a return to the (semi-) normal

Tomorrow is the first day of my last semester as a college undergrad. It will be nice to get back into a routine of classes, choir, and homework after 8 weeks away from it all. I should be in bed, but I'm not feeling too tired so I'm munching on chocolate-covered chickpeas, drinking water, and typing.

Turkey was amazing. The people I was with, the places that we visited, the knowledge and insights that we gained... it all combined into an experience that I know I'll be thinking through and learning from for a long time. I'm in the process of typing up my journal, and when I'm done I'll post some of it into a separate blog.

I flew back to Seattle on Tuesday the 23rd. I spent a week at home visiting friends and family, and then came back to Spokane last Wednesday. My roommates didn't return until today, so I've had the house to myself for the last four days. It has been restful and much-needed: last semester was packed, Christmas break was busy, and Turkey (although wonderful) was another month of zero alone time. I'm thankful that I've had this sabbath to regroup before spring semester.

Last night and tonight we had our "choir retreat," which is essentially two 3-hour practice sessions to get us launched into our spring repetoire. It was beautiful. It's hard enough to describe what it feels like to sing with a group like that; to describe how it feels to come back to it after 8 weeks away, or what it's like to sing through the Credo and Sicut Cervus and be a part of their exquisite harmonies, is impossible. It's like coming home.