December - January 2025

Since moving into Wilder, even on the days without morning schedules, I still look forward to waking up early every morning because of the sunrise. The photographs I took were just very few snapshots among the dozens or hundreds of different colors that we would see from our window, if we sit and look outside for a while.

It’s a bit hard to distinguish rooms from rooms in that building far away, but I have learned to tell the approximate location of my friend Jane’s room. I feel relieved when I see her window’s light off like this — it means that she is sleeping. Some days, I would wake up at 2-3am in the morning and her window still had light on, which made me sigh because I knew that she was struggling to fall asleep that night.

Sunrise from my Wilder bedroom window, on an early January morning with scattered patches of clouds.

Another early January morning with scattered puffs of clouds dyed in the pink sunrise light.

After appreciating the sunrise view, I would start the day going straight to the restroom. Back then I would grab my phone and check messages/emails first, and it had taken me serious effort to cultivate the habit of doing important things for my well-being first. Now it has become second natural for me to start my day with drinking water, going to the restroom, and stretching my body.

I like peeking out of this narrow opening of the restroom’s window after freshening up. The clear view of the world below without the bug screen and the fresh air blowing in make a refreshing preview of the day ahead.

I particularly like looking at the bus stop from the restroom window peek. It feels movie-like from here, and calm in the early hours.

On the clear days, my room would be drenched in a magical yellow light—the first direct rays of light!—when the sun rises above the horizon. Those are the moments that feel magical, ethereal, and inspiring to me.

Sometimes I would eat breakfast in the dark if my stomach becomes upset early.

Sometimes I would be making breakfast when it’s already bright. The fragrance of cooked oat and banana permeates the room, smelling better than any room spray or scent candle.

If I don’t make breakfast in the room, I would go to Dining. This winter break, I often have the warm miso soup with tofu and seaweed (my remaked version—with added water and honey if it’s too salty, and microwaved if the seaweed is too chewy). I will also have the plain oatmeal, scrambled mung bean egg or chicken egg, and maybe with a piece of whole wheat bread. Overall, it is more simple than what I used to make during previous semesters, and I also don’t suffer from overeating anymore.

My favorite room in Dining — the Tranquil room. I enjoy eating without the loud music blasted in other places of the Dining. It is where I feel the most calm and the food tastes best.

I always love feeling the first lights of the day on my skin.

The Tranquil room is tranquil to another level during the winter break. During the semester, there would be many people here. I always see people covered in their headphones and absorbed in whatever they were having on their device. I am happy whenever I see someone who also just sit here because they enjoy a mindful and silent meal like me, but it is very rare to see people like that.