3 cases of water, 5 Wal-mart/Target trips, and 1 fake fire alarm into the semester and it feels like I never left. In fact I already started 2 jobs, quit one (good bye Hollister!), and have my first quiz tomorrow! It's not even two weeks in and already I have enough to talk about to fill two blogs!
So let's recap the shenanigans that have been occurring on campus:
This weekend was Labor Day weekend which means Italian Festival!! The smells and sounds managed to seep into my room in Reddington on the top of the Commons and lured me down to the festival on Friday for dinner. I had eggplant rollitini, a chocolate covered conoli, and sugar roasted cashews. My friends had to pretty much roll me back to the dorm, but it was well worth it.
About my jobs, well I started at Moses Taylor Hospital (all of you Bio majors can be jealous!) and between that, rugby, and my new and challenging classes I just couldn't juggle all that. Besides I'm in Habitat for Humanity and I want to participate more in that. I was also toying with the idea of studying abroad, but I need to put more serious thought into that. When it came down to it Hollister just didn't make the cut. I'm honestly not that upset about it... let's just say it's against policy to talk badly about working there. It just wasn't my thing. I am excited to work up at MT, though! (I get scrubs!)
Rugby season has officially begun! First practice of the season was today! We have some veterans return and a bunch of new rookies, too! I do miss Caitlin, who we lost to the soccer team, but Grace, my new quadmate, might join. We have 3 home games so I better see everyone come to at least one game.
Alright well my first quiz is a Stat quiz tomorrow and it's making me nervous so I have to study!!
Ciao bellas!
Becky
So here I am back at the University of Scranton. I must have blinked because it feels like yesterday I was counting down the days until I move in and now it's Thursday, I'm writing this in between classes in the library, and I have to go back to work tonight at Hollister. It's like jumping into a river- 5 seconds ago you were on the bank and now you're being carried away by the current. Ok, so what's new over here?
1. Goodbye Nevils! I'm now in Reddington. Not only do I have to hike to the top of the commons, but when I get there I have 2 flights of stairs waiting for me to make it (gasping for breath) up to the 5th floor (you walk into Reddington on the 3rd floor- thank God for small miracles). I'm not complaining though- alright, maybe I am just a little, but I expect to have the most toned legs by winter break. My room is super pink as usual and feels comfy. I was really jealous of my friends that get to live in Condron Hall, the brand new sophomore dorm, but I'm getting over it. I mean who cares if they can fit a small couch in the bathroom or have cathedral ceilings? I have Chinese lanterns hanging from my ceiling, which is a feat that would not be possible in Condron.
2. The patio outside Denaples is finished and beautiful! There is tons of room for frisbee or just sitting and reading or grabbing a picnic lunch.
3. The classes! Accounting! Statistics! Legal Environment of Business! My favorite is Aerobics for obvious reasons. Honestly, though, I'm not about to freak out yet...give me two weeks when the work kicks in. I do like Art History since it's a nice break from data and retained earnings statements and balance sheets. 4 days of classes and I already sound smarter.
4. Freshmen! They were adorably awkward at first but now they are a little more comfortable and I'm starting to think that class is going to be trouble. Heads up to Public Safety and good luck to the RA's! (One little legacy that my class left: there are now 2 RA's per floor in Nevils instead of one. Ha!)
I'm off to grab lunch before my back-to-back Statistics and Accounting classes, which means I'm going to need to stop at Starbuck's, too.
It's good to be back, Scranton!
Becky
Can you believe it? I blink and it's May and I'm home! This is my last blog of the school year. Moving out was surreal. I took one last look of my room and realized a new set of roommates will be the next people to see it like that. (And, yes, I teared up.) I hate goodbyes.
The outside of Denaples is about half finished and the part that is open is gorgeous. I can't wait to go back when it's still warm and eat out there when it's all done! And next year I'll be visiting all my lucky friends who get to live in the new sophomore dorm, Condron Hall. I'll be in Reddington Hall, but I'm okay with that. When I go back I'll get to move in early because I'll be a moving helper to the incoming freshmen. That's a little weird to me. I feel like I'm on the other side now looking at all the new (and most likely confused) freshman. I'm excited for them! Is that weird?
