where we walk

there are only so many ways to get from one place to another on campus. and they all tend to provide awkward encounters, and fake hello's. Let's take a closer look:

SIDEWALKS - a small paved path with connections to the entire campus.
*During class hours, if you are walking on the sidewalk, you get to revel in the tension that is: walking towards a single person, for what feels like an eternity. You have the time to figure out if you know them, and if you do, whether you want to simply 1)smile 2)say "hi" 3)ask "how are you?"
And if you don't know them, do you 1)look away 2)pretend to be on your phone 3)smile
*Inbetween class hours, if you are a fast walker (like myself), it is almost a game of: how many people can I pass, and in what direction?

ELEVATORS - small enclosed rooms that relieve you from the work it takes to walk up or down flights of stairs.
*Generally, you can sneak into an elevator alone, in which case, there is nothing wrong.
*If the elevator stops for you, and there is someone already inside, there is instant embarrassment...because it means you were too lazy to just take the stairs. from the first floor, it is only 4 flights of stairs to get to the ground level...I mean, really. And then you have to decided how to stand in the elevator, awkwardly, with the other person...in silence.
*Also...the elevator reaches the floor, dings a bell, and THEN opens the doors. What an embarrassing split second when you go to walk out of the elevator, and the doors are still not open...like you thought they'd be.

DOORS - valves to get in and out of buildings...full of traffic between classes.
*On the Luther campus, there are three dorms (miller, dieseth, and ylvi) of students who pass through the science building to get through the rest of campus...a warm oasis from the cold. This means a lot of opening and closing of doors. Most students are traveling to class at the same time, which means a bulk of people, generally not talking to each other. You start form a line feeding in and out of the doors, one person opening it first, and everyone else continuing to prop it open as they walk through. This whole scene tends to diminish polite conduct. In the normal world, or in a one-time instance, you'd say thank you to the person to opens the door. But in this case, if you do that, you just sound like a broken record. Because you'll be saying thank you to the same person at least 4 times in less than 30 seconds....awkward.

Or...you could just skip all this over analyzing...i'm just saying...i think about it. I really don't feel that awkward all the time, but it does happen.

i want to sleep

The high so far has been above 40 degrees...so wonderful...but so terrible. This sudden change in temperature has done wonders for my immune system. I caught a cold immediately after one night of little sleep.
Now I've spent the last three nights seeing the clock at least every hour. No Fun.

Sleep is already hard to come by in a dorm room, i don't need help by getting all stuffed up.

People stay up till the wee hours of the morning, just doing homework. I can't imagine.

Lara (my roomie) and I stuff a towel under the door to muffle some sound, and to block the persistent light coming in from the hallway. But then you have to deal with paper thin walls. I lay in bed at night and can hear every word of the conversations going on next door. And personally, I just don't care about how many girls your loud drunk friend danced with at roscoes that night. honestly.

And as greatful as I am to be so close to the bathroom on our floor, it echoes. People getting ready for bed, or getting ready in the morning, should keep conversation to a minimum. It is so so very loud.

Speaking of the morning hours. let me just say : i hate alarm clocks. I realize they are a neccesity in waking up (including myself). But I wish I didn't wake up to the girls' next door, and my roomie's, almost every morning. Ridiculous.

I suppose I should leave off on a positive note though. When I want to hang out with someone, all I have to do is shuffle over in my stocking feet (no car, and no coat required), and knock on their door. And THAT makes dorm life the most wonderful thing. ever.

and the semester begins...

Spring semester started up yesterday. And let me say...I wasn't expecting such a wake up. My shower turned freezing cold halfway through...uggghh. (and followed the same pattern this morning!)

The day got better as I continued on:
Movement Fundamentals II (i took I last semester). This is the most amazing class I have ever had in my life. Last semester we learned all the bones in our body, and the different relationships between different bony landmarks. Learning how the body functions inwardly, to create outward expression. Amazing. And now in II we are continuing this idea while incorporating specific movement patterns and phrases. And exploring movement with relationship to self, others, and the world. It is my first class at 9:15am on M,W,F's. And I couldn't be more happy.

The first day of classes is always a little awkward. You walk into the classroom, hoping you see a slightly familiar face to sit next to and make small talk with. Hoping this "friendship" will last the entire semester. Luckily I am not taking any general education classes, so I pretty much know everyone in the music classes. But still, that doesn't mean i'm friends with everyone. So I make silly jokes and try to make people laugh, to lesson the tension before the prof walks in. Great.

I will say, I love the beginning of a new semester because I feel studious and ready to learn, take notes, and do homework. I just wish this scholastic enthusiasm could last the entire semester long...but it doesn't. Oh well, I guess I'll just soak it in for now.

I already can't wait for the weekend...

p.s. bethany is now in peru, and i swear i saw her on campus today. I'm going crazy. Walking to class with my ipod is not as fun as walking with her. :(