I'm Alive

Hello y'all!

Yes, it's been a long time, no, I haven't given up on blogging, I've just had a tough/busy last week and a half. I have successfully taken my first two college exams and lived the tell the tale. I have struggled through a week of mourning. I turned in and got my grade back for my first paper (a B+!). I cried myself to sleep twice. I missed my friends and family. I laughed really hard with my roommate about stupid things "late at night" (we both go to sleep before 11 on average). I missed hugs and definitely hugged a couple people who did not want to hug (shout out to my hall-mate Anna who is a common hug-target despite her dislike of physical contact). I've skyped/facetimed with two of my friends and both of my parents. I'm still alive. I'm just glad this past week and a half is over and I can move on at least a bit.

Here are some random updates about my life:

I have successfully made off with THREE pineapples from Gwinn, our campus cafeteria, and have thoroughly enjoyed cutting them up and eating them in my room at my leisure.

One of my photos for the school newspaper The Falcon was on the front page (albeit under the fold). Yay for that, even though the photo was pretty much boring and posed. Whatever! Front page!

I sent out some weird postcards and a thank-you note a few days ago. I really like that I'm still writing and sending snail-mail. I was worried that perhaps it would lose its novelty (as it may still!), but so far it has continued being worth my time and effort and money, so there we go.

I have ruined three pints of ice cream in my stupid freezer that doesn't freeze things. I am bummed about the waste of so much of my money!! Ben & Jerry's!!!

It hasn't rained in two weeks and I'm starting to worry. I want rain. This week is foggy. If I wanted fog I would have stayed in San Francisco!! Seattle=RAIN!

I'm still not enjoying my Sociology class, but we did get one interesting assignment which required us to break a social norm and record peoples' reactions to it. So I sat in our hall's elevator for forty minutes and had some interesting interactions. I guess people don't sit in the elevator eating chocolate and singing along with their iPods very often. Huh.

I may or may not participate in a low-key talent show in my dorm called "Coffee House". My friend Tory plays the piano and we may perform "Into The West" (which you may recall is from LOTR:ROTK). I have a strange feeling that I might not have the guts to do it in the end, but it's an entertaining thought at least...

I have watched a LOT of Veronica Mars. I love it. I can't stop. Don't try to help me.

I went on our hall retreat this weekend and had a horrible time. Yeah, you read that correctly. Despite the really fun-filled looking pictures, I did not enjoy myself. I was dealing with feeling really lonely, not having my two closest college friends there to hang out with, and the tragic loss of somebody I knew and all of those things combined with PMS sorta made the entire trip horrible for me. Enjoy the pictures and pretend I had a good time (I've done a pretty good job of it myself).

Doesn't all that look fun?! (undecided about how much sarcasm is there...) We were at Camp Casey which has some very beautiful concrete bunkers that we built in the 1890s for some war or another. I am obviously an expert on the subject.

Wow, this has been a pretty negative post, sorry about that. I just had a tough week and I'm shifting the blame for my negativity to that. Convenient, right? Right.

I would like some prayer for some things if you wouldn't mind: My roommate is dealing with something tough right now, so for her to lean on God through that. I'm still church-searching and since I wasn't around last weekend, I feel pretty unsuccessful in that. I guess prayer that God will lead me where He wants me, sooner rather than later? Am I allowed to ask for that? Friend-making; I'm turning out to be a bit of a hermit and because I'm so socially exhausted after a day of classes I usually retreat into my room and don't spend time with anyone unless they come to me. I don't even know where to begin with making friends because I'm so unmotivated right now... Le sigh.

"There's a kind of a sort of... cost
There's a couple of things get... lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed" - Glinda ("Wicked")

This & That

So, this post is pretty much just a bunch of random things/stories that I wanna share and it may be a reoccurring type of thing, we'll see. Here we go~

Today I made off with an entire pineapple from Gwinn.

Now, I'm not sure about the "legality" of this action, but lemme explain: All around the cafeteria there are these wire or wooden baskets full of fruits and vegetables, presumably for decoration. On my first round through the food area, a delicious pineapple caught my eye. It was in a large wire basket and looked like it used to have company, but that its fruit friends had all left it. Then the thought entered my head: Can I have this pineapple? I had never seen anyone walk out of Gwinn with fruit larger than an apple or banana, but the idea of me partaking of a pineapple wasn't too far-fetched right? So, I went back to my table and posed the question: "Can I take one of the pineapples?" The unanimous decision was that, yes, I could take the pineapple, but that I shouldn't do so loud and proud, but instead surreptitiously. Nobody actually knew if we were allowed to/if that was against some unspoken cafeteria rule.

