End Of The Semester Wrap Up

“Is it so bad then to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.” ~Emerson

School is finally finished for the semester! I am so happy. This has been one of my craziest semesters in college. Whoever said that it gets easier was completely wrong. The whole college experience itself gets easier, but the work attached with it doesn’t seem to become any less difficult or time consuming, for that matter.

Last Thursday was our last day and it snowed all day Wednesday. We all prayed for a snow day. One of my co-workers and I had a bet. My bet was that they would cancel school. If the roads get too bad, the buses can’t make it up the hill, so therefore the off-campus students can’t make it to classes. He bet that school would be held because it was the last day and too many people had too many things to turn in and do. Our plan of action if school were to be cancelled was drunken sledding. Alas, there was no drunkenness and there was no sledding. There was only us, trudging up the side of the mountain, going to school.

There is a saying at our school; you know how long a person has been there by the size of their calf muscles. Our school is built on a mountain. An actual mountain, geologically speaking. It is called Mount O. However, for us, it is basically a large hill. Steep at times, and really annoying in the cold or extremely hot weather. But I don’t think I would have it any other way.

Wow, I got off on a tangent. So I had my debate in my Cuba class and turned in my Cuba paper. I ended up getting a B in that class. That was surprising and I was quite happy with it. Spent the entire weekend studying for my psychology exam and writing my paper for psychology on why I am against psychologist having prescription privileges. A topic of mild interest and I did find enough research to support my opinion.

Tuesday was spent with me feeling like crap and then finding out that my ear aches were bordering on ear infections. I ended up going to bed that night at 8:00 and waking the next morning at 8:00. During that twelve hour time period, I ran a fever that eventually broke. Happy that is finished and that I am on some medicine to help my ears. They still hurt and I am ready for them to feel better.

Our campaigns presentation was on Wednesday. Our team didn’t win the client, but that is okay by me. We tried our best and I think the team that won, really deserved it. They were the first to present and they totally kicked everyone else. I had to speak for about five minutes. I’m not one to normally be bothered by public speaking, but dear Lord. That was the most stressful five minutes of my semester. I got up there and could feel my heart hammering in my chest. I had to keep reminding myself to calm down. However, I felt worse for the guy that had to present for the whole twenty minutes and sweat the whole time. I knew that he was stressed and embarrassed.

After the presentation Niki, Corey, Casey and I all went out to dinner. Terena was being a drama queen and said that she was going to go home and pass out. But if we wanted her to come, we better call her 50 times to wake her up. Yeah, I’m not wasting my time. I wasn’t in the mood to feed Terena’s ego. So I didn’t call her. I let Niki pick me up and we met the guys for dinner. Our other two team mates, the team mates from hell, didn’t join us. Can’t say that I’m disappointed. We had dinner, some drinks and then went back to Niki’s place and smoked out.

Had my Africa final yesterday, not very exciting. But it’s done, so that is what counts. I think I’ll get a B in that class. I hope to anyway. My chances of getting an A are slight. After that last final, I went and sold back my books, bought Manny’s Christmas present, bought presents for the Angel Tree kids that the committee sponsored, bought Dulce’s Christmas present. Wrapped all family and friends presents. Made chocolate chip cookies for the maintenance and custodial staff and some for the guys for their car trip tonight.

Dropped the cookies for the guys off at Manny’s. I also dropped his Christmas present off. He is sick with a fever and sore throat. I claim not to have given it to him, but I might have. He was under the covers, watching television, drinking beer. They say that alcohol kills germs, but I think it has to be the hard alcohol. Anyways, I got him a baseball cap with our University name on it. He has a few baseball caps, but non with our Uni’s name on it. So I thought it appropriate. He liked it.

Then I met up with Gina to have dinner and catch up on things in each other’s lives. She is busy as ever. I definitely needed these two weeks away from her. I think that they have been good for her. She told me that since everyone was studying for finals, including her boyfriend, she actually stayed at her flat and was learning to enjoy her alone time. Glad to hear that for her. She got me this really nice, hand painted, martini glass, some fun socks, and a set of earrings.

I got her tea towels for her flat. There were three different ones, all pictures of nuns with different cocktails in their hands Sister Mary Merlot, Sister Mary Margarita, and Sister Mary Martini. She seemed to have liked them. Glad to see that things are going well for her.

Spent the morning at the half price book shop here in town. Oh, I was in heaven. I spent about 40 dollars, but came out with about 10 books. It was great. Then I came home and did some organizing, which is going to continue.

Tonight I’m going to Andrés’ going away party. He is going back home to Bogotá, Colombia. He finished his degree and will go home for his Masters. I am very happy for him. He called me yesterday and invited me personally. So I’ve conned Harvey into going with me. If Manny were going to be in town, I know he would go with me, but he is going with the buys to visit some friends before they go back to India for the break.

It will be weird to say good-bye to Andrés. We have such an odd history, but my college experience wouldn’t be what it is without him. As much as I disliked him at times and how we don’t have a lot in common, he is a part of my life. A part I am happy to say has taught me a thing or two.