Calling Out the Universe

I often get the impression that the universe is some kind of altruistic jerk.

Don’t laugh. Just think about it a moment.

But this has never been so apparent to me as in the past two weeks of my life. Last week sucked, big time. Work, school, relationships, money — I was getting it from all sides and it took everything I had not to throw in the towel, especially since the clock was ticking down to my Fulbright notification. I wondered how long it would take before I caved to the lurking insanity.

Then I took a break and enjoyed a Hunger Games-filled day with my friends. They didn’t completely ruin my favorite novel — yay! Also, we ate diner food and went to the book store and came back for homemade milkshakes and a writers’ night, and all was good.

My favorite professor gave me an A+ on a writing assignment.

I paid for one can of soda at the vending machine, and two came out.

Yesterday, I was in the Linguistics Lab when I got an e-mail from Fulbright. The subject? “Your Fulbright Application Status.”

I stared at it.

My friend poked me and told me to open it, to which I responded, “If I cry, it’s your fault!”

And then I clicked.

The Universe, you see, is like an older brother. It gives you hell, tests your patience, sometimes outright bullies you; but after all that, it cracks a grin and says, Chill. I got your back.

Ladies and gentlemen, this July I am going to Korea to teach English.

Little old me.

Thanks, bro.