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Back in the US of A

Dec 21, 2016

Eugene Corner Stone

It's been 3 days since I landed in JFK and it feels so good. The cold, on the other hand, will take a little adjusting, but Christmas is in the air!! Coming back to the states after four months makes you see things differently. The most ordinary tasks, foods, places are now seen in a completely different light. Here are the top things I had taken for granted.

HOT COFFEE

Ugh that good good. Cute European cafes are nice, but piping hot coffee is absolutely necessary in our fast pace American lives

AMERICAN CURRENCY

Having 1 euro be a coin was a complete game changer. Keeping spare change on me wherever I went was a pain in the butt.

THE GYM

Kid you not, every woman in my gym in Athens looked like this. Hair down, full makeup, and walking on treadmills. Might as well go for a stroll outside!!!!!!

DRIVING A CAR

The freedom of driving a car and getting across town in 5 minutes is a luxury we all take for granted. Although I was never afraid to ask the Uber driver to bump it, it just wasn't the same.

Veggies/ salads

Europe is deprived of salad and any green vegetable. Yes, America is fat as hell and that is why we are in constant need of healthy options, but salads are GOOD and meat and carbs can get very tiring.

MY BED

I'm not one of those bed sloths, but after 4 months in a twin bed with springs jutting into my body, I just may turn into one. You'll know where to find me for the next two weeks.

2016 has been a crazy year for us Americans, but man did I miss home.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Back in the US of A

HOT COFFEE

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Veggies/ salads

MY BED

Subscribe to our Newsletter

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

27. When you get assigned the most incompetent group of people possible for a group project.

28. I need a comfort dog so I can avoid all life and school responsibilities.

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

Who isn't stressing out over finals right now?

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