Well, today was the last day of class. In German today we had apple strudel and watched a twenty minute movie on Germany and everything about it. And that was my only class today too. So the year is over. Oh wait, exams. I’ll be studying for bascially the next week non-stop then it will be summer and i can sit on my tush and watch TV or sleep and not eat union food (YAY!!!). Well, at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And exams won’t be too bad, just have to buckle down and study. Well, i’ll let you know how my exams go. Til then, have good days.
-Robin-

The WBF (week before finals) is always crazy. I got a lot of work done when I stayed here for Easter break though, so it really hasn’t been too bad this semester. This week I had two big horn things though. On Monday, Rich King, principle horn of the Cleveland Orchestra, came and did a masterclass with us. We played our jury pieces for him and he was totally laid back and gave us some really good comments. I tried not to think about it too much before hand, but after I was done playing it really hit me that one of the best horn players in the world was standing on our stage, talking to us. Crazy. Last night the Solaris Woodwind Quintet came and did a recital and coaching with my quintet. I hadn’t heard a professional woodwind quintet play live since we started ours, so it was neat. Meeting these different horn players lately has made me excited for next year. We are getting a new horn teacher (we don’t know who yet…) and it will be interesting to have a new teaching personality and prospective.

One of the great things about the semester winding down is the free EVERYTHING that students will get. Because finals are coming up, organizations are winding down, departments are beginning to have recognition parties, etc. What does that mean for students? Free food, events, etc. celebrating the year’s end and everyone’s achievements.

As an example, I have a Health Promotions Grant Board (HPGB) meeting today where we get free food, and tonight we have our end of the semester bash for MNM where there will be some free food and plenty of fun!

Though finals are stressful and everything is hectic this time of year, it’s nice to be able to relax and enjoy good food and fun with friends.

Currently I am fulfilling field experience requirements at Midpark High School for one of my education courses. So far, it’s been great! The teacher I am working with is wonderful and the school is only 10 minutes from B-W. I teach my last lesson there on Thursday and I am really excited about it. The only thing that stinks about planning a lesson is writing out the actual lesson plan… everything else is great! It’s a really great feeling know that the way I present material could turn kids on or off to the subject and help shape their view of something in the world, even if it’s just Shakespeare! (Which is what my lesson happens to be on!) I’m a little nervous though because my supervisor is coming to observe me so I have to be on the ball. This whole experience has really made me even more excited than I was to start teaching. I can’t wait to have my own class and teach all semester, rather than just here and there. Tune in over the next few days to find out how everything goes!

After 5 semesters of dedication, planning, and great fun, my Mid-Night Madness Staff status is just about to be completed. Since joining my spring semester of freshman year, it has been a long and memorable journey! The entire experience has been definitely one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of!

I’ve learned so much about leadership, event planning, and most importantly, myself. I’ve made so many life-long friends and learned from them as well. My last official task as Student Director is to finish planning our End of the Semester Celebration on Thursday night. Once that is over, so is my tenure as an MNM Staff Member.

It’ll be so strange to no longer be on staff. I’ll definitely continue to go to events though, and at least this way, next fall, I can go to the events and not have to worry about cleaning up/fixing problems when they come up. Plus, maybe I can win something

It still hasn’t sunk in that this is the last week of classes of my junior year here at B-W. I had my last Monday night class tonight and I just have the final left next week. I don’t know if I mentioned earlier, but I have just 2 finals. I have kind of started studying, but the thought of getting to go home in 16 days gets me so excited and its just hard to concentrate. But I need to put that behind me and study hard for my 2 finals:)! I am eagerly looking forward to this summer, although I am really sad that I wont be able to see my friends here for so long. If only the world was a little smaller and plane tickets weren’t so expensive;) I could have flown here every so often to visit.

