Orientation, Days Two and Three: Redemption

Okay, so clearly the almost daily posts aren't going to last. Especially not when classes begin on Monday. But for now, I have a fair amount of free time-- save for today-- and have nothing better to do than watch the gentle breeze waft through the trees and write.

Today, in particular, is an extremely busy day. See below:

Somewhere in there I'm supposed to have lunch and dinner, as well as socialize with my peers, but eh, who cares! 

Segueing into my health, it's never been worst. My bed feels clammy, hard, and cold. The amount of sleep I've received in the past five days is what I'm used to after three. The most I've run since my 20-miler last Saturday is three miles... and that was before I got to Wes.

While the food is very vegan-friendly (I carry tubberware to the cafeteria and have begun to hoard quinoa and lentils in my room), I'm eating at far different times than I'm used to. At home, I would eat every three hours to keep my metabolism at a consistent fasting/burning rate. Here, I'm lucky to eat every five hours. No doubt my body will get used to it, but Lord, it's not going to come easy.

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After unpacking the first night, which took far less time than I had assumed, I went on a bout of responsible (codename for not drinking), yet revelrous, party hopping. We first stopped by a party hosted by Psi U, the largest frat on campus. It was the epitome of a college party: plumes of smoke in the corners; an especially large crowd around the kegs of beer; an increase in temperature of about ten degrees fahrenheit as soon as one walks in the door.

But the real action on campus, it turns out, occurs at the senior woodframe houses. I walked past several houses with blaring music and boisterous residents. Needless to say, I didn't venture inside.

The day that followed was far better than the rest. I found time to eat a large breakfast and lunch as well as go on a quick run and do sets of push-ups and pull-ups. Before I knew it, the day of orientation events, during all of which I was on the verge of falling asleep, was over. 

Freshman Fifteen, here I come!

I decided to avoid the parties and get a full night of rest. Well, I tried to anyway. Quiet hours in our dorm don't hit until eleven o'clock. There were still loud voices coming down the hall as well as outside my window. But it wasn't only the noise that prevented my sleep; the feeling that I was missing out on something was far more brutal. 

I was reminded of Christopher Hitchens' analogy regarding why so many of us fear death. It's not so much that we fear that the party is ending for us. What's daunting is knowing that the party will continue after we're forced to leave. But even that, I'm sure, will come to pass.

I had the opportunity to attend the Friday Jummah prayers with the Muslim Student Association, which was enlightening to say the least. Although the sermon was a bit lengthy, the topic was very engaging: the role of women in Islam. It seemed to be the consensus of the group that women should have a higher place in the religion and shouldn't be relegated to having second-class status.

Soon after, I attended Shabbat services at the Bayit down the street. The rabbi kept his sermon extremely brief, but still explained what's necessary to become a successful Wesleyan student-- finding a community, finding mentors, and finding one or two close friends on whom you can rely for anything. Inspiring.

Our final event of the night was Bend It at Beckham Hall, a cross-dressing extravaganza. It's always nice to break down the gender barriers that can constrain our society, especially when one can dance the night away while doing it.

Also worth mentioning, is that I met with my faculty advisor earlier in the day and hashed out what classes I should take.

My tentative schedule is Introductory Calculus, Elementary Chinese, and Philosophy and the Movies. I choose another course this morning and right now, I'm hoping for the best.

What I'm taking right now doesn't align with my plan of double-majoring in environmental studies and economics and certificating in international relations, but I do have to get some gen-ed requirements out of the way. Always look on the bright side.

Be prepared for more humor and less prattling in the future.

Fred Out.