Happy (belated) birthday, Cervantes

Yesterday (29 September) was Miguel de Cervantes’s birthday. I’m sure you’re still recovering from the huge party you held celebrating the life of the author of what many people have called the “greatest novel ever written.”  The rest of you are wondering, so who is Cervantes? 

Incidentally, I can be a little sarcastic from time to time. I’m allowed. I’m an English professor.

Cervantes wrote a book you probably have heard about but have never read cover to cover. The reason you probably never read it cover to cover is because its 940 pages long (at least the best translation by Edith Grossman is), and your high school English teacher knew that if she assigned it you wouldn’t get anything else done that semester. Don Quixote is a really long book. But you should read it cover to cover anyhow.  Not because it’s good for us to read great literature or because educated people have read the great books or because it would be something to brag about on a college entrance essay, but because it’s a really entertaining story. And funny. Even sad.

Incidentally, I like to use sentence fragments. I’m allowed. I’m an English professor.

I’m also allowed to recommend good books, and in fact, I’m probably expected to. So I’m recommending Don Quixote today, the day after we celebrate Cervantes’s 461st birthday. Because it’s entertaining, funny, and even sad. 

Let me know what you think of it.

 

One of the most exciting parts of being a freshman is the “Freshman Year Experience” block the faculty separates you into at orientation. That means I have psychology and written communications with the same group of people. We spend a lot of time together in the classroom, but today we went to Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, IN to serve (by trimming trees; pulling docks out of the lake; and splitting wood). This was one of the first times we were able to really work together as a team to accomplish and help out for a common goal. After working from 9-12, we ate lunch, and went through a bunch of team building activities (including the trust falling below). I had never done this before. Curt, the leader of the camp, explained the fact that we’ve all been dropped before, whether by a friend or a significant other. Everyone has been hurt and we have to find a way to pick ourselves up with the help of others. When we’re ready to fall, we will have others ready to catch us. A perfect definition of the body of Christ.

That’s the amazing thing about these last five life changing weeks. The first couple of days I arrived at Bethel, I knew NO ONE! I was homesick like crazy and felt secluded. But, little did I know that it is so easy to make friends here! Within these five weeks, I’ve been picked up by my block, my roommate, my newfound friends, and the staff members here. Everyone cares at Bethel and that was a real symbol  I saw today with the members of my block. I’m ready to fall; I’m ready to be caught, and I’m ready to catch those that are dropping. Through Jesus Christ and the community here at Bethel, this is going to be anything BUT impossible.

Hannah and I practicing trust building

Hannah and I practicing trust building BLOCK 4 ROCKS!

 

My roommate Kristy, friend Amy, and me hanging out in Amy and Kirstin's room!

My roommate Kristy, friend Amy, and me hanging out in Amy and Kirstin's room

It is so nice to be back at Bethel now that there are other students here as well. It was cool to be around during the summer, but without anyone else here, it was sort of lackluster. Students make this campus come to life. It was awesome once people started showing up. I had the opportunity to help out with freshman orientation, and there was so much energy with all of the first time students moving in.

It was almost a bit surreal once classes started. I had been on campus for a week with very few responsibilities so it was a strange adjustment to having a fixed schedule, going to class, and doing homework. It was good though. No one ever likes being stuck in a routine for too long, but it is always nice to have a little stability. Of course, life at Bethel never seems complete for me without theatre. Fortunately, auditions for the fall play, The Butler Did It, as well as audition for Genesians, Bethel’s traveling drama troupe, were the very first day of classes. Thus I was able to jump right in. I was fortunate enough to get a part in both, and I am pumped to see them come together. However, rehearsals did not start right away so I was able to live life like a normal student for a short while. It was strange. I did not really know what to do with all of my time, and I actually had somewhat of a social life. Thank goodness that is over, (insert sarcasm here) and I am now trapped once more in the bowels of the Everest/Rohrer Fine Arts Center. I spend a good portion of my time there. In contrast to my brief care free, restful days at the beginning of the semester, I am now swamped in busyness. In addition to my actual class work which has greatly increased lately, “Butler” opens in just under two weeks, so rehearsals are picking up. I (for some silly reason) decided to be in a student directed movement piece which has been eating up my time, and I am also rehearsing for a bit that will be in chapel. Perhaps I need to learn to say no, but I love it all so much.  Ah well, it matters not. I am suriving. And I still manage to find time to have fun every now and then.

