My new happy place

It has been calmly hectic week since the midterm finished, with tonnes of other stuff that I've been ignoring just waiting there for me, like assignments, research, catching up etc... I was getting somewhat down and feeling drained. It would have been supa if I could hit the gym when I feel this way, but unfortunately my no-car situation means that I only get to go to the gym whenever my friend goes there... And I got so frustrated doing my assignment because I thought I finished it last night, but it was just all so very obviously wrong when I proof read it. So me and my sister decided to take a walk to the nearby bakery for something sweet despite the cold blustery weather. But the place was closed, so in the search for some coffee+sugar boosted brain power, we decided to try the "organic grocery shop" around the corner that has a small cafe inside it. And as we were walking into the shop, I was quite surprised to see a trio of violin, contrabase and accordion playing in the cafe. Now, this is not a swanky starbucks-like cafe with plush sofa and dimmed lights, but a simple corner-shop cafe with less than 5 tables where other grocery shoppers can see what you are eating. Fact is, I prefer the atmosphere of the latter, because it is just so simple and rustic and cozy without trying too hard. Come to think of it, most of the patrons were grandmas and grandpas... maybe I'm just getting old :D. Anyways, this kind of cafe usually has crappy burnt coffee and stale food, so I wasn't too sure at first. So I ordered a cup of Americano with a muffin, not expecting too much and ready to be happy with just caffeine and sugar. But it turned out to be one of the best coffee I have had so far!! And the country-themed music that the trio was kept on playing, with few laughs among themselves here and there made it just the perfect relaxing Sunday afternoon! It was so calming to spend 20 minutes with good coffee and good music, in a brief sunshine. And I felt very content and happy, which is rare when I'm stressed about studying.
This cafe has all the small-town charms and coziness that I just looooove, and it definitely tops my list of happy places here (@_@ I think all of my happy place involves food). I can't wait till it is Sunday again to go back and have a break there :)

on some random stuff

My midterm is FINALLY over (just in time for the finals in 4 weeks)!!! to celebrate what will be a short-lived freedom, I went to the uni gym for the first time today (at 10pm). It is about twice the size of the bodytech, plus 2 swimming halls, 3 basketball courts and 2 squash rooms, and an indoor track around the whole thing. Ooh was going to find out if they had hot pool or sauna but forgot... So after 3 months of muscle to fat transformation, I finally worked out for real and it feels sooooooooo energizing. I think this will do me good not just for the fitness-wise but in keep me upbeat and energized. I'm also looking into this Karate class near my apartment, but the flier that was on the CS notice board is gone, so I have to wait until they put it up again. Yeah... I definitely can do with a bit of moving ;)

And on a completely unrelated note, US had its presidential election on Tuesday, and although I am usually not opinionated in politics, I have to say I am somewhat drawn to the whole process. Like I read somewhere, I find Obama's win somewhat emotional - not because I'm sad that he won (I think he was the better choice of the two leading candidates) but because I think it shows that Americans are in fact capable of changes. I remember a movie-review making a big deal out of Morgan Freeman playing the first ever on-screen African-American president in "Deep Impact", saying that Americans will never be able to elect a African-American president in the real life. But look what happened! Now, as a foreigner in the US, I probably have other things I need to know before I can say I am completely happy about Obama's win (like Korean-American FTA, Beef trading etc), but I hope he will be remembered in the history not just as the first African-American president but as something like African-American equivalent of Lincoln or something by doing something good.. like undoing the damages of his predecessor, do something about global warming and stuff like that. Well, people call Illinois the land of Lincoln and Obama is the senator of the state, so who knows ;)
So... that was my two cents on the politics of our current time @_@ not sure if I said what I meant to say, but the point is, Obama's win is an event that is worth celebrating even by a politically uninterested/uneducated person like me...