Okay, here comes the post you've all been waiting for... I'm finally really enjoying myself!! The transition here was hard, and sometimes still is, but I'm looking forward to living here and studying here now. It took me a little while, but I warmed up to it eventually. :)
I like it here for several reasons. I'm no longer overwhelmed by all of the new faces. I know a lot of people's names (I'm surprised, actually, at the amount of names I know) and I know all the girls in my dorm. I'm starting to make a couple legitimate friends, one of which is leaving at Christmas to go to a different school! So sad. :( I've met some nursing students that I like, which is really nice since we all have so many classes together.I also like my roommate more and more. She's awesome!
Another thing that I found today is the ballroom dancing club!! I'm thrilled! I am so excited to be dancing again. I've missed all of my artistic outlets dearly, but now I have one back! Every Thursday at 4:15 the ballroom dance club meets in Robson, and I love it! I went with Michael -- he's going to dance with me, too!
I also LOVE working in the library. Even yesterday, when I really needed to study for my midterm, I didn't regret working my shift. I love being on a mission and putting everything where it belongs. I feel like I'm helping and I really like it. :) It really makes me less stressed; it's so peaceful and soothing. In the library, I'm never sad! I love it.
I met a graduate student and he was really friendly and interesting. He's going to be a Bible translator -- cool, huh? So I'm not feeling quite as starved for older people in my life. Also, the man who usually supervises while I work is very kind and joyful. I think he has deep peace in his life. He has the most genuine smile (which seems rare to me at this point) and he'll return a smile every time I smile at him, so it happens pretty frequently. It's really, really nice. It's refreshing to have an adult look at me like I matter... Like my happiness is contagious and I'm making the day better by being joyful. You know, next time you hear that cheesy person saying you can make someone's life better just by smiling... Think about me and my experience, because it can really be true.
Anyway! I am happy here now. I am having a good time and enjoying myself. I'm working out regularly, trying to eat healthy, and enjoying my classes, my job, and the activities I do in my free time. I've achieved better balance in my life and I'm learning how to release stress. I am applying the material I've learned in class to my real life, and I love that it is so practical. I'm just having a better time here, can you tell? :)
Anyway -- please keep me in your prayers, I don't want my good attitude to be lost... Sometimes that is easier to lose than it should be... :) Message me anytime, I miss you all and I'd love to talk to you. I have Skype, too, so I'd love it if you found me and talked to me! Oh, and I have texting! If you ever want to drop me a note, just text it and I'll get it fast. :) I love you guys!! Hope to talk to you soon!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Jonathan, Survival Pack, and Sponge Baths
So, my parents made me one of the best things a college student could ever have, and we've dubbed it: the survival pack. I love it SO much. :) What is it full of? Well, maybe you've already heard, but it has soup, cereal, granola bars, cake mix, toothpaste, SODA (which costs an arm and a leg over here), cookies!!, Powerade powder, Nutella (Yumm!!), candy (all my favorite kinds), hot chocolate mix, crackers, chips, popcorn, cheese nips, Top Ramen, and peanuts! It probably goes without saying that I LOVE IT SO MUCH! :D Food costs a fortune over here. There isn't enough money on the food plan to get you through the semester if you buy every meal on campus, so people often resort to stealing other peoples' food out of the fridge or begging off their friends. But me? I'll be safe because of my survival pack. Even if I have to eat Spaghetti-Os for three days straight, I won't starve!
Jonathan was the one who delivered the pack to me. It is HUGE -- two big plastic bins' full! He came and visited. It was so awesome. I was really sad to see him leave, though. We went putt-putt golfing and he took us out to eat -- we went to Tim Horton's for a treat and to McDonald's for our lunch. Michael won at putt-putt and he couldn't believe it! I barely lost(I was shocked, I usually lose by a whole bunch), and Jonathan came in second. We went on the underwater course -- it was inside. It had glowing paint everywhere, the decorations were really cool. I think that's the most fun I've ever had putt-putt golfing. :)
Sponge baths, you ask? Yes! The nursing students had to bathe each other today. We all put on our bathing suits and pretended to be a client in need of a bath. I was a little traumatized by the illustrations and videos for Perineal care, but we don't need to get into that, now do we? :) It was pretty fun -- and also weird. We brushed each others' teeth as well, and drooled all over our chins. Of course, the TA only got a picture of ME looking disgusting -- just my luck. :)
Today I needed to do homework but didn't do it -- isn't that naughty? I was working all day on both Saturday and Sunday (probably a combined total of 28 hours of homework), and today I could not make myself do any more reading. Maybe after I write this I'll be able to convince myself that I need to do it...
