24.6.2010: Beyond my comfort zone....

Okay, for some of you, you may not understand why this picture applies to the topic.

I'm a very picky eater and don't often try new foods.  I hate potatoes.  You can't get much pickier than that.

So here is a photograph of some cheese I tried.  Actually was pretty good, just didn't have much Kräuter flavor. Which was quite disappointing to me.

My comfort zone.  It  used to only consist of the tiny little town of Corunna and its surrounding areas.  Then it expanded to include Ann Arbor.  Nothing in between though. 

When I have went outside of those areas, it was always with large groups (band, Odyssey of the Mind, Max Kade), with friends, with experienced adults.  There was always someone around to help bail me out (not that I don't have anyone around now, they're just farther away and it's a little more difficult) and figure out the tough stuff.

But on this trip, I couldn't just follow blindly like I have in the past....  Nope, I had to get stuck in the Parisian Metro system turn-style thing all on my own.

As you can already tell, this post is going to be more reflectional rather than story orientated.  But everyday can't be an adventure, or else nothing would feel as such.

I guess I have always been a reserved person.  My mom has recounted many times that she would go to parent-teacher conferences and they would tell her that I was just so quiet in class.  She would just laugh.  Or how about when I was in the third grade and received the "Quiet but Creative" award that year in Odyssey of the Mind (back when they actually took the time to give individualized instead of team awards)?  Yes, I bet some of you Corunna OotMers (if there's any of you reading), probably are laughing like you never have before.

That saying "those who don't know me think I'm quiet, and those who do- wish I was!"- had to be written about me.  I've never been one to spill my guts to just anyone, but when I do- you certainly get an earful.

In high school, being quiet also equated to being attentive....  Hence the good grades (though not having a lot of homework in high school probably helped the most).  Team sports are not my thing, and it took me many years to be the loud-mouth many of you know and love at Shia. St.  Going to the theater alone doesn't bother me.

"Shy", I don't think, is the right word.  And I'm definitely not a loner.  I like having my friends around, and I do feel lonely at times (so if you ever want to AIM/MSN messenger/Skype/Facebook me, I am all for it).

Perhaps I should get to my point.  I do have one, really....

Yesterday Dr. Seedfelt (from ICE, the one who set up my internship) came into town.  He visits everyone who he sets up placements for during the summer.

We talked about how things have been going here.  Then they called Herr Kratzmann and he came to talk too.  I guess to my boss and coworkers, I've seemed a bit sad/mad/quiet/tired.  I haven't smiled and laughed enough.  Anyways....

So that's what brought this all up.  And it really got me to thinking about who I am, who I can be, and who I want to be.

I don't want to seem anti-social, because I'm not.  Just takes me awhile longer to make friends, but when I do, they're my friends for a long time.

....wait a minute....

Aren't I supposed to fit in with the Germans then?  I've been told they're a little more reserved (as compared to Americans), and don't make fast friends.  In other words, they don't consider everyone a "friend" but they have more "acquaintances."

So I guess.