In the Words of a College Student

No, you aren't just seeing things...if you are reading these words (truly you are), then I just posted for the first time since school started! You see, the problem isn't that I haven't had time, or even that I fell off the face of the earth. Well, maybe those are both sort of contributors, but basically I just am only getting on the Internet at school because the electrician at our apartment hasn't hooked us up yet. But it is working out fine...I just haven't had any free time to sit here and fill everybody in on the comprehensive details of my life at college.

Why do I post now, you may ask? I understand this is extremely blunt, but I quite simply am tired of this long day on campus...I've been here for nearly eight hours now and I am becoming easily distracted. So, I thought...why not do a blog post?

Reason number two: I have heard tell of people who have been visiting this blog and finding it disappointingly lifeless.

Now that I have spend three entire paragraphs talking about this post, I will move on to something more noteworthy...if I can think of anything.

Basically, my classes are all going well. I am enjoying them and they aren't very difficult (though I say that with hesitancy and tentative declaration). All but one of my classes (Spanish) are in the Pappajohn Business Building, so I pretty much hang out here all day. It is a really nice building and makes the University seem a little smaller if I don't have to venture far.

Life at the apartment is going smoothly, apart from the rough patches of our disconnection from the Internet, my lack of cooking expertise, and a few car incidents that I won't explain in full detail. My roommate is wonderful and very patient with me!

I have made it home every weekend except during On Iowa, although I may not be home this weekend. Aside from week one, I have not felt homesick except for the hour I spend on the road ever Sunday night on my way back to North Liberty. That is normally the most difficult hour of my week.

For those who know my past encounters with school, it may be surprising to find that I had been keeping cool and had not truly felt stressed out until Tuesday of this week. Tuesday afternoon I officially was stressed and felt like it couldn't be done. However, after school yesterday (Wednesday) I was able to overcome my mind and I have been keeping productive, positive, happy, and calm.

I apologize for writing a book, but I just need something to give people to read as they await my next post, which will be coming after an indefinite period of time.

Apology Number Two: I also regret that I have not discussed my family's life, but I hope I can be excused from such since I am only with them for two of seven days each week. I will, however, say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESSE (7) and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOM (45)!!! Both of them celebrated their birthdays this week, and Justin will be 13 (TEENAGER) on Monday. So, since I probably won't get the chance later, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JUSTIN!!! Perhaps Jonathan can get on here and give updates on the rest of the happenings around there.

I just substantially increased the amount of text in this post, but there is one more thing I'd like to share before I go. I have had the same CD playing in my car for four of the six weeks of school, and there is one song in particular that brought me comfort through the major adjustments being away from home during the first few weeks of school, and serves as a reminder to me still:

I have a Heavenly Father sung by the Esh family

"Sometimes burdens too heavy to carry send me down to my knees,

In the Lord's presence, I will then tarry waiting for victory.

As I look upward into His glory, troubles all fade from view

When a sweet voice says, "Child, rejoice! I'm watching over you.

"I have a heavenly father watching over me each day:

I have a heavenly father watching every step I take;

I will not tremble in the dark shadows when I can't see my way,

For I have a heavenly father watching over me!

"Traveling over the hills and mountains I am led by His hand

When I am thirsty, He is my fountain in the dry desert sand

Crossing the troubled waters, He's with me, walking on every wave.

He's loving so much it's easy to trust with simple childlike faith."

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and hope to write again soon!

On Iowa!

Hello from Hawkeye Country!

I made it up here to my apartment in North Liberty Thursday and moved myself in! Now I'm ready to be a Hawkeye, I suppose. Thursday was spent getting situated, and then Friday was the beginning of "On Iowa" for me. First, I met with other off-campus students for lunch and an info session, and then there was a Tippie College of Business open house. Following this, we met with small groups and learned more, sat in a lecture hall and learned more, ate supper in the IMU, and then went to Kinnick Stadium for our Class of 2016 picture and a kickoff. There was a program for us, and we got to hear the marching band play.

Do you see me there? I'm at the top of the I, towards the middle-left. The one in the yellow shirt...

Today I didn't have to be at campus until 1:30, but it took me a full two hours to find my way. You see, my usual parking lot doesn't have bus service on weekends. After waiting there for 10 minutes with no luck, I drove for the Hancher lot without knowing where I was going (bad idea!!). Finally, I pulled off, looked at a map and found Hancher, drove there, waited 20 minutes for the bus to come, and finally got in to campus. I had similar difficulties getting out later on. Didn't think to look at a map and it took me a detour or two to get back to 218. But at least it gave me something to do!

