On the Home Stretch

Thanksgiving break is upon us and everyone seems to be rushing frantically around finishing up one last paper, packing a few bags, or giving a hug to a friend they won’t see for (gasp!) five whole days. I find myself overwhelmed not only by schoolwork, (I actually got the worst of it done this weekend), but by the volume of extra activities available in the last few days.

A Very Full Evening...

Tonight, for example, a drumming workshop is being offered. Granted, I don’t own a drum and will therefore not be attending, but I’m excited that someone is getting to enjoy the musical experience!

A slightly less interactive Tuesday evening activity is Arters Anonymous, that is, a performance by EMU’s very own improv troupe. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry… well, mostly we’ll just laugh, unless it’s hilarious enough to bring tears, which is a distinct possibility.

Following Arters, I plan to make the trek up the EMU hill to the Discipleship Center for a Prayerfully Sleeping gathering. (For more information about PS, you should read my previous journal entry “A Night on the Hill”)

Tonight, two Palestinian students involved in EMU’s Conflict, Justice, and Peace-Building program are sharing their stories. Hopefully their experiences will help give me a fuller understanding of the complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

I do intend to spend the night up there, but I haven’t decided whether I’ll sleep outside or take refuge within the Discipleship Center. I certainly don’t want to get sick right before Thanksgiving because I spent a cold night outside, but at the same time, it somehow seems wrong to be “sleeping in solidarity with refugees” by staying warm inside a building. We’ll see.

Last Weekend

The explosion of activities has been going on for a few weeks now, (who am I kidding, things are always busy). Obviously you can’t do everything, but looking at my past two weekends, it seems that I certainly tried. Two weekends ago, I went camping with six other students, including two who drove down from Washington DC for the occasion.

With the shortened daylight hours of the season, we were forced to hike to our campsite guided by the small pools of light from headlamps and flashlights. By the time we had a tent set up, a fire made, and dinner eaten, it was just time to hike thirty minutes back to the road to meet our late arrivals from DC. Crossing a streamin the dark using only stepping stones is guaranteed to produce a certain amount of group bonding, let me tell you!

Later that weekend Martin House, (an alternative housing option on campus), hosted a soup night. Its first purpose was mere fun, but it also was intended to raise money for the sociology/social work department’s Christmas donation to needy children. It’s amazing how fast college students’ spare change and dollar bills add up!

The next weekend found me attending the theater production, Halcyon Days, listening to the music department’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem, going to Kline’s ice cream with Donovan’s family (pumpkin flavor, mmm), and spending time with my parents who were visiting from Atlanta.

Decisions, Decisions

If I’d had time to squeeze it in, I could also have gone on a hall activity last Sunday night. My inability to make it to that particular activity illustrates the fact that, with a range of options comes many trade-offs. If you make it to the play, you may not be able to go hiking. If you go out with family, you miss bonding time with your hall. While it may sometimes feel like you’re only scratching the surface of what’s available to be seen and done, it’s important to enjoy your chosen activities to the fullest. Mourning the choice not taken only prevents you from investing in your chosen reality.

Happy Thanksgiving!