Now that I'm home, I'm doing everything I can to keep busy. I can't sit still. I don't want the fact that I'm not going to be back at school for three months to catch up with me. I've never cleaned my room so much in my life. I had to, though.There was no room for all the stuff that came out of my dorm. Now it's relaxing to have space and order in my room. I have already planned to touch up the paint on my walls, fix a broken drawer, and sew a rip and a button on some jackets. This is spring cleaning in overdrive for me. If I just sit around I'll go nuts. I haven't just sat around since last summer. When I'm at school I'm always doing something, so I have to always be doing something now. The trouble is there's not much to do. This means i need a job(s). I need to get out! I've only been home for less than 24 hours but that is more than enough time to give me cabin fever. Maybe I'll read? I'll definitely go to the beach. I already have a beach trip planned for Thursday. (Although I am NOT bathing-suit ready. Ah!) This means I'm off to hit the gym!
Have a Great Summer!
Stay sunny Scranton!
Becky
It was gorgeous in Scranton for a week straight, I swear! You wouldn't know it now if you looked out a window, but it was (dare I say it?) tropical last week. The GLM patio was like a beach. Every inch of green space on campus was populated by sun bathers and frisbee throwers. Every off campus lawn had a grill and beach chairs. That one week confirmed that Scranton really can rival those Florida schools in beauty.
And almost like a sign from above the beautiful weather culminated on our one and only home game for rugby. Our field actually didn't look that back considering it was an old baseball outfield that was lined to be a crooked soccer field. The dust we kicked up ( there's no grass by the way) was nearly unbearable, though. (Here's a secret: Rugby is the black sheep of the Scranton sports teams, especially since we are a club team. We can't wear purple. We aren't the Royals. The school didn't even put the uprights in - we played with duct taped PVC pipes.) Despite all this ....*drum roll* ... WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you read it right, it was our first, last, and only win of the season!!! We beat Muhlenburg 19-10. I can only describe it as a thing of pure beauty. There may be a documentary coming out... think Remember the Titans or Miracle. Im just kidding...unless you are a movie producer and then I'm totally serious.
The signs are here. The "Sell your books back here!" signs. It's a sign of the end of the year. All of the loose ends are being wrapped up. Most of my friends already have housing planned out for junior year. The outside of Denaples is almost finished and the rumors are spreading about what houses are being knocked down over the summer. This is the first summer I'm not 100% thrilled about. Don't get me wrong, I have the worst case of Jersey shore withdrawl, but I'm afraid the campus is going to change so much over the summer. I'm not ready to be a Sophomore!! Only 3 years left? That can't be right! And don't even say the F-word...FINALS! I need to go do some work but I'm not saying goodbye yet - only...
See you later!
Becky
Ok I promise I had a brand new entry for you last week, but Hollister called me in to work way early and I never got to post it. Excuses, excuses I know, but if it makes you feel better that entry wasn't up to par. This one will be.
I have lost respect for football players since rugby started. I am so sore! What I would give for some padding when I'm being tackled by girls who would make NFL weight requirements for fullback. It's now become a running joke on the team because it is hysterical (or so I am told) watching me get rocked on the field. Don't worry I bounce back up, but still it hurts. Now, when you get tackled you don't really feel it, don't get me wrong you FEEL it, but you really feel it the next day. I wake up on Sunday and try and recall if I got hit by a bus, got amnesia and forgot about it. Ok, I am whining a lot. And I take the pain I feel the day after games as testament to the fact of how much I love the game. If I didn't why would I put myself through this?
Now if you think that women's rugby might be interesting to watch, picture it in prom dresses! We had a prom dress tournament this weekend at Lehigh. It was for charity and we donated nice dresses and money. After the tournament the field was littered with ripped shreds of prom dresses. (Oh, we lost by a lot.)
Well here's a little new news. I may be switching jobs. So long Hollister! I may (fingers crossed) be working as transport up at Moses Taylor Hospital. It's closer, it pays more, and, almost best of all, I can wear loose scrubs instead of tight jeans and skimpy tank tops. I can wear sneakers and not flip flops in January! There is a lot to be said about comfortable work wear.
Can you believe that we register for classes for next year already?? We only have 25 school days left! ( I counted.) It's so weird. I just moved in! I don't want to go home for 3 months yet! What am I going to do without a whole hall of friends? I can't be thinking about this now!
In four weeks it's goodbye Nevils and hello Reddington. It's a whole new floor of people that could never replace the ones I have. How does college go so fast?
Oh! MARK THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR! Liva Arts is doing a production of Godspell this weekend. I'm going to see it Friday. It should be amazingggg (yes with 4 g's). Go see it!
Bye guys!