As for the actual continuation of On Iowa, we met again in our small groups and did some other activities, and then went to an activities fair at Hubbard Park where we looked at different student organizations, etc. I met a girl from China in my small group yesterday so we spent the afternoon together until we left in time for supper. It is neat to have so much diversity on campus and to meet so many different people!

I finally made it home in time to make supper-the most real meal I've eaten in my apartment-and then was looking for something to do when I found an unsecured internet connection here. So, of course I had to get connected again! :) And that leads me to the present! Hopefully all will go well here at Iowa this year! Thank you all for your prayers and support.

SOME SIDENOTES

Speaking of being a Hawkeye, I spent some time this afternoon talking with a Chinese acquaintance of my Chinese friend. She was confused about why everything said "Hawks" and "Hawkeyes" so I tried to explain that it was our mascot and that Hawks is short for Hawkeyes...she seemed to be pretty confused! She said her roommate had emailed her and at the bottom she always wrote "Go Hawks", but she didn't know what it meant. 

Earlier on, I was talking to the first Chinese girl I met, who I will now name Lu for comprehension purposes. She was confused about the word "like" and what it meant when people said it in the middle of their sentences and how to use it in a sentence. Ok, Americans...answer me that one! I tried for a while to explain it, but I couldn't help her...

It's really interesting to meet people from different languages and cultures and we can really learn a lot! :)

My Future Home :)

Today when I got done working I found out we were going up to visit my new apartment for the first time in North Liberty! I will be living with a friend who works up there. We brought up my desk and a dresser (that we ended up bringing home) so the boys could help with the lifting and also see the place. Every step of getting ready for college seems to make me look forward to it more and helps the nerves settle! Here are a few pictures my mom took of the place while we were moving things in.

The outside...not much to see! It is in a seemingly peaceful neighborhood!

Dad is setting up the desk in my bedroom...you can't see much here but there really isn't much to see yet since nothing else is here.

Fireplace :)

Billy exploring my empty bathroom. It's very spacious!

The living room.

 The kitchen-lots of cupboards and storage space here! There is also a washer and dryer in the apartment.

Magic

Hello again,

I am happy to be back and blog. The vacation was a blast and I would be happy to repeat everything that Stephanie posted. Just kidding. I will actually just give you my opinion of the best part. I think the funnest part was Universal Studios Orlando Islands of Adventure. It was fun to go on the rides. Dad even lost some pounds to go on the Harry Potter ride. I would say my favorite ride was the Hulk Coaster. You can see what it is if you search. Also the Hollywood Rip Ride RockIt. It was fun. Mom didn't like it though because her hair got messed up. All in all I am back home and ready for the boring times. I have unpacked. Please disregard other posts about me not being unpacked. I also have gotten a magic trick and it is amazing to astonish people with amazing things. I may post a video later of me doing my trick.

P.S. I would like to celebrate my second post and Stephanie going to college. She will no longer need her bed which means it is up for grabs.

Home Again

Yep...we are once again home! We left shortly after nine, stopped once for lunch and gas and then again at the new Hardee's in Burlington for supper (nobody felt like making supper when we got home). Nothing extraordinarily exciting happened, though we did take a few pictures from the road! In the end, I believe either Mom or Billy won the license plate game (found the most state license plates) with Jesse, Travis, Justin, and Jonathan close behind. We listened to two whole stories on CD and Jesse claimed to be hungry every twelve minutes.

We stopped to eat at Hardee's and got home at 6:45...so I suppose if we try to be technical, the vacation lasted precisely 10 days and one hour! Now we are in the process of unpacking our many belongings. Actually, no. Dad and Billy are looking at the mail, Johnny is reading the paper, Travis and Jesse are playing with their Hardee's toys, Justin is downstairs playing or something, I am blogging, and Mom is unpacking.

So...here we are, home at last! What a week it has been! And now, some photos from today's drive...

I think this is supposed to show that we are in Kentucky since we missed the welcome sign.

St. Louis Gateway Arch

Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals

We passed the church in Taylor, MO

Travis and his bubble gum (ewwww....)

Funny smile from Jesse

Funny smile from Jonathan

Back in Iowa (a great place to be)!!

...And back in Mediapolis! It's great to be home!