Lot's of crazy things have been happening to me since I left high school and my small rural Michigan to be in the heart of Chicago. I'm not sure I approve of all that has happened, but I'm learning from everything and taking it all with an open mind. I am, slowly but surely, developing my beliefs and finding at the face of question that I need solid answers, and figuring out what my definitive answers are going to be. Not answers to life's big questions, those are a bit more complicated. These are answers to simpler questions, like whether or not I approve of underage drinking, if I will participate, if I will let it slide. I know I won't smoke, but how do I feel about it when those around me are?
I have tried things and left other things untried for good reason. I have decided that there are some things that I don't like, and some things that I am not ready to tie myself to just now. There are things that I have wanted for so very long, but I have now realized, after having them, that I don't actually want them anymore. I have learned that I need to be more careful, to take things more slowly, and to think things through further. I have learned that I, of all people, need to be more opinionated, and firmer on those opinions, even if they seem harsh, because they are what I believe, after all, and only then will one see if they can live with it or not. I picked that up from my sister, but not in time to use it to my advantage. Next time, Nicole, I'll be sure to try it out next time.
But Chicago, I must say, and college in general, is treating me quite well. I like it here, if only for a few years. This is just a transition, another chapter in my life. It is the section that allows the reader to transition from my childhood to my adulthood, from my early adolescence to the character I am actually going to become. I can see it now. High school was the end to a segment of my life, the cap to the bottle of my youth. College is the flipping of the reels, the brief exchange in which I figure out where I stand in this world and in my life before I'm thrust into it full-force.
I am not doing Ultimate here anymore. I'm not competitive enough, and it just isn't the same as the social sport it was back home. I am volunteering at Cornerstone on Friday evenings and absolutely loving it. I am still a Spanish major, but I have tacked on a History major beside that. What do I want to do with my life? I'm still not sure. But my latest idea, or rather, an idea that has repositioned itself at the forefront of my mind after several years, is to be a member of the National Park Service. I could live somewhere beautiful, interact with all kinds of different people, and feel at home and immersed in nature. Acadia, Maine, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in Wyoming, Yosemite, California, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan. I could transfer from place to place and find a beautiful home in all of them. And maybe afterwards I could go back to school, get a masters and be a professor, or I could just accrue tons of vacation time and travel the world, volunteering in a wide range of situations and countries. Peace Corps is still a good idea, too, so don't think I've forgotten that in the whirlwind that is college.
~monkey
14 November 2008
13 September 2008
College, Ultimate, Cornerstone, Rain
College, in a word, is amazing. College, in general, is going well.
The classes are good, the workload is manageable, and the people... let's just say that I don't quite feel like I've found my niche yet. But it's only been three weeks, so I guess I shouldn't complain. The right people will find happen upon me and the rest will be history, I'm sure. I just have to remain open-minded.
And I have been very open-minded so far. I'm getting myself involved in all sorts of things: jazz band, concert band, Ultimate Frisbee. I have to say that I really like Ultimate. After four years of just playing, I'm now learning structure, and perfecting my throwing skills. The only sad thing is that I can make just one practice a week right now because of my band practices. It makes it a little hard because I feel like I have to catch up and other girls are getting way ahead of me, but I try not to think about that.
Yesterday I went to Cornerstone Ministries with a group from campus. Cornerstone is a homeless shelter run by JPUSA (an awesome community) that houses full families (i.e. it doesn't separate the fathers from their family like many other shelters do) and our job is to go there and play with the kids during supper so that the parents get a little break. At first I was pretty shy, and I have to say that I'm pretty bad when it comes to being shy in new situations - I try not to be, but my whole voice and outgoing-ness just disappears. So anyways, eventually I warmed up, and afterwards Hajong told me that I seem to have a natural "knack" for talking to children and communicating with them and whatnot. This was rather surprising to me, because I didn't feel like I was doing the greatest job of that, but it was an interesting comment and I took it to heart for pondering.
My final topic today is the rain. Here in Chicago it rains so much and so persistently that I actually had to find and buy a raincoat. I got a pretty sweet one by Ralph Lauren for $7 at the Village Discount Store nearby. And I've put it to use, especially today. This morning at 7:30 I looked outside and noticed that the river was up again. This morning at 8:30 I went outside and saw that not only had the river risen since 7:30, it had flooded, and even more-so than it had last Thursday night. (For those who don't know, on Thursday the river spilled over into the bike path and my roommate and I had the joy of witnessing a WHOLE TREE go floating down the river.) The entire bike path is pretty much disappeared right now, and I've heard rumor that the rain is going to just get worse, and even that there will be thunder and lightning today! Needless to say, I'll be confined to the indoors today, but I like rain, so I guess I don't mind too much. :)
~monkey
The classes are good, the workload is manageable, and the people... let's just say that I don't quite feel like I've found my niche yet. But it's only been three weeks, so I guess I shouldn't complain. The right people will find happen upon me and the rest will be history, I'm sure. I just have to remain open-minded.
