Note: this was originally posted to Ben Around the Block on May 12, 2014. I have made minor changes/corrections.
(I have not seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2. My choice of a Spider-Man-related quote for this post title is a happy coincidence.)
…Well, I’ve finally finished that school year. It was rough on several different levels (including my most stressful finals yet), but at least it’s done. Now, I can lie down, relax,…aaaaand deal with a whole new set of problems. Eh, what are you going to do?
Aside from finals-related nervousness and a little inner turmoil I’d rather not discuss here, my chief source of stress as of late has been the act of moving into a new house, a comedy of errors I will discuss here. Under Willamette policy, I had to leave my dorm on May 7. As such, I was hoping I could move into my designated house (let’s call this “Alpha House”) on May 7, that day in question. Unfortunately, the student who was subletting her house to me (let’s call her “X”) told me that I wouldn’t be able to move in until May 11. Fortunately, she found another house for me to stay in for now (let’s call it “Beta House”), at least until the 11th. When moving day came and I prepared to move into Beta House, I contacted X to confirm everything. Unfortunately, she then told me that under the lease agreement, I wouldn’t be able to move into Alpha House until May 14. X recommended that I contact the current residents of Alpha House and confirm things with them. I texted one of the residents (let’s call her “Y”) to check and she told me that I wouldn’t be able to move in until May 18. At a loss of what to think, I called up the landlord, who heard me out, checked the paperwork, then told me that under current contracts, I actually wouldn’t be able to move into Alpha House until June 1.
…Let me reiterate: due to some miscommunication and misunderstanding, I came very close to having no place to stay for practically the entire month of May. Fortunately, I was saved from virtual homelessness by the landlord, who was nice enough to find me another house with residents willing to host me (let’s call it “Gamma House”) until the end of the month. After a few days in Beta House, I moved into Gamma House, which is where I’ll stay for the time being! Whew!!!
Moving snafus aside, I’m quickly getting used to living (mostly) on my own. I’ve gotten the hang of grocery shopping, which will be much needed given the current quality of my diet (Sourdough bread for breakfast? Restaurants for dinner? Both on multiple days!). My living space is cluttered, but I have everything I need. In the meantime, I’ve been spending my downtime back on Willamette’s campus (because nothing says “school’s out!” like practically living on campus) mooching off the Wi-Fi (which I lack in my current residence--I am posting this blog from Willamette for now). When back at Gamma House, I’ve kept myself busy with reading (Raising Steam--the most recent Discworld book) and movies (I’ve watched both Howl’s Moving Castle and Midnight in Paris, both courtesy of Willamette’s Hatfield Library). My free time has been mostly leisurely, and has involved some pleasant surprises, such as attending Willamette’s Class of 2014 Commencement (Quick shout out to any graduating seniors: CONGRATULATIONS!!!) and meeting up with old friends for dinner. I’m about to have a lot less free time soon, but I anticipate further adventures here in Salem and maybe even the Portland area!
So that’s the current state of my life: disorganized, adapting, and ready for the challenges up ahead. I start work later this week, and I’m looking forward to contributing to society!
Notes from Future Ben:
Even after eleven years, I still remember how panicked I was when I was getting housing ironed out. Thankfully, the owners of Beta House and Gamma House were extremely gracious and I am absolutely grateful for the aid they gave me.
FYI, the "inner turmoil" I hint at here relates to a bad breakup I had in the spring of 2014 and the emotional fallout. These emotional turmoils, along with feelings of isolation, proved to be the biggest challenges of the summer.
Despite how rough times were then (and they were rough, believe me), there's still a small part of me that's nostalgic for the independence I was getting the hang of. I didn't have access to Netflix or any other streaming services, so I made great use of my laptop's DVD drive and Hatfield Library's available movies. As I mention in later entries, I made use of my free time that summer to watch a lot of Miyazaki movies and other films I had been meaning to check out for a while. When times get tough, my determination to take advantage of opportunities gets tougher, something that I'll likely relearn as I prepare for my challenging return to Salem.
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