It's "finally" here!

In less than 57 hours, I'll start having my first college final exams! I won't pretend I'm not nervous; at 8:00am on Monday, I'm starting with two hours of Classical Physics that account for thirty percent of my grade. And studying for this particular exam is probably all I'll be doing this weekend. I have to work on the practice exams posted on Katie in addition to reviewing homework problems. I have a feeling I have a lot of work to do. 

It's really amazing how it's finals week all so soon. During my first week at Luther, I was constantly told by the older students that time goes so fast here. It is true that this is what you hear everywhere you go but I assure you that the situation is quite different here at Luther. I find it impossible to believe that, while I feel like I've spent just a month here, I've actually spent over three and a half months! It still puzzles me how we've moved so quickly from a honeymoon orientation to a nerve-recking finals week! 

I attribute all this largely to the vibrant campus life. Whether you're banished to the library till mid-night working on that paper, in that rave, in the CFL getting involved in Christmas at Luther, or in the Union having a club meeting, there's always bound to be something to do here at Luther. Sometimes, it's not even the campus organizations that takes your time; what takes up time could be hanging out with friends. For example, yesterday evening, I was working on a reflection due finals week and my friends invited me to have free pizza at Marty's Cafe at 8:15pm. I thought to myself that it could turn out to be a good fifteen-minute break from work, after which I would return right back to my paper. Little did I know that I would leave Marty's at 11:00pm, retiring straight to my bed for the night [And that's really bad]!

Thinking back through the semester, though, I realize that the all-round development I've undergone at Luther so far is indeed amazing. I came to Luther with an expectation that I would be able to benefit profoundly from the strong liberal arts program available here. Now, when I compare my current perception of life to that which I came in here with, I am certain that there is a highly significant difference. And this difference in my first semester appears to me as an auspicious sign of more years of great multifaceted development. However, right now, I still have to prove to my professors what I've learned so far through those scary finals...

Overall, I've indeed had a swell semester. I've also really enjoyed sharing my experience here at Luther with you; I really hope you have found my blogs interesting. So...for those with finals to sit for, I wish you all the best! Have a great week everyone!

Take Care, 

Opeoluwa

It's coming...

Hi, all! Hope you enjoyed your week. Here at Luther, I'm in the process of trying to prepare for the finals. I still find it very difficult to believe that it's just one week to the big exams. It's amazing how fast my classes have gone and how many topics we've covered this semester [I can't really remember the first topics we did]. I don't like exams that much because the idea that your grade in a class depends so significantly on just a couple hours freaks me out. I guess I'll just have to calm down and draw confidence that I can do this...

Apart from the number of topics we've taken in class this semester, another thing that complicates issues is the fact that right after the finals is Christmas break. And this just gives an unpleasant mix of feelings. On one hand, you're super excited that you're going to be free from going to classes and doing homework, and you're finally going home to celebrate Christmas [for those who live close]. On the other hand, however, you know very well that right before all this becomes a reality, you have to face one scary week of your first final exams in college! I guess I'm going to have to struggle not to think about the break at all until after my exams [I don't know if that's possible, though].

Luckily for me, this weekend is the one with the least amount of homework ever. Today, my floormates and I went to Wal*Mart to do some much-needed shopping. Besides that, I've spent time hanging out with friends and watching TV. This evening, though, I was able to do some homework and get ready for next week; I have a Calculus quiz on Wednesday. I'm so excited that I'm finally going to talk to my big brother tomorrow; I've not spoken to him since the first week I arrived here. Also, we have a hall council meeting tomorrow in which we have to finalize our plans for the Christmas party in Ylivi. That should be fun...

Well, I guess that's it for now...Have a good day!

Opeoluwa's Thanksgiving

Hello, everyone! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Mine was indeed spectacular here at Luther. First of all, my break started with good news - something I have been hoping for for quite some time. Then, on Thanksgiving day, I had a wonderful time at my host parents' house. I was able to talk with many of my friends from Nigeria [and that was really special]. Also, we international students had plenty of fun together. It was these things that made my break so exciting.

