A CMU Christmas!

     Christmas @ CMU is one of my favorite times of the year.  Many different concerts, lots of people I know both inside and outside of the school, and hot apple cider make it an evening I really enjoy.
     The event is a massive "create your own concert" experience which takes place all around north campus.  It happens twice, and during each of them the place is simply packed with people.  My family comes every year, so it's a good time to see them and to catch up.



     I can't pick just one highlight, so I'll have to go with two.  I really enjoyed the reading of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  The Grinch was played by Dietrich Bartel, one of our music professors, during the first event and by Earl Davy, VP Academic, for the second.  They had very different styles, but both of them made me burst out laughing in the audience.  Well done!  Secondly, this year we ended the evening with a rendition of the Halleluiah Chorus - the largest I have ever been a part of.
     Christmas @ CMU was exactly what I needed to get relaxed and ready for Christmas.  And as an extra bonus, the residence students got hot apple cider all day.  Merry Christmas to all!

Student Life + Christmas @ CMU!

     Crunch time continues.  Yesterday I managed to get together with a friend and go to Starbucks with some people, but I still had to get five hours of studying in.  I need to keep working to survive!
     One way that we are taking breaks is through Settlers of Catan.  We have played absolutely ridiculous amounts of this game in the past while.  How ridiculous?  Two games a day for ten days straight.  It's becoming a very serious endeavour for at least a few of us.

     People have also been trying to continue to exercise.  Sometimes working out is just what is needed - and the weather is still quite warm!  There's also a group going out for wings this week.  Still others have been taking the opportunity to prank their friends, making their lives just a little bit - well, fun, hopefully!
     Christmas @ CMU is coming up soon, and so lots of students have worked hard making cookies out of the goodness of their hearts.  The event is this weekend, featuring a bunch of live music, cookies, and apple cider.  You should come!  Here are the dates: Saturday, November 26 at 7 pm, and Sunday, November 27 at 3 pm.  

To remember is to work for peace

     Yesterday, November 11th, was Remembrance Day.  Mennonite Central Committee has for years produced Remembrance Day buttons with the phrase, "To remember is to work for peace."

"On Remembrance Day we honour those who fought in war and we remember what they gave in service of our country.  The "peace button," an initiative of Mennonite Central Committee, invites us to remember and to work for peace.  Together let us seek and apply non-violent ways toward more justice and safety in our world." (MCC)

     MCC yesterday held a "flash mob" at the Forks in observance of Remembrance Day.  I went with two CMU friends.  Over a hundred people gathered at the Forks Marketplace.  Many students from the school were there, as well as others from my church.   In a low-key gathering, we sang "Freedom is Coming", unveiled a peace banner, and dispersed.
     We remember.  And we will do all we can to work for peace.

Crunch Time!

     Well, it's the beginning of November.  Mid-terms are right behind us, and many of my fellow students are hard at work on their papers.  It is not uncommon for us to have between 10,000 and 15,000 words to write in our various assignments at this time of year.
     Of course, we also need to have fun.  Two weeks ago, we had the Fall Ball, with some outrageous costumes, a spooky haunted house, and a fire truck to boot.  (It turns out that smoke machines turn on fire alarms.  Who knew?)  Student Council had been collecting song suggestions for the party from students, so the music positively rocked (although my favorite song, strategically placed on ALL FOUR suggestion sheets around campus, was not chosen!)  There have also been random dance parties here and there, and longer snack times at 9pm because everyone wants to keep the essay away half an hour longer.  Yesterday, Sean on our floor turned 18.  Something had to be done!  We trecked to the local Original Joe's and toasted in his honour.  OJ's was the first time that the floor had been able to get together and go out somewhere, and it was a blast.  Between the conversations (which ranged from politics to classes to sport teams) we took a well-deserved break from everything.
     I didn't notice it as much this year, because I'm taking less courses, but this is a very stressful time for many students.  I know a few people who are writing papers all night and stressing over the work they have to do.  I wrote papers for what seemed like forever in my first year.  Believe me, you will get better at dealing with it!
    There's still a good deal more work to be done (and fun to be had) before the term ends.  I see some snow-ball fights in my future...!

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