This week was pretty rough, for me personally. Nothing epic happened, and it wasn’t like I had any major tests or anything. It was just that I was totally unmotivated for the week. I’m not the kind of person who gets overwhelmed or stressed so much as I get disheartened. Sometimes it’s hard to keep the eyes on the prize, and instead you’re just weighed down by all the work that there is ahead of you. I enjoy both of my majors (chemistry and music), and I’m sure they’re something I’ll enjoy doing for the rest of my life. But there are those days where you just get in a funk, because everything seems to be weighing down on you. Usually I take a day off of practicing (don’t tell my teachers ;D), go home for a weekend, or just spend some time with friends. Once there’s been time to recooperate for a day or so, everything seems to be much more do-able again. So here’s to monday being much better than this past week.

Peace.

I was a part of Campus Crusade for Christ last semester and am continuing to participate in it this spring. It has been an incredibly unique experience. I have met so many wonderful people who welcomed me and that i am now very good friends with. Last Tuesday we had a guest speaker; there is one every week. David has actually spoken before but his message this past week was especially thought-provoking.

The music team is also very enthusiastic. Not only do they lead the singing at Crusade but on Wednesdays at Prayer Night, they often will play worship songs….Prayer has also been an encouraging group to be a part of. I have been extremely blessed with all of the friends I have made through this group! They have all really helped me to grow in Christ this year at BW.

Now that it is the third week into spring semester, I am completely adjusted to being back at school. It almost feels that entire month off never happened! It was really exciting to come back and see all of my friends and also to get back into a schedule.

I am taking some more challenging classes now and will have to put in a lot of time studying but I’m still very excited for the next few months. BW is now like home. It’s really cool to be a part of a completely new community and to feel comfortable in it.

Well, afternoon classes got canceled today because of the weather. Which didn’t do much for me, because I had three classes this morning, and only one this afternoon. Really, I think the roads were worse in the morning, but I wasn’t complaining that I didn’t have to go out any more.

Except then I did. Because one of my friends is an ice skater, and had to get to the airport to go to a competition in Denver. And, of course, my roommate and I had offered to take her to the airport so she didn’t have to pay to leave her car there. So, we drove her minivan, which is not at all equipped to handle winter, up to the airport and back. It was an adventure.

Now, if only we could get classes canceled for tomorrow. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my lab days, and I haven’t had a good track record with labs so far this week - on Tuesday, I dyed my hands purple. It’s mostly come off now, though, and I don’t think I’ll be able to get into too much trouble in the Zoology lab. Unless the finches escape, or something.

Today I woke up at 8:30, got breakfast and sat down at my computer to read email, and then woke my roommate up when I whooped loudly after reading that my first class of the day was canceled due to bad weather. So I went back to sleep until I had to get up and go to my 10:40 class, walked all the way across campus to Marting, and found out from the professor that she was letting us out of class because all the classes after noon were canceled (she didn’t want her afternoon class falling behind us). I mean, I don’t have any classes after noon on these days, but it was a real stroke of luck to not have my morning ones. I know a lot of people really excited about today, and it’s almost like a little mini-holiday. I haven’t heard of classes being closed at BW since I’ve been here, and for a college to cancel classes seems pretty drastic, but considering the white blanket I see when looking outside I don’t blame them. To celebrate, I might go sledding later on… something I haven’t done for over a year but have always meant to get around to doing. So me and some chums will probably use some makeshift sleds and go to town on some hill. Other than today’s lack of classes, everything has been sailing pretty smoothly, and despite a lot of reading, I’ve been knocking down all my work. However, I’ll be spending today taking it very easy (as if I’m ultra busy any other day, yeah right…). Granted, I’ll be doing a good deal of reading tonight, I’m really not that bothered considering I’m not one of those people opposed to reading. So, here’s to a good day to everyone at BW, and may we all go enjoy the lovely Cleveland weather.

There’s one thing you need to learn about B-W… And you gotta learn fast…. That is…

MARC WEST….

Yes, i have said it….

Marc West….

Mr. Marc West is quite a guy…

He is basically the guy that is in charge of Greek Life, Student Life, and Student Involvement. When you come to orientation, he will be that face you see….

If you cut him open, he will more than likely bleed Brown and Gold, cuz he loves B-W that much.

But anyways, I’m taking part if something called Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon is a fundraiser to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. The money we raise go towards Aids research and how to prevent Aid/Hiv from passing from the mother to child during childbirth.

Anyways, a fundraiser we had today was “Mongolian BBQ with Guest Griller”….
If you don’t know, there’s a tasty place located in Coventry called BD’s Monoglian BBQ. It is basically all you can eat stir fry and make it anyway you want. It’s a pretty awesome thing, but you know what made it even more awesome, having Marc West cook your own food. That, there is awesome…

It’s late and I gotta head to bed, I’ll have another bio on Marc West sometime in the future.

-David

So I’m seriously in the process of procrastinating on doing a five page essay over stuff I have no interest in and studying for a biology test on friday. I’ll get to it eventually but let me clue you in on the more important things in my life.

