Flats and Snow

Finally!!!! The time has come... I am free!!!

It is Friday... and I am done with all my classes for this semester!!!
Yay!!! Granted I still have finals, but after that I will be completely and utterly free for about two weeks or so....

I'm just sooooo excited!!!

Now that I got that out of my chest, let's get down to business... or not!
I suppose snow and flats don't qualify under the "business" header, but Oh! well...

Let me you about my hectic week, I have been so busy with things to do... From writing papers, to writing more papers, and so on and on... the last bit of this semester has been a hassle. This week, I've been trying to keep up with my school work. A task not helped by the snow on the ground. I just want to put on my boots get out there and go sledding. But I have restrained. Instead I sit at the library doing my homework, or back in my dorm... doing homework. But finally, the time has come... and tonight me and my friends are going (cafeteria tray) sledding!
I can't wait.

Now snow means, many things... hot chocolate, sledding, winter boots, and Christmas! NOT FLATS! Yesterday, crazy me decided to wear flats... why you may ask... Well, the snow had ceased to fall and the walking paths were cleared of all snow. So I felt that I could venture out in my very-slippery-not-very-warm-flats... VERY BAD IDEA!! On my way back from dinner later that night, I walk outside just to find that (gasp!) it was snowing ONCE AGAIN!!! Needless to say, by the time I got to Olson, my feet were closer to Popsicles than body parts! Thanks to my foolishness, I am coming down with a cold :( So please don't wear flats, if there is snow in the ground.

Well, sorry for my short entry, but the snow is so very alluring. I have to get out there and play! Have a great weekend... and stay safe!!!

Until next time...

Adriana

P.S. Sorry for the crazy picture of me... it was taken last week during the first mini snow storm

"First comes the sweat. Then comes the beauty--if you're very lucky and have said your prayers"--George Balanchine

And then... there was Olson (and Snow)

Hey there!!!

So, it's Thursday, and after my way-too-short break I'm back in the swing of things, but actually I'm just so glad to be back. Because being back means, we're closer to Christmas, I'll be going home, the semester will be over, and I get to see my friends.

That is one of the  greatest things of being back. Dorm life, and hanging out with my girls from Olson. You see Olson is my dorm. When I was a prospy, most upperclassmen told me not to live in Olson, however, most of these people had not lived in Olson, so they couldn't tell me the REAL Olson. 

The "bad" thing about Olson is that there is only three floors of first years. The rest of the hall is full of upperclassmen, and it doesn't help that it is on the bottom of a hill, and most people have never been inside of it. In short, Olson is a mystery for those who don't reside there. But to us, it is like a hidden treasure. 

The small number of first years residing in this hall help us bring us closer. And so let me tell you about those girls who I just absolutely love, and have become my family away from home. Rachel, Merima, Gennie, Sammy, Madison (one of my roommates), and Courtney...

These girls are always there when I need them. If I need to vent, complain, argue, relax, or just hang out, I can count on them to be there for me. In just a matter of seconds, literally since they all live just down the hall. Actually next door, since we all just hang out in Gennie's, Sammy's, and Rachel's room. So let me tell you a little about dorm life.

Living in a dorm is one of the greatest experiences in college. I mean it's not all rainbows, but it is definitely an experience worth having.  I mean, it's just great having your friends right next door, and living with people you like it's just convenient.

Now let me tell you a little bit about these girls:

(From Left to Right: Gennie, Courtney, and Rachel)

Gennie is from Waco, Texas... she is one of the funniest, most fashionable girls on this floor. Not one day goes by without Gennie making everyone around her laugh. Usually with her funny sarcasm, and her neverending phrases, you are sure to smile around her.

Courtney is a basketball, softball player who has a bio class. Why mention bio, as you may find out bio classes are a big deal, and if one of your friends is in one of the bio classes you know the horrors of it. Anyway, all this amounts to me seeing her once a week, twice if I'm lucky, but hanging out with her is just so much fun. (Like tonight)

Rachel is a genius. Seriously, she is. (Even though every time I tell her she just laughs) Anyway, during our first conversation we found out we shared the same birthday. What a conversation starter! Anyway, she's a genius, and she loves making smart remarks, an

d being sarcastic. It just adds to the charm of this girl.

(From Left to Right: Sammy and Madison)

Sammy loves making fun of me. You see I'm only 4"11 (Gasp!) so she 

calls me midget, lawn gnome, and variations of those, but it's ok because she says them in a loving way. J/K ; ) Anyway, this girl is just fun to hang out with, especially because we are always picking on each other.

Madison is one of my roomies! 

She's so fun.  We have late-night ramen-cheese-and-tortilla parties every once in a while. We talk in Spanish to eac

h other (I'm fluent, she is taking spanish) She's very chill, and fun to hang out with.

 (From Left to Right: Me and Merima)

"Hello my name is Merima. I'm from Serbia". That is the phrase she repeats over and over again. This girl is awesome. She's so loud, and fun to be around. Around her you cannot help but laugh. And her accent is just lovely. Meri is one of those girls you just can't help but love.

Anyway, so there they are the lovely girls. Before I go I wanted to share a tidbit of information. Last night as I was typing this blog, I got sidetracked by the presence of SNOW. Which led to running outside (around 12 a.m.)  and taking pictures, because Luther College is just the most amazing place when it's snowing. So by the time I got back it was too late to do anything but sleep! So sorry for the late entry this week! Have a great weekend!

