Preparations for my Adventure

It is finally official.

After months of research, advising appointments, wading through paperwork, emailing dozens of people, and turning in forms, my study abroad experience is official.

I will be spending next semester studying at Leiden University in the Netherlands. The semester runs from Feb-June, and I will be spending extra time on either end exploring Europe. Everyone has advice to offer. There are endless resources I have been trying to look through. The truth is, I will never be prepared enough. The beauty of travel is the ambiguity and the unexpected. I am hoping to make Leiden feel like a home away from home, and use it as a jumping off point to explore other cities. I am mentally going through my possessions, sorting out what I need and won't need: laptop (check), my favorite books (don't make the cut), my array of shoes (seeking out the magical all-in-one pair- comfortable walking boots, waterproof, semi-stylish), photo frames, extra bags and jackets... nope. It is somewhat liberating to try to streamline.

I've been so bogged down in the paperwork that it is only just now sinking in that I only have a few more weeks on campus before I move home for winter break, and then leave for 5-6 months. The longest I have been away from home was 9 weeks this summer in New York City- long enough to have felt settled in, just long enough to be ready to come home.

While I have general ideas of what my classes will be like, I honestly have no idea of what to expect. I am excited to meet new people and to learn in a new environment. I am excited to network within the dance scene, and take classes taught from an entirely new perspective. It is becoming increasingly difficult to focus on finishing up my classes for the end of the semester... only two more weeks to get through, then I can focus fully on my trip!

Homecoming

Homecoming in a midwestern town: a parade, powderpuff football, the dance, the sacred football game, and alums returning to their high schools. I missed out on most of the festivities of the week, but made it home in time to see my sister leave for the homecoming dance. I had forgotten about the nervous tension that permeates the air when parents convene to photograph and discuss their children. The kids themselves were anxious to get the whole photo ordeal over with and get on to the dinner and dance, but the parents wanted to savor the chance to admire their children through the lenses of their cameras.

Quick! An all boys picture! The boys don't hear the demand of the eager mother and remain cemented in their positions in the corner, conversing amongst themselves. Once the troops mobilize and are arranged properly, the clamoring parents each take 4 pictures of the same arrangement. Each photo will be posted online, for a total of 40 pictures circulating of the pose. If you look closely at a photo you can see a beaming parent reflected in the embarrassed, forced smiles of each boy.

Ironically, all of the frenzy accompanying the preparation of the parade, dance, and the game detract from the true intention of homecoming. I didn't need a celebration to reassure me of the importance of home. I discovered that in preparing dinner with my mom, driving around with my family, and the welcome haven of my own room.

My sister looked incredible, for the record. I actually feared for the well-being of her date; I'm surprised he didn't drop dead at the first sight of her. Despite my cynical view on all of the orchestrations of the evening, it was special to see how excited the kids were. It wasn't that long ago that I was in their place, smiling for hours straight for photos I haven't looked at in over a year.

En Otras Palabras...

Escribí esta composición para mi clase de escrito en español. Es muy sencillo pero divertido. ¡Disfrútala!

Tormentas, Mapaches, y Una Lección de Independencia

Mi amiga Julia subió el volumen de la radio y música alta llenó el coche. Mis amigas Cory y Meredith y yo cantábamos y bailábamos a la canción, sin sola preocupación. Dos días antes, habíamos sacado el bachillerato y sentimos invencible. El coche estaba abarrotada con equipo para nuestra viaje de acampada. La carretera abierta estiraba en frente de nosotras, y nuestra sensación de independencia daba esperanzas a nosotras. Entramos Ledges State Park, preparadas para una aventura.

No tuvimos problemas durante las horas de luz: montamos la carpa y pasamos en bicicleta. Pero nuestra actitud positiva le esfumó con el sol. Las nubes amenazaban llover y tuvimos dificultades provocando un incendio. Aunque mojamos el leño con líquido de encendedor, lo rechazó a prender. Después de una cena cocinó con una llama exigua, examiné la carpa y me di cuenta de faltábamos el parte de la carpa que proteja contra lluvia. Sin el doble techo, mojaríamos si lloviera. Mis amigas y yo esperábamos que todo fuera bien.

Más tarde, durante un juego de cartas en la carpa, mi amiga Cory me agarró y susurró, “Hay un monstruo afuera de la carpa!” Escuché y oí un sonido raro. Una criatura estaba olfateando cerca de la carpa. Cautelosamente, abrí la entrada de la carpa y grité: un par de ojos encendido miraban fijamente a mi. Imaginé un monstruo grande atacando la carpa, pero solo era un mapache. “¡Fuera!” grité. El mapache le escabulló, y regresamos a nuestra juego.

Después de calmamos, las nubes rompió y empezó a llover. En poco tiempo, el aguacero se convirtió a una tormenta. Nos apiñábamos y temblábamos a cada trueno. Tratábamos a permanecer seco, pero estaba en vano. Agua fluyó en la carpa, y nuestros sacos de dormir estaban calados. El olor de humedad impregnaba el aire, y solo podíamos tiritar de frío debajo de los sacos de dormir gruesos y mojados. Una sirena chillaba en la distancia, y ramas azotaban contra la carpa. No sentimos independiente nunca más. Solo querríamos estar con nuestros padres, en una casa cálida y segura.

Decidimos a esconder en el coche el resto del noche porque no estaba seguro a quedarnos en la carpa. Reunimos nuestras mochilas, almohadas y linternas y corrimos al coche. Había un olor de lluvia y barro, y un rayo encendió el cielo mientras corríamos. En la seguridad del coche, encendí la radio, pero ahora para escuchar a las noticias en lugar de una canción favorita. Una meteorologista describía la tormenta en una voz seria. Mientras escuchábamos al sonido de la lluvia, mi amiga Meredith dijo, “Aunque este es una experiencia desgraciada, no prefiero pasarla con nadie que ustedes.” En la mañana, llamamos nuestros padres, y conducimos a la casa de mi amiga Julia para desayunar. A pesar de nuestra desventura, aprendimos de la importancia de amistad, y que ser independiente no viene sin desafíos y responsabilidades.

College Intersections

I love that I am at the point in my education where correlations and intersections occur. Today my anthropology class focused on religions; how religion varies based on culture, the theories of religion, and ritual practices. As I walk back from the lecture hall I pass a man holding a sign proclaiming that the day of judgement is approaching. He shouts to passersby that they should repent of their sins lest they be damned to hell. My afternoon modern dance class opts to do yoga; we focus on breath and energy and finding a spiritual centeredness. An afternoon class on literature of the Middle East and Muslim World discusses morality and injustice within religious society, mirroring my discussion in my political philosophy about what constitutes a morally justified political society. Within these intersections I find greater meaning than from each individual class. This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits to a liberal arts education.

the first post

A first post on any blog is a bit ominous and mostly self-indulgent.  What tone will it set? How will my blog be perceived?  As I sit staring at this empty box, I conclude that if there is nothing interesting to divulge then little should be written.  Of course there are things I want to mention, such as the fact that there was a giant roach basking on the ceiling in the hallway by my room all day.  And I would want to write that every time I walked by him I would turn around and emit a shrill scream, just to see him cringe, his antennae a-twitter.  But why would I want to start a blog with a post about a twittering roach? (what would a roach post on a twitter account?... perhaps this shall be worthy of my Second Post.)   There are more important things to fill a first post with.  Such as, who am I, why I feel it is necessary to add my mundane thoughts to the expanding vastness that is cyberspace, and why should you subscribe to said blog.  But it seems this blog is already off to an unconventional start, so why try to change that?