For all those reading this via email, I need to address something entirely unrelated to you for a paragraph. To those reading these updates over facebook, I must confess I am impressed that you managed to write more commentary than I wrote of update last week. I am not so impressed by the majority of its contents. I'm not directly offended by anything written, and I realize everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I have to admit I'm surprised that some of the said opinions are ones that anyone would want to be entitled to. Again, that really isn't my business, and the fact that the comments following the update became an excuse for people to fire insults back and forth at one another doesn't offend me that much, since I realize this sort of thing would happen regardless of my updates. What does offend me is the contribution by so many people to this antagonism fest who would not read my update because of its length, but would spend hours of their day reading and contributing to the contents of a flame war. You know who you are: you're the people who are only reading this to find out how I reacted to this situation. That being said, I only hope this doesn't happen again. But if it does, I won't dedicate another paragraph to address it: it is a waste of space.
For the rest of you...
Grandma, thanks for the tea. I'm thrilled to try it out. I've been deprived of this heavenly substance for too long! For the rest of you who sent me letters, you will be receiving more than just this update: I love writing letters, so I will be replying to them with a quill and nice parchment.
I also wish Randel to know that the hair products purchased work wonders. Frizz is a thing of the past (or a symptom of an extremely humid day) and the body in my hair is no longer intimidating. Also, (this is for Mom too) the cardigan sweaters purchased at Kohl's are ridiculously comfortable, not to mention attractive. I fear, however, that Randel may not be checking the email I am sending this too, so I am counting on Ethan or Emily to either pass along this information, or pester her into checking her email.
This week has, without question, been the best so far here at IWU. Monday was crazy busy, but I felt oddly euphoric anyhow. Probably a high from a weekend with Matthew, update composing, and letter writing. Probably also a relief about having a new roommate (and, therefore, no tense feelings upon entering my room) and now having a routine. Monday I started work as well, and it is definitely not a difficult job. They started me with a very sweet woman named Cathy who, unfortunately did not have enough for me to do, so they transfered me on Thursday to a woman named Kim, who is a very interesting woman to talk to and, ironically, probably has less for me to do. Today and yesterday, she had me study for an hour while she figured out what I could do. I'm not complaining. And when I do work, it's nothing harder than dusting, window cleaning, or vacuuming. (And, yes Mom, I am wearing gloves.) It's especially hilarious to hang out in the break room in the morning, as I discovered today. Some of the guys can't survive the day without an argument, so I sit off to the side with this guy Jason and we chuckle at the heated debates conducted by "pissed-off, middle-aged, white men." (This was a self-description by one of the guys.)
Otherwise, the roommate situation is quite nice. Sarah and I have worked out a system mostly based on honest communication and civility, so that we can both conduct routines without interfering in one another's lives while still being able to enjoy the company of the other. Monday night, Sarah and I had a conversation I've had with Stephanie more than once before: about how there is nothing more disheartening than the idea of getting an education, getting a job, living comfortably....and that being it. Sarah is a Biology/International Studies major (at least she hopes; she, like me, cannot be here more than 4 years, so bio is her priority) and she would like to eventually work with Doctors Without Borders, though her parents are pushing her toward a medical career that makes more money. She was talking about how maybe she'll do a money earning career for a while and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or something until she can securely work for Doctors Without Borders. I love her work ethic and her desire for something more than complacency.
My social life hasn't ended there either, but for this story, I have to backtrack a bit. Remember when I had to register for classes and ran to the Center of Natural Science when the server crashed and grabbed the only one of two computers available? (See Update 1 if you must, but if you simply take my word for it, you'll be just fine.) Well, the other computer was being used by another freshman named Mark. (I know, that name hasn't bode so well in the past, but we all have to push aside our prejudices.) He commutes, but while we were simultaneously struggling with the server, we had a very nice conversation, and he helped me register that day. He was the first person on campus I really connected well with, but I didn't mention it in Update 1 because we never got to say good-bye properly that day, and I figured with him commuting (plus, he had no classes with me) that I wouldn't likely ever see him again. I left him a note, thanking him for his help, but I figured that it was one of those chance happenings that wasn't meant to go anywhere.
