Summer Plans

My semester is done! So begins the 9-5 life (some days it is more like 8-8, ugh). But this work schedule is merely temporary- it won't last forever. Summer is just around the bend. Once summer really kicks off in a couple weeks, here's what I've got to look forward to:

-I was awarded a full-time (40 hrs/wk) independent study grant from Augsburg's Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunities program. This begins at the end of May. I will be working with a fantastic professor in the English department as my main advisor, with some advising assistance from several professors in the Religion department. My study will be on the works of Flannery O'Connor- my favorite author.
-Working for two summer camps, each a week long, for a second year: the Summer Theological Institute and Medieval Minnesota camp. Both are hosted on campus.
-Orientation Leader for incoming first year students!
-Scattered hours working at Admissions, tutoring, etc.
-???: I'd like to find something else to do with my random free time (although, as you can see, my plate'll be pretty full). Any suggestions?

As I said- my independent study doesn't begin until the end of May, so for now I'll be working full time at a couple jobs. I'm not really the 9-5 type (I like to have my attention diverted by divvying up my day into many different things), so it'll be pretty boring, but my coworkers are fun and I'll keep it entertaining somehow. Besides, its just a couple weeks. On that note, I'm at work right now and should get back to it...

Winding Down, Up

Well, the semester is coming to a close. After an intensive final today, only one final exam stands between me and 'summer'. Woah- summer already? Jeeze Louise!

It has been a stressful and busy semester, but it sure has had its highlights. Overall, I was fitter, happier, and more productive, ha. A great deal of good happened, and I accumulated a lot of memories I'll hold onto for some time. Of special note: the trip to El Salvador, the roadtrip to Michigan and Chicago, and the company I've kept. I have a lot to look forward to this summer. More on that later. For now, its time to say goodbye to my second-to-last semester of college-

Ah, I suppose this reflection is just a bit premature. To that effect, time to go prep for one last final!

Weekend Recap

So, studying aside, what did I do this weekend? Friday night I went with a few friends to walk around Uptown after hitting up the year-end picnics for the History and Political Science Departments (I'm employed by both) and packed up some stuff in my dorm. The following evening I went to a discounted movie, attended a raggaeton dance (which was a blast), and sat under a wind turbine and looked into the night sky. This afternoon my boss had myself and my co-worker over for an authentic Mexican dinner, after which I ran and studied for the final I have tomorrow. All in all, it was a good balance and a nice way to recuperate after one of the busier weeks of recent memory.

Reflections on Salvador

As the semester is coming to a close, El Salvador is hanging around like a spurned lover, demanding that I give it more attention. I feel I never really went into depth about my experiences there on this blog. Well, that isn't exactly going to change- but I will reflect on one specific incident for a minute, anyway.

In life, we encounter situations (often of a religious nature) in which no word seems appropriate to describe our corresponding emotional response. I had several such moments in El Salvador. For the sake of this footnote, I will focus in on one incident that left me groping for a descriptor. When I finally reached one, it didn’t feel totally authentic, but it was as close as I could get: the incident left me “floored”.

It was our first full day in El Salvador. To say that I was not adequately emotionally prepared would be an understatement—I had no idea what to expect, I was in unfamiliar territory and out of my element (both literally and figuratively), and I was already feeling a bit homesick for Minnesota. It was a long, hot day—it might have been the hottest day of the entire trip—and I was soaked in sweat, uncomfortable, and feeling more than a little groggy after only having slept four hours in the last two days. In less words: I wasn’t fully open to learning about something as heavy as the martyrdom of Monsignor Oscar Romero. Yet as often happens when one closes oneself off, I was fully hit with truth anyway.

I began to feel “emotional” in the churches we visited downtown (I hate using such phrasing; are we not “emotional” all the time, since emotions range from extremes to neutral feelings? In this case, I mean it in the common contemporary usage.) I have been in a bit of a dry spell religiously as of late (this trip did not resolve that—I do not get emotionally bullied back into belief like I used to—although it certainly got me seriously thinking about religious belief again and actively weighing my options), and I was suddenly overwhelmed with a desire to believe in something. I would’ve been satisfied with anything at that point. My sentimentality craved the comfort (and discomfort) of belief and wanted such accompaniment for the experiences ahead. The feeling tagged along to Romero’s tomb and watched as a man approached the tomb and disrespected it in a saliva-utilizing gesture, and by the time we reached the chapel in which he was shot, the nagging had crescendoed into full, sweeping emotion. I was being set up for what was to follow.

Inside the chapel, we were told the story of Romero’s assassination. I must have missed this detail before, but the women telling the story informed us that Romero’s final words in the homily delivered before he was killed were pulled from John 12:24 (she didn’t actually identify it as such, but I recognized the words immediately). This verse is that which is tattooed on my right calf along side an image of a stalk of wheat. The verse reads: “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV). Romero said this because he knew his fate; I tattooed it on my body in a superficial, superfluous decision to emulate what I saw as my religious beliefs in ink. In choosing a verse that I found literarily beautiful but devoid of real meaning, I unintentionally set myself up for this situation two year down the road. We moved from the chapel, where I lingered behind for a moment in solitude, to the house that Romero lived in, where I took a photograph of my versed leg beside his bed.