I went back and grabbed Shawn (what else would I name a PINEAPPLE?!) and swaddled him in my scarf like a baby. Then, after clearing my table, I walked straight out of Gwinn with my pineapple in my arms like a baby. Yes, I made off with an entire pineapple. I even think it may be ripe. I'm very excited to cut into Shawn tomorrow morning for breakfast. See, that's another thing: I am paying for a 21-meals-a-week meal plan, but I never go in for breakfast, so I feel like stealing(?) a pineapple every once in a while to eat for breakfast isn't such a bad idea!

Thoughts on my pineapple thievery? Thoughts on pineapples? Thoughts on Psych?

Okay, another thing:

My photo-editor for The Falcon (the SPU newspaper) has thus far made the photography team some sort of home-baked dessert treat for each of our team meetings (which, I will admit, we've only had two of). He has seemed exceedingly proud of his accomplishments both evenings and has done his best to talk up his baking skillz as to convince us to eat his potentially-delicious, but completely hideous, cookies/cupcakes. I haven't eaten either of his offerings because I'm a dessert snob and because the cookies looked like albino poops and the cupcakes were tres-leches with a whipped vanilla frosting which didn't sound appealing to me (esp. with mint gum in my mouth). He seemed pretty put-out both times I refused and asked me WHAT I would eat, to which I responded: ganache or chocolate mousse (aka, anything decadent and chocolatey). He said he would make me that for next week. I am very excited. I hope he doesn't let me down (or make it look like *normal* poops).

One last thing:

Being that I'm on the photographic journalism section of the SPU newspaper, and that the first edition came out yesterday, one would assume that I had a photo in the newspaper! That is a SADLY false assumption!!! The article that I photographed for didn't end up being published this week (I'm really hoping that it will be published next week!), but as it turns out I am okay with that. Apparently the first issue of The Falcon of the year always kinda sucks, so I'm okay that my debut wasn't on the pages of a failure. I have two photography jobs this week, so IDEALLY I'll have three pictures in next week's edition. Fingers crossed!

So, those are my three stories today. Hope you enjoyed that tidbit of my life.

"It's just for the first time,
I feel ... wicked" - Elphaba ("Wicked")

...Because I stole a pineapple? I had a hard time coming up with a quote for this one....

Things That Surprise Me About College (so far)

So, I've been here for about two weeks and I have been surprised over and over about different things. Here we go:

1. People you hardly know hit on you one day, then barely acknowledge your existence the next.

2. Almost everything in Gwinn contains soy. SO MUCH SOY INTAKE DAILY!!! The only things that don't have soy are the ones in the specifically labeled "Non-gluten and Non-soy" area...

3. I am much much much less inclined to enjoy a lecture when I know what is being taught is not going to be on the test - OR when I already seen it in the homework reading and thus have no incentive to pay attention.

4. More people remember my name/face than I remember other peoples'. All the time I nod hello in return to someone saying hello or addressing me by name... Even my little black book of people isn't helping enough!!!

5. Apparently my written papers for one of my classes are "f*&%ing superior" to everyone else's... Well, at least that's what the TA told me (her words, not mine). I guess I have Miss. Doyle to thank for that!

6. My roommate goes to bed before me. I have never heard of a person who does that before... O.o During high school I went to bed at 10pm every night...

7. I cannot resist Gwinn cookies once I have seen them. And they're always the first thing one sees when they walk into the Cafeteria.. I am DOOMED to gain the freshman 15 if things continue as they are!!!

8. Apparently Vera Bardley is a brand that a TON of girls use for their backpacks, purses, and identification/card holders. I had a ID card holder from VB before coming to college only because someone gave it to my mom and I inherited it from her when she didn't want it, but I always thought VB was kinda an old-lady brand... I've seen about 10 VB items since I've been here and I actually ended up ordering a new ID card holder because the size and shape is so convenient! I still think it's an old-lady brand though...

9. The teachers really do want you to do well/keep you interested (in general). My Sociology teacher is very very boring and confusing. Otherwise, they are great.