Becky
I could move to Georgia right now, build houses all day every day, and be the happiest person ever. It was so beautiful there! The ride down was a little long but we slept and bonded. We got to Kamp Kirksey, where we stayed with the other builders from UMASS, Hope College, and Illinois University, at about 2am. The next day it was a gorgeous 80 degrees and sunny. We didn't start building to the following day so we played kick ball, volleyball, and wiffleball. I felt like a little kid just running around and outside all day until they rang the bell for dinner. On Monday we started building and by Friday we had put an entire roof on a house, painted two houses, dug a massive drainage ditch, and repainted the supply trailers. The guys in charge of the site were amazed with what we accomplished and so were we. One of the future home owners came by to show her friends her new home and was so thankful she was in tears. Everyone welcomed us. There is really something to be said about southern hospitality. People donated 30 lbs of chicken to us for dinner one night and invited us into their homes for meals. Businesses would put up signs saying "Welcome Habitat for Humanity!" I've never bonded so well with a group of people before, either. It was just a great experience. Do it if you have the chance!
Yesterday was my first rugby game ever!! We lost but it was a lot of fun. You get such a rush that it doensn't hurt when you get tackled... well not until the next day. I'm a little sore right now, I won't lie. I got to play the second half of the a-side game, and all 15 minutes of the b-side game. I got to play wing which was isn't that hard to figure out thankfully. When I stepped out on the field I panicked, but I caught on. We lost miserably, but when we walked off the field we didn't care. We play because we love it.
Ok it is late and my floormates are going to drag me out of bed tomorrow for breakfast so...
Goodnight Scranton!
Becky
PS. the title is from a Taylor Swift song since my roommate and I love her and have been playing her cd non-stop (much to some of our floormates dismay).
It's been a crazy couple of weeks. That’s actually an understatement. I mean it; there were times this week I didn't know if I would make it to the end of the week in one piece. And, I know that is no excuse for not writing, but at least now I have a lot to say. I have to go backwards though. I'll do it journal style. Ooo! It'll be a backwards countdown to the Habitat for Humanity trip that’s on Saturday!!! (I'm uber, yes I said it, Uber excited for this trip!)
7days to GA
(Aka this week starting Sat 8th) Well to start off Saturday was my little brother's birthday. He turned 14 and got tickets to go to Bamboozle (it's a concert in May by me in NJ) so I'm definitely going home to go with him to that, since it's usually an awesome show. I got him a t-shirt, poster, and cd from one of his favorite bands, Karate High School. (Check 'em out!) I finally made the journey to the Panera Bread in Dixon City. I missed their food so much! I usually don't mind the week and classes, but this time the only good thing about Monday through Thursday is that they are done! Can you say 3 tests, one really tough midterm worth 25% of my ethics grade, 1 quiz, 1 paper, 10+ hours at Hollister in two days, and a fantastic cold/sore throat combo that just topped it all off? One high point: my mom's birthday was Wednesday, the 12th! Oh, but wait, I forgot Sunday. I guess that's because that's my catch-up day. Catch up on sleep and work, that is. And Mass at 9:30, of course!
14 days to GA
(Aka Sat March1)
That Friday, the 7th, I went with my two friends to see Eric Hutchinson in the ballroom of the Denaples Center. I had never heard of him before, but it was such a great show! Not only does he have this great bluesy, John Mayer-esque voice, he accompanies it with fantastic guitar playing, a la Jack Johnson, or upbeat keyboard melodies. Oh and don't think that just because it was a one man show that it wasn't a ton of fun. This guy was a musician/comedian because he had the audience in stitches between songs. It was just an awesome show and now I'm hooked on Hutchinson! (that’s where the title came from) The other highlight of that week was the great night of basketball intensity!! Both guys and girls basketball teams won their conference championship! I went to the guy's game. The student section was packed and even Fr. Pilars joined in the cheering with us!
These past weeks have flown by, though. I can't for this trip and to go home and see my family and relax a little. I know everyone is so ready for this break.
See you later, Scranton!
Becky
It has been bitterly cold here this past week - cold enough to make me threaten aloud to transfer to any college in Florida. Today made up for it – big time. It’s a Friday, and everyone I know had either tests to take, papers to hand in, or –the best, well worst- a practical to take. I’m not a bio major, but from an outsider, practicals seem like they make students travel to the depths of hell and back, while walking on their hands. My friends who have them disappear weeks before to study in a remote corner of the library, and dread them worse than people dreaded the plague. I’m convinced if they banded together they could possibly win a class action suit against them on the basis they are cruel and unusual punishment. Oh, but here’s the best part if they are cancelled they don’t reschedule them. I’m not lying when I say I saw tears of joy well up in their eyes when they got the text message declaring no school.