So, how am I liking school so far? I'm not sure yet. I'm doing better than I was before, but I still miss being around older, wiser people. The students here (and I don't blame them) get really wrapped up in homework and grades. It seems like someone is always having a meltdown, crying, or nearly giving up on university. Sometimes it's hard to live in an environment where everyone is stressed and not be stressed yourself. But I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I do like it here -- the academics can be a little frustrating, but they can also be very fulfilling. My Old Testament professor is making everyone uncomfortable by telling us the Genesis creation story and Noah's flood might be symbolic language, and Michael's Biology teacher is easing his class into thinking that evolution might just be right -- maybe. :) Of course, all of the teachers here are Christian, so they come at everything with a Christian point-of-view. That is really an encouragement and a blessing.
I need something creative to do. I didn't bring my drawing, jewelry making, or my Ukulele. Anything would be great right now. I just need something to de-stress -- I didn't realize how valuable it would be. I also didn't realize how cut-off from the world I would be -- I didn't know that I had no access to stores, clothes, groceries, hair cuts... Next year I really hope I can bring a car. Anyway, all that to say I'm going to have to find some way to do something creative that has nothing to do with school. I'm dead busy, but I have to have a little down time sometimes. Balance is the key! :)
Okay, that was a huge blog!! Hope you guys enjoy! Love you!
Jonathan was the one who delivered the pack to me. It is HUGE -- two big plastic bins' full! He came and visited. It was so awesome. I was really sad to see him leave, though. We went putt-putt golfing and he took us out to eat -- we went to Tim Horton's for a treat and to McDonald's for our lunch. Michael won at putt-putt and he couldn't believe it! I barely lost(I was shocked, I usually lose by a whole bunch), and Jonathan came in second. We went on the underwater course -- it was inside. It had glowing paint everywhere, the decorations were really cool. I think that's the most fun I've ever had putt-putt golfing. :)
Sponge baths, you ask? Yes! The nursing students had to bathe each other today. We all put on our bathing suits and pretended to be a client in need of a bath. I was a little traumatized by the illustrations and videos for Perineal care, but we don't need to get into that, now do we? :) It was pretty fun -- and also weird. We brushed each others' teeth as well, and drooled all over our chins. Of course, the TA only got a picture of ME looking disgusting -- just my luck. :)
Today I needed to do homework but didn't do it -- isn't that naughty? I was working all day on both Saturday and Sunday (probably a combined total of 28 hours of homework), and today I could not make myself do any more reading. Maybe after I write this I'll be able to convince myself that I need to do it...
So, how am I liking school so far? I'm not sure yet. I'm doing better than I was before, but I still miss being around older, wiser people. The students here (and I don't blame them) get really wrapped up in homework and grades. It seems like someone is always having a meltdown, crying, or nearly giving up on university. Sometimes it's hard to live in an environment where everyone is stressed and not be stressed yourself. But I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I do like it here -- the academics can be a little frustrating, but they can also be very fulfilling. My Old Testament professor is making everyone uncomfortable by telling us the Genesis creation story and Noah's flood might be symbolic language, and Michael's Biology teacher is easing his class into thinking that evolution might just be right -- maybe. :) Of course, all of the teachers here are Christian, so they come at everything with a Christian point-of-view. That is really an encouragement and a blessing.
I need something creative to do. I didn't bring my drawing, jewelry making, or my Ukulele. Anything would be great right now. I just need something to de-stress -- I didn't realize how valuable it would be. I also didn't realize how cut-off from the world I would be -- I didn't know that I had no access to stores, clothes, groceries, hair cuts... Next year I really hope I can bring a car. Anyway, all that to say I'm going to have to find some way to do something creative that has nothing to do with school. I'm dead busy, but I have to have a little down time sometimes. Balance is the key! :)
Okay, that was a huge blog!! Hope you guys enjoy! Love you!
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