The Past Two Weeks

Hello!

Well, to catch up on the past two weeks, I will start where I left off and go through up to today.

So:

15 September:

I had to attend the meeting for crew that required us to fill out the NCAA paperwork and all related health forms. This did not take too long, but afterwards, we had the swim test. This was to make sure that if something happened with the boat out on the water, we would be safe. For this test we had to swim 200m and then tread water for 15 minutes. In all honesty, it was easier than it looks.

After successfully completing this, I went to the dining hall's CLAMBAKE! \^o^/ It was amazing and I had a lot of fun. Mind you, I was still wet from the pool and smelled of chlorine, but I did not care. I went to the dining hall and got lots of food. I had clam chowder (which was not the best I have had here), Italian sausage, corn on the cob (from a local grower, but does not beat CO corn), and LOTS of clams. I went back to the clams station three times to get more. >.< I had a plate full of shells at the end and it was interesting to get it to the accumulator.

Side note: The Accumulator is this really cool thing they have at the dining hall which is a plate carousel. It has places for the plates and other dishes and it goes to the back where people clean off the plates and put them in the dish washers. So, basically it is like the thingy at UNC in TK or Holmes. Although, one thing here, they do not have trays. Instead they have brightly colored plates and plastic cups. boo. I much prefer the nice logo-ed UNC trays and glass cups. But anyway, back to the clambake.

I think that whatever calories I burned off during the day (since it was a Wednesday) and the swim test, I gained right back at the clambake. There was also a band made of Skidmore students who were performing in the dining hall. So it was loud, crowded (it was free and open to anyone on campus), and full of good food.


16 September:

So, this day was the bicentennial of El Grito de Dolores. This was the start of the Mexican Revolution, a part of which continues today. So, basically I was excited, mostly because I had taken a course in Mexican history, but also just because it is history and these landmark years are a time in which people should take a second and consider the importance of history and the continuing impact it has on us today.

Anyway, I watched the midnight salute on YouTube and wrote a part of the traditional salute on my white board on my door.

Apart from this, I went to an ice cream social at the Exchange office. For some reason, here at Skidmore, a lot of get-togethers or parties have a lot of ice cream. But it is good ice cream, so it is not bad. n_n. I talked with some of the people at the Exchange office, but had to leave early to get back to homework.


17 September:

Not much happened, but I did go to a NihonGO! club meeting. This club is based around talking and practicing Japanese. They watch movies, dramas, and play fun games which all help to learn more language. This is the only meeting I have been able to attend, since I have crew every day at the same time as these meetings. But I have found out that many of the people in my Japanese class also live in my dorm. So come test times, I do not even have to leave my dorm. In fact, I have begun to realize that there are many people from most of my classes living in the same dorm. It is rather interesting to learn about all of this three weeks into the semester. However up until now, I have been concentrating on my academic routine and making sure I do not dig myself into a hole from the beginning of the semester.

I also went into town with a friend. We went to a small restaurant called Esperantos, which severs some Mexican, some Italian, and some Greek foods. But we ordered a NY style pizza, which was really good. This restaurant also delivers to the campus, so it will be nice come cram time, that I have that option. After eating, we walked around town and then caught the bus back to campus. I forget if I have mentioned it here on the blog, but Skidmore has worked it out with the bus system around here that s students can ride for free. That is really nice and convenient. Also, it is rumored and mostly true that the taxi services are also free for students. We can go anywhere within the Saratoga Springs limits for free. I have not jumped on this opportunity yet but it may be soon, since I do need some things for my room.


19 September:

I went to the Saratoga Battlefield! This was one of the reasons I came to Skidmore and I am very happy that I got to go! This weekend was the 233rd anniversary of the first battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War. There was a man there who was impersonating General Burgoyne, the British general in charge who lost the battle. The actor was really good. He knew his history and could talk about everything on his uniform and about the area. After this, we went around to the historical locations of the American encampments and the British encampments. There were people at both places who talked about the battle and the mindset that would have existed during the time and the battle. The was one man who talked about a small piece of artillery and how it would have been used. He knew at what distances different projectiles would be used and the effects it would have on the men it would hit. I went with an American Studies professor and his FYE (First Year Experience) students. He was a nice professor who knew his material as well. He helped to make the trip a critical thinking exercise, since he asked questions about what it would have been like and what each of us would have done. This was really cool because not only were we standing in the exact places where battles happened, but we had to use our imaginations to think of what it was like. Kinda creepy, to know that you are standing in the exact place where past events happened, yet they are in a completely different time as you are presently. This is why I also like history. n_n