About two weeks ago, I sent an online application to work with the technology help desk for my work-study. So, on Monday, I was invited to have an interview with the manager and two other interviewers. The four of us went into a room at two o'clock and I was asked quite a wide range of questions, even including my extra-curricular activities. Toward the end of the interview, they began to tell me more about what the help desk does and how much I would learn by working there. So, I was a bit encouraged that the interview must have gone well. Then, on Wednesday, I was sent an e-mail saying I got the job! I was so excited because, beyond my longing to work with the help desk and learn more about computers, it was my first interview at Luther and it was productive.

On Thursday, my host parents picked me up at 12:30pm to celebrate thanksgiving with their family. There were about fifteen of us there in the house, including family friends, children, and even grand nephews and nieces of my host parents. It was a pretty diverse crowd too. There was a Congolese church member who said the prayer in his native language [he had to say 'Amen' like twice before we knew he was done]. There was also a freshman there from Iowa State University majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He told me about how some of his classes have close to 200 students! It's why I now appreciate our small class sizes here at Luther more than ever. Overall, I had a really good time there [plenty of good food and turkey to eat, too].

Speaking of food, the cafeteria was closed during this break. But they were kind enough to give us vouchers to buy food downtown. So, on Friday evening, we international students contributed our vouchers and bought food ingredients downtown to prepare in the kitchen of Miller Hall. We were going to have a small social with a sound set and good music. The best part, however, was the food; it was indeed amazing. There were also drinks and snacks. I was having such a nice time there but I had to leave the place before 8:00pm because I had signed up to be an acting RA in Ylvi Hall during the break and I was on duty that night [I feel one step closer to becoming an RA next year!]

The bad part, though, with all these activities, is that I actually didn't do any schoolwork with my time until 10:00pm on Saturday. I spent most of my free time playing my guitar [I'm actually getting better], watching tv, and facebooking. And facebook actually proved to be a productive tool during this break [contrary to the detrimental role it plays in the life of a college student]. I was able to get in touch with my friends from Nigeria whom I hadn't spoken to in ages. And, for the first time, my new pictures attracted more positive comments than negative ones! However, with the amount of fun I've had during this break, it would be interesting how I reajust to going to classes and doing homework. And, with the final exams coming up in just a couple weeks, there is no doubt that I have to get back on track as quickly as possible...

Have a good day!

So far, so good

Wow! It's so cold outside! When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, the ground outside was covered in snow. Now, it's almost noon, the snow is still outside, and it's as cold as ever. It's times like this that you just want to be in your bed with your comforter wrapped around you. I really wish I could do that but, although I'm still a bit sleepy, I have a six-page Paideia Paper to write. 

Last week was registration week, and it was quite interesting. I was scheduled to register at 8:00pm on Tuesday for J-term and Spring Semester. After setting up my preferred sections, I monitored the classes I wanted to take anxiously, hoping a spot would be left for me. Fortunately, my registration was relatively early and there was a good chance that I would get into the classes that I wanted. However, registering for a class wasn't the problem, especially for Spring Semester; the problem was choosing my J-term class. With over 30 interesting courses of different disciplines to be taken and a constantly dwindling number of available spots, I had a hard time deciding which one I wanted. 

After a lot of contemplation, in order to reserve a spot for myself, I decided to register tentatively for Chem 185: Molecules that Changed the World, until I was able to make up my mind. At 7:50, I had set up my preferred sections and I was ready to hit the register button. A new season of Heroes was out and so I watched it to pass time [actually getting more and more exciting]. At exactly 8:00pm, I hit submit and I was able to register for my all my sections, including Chem 185. But my registration didn't end there. I've changed my J-term course up to 5 times since my registration time, switching from Intro to Programing to Energy Problems to Atomic Weapons, etc. But I've finally made up my mind. With encouragement from my Paideia Professor, I've chosen to take Philosophy 185: Big Ideas; I'm convinced that I'll find it interesting.

Concerning current schoolwork, I still can't believe we have a Paideia Paper to write after turning one in just recently. This one seems a lot more straightforward than the last one but six pages seems like a lot. It's why I can't wait to go for Thanksgiving break to be free from schoolwork [at least momentarily]. My host parents invited me to their family dinner on Thanksgiving and I'm really looking forward to it. Also, the diversity center is taking us out [I think to Rochester] on a shopping trip; I can tell it's going to be lots of fun! But that's not until four days' time. Anyway, I still have Gospel Choir, Hall Council, and a movie to watch with my friends this weekend [Osuofia in London]; hopefully, they should keep me going...