10. I'm not always cold. Perhaps I will be when winter sets in - but so far, Seattle has done well by me.

11. It is not always raining. This goes along with the one above, but it's true! We have had a couple downpours, but otherwise it's either been cloudy/lightly sprinkling, or completely sunny.

12. I honestly have less time to fill with fun stuff than I thought I would. I thought I would have tons of time to fill with all of my TV shows and blogging, but I have a TON of time-taking work!!! So many long, dense chapters to read, notes to take, notecards to make... O.o I have just begun work on my first essay and I feel really good so far because of what my TA said :3 I hope I don't get too self-confident!!

13. I'm not homesick at all. I mean, I miss my home (home = house + parents + friends), but not THAT much, not to the point of getting sad or lonely. My great roommate and hall have probably really helped with that. And phone calls and FaceTime/Skype.

14. There is a LOT of night time chanting that goes on around campus. I have learned to just tune it out (esp at 9:55 right before quiet hours).

So, those are some things that have surprised me about college so far.

"Unusually and exceedingly peculiar
And altogether quite impossible to describe" - Glinda ("Wicked")

One Week Down

I have now officially loved through my first week of college classes and I'm proud to announce that I am still happy and alive. Whoopiee!!

My friend Erin came to visit Mari and me at SPU today (we all went to the same high school, but Erin is going to University of Washington). Her visit was only 2.5 hours, but it was a lot of fun and really nice to talk to someone else who is equally new to college as I am. She's having a few roommate troubles, but seems to be making the best of her circumstances, so that's good. We had dinner in Gwinn (SPU's cafeteria) and then took a picture together. First we took a selfie cause nobody was around to take our picture, but then we got someone, so here are the two pictures:

Tonight I took part in my floor's initiation (shout out to 4th East's Sexy Beasts!!!) which was.. I want to say fun, but in all honesty it was painful. Each suite was given a scavenger hunt paper from their "big sisters" on the floor and we all had to complete three tasks before coming back to Emerson, our dorm, to meet our big sisters who had previously been secret. My "suite" group only had two people because both Amber and my roommates were unable to attend, so we had to complete all of the tasks with just the two of us. The first was to take a picture of us making a star with our fingers in the secret garden in Emerson, which was awkward because you need at least three people to make a good star - esp since one hand had to be taking the picture. Our star was hideous to say the least. The second was to run around Weter Hall (one of the non-dorm buildings) three times and then take a picture with the barista in the Starbucks inside. This is what killed me. So many stairs, so little athleticism... I walked/hardly jogged the last two. The last one was to sing "happy birthday" to some shopping in the C-store and video record it, which was really. After that, we got to go back to Emerson and meet our big sisters and then were forced into a cramped dorm room with the lights off and a strobe light and were expected to dance. That did not align with what my body was telling me - find a place to curl up and die from running around. Oh right, I forgot, throughout all of this we were all dressed in the most ridiculous clothing we could find. I didn't have anything remotely crazy, so I borrowed some strange pants and a funky shirt from my neighbor Madi :) I thought it was all over at this point, but how wrong I was!!!

After all that, we went as a group down to the Loop, all the way chanting (very loudly) "4th East Sexy Beasts!!!". Haley and Lauren (our PA and SMC <- just look it up, I'm lazy) were waiting for us there and had us all say the 4th East pledge. Then we marched back up to Emerson and signed a poster with the pledge on it. We also took individual pictures of us with a big pink boa and cat ears for our bio wall (sexy beast, get it? whatever ;). After all that, we HAD to be done right?! NO. We were given the choice of staying back and pretty much being labeled "lame" or walking up Queen Anne to get ice cream at Molly Moon's with everyone. I was SO tempted to stay back in the dorm and just relax, but I knew I would be missing out on some serious bonding time, so I gave in and joined everyone else. Unfortunately, before deciding to go, I had taken off my boots and socks, as as the split second decision to go occurred, all I grabbed were some flip flops and a light jacket. Two very bad ideas, I would soon learn. The walk is only ~1.5 miles, but since it's uphill, it felt like 3 or 4. Apparently the change in elevation was 61 meters. I nearly died. At least I got ice cream out of it.

I got "Earl Grey" ice cream. It was great tasting, but the combination of exercise, fatigue, and complete and utter coldness didn't make the ice cream experience very enjoyable.