So what have I been up to? (Besides lying in bed ‘til noon? The best thing to do on snow days is sleep.) I told you I had some fun stuff coming up. Well Monday I got my mouth guard, Tuesday I molded it, and Wednesday I was all set for the first tackling practice of the rugby season. And considering I’m able to be typing this today on Friday, it went pretty well. It’s not as hard or scary as it looks, but it does take some getting used to. (Especially the getting tackled part) We played a rugby version of steal the bacon. It was honestly a lot of fun.
Monday was the Habitat for Humanity meeting. Now it’s getting exciting, since the trip is coming. We put in our money, and filled out the waivers. Now it’s official. We are going to greet a visiting chapter in a little while, actually.
Ok, well I have to go but before I do I wanted to share something new I discovered! Explosions in the Sky is a great band to study to. It’s all instrumental. I know that made me think it was like classical music at first, but it’s far from it. Check ‘em out!!
Becky
I know it has been a longer time than usual since I’ve lasted posted. I apologize, but to make up for it I have some interesting news and stories. Oh where to begin…
I guess I’ll go backwards and start with the fresh and new. Well Monday will be exciting since I have a Habitat for Humanity meeting. And this is no ordinary meeting because it will be about our spring break trip to Georgia! I really excited about this. Some people were like, “Why would you want to spend your break doing that?” To which my reply was, “Why not?!” Look at it this way, I get to spend my days in the sun with my friends while making new friends and (here’s the big one) doing something great. And believe me; I need a fix of good karma since I’ve been weak with my Lenten Sacrifice of fried foods. (Can someone be addicted to chicken nuggets and French fries?)
Ok look up to the title of this blog. No, that is not a typo. I have a surprise for you. That term is a rugby term because…. rugby is the team I joined! You might have the same reaction as my mom and friends if you knew I’m about as intimidating as Gandhi in size and a bunny in looks. But I make up for all that in attitude, or at least I hope so. So after being laughed at and eliciting cries of, “wow, you are going to get killed,” this had become more than just a sport I wanted to try, it’s a survivor game for me. I will stick with it regardless of a few bumps or bruises. I will prove to anyone who’s ever laughed at me that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Practices have been going well, keeping in mind we haven’t started tackling. I can throw, I can catch, and I can run. I learned about rucks, scrums, and how to score a touch (no down, just touch). Oh, and a ruck is what happens after someone gets tackled and the teams come together to get possession of the ball.
Well last Thursday was Valentine’s Day, or Single Awareness Day as my friends like to call it. I actually like Valentine’s Day because I focus on my friends and doing little things for them instead of hating all the cute couples. I found out there’s a florist right up the street so I got roses for my best friend and roommate. I know everyone thinks it’s just a holiday that Hallmark invented and after spending $20 on cards I almost agree, but if you look past that I think it’s just a nice day to remind the people close to you that you care. (hmmm…maybe Hallmark should hire me)
I think I will give you a preview of some things to look forward to:
Study Abroad Fair Mar. 3rd- Italy? Australia? New Zealand??
Tackling practices in Rugby- ouch
Rooming situations for next year – let the confusion begin!
Well I have a 1st draft on a paper to do and a computer lit test tomorrow. Wish me luck!!
Becky
I am so happy to be back! The only thing that makes being back at school better is the fact that I'm writing this from bed because classes were canceled due to snow. Oh and its Friday! How could this day get better? Well, it will because my friend Regina is coming to visit the school with her brother, who just got accepted and wants to check it out.
When I came back to Scranton after such a long break it’s almost like I never left, but at the same time there are a few changes, like the new student center, aka The Denaples Center. It's really awesome, but it does have its cons. Like the lines have been nuts lately and some of the layout of the building could have been done a little better. For example, the main dining section has been split into two parts so you have to walk back and forth through the sections to get food and there are no trays so carrying your plates is annoying. I guess that is to prevent people from taking more than they eat and cutting down on wasted food, but the portions are also now so small that really isn’t a problem. Between the walking back and forth and the portions I feel like the University put me on a diet. But I really can't hate the Denaples Center. It's beautiful and the food is great and it's a great place to hang out. Plus everything I need is right there: mail room, bookstore, convenience store, and (Yes!) a Starbucks! Aside from the student center, the other new things at Scranton are the new faces. I’ve met three new transfers that live in my building alone. I guess more and more people are figuring out what I already know that the U of S is more than just a place to learn; it’s a place that becomes your new home.
Well it’s good to be back!
Becky
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