It's almost Over...

With all the registration and sign-ups for work hours going on, I am constantly reminded that the semester will be over very soon. Many activities on campus are directed towards preparation for J-term and Spring semester. Priority of registration for courses is based on the number of credits one has acquired and so I'm getting a bit anxious at the rate at which the J-term courses are filling up. I'm really hoping I get to take the course I intend to take. For work-study, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get a decent number of work hours. I'm already turning in my applications; hopefully, I'll get a good job.

On Thursday, during the cold rain, the multicultural students met in the CFL to have soup and bread. Besides the fact that the soup was amazing, the meal seemed to have been perfectly timed for the cold. Surprisingly, though, I don't find the cold that scary anymore. Despite the fact that I am forced to reduce the amount of time I spend outdoors, I think it's very beautiful when it snows; and the nights are actually more pleasant. The bad part, though, is that it gets more and more difficult to get off your bed in the mornings, especially when you have those 8:00am classes. For people still yet to register, I'd advice that you avoid them as much as possible. There's always that lingering possibility of sleeping through your alarm, especially after sleeping at 2:30am. Besides, you don't want to be feeling drowsy in class.

Perhaps due to the general increase in the amount of schoolwork, I don't think there was any major party this weekend. However, I still did some fun stuff. This evening, I went for Gospel Choir practice and it went quite well. It was an opportunity to talk to many of my friends whom I hadn't spoken with in a long time. And the songs were actually interesting. The practice went on for about two hours and we learned 3 songs, in parts. Afterwards, the whole group went to eat dinner together. It became one of those 'social' dinners in which you laugh a lot and make a bit of noise. 

I expect next week to be a bit busy. I have to register for classes on Tuesday, and I think I might have a work-study interview and other work study sign-ups due. In addition to those, I have physics and calculus tests [hopefully, those will go well]. Anyway, I still have the weekend to enjoy. I have a hall council executive meeting on Sunday and I have a movie to watch in the evening. At least, that should spice things up a bit...

Peace!

The Marathon (II)

Last week wasn't very exciting for me. I found myself behind in almost everything. I've come to realize that college life is very 'sensitive.' Every moment counts. You can be up in your game in one moment and be way behind in the next, depending on what you do with your time. So, that was my experience last week. A particularly challenging day was Wednesday. To no avail, I stayed up late trying to think of something reasonable to write on my Paideia paper due that day. I finally gave up and went to bed, making a mental note to wake up and do it in the morning [It's this kind of procrastination that keeps haunting us].

I was woken up by my alarm at 6:30 on Thursday morning - the time I had set to work on my paper. But it was at that moment that I realized how much I loved my bed; I just couldn't leave it's warmth and comfort. Besides, I was still very tired and I had had only a few hours of sleep. So, I decided to stay in bed until 7:15, after which I would go for my work shift and return at 9:00 to work on my paper. After doing the best I could and submitting my paper, I went for my other work shifts and ate lunch. When I got back around 2:00, I decided I needed to take a 'short' nap. But this nap lasted more than 3 hours.

I wasn't able to get any work done until 7:30pm, after dinner. It was then I realized I had about 12 calculus problems, 10 physics problems and 40 pages of Paideia reading due the next day! Then, anxiety set in. I knew it would be impossible to finish all my homework for the next day. And, indeed, at 10 o'clock, I was done with only Calculus. So, I started my physics problems, went about half way and decided I would do the rest and my Paideia reading the next day, Friday.

What's sad is that I wasn't able to do a good job on my physics homework because I rushed through it and I couldn't even do up to one quarter of my Paideia reading. Friday left me with feelings of regret and disappointment. Nevertheless, what's good about experiences like this is they hard-wire in you lessons you'll probably never forget [well, not in a long time]. Now I've learned to check all my homework immediately when it's issued to find out how much work is involved. I've learned that weekends are a very important time in college; they give one the opportunity to prepare well for the week, which helps a lot. Above all, I've learned that one of the best things I can do for myself is to avoid procrastination at all cost and take advantage of the time I have to do some work...

Cheers!