Not so much, as it turns out. Last Friday after German, I caught him as I was leaving class and he remembered me, (and thanked me for my note) though we didn't really talk because he had a paper to do. On Tuesday after chemistry, I was sitting in the lobby of the Center for Natural Science (CNS) with my chemistry homework, thinking I had two hours and could get it done. Well, guess who sat next to me and struck up another conversation. (CNS is really a place for conversation, I guess.) I didn't even start on my chemistry homework, because for two hours I was engaged in the first captivating conversation I've had with someone since I've been here. I've only seen him since during U. choir rehearsal, so not much room for enlightening conversation there, but we're hanging out for lunch next Wednesday (yes, he knows about my relationship—he's part of a commitment too) and we never really finished our conversation on Tuesday before I had to go to class, so I plan on probing his mind a bit more Wednesday.
Now's the part where I tell my first "What Really Happens in College" story. On Monday, I started noticing signs all over Ferguson Hall advertising "Oral Sex" with slogans beneath saying "CUM, it's that exciting!" As you can imagine, I was a bit puzzled, especially when the signs with a place and time showed up (Ferguson Basement, 8 pm on Tuesday) taped everywhere, including the front desk. I started asking around the floor if any of the girls knew what it was (one who had no clue only relayed a traumatic experience of a poster in the elevator with graphic drawings) and it wasn't until the day of that I discovered it's something that happens once a year, where both guys and girl meet up to talk about sex. (Hence, the "oral.") I was at Bible Study while it was going on, one floor up, (anybody else find that a bit ironic?) but some of the girls on my floor went and came back with some very discouraging stories. According to the RA, in past years, this has been a relatively intelligent discussion, but this year, it was simply guys asking obscene questions, and the only girls who answered were three promiscuous ones in the front of the group. Very glad I didn't attend, in that case. Intelligent discussion is one thing; scouting out potential one-night-stands is another. Can't help but be concerned that these people are legal adults.
Which reminds me, I haven't registered to vote yet. Need to get around to that.
That's pretty much it for major developments. Otherwise, I've been insanely busy, (those two hours spent in conversation killed me on Wednesday when I was bogged down with a ridiculous amount of work, but I think it was worth it) but I see that as a good thing. For one, I sleep like a rock, and when my roommate comes in after I'm asleep, there's no way I'm going to wake up. Two, I know I'm not just sitting here waiting for something to happen.
In U. Choir, we're singing some really cool pieces. And then we're singing one by Randall Thompson. For those in Chamber Choir last year, no, this one isn't any better.
Gospel Choir has performed once now. Turns out, the only room for vocal improvisation will require people to learn solos. And you all know how much I hate solos. (Ha.) Plan to start learning one of them next week.
Just wrote a four-page paper for poetry class. The format is epic, but I don't know if the paper is. We'll be revising on Wednesday
Philosophy has become a bit of a problem. The book is still amazing, but actually attending the class is an hour and fifteen minutes of reviewing what we should already know. At this point, most of the class gets the basic premise of each theory under scrutiny, but they don't really understand the more complex issues of the text. This requires a lot of repetition, so the class is currently dragging, though the homework is still fascinating. (Something wrong with that statement?)
I'm going to need to start researching my term paper for chemistry before I choose my topic. At my professor's advice, the topic I'm contemplating could be interesting, but also could be difficult, depending on the information offered by the sources I find. (Reading the Radioactive Boyscout inspired me, because chapter 2 is all about the radium craze of the 20's. With that fresh in my mind, I thought it could be fun to do something along the lines of media and propaganda influence on the environment.) So, next week, I'm going to start looking into collecting sources and seeing if it looks like I can meet all the requirements of the paper with this topic. I'll be starting on that investigation at latest, a week from today.
Otherwise, becoming very involved with Intervarsity here on campus. (For those of you who don't know what Intervarsity is, it is a nondenominational Christian college organization nationally renowned.) So far, the people in Intervarsity are the friendliest I've met here on campus. Last week they actually took me out to eat for the heck of it. Josh, the leader, reminds me of Tommy and Ethan, but just in the sense that he's a genuinely friendly person who can just enjoy conversing with a person. They've all made me feel very welcome here at IWU.
Otherwise, seriously trying to figure out if I can do study abroad. Need to visit the International Office sometime soon. More on that later.
I may need to start leaving out aspects of my life with these updates. As I become busier, that may either happen naturally, or I'll need to counter it. The problem is, once I get started with an update, I just have so much to say. The truth is, from this week alone, I have so much more to say about the stories I've already told, but 1) might be better in a face-to-face conversation and 2) would simply to elaborate to add into this update. For today, however, Saga closes in 40 minutes, so if I'm going to get dinner, I need to end this thing.
Song of the Month: "Economy of Mercy" by Switchfoot
Song of the Day: "Weight of Glory" by Thrice
Until next week!
Janna
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