So I was “floored”. The incident stuck with me through the rest of the trip, forcing me to think and relate in a new, entirely more personal context. It made me a more genuine, open learner. And yes, it made me contemplate my place in the religious world. I can affirm few things religiously (for example: I believe, but in what? I’m good at making broad, easy claims; but when it comes to the details, I’m lost.), but I’m working on it. The unrelenting faith of Oscar Romero and the people of El Salvador in the face of such spiritually destructive acts is awing, and as cliché as it sounds, inspiring. It is scary to make claims of a religious nature, but we’re better for it. I myself am still trying.

Now: back to homework and all that. I'm severely overwhelmed, so I needed a break to think back to better times, I guess.

Missin' Franken

So I had to work a long shift today at work and missed a speech by former SNL-er, infamous satirist and leading DFL 2008 Senatorial candidate for Minnesota Al Franken. Bah- I'm bummed!

I'm sure it was swell. He's a funny (and intelligent) guy. Hope those who went enjoyed it.

Library Livin', Homework Hatin'

Woah. Last week of classes. I'm not waving, but drowning in papers and studying. But I'll keep my head above water for just a bit longer- despite being busy, I'm actually feeling fine. As Mr. E sings, "G-D right, its a beautiful day!"

For the next week I'll just keep singing along to another good Eels tune: "Somebody loves you, and you're gonna make it through..." -ha.

The Threepenny Opera

As I mentioned before, I saw the Augsburg Theater Department's production of The Threepenny Opera this weekend and I have to say I was immensely impressed!

I'm not really a big musical fan, but I was engaged and entertained the entire time. The production was stellar- great set, costumes, acting and singing. It was also a lot of fun to see all of these people I know getting into character and putting their all into their performance. Good work, folks!

Always Workin' for the Weekend

Sorry for the delay! Life has kept me pretty busy-

I had one last go at a fun weekend before the semester comes to a close, and I really did have a great time.

Thursday evening I went to a ballet at the Guthrie with Jake and friends- not exactly my thing, but I enjoyed myself more than I would have expected. I do appreciate the opportunity to explore new frontiers, interest-wise.

Friday I worked and had classes, after which I went to Northfield to pick up Jake. We came back up to the Cities for my birthday party, which was an absolute blast.

This weekend I also hit the local eatery The Seward Cafe, poked around Uptown (I could spend hours browsing Cheapo), helped a friend with her photography assignment (she had to shoot Mountain Dew ads- she won!), attended Augsburg's production of The Threepenny Opera (more on that later), enjoyed the beautiful weather, and perused IKEA for ideas for my impending move.

All in all, a busy but fulfilling weekend. Now Spring has returned, weather-wise, and I'm feeling mighty fine! Only two weeks of class to go though, and I'm feeling it. Busy is the name of the game, and I can't help but imagine I'm losing. Ah well- power through it, as they say.

Snow?

ps- Snowstorm? In mid-April? This is not exactly helping things-

Pedalers for Peace

Oh, it is that time of year-
I'm living in the library tonight. Literally camped out for hours on end, as it is my night off from work. Ugh.

I am taking a break very shortly though to attend the Pedalers for Peace documentary that several of my good friends are in; it follows the bike trip of Augsburg students through Mississippi and Louisiana over spring break to raise awareness for environmental issues and peace. I'm excited to watch what is sure to be an engaging and enlightening film on an important event.

But until then- I need to at least pretend like I'm making progress on this impossibly difficult research paper.

Easter Weekend

So, as promised, here is a recounting of my fun-filled Easter weekend:

Jake came up on Thursday and we hung out after I got off work. Friday morning we woke up and went to my house for free lunch and board games with the family, after which we went to the Como Conservatory and saw the new expansion. Saturday he went home, and I followed suit. That day I did multiple laundry loads, ran, kept my recently wisdom-teeth-less younger brother company, did some homework, and went to a family Easter dinner. Sunday: After an early morning of a run, church and breakfast, I met up with Jake again and we joined some of my extended family for another Easter dinner, after which we went to an overnight Easter-egg-hung/bonfire in Hudson right on the river with friends. Fun was had by all.

Then it was Monday, and I was hit with the realization that I had mostly ignored my responsibilities over the weekend- so I paid the price on my birthday, but it was worth it. All in all one of the best weekends in recent memory. Happy Easter, indeed.

Happy Birthday to me-

I forgot my birthday was coming up until someone reminded me the other day.

Today was just another day, though- classes, work, homework, run, etc. Birthdays stop being such a big deal eventually, it would seem.

I'm going out to dinner with a couple friends in a minute, though. That should be fun.

I'm coming off one of the best weekends I've had in ages (they just keep getting better, it seems). More on that later- my friends are here.

run run run

I just got done running. I love running. It is a stress reliever.

That is all I have to say, I guess. ha.

Michigan-minded

I got back late last night from my roadtrip-

I had an incredible time. I met some of my favorite musicians (Liz Janes and I had a lengthy conversation in which she declared me her new artistic inspiration and took a picture of me to use when she needed to be reminded of why she makes music!), saw still other favorites perform (Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, Anathallo, Emmylou Harris, Son Lux, etc), hit the sand dune beaches of Michigan in 70degree (or, perfect) weather, became intimately familiar with the infrastructure of Grand Rapids and Holland, fled Michigan in the middle of the night to arrive in Chicago at 3am and crash in the nearest hotel room, spent a day in the Windy City hopping the L, and got to spend a lot of time (much of which was in my friend's hybrid) with some of my favorite folks around. I honestly can't remember the last time such fun was had.

Roadtrips are a college necessity. Go take one. A mental break, a literal/physical escape.

Now I'm swamped with school work and work work, but I would do it all over again in less time than it takes to drive to West Michigan.