Spookes Day in Ylvi

This week, the hall council finalized the plans for the Halloween party in Ylvi. After holding an extensive meeting on Sunday to decide what games to do, fundraisers and items to buy, and delegating responsibilities over the various activities, I realized that we had a substantial amount of work in our hands. On Tuesday, we went knocking on doors in Ylvi to register people to participate in the games and to also raise funds for the hall council. On Thursday, we went to Wal*Mart to pick up the remaining supplies for the party, including drinks, popcorn, candy and decorations. So, by Friday, all that was left was to set up the games and decorations and put up the signs.

The kids started coming around 5:00pm on Friday. In the study lounge downstairs, we had games like Fishing Pole, Spin the Wheel, Quarter Toss, and Nintendo Wii. On fourth floor, we had Face Painting and Sucker Pull. So, Ylvi was actually bubbling yesterday. We had kids trooping around, playing the games and 'trick or treating' on the floors. An interesting thing also was the spread of Halloween costumes around Ylvi; people's costumes ranged from The Grim Reaper to Iron Man.

My RA, Bryan, was dressed up as a pumpkin and my roommate and friends on my wing were 'Joe dirt.' Mine was a slight variation of 'Joe dirt.' I wore the 'Joe dirt' wig, but I stuffed a balloon under my shirt so I was a pregnant woman instead. It was really funny. There was also plenty of candy of different kinds literarily flying around (A parent actually confessed that Ylvi had the best candy among all the halls). After the kids were gone, around 8:00pm, we cleared all the games and decorations and set up the lounge downstairs for a movie. There were drinks, chocolate and, of course, candy. I slept slightly exhausted but fulfilled yesterday; I think the hall council did a great job organizing the halloween party and social.

Last week, I tried to make sure I slept before 12:00 midnight each day. That enabled me to get an average of 7 hours of sleep. It was really amazing how much more work I could do and how much better I felt with myself. It got really cold early last week, though. It even snowed [mildly] and rained on Sunday. I remember feeling very shocked as I came out of the dorm to face the unexpected rain, snow and cold. It took two jackets and multiple layers to keep me warm. The weather is more tolerable now, anyway.

Right now, we have our most challenging Paideia paper so far. We're supposed to develop a thesis on our own and write a paper involving two books. It sounds a bit scary so it's something I have to start thinking about. Apart from that, classes seem to be going well so far. I took a Calculus exam on Friday and it went okay. Nevertheless, with all this talk about registration for J-term and spring semester, I'm beginning to realize that I will actually miss taking classes with my current professors. Although I would like to have them next semester, due to the classes I'll be taking, I'm likely to be able to keep only one professor - Storm Bailey - my Paideia professor [and he's awesome]. Well, on the brighter side, I'll be able to meet more professors, and I think that's a good thing...

Cheers!

Back in the Game

I'm happy to see my friends back from the break. I must say, despite the fact that I stayed on campus, the break went quite well for me. I actually had the whole time to watch TV [heroes], play games, feast, and rearrange my room. And I was able to speak with many of my friends from Nigeria and my family. I also enjoyed the trip to the mall in Lacrosse during which I ended up buying a lot, including my fat winter clothes and boots. Reports say this winter is going to be the coldest in years. It makes me a bit anxious; I'm hoping that it won't be too harsh.

Finally, in our Paideia section, we're doing something that isn't related to some hard-core theology or philosophy, as were my last two Paideia books. We're reading Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Although I read the book back in High School, I'm so excited that we're studying this Nigerian text for Paideia at Luther. People are already asking me to pronounce the Ibo names in the book and explain some traditional terms. And the book is really interesting to read and much less difficult to understand than Luther's theological writings or Lewis and Blackburn's meta ethical books [though I kind of liked them]. So, I can't wait for my Paideia class on Monday to hear what my Professor has to say; I know it's going to be a very interesting class.

Concerning school work, it's still a bit difficult integrating back into all the activities associated with college life. Although I resolved during this break to maximize my weekends by doing all the homework I can do for the following week, it's still just tempting to stay back and watch some movies or push the homework until Sunday. That, then, would lead to a hideous cycle of sleepless nights and semi-conscious days [I've had many of those]. And that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. In fact it's the last thing I want because schoolwork will only become more tedious. We have two heavily weighted Paideia papers due and the materials that are going to be covered in other classes will be a lot more difficult, considering the fact that we would now be getting into the core of the course with all preliminaries behind us.

