The South Dakotan Return

Not long to go now. A month, actually. A single month before I once again pack up my entire life, furniture, books, DVDs and all, and ship myself off to a familiar, yet unfamiliar, place. For the third time in my life I’ll fit my life into 2 overstuffed suitcases and hope that the US of A becomes my home away from home. I might not be going to the hub of civilization (or the hub of much other than corn and good manners), but South Dakota has more to offer me than you might (in your presumptive and assumptive head) think. Up until now I’ve felt that every time I answer the geographical enquiry of my destination, I’ve had to add in some form of apologetic modifier to not let the stigma of the quaint, land-locked state label me. But I’m not sorry anymore, and actually, I’m thrilled.

I have seen the scale of life play out in more than one way recently. Weighing out advantages versus disadvantages, facts versus imagination, and taking part in the decision making process that goes into making crucial life choices. Yes, I know I live in one of the richest, safest, prettiest countries in the world, and that leaving might sound as smart as the Adam and Eve exodus from Eden back in the day (which was a Wednesday, by the way. Never mind). But, just like that untimely (or maybe very timely) exit, my own sortie serves a much higher purpose. The goal justifies the means, kind of thing. No one wants to leave their comfortable lair for the vast world waiting outside, but to find food and survive, it’s necessary. My reasoning goes like this: I will be a doctor some day. To get there, I have to go to school. To go to school, I have to find an educational path that I can live with for the next (6-7) few years. I have never been as bored with school as I have been the past 2 years in Norway, and continuing here will then, of course, not be happening. This is where the life quality argument comes in. Some people are fine with being so bored with life for their entire college period that carving out their eyes with a rusty spoon sounds like a welcome and fun endeavour, since hey: you’re supposedly not meant to enjoy going to school. I have objected to this, sometimes attracting scrutiny from the Incomprehensibles, seeing as my life philosophy does not allow me to waste even a single year of living being dead inside. If you still don’t understand, take the movie “Click” (Adam Sandler) as an example. The main character uses his life remote to put his brain on pause while fast forwarding over the boring parts of life, suddenly finding himself at the end of it wondering where it all went and why his life didn’t contain more living. I couldn’t (and I refuse to) do that, and that’s why I’m willing to leave everything I know behind to pursue a more viable way of attaining my ultimate medical goal.

When life gives you lemons, you have to choice of doing that same ol’ lemonade thing, or open up your cook book on the ‘desserts’ section and get creative. Sioux Falls, South Dakota might not sound as an exciting place on paper, but the truth would surprise you. Without going into details (except for within these parentheses, where I’ll mention scenic bike trails surrounding the entire city, 3 movie theatres including one $3 one, bowling alleys, great restaurants like the HuHot Mongolian grill, the actual Sioux Falls water falls, the joyous Wal*Mart Super Center, plenty of malls for shopping, 24-hour coffee shops, and proximity to other neat cities), I can tell you it won’t be a very bohemian thing I’ll do by moving there to finish my studies. The college holds close to 2,000 students, just got a brand new library, offers plenty of on-campus dorms for that special college-life feeling, and is renowned for its science department (enter pre-med Christian). A host of appropriate and accommodating clubs, unions and other extra-curricular venues provides everything a yearning pre-med resumé might need. Next to the college two huge regional hospitals call SooFoo home, giving me exactly the range of possibilities I need. And yes, that’s what my allotted 2 years in SD is all about: possibilities. I’ll leave there well prepared for med school in some other (hopefully seaside) state, with a long list of incredible, long-lasting college memories.

So no, I’m not making a mistake. Yes, I did say I’m leaving Norway for South Dakota, USA, and yes, I’ll stay for 2 whole years. I’ll enjoy every minute, because life is too short to not make the most of your own time and place.

And no, you can’t come.

Labels: College Stuff, Philosophy, Ponderings, Special Events

posted by CK @ 02:21