halloweekend :)

Although it is technically Halloween today, it sure doesn't feel like it. Especially since I spent the weekend getting all dressed up to go to different events! Not that dressing up isn't fun.... getting all the make up off and brushing out my hair is kind of a hassle though.

Thursday night began the festivities when our building had a pumpkin painting party! It was fun. We painted pumpkins. <-- Theresa's input. Elisabeth's was really good. She is like the next Van Gogh. <-- Elisabeth's input. Hahaha, I love those girls. Now ELisabeth is calling me goth... so anyway...

Painting pumpkins! 

Elisabeth's skills!

Brad's pumpkin! The best one, for sure :)

Then Friday night, my wonderful floor-mates and I decided that since we had nothing better to do, we might as well dress up! Why not, right? So we brought our best and played games all night. I was told I make a good dead person, and also that I didn't look much paler than normal... I know I'm white, but I wasn't aware that I looked dead! 

Elisabeth and I are good at looking.... dead. 

Saturday night there was a dance in Eden's North, the dorm connected to mine. It was super fun, and I dragged Paulina to it with me. She is secretly glad that I'm such a good friend! Or not so secretly... :) It was my first official college party (gasp!) and I did not abuse any substances, mom and dad (except maybe sugar... but that isn't illegal!). Super fun night!

We also make good dead people. I was told I look like a corpse multiple times, haha. 

Elisabeth was Sylvia Plath, a poet who killed herself by putting her head in the oven. 

Not creepy at all!

Overall it was a really fun weekend! Lots of hanging out, and minimal homework (following a week of midterms, studying and essay-writing, I think I deserved it). I also cleaned my room and did laundry, AND wrote another paper though, so it wasn't entirely unproductive :)

And Sunday my suitemate Theresa returned from her weekend of partying with the equestrian club, and having her back was very happy-making! We watched The Little Mermaid, listened to Halloween music and laughed a lot at the silly conversations we have :) 

Now it's Monday again, and I am back to doing homework and catching up on what I neglected to do this weekend.

"Be yourself. Everyone else is taken." 

The end. 

here we go.

I decided to start a blog specifically about college, because as my friend Sarah pointed out, I don't really want to forget it. Plus it's a good way to keep people updated on how everything is going without telling the same stories all the time. Or accidentally repeating my stories to the same people... :)

So... here we go.
The first month (a little over that, I suppose) has had it's ups and downs. I had a lot of concerns coming into college about dorm life, my roommate and suitemates, not having all the luxuries of living at home, motivation, balance between homework and social life, making friends and getting out.... basically everything. I'll let you know now- everything has worked out okay!
Moving in was weird. I wasn't sure I liked it the first couple days; I wasn't used to being on my own and having to go out and meet people, find things to do, get my own food, etc. But I discovered that people on my floor are wonderful and making friends really isn't that hard.

This is where I live. FANCY BUILDING. And I love it :)

While I haven't had a TON of time for photography, Theresa and I did go on a photo walk last weekend. I'm glad she let me go with, because the fall colors are splendid. 

Once classes started it felt a little more like school (quote from my sister- "So college is basically like school... but you live there?) Having 2-4 hours of class a day doesn't occupy much time though! Every night felt like a weekend for the first 3 weeks-ish- it was like being at camp! Now it feels more like college again, because of midterm week. It has been funny getting on facebook and seeing everyone's status being "I have a _____ test tomorrow!" "My essay is due in 12 hours and I'm still only halfway done..." "Anyone have the notes from the review I can borrow?!" etc. I'm mostly through my tests/essays and am now anxiously awaiting grades... darn the budget cuts (resulting in fewer hours to put scantrons through the machines that grade them.... aka I get my tests back later! And on a quick side-note, doesn't "scantron" sound like a Transformer or something? Say it in a dramatic voice- you'll hear it). I have my second Spanish final on Friday and an essay due Monday, then I will be done with all that (mostly) until finals!
On the topic of classes, they are going well :) My abnormal psych class is AMAZING. The book and professor make everything so intriguing and it's totally worth getting up to go to class at 8:30 (it's all the way across campus, too. I get my exercise in!). My communication disorders class is also wonderful, and hearing stories about people with speech, language and hearing disorders just solidifies my interest in the profession. I'm so excited to apply to the education and communication sciences departments so I can get started in the programs! I feel like I'm really getting a start on where I want to go with my life and it makes all the studying and homework worth every second!
My honors class (on cultural traditions- focused on ancient Greek/Mesopotamian texts this quarter) continues to amaze me, even halfway through the quarter. The other students in my class manage to make profound statements about the readings that just blow my mind sometimes. It's really exciting to be surrounded by people my own age who can be so insightful. One reason I love living in the honors dorm :) another being there is always someone around to help with homework... haha.

Beyond classes, I've been meeting a ton of people (most names go in one ear and out the other, but I'm working on that!). My suitemate Theresa and I have gone downtown a bunch with various people and are getting to know our way around. I love having a bus pass that comes with tuition because the public transportation system is so efficient here!

Theresa and I, riding an EMPTY bus downtown :)

Theresa, me and Rachel on the bus :)

I'm good at making faces when other people look normal.

I have also been discovering my knack for dying hair unnatural colors- so far I have dyed Theresa's, Rachel's, Stephanie's, Rachel's sister's and mine! I'm getting pretty good at it, too, if I do say so myself. Theresa, Rachel and I had a hair dye party, complete with many mirror pictures :)

This is why Rachel and I are friends... <3

hahaha.

Theresa tends to make more normal faces than I do :P

These girls are my favorite!

Basically, life here has been a mixture of adventures, fun, learning, studying, frustration, and lack of sleep. I have even had to resort to drinking coffee (well.... 95% chocolate and sugar with a little coffee mixed in..... haha) to get through Saturday homework sessions as Wood's. I'm definitely settling into a routine and getting used to life on my own. While I miss my family and high school friends, I feel like I'm in a good place in life right now :)

I have to go to an education department info session now so... more to come later!

The end.