The Splash Down

This week, certainly, has been more than eventful.

Life at university has begun once again, and with it a whole world of happenings and persons.

I came to my senses a couple hours ago, after my last class ended. Hey, the week’s over! I don’t mean that I was literally asleep or intoxicated or anything like that, just that in the midst of the rush of things all you can see or think about is that rush. It’s like being in a water-slide. You’re in the tube, flying along, and you forget about everything else for those seconds. You shoot out the end and splash down into the water. And then there’s that moment, which figuratively I feel like I’m at right now, where you come up to the surface. The ride’s over. Welcome back to the in-between world, where you have time to think about other things, put on sun-screen, and perhaps buy some overpriced food.

So, now that I’m here in this in-between, and can think again, perhaps I will share and reflect on how things are going thus far:

1. Dorm life: I’ve moved into the Shalom Community Center, also refered to variously as the Nursing Home (for humor), Cornerstone (for official purposes), or “Shalom Home” (the best one because it rhymes). I’m about 75 to 80 percent unpacked, which means I’ve unpacked everything I need in order to function. Winter clothes and a substantial amount of books remain stuffed under the bed in all of their glorious disorder. So far the building has been, appropriate to its name, peaceful, a good place to retreat to between classes. We have twelve students living here, and two “graduate assistant ministry interns” to look after us and lead us in our goal of being an intentional community that pursues God’s wholeness and peace. This week we met to decide on dorm policy, followed up by some late-night ice cream and cake in the downstairs kitchen. But it’s this next week that we’ll meet again to really get down to business and discuss our dreams and visions for what our life as a community will be this year.

2. Classes: I’m looking forward to the interplay between History of Christianity, Sociology of the Middle East, Conflict Mediation, and American National Politics. Very distinct classes, but I think they will all have things to say to each other and I have the feeling that the combination will be very thought-provoking.

3. School tradition: I had forgotten how great Traditiation is. But yelling the old Carlson chants, the cacophony and waving flags at Mock Rock, and the over-the-top muddiness of the Carlson water-slide, brought that back (Meanwhile, “Shalom Home” has the funny dynamic of being neutral and a newcomer. Feels a little like being Switzerland).

4. Being a sophmore: The influx of about 500-600 newcomers on campus means a new sea of unfamiliar faces. In such a situation, people that I thought of as just acquaintances last year are nevertheless that much more likely to become friends this year. In general, seeds planted last year have sprouted, paths set out upon have led to exciting new territory. The year seems full of the promise of growth, intellectual, spiritual, practical. I think the greatest danger for me will be taking on too much.

To end with, just a couple of more minor points:

1. At this point (pre-Winter), having a bike is allowing for very fast transport around campus, which is a wonderful thing. And certainly more fun than walking.

2.  Aradnha. These people’s melodies have been stuck in my head all week; right now I’m in that honeymoon, listen-every-day phase of discovering an really good band. Seriously, for the sake of your happiness, check these people out.

La Machina Verde

For a while now, I’ve been wanting to get a bike.

Last year, my main transportation device was a razor scooter. Great for getting from one building to the next quickly (meaning a few extra minutes for breakfast), but not much better than walking for anything more than that.

Meanwhile the bus is what I like to call “blunderbuss” transportation: aim in general direction of target, blast away. It has set routes and times and you have to work with them; it doesn’t exist just for you and your purposes (though I should remark that even having public transit that operates on a mostly-on-time schedule is something we take for granted). To put it simply, it works well for getting downtown but not for running errands.

So, my big event this week was finally purchasing a bike:

REI was having a labor day sale, I went to check it out, and found this very cool commuting model.

Features: Eight speed internal gearbox, fenders, lights (powered by a wheel generator), disc brakes, rack.

To use Californian dialect, what I’m actually the most “stoked” about is that I was able to set up the crate on the back. I went into Target with the idea of finding bungee cords and some kind of box, and strapping it on somehow for the purpose of carrying groceries and stuff. I can’t believe that plan actually worked, but I’m glad it did, because so far it’s been super-useful, sort of like having the bike version of a pick-up.

I’m trying to think of a name for the bike. Currently, I like “Green Machine” but am thinking that is too cliche. Perhaps if I transfigured it into Español…

“La Machina Verde”. Hmm, maybe that could work… Your thoughts?

My task now is to feel I’m worthy of “La Machina Verde”. I think that will largely involve riding it regularly, and learning good maintenance from some of my biker friends.