The Waiting

The waiting is always the worst part of any event. No one goes to Disneyland to stand in line for two hours, and the anticipation and fear experienced when waiting for the other person to text back is unparalleled. Unfortunately, waiting is something that can’t be avoided if we’re expecting to interact with other humans. But how do we react when we’re waiting for longer than we had been told we’re supposed to wait for?

Almost two months ago, I was told by the staff at my University abroad that I would receive my acceptance letter soon. As time has gone by, my stress levels have risen at a steady pace and I begin to think of the worst possible outcome. Emailing back and forth with the staff has not yielded any tangible steps forward, and I have confirmation from my advisor that it is, indeed, later than usual in the study abroad game to hear back.

The spark that lit the fumes of worry floating around in my head was an email I received from another study abroad student. “I’m also studying in Edinburgh and wanted to connect!” it read. Emails turned to texts as we shared in our excitement about studying in a whole different country. Finally, I popped the question: “Have you gotten accepted yet?” It was met with a confused response. She, and another girl she knew going to the same school, had both gotten their acceptance emails several weeks prior. Only mine was delayed.

What do I do if it never comes? I’ve already told everyone that I’m leaving and I’d have to break the news that it didn’t work out. Most of the classes I would need back at SDSU are filled up, so I’d have to wade through the school registration process to try and snag a spot in those. Although part of me worries, another part, the optimist, believes that everything will work out for the better. I trust in myself to make it work, and that’s all I can hope for.