Finding Austin, Texas Through the Eyes of Another

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes

Marcel Proust

Deep down, I've known all last year that I wasn't giving Austin the chance it deserved. Up until the move to college, I had set a precedent for being a conquerer of cities and I'm ashamed I haven't taken this opportunity to live up to the self-bestowed name. By "conquerer of cities" I guess I mean that any time I spend a long enough period of time away from home I do my research on where I'll be and I mentally tab places to see and go, things to do, etc.
My first night in my dorm last year was awful. I moved all my stuff in, but Reema hadn't come yet, so I stayed up most of the night unpacking and trying to clear away any clutter. When I finally ran out of things to keep me busy I kind of broke down and cried a LOT. Not like, girlish sobbing but actual shrieking and wetness. I cried myself to sleep.
Now that I've distanced myself from my chaotic depression, I think that this time was different because I knew I was having to make a home for myself in a whole new place whereas before it was temporary. And being housed in a different city is a lot different from feeling at home there. Austin had nothing I needed for my home. Home was with my boyfriend, my best friends, my dog. Home was where I knew where things were. I knew how to get places and where to go. I had places that I went.
My home things still haven't relocated to Austin, but things have looked up. I have an excellent roommate, and a seemingly lovely apartment into which I am way ready to move. So until my home things can get here, I've decided to make a more pronounced effort to Make Do & Mend - explore Austin and find the beginnings of ahome.
Today on facebook, a girl was in Austin visiting someone and put up an album of their shenanigans. And even though I recognized everywhere that she was, it looked different when it was new to her. More novel, I suppose. I found it appealing again and I was excited to explore. So after I'm all moved in, I think I'll make a tab-page on here of things I'd like to see or accomplish in ATX. I'm excited to follow through on it this time!
It's interesting how a pair of fresh eyes can change your perspective..