Eyes closed and I can see a never ending ridge of mountains surrounding me.

I open them, and maybe it’s the other Gage Towers (I’m in East), or sloughs of people with errands that seem much more important than the ones I’ve sent myself on.

It’s funny because the view that I got used to this summer was of one of the larger bodies of water in northern BC, Babine Lake. Now I’m in Gage, and I’ve got a view of the largest in all of BC (READ: Pacific Ocean – tsk, tsk). Somehow I went from 4,000 on the wait list to an ocean view. I’ve gone from a SAT phone and unreliable internet for the past four months to campus wide wifi. No longer am I seeing the same three people on a daily basis, but instead living surrounded by thousands.

I wouldn’t say I’m in shock so much as utterly terrified and stoked at the same time. I’ve been waiting to come to UBC for over a year now, and I honestly cannot believe I’m here, but I am, and I’m still standing.

Eyes closed and it’s the usual and expected: the bridge over Pinkut Creek, a blue tin roof, and rabbits racing across a gravel road.

Eyes open and it’s all brand new. And I’ve never been happier to say that.