It's less than one week to Halloween and the hall council is getting deep into preparations for the 'trick or treating' and Halloween party. We're going to have kids from Decorah knock on our room doors and ask for treats. Then, that Friday evening, we'll have a party. It all sounds like it's going to be fun. My roommate actually has this really scary mask. He even freaked me out with it when he got back from the break. Imagine if we scared the kids with the mask when they knocked on our door... That would be hilarious. But we're not allowed to do that because the hall council decided it would be a bit harsh on the kids [and mean too].

I guess that's all I have for now. By next week, we will be fully back into college life with so many events coming up and deadlines looming. I'm also very excited about the Presidential Election coming up in just a little over a week [I'm glad my candidate is leading]. Until then...

Peace!

At Last, some Respite...

I'm so glad it's finally fall break. It's really amazing how time flies; I can't believe the first half of the semester is actually gone. And I must say, the last 7 weeks have been ones of very significant learning and development in my life. But last week turned out to be my most hectic week at Luther. On Wednesday, I had my Physics and Math mid-semester exams and Paideia open unit quiz. I had to stay up late studying particularly for my physics exam, which from experience, isn't usually very easy. On Friday, I had my Paideia mid-semester exam and my Honors Discussion mid-semester reflection due. The Paideia exam was actually more difficult than I had anticipated; I think it went quite well, though. I had to stay busy until about 5:00pm that day finishing up my Honors reflection.

Nevertheless, the most important thing right now is that it's fall break! I can finally breathe! It's been a very hectic semester so far with plenty of homework to do, meetings to attend, a tight schedule, and a maximum of 6 hours of sleep per day. But yesterday, I actually slept for more than 10 hours. And this morning, I had a well-deserved feast, actually eating all I felt like eating [a luxury I'm not able to afford very often because I'm usually always in a hurry]. I spent the whole day relaxing, watching tv, hanging out with the other international students, and keeping schoolwork as far away from my mind as possible...

Despite my extreme gladness that I have this much-needed break, I can't seem to shake off the loneliness I feel from staying on campus with everyone back home. My hall is virtually empty and it feels very weird being in my room alone without all the noise from my roommate and friends. Mere walking around campus without people around you walking briskly to a class or flashing past you with bikes or skateboards feels strange.

Beyond all this, however, despite the fact that I've accepted the reality of not being able to return to Nigeria until after at least a year, I also can't shake off the nostalgia I feel toward going home and seeing my parents, siblings, and faithful canine. All the same, I'm glad I can use this opportunity to talk to them more frequently [and even make video calls if I can]. Right now, I'm keeping an upperclass friend, Sylvia, company at the KWLC Decorah (Luther Radio Station) studio. It's pretty cool; I'm having lots of fun influencing the music that goes on air. I'm also looking forward to the shopping trip to La Crosse, WI on Monday by the diversity center; I already have on my mind a long list of things to buy...

Until then, thanks again for reading my blog. I wish you a wonderful and relaxing fall break!

Cheers!

A Whole New World...

Welcome again to my blog! It's my first time in America and when I was coming here I didn't know what to expect. I've come to America and found that it's a whole new world. Everything (or almost everything) is different. I thought I had prepared my mind enough from the Hollywood movies I had watched, the internet, and books, but I've realized that America is totally different from what I had initially imagined.

It's finally getting deep into fall. The trees are changing color and shedding their leaves, and it's getting quite cold, especially at night. Very soon, we'll probably have to start using the heaters. And I'll have to go to Wal-Mart to get some warm clothes in preparation for winter. Back in Nigeria, the coldest it usually gets is 20 degrees centigrade, but I hear winter in Iowa feels colder than drenching yourself in cold water and locking yourself in a deep freezer! And that sounds really scary.

I think I'm doing quite well adjusting to American food [actually, I realize it's a combination of foods from different parts of the world]. Nonetheless, it's still a lot different from Nigerian food (which I miss a lot). During my first meals at Luther, I didn't know which food was which and so I would just pick the ones that looked good to me, and this determined the proportions in which I served my food. Then, I would return to my table and discover my assumptions were completely wrong - the items I took too little of were the ones I liked and the items I took a lot of were the ones that didn't taste good to me. And this happened over and over again. So, I had to make conscious efforts to know the specific kinds of food that I liked - by name and appearance - to avoid wasting food. Now, I think I'm much better than I started off. In fact, things I didn't like before now taste a lot better [as if I've discovered a new way to eat them different from the way I used to eat them before].