I for one, quite enjoyed the week of rain Bethel recently received. I tend to enjoy the weather all the time, regardless of what it may be doing. Rain is one of my favorites. It captivates me in a way that I rarely understand. Also, it creates puddles…big puddles…puddles that fill up ditches so that my friends and I may go swimming in them in the midst of the endless rain. Sometimes I love being childish. It keeps me sane regardless of how insane it may make me appear. Also, I love having friends who are willing to be crazy with me.

IM STILL ALIVE!!!!!!  I can’t believe how long its been since I have updated my blog!! So much has been happening and trying to write everything in here will be impossible, so hopefully the pictures will speak for themselves. Being at home for the summer was great and I was all over the place…North Carolina, Chicago, Florida, Indiana, California…and so lets just say CRAZY BUSY! While in California I was able to go to Yosemite National Park which was absolutely amazing!!  It was breathtaking to say the least, I could have stayed for months!!!  When I got back to Indiana I had a couple weeks to see people and say goodbyes and try to pack for another year, which is always a fiasco!!  I mean do you really know how much toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, etc. you use in a year!!!???  So I finally took off and it it was 3 days later when I finally arrived back to my house.  I got here right as school was getting out and seeing all the kids was soooooo awesome, I was flying high!!!  My class this year is completely different than last year, and will definitely be interesting…lets just say they are VERY ACTIVE!!!! So we are working on self control and being obedient!!  Enjoy the pictures, and welcome to another year of my life in NIgeria!!! Stay tuned… 

Shema Israel… Hear O’ Israel - May 20th, 2008

Hello Dear Friends. I’ve been journaling faithfully everyday and can now post the journals for you to see my adventures in Jordan and Israel…………oh wait……….that’s not really true. In fact, it’s not true at all. I haven’t even been able to write down all what we’ve done each day, much less what my response has been to it. Really, until the past couple nights, all I’ve been able to do when we get back to the hotel is eat, shower, get stuff ready for the next day, and then sleep. We usually leave by 6:30 everyday (sometimes earlier) and then don’t stop until at least 7 p.m. each night (sometimes later). So it’s been tough. But in the best way possible.
I don’t even know what to say about Jordan and Israel other than that I’m having a wonderful and very challenging time. Wow…just getting the visual understanding of the Old Testament and New Testament has been great. You really understand what it means for David to be writing “as the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you” when you’ve been wandering in the same desert that he was when he wrote that. Also, seeing the life of the Jordanian’s, the poverty and yet the devotion and life that is there has been life changing. I really feel a love and care for them. I can tell you my stories about Ayman and the Bedouins when I get home. All I can say is that I’m seeing how much God cares for the Arab Muslims.
Sorry to tell you that this time being abroad I don’t miss home yet. The hiking has been pretty extreme, but I’ve been more capable than I thought. I can’t allow myself to be left behind, so I push through my lack of will power. I have had no real problems with blisters or injuries. I have a few blisters, bruises and scrapes but nothing that can’t be fixed with a band-aid.
Please keep praying for me. I want to know what will make God smile and how I can be more obedient to Him. It’s been an exciting journey and I still have another week.

This is the first mountain that we climed. We started down at that road and joked that we were going to go all the way to the top. Well, to our surprise we just kept going up and up. It was only after we were at the top that our group leader (Wyn) finally told us where we were. We were on top of Mt. Nebo where Moses first overlooked the Promised Land that God would give into their hands. This is the view. Just to make sure you know, Mt. Nebo is in Jordan. We spent the first couple days in Jordan and so far I’ve liked it better than Israel, but we have more time here so we will see how I feel in the end.

The whole trip so far we never know exactly where we are going.  But I end up loving it.  It kind of keeps me from worrying and freaking out that I can’t do it.  (There’s probably a life/spiritual lesson in there)  I wish I could share all my stories, but I can’t.  Basically….everyone should go.

 

Return to normalcy- Thursday, August 28th, 2008

It feels a little weird saying that school is the normalcy. I feel a little guilty for some reason. As if I should be more attached at home. But if this summer showed me anything (it showed me lots) it was that my life is being more and more removed from “home.”
Of course, I will always call it home just because it’s where my parents are. You know, that whole cliche “Home is where the heart is”. That’s definately true because of my parents and because Kearney holds so many memories. But each time I return I feel very willing to leave after a few days. 

