#09 Communion with Community

September 21, 2012:

I can't believe it's been 4 weeks! The time has seriously flown by. But this whirlwind of a month has ended with yet another eventful week.

Huge exams, crazy projects, and long writing assignments have been the newest worry added to the list here at Loma. They had to rear their ugly heads sometime now didn't they?

Aside from the academics (I mean it's only academics here....haha...) there is always something going on here.

Chapels and time outs have been SO nice for all of us stressed out college kids who live for that break in our day/evening. The music, the speakers, and the fellowship makes me that much more thankful for this school and the opportunity to experience this not so college conventional event during my day.

A first happened this week in one of my classes. It was during the ever so loved and over populated freshman GenEd "Core Values and Convocation"! This first that I'm speaking of is ACTUAL CLASS PARTICIPATION during a segment on American citizenship over loyalty to God as a temptation. Granted it was more of some heated arguments, misunderstood messages, and unprepared debates, but hey, it's still being talked about on campus to this day so at least we know that the message got through. Personally, I feel bad for the professor. I mean come on, I wouldn't want to have to teach a course like that to the entire freshman class. Not only are there so many of us, but it's also taught in a dark auditorium. Which means cell phones, magazines, and laptops are a common sight throughout class. I'm not going to lie, I'm guilty of having used them myself. I should probably change that habit.... Should.

I also had the chance to check out the swing dance club that meets on Thursday nights. If you have never been swing dancing I totally recommend it! It's great music, a fun time, and a good workout! Plus, thanks to Loma's good old girl/guy ratio it's always interesting to have to partner up two girls. Not to mention confusing because you didn't really know who was the lead. I learned how to lead the dance so I could teach my friends, and not because I have some secret desire to experience male dominance.... Anyways, I had a blast! And I'm STILL sore. But I 100% recommend this for anyone, so Thursday nights at 8 everyone!

And then today was communion day during chapel. Serving a chapel full of students communion without any major line congestion was a miracle in itself. I always love communion at my home church, so to be able to take it at school during chapel was really nice. And next week is RENEWAL week! Yes! I'm ready for a little renewal in my week...

September 23, 2012:

So it's been the weekend already. So much done. So much experienced. These are pretty much my words of wisdom from this weekend:

-When you get the chance, go climb a roof. Just kidding! But if you happen to find yourself on a roof, watch out for pubsafe! You just may end up stuck on said roof for 3 hours.
-Don't go kayaking. Just kidding. Just be prepared to rip your shoulder muscles trying to carry/throw them (kidding again...) down the cliffs.
-If you get motion sick, don't find yourself stuck in a little kayak in the middle of the ocean. Just don't.
-It is illegal to jump off of cliffs. Fine tickets are NOT a myth. Seriously.
-The Gaslamp district is so much fun at night. Getting lost is not.
-Putting off homework until tomorrow is a bad idea, no matter what anyone says. You will wake up one day and realize that it is Sunday night and that you are screwed.
-Forgetting your rainbows 'n junk in a kayak is never the way to go because it WILL be buried in the bottom of the pile EVERY TIME.
-Rest is for the wicked and the myth of sleep is a goal.

That last one is my goal for tonight. So with that, I am out.

Peace and love Loma,
Em

#MyLife@Loma

UPDATE: Last week I told you all about this super cool dude whom I met in the cafeteria while he was working. I now know who he is! His name is Sang Nam! And he is OFFICIALLY my friend on Facebook(: Be jelly.

(Yes, my hall did get "pranked". Lame.)

#08 Layers

September 14, 2012:

Third week of classes is officially in the books.

It's also the first full week that we've had here at Loma.Yes!

This week has been yet another chapter in the ever interesting life of a college student. Plus, the weather has been ridiculous lately. I'm talking random fog and clouds all day! Anyways, this week has been full of chapels with funny Englishman speakers, classes with crazy professors and crazy loads of homework, and of course all of our crazy college shinanigans.

One of which is currently underway, Loma Thrill Night! (NAZ NIGHT!)

Which of course I'm not attending :(

I'm not bitter. Really.

I'm only not in attendance because I have a XC meet bright and early tomorrow! Seven A.M.!
Boo.

Oh well, GO SEA LIONS! <--Sorry, had to do a little plug right there.

So it's been three weeks. Twenty-one days. Which means that college is finally peeling back the layers of all who attend here. It's good though.

This is where we find out who we bond with, who we clash with, who's the class brain, who's the class clown, and which of us are genuinely good people. Which is probably most of us. I hope.

Also, something just came to my attention this week which makes me love this wonderful school that much more! No, it's not that this campus is stinkin' gorgeous even when it isn't sunny; it's the Caf staff. They are probably the kindest, sweetest, most helpful staff anywhere. They are always willing to chat or even just introduce themselves. This past week I had the privilege of meeting one of them. I was studying in the caf and wasn't feeling very talkative, but something told me to say good morning to the man restocking the napkins. I did and we exchanged names, (although I still to this day can never make out exactly what he says his name is) and he thanked me for saying good morning to him. Then he went off and said good morning and introduced himself to a few other people at the tables next to mine. He was genuinely happy to just be appreciated and talked to. Needless to say, that encounter has stuck with me all week. And now every time I go in, I look for him just to say hello.

If you haven't already, I highly recommend chatting up one of the staff. They are the best!

Also I challenge you to talk to someone new this weekend, or even next week. Sit next to someone new. Re connect with someone you haven't really talked to in a while. You never know, you may learn something new :)

Well I really should get on to my writing home work. I, like many others who had to attend a Shakespeare play this past Thursday, am an "Evarkutie" [eh-var-cu-tea]. Gotta love Prof. Evarkiou...

Whether you will be spending this weekend recovering from Naz Night, spending it at home, or having a grand old time here at Loma, I wish you all of the greatest memories, long naps, and fun in the next few days.

Recommendations:
-It's going to be a hot weekend here! Beeeeeach!
-Have a roomie date night! Unless your roomie is out of town. Then that would just be awkward.
-Eat up those care packages that have been coming in alot lately! Like mine!!(Thanks mom!)
-SLEEP

Keep it classy, not trashy Loma!

Peace,
Emily

#MyLife@Loma
p.s. If you happen to be at Naz night and reading this, DON'T MISS OUR VERY OWN POINTLESS when they perform at 8:30. They are truly amazing! And fun! <---Yet another shameless plug! ;]

#07 Let the Good Times Roll

September 9, 2012:

I've been meaning to blog since Friday, but darn college got in the way.

Well, more like college social life.

So this past week has been a pretty good one. It was still a 4-day week, (good luck next weeks guys!) so not that bad. But you can still tell that teachers are kicking our butts into high gear already. Everywhere you look there are people studying. Your hall, the library, the caf, Bobby B's, the grass, caf lane, on the cliffs- okay maybe not that last one- are all places that you can find some poor soul cramming for some stressful test/quiz/paper. I'm no exception.

But you know what? It's okay, because those who work hard, play hard. And we Loma kids are no exception.

This weekend has been pretty non stop for me and probably so many others.

I've cliff jumped, which is probably one of THE COOLEST things to do here! I highly recommend it!

Wait, no I don't. Cliff jumping is illegal. What? Who told you to go jumping? You didn't hear it from me...

Friday night was great. I randomly went with 3 other girls (that I didn't really know!) and met up with 3 other guys on the shuttle (who we didn't really know!) and we all (not really knowing each other!) took the trolley and explored the Gaslamp district together.

Moral of the story, community happens. Even when you aren't on campus.

Oh I see what you did there, Point Loma... ;)

On Saturday I visited North