a lot like Christmas

So it has snowed a few inches here at Drake.  We got back an hour after expected due to all the snow.  There were many cars in the ditches, so dear readers, please take your driving easy.  At the time of previous post, there was an utter lack of winter storm outside of the car window.  The storm managed to pick up the last 2 hours.  So far everyone has made it back which is nice.  Drake has a bus system for students, which goes to Minneapolis, Chicago and Kansas City to help students get home. 

            When I got settled in I took a walk around campus with some of the girls to catch up.  My camera was not charged so sorry I have no pictures.  Fear not, snow is a frequent occurrence in this state so I will eventually post some.  The campus was absolutely gorgeous when covered with snow.  The east side of campus is my favorite to walk though due to old and stoic buildings.  They are now all snow kissed which makes me think: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

ridin along in the automobile

In the style of previous posts written somewhere over the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: I am currently somewhere in Iowa heading back to Drake.  I had an excellent weekend though I thoroughly missed Drake.  On Thursday morning I woke up to realize I had nothing to do.  There were no tests to take, no classes to go to, no essays to write.  I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I ended up going for a jog.  The town looks the same for the most part but it did not feel like my town anymore.  Throughout the weekend Drake friends called or texted, so I was never really out.  I did get to see Badger hockey and basketball which was nice.  Some Waunakee friends joined me for the hockey game and the badger game was a good chance to catch up with my father.  I managed to see almost all of the folks I spent time with when I attended high school, which was nice.  Some people have really matured, and others might take a little longer.  Major changes however were not expected until maybe a year out. 

            The drive is pretty in a simplistic sort of way.  This is definitely not Hawaii, but there is an allure to this state I now call home.  The farm fields are slowly being dusted with snow as we pass forgettable small towns.  It reminds me of the road from Amman to Aqaba, with farmland substituted for desert.  Tranquility is very present.  The drive is not hard, just monotonous hours before I reach my new home.  A girl asked me if I would like to go home next weekend, as she lives nearby and did not head back for break due to family visiting her at Drake.  I replied that Drake is my home and I need to stay there as much as possible.  (I made it 3 months before heading back to where I grew up.)  I do really feel as if Drake is my home, and I cannot wait to get back-hopefully we stop soon-my bladder is calling.

ridin along in the automobile

In the style of previous posts written somewhere over the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea: I am currently somewhere in Iowa heading back to Drake.  I had an excellent weekend though I thoroughly missed Drake.  On Thursday morning I woke up to realize I had nothing to do.  There were no tests to take, no classes to go to, no essays to write.  I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I ended up going for a jog.  The town looks the same for the most part but it did not feel like my town anymore.  Throughout the weekend Drake friends called or texted, so I was never really out.  I did get to see Badger hockey and basketball which was nice.  Some Waunakee friends joined me for the hockey game and the badger game was a good chance to catch up with my father.  I managed to see almost all of the folks I spent time with when I attended high school, which was nice.  Some people have really matured, and others might take a little longer.  Major changes however were not expected until maybe a year out. 

            The drive is pretty in a simplistic sort of way.  This is definitely not Hawaii, but there is an allure to this state I now call home.  The farm fields are slowly being dusted with snow as we pass forgettable small towns.  It reminds me of the road from Amman to Aqaba, with farmland substituted for desert.  Tranquility is very present.  The drive is not hard, just monotonous hours before I reach my new home.  A girl asked me if I would like to go home next weekend, as she lives nearby and did not head back for break due to family visiting her at Drake.  I replied that Drake is my home and I need to stay there as much as possible.  (I made it 3 months before heading back to where I grew up.)  I do really feel as if Drake is my home, and I cannot wait to get back-hopefully we stop soon-my bladder is calling.

There's no place like home

            “Go to class, we are paying for you to get an excellent education which means you better go!” is how I imagined my father telling me not to skip my last class before break.  So I did go, along with other people-not everyone left, and we actually had a great discussion on Obamas cabinet, and we got let out early.  Then I packed into a Camry with 3 other students and we headed back.  I have seen some amazing Iowa sunsets and last night, though driving the other way, I kept looking back on an absolutely gorgeous one.  (There’s probably a metaphor in there about looking back on my first Drake experience and beauty but I digress, as I am not a philosophy major.)  I arrived home to a shopping spree/makeover-not my idea I might add.  I was however in need of a new suit, which prompted a new jacket, belt etc.  The folks on those makeover shows would have been impressed.  Then I headed the Mecca of fine Wisconsin dining: Culvers.  Few words can describe the goodness of ones first foray back into the fried cheese world.  (Des Moines does have a Culvers, and it is good, but we have only been there once)  Then I finally got back and just sprawled out on my couch talking to my mother who is making what smells to be an excellent thanksgiving feast, my father and friends.  It is very good to be at my other home, though this one is lacking the wonderful unlimited soft serve ice cream of Hubbell.  

Almost home

The tension is building a little bit.  Folks are very excited to get through this week and head home.  For many of us, it will be the first time back.  Drake has a fall break which was about a month ago.  I took the time to head up to Minnesota to see some friends.  After 2 and a half months I will be heading home in a week.  However some big things are going to happen before.

