Home

I am finally home! I have been looking forward to fall break for the past two weeks, and it's really nice that it's here. However, it is very strange too. When I woke up this morning it was really weird waking up in a bed that wasn't a few feet from the ceiling. Also, the weirdest part is not seeing my roommate. We have become very close friends, and since we share a room we seen and talk to each other often. Talking to her is even more distracting than facebook! So being here without her is weird for sure. I miss not having my friends all around me. This is what surprises me the most. I have always been a homebody and never really did stuff with friends during high school. I had friends and many people who I enjoyed being around, but I just preferred to read a book or watch a movie by myself. Throughout high school, many nights were spent just talking to my parents or watching a movie with them. I was worried when I went to college that I would be frustrated by the constant company of others, and no space that was just mine. However, I now realize that it hasn't bothered me a bit. I suppose I am just very lucky to have been assigned a roommate like Amanda. She is someone I have become friends with and don't mind sharing my room with in the least. I am already looking forward to going back to see her and everyone else!

The only thing I don't want to go back to is the practice rooms at school. I dislike practicing in such a drab, confined, boring space that's a walk across campus from my room. It is so much nicer being able to practice at home with my family around to hear it and enjoy. Also, I like being able to practice and here them talking in the other room. It helps keep me relaxed, because when I'm by myself in those practice rooms it's very easy to become stressed about the next thing on my list. Hearing people here at home while practicing gives just enough distraction so I don't stress as much, but still allows me to concentrate on my playing.

So, things have turned out in quite the opposite way that I imagined. I thought I would have trouble being around people all the time, but really, it's what I miss most right now when I'm at home by myself while my family is at work or school. However, the only time I was alone at college (in the practice room) is what I don't miss at all. Rather, I enjoy having others around while I'm playing. It's funny how things turned out, but I think that for the most part I'm happy about how they ended up. I'm very thankful that I am fine with sharing a room all the time and can connect with other people without getting to irritated and itching for some time alone. College has showed me that I am able to be around people more often than I thought. I'm happy I got to learn something about myself there that isn't related to Mozart, four-part voice writing, or perfect intervals.