Crunch Time

So you may have thought I dropped off the face of the planet because my blog has not been updated in forever.  Well, sorry to frighten you.  I am alive and busy as always.  Also, I did have one other blog entry up, but we changed software systems and it got left behind in the dust.  It is my own fault I should have saved it for conversion to new software, but I forgot.  Therefore, I am going to take you all on a wild ride with what I have been up to from spring break to now.

So for spring break as a Community Assistant (CA), I was required to stay for an extra day to help close up all the dorms for the vacation.  That Friday was absolutely beautiful and I went on an excursion to downtown Canton with a friend of mine.  We decided to walk downtown because the weather was finally warm and it felt as though spring had sprung.  We checked out some of the shops and my friend, Emily, got some gifts for her father's birthday from a shop featuring works from local artisans.  Also, we went to a pet shop and I almost convinced Emily to buy a really cute baby bunny.  However, in the end we both decided that her trip back home to North Carolina would be less than ideal with a new pet along for the ride.  All in all, it was a great way to soak in the last day on campus because most kids had already gone home it was really nice to take advantage of the weather and Canton.  That night we also had a CA "fun night" to hang out, play games, have some snacks and enjoy each others company.  Like I said, most students had gone home, so it was cool to get all the CAs and enjoy our last night on campus before break.  I was lucky enough to get a ride home with a friend from the same area.  Also, during my spring break I even ended up hanging out with some SLU friends from my hometown (Class of '07, '08, '10, '12).  My break was relaxing and enjoyable.  Nothing too exciting to report, I wish I had gotten a little more work done, but it's a BREAK so I procrastinated a little bit.

Once back on campus it was right back to the grindstone.  I had a ton of work, but I was rejuvenated and motivated to work hard.  Also, the weather was consistently getting better, which always improves my mood.  One major thing that I did decide over break was to take part in the SLU Summer Kenya Program.  I had to discuss it with my parents first and figure out if I could do it, but it worked out and I turned in all my paperwork.  The class that I will be taking is about health care and medical aid relief in the country.  St. Lawrence has a really great connection with Kenya and it is definitely one of our most popular abroad opportunities.  I think it will be an amazing opportunity and I will be interested to compare this experience to the one I had last autumn in Denmark.  I knew I would regret it if during my time at SLU I did not take advantage of the Kenya Program.  I actually just got my immunizations the week I got back.  Let me tell you they are not pleasant.  My arms hurt for a few days, but I'm sure in the end it will be worth it.  We also had two orientation meetings the first few weeks after break to help us understand more about the Kenya program and the country itself before we depart.  It was helpful to get some expert insight while getting ready for the program.

Another huge event after break was the SLU Spring Concert put on by ACE (Association of Campus Entertainment).  I was amped for the concert for this year.  ACE got Girl Talk to come to Canton to play in Leithead Field-house.  Girl Talk is a "mash-up" artist/ DJ.  He mixes together tons of different songs to create new and really cool tracks.  It is great dance music and he is super popular.  A ton of my friends from home were extremely jealous that he was coming to SLU.  ACE managed to sell out the concert for about 2,000 people.  Some people didn't have the greatest time because it began to get a little rowdy in the crowd when Girl Talk brought people up on stage.  Girl Talk walked off momentarily, order was restored and the rest of the concert went off without a hitch.  I personally had a BLAST the entire time.  I was with a good group of friends and we danced, sang a long, and just enjoyed the concert.  This weekend we are also having a Spring Fest concert on the quad.  I am looking forward to this also because there are going to be four different bands on the quad and then an after show in the Student Center.  The Spring Fest this year is focused on sustainability.  Yesterday, there were tons of events for Earth Day.  All week there have been events to promote and celebrate sustainability in our community.  I am excited for the "Sustainability Social" tomorrow night.  I hear there will be some great h'dourves and some great conversation also about environmentally friendly practices with sustainability activists.

I have also had the opportunity to go to some sorority functions with some of my friends.  Last weekend it was beautiful weather and there was a Greek BBQ on the quad.  Burgers + lemonade + sunshine + friends + springtime = PERFECT.  Also, I went to a formal event with one of my good friend Laura.  The event is called Mai Tai and it is funny how you get invited.  The girls in KDS choose a date for another one of their sisters, but she does not get to know who she will be going with.  Also, the date that is invited is not told who their KDS date will be.  So, both you and your date are in the dark about who they are going with.  The fun part is you secretly exchange a tie with a member of KDS and she gives it to your date.  So, when you show up to the formal you have to find the girl wearing your tie.  It is a fun ceremony and I had lots of guesses who I would be going with, but I was fooled in the end.  I had a really great time at the event!  Also, I went to the XO formal as well.  I went with another good friend Tiffany.  We are actually lab partners this semester and we are currently doing an independent project determining mercury levels in sand, plants, and animals in the rivers surrounding SLU.  I had a really good time at this formal as well.  There were no tricky invitations this time, but at one point our bus to the event almost got hit by a train... no big deal.  Ha ha, it is less scary than it sounds.  Long story short, the gates that come down when a train is coming, kind of came down on top of our bus.  We were stuck for a second on the tracks before we reversed out of it, but everyone freaked out for a second.  In the end it was worth a good laugh.

Wow, it must seem like I have done NO work.  I am just talking about all the fun things I have done.  Yet, this semester has honestly been the most academically challenging for me thus far.  I have had to work super hard and like the title of this blog says it is crunch time now.  We are approaching the last week of classes and then finals.  It is hard to believe because for me this semester has just flown by.  I don't really want to think about it ending yet because I am inundated with projects, presentations, and exams.  I am actually preparing for a Biophysical Chemistry exam as I am finishing writing this blog.  Reaction kinetics are fogging up my brain.

So, even though I have been absent for so long, I hope this blog did an alright job of updating you on my SLU life.  We have also had tons of Admissions Visit Days for both high school juniors and accepted students.  Working at these events has been a lot of fun and I have met some great kids!  If you have any questions about SLU, make sure to let me know!

I will be checking in again before the year is over! Now I'm off to study!

(I tried to add pictures, but I am struggling with the new system... they will hopefully come soon!)