elation, relaxation: the whole package

Elation

Although I am totally and completely exhausted after my first week of class and settling into a new routine, new campus, and a new gym, I am surprisingly content right now. I suspect my happiness has something to do with the fact that I bought a used fridge for pretty cheap and my lovely, fresh, and mostly organic groceries are sitting, chilling in there as we speak.

The contents of my new fridge.
Note the goat cheese...front and center :)For a surprisingly low amount of money (thanks to my Kroger card I saved over $8!) I was really able to stock up. In fact, if this food doesn't last me at least 10 days I'll be pretty surprised. I bought sandwich fixins (for both meat-based and jam-based sammies), crackers, cheese, and baby carrots to snack on, pineapple because I am obsessed with it, bananas, apples, two enormous tubs of organic, lowfat, plain yogurt (although Kroger doesn't carry Stonyfield which is SO WEIRD to me), some delish baby spring mix, raisins for toppings, balsamic vinaigrette (normally I would make my own at home, but it's not really an option here), some oatmeal for breakfast variety, and lowfat chocolate milk (my favorite post workout pump up). I also have a few Healthy Choice micro-meals left, along with copious amounts of Kashi cereal and bars, peanut butter, and honey.

Seriously, what more does a girl need? Mmm.

Relaxation

It goes hand in hand with elation, really. As I sit with a full tummy, listening to the harmonious hum of the fridge after a night out in adorable Bloomington with friends, I realize how GOOD I feel about my situation for the next 7 weeks

I have surrounded myself with really GOOD people. I met them entirely by chance, but we all get on like old friends, and I'm having a blast hanging out with them. They are interesting, supportive, and fun to be around.

I am really getting my workout on at this campus. Due to it's sheer size, I've been walking an average of 3 miles a day, in addition to the morning workouts I've been putting in. I can't explain how, for the first time in my life, I've been motivated to get up at 6am to go work out, but it happened every day this week and I don't think it's about to change, because I look better, and more importantly, I feel better.

It is SO nice to be able to concentrate on ONE level of my intellectual development. I know come August I'll be split a million directions again, but right now, all I have to care about is learning Polish, and when I've had enough studying, I can relaaaaaax.

Relaxation has come in a lot of forms in the short time I've been here- I've been taking more time out for my health. I've been enjoying more time with friends. I've been re-immersing myself in the fitness blogging scene. What has been most fulfilling, however, is that I've been able to READ. I can't remember the last time I read for pleasure. I finish two books in the last ten days and am close to finishing a third. I hope my time for reading continues as the summer progresses.