Until next time,

Adriana

"In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us." - Unknown

Home Sweet Home

Finally, the countdown is over... I am HOME!

You know, when I left home the first time, I thought I would not miss it. I mean, I knew I would miss my family, but freedom seemed so sweet back then. And freedom is awesome... but let me tell you... I was ready for a break.

After a very frustrating week, (I had to write three essays on top of all my homework) I was ready to let my brain rest for a little bit. So coming home was a blessing, not only did I get to see my family, but eating a homecooked meal after the caf food, was a prospect I could not resist.

Let me introduce you to my lovely family...

Mom- Paulina, she's the best mom. Not only does she make sure that I have everything I need at school, she also takes care of my baby sister, holds a full time job, drives my sister everywhere, and to top it all off she cooks like a professional chef... : )

Bro- Best known as Pepe. My older brother holds a full time job, helps my mom, loves soccer, and takes a lot of time to look his best all the time. He's a fun guy when he wants to be, but he can be a pain if he wants to be (P.S. Mission kick my brother out of my room failed)

Sis- My sister, Andrea, is a sophmore in high school. She's a cheerleader in the fall, and plays soccer in the spring. She's very fashionable, and she likes to shop and talk on the phone. (Like a typical teenage girl) She's very outspoken though, but she's fun to be around.

Baby sis- My three month old baby sister's name is Abigail. She doesn't do much of anything. Just cries, drools, eats, and sleeps... but I got say she's the most adorable baby I've seen!!!

So, there you go... this is my family...

I hope you enjoy this holiday and have an awesome time with your family. As for me, I'm about to go eat some delicious Thanksgiving dinner (which I spent all day preparing with my mom). Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! (Don't forget... tomorrow is my birthday)

Until next time,

Adriana

"Thou art to me a delicious torment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

WARNING! DUE DATES ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR!

My planner is full. Full of papers to write, places to go, people to meet, things to do. Not a good itinerary for a member of the Procrasinators Unite (Tomorrow) group. Don't get me wrong, I still get all my work done. But this past week has been, "I'll do this tomorrow", "I have time, I'll do it later", and so on and so forth. It's a big problem, with registration for spring semester coming up, my birthday, break and so many things in my head. I am ready to explode.

I assure you, my dear readers, next year this feeling will come upon you at one point or another. I'm not trying to scare you. But time management is an obstacle all first years have to overcome. What with meeting new people, trying new things, seeing new places, studying becomes that much harder. Along with that, you have more time on your hands, and it just seems like you have all the time in the world to get everything done...

WARNING! DUE DATES ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR!



My good friend, Rachel Johnson, who happens to be the first person I met on campus aside from my roommates, has this sign in her room. At first I found it very amusing, but after mindless nights of The Office, America's Next Top Model, and Private Practice, I suddenly look over at the sign and realize, "Oh, snaps that paper is due tomorrow!" (Yikes!)

Then again it's not ALL procrasination, there are days (like today), that I spend in the library trying to finish all the homework that I have. And I do, but it's just that much harder for me, trying to cram everything in one day.

All I'm trying to say, I suppose, is try not to procrastinate. At the end, the only person harmed is you. Procrastination leads to many sleepless nights, angry mornings, and groggy days. Not the best idea. But if you do procrasinate... remember a good nap works wonders!

Until next time...

Adriana

P.S. For better effect take naps in a bed, preferably the one in your room ;)

"Charm is a way of getting a yes without having to ask a clear question" -Unknown

You Just Never Know

I knew I wanted to come to Luther since the end of my sophomore year; it was the perfect fit. A small residential college in the middle of nowhere, small classes, small campus, small world... just like the place I was leaving. But on the five hour ride from Harvard, Illinois (a tiny town in Northern Illinois), I questioned my decision.



What if I don't like it? What if I don't fit in? What if I'm too homesick? What if... What if... What if...

But I could not know until I arrived. Because you never know until, this... until that... always the same... just waiting... because you can expect, predict, assume, but you just can't know until you get there.

I loved it. I fit in. It was indeed the perfect fit. Granted I've had my share of 'moments' with my roommates. I've been homesick. And the first couple of weeks I felt like I didn't belong anywhere. But before I knew it, I had made friends, I had settled into a routine, I had formed a respectful relationship with my roommates, and I had even had some 'adventures' in Decorah.

As the first person in my family to go to college (I have an older sibling, and two younger sisters)my journey has been a little harder than I anticipated. But I survived my first two months at school. I wrote my first college essay, I chose my major (as of right now Social Work), I took my first college midterm, I survived the caf food, I joined a few clubs, I fell off my bed, I went to some parties, and somewhere in there I even found time to do some studying.

After being away for two months, I returned home for Fall Break. Only to find that my brother had taken over my room and even though I did not want to believe it, life had continued without "oh-so-very-important" me.

Now it's November, and I already have a countdown until Thanksgiving(which conveniently happens to be my birthday... *Yay! for birthdays!* )and I just can't wait to go back. This time when I go back home, I'm ready to kick my brother out of my room, and this time I'm ready because I know what to expect.And when I get back to campus I know what not to touch in the caf., I know what my prof. is looking for in an essay, and I'm perfectly at home on this campus. But see, if I would have never left, if I would have been too scared, maybe then I would just have never known.

-Until next time...

Adriana

"To ask timidly is to invite refusal. Ask as though you expected to receive."-Unknown