After ice cream, I was like, YESSS WE GET TO GO HOME!! But no. We went to a park that had a very cool view of the Space Needle and were there for about 30 minutes. EVERYONE was freezing. We took a group picture (which I do not have yet) and then were finally allowed to head back. Longest walk ever. Haha.

"Everyone's gonna watch a movie now!!" No. I took a bath and sat down to FaceTime my friend Kristina and then write this blog. I'm sure everyone else enjoyed the movie though. There's only so much socializing an introvert can do!!!

On another note: Today I realized that God works in very mysterious ways. I think I just began to understand that as I was describing something that happened to me today to Kristina and she said something to the effect of: "I wonder if God had you ______ back in the winter/spring of last year so that you have knowledge about that sort of thing and be able to discern stuff like that better in the future." (I totally paraphrased here). But it really made me appreciate my bad experience because I know now that I need to avoid things like that in the future. Yay for vagueness.

So, one week down.

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you..." -Glinda ("Wicked")

First Impressions

Okay, so, Monday and today were my first two days of class and as of tonight I have attended each of my four courses once. Mondays have Jane Austen and Psych. Tuesdays have Sociology. This Tuesday I also attended a Newspaper meeting as an intro-to-Newspaper sort of thing (usually the "class" meets Thursdays at 9pm).

First impressions:

I am going to love my USEM (University Seminar) "Jane Austen: Then and Now". I love Jane Austen's work, her wit and characters, my professor is really cool and chill, and my class is full of girls I have known for five days in all, so I'm already beginning to love them. The homework load doesn't look like it's gonna be too much and since we're reading Pride and Prejudice right now it's rather enjoyable. (a big high-five to anyone who knew that P&P was originally called "First Impressions" but was changed after Sense and Sensibility's title was so well-received).

I am also going to love my Psych class. The professor's teaching philosophy is that the students should be teaching themselves from the book for the test and that class-time/lectures should be devoted to educating us personally, beyond what is in the book. I actually like this idea (as of now), because it gives me the space I need to read the textbook and make my notecards on my own time without the added pressure of assignments (he doesn't give any homework). He is really sarcastic and his humor is dry, but I really enjoy it and the way he talks about things.

I am going to struggle a lot with my Sociology professor's style. She will also not be covering everything that is on the test IN CLASS, but unlike my Psych prof, she is adding to the test things she will be lecturing on in class, so I have to add that to my work load. She assigns a lot of homework (not TOO much, but still a bunch) and seems to be really anal about due dates and has a very strict no make-up work rule. She also has a VERY VERY heavy accent and I have a hard time understanding her (she said Karl Marx in class and NOBODY understood her until I asked, ".... Karl Marx?" and then everyone was like, "oooohhhhhh~"). Also, her homework is mostly things we have to download and print out ourselves and the website she uses is not very user-friendly, so that's a pain.

I think I will enjoy Newspaper even if it is a tiny time-suck. Newspaper was sorta just a chill meeting and the overseeing professor wasn't even there. All of the department heads did a little spiel on their topic and then we split up and talked to the group that we were most interested in joining. I joined the photography group whose editor was very charismatic and friendly, but very down to Earth and warned us that he would be taking our commitments very seriously. Kelli (my friend from middle school) was also at the meeting and in the photography group, so perhaps we will be working together on the newspaper this quarter! :)

So those are my first impressions of my four courses. I'm happy to have the stress of my first classes over!

On a different note: I'm keeping a little black (it's actually dark grey..) book of all the people I've met who I think I will see again (people on my floor, in my classes, ect.). Now, that does sound a little creepy, but I'm really bad at remembering names and am doing this at the counsel of an alumni from King's (my high school) who was also bad with names and discovered that keeping a book with a name and a short description really helped him remember people. So that's coming along nicely and I'm proud of it.

I'm really liking SPU so far and am very much in danger of the freshman fifteen with Gwinn's (the cafeteria) dessert display case being the first and last thing you see when you enter and leave... O.o I seriously must regulate how many desserts I have per week. Maybe one every two days. We'll see.

So, there you have my first impressions after 6 days on campus and 2 days of classes. :D

"What is this feeling?
So sudden and new?
I felt it the moment
I laid eyes on you:
My pulse is rushing:
My head is reeling:
My face is flushing:
Oh, what is this feeling?" - Galinda and Elpheba ("Wicked")