When I just got to Luther, it was a bit hard to communicate. Back in Nigeria, I always assumed that we Nigerians had a neutral accent and it would be easy for anyone to understand us because we stress every syllable. In fact, it seemed to me that it was people from other parts of the world that had accents. But it turns out nobody has an accent, and everybody has an accent. In my first days at Luther, I couldn't make a complete explanation without the person I'm talking to asking me to repeat myself, or even having a complete blank look on their face! And it was really frustrating. Now, I think it's a little better; people are finally beginning to understand me much more easily. Could it be that I'm beginning to talk 'American,' or my roommate and friends are just beginning to get used to my 'Nigerian accent?'

So far, I don't think it's been such a huge culture shock for me. I know I've found it difficult adjusting to the different weather, accent, food, greetings, and a lot more, in America; I've even had difficulties with jokes - someone says something to me that he feels is completely funny, and I seem not to get the joke, and someone just says something carelessly and I find myself laughing [and it makes me feel silly]! However, the good thing about it is that people at Luther are not out to make fun of cultural differences but embrace it and try to learn from it. They want to know how things are done in other parts of the world and clarify their initial views of other countries. And this makes me feel more proud of my culture and happy to contribute to the diversity at Luther College.

Peace,

-Opeoluwa

Hello, Jupiter!

You simply can't believe how fun-packed my weekend was! On Friday night, the physics department held this really cool astronomy observatory on the roof of Valders Building (where we have the physics laboratories). The whole place was dark, and about six telescopes were set up and focussed on the stars in the sky. In one of the telescopes was a star cluster in our galaxy. It was amazing. I was able to see a star about to have a supernova. Clustered around it was a mass of gas forming the shape of a doughnut. However, most interesting of all was the view of Jupiter. It seemed so real and close to me, almost as if I could touch it. It was big and yellow, and had some black bands across its center. I really had a wonderful time because it's experiences like this that keep one going through all the frustration of resolving complex tension forces in my physics class.

Speaking of classes, it's fascinating how much students contribute in class. In my Paideia class, for example, we actually spend a lot of time debating about the book. Everyone has an opportunity to say what he thinks, and the professor doesn't simply walk to the front of the class to give us 'lectures.' This helps a lot because it actually reinforces the ideas in your mind and makes you recognize various possible interpretations of the text. I've also realized that the professors are actually very happy when you ask questions about things you don't understand. If you have a paper or homework set due, or you are confused about a concept, there's absolutely no need to hesitate to ask your professor for help. He'll explain the concept until it's pellucid.

On Saturday morning, the Ylvi Hall Council carried out its first assignment - representing Ylvi for the homecoming parade. Instead of just walking through the parade like everyone else, we biked in a diamond formation [I was in front]. It was particularly interesting when we would leave the formation, go in circles and chuck candy at kids. We also had a really good cheer. Although it ended up being a bit tiring (with all the screaming and biking), the parade was quite interesting. Right after the parade, I went to the diversity center for a small 'dance party' with snacks, drinks and good Nigerian music [it actually made me feel nostalgic].

On Sunday, Blessing and I (the Nigerian students at Luther) were invited to attend a catholic church 15 minutes away from Decorah. The church runs a mission that assists orphans in Nigeria and so contacted the Luther Diversity Center to find out if they would be able to discuss with the Nigerian students. We gladly attended the church service and made ourselves available to talk to them about our country during the post-service tea. They asked us lots of questions ranging from the cultural values to the types of fish eaten in Nigeria! It felt very good sharing my culture with them and offering the help that I could offer to their noble cause.

Thinking about my life at Luther so far, I think I can confidently say it's the kind of college experience I've always desired. I've always dreamed of attending a school that would not only have a strong academic program but also increase my intellectual curiosity and expose me to the diversity of cultures, ethics, and views - learning that goes far beyond the classroom. I'm glad I chose Luther because, in just one month since I got here, I'm beginning to think deeply about complex issues of life that never even crossed my mind before. That, I believe, is a proof of the holistic educational program available here at Luther. Thanks for reading my blog...

Have a great day!

