Life!

     Most of us have been at CMU for about two weeks.  The small amount of time we've spent together has already been packed with welcome week activities, first classes, meeting each other and making friends.  Here's what's been going on at the CMU residence this week:
     1. Classes.  By this time everyone has finished their introductory classes and are settling down for the real work.  The first part of a semester can feel more relaxed than later, when papers are all due at the same time.  There's more free time for getting involved, chilling late into the night, and pranking our friends (more on that later...!)  Course change period continues for a few days, so classes are still shuffling, but soon that will be settled as well and we will be able to sink into what we're learning.
     2. Community.  Since the beginning of September, we have developed some close connections among different floors.  Over meals, late night craziness, and common experiences (what was that prof thinking?) we are already growing together.  One particular area where we get to be a team is with pranks.  There's some intense rivalry between the first floor men's and second floor women's residences.  These fun competitions allow us to vent our capacity to cause havoc and keep the atmosphere from becoming too tame.
     3. Camp Arnes Retreat.  This past weekend most of us went to Camp Arnes, a retreat centre, to have fun together.  The theme of the weekend was "all things new".  I enjoyed having some conversations with people I haven't talked to in a while, playing crazy outdoor games, and chilling in the hot tub.  We also witnessed the second talent show, which was even more interesting than the first.  As always, I got back relaxed and ready to work.  
     Twelve page essay, here I come!