A few thoughts before I leave work.

1. Empathy. I used to think having empathy was one of my greatest strengths. Being able to understand another human being and the emotions that they might be feeling, it’s a good strength to have. Then I met my boyfriend. This man has gone through so much more than I’ll ever go through. He’s had to deal with stuff at an age where I was just dilly-dallying around. The way that he’s grown up has definitely shaped the person that he is now. Sometimes I find myself getting mad at him for being so blunt with his words because his blatant responses hurt. I find myself angry that he can’t understand how I feel and instead thinks I’m a crybaby. I try to understand that yes, that’s how he grew up and that’s why he’s acting like that now but I still get upset. I started to think about this whole empathy thing. Yes, I say I understand. And sometimes, I really feel like I do. But only up to the extent to which I can because I can nevertrulyunderstand his hardships. We differ in many ways. Since his life is so different from mine, it’s mind boggling to understand sometimes. So maybe empathy isn’t my greatest strength. Maybe i just grew so accustomed to saying it was that I lost touch of that. But if empathy isn’t one of my greatest strengths,what am I good at?

I was going to write more but now I’m lazy. Le sighhh. Peaceee, I hope I’m still alive after these three weeks!

This study abroad stuff is driving me crazy. Like I have so many decisions to make and so many things to take into consideration. Not only do I feel discouraged but I feel like I’m going insane.