-Opeoluwa

An Outcome I Can't Believe

Although I was unable to attend the Hall Council meeting on  Sunday, I got an e-mail from Melanie - the Ylvisaker hall director - asking if I was still interested in being in the Council and if I was considering running for any of the executive positions (President, VP, Treasurer, Secretary...) I knew that it would certainly be a good experience to play one of those roles but I was a little nervous because the whole hall was going to vote. 

Notwithstanding, I decided to run for president (I still don't know where I got the nerves). On Thursday, the election day, I went knocking on every single door in Ylvi, asking for votes (crazy, right?). And my friends actually accompanied my in doing this - very kind of them. They even almost made me wear posters around the whole hall saying "VOTE FOR LUWA!" And, after asking everyone I could see for votes, I was at a loss of what to do next. So, I had to endure a painful wait from 9:00 to 10:30 pm, when the results would be announced.

Contrary to what I had expected, at 10:35 pm, I got an e-mail from the hall director congratulating me on winning the election! I just couldn't believe it because I was actually the last person to put up their poster and start campaigning. I'm really happy about this because it gives me a sense of belonging. Being given the opportunity to serve in such a capacity helps me feel integrated into the Luther community. It also goes a long way in showing that everyone has a fair chance at pursuing their dreams at Luther completely regardless of their minority status.

Just when you think your Paideia class can't get any more interesting, you receive a huge shocker. Yesterday, my Paideia professor actually dressed up in a gown and hat and played Martin Luther during the class. It was so funny! We spent most of the class questioning the consistency of "Luther's" religious views as applied to "his" Admonition to Peace and, remarkably, "Luther" defended himself flawlessly. In the end, it proved to be a very effective teaching strategy as it helped us better understand Luther's views.

On Friday morning, I took my Calculus and Physics exams. Although they were more difficult than the previous ones, I don't think I'll do too badly. I've come to realize that the most effective time to do homework and study is not in the night when you feel you're done with all the activities of the day but in the daytime, when you are still having classes and work-study. Those one-hour breaks between classes and work shifts provide a very effective working time to either take up my Paideia reader or solve a few problems in my math homework.

For now, I'm looking forward to the Lakota Sioux Indian dance at the CFL tonight. I'll be going with my friends on my wing; I think it will be a lot of fun. Also, despite my previous addiction to swimming, I have still yet to try Luther's swimming pool out. And that's something I plan to do tomorrow morning. I really hope to have a relaxing weekend from the rigors of the week.

Have a great weekend,

-Luwa

The Marathon

Phew...I'm so glad the week is over! Throughout last week, I could only barely catch my breath. It was always from one activity or assignment to another. But I guess it's a learning process; it means I'll just have to focus more on my priorities.

Classes aren't going that bad for me. I'm finally beginning to understand the methods of instruction of my professors, which I think is very important. In my physics class, for example, it's not very helpful to take so many notes because my professor uses his touch-screen laptop to teach and solve problems. And at the end of each lecture, he posts the notes on katie. So, it's just better to focus on trying to understand the topic in class.

I took my first Calculus test at 8:30 am on Monday. I was only semi-conscious because I stayed up until 3:00 am that morning doing assignments (it's something you should never do; I don't even know how I got myself in such a situation). Nevertheless, my performance was pretty good; though, I made some silly mistakes. Next week, I have a couple of tests and my first Paideia paper due (sounds a bit scary).

I'm glad I'm making new friends. It's always good to know that you have people with which you can hang out and have fun. It was especially comforting last week when I would return to my room stressed out and find lots of things to laugh about with my roommate - Eli - and Jacob. I've also been able to identify some upperclassmen like Sylvia (from Uganda) who seem to have solutions to every problem (amazing isn't it?).

I'm really looking forward to my soccer game at 3:45 pm tomorrow. Although I couldn't play last week, I hope to put up my best performance tomorrow. I'm also going to be on the Ylvisaker Hall Council. We'll have our first meeting tomorrow and I think it's going to be interesting.

I guess that's it for now. If you have any comments concerning my blog or anything at all, please feel free to post them on my blog.

Take care,

Luwa.

One more song!

