August 2nd. Not a particularly exciting date. Nothing special going on
either at home in the US or here in Norway. However this day (and
tomorrow) do have some newfound meaning for
me. Today is my last full day here in Bergen. My last complete
twenty-four hours in the country that I have called my home for the last
three months. My last day at the Bjerknes Centre. My last night in
Fantoft. Tomorrow I fly out in the early afternoon to
Iceland to visit some friends and enjoy a few relaxing days in
Reykjavik. In a week, I'll be home.
It's hard to believe that I've been living and working here for twelve weeks. Where did all that time go? It seems like it was just a few days ago when I was crying in RDU and saying goodbye to my parents. It's even harder to believe that my senior year of college begins in less than three weeks!
I've learned so much during my time here, both about myself and about a life spent in academia. Now I've got a better idea of what life would be like as a professor or researcher. A schedule packed full of meetings, conferences, papers, new research projects, and silly undergraduates who want to spend the summer volunteering in your lab. I've done plenty of mundane tasks during my time here, that's for sure. But more importantly, I believe I've taken some big steps in my path toward graduate school and life afterwards. I've learned helpful new skills for programming and how to deal with the massive amounts of data involved with climate science. I think I've gotten so much braver with approaching people, whether it's about asking for help or seeking out new opportunities. I also believe I now have some sort of idea of what I'd like to study in graduate school, which definitely relieves some of the stress that I've had over the past year when thinking about the future.
I arrived in Bergen to 40 degree temperatures (That's Fahrenheit! And COLD. And in May. Forty degrees in MAY!) and a week straight of rain. And now I'll be leaving to cloudy skies and some light drizzle. This weather is fitting as it matches my conflicting emotions as I leave what I now consider to be the most beautiful place on Earth. Excitement at seeing friends in Iceland and returning home after that, but some sadness for leaving my home away from home.
Yes, this summer in Bergen, made possible by my Burch Fellowship, has done wonders in preparing me for life after UNC. I'm a more confident person, definitely a more well-traveled person, yet I'm still going to hold onto what is most important to me -- my family and friends back home "in the states." Goodbye Bergen, hello Iceland, and the US -- I'll see you in a week!
It's hard to believe that I've been living and working here for twelve weeks. Where did all that time go? It seems like it was just a few days ago when I was crying in RDU and saying goodbye to my parents. It's even harder to believe that my senior year of college begins in less than three weeks!
I've learned so much during my time here, both about myself and about a life spent in academia. Now I've got a better idea of what life would be like as a professor or researcher. A schedule packed full of meetings, conferences, papers, new research projects, and silly undergraduates who want to spend the summer volunteering in your lab. I've done plenty of mundane tasks during my time here, that's for sure. But more importantly, I believe I've taken some big steps in my path toward graduate school and life afterwards. I've learned helpful new skills for programming and how to deal with the massive amounts of data involved with climate science. I think I've gotten so much braver with approaching people, whether it's about asking for help or seeking out new opportunities. I also believe I now have some sort of idea of what I'd like to study in graduate school, which definitely relieves some of the stress that I've had over the past year when thinking about the future.
I arrived in Bergen to 40 degree temperatures (That's Fahrenheit! And COLD. And in May. Forty degrees in MAY!) and a week straight of rain. And now I'll be leaving to cloudy skies and some light drizzle. This weather is fitting as it matches my conflicting emotions as I leave what I now consider to be the most beautiful place on Earth. Excitement at seeing friends in Iceland and returning home after that, but some sadness for leaving my home away from home.
Yes, this summer in Bergen, made possible by my Burch Fellowship, has done wonders in preparing me for life after UNC. I'm a more confident person, definitely a more well-traveled person, yet I'm still going to hold onto what is most important to me -- my family and friends back home "in the states." Goodbye Bergen, hello Iceland, and the US -- I'll see you in a week!
