Ahhhh- this week is finals and its been crazy. Last week was crazy as well. So much to do- so little time. I will be happy when this week is over, because I will have turned in possibly the biggest project I have done in my college career- the environmental history of Augsburg college. Written in my class consisting of nine people. We split the paper into four sections, I researched information on Augsburg's physical plant as the spatial manifestation of social hierarchies. It has been a really good experience- Ive learned alot but its been so time consuming. If I put as much work I did into this project into my other classes I would have no problem getting straight 4.0's But sometimes you just gotta pick and choose. Balancing all the opportunities college presents is truely an art. I like to think I do a good job but getting three hours of sleep a night makes me think twice!

this weekend was tiring! I worked alot at the coffee shop and Saturday I had my orientation for study abroad. It was exciting to talk about it and talk to others who are gonna be gone next semester as well. Now I don't want to do any homework, I'm ready for next semester- I'm just that excited.

This week was full of end of semester stuff. On monday, the political science and history department had their Christmas party, good times. Velkomen was on Friday, one of my favorite Augsburg traditions where everyone dresses is traditional Norweigan dress, even the President of the college and his family had Norweigan sweaters on. At chapel we sing Christmas songs, some of them sang in Scandinavian. Then we went over to Christenson and ate a ton of food. They had traditional Scandinavian food like goat cheese, fruit tarts, and raspberry rice pudding, absolutely delicious food. I ate with some graduates from 1947, and had the chance to talk to them about college. It quite enjoyable! Then Vespers was on Friday evening and saturday, and as usual Vespers was really good. Last week was a good week!

No me gusta espanol. I really wish I would of taken my language classes my first year of college. My optimism got the best of me, thinking I could take french and then take spanish my junior year. Now I know the basics of both, but can not speak eigther vary well. Which will not be helpful next semester when I am studying abroad in Central america. My spanish class right now is a little challenging, luckily I live with someone who speaks spanish fluently. And she gets the privilege of helping me in my quest to learn spanish.. its more like I am really lucky she helps me or theres no telling how I would be doing. Just figuring out the reason for changing one word can make everything way more comprehendible.
Anyways, right now the plan is to study alot over winter break, and then hopefullly get the language down studying there. From what I hear, people are able to speak the language really well after they are done studying abroad. Which is good because my goal is to be fluent in spanish eventually in my life. When I went to Mexico, which was only for a week, I improved a great deal in my spanish. However at that point my spanish was basically non existant. So thats encouraging. I guess in a couple months we'll see, who knows, maybe I'll be writing this blog in spanish!

crazy

This week has been so busy. During Thanksgiving break I went to see my brother, who is studying abroad in Chili. It was an amazing trip, but now I have alot of catch up to do.... which is resulting in all nighers.... 2nd night pulling an all nighter whoop whoop

I spent alot of today trying to get all my forms for my study abroad next semester organized. All together it problably would of took not too much time, but I found myself getting side tracked looking up pictures and information of the countries I will be going too and chatting with roomies. Not being on campus next semester also has meant I have to plan some things for my senior year right now, such as living situations. I'm not much of a planner so I've been putting it off. I just don't know where I want to live, so many choices. Ive lived in all the halls except for Anderson... I guess we'll see.

city school

Today was filled with quality library time in the archives reading Echos from years past. The more I research for my Environmental History class about the history of Augsburg the more I realize what an eclectic and unique college it really is. Our position in the city has formed who we are as a school and I think that is one of my favorite characteristics of Augsburg. I must say being able to leave campus and within a couple minutes experience so much muliplicity just by walking down the street is pretty sweet. This semester has passed by so fast! I feel like it was only yesterday that I moved into my new place this sumer and Thanksgiving break is only one week away!