Almost there...

Hey everyone, I write to you with a sense of relief and of anxiety. Strange, huh. Relief because it is almost Thanksgiving break, but anxiety because I still have quite a bit to do before taking my break. Currently, I am studying for a chemistry exam and finishing up a philosophy paper that I have been putting off for far too long.

 

This weekend was pretty busy. On Saturday we held BWP's last event of the semester, which was an outdoor cooking clinic. We invited people to join us at a nice place called Twin Springs Park, where we demonstrated how to cook a few types of foods one might enjoy while in the wilderness. It went pretty well, and people were willing to join us, even though it was a bit chilly. Kudos.

 

There was a climbing event at the rock wall yesterday. It was called the Turkey Climb, but had little to do with turkey. It was more of a competition where climbers would choose three routes which were each assigned a point value. They would then attempt to climb these routes without falling to obtain those points. The climber with the most points won. Unfortunately, staff members were not allowed to compete. :) 

 

Last night I headed home because we had some dinner guests. In May, the largest immigration raid occurred at a meatpacking plant in Postville, IA, which is about 30 miles away from Decorah. Around 400 people were jailed or deported, many torn away from families and friends to find themselves in a very undesirable situation. Now, a few months later, many are still finding themselves displaced. There are several who ended up in Decorah, and are currently being supported and helped out by generous folks of this nice little town. Two of the guys, Javier and Oscar, joined us for dinner last night. It was really fascinating talking to them and hearing about their experiences in Iowa, and relating it to their situations in Guatemala. They both had families in Guatemala, whom they hadn't seen for far too long. They were incredibly nice guys, and we enjoyed their company very much. It was also fun because they don't speak any English, and I was able to poke fun at my dad in Spanish, since he is member of our family who has not learned it. We got a kick out of that.

 

But that is about it for now. I suppose I had better keep studying. I hope you all enjoy this holiday season. Remember, moderation is key. Also, the crazy day of shopping called Black Friday is also International Buy Nothing Day. I urge you all to think about what effect the enormous consumption and frivolous buying of this season has, both socially and environmentally. Ask yourself - is it really necessary? Thanks for reading!

 

Peace,

Collin

Dance like your hair is on fire.

My buddies and I are imitating a breakdancing move pictured in our book. That's me in the white shirt.

Currently I am taking a class called Contact Improvisation. It is a dance course, which is little abnormal for me. Don't get me wrong, I am very much a dancer, but would not have expected to be studying it here at Luther. I am more of a social dancer, and have not yet had the pleasure of studying it in a formal setting.

 

In Contact Improvisation, two dancers rely on one contact point between them that is maintained throughout a series of movements. It focuses on balance, giving and taking weight, and momentum. It is really a blast and is quite amazing to watch and try. Today our class had the opportunity to share it with others. We held an open class/performance in which we showed other students what we had been working on throughout the semester and offered them the opportunity to try. 

 

This is one of the beautiful things about Luther and the liberal arts education. I am a biology major, studying the scientific sphere of the world around us. I learn about the natural world in both micro- and macroscopic perspectives. However, every Tuesday and Thursday I find myself jumping, spinning, and moving in very atypical ways. Last semester I studied evolution, ecology and biodiversity, but also created bowls, mugs, and cylinders in a pottery class. Obviously, there are set requirements for each major. This is meant to give students a deep understanding of the field they choose to study. However, so much is left wide open for students to try new things, to take classes that normally would not have been considered, or to seek a degree in another field, as well. I have enjoyed, and will undoubtedly enjoy more classes that offer me a chance to form a very well-rounded education.

 

So that is my two cents regarding the desired breadth of a college education. Take what you will, but know that I am going to have a great time next semester studying about chemistry, the ethics of energy usage, Buddhism and animal welfare.

 

Peace,

Collin

I dream of a simple life...

Hello everyone, I hope you all are keeping warm as the mercury and snow start falling. We are doing our best here at Luther.

 

I want to take this time to chat about some ideas that have been dancing around in my head for quite a while now.

 

I think something is wrong with me. I am surrounded by the buzzing and whirring of college life. Everything is so fast-paced; incredible technology is everywhere and everything just keeps speeding up. Cars, computers, ipods, cell phones, TVs and video games are everyday objects. It just doesn't feel right for me. Don't get me wrong, I make use of many of these items; I have a cell phone and a computer, and they make my life far easier. However, I have this undeniable concern that my life has become too easy, in a way. There seems to be too much reliance on these items, especially in the college scene, where fellow students and teachers alike expect and require you to have and/or understand these tools. 

 

I want to slow things down. I want to take my time and enjoy that which is more natural in life. I don't want to stare at a screen all day. I want to do things with my hands. I don't want to rely on cars and cell phones like the larger American population. I want to use human power for transportation and I want to close the distance between individuals when talking. I don't want a lot of money or a high-power job. It seems silly to me that we concern ourselves with fashion and other trends.

 

I cannot help but dream of buying a plot of land, building a yurt (look it up, they are super cool), and growing my own food, creating a small, self-sustaining homestead. This seems to be viewed by the larger population as going backwards in time, and I think that is too bad. We have become so far removed from simplicity and so attached and dependent on electronics, and gasoline that we have lost all self-sufficiency. I don't want that to happen to me. I don't know if this makes me old fashioned or stone-age, but I just long for a simpler life.

 

I am sorry if this is more of a rant than anything. It is just because I have become more aware of these issues as I spend more time indoors due to the changing seasons. If you feel so inclined, leave a comment to let me know what you think about it all. Until next time, take care!

 

Peace,

Collin

 

p.s. I would like to say one more thing. I congratulate the United States of America for electing Barack Obama as the 44th president. I think it is a good change for us all, and I hope we all can become a little more united, just as our name suggests. It seems that we need it now more than ever.

Spooky!

Hi everyone, it is holiday time here at Luther. Halloween came bearing amazing costumes and fun times for young and old.

 

So this year I decided to take a different approach when it came to costuming. Most of the time we choose a figure outside of ourselves, whether it be a politician, an imaginary character, or an inanimate object like a pumpkin. However, I decided to be my former self.

 

Now, this may sound a bit strange, but I have gone through many phases in my life. So I decided to dig out all my old clothing (plaid pants, punk tee, spiked belt, etc.) from when I was a member of Social Dropout, a punk band for which I played guitar in middle school. It was really a nice blast from the past, and made me a bit nostalgic for the angry political music about which I was so passionate.

An athlete, a robot, and a punk; what a great combination! 

My friend Lauren had a get-together in her room at which we told ghost stories, ate candy, and listened to some music. It was really fun, but dorm rooms are not exactly the most ideal spot for parties, since they usually only hold 5 individuals at most. However, we jammed 15 or so people in there and made the most of it. Afterwards, we headed downtown and listened to a band play. It was great to see all the fun costumes at the venue. I saw several Sarah Palins, a huge amount of Jokers from Batman, and a mix of hillbillys, cops, and the traditional pumpkin and witch.

 

Now it is November, the second half of the semester is underway. It is time to figure out schedules for J-term and Spring Semester. I am hoping to get into all the classes I want. It is always hard to tell how things will play out, but we shall see. 

 

I am also getting very excited and quite nervous for election day tomorrow. It has been so long in coming that it is hard to believe that it is all coming down to tomorrow's events. If you haven't done so already, get out there and vote. Ignorance is bliss, but it doesn't help the situation at all.

 

Well, I hope you are recovering from the stomach ache that comes with Halloween candy, and I wish the best to you and yours. 

 

Peace,

Collin