This weekend is the 75th annual Bach Festival. Bach Fest is always a big deal, but this year is especially huge because of the big anniversary. BW has the oldest collegiate Bach festival in the country and this year we paired with the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania choir who is celebrating their 100th anniversary as the oldest Bach Festival in the country. Everything kicked off Thursday afternoon with the Bach Picnic. Students and faculty come out for a BBQ on Kohler lawn. The new Conservatory director came and we got to meet with him. He seems great. The concerts start Friday afternoon, beginning with the Brass Choir who play from Marting Tower. I didn’t get to play this year, but my first two years I did and it’s a really neat experience. Everyone always wishes they were brass players that day. The main concert is Saturday afternoon. The program is on a rotational cycle alternating Bach’s Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew’s Passion, St. John’s Passion, and the Christmas Oratorio. This year was Mass in B Minor and for the 75th, it was in Severance Hall (where the Cleveland Orchestra plays). Severance is amazing, it’s probably my favorite building, and it was really cool to see my peers on that stage. I remember freshman year, I could hardly stay awake during my first Bach Fest. I knew I should appreciate the music, but it’s hard if you don’t understand what is going on. I couldn’t believe how much more I enjoyed it this year after taking music history and understanding what a mass actually is. Plus, Rich King (principle horn of the Cleveland Orchestra) played the horn solo. He’s so amazing and he’s coming to BW on Monday to do a masterclass I’m playing in. Ahhh! Tomorrow things conclude with a concert by Dave Brubeck and the Bach Party. Then there’s just one more week of classes! Crazy how fast time goes sometimes.

I am so jealous of all the kids back home right now! Everyone is so excited to get out of school for the summer, and I am having mid-terms next week! This week and next week are going to be really busy with school work and getting ahead for the next 2 weeks. My boyfriend will be here in 15 days and I couldn’t be more excited! We are going to travel to the Great Barrier Reef for a few days and I want to show him around here a bit so I am trying to get all my school work done so that won’t get in the way when he is here. I am starting to get a little “homesick” and missing my friends and family. I wish home would come here, since its so beautiful here. I am pretty anxious to get back to B-W though and see all the people I’ve missed, especially my roommate! I was hoping to be able to come home a few weeks earlier because the exam period here lasts an entire MONTH, but of course my exams are later in the period so I will be here the whole time. I just figured I would save some money by going home a little early just because it is super expensive here. I have talked to atleast one kid coming over here next semester and I’m trying to do my best to get him prepared for the life over here. Its nice that B-W kids have been coming here and we are starting to develop a little hand-me-down pile of stuff for each other. Since the voltages and plugs are different here, we have to buy electronic things and then leave them here since we can’t use them in the States. I will gladly pass them on though because I want someone to be able to get use out of them and I know how much I appreciated my two friends leaving me stuff for when I got here. I hope people take advantage of the study abroad opportunity because its definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

My favorite event that MNM puts on every year is Bingo. It is possibly the best day of the year. And guess what I now am. That’s right, the Grand Champion of Bingo. Last night i won two season passes to Cedar Point and it’s sister parks (including Geauga Lake and King’s Island). I also won some Applebee’s money and a free haircut (which i don’t think i’m going to use) My friends also won. One of them won a shirt, some gift cards to damon’s and my other friend won 25 dollars to Walmart. Plus i turned in my twelve page paper this week and that is off my chest. so all and all this has been a good week for me. well, it’s crunch time now. i’ll keep y’all posted on the goings on here. til then.

This afternoon I’ll have a meeting with this summer’s Orientation Leaders. I’m so excited because this is the first official meeting of the group that was selected to help usher in the first-year students and help get them acclimated to campus.

We’ve selected a phenomenal group of students of diverse backgrounds, interests, and personalities to hopefully relate to any student, as well as balance out the group dynamics. It’s always a fun group and truly highlights the summer with the four Summer Orientation Dates and the big Weekend of Welcome for first-year students when they move in.

I have been on the Orientation Staff for three years now, and this year, serve as Co-Student Director of the Orientation Program. I’m truly looking forward to this summer and taking the project under my belt, as well as bonding with the newly formed staff.