that screwed me over. I guess by that percentage rate, people in general are still rather honest.
I met up with my Israeli friend I made this summer in the program who came to DC for a few days for his job. We reminisced about the crazy times at ISU, and he mentioned how I was friends with very odd groups of people. I've noticed that a lot about myself too, as some of the people I hung out with this summer was a crazy party guy, a 40yr old space elevator guy, and an Iranian. Yet, everyone there was truly unique and amazing and I enjoyed most of their friendships. But that's how I have been all my life, usually being friends with the quirkiest people. After all, I do study space, now how out there is that? :)