Here We Go!

Oh my goodness, what a weekend. It was full of excitement and stress, quite a stimulating pair. I guess I will get the bad half out of the way first.

 

Finals have begun. I have tackled two of them already, and have one more today, and one more on Thursday. Studying has always been a challenge for me, but I have tried to work through it. A lot of time this weekend was devoted to working chemistry problems and discussing ethical theories. It was rather exhausting. However, with each test, the stress level has been released a little. After today, my stress will be gone. Thursday's final is my contact improvisation dance final, which means no studying. It is a two hour jam session, for which I already feel prepared. So as of 5:30 today, I will be feeling pretty darn good.

 

Now I'll get into the fun side of this weekend. On Friday night, a much anticipated event occurred. A bluegrass band called Pert Near Sandstone played at the Steyer Opera House in Decorah. They came last year and I had a blast. It is nitty gritty style bluegrass that is perfect for dancing. It was fantastic dancing and spending time with a few good people listening to wonderful music. I am hoping they will decide to come back again next year.

 

Another nice break from studying was on Saturday night. We've had a bit of snow lately, but I hadn't had the chance to take out my snowshoes. So on Saturday night, after several hours of studying, I went for a trek into the cold and the darkness. It is amazing how much of a release this type of activity can be. I just walked for a couple of hours, exploring the wilderness areas surrounding campus. I followed the river, met up with a group of deer, and stayed surprisingly warm. I felt refreshed afterwards, which was much needed.

 

So overall it was a pretty good weekend. After Thursday we will be on break and I am going to spend some quality time with my family. It should be good to get away for a while and come back to a new schedule and a new year. 

 

I hope all is well with each and every one of you. If I don't speak to you beforehand, happy holidays. I hope this season and the coming year are the best so far.

 

Peace,

Collin

So here we are; the home stretch. The last week before finals has arrived and tension is in the air. There is a lot to be done, including studying, final projects, and making up for any slack throughout the semester. I am doing my fair share of preparing, but it is little by little.

 

Last night was a fun night. A Fair Trade Fest was held in Marty's. For those of you unfamiliar with the campus, Marty's is a social hangout in the Union building where food is served and oftentimes music is performed. So last night I made my first appearance on campus as part of a bluegrass band with an ever-transforming name. More commonly known as Country Joe and the Ginger Kids, last night we were the Almost Barefoot Band. Country Joe was not able to make it, and one other fella was absent, so the group was abnormally small, which threw us off a little, but it was fun nonetheless. It had been a while since I last played in a band, so to get with a group of musicians again is a good feeling. However, in the past I always played the guitar, and this time I am styling a banjo. Laugh if you want, but a banjo is necessary for bluegrass and I love it.

 

These types of events remind me how incredible some of the students at Luther are. Some of the music that was played last night by my peers absolutely blew me away. There was some amazing traditional Celtic music and some jazz that got me moving. It is really amazing how all sorts of individuals come out of the woodwork to perform for us. It is something I really like about schools that have great music programs.

 

That's about all for now. I had better get studying. I hope all is well for you. Stay warm in this cold season.

 

Peace,

Collin

Back at it.

So here we are, back from yet another break from the regular Luther schedule and community where we head back to our lives before college. What a strange experience it is.

 

Being from Decorah, I run into my family every once in a while. It is surprisingly rare, however, which is a good thing, not because I don't love my family, but because it contributes to the college experience and the independence that comes with it. So it is a bit strange heading home for a period of time when I am so used to my life here at Luther. It is very nice to get away from the usual and sleep in a different (larger) bed. It is also very nice to eat some food that does not come from the cafeteria, usually it feels a bit more natural and there tends to be more variety for a vegetarian such as myself.

 

It is odd, however, how easily it seems to switch back and forth between two different lives, in a way. I had this familiarity with living at my parent's home all throughout my childhood, and now I have relocated myself to a new location (even though it is within walking distance of my childhood home). There is no hesitation to get back into the rhythm that exists at home: sleeping late, eating whenever I feel, and taking in the lack of responsibility. But then it feels entirely natural to come back to Luther and have things directly opposite. 

 

Enough about the strange double life we all seem to be living. Thanksgiving break was nice and peaceful. I passed the time with my family, immediate and otherwise. It was nice to have time to take a deep breath and just relax. However, we are now entering the busiest, most stressful time of the semester. Finals are just around the corner, and any slack from the students or professors must be crammed into these last few weeks. I will do my best to keep my head above water, though and everything should be fine.

 

I hope this new snow is not frustrating or upsetting to anyone, and I hope all of you are enjoying each day. Take care.

 

Peace,

Collin