Changes, Changes Everywhere

So this last week has been interesting because my friends at home finally started school. It’s really hard to think that I’ve been here for six weeks, and I really can’t believe that they haven’t started school yet. I’m excited because I don’t feel like I’m the only one moving on with life now, and I can see how their college experiences mirror and vary from my own. I’ve been gone long enough now that the subtle differences are starting to hit me. The biggest is just how many people here I don’t know. Growing up in West Linn meant going to school with the same kids every year of my schooling, and even if I wasn’t friends with all of them, I knew who they were. I don’t even know all of the names of the kids in my classes this year, let alone anything about them. That is definitely different from what I’m used to. I’m meeting a ton of new people, and I’ve made some great close friends that I feel really comfortable around, but it’s weird to not be able to sit and tell stories about Ms. Patteson’s 3rd grade class and middle school madness. I knew coming out here would mean that I started all over, but I think I failed to understand just exactly what that meant. I’ve found myself missing people that I wasn’t necessarily friends with, but interacted with on a daily basis, and became part of my routine. I’m getting into a new routine with new people in a new place, and I’m sure that over time, it would be weird to think of life any other way. I think part of why I’m thinking about this now is because this last week a lot of my friends had birthdays so I talked to them more often than I normally would. Almost all of them are going to school with people they know well, so seeing all of their pictures has made me realize just how new everything out here was to me.

One of the most noticeable differences is certainly the weather. It got a lot colder this week, and I was a little worried since it’s only September, and it’s just going to get colder. Luckily I think I came prepared with enough clothes that if I need to, I can just layer up like crazy and run to class. I’m also hoping that I get used to the weather changes soon- it can be freezing and warm in the same day, and that really throws me off. My favorite part is the thunderstorms we have. They are hardcore thunderstorms with lots of noise, rain and lightening. The other day we had a serious downpour and I ran out and jumped in puddles all over campus, and walked back into my dorm room absolutely soaked. But it was tons of fun, despite the weird looks I got from the Valpo Visit Day kids that were getting their tour of the campus. The nice thing is that most of those stupid bugs are dead now, so I don’t have to listen to their obnoxious buzzing all of the time.
The biggest news this week was that my roommate broke up with her boyfriend of almost 3 years. It seems to me like this is something that she has been wanting for a while, and just never had the guts to do. He certainly didn’t seem to see it coming. I feel bad for him because she pretty much moved on to some other guy already, and has no problem rubbing that in her ex-boyfriend’s face. It’s kind of nice for me because he spent a lot of time in our room, and that provided a lot of awkward moments for me, but it still sucks that it had to end this way. The group of us are torn between who we are supposed to hang out with, but so far it hasn’t been that bad. We’ll have to see what happens. We also start intramural volleyball tomorrow and I’m really excited about that. Although, we practiced today and I don’t think we’re going to be very good, which is a little discouraging, but that’s ok. As long as it’s fun, I think I’ll be okay; I’ll just have to put aside my intense competitive nature- or at least attempt to.
The next few weeks will probably fly by due to homecoming, midterms and fall break. We get a four day weekend the second week of October which will be a nice break from class. It’s really hard to believe that we are already almost halfway through the semester. Time really is speeding by. I’m a little sad that everyone and their mother will be going home for fall break, but I’ll be working a lot, and as boring as that will be, it’ll give me some extra spending money which will be nice.
I hope that everything is going well back home, or where-ever you are. If you get bored, it’s always fun to have something waiting in the mailbox- I joined Netflix just so I could have mail every once in a while  and, we watch a ridiculous amount of movies out here, so I’m sure I’ll get my moneys worth.
I love you all!

Life Lesson #1: Be able to drive a stick

So I learned this lesson in two different situations over the course of the last weekend.

Reason #1: When everyone else is drunk, someone has to drive home.
My friends and I were invited to a frat party on Friday night because we have what is called “Derby Days” this week which is a week long event run by the Sigma Chi Frat. My friend Katie and I were designated co-captains for our team, so our frat brother “coaches” invited us to hang out with them Friday. When we got there we realized that is was an actual party, complete with multiple beer pong tables. Since it was packed, and we didn’t really know anyone there was no real reason to be there unless you wanted to drink. So a bunch of us walked back. A couple of hours later I got a call because since Valpo is a dry campus, you can get in trouble for being intoxicated on campus no matter what age you are. So I got to use my amazing stick driving skills in my first (of a probably many) designated driver trips.

