Whoa! What happened?
Seeing as how I barely managed to balance schoolwork this semester, it was pretty much a given that keeping up a blog wouldn't happen. But now that I've pretty much made it through the semester alive, perhaps I'll start the venerable blog up again.
I actually went dancing tonight. Of course when referring to me, "dancing" is usually a euphemism for "flailing in an epileptic manner." Whatever, it was fun and I needed to get out.
Aside from that, a quick outline of the semester:
People - Through a combination of tabling and facebooking, I've definitely met quite a few interesting people this semester. It's so funny how truly quirky people are. But this is not meant to disparage anyone at all...I've truly been grateful for the chance to meet so many new faces. As far as facing down my own social anxieties and bitterness, this semester has undoubtedly been a huge turning point.
Alternative Spring Break to Cherokee - Definite a great spring break, one that beats out even the Cuba trip freshman year. About fifteen of us went down to the Cherokee reservation in the Great Smoky Mountains. We learned tons about Cherokee culture and contemporary life, did lots of hiking, and had a fantastic bonding experience. Funny how IM, e-mail and cell phones are supposed to make us all closer, yet I felt much closer to the people in my group, and humanity in general, that week than I have in a long time. A wonderful experience that I will cherish, even if it was just a week, it will echo for much longer.
Academic Misadventures - Unfortunately, all has not been smooth sailing on the academic front. Although I'm usually able to survive each semester cheerfully tightrope walking over the abyss, this semester my machinery just broke down, resulting in late papers, missed classes, and what will undoubtedly be a hammering for my GPA. Hopefully the summer classes will lift my grades back up. It may be senioritis, distraction, or just a heavier courseload, but it was a bit frightening to realize that I could no longer rely on myself to somehow get things done when they needed to be done.
India in the Fall - A while ago, it occurred to me that there was nothing holding me back for spending a bonafide semester abroad. Since freshman year I've been so enthusiastic about studying abroad, and yet the summer classes in Egypt were the closest thing I had to an actual term abroad. So I decided to jump on my whims and apply to SIT's India program, and I was accepted before it filled up! Now if I can get medical forms and what not in on time, I should be jetting off to the subcontinent come September. The best part is, since it'll be my last semester, I can hang around indefinitely after the program is over. In all likelihood I'll come running back the last week of December, but if I can find volunteer opportunities, who knows. Rajasthan has a bunch of NGOs working there, the Himalaya areas where the Tibetan population lives also has opportunities, and of course there is tsunami-ravaged Tamil Nadu. Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty.
And who knows what else. But first I need to finish the semester. And more immediately, I need to get to bed. It's good to be back.
I actually went dancing tonight. Of course when referring to me, "dancing" is usually a euphemism for "flailing in an epileptic manner." Whatever, it was fun and I needed to get out.
Aside from that, a quick outline of the semester:
People - Through a combination of tabling and facebooking, I've definitely met quite a few interesting people this semester. It's so funny how truly quirky people are. But this is not meant to disparage anyone at all...I've truly been grateful for the chance to meet so many new faces. As far as facing down my own social anxieties and bitterness, this semester has undoubtedly been a huge turning point.
Alternative Spring Break to Cherokee - Definite a great spring break, one that beats out even the Cuba trip freshman year. About fifteen of us went down to the Cherokee reservation in the Great Smoky Mountains. We learned tons about Cherokee culture and contemporary life, did lots of hiking, and had a fantastic bonding experience. Funny how IM, e-mail and cell phones are supposed to make us all closer, yet I felt much closer to the people in my group, and humanity in general, that week than I have in a long time. A wonderful experience that I will cherish, even if it was just a week, it will echo for much longer.
Academic Misadventures - Unfortunately, all has not been smooth sailing on the academic front. Although I'm usually able to survive each semester cheerfully tightrope walking over the abyss, this semester my machinery just broke down, resulting in late papers, missed classes, and what will undoubtedly be a hammering for my GPA. Hopefully the summer classes will lift my grades back up. It may be senioritis, distraction, or just a heavier courseload, but it was a bit frightening to realize that I could no longer rely on myself to somehow get things done when they needed to be done.
India in the Fall - A while ago, it occurred to me that there was nothing holding me back for spending a bonafide semester abroad. Since freshman year I've been so enthusiastic about studying abroad, and yet the summer classes in Egypt were the closest thing I had to an actual term abroad. So I decided to jump on my whims and apply to SIT's India program, and I was accepted before it filled up! Now if I can get medical forms and what not in on time, I should be jetting off to the subcontinent come September. The best part is, since it'll be my last semester, I can hang around indefinitely after the program is over. In all likelihood I'll come running back the last week of December, but if I can find volunteer opportunities, who knows. Rajasthan has a bunch of NGOs working there, the Himalaya areas where the Tibetan population lives also has opportunities, and of course there is tsunami-ravaged Tamil Nadu. Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty.
And who knows what else. But first I need to finish the semester. And more immediately, I need to get to bed. It's good to be back.
posted by Justin @ 6:14 AM
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