Spring break survival

Or, watch me struggle not to poison, stab, or otherwise murder myself.

Spring break. I really don't know whether other schools routinely kick kids out their dorms, but this time instead of staying at my friend's house again I chose to stay in the dorm for an additional fee. I don't want to bother my friend too much with my bullshit.

But no matter what I do, it seems that bullshit ensues. On day 0, the break hasn't even started, I cut my finger with that godawful sharp new knife. And I didn't even get to cut the meat because I took it out the freezer too late.

Day 1 I had pork and onions for each meal. It wasn't nearly enough so for dinner I fried two more eggs. At lunch, though, either I put too much oil in or I didn't rinse all the dish soap off the pan, the pot was super foamy. I ate the thing anyways.

Day 2 morning, I woke up at 7 A.M. by a hurting stomach. I assumed maybe my period was coming, so I got up to put a pad on, but as I did so, my head felt dizzy, my limbs felt weak, and I felt like throwing up. I immediately swapped out my nearly-full trash can with a new bag, but I already knew that I won't be throwing up anytime soon because there's literally nothing in my stomach. It felt a lot like having a fever, except I was sure my body temperature was normal.

I texted, and then called after receiving no response, my parents, who were thankfully awake at 7 P.M.. They were having dinner at a restaurant with a doctor friend of theirs, but said doctor friend couldn't pin down what was happening with only these vague descriptions of symptoms (she was OB/GYN anyways). They told me to go back to sleep.

I woke up again at 1 P.M. and felt a lot better. My limbs were still weak and my heart was still beating faster than normal, but I didn't feel like throwing up anymore.

I originally planned to go to the grocery store for more food after making lunch today, but obviously I wasn't doing that now. I bought a foot-long Subway sandwich and a cookie that I put in the fridge after throwing away the last chunk of meat (original lunch material) just to be safe. Then I went to another dorm building, with a lot more Chinese international students staying for break, and just sat and chatted for a while. At least if I passed out there, they could do something.

All the while a stupid piece of homework was still haunting me. I need to complete that by the end of break. Fuck.

Day 3, grocery day. Woke up at 1 P.M. to a severe weather warning. Hastily opened the blinds to find looming gray clouds but no rain, so I immediately went to the store (I was originally planning to go after lunch). It hadn't rained the entire way, but the wind was strong.

After making lunch, it was raining. Thank fuck I no longer need to go outside.

I am also stuck worrying about my academic plan. Firstly, there's a class I can only register for if I have a certain number of credits. And that was a thing I forgot to consider — after this semester, I would have enough credits, but while I register for next semester's courses, the current semester is still in progress, meaning I don't actually have the credits I'm currently taking.

I emailed advising, but since it's spring break, they would only answer afterwards. The wait is painful. Maybe I should go ask on Reddit.

For dinner, I originally planned to make broccoli but I forgot to bring down the pot so I can't blanch it. So I went for onions again. Then I realized I forgot the plate again but at that point I had already cut the onion so I just went back and grabbed the plate.

Someone replied to my Reddit post and told me I can indeed register for that course. Phew.

I've been cracking my neck a lot but I'm suddenly very scared of accidentally killing myself doing that. Fuck.

Day 4, broccoli day. I didn't blanch them enough, because turns out the blanching is the part where you cook them, and putting them in the pan later is just symbolical. And I didn't cook them enough there. But thankfully it wasn't inedible.

Day 5, I tried something very incredibly innovative and daring. A sandwich! I fried two eggs and put them between two pieces of bread. Very nice.

Day 6, I met up with a friend from high school in DC. We went to this pho place said to be the best pho in DC, and they aren't wrong. Not that I had been to any other pho restaurants in DC, but it was good. Or maybe I just hadn't had proper food in so long that anything remotely good would make me this happy.

Afterwards, I found out I still had quite a bit of time, so we went to the National Museum of the American Indian. We only got to see one floor though (the fourth), and while it was informative, the language was super whitewashy, with a lot of passive voice when describing atrocities done to the native people, never directly pointing out the perpetrators. When I first saw the line "often broken, sometimes coerced, treaties still define mutual obligations between the United States and Indian Nations" I knew the entire exhibit was going to be full of that. But it was still a good visit, I guess.

Day 7. I started rationing my eggs to avoid another grocery trip, but I had just enough to make it to the end with half an onion to spare. However, I broke a fucking egg at lunch. The first time in my entire life I broke an egg. I have been cracking many, many eggs, and while not always perfectly, I had never accidentally broken one before. Rolled off the counter onto the floor The first time that occurs I happen to be on a ration. Very funny. I fried some broccoli in addition to the onions to make up for the loss.

Day 8. Victory is in sight. I went through the day fine, except that at dinner, some parts of the eggs are even burnt but there was one really raw juicy chunk near the end? How?? I hate any egg that's not mildly overcooked. That sucked. But my friends are coming back tomorrow! The cafeteria is also opening tomorrow and I will be the first to be there.

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