Reason #2: When the only other person has to go to the ER, someone has to drive her there.
So my friend Beth, who has her car here, managed to ram her foot into the door jam, breaking her pinkie toe and giving herself a severe laceration. With my pending nurse knowledge I decided we needed to go to the hospital. Really, anyone would have said it, this gash was that deep. She is scared to death of needles so she tried to refuse to go, but I was not having any of that. So I drove her to the Porter County ER which is about three blocks down the street at midnight on Saturday. Let’s just say that if you ever ACTUALLY have an emergency, you might want to choose another hospital unless you have a noticeable serious trauma. It took 5.5 hours for her to even go in the back to seen, and we didn’t manage to get back to the dorm til 8am. Let’s just say we got a little loopy after about the second hour of waiting. Me and my friend Katie (Beth’s roommate) had a tripod competition,

she and Shane played that hand slappy game,

Sandy (our kick butt RA) was telling us all about what the hospital was doing wrong, because she’s also a nursing major, although she’s actually taken nursing classes…



we basically just got to know each other a little more than we were expecting I think. After a very long night, we slept for 4 hours and then got up for Waffles, which are the best part of Sundays if you ask me. One of the cafeterias does these huge Belgian Waffles and you can put pretty much anything you ever wanted on them. They are delicious, and something we look forward to each weekend.

Other than that, classes and life has been pretty routine. This is a pretty slow week for me, but I have two tests and two large papers due next week, so I’ll spend a lot of time getting ready for that. I’m heading out to Notre Dame on Saturday to visit my friend Lisa who I worked with at Cold Stone and to watch the ND- Michigan State game on the quad with a ton of ND students. My friend Shane loves ND Football, and he has a car, so he’s going to show me, Eric and Sara around campus as well. I hear it’s really pretty so that will make me just appreciate our lovely Valpo Architecture even more. My friends back home finally moved into their dorms this week, so I don’t feel like I’m the only one in college any more. I’m excited to see what they think of it.

Welcome to Alumni!

The last few days have been relatively normal… not a whole lot is really going on. I’m getting into a routine for my classes and homework. Wednesdays have become my favorite days because I only have one class that doesn’t start until 10:10. I also learned that Sports Illustrated gets delivered on Wednesdays here, so that means that it really is my favorite day of the week. I’m working as write this. I’ve found pretty much the easiest job that exists I think. As a Desk Attendant I sit at the front desk of Alumni (my dorm) and make sure that suspicious people don’t go unnoticed, sort mail and greet people with a smile. Basically I get paid to sit here and do my homework, which is really nice. The unfortunate thing is that minimum wage in Indiana is only $5.15/ hour, and I’m coming off making $8/hour at Cold Stone. So that certainly sucks. I only work about ten hours a week, but I think I would go crazy from boredom if I worked more than that, and the only reason I need money is to pay my cell phone bill and for spending money, and I should be able to do both of those things with the small income I bring in.

Perhaps the coolest part of my job is that I get to meet a lot of different people. I’ve met a lot of the freshman football players, and apparently we had a blow out game this last weekend… it was away. I also heard that it was against a division 3 team, so that could be why. More importantly, I’ve met some basketball players. Now that might actually do me some good. This way, when people see that we make it to the NCAA Tournament this year, and watch us on tv I can say "I know that kid, his name is Paul, he's from England." and I won't be lying. They tell me that our team is supposed to be good this year, and even better next year, so don't be surprised if you see me on tv come march.

The tornado siren went off again this week and I immediately thought “that’s it, I’m moving back to Oregon.” Then I was informed that it was just a test of the system and it happens every first Tuesday of the month. You would think that would be something they told you at orientation or at least those of us from non-tornado zones. How am I supposed to know what is real and what is a test? I guess I'll just get used to it, and know that if there ever was a tornado, like there was my first week here that the siren works. And, it's fricking loud.

I went to some frat parties this weekend, and I figured out which ones are shady, and which ones are actually cool. I earned some real street cred at the Sig Eps house, because I came prepared to Slip-n-Slide. Apparently not many people did. Right now I need to get back to doing some homework before my last real day of classes for the week. Friday is another easy day which is nice, especially since I'm done with classes at 11am. I don't really have any plans for this weekend yet, but it's time for the annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, so we'll probably stop by there at some point. I hope all is well with all of you- Vickie

people have been asking me for my address here so i'll just post it now:
Vickie Chambers
Alumni Hall 514
1605 Campus Drive East
Valparaiso, IN 46383