Big Little Things

March 24, 2025

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: my life often feels like the beginning of an early 2000’s romcom (sans rom). The point of the movie where friends act more like family, the to do list is never ending but there’s always time to rot in bed, there are lots of things to cry about but also lots of things to celebrate, and I’m just doing my best to make the most out of going through the motions. The duality of being a twenty-something girl is wild. Some nights you’re up till dawn, dancing or singing or reading or whatever, and some days you’re up at dawn to get on a train and go run a race.

Friday, my sweet friends threw me a party to celebrate my 1000-day Duolingo streak. I was stoked. Talk about a commitment!! Tori made me a sweet card with Duo the Owl on it, Marte made cookies with green candy in them, Ruby made a nice dinner for and Marianne and me, and Liana and Teresa decorated their apartment with lights and balloons to have a pre-karaoke Duolingo party. I was honored, truly.

Karaoke this week was another level of fun. So many friends and classmates came, and the place was roaring. Marte’s best friend Anders was visiting from Norway, and he is a hoot and a half and a great duet partner. I sang/co-sang eight songs, so my throat was raw when I woke up Saturday morning, but it was so worth it.

I spent all day Saturday reading, then Marte made an incredible dinner of lamb chops and a savory pastry thing that was to die for. When dinner was wrapping up, her and Anders surprised me with a microphone and YouTube karaoke set up on our projector. In-home karaoke?? I mean COME ON how fun is that?! Our poor neighbors. We each sang a song and then I went to bed, knowing I had an early morning ahead of me.

Earlier in the week, Teresa had found out there’d be a 10K in Milan, so we signed up for it and peer-pressured Sam into joining (I am a peer-pressure advocate, when it’s for good things). We have been doing long runs on Sundays anyway, so why not do one in a real race setting? It was cold and rainy, but I don’t think I stopped smiling the whole time. It’s so fun to run next to so many people! I love the energy, I love the excitement, I love the comradery. It made me so excited for the half-marathon we have coming up! And bonus: I felt slightly less out of place being in the fashion capital of the world when I was surrounded by thousands of other people in athletic gear.

After the race, the girls and I downed a burger and a beer at Five Guys, grabbed a Starbucks coffee (because you can’t not get Starbucks when you’re in the city), and headed home.

I loved this week, and I think it was because my friends and I decided to really find extra joy in normal things and make little things seem big. I’m exhausted, but my heart is full.