20 September:

So, not much academically, but today was the fitness/ try out test for crew. To start off, we had to run around the track. After each lap, we had to do a set of exercise, so for example we had to do 10 push-ups or 20 lunges. Then after this was done, we had to run another lap. We did this for about 45 minutes. In total, I think I ran about 4.5 miles. This is the most I have ever run. The second most is trying to run a 5K. But I will admit that I think being at sea level and doing this test helped. Had I been at home trying to do this test I would have been gasping for air after about 2 miles. Nevertheless, I ran the entire thing and felt mostly accomplished. After some stretching, we had to do 30 minutes of set exercises. So we did planks, push-ups, crunches, "jumpies" which are squats and a jump, and lunges. Needless to say, I was sore afterwards. I got back to my room, took a shower, and finished my homework.


21 September:

As I think I have mentioned, I place my alarm on the other side of the room. Today was not the best day to do that. I literally could not move my legs because they were so stiff and painful. Eventually I got out of bed, but had to walk slowly. I even had to leave an extra 5 minutes early for class, just to make it on time. Luckily today was Tuesday, so I only had one class, but it was up three flights of stairs and I could not find the elevator. >.< Oh well. I got done with class and then worked on homework until practice. This practice was on the erg machines in the gym. The erg machines are the inside rowing machines that I will be using from the end of this month until probably March, when the ice breaks. They are actually a lot of fun, and are a great workout. We just kinda got to get a feel for the machines and the basic technique of rowing. It was very exciting, since I have never done anything like it.


22 September:

Today was my grandam's birthday! My family gave her a nice party and I got to talk to her via Skype. It was nice.

School was nice, normal.

Practice was fun, we went to the boathouse for the first time. However, the car I got a ride in got lost and we were about 30 minutes late for practice. >.< But we got a tour of the boat house and watched a video. We also got to go out on the water! \^o^/ I really liked being out on the water and starting to get a feel for the rowing movements. We did push off, and we got to take a couple strokes.


23 September:

Nothing much, went back to the boathouse and got out on the water, but did not push off. We just worked more on being in sync.


24 September:

School was fine, but then had to get to the airport. I had to come home for some family things. I spent Friday afternoon and evening on planes. Although, I nearly missed the connection in Washington. The plane from Albany was delayed and I really had to run from one side of Washington/Dulles to the other. So much fun on a Friday evening. But I made it home and then went to sleep.

That weekend I spent little over 24 hours in Colorado, but about 12 hours of the weekend traveling. I left CO early Sunday morning. But yet again, I had plane delays and missed the bus from Albany to Saratoga Springs. It was at this point that I had a panic attack in trying to figure out what to do. In the end, I just got a taxi from the airport to school. It was expensive, but I figured that I would not be going to the airport again for another 2 months, so it was an ok expense.

However, because of the traveling and whatnot, I was behind for the week and had to work hard to keep up. Sadly, I am behind in one of my classes and have no idea when I will make up that time.

~~~

So, this week. Nothing exciting happened. Projects are beginning as are the papers. I think that within the next 4 weeks, I have 10 papers due! o.O So many. But I will survive and make it to November...if only barely.

Crew is amazing. I really like it. On Friday's practice we worked out on the erg machines more and got to get a feel of doing the motions repeatedly. Then we went out on the water and all 8 of us rowed together. It was a lot of fun. However I feel bad for the other 7 girls because the coach put me in the stern seat. This means everyone had to follow my lead. >.< I do not think I was very consistent and may have contributed to the other girls complaining that it was "scary". <.<

On Friday, I also had a paper proposal due for my Enlightenment class. I had it written early in the week, but forgot to get more bibliography sources. So, I had to rush around in the library getting books. At the high point of collecting books, I had about 50 books. I filtered it down to 25 books that I shoved in my backpack and two plastic bags.

I really think that my professor who I have for both Medieval and Enlightenment history thinks I am weird. For my Medieval project, I am doing torture. For the Enlightenment paper, I am doing prostitution. Two very morbidly fascinating topics. We shall see what she thinks of both at the end of November.

Anyway, phew, I think I have caught up with the time I missed on the blog. This next week is not too horrible as far as papers and workload, but I must prepare for the doom and terror of the three weeks which are to follow.

Pictures will be posted soon! I apologize, I just need to find more time to post them and put explanations with them.

Well, until next time,

"Who knows where the gods above will add tomorrow's hours to the total of today." ~Horace