Hospites mundi

For me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a student is having no single home. I have at least two homes. One is the residence of my family. The other is my residence at university. I spend eight months of each year at school, but for most purposes I can claim residence at either location. I can vote in one place and write local checks in the other. My keys will open locks in both places. Some of my mail goes to one location and the rest goes to the other. This residential bipolarity allows a great deal of flexibility, and modern communication technology minimizes any drawbacks.

In another sense, though, being a student allows me to have a unique sort of cosmopolitan citizenship. I can declare my education as my vocation. I can gain access to stores of information ordinarily not open to the public. I can get discounts at museums and cultural events from Texas to the United Kingdom. I can feel at home in any coffehouse in the civilized world. In other words, no matter where I travel, I am not a tourist.

Or so I like to think, when I get bored doing the dishes here.