And I have been very open-minded so far. I'm getting myself involved in all sorts of things: jazz band, concert band, Ultimate Frisbee. I have to say that I really like Ultimate. After four years of just playing, I'm now learning structure, and perfecting my throwing skills. The only sad thing is that I can make just one practice a week right now because of my band practices. It makes it a little hard because I feel like I have to catch up and other girls are getting way ahead of me, but I try not to think about that.
Yesterday I went to Cornerstone Ministries with a group from campus. Cornerstone is a homeless shelter run by JPUSA (an awesome community) that houses full families (i.e. it doesn't separate the fathers from their family like many other shelters do) and our job is to go there and play with the kids during supper so that the parents get a little break. At first I was pretty shy, and I have to say that I'm pretty bad when it comes to being shy in new situations - I try not to be, but my whole voice and outgoing-ness just disappears. So anyways, eventually I warmed up, and afterwards Hajong told me that I seem to have a natural "knack" for talking to children and communicating with them and whatnot. This was rather surprising to me, because I didn't feel like I was doing the greatest job of that, but it was an interesting comment and I took it to heart for pondering.
My final topic today is the rain. Here in Chicago it rains so much and so persistently that I actually had to find and buy a raincoat. I got a pretty sweet one by Ralph Lauren for $7 at the Village Discount Store nearby. And I've put it to use, especially today. This morning at 7:30 I looked outside and noticed that the river was up again. This morning at 8:30 I went outside and saw that not only had the river risen since 7:30, it had flooded, and even more-so than it had last Thursday night. (For those who don't know, on Thursday the river spilled over into the bike path and my roommate and I had the joy of witnessing a WHOLE TREE go floating down the river.) The entire bike path is pretty much disappeared right now, and I've heard rumor that the rain is going to just get worse, and even that there will be thunder and lightning today! Needless to say, I'll be confined to the indoors today, but I like rain, so I guess I don't mind too much. :)
~monkey
21 August 2008
La la la College!!!
So the move in is done and the settling in is taking place, but so far I'm loving college. I'm having so much fun here! It is so very, very, very different from high school. Some cool things to note so far:
- I was on the winning team of a kickball game on Tuesday night and we all get free homecoming dance tickets.
- The view outside of our room window is of the river and a bike path - beautiful! (someday I WILL kayak downtown!)
- I played Ultimate already and got invited to try out for the team.
- I signed up for Jazz Band practice/audition on Monday - I'm not sure how all of that will go yet.
- I get wireless internet in my room!
- I totally bought three delicious plums from the back of a fruit truck for fifty cents today. Yum!
- I think I'm doing pretty good in the "getting to know new people" department, which is good.
- I took a Spanish placement test to see if I could test out for credit of the intermediate Spanish class - which is a pretty big step that I'm not sure I want to do yet, but we'll see.
Well, I think that's it for now. Kimmy (my roommate) and I are going to go meet Gordon for supper and then I'll probably take a nap, go to the mocktail mixer, and then it's off to the boat dance until 2am! (I hope I survive!) Have a good night everybody!
:)
~monkey
- I was on the winning team of a kickball game on Tuesday night and we all get free homecoming dance tickets.
- The view outside of our room window is of the river and a bike path - beautiful! (someday I WILL kayak downtown!)
- I played Ultimate already and got invited to try out for the team.
- I signed up for Jazz Band practice/audition on Monday - I'm not sure how all of that will go yet.
- I get wireless internet in my room!
- I totally bought three delicious plums from the back of a fruit truck for fifty cents today. Yum!
- I think I'm doing pretty good in the "getting to know new people" department, which is good.
- I took a Spanish placement test to see if I could test out for credit of the intermediate Spanish class - which is a pretty big step that I'm not sure I want to do yet, but we'll see.
Well, I think that's it for now. Kimmy (my roommate) and I are going to go meet Gordon for supper and then I'll probably take a nap, go to the mocktail mixer, and then it's off to the boat dance until 2am! (I hope I survive!) Have a good night everybody!
:)
~monkey
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