Now I’m really home. At Bethel. At least it’s home for now. I suppose someday it will move into the same sort of emotions that Kearney has moved into, but for this moment being back at Bethel brings me such joy.  I love just walking around campus and seeing people milling about, a few working, and a few goofing off.

Of course, right now it feels so fun partially because everything, even classes, feels like a social event. Then there is also the fact that every evening since I’ve gotten here there really has been a social event of some sort. There’s been a back to school party, classes, playing Uno, games and Kung Fu Panda, the Warren Dunes, a bonfire, then another bonfire. Whewww….yeah, it’s been great. It’s been even better not feeling guilty every night because I don’t have any homework AND I haven’t had to wake up before 8 a.m. any morning (which is a vast improvement from 5:30).
So, I would continue to tell you details that you would think are worthless, but I have a very important game of Super Mario Brothers 3 to continue with my roomates, so I need to go.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

 

Random things you don’t really need to know….

* Apple slices and peanut butter are my new favorite snack
* I’ve decided that I like ‘Hannah Montana’
* I burnt my nose……with a curling iron (I’m dumb)
* I burnt the sofa…….with a hair straightener (My mom wasn’t too happy)
* I got a magazine in the mail the other day entitled “Hogsmeade”…then I looked again and realized it actually said “Hometown” (apparently I’ve been reading too much Harry Potter)
* My latest favorite song is “All I Wanna Do” by Sugarland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSyeto050ZU

NOT so random things that you might want to know…

Where am I? — Kearney, Ne
What am I doing? — working, going to church, reading, being with my parents, ocassionally being with friends.

In a little more detail…

So yes I’m back in the country (have been for a bit now) and will probably not leave again for some time.  I think the next country I want to go to is the UK, but since that will require a fair amount of money, it’s going to be a while. 
I’ve really really been enjoying my summer.  Israel changed my life and my view of who God is; The Philippines change my view of the church, missions, and my role in both; and the summer is showing me new things about myself including, discipline, money-saving tactics, and self-motivation.  Oh!  and I stopped by Washington D.C. on my way back from those trips and spent time with the beautiful Carrie (at right). It wasn’t quite as relaxing as I had expected but it was a blast meeting all her people and seeing her life there. I also got to see Emily and Chad, so it was one of those weird small world things because we were all Bethel people who weren’t at our Bethel lives.
I have a full time job which was exactly what I prayed for but I was till surprised it happened (I’m not the only one who does that am I?)  I thought “Who will hire me for only 2 months?” but it happened!  I’m working out at Morris Press Cookbooks!  It’s a cookbook factory! Haha!  I know…no one really thinks of where stuff comes from. But now you know that someone (me) is standing somewhere in a factory making cookbooks. It leads me to think of other things that people are making. The thought crosses my mind “gee, someone, somewhere goes to work everyday and makes toilet paper. Strange!” My job is by no means exciting. Mostly I stand in the same spot and put cookbook covers into a box, sometimes I get to put the 3 ring binders onto the covers, but not usually.
The guys I work with listen to country music all day, everyday, hence my new favorite song is a country song. However, after the end of the first week, even I (who likes country music) was tired of it.  I had wanted an iPod for a long time to use for trips between homes and for excersing and listening to sermons and cool stuff. Soooo….I finally spent a wad of cash and got one. yeah!
No one really lives in Kearney anymore so I’m a little lonely here. There’s about 7-8 people who are normally around in the summers that I will hang out with regularly and only 2 are here. But of course these two have full time jobs as well and it makes it very difficult to be with them. Plus, since I have to be at work by 6 every morning *gag me!* I have to go to bed at like 9:30. Dumb! Of course, it was only the first two nights of having a job that I acutally succeded in that. Now I try to make it to my bed by 10 and usually read (Harry Potter-although Josh just gave me “Watchmen” to read) for an hour.  So anyway, back to my lack of friends….Thankfully, people are coming home sporadically and I’m seeing them.  I’ve hung out with Josh a lot and we’ve talked about everything under the sun, but mostly Batman and today Ashlea returned and I’m so excited for everything! She just makes me happy in general.  Sometimes she makes me mad but not really since middle school.
Any other important stuff you should know?  I got to see my brother Matt and his family for a grand total of maybe 12 hrs. That was great! I’m already making efforts to get him to my graduation which will be a miracle, but you never know.
Anything else?  Not for now.  I have many things I could ramble about, but I think you’ve had enough of that for now. Look at my summer pictures below. It includes July 4th celebrations with my family, and me cooking Runza’s.