Have you ever been to a dance party that ended at 11:00pm and you didn’t realize you enjoyed it so much until the musicians said goodnight? On Friday night, the Salsa musicians from Argentina left us chanting One more song! One more song! That was my first Salsa Dance Party, and it was amazing. Initially, I knew nothing about Salsa. But after some professional training from my RA, Bryan, and Sharon – an expert Salsa dancer – I was good to go. I couldn’t believe how much I had learned that night. With the wonderful music from the Argentineans and the awesome Luther dancers, that party was the perfect emollient for all the stress and anxieties of the week.

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Last week, my assignments were definitely more than those of my first week of classes. However, they seemed much less tedious – perhaps, due to the fact that I’m getting better acquainted with my schedule. On Tuesday, I realized what a wonderful resource the Student Academic Support Center (SASC) is. It was there that I got advice on how to better plan my schedule with my new custodial work-study shifts and changes in classes. I got incisive tips on pre-class reading and note-taking, and I realized that I could take the Honors Colloquium – a course I had always dreamed of taking. The SASC is definitely a place at least every freshman should visit.

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For some reason, my classes are getting a lot more exciting. Last week, I was actually looking forward to every Paideia class. So far, I like all my professors; they’re quite friendly and approachable. I talked with my Physics professor on Friday and he told me about this cool research he’s into. I can’t give you all the details but it has to do with isolating and annihilating sub-atomic particles, and further decomposing the quarks produced. I really wish I could be a part of it (don’t worry, I’m not a nerd).

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I've discovered a way to get anywhere on campus at the speed of light – the bikes from the Luther Wellness Program! Seriously, those bikes are awesome. I even use them to go downtown to Wal-Mart. They can also get addictive, considering the fact that you can rent them every day for free (which is what I do).

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Right now, I feel bad that I had to miss the trip to Rochester. The diversity center was going to take us shopping in Rochester today and, after looking forward to it all week, I mysteriously woke up this morning with a sore neck. I guess I’ll still be able to go some other day. For now, I can console myself with the Capitol Steps show last night [I cracked a rib laughing; maybe I also cracked my neck], the man-made dinner at Ylvi [wonderful Filipino dish], and the intramural sports this evening. Luther just seems to get more and more exciting, doesn’t it?

What an Exciting Orientation!

Hello, everyone! I find it pretty awesome sharing my experience at Luther with you. Before coming to Luther, I had absolutely no idea of what to expect. I was a bit nervous, excited, anxious…had all the feelings you can imagine! Nonetheless, I should tell you that I found Luther to be so different from what I had expected.

When we (the new international students) arrived at Luther on Friday, we immediately reported to the diversity center. The diversity center staff welcomed us very warmly, and was very eager to help us get settled. We discussed extensively about our hometowns and cultures before going to eat at a Spanish restaurant downtown.

On Sunday, we had a fabulous picnic with the Diversity Center staff (plenty of food to eat). We also played a really cool Cameroonian game – Yankaloba. Then, that evening, the International Student Assistants took us downtown to see the cool spots in Decorah. It’s actually a beautiful small town. The people are very nice and friendly too; many of them (people we hadn't met before) even waved and smiled at us as we strolled by.

By Wednesday, after having listened to so many talks, getting lost on campus a couple of times, and having not slept well due to jet lag, I wanted the other new students to arrive. I wanted the orientation to be over. But that night, we had this really cool dance party at the Union. There was plenty of music, dancing, laughing, pictures…I had lots of fun.

After the international students’ orientation, when the other freshmen arrived, time seemed to move so quickly. Before I knew it, classes had started. My first class was Paideia. I actually like my Paideia instructor; he’s such an interesting person. He makes the class very interactive and makes us think so deeply about the text even before we realize. And all my classes so far seem to have taken the same shape. However, it won't be too long till I start wishing it was still orientation because right now, I seem to have been bombarded with tons of assignments from all my classes!

For the short period that I’ve been here, though, I’ve realized that Luther is made up of faculty and students who are determined to make things work. The members of staff and students are ever so nice and approachable. They want to know you and your culture, and offer help anytime you need it. So, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to handle all my school work, with all the support I have on campus.

Well...I guess that's it. Next week, I’m going to form a soccer team for the intramural soccer tournament on the 14th. I’m also going to try out for drums for a jazz band on campus . I’ll brief you on the exciting outcomes of these events and more the next time you read my blog. Until then…Have fun!