"The Quest for Metal"

I’m not sure if any of you are history buffs like I am, but I’m really having fun in my West in Global Context I course.  It’s an intro course which looks at world history to 1500, and it is taught by Brian Froese, our lone History prof here at CMU.

  

He was suggesting that we rename this course “The Quest for Metal”, saying that the discovery of better and better metals was crucial in the survival of civilization in the ancient days.   I don’t know about you, but that’s certainly not the first thing the title makes me think about.  

Masks

     

     I was in an interesting situation this month—I went to Camp Arnes (a retreat centre about an hour north of the city) two weekends in a row on different retreats!  This second one I was helping to lead.  I came back from that retreat a few weeks ago with some food for thought I want to share with you.

     The speaking topic on this retreat (aptly named “Neked and Shameless”) dealt with the masks we wear.  In which ways do we hide our true selves from others in order to be gain acceptance?  It seems that many of us change ourselves from time to time in order to hide weaknesses and/or gain friends.  

     But will our wearing of masks actually get us what we seek, or does it get in the way of developing strong friendships with others?  The speaker suggested that the whole concept of masks is a “scam” and simply doesn’t get us what we seek, fragmenting friendships and creating alienation over the long-term.

Camp Arnes Retreat!!

     The Camp Arnes retreat.  Where do I begin?  Like many CMU-sponsored events it all began with us getting into two white vans the afternoon of September 18.  A bumpy bus-ride later and there we were, ready to rock it.

     I must say that the Student Life staff had this retreat well-planned.  One of my favorite events was the “Menno-Run”.  The instructions were a little vague, but I managed to catch on that we were all Mennonites in Russia and that the KGB were after us.  We were led to a corner of the camp and told to run to the other side without getting caught.  It took a half hour of stumbling around before I found myself sprinting across an open field with several “KGB Agents” at my back.  I made it.  Others weren’t as lucky. 

     While not as glamorous, I spent a lot of time around the campfire, singing worship songs, and getting to meet some of the commuter students.  Lots of people had fun swimming (Camp Arnes has a great pool and hot tub) but as I packed for the retreat in about 2 minutes flat, I was a little unprepared. 

     It was a good way to finish off summer.  I came back rested and peopled out, which is a perfect recipe for homework!

Decisions, decisions

     We’re getting to that time of year when course change forms have to be handed in, and I’m choosing a new major—History!  Castles and battles and fur trade  posts—that’s where my interest lies.  Last year I allowed myself to sample various courses to see what I liked, but now it’s time to get down to business. 

     This is for me (and many other students) a time of many decisions.  It can seem like everything is going on at once.  Auditions, courses, new and old friendships, and to top it all off--finances!  I have to remind myself to just hang in there!

Tansitions

     What did you do this past summer?  I spent it at Clear Lake (that’s 1 hour north of Brandon, in Riding Mountain National Park).  I didn’t even know the place existed until I got the interview, but it was really cool go to a place I’d never been and make new friends and live there for three months.  Getting off work at 11 in the evening with work early next morning, trading in sleep in favor of getting my co-workers together for a screening of “10,000 BC” (which I actually don’t think is that bad, no matter what everyone I know says)… priceless. 
     Seriously, though, I find transitions difficult sometimes.  The change from summer job to university dorm living is more trying than most.  It only made it worse that I enjoyed my summer so much.  I want to go back to university, and yet I really want to stay where I was.  Mixed feelings are funny.  Of course, there's only one way to go, and that's forward.  Time to create new experiences!

In the Beginning

 
It's true.  "What's true?" you might ask. Well, CMU now has a student blog.  I'm not sure how we survived without it all these years, but here it is.
     I’m David, and I am a second year student at CMU.  Which basically means that I'm not as nervous as last year and that I have everything figured out this time round.  (Right...!)





     Thinking back to my first day here this semester, I'll admit it was chaotic. I am so lucky that one of my friends from grade school has joined me at CMU this year.  On the morning of September 7th he was much more prepared than I was.  As in I hadn't really packed much.  We got what was important (like my friends' humongous boom box).  But we arrived mid-afternoon and it was from there that the chaos really started:  navigating the overflowing parking lot and dragging in box after musty box of things my mother had thrown in the vehicle right before we left (do I really need last years' notes?)  The first order of business (naturally) was signing up for the Camp Arnes Retreat, and then it was people, talking to housing, course registrations, more people...you get the idea.
     The first week was where I could meet my profs and all the first years, enjoy the good weather, take in all the welcome events as possible and in general enjoy the good life before those pesky assignments start getting in the way.
    In a few days, I'll blog a bit about the retreat.  In the meantime -- have a good one!