Our first volleyball tournament was this past sunday and we did alright. Not the way I wanted to but it was not terrible. I believe we got 6th place? It’s not discouraging since this is only the beginning. My weekends are now consumed with volleyball (which I love :))

I guess I should probably do homework now, since I did come here for a reason, HAH!
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
Jehu

Hola a todos,
Hoy fue un día llenó de español para mí. No sé porque, pero me da la idea de escribir este mensaje en español. ¿Es diferente de normal, no? Creo que voy a describir, solamente un poquito, un día normal de un estudiante de estudios internacionales y español (porque no puedo pensar en algo más interesante :-P). Cada lunes y miércoles, mi horario es “La Civilización Española,” sigue por “Comparative Foreign Relations,” y la última clase es “Conversación y Composición Avanzadas.”
La Civilización Española es como una clase de historia con una concentración en la cultura. Ahora estamos hablando de la Inquisición, la tortilla española (que es muy rica!!), el toro, San Isidro, etcétera. El capítulo es de Madrid y los siguentes son de las otras regiones del país. La maestra, Profesora Marín (la única que enseña las clases avanzadas), me dijo el viernes pasado que presentaré mi presentación oral (solamente 5 minutos, nada más, pero sin notas) sobre las enlaces del libro por la introducción. Sin embargo, dos de las enlaces funcionan, las otras no, y para contestar los temas (información de un centro histórico en Madrid y compariciones entre de Madrid y las otras capitales de España por las épocas) tuve que buscar muchísimo… y no presenté en clase hoy. Creo que la maestra olvidara, pero no sé exactamente.
Comparative Foreign Relations es una clase con Javier Morales-Ortiz y es muy interesante, pero ahorita hay mucha repetición en comparición a las otras clases de políticas internacionales. Leemos casi un libro cada semana, por lo menos durante las primeras semanas, y lo por esta semana es sobre la teoría de “Offensive Realism.” Haría más información nueva cuando empecemos a discutir países específicas y sus relaciones exteriores y las razones por ésas.
Conversación y Composición Avanzadas es con la Profesora Marín también, pero es una clase de ver películas y después hablar en grupitos y escribir ensayos (a veces). Ella quiere que presentemos “paneles” sobre cada pelí y miércoles el primer grupo va a enseñar la clase. Recibimos (los estudiantes) una nota por el día después de la pelí, como hoy cuando hablamos de que miramos, y el día de los paneles, dónde toda la clase debe participar en la discusión.
Pues, ésas son mis clases de lunes y miércoles (todas excepto de la última son el viernes también) y un día normal de una persona con las concentraciones de español y estudios internacionales.
Espero que le vaya bien.

Eating is highly up on the list of important things in life. A veces, ah!, sorry (I’ve been having a Spanish day), Sometimes food is the most important. . . like Mondays and Saturdays That’s when the Union has the Mediterranean Grill (with the oh-so-amazing Chicken Mozzarella Foccacia (Chicken [or not if you are vegetarian like me], mayo-pesto, fresh mozzarella, alfalfa sprouts, tomato slices, and foccacia bread)). Although, Wednesdays are pretty amazing too (Lang, the small cafeteria in the basement of the Lang Dorm, has grilled peanut butter sandwiches (my usual is: wheat bread, pb, nutella, strawberries, banana, and chocolate chips). You can also get apples, cranberries, various jellies, marshmallow fluff, other bread, and honey). Sometimes Lang and the Union have similar food bars (for example, both have salad bars and sandwich-making areas), but others are different. Here’s the calendar website for the food menus: http://www.bw.edu/resources/foodsvc/menus/index.html
However, if nothing floats your boat in the cafeteria-like areas, there is always Buzzy’s, where they make pre-arranged sandwiches or custom ordered sandwiches and also sell mac n cheese, ramen noodles, etc. Yet, your jacket card can be used for purchasing pizza, which can be delivered to campus by the companies. The participating companies are currently: Domino’s, Georgio’s, and Pizza King. Various people have their own opinions about the merits of each company, but personally I have found the pizza and cheesy bread to be best from Georgio’s and cinnamon sticks from Domino’s, while Pizza King is rather scary… lol. However, that is my personal preference. I have friends who order Pizza King all the time.
Of course, then there is the candy from the candy counter and the ice cream from cyber and buzzy’s (cyber is individual scopes, while Buzzy’s has pints of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream)… Mmm.. candy. Gotta go.

A lot of things change when you go to college, and one of the big things, at least for me, is that I am now on my own as far as money goes. Sure, my parents are covering the part of my tuition not taken up by scholarship or student loans, but I’m thinking more along the lines of everyday purchases and spending. I’m now free to use my money for whatever I want, but additionally, I’m now needing to bring in my own cash flow. Which is difficult in college, especially finding a job. And doubly so since I’m in the Conservatory, which generally takes up most of my evenings. I’m determined to find a job, if not on campus, then in walking distance. I want to start saving up now, so that when college is done, I am not completely broke.

See ya.