This previous weekend UCSD was playing host to the parents of their students.

It was Parent Weekend.

And that meant that all the people who hadn't jetted off to Santa Barbara for a proper party weekend were walking around UCSD with their families in tow and a dog or two following behind (or being carried which seemed to be a very common occurrence).

I haven't felt homesick yet but for some reason this weekend I felt it creep up on me. I saw people' parents enjoying the wonderful 'food' at Cafe V (which we all agreed had got nicer and a lot larger than normal - we weren't going to complain, they can try and impress the parents all they like) and I wanted to desperately show off my campus to my Mum and Dad. And Becky.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't weeping in my room or clinging onto old photographs but I just felt slightly nostalgic. I walked to the nearby shopping centre which my Dad had stayed near when he had come to drop me off, and I couldn't believe how different it felt now. Walking around with my Dad I had just been following him, not paying attention to anything, and not really thinking I'd see the complex again. Now, I know it is the closest shopping centre to UCSD, I know what buses to take if I want to be lazy and get the bus there, and I know exactly where everything is. It was also so weird to think that it was still 27 degrees celsius and it was nearly Halloween!

I did ring my Mum at one point to tell her how I was doing but it was 9.50pm on a Saturday evening...she was in bed. To be fair to her, Becky and her had a flight the next day to Florence which meant they had to get up at 2.30am to go to the airport but I remember a time very distinctively when my Mum swore, no matter what, on any school trips of hers she would never stoop to taking early early morning flights just because it worked out cheaper. Hmmmmm.....remember that Mum? Hence why I thought ringing you at 9.50pm the night before would be ok! I guess I should stick to the 'no calls after nine' rule even in America but even if I had rung at 8.50, I know Mum would have been in bed.

I also received an amazing letter from my second Mum, Cyndy. I can't believe she managed to find out my address! She is amazing. The letter made me tear up and I felt a huge longing to be back at St Margarets. There seems to be so much going on there now and I want to be a part of it! I love that place with all my heart!

As for my wacky friends, of course I miss you guys too. I talk about you all the time in my little anecdotes about England and I regularly stalk you on Facebook :) So don't worry I am keeping my eye on you.

x