NSO training musings
I must say, the retreat was great. I wish I could go into detail about it and remember everything, but frankly, there'd just be too much. I'll hit the highlights.
- The amazing "fancy" dinner that our OL group put on downstairs ("Yeah! Trapezoid!") after scrambling to find anything to decorate, complete with Christmas trees, confetti made from childrens' art, 2 fly swatters, foliage, and a birthday treat for Mikelle - Adam's last minute idea.
- Enjoying for once all the bonfire mind games, and finally getting to play Green Glass Mirror! At the bonfire I also enjoyed a really wonderful conversation with Emily, Kerri, and Sammi.
- The hike to Coralville Lake with Megan, Julia, Sammi, Kerri, Miki and others, which was really funny and beautiful.
- The "Positive back-stabbing" activity that always makes everyone feel good.
- The HILARITY (for some reason) of the train name game.
- Reminiscing with Kerri
- Hearing "Lovestoned" so often in the van
- not sucking at whiz-boink!
- sitting on the side of the pool and relaxing with my feet in the water with everyone
- our hilarious mock-pa-group roleplaying game
- hilarity of 2 truths and a lie - and Mehrdad just lying.
Yesterday was busy, and involved a scavenger hunt that was WAY better than the one we'd done in previous years, but flawed because there was nothing at the Info Desk at the end to tell you that you'd finished the hunt! The pictures were tricky and fun, and our OL group won by at least 10 minutes.
We also had PA Christmas yesterday which was just as touching as always. My mom sent me a Cornell ornament and shared about how much I love Christmas and traditions and talked about the 3 angels atop the tree. Lots of people had really sweet stories, or, like Seth, got awesome presents, like a big wheel - which he has taken for a spin around clock tower. I'm glad that all the returners keep PA Christmas a secret, because it's really special and magical. Gotta love the bonding. And the flower bouquet air fresheners.
Today was full of lectures and stuff, and I get a little whiney about that because they're long and I am tired and can't sit still. But some of them were good, and I learned much more than I expected to. Lots of new things, like the idea institute (still not really clear on what that even is) and the anti sophomore-slump program. I wonder if either of those programs will take off or do well.
We also had some team tasks, made some OC signs, picked out meeting places (I scared Nate away from mine) and then finished early, which was nice. Julia wanted to know if I would accompany her to Iowa City to join Bryce and Casey for dinner, and while I initially said no, reluctantly because I couldn't get a hold of Casey and really didn't think he'd be around what with classes, and I went to dinner with Maggie, I finally got in touch with him, found out he was free and ecstatic to hear I might becoming, and I left Sodexho in an awful rush to accompany Julia to IC. 'T was good! We ate delicious Thai food and talked about D&D with our boyfriends and Lindsey. Yes, I am going to join those nerds, and now that I know more about it, I'm excited. Sounds fun. I'll have to tell Uncle Tony. Haha.
Now I'm dead tired. But tomorrow is move-in and hillbottom games.....
Oh the exhaustion I will feel then! Bring it on. I'm ready.
- The amazing "fancy" dinner that our OL group put on downstairs ("Yeah! Trapezoid!") after scrambling to find anything to decorate, complete with Christmas trees, confetti made from childrens' art, 2 fly swatters, foliage, and a birthday treat for Mikelle - Adam's last minute idea.
- Enjoying for once all the bonfire mind games, and finally getting to play Green Glass Mirror! At the bonfire I also enjoyed a really wonderful conversation with Emily, Kerri, and Sammi.
- The hike to Coralville Lake with Megan, Julia, Sammi, Kerri, Miki and others, which was really funny and beautiful.
- The "Positive back-stabbing" activity that always makes everyone feel good.
- The HILARITY (for some reason) of the train name game.
- Reminiscing with Kerri
- Hearing "Lovestoned" so often in the van
- not sucking at whiz-boink!
- sitting on the side of the pool and relaxing with my feet in the water with everyone
- our hilarious mock-pa-group roleplaying game
- hilarity of 2 truths and a lie - and Mehrdad just lying.
Yesterday was busy, and involved a scavenger hunt that was WAY better than the one we'd done in previous years, but flawed because there was nothing at the Info Desk at the end to tell you that you'd finished the hunt! The pictures were tricky and fun, and our OL group won by at least 10 minutes.
We also had PA Christmas yesterday which was just as touching as always. My mom sent me a Cornell ornament and shared about how much I love Christmas and traditions and talked about the 3 angels atop the tree. Lots of people had really sweet stories, or, like Seth, got awesome presents, like a big wheel - which he has taken for a spin around clock tower. I'm glad that all the returners keep PA Christmas a secret, because it's really special and magical. Gotta love the bonding. And the flower bouquet air fresheners.
Today was full of lectures and stuff, and I get a little whiney about that because they're long and I am tired and can't sit still. But some of them were good, and I learned much more than I expected to. Lots of new things, like the idea institute (still not really clear on what that even is) and the anti sophomore-slump program. I wonder if either of those programs will take off or do well.
We also had some team tasks, made some OC signs, picked out meeting places (I scared Nate away from mine) and then finished early, which was nice. Julia wanted to know if I would accompany her to Iowa City to join Bryce and Casey for dinner, and while I initially said no, reluctantly because I couldn't get a hold of Casey and really didn't think he'd be around what with classes, and I went to dinner with Maggie, I finally got in touch with him, found out he was free and ecstatic to hear I might becoming, and I left Sodexho in an awful rush to accompany Julia to IC. 'T was good! We ate delicious Thai food and talked about D&D with our boyfriends and Lindsey. Yes, I am going to join those nerds, and now that I know more about it, I'm excited. Sounds fun. I'll have to tell Uncle Tony. Haha.
Now I'm dead tired. But tomorrow is move-in and hillbottom games.....
Oh the exhaustion I will feel then! Bring it on. I'm ready.