Friday night looks to be fairly entertaining.  The alternative to drinking group on campus puts on movies every couple of weeks, so we get to watch Tropic Thunder in the theatre for free.  This will be directly followed by Club Crawford.  The Crawford Hall Executive Council hires a DJ every year, then turns their entire dorm into one big rave.  Should be an excellent way to finish out the week.  Sunday is the basketball game and a choir concert.

The big part of my week will involve me giving a lecture on Italy, specifically the first republic.

I am sort of nervous to go back.  I have had the feeling of going home after being away for a long time before, but the culture shock was much different.  Also Drake is my home as well, so it is more so as if I am visiting, rather than going home.  I haven’t seen many folks since then, and I was home for such a short time right before college (8 days) that it will be kind of weird.  I am however looking forward to food, my bed, and not having to wear shower shoes.  

Iraqis and Sororities

I had a very multi-cultural day on Thursday.  A girl had previously come to ask my Arabic teacher about how to write a note to their sorority house cleaning lady, who speaks only Arabic.  We found out that she was Jordanian, so on Thursday my Arabic teacher and I went over to have lunch at the sorority house.

My teacher and the woman spoke in Arabic, while I translated for the sorority girls.  We found out some amazing things about the woman who had been working for them for the past few months:

            She is Palestinian/Jordanian, meaning her parents are from Palestine, and though she has never been there, she still considers herself of that heritage.  She grew up in Jordan, and has citizenship there.  She is also a Sunni, as is most of the Muslim world, especially to the west side of the dividing line (right down the middle of Iraq.)  The man she married is Iraqi, and is a Shia.  (The plot thickens-Sunni and Shia=Capulet’s and Montague’s, especially in post invasion Iraq.)  They have 4 kids together, all named after the Jordanian royalty.  Her husband worked with the US Army as a translator.

            Both religious sects found out about what was going on and wanted them to divorce, as this was at the height of sectarian violence prior to the surge.  When it was learned who her husband was working for, her house received mortar and grenade attacks, crippling her leg.  Her husband received death threats, and her sixteen-year-old son received attempts of kidnapping.  Upon learning of this action the US Army picked them up and brought them to Jordan for her to receive medical help, and to get them out of the violence.  Then the embassy gave them refuge status so they could come here.  Now they are raising 4 kids in Iowa with limited English speaking ability, and she is working for a sorority.  And I thought my life got hard at times.  Needless to say it was a very interesting conversation.  The girls all absolutely love her and she loves them-which was fun to translate- so it seems like it is working out.  Chalk it up to Drake Greek life to have such an impact on someone’s life.  

A math test above the rest

Today I got an A on my math exam.  I do not believe I have gotten an A in math since probably middle school.  It was definitely a time for celebration.  Then I got back to the dorm only to find that a friend needed help replacing a flat tire.  So we got a bunch of us out there and ended up fixing two cars.  It was cold, but it shows the family vibe we have on our floor.  I am very happy with how things turned out, these are people I know I can count on.  We try to build on the good vibe by everyone having a meal with each other at least once a week.  I remember when I was younger my mother insisted on us having a sit down family dinner as much as possible with everyone there.  I think that really contributed to how much I got along with my folks and little brother.  It is a policy I will try to implement if I become an RA next year, which I will be shooting for.

            In hopes of keeping up with the international theme of this blogs origin, I have applied to spend a summer once again in the Arab world studying Arabic.  I have no idea if I am going to be accepted, but really hope so.  In other news a Drake trip has been pre-approved for next summer to the Middle East with Dr. Hamad, or resident Arab.  I enjoy his teaching and registered for one of his classes today.  I will be taking World Politics, Psych+lab, Macro Econ, Arabic, PT, and another army class.  Tonight there is a comedian on campus again, so we are going to check that out.  

America

Last night was a monumental moment in my life.  I was in room 234 Morehouse with Dave Kyle Scotty and Katie when it was announced.  I akin the moment to where I was when I learned of 9/11.  It seems very ironic, that 9/11 and the events that spawned after have defined my generation.  And now change has come.  Obama is president. 

There is nothing else like America, and last night is what it is all about.  People were mad as hell with out leadership.  However we did not kill Bush, we did not incite a riot.  We voted, and we changed it.  No shots were fired, only ballots cast.  People across the world rejoiced, and the good senator from Arizona conceded.  As an IR major, I have spent the past year studying different revolutions and take over’s.  To see the change of leadership of the free world over night with simply asking people who they want, is a monumental thing.

I love my country.  It was such a shame when I was abroad to hear about how much people loved our country, our culture, our music, our movies our food.  But they detested our government.  Hopefully they will not anymore.  I used to worry that someday my kids would ask me what America was like when I was growing up.  Hopefully with the change in leadership, I can tell them the path America is on to once again being a symbol of freedom and good started last night.  It is for reasons like last night, that I am Proud to be an American.

 

 

 

 

Drake University endorses no candidate nor political affiliation but does encourage intellectual debate and conversation about all issues/candidates.  The views expressed in this blog are solely my own (and I guess more than half the population) but are not affiliated/endorsed with/by Drake University.