Back at Steubenville

So I've been back at school for a few weeks now. Here is what has been happening.

Orientation: I got back to school early to do Spring orientation. If only I knew that I would be coming back to snow. Once I hit western PA, the snow started flying. I was hitting my windshield washer fluid about every few minutes from the salt piling up. Anyway, we had orientation leader training first. All of our meals were free (courtesy of the caf, of course), which meant that I didn't have to worry about buying food. Whenever we ate in the caf, it was so empty (mostly because none of the other students had come back from break yet). I had never seen it so empty and quiet. Training lasted a few days, and we got our orange orientation shirts. When the first day of orientation came, a snow storm came with it. The weather was so bad that I went home early that night. My car was sliding down the hill at the entrance by the St. Joseph Center. The rest of orientation went off with out a hitch. It's smaller than Fall orientation. But I really enjoyed it, and enjoyed meeting the new students. I was an Orientation leader for the Grad Non Trad group.

Start of classes: What a difference one less class will make. I'm taking 12 credits this semester, and I feel like I have time to complete all of my assignments this semester. Plus all of my classes start after 12pm. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I usually go to the 6:30am mass. So after breakfast, I have about four hours of free time before my first class. It's great. I can get work done during that time. And I actually have free time this semester! So far I'm doing pretty good in all of my classes. So I am really happy about that, and pray that it continues (especially in Sr Johanna's class!).

Household: I have found out just how huge Stella really is. All of the girls who were in Austria last semester are now back, and there are now 50 girls on campus. If I hadn't have gone to Rutgers, that number would have scared me. Instead, I just tell myself that it is just a number, and that the size is bound to go down. Originally I had a date set to intent Stella, but it had to be pushed back indefinitely. They have one intent (they call them twinkles) that came back from Austria. So right now they have a twinkle class of one. Hopefully that number will go up soon, I just don't know when.

Life in general: Overall, I've been spending most of my time on campus. On the weekdays (when I'm not going to the 6:30am mass), I usually have breakfast in the caf before working in "Tommy" (mostly so I don't have to eat by myself in my apartment). And I don't usually leave campus until after dark (although it's been getting dark later). But I have no complaints, and I'm happy. Oh, I tried out for the music ministry again...and again wasn't chosen. I know I can sing, so maybe they just don't need many people. I tried.