Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
At last, a day that I feel like I have something important to tell even though it's pretty common here! Today, as it was raining and the wind was whipping the stinging rain into my face I pulled out my handy-dandy umbrella and put it almost perpendicular to the ground because I swear it was raining horizontally! I occasionally glanced up to make sure I wasn't going to run into anyone, but I was taking the "back way" and didn't think I would. Just as I was sneaking between two buildings I checked for people and realized that President Dunn was facing the same problem as I, fighting the wind and rain with a HUGE umbrella. He smiled and we briefly greeted each other before getting on with our struggles. I KNOW that all the WMU students tell you how he is so involved in his students and blah, blah, blah, but I thought it was really cool that he was A.)walking B.)walking in the rain C.)walking in the rain, the back way and D.) still thought it appropriate to make sure I was having a "lovely day."
I also had an encounter with one of my professors today. We were meeting in a different place than normal for class and he and I met a few minutes away from meeting place and walked together. He is my intimidating professor so when he asked me what I thought about the class I told him it was a little overwhelming and was a big challenge, but it was also good for me. He was glad to hear it and when he learned that I knew Spanish we had a Spanish conversation. Our class is around 100 students so I was surprised when I offered my first name and he could place it with my last. Unfortunately, now I know that my name will stick out to him and I'll probably be more likely to get called on in class. Maybe that will be my motivation to not fall behind.
For class we met at the study abroad fair and were able to tour the whole show. At first it was mildly chaotic and I was totally unconvinced. It was like all the other WMU "open house" type things that I've been to. It seems that the representatives who will talk are always busy and the other ones don't talk at all so you just end up picking up endless fliers. Today, however, I was able to talk to a lady and I was flat out like, "I speak Spanish. I don't know where I want to go, but I want to be able to use my Spanish. I want to go in the spring of 2011. What do you recommend?" She was really helpful and she went through the options with me. We eventually narrowed it down from 11 choices to 2 and I think from there I've narrowed it down to 1.
I know, I know! You are thinking, "Sydney can't even handle being at Western for more than 4 weeks at a time, how in the WORLD is she going to handle being in another country for an entire semester?" I was thinking the same thing so I sat down and had a discussion with myself. These were my thoughts:
It's hard being here now because I am not doing enough with other people. Yes, my homework takes up most of my time, but I'm still not busy-at all. I'm still trying to get involved with things, but they are slow going. I can't guarantee that I'd be busy in another country, but even just speaking Spanish constantly would probably keep me busy. I'd also be with a host family so I think that would be helpful.
It IS only my first year, first semester. I mean, I have to get remotely used to this sooner or later, right? If I'm not getting better at this by my fourth semester in college, I fail and I shouldn't be doing this.
Overall, it's something that is so vital to my education. It's encouraged for everybody no matter their career path, but it's practically essential for mine. I know it will be fun and thinking ahead makes me really excited.
It's almost time to schedule my classes for next semester. I have to talk to an advisor soon and I think I'm going to be one of those students where all the advisers see me and run! I have a huge long list of open ended questions that will probably take some work to figure out. They say that's what they're there for, but I may be testing the boundaries! The most exciting part is sketching out a four-year plan. I really like having a general idea/map of where I'm going. It's nice to have the outline at least.
So, I'm halfway through my week as of tonight-only two more days of classes. Tomorrow should be filled. So far I have 3 classes, I'm attending a study group to create a presentation on the health of cafeteria food, I'm renting a puppy with Katie and going to a lecture by Tom Friedman. Finally! a schedule with some SUBSTANCE!!
Now, it's off to bed with the rain splattering at my window reminding me that Western is a windy, wet campus.
¡Buenos noches!
2 Comments:
where ya wanna go hon?
This is great, Syd, but first - you are handling it and by the time you do overseas, you'll be able to do that, too - so please, don't
dis my girl, okay? :) It sounds like a good thing, and maybe, I'll be ready when the time comes, too - smile ----
I did finally get my pics on the computer last night, but kept losing FB - must have been the
website problem, nothing else was affected - try
again tonight.
Love you - love the blog - :):):)
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