From The College Dorm: CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY

Hello again everyone! Long time, no post! It's been freezing cold with this winter... and college has been SO crazy! Which is both good and bad. I will try to update you on some of the things going on in my life so far.

Now that I have been in college for over a semester, I feel I'm starting to get a grasp on how to "college."

This semester I have gone into my first actual Elementary Education (ElEd) class. I have enjoyed the teacher so much! She is so enthusiastic about her job and teaching us. Her excitement rubs off onto us and our desire to teach just like her to the little kids.

I also really enjoy my new psychology class. The subject is just so interesting, and I am just so enthralled every class. Plus, he gets through the notes so fast, we get out SUPER early every time, which is always a plus, because I need to get to my volunteering jobs.

I never got an actual job throughout this freshman year, no matter how hard I looked. So I ended up making some cash by knitting some scarves and crocheting baby blankets. You'd be surprised how many sales one college student can get during the winter, especially before Christmas!

So since I couldn't get a job quite yet (since it is nearly impossible for a freshman), I took up lots of volunteering jobs. I have a requirement for my ElEd course to do 50 hours of volunteering. So I took up a tutoring and mentoring program on Tuesdays called MOM's (Motivate Our Minds). Also, I picked up Thursday volunteering for ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation). It is a kennel that has a kennel and barn of dogs, and a "Catty Shack" house for the cats. They even have a mascot named Chett. Now Chett, he is neither a cat or a dog. He is a large, pot-bellied pig. He has two large tusks and only one ear! He is so sweet, and they let me have him eat an apple straight from my hand, which was super cool.

They also have a 6 month old, male puppy named Boomer. He's house broken and super loving, but he was given to us when his elderly owner got ill. So now I play with him a lot. He reminds me so much of my own dog from home named Sandie. I'm trying to train the puppy so more people would be interested. I've nearly got him to learn the trick "sit." I'm also teaching him "stay," but when he does, and I release him, he can't understand that I've released him, so he simply stays and gives a pouty look. I love all the animals there, but he is by far my favorite one! I only hope he can find a home soon.

I've also befriended an elderly lady off campus named Beverly. She is a super strong Christian, and such a great influence, that I dedicate a few hours every Wednesday to sitting with her to hear her stories, or to just accompany her. I've even grocery shopped for her when it was really cold and, in response, she payed for my McDonalds, and forced some gas money on me. She is just the sweetest person, and I love just being around her. Sadly she has highly advanced cancer, so she may not be around much longer. I know she would appreciate if you would pray for her, and I would, too!

I also just gave a speech today in my communication class. It was so funny, because I did an informative speech on fancy rats, or domesticated rats. There were only like two or so that got excited like they owned some before, and everyone else was just so astonished. Even my teacher reacted and seemed to enjoy learning about it! It was a great experience.

I recently went Tray sledding with my roommate Marisa, her boyfriend and his dance partner, and our friend Austin! We stole a tray temporarily from Woodworth and had a blast on the hill just outside! Afterwords, we got some nice warm tea and truffles (which I held off on, for tea was enough). It was a memory I will never forget! I now see why it is a college tradition!

On another recent event, my roommate had her birthday Sunday. I took her to a small cafe called Sunshine Cafe, then we blew noisemakers at aggressive geese and got chased, and ended it with a surprise party hosted by her boyfriend! It was a fun day and she nearly cried from the surprise party.

And last but not least for now, we have already begun to decide roommates and rooms for the next year. My current roommate is going to go to a dorm i don't want to, so we are splitting ways and finding new ones. I talked to another one of my friends I volunteer with, and we have agreed to pair up next year, which is nice because I won't have to be placed with a random person! She just secured us a room in Studebaker West. We will get A/C and fairly nice dorms, right behind a place with delicious eats, instead of Lafollete food! It will be sad not being with Marisa anymore, as we are now such great friends, but at the same time, I can't wait to move in with my friend Bella Neff!

So I will leave you with pictures (in no particular order) of my first year so far for now, and will hope to see you all soon! Remember I welcome questions! I'll post a pic of Boomer and other ARF animals soon!