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")