This week, I had Spanish and biology midterms. At one point during my studying, I found myself reading my biology notes in Spanish. I guess you can say I was multitasking? I think the whole campus will breathe a sigh of relief when classes, and midterms, finish today. I am so relieved to be done with my tests so I can enjoy the weekend.
Besides studying for midterms, I found myself visiting the Trudy Fitness Center several times this past week. I think working out is a good way to relieve test-related stress and to put my focus on something else for a while.
I really like the new fitness center, and I find myself enjoying the atmosphere there. For TV- deprived students like myself, who opted to not get a TV for their dorm rooms, I think the fact that the machines have built-in TVs with cable is just awesome. Maybe that is just the extra bit of motivation I need to go bike 10 or so miles a day at Trudy.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have been involved in a Latin/social dance class for the past few weeks. We had our last class on Wednesday and I am sad to see my career in the merengue end.
The instructor Mr. Von Mechow and his assistant Anna were very helpful and we genuinely learned a great deal about an area many of us had not yet traversed. My dance partner and I enjoyed the class so much that we are going to enroll in the next session, American Dance.
I had the unique pleasure of attending the Living Writers series this week. The auditorium was packed as Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo read aloud from one of his novels, titled “Bridge of Sighs. I had not yet gone to one of these readings and I wanted to give it a try. He was entertaining, witty, and he really seemed to have a passion for writing.
I think it is great that ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø brings acclaimed writers to campus to have them speak. ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø even provided the opportunity for anyone, anywhere, to listen to Russo speak, because the event was webcast live on the Internet.
Students are looking forward to next weekend, when their parents will arrive. It will be great to have my parents sit in on some of my classes and also spend time with them while on campus.
Here is my photo of Richard Russo:
(I’ve been asked to write each week about what life is like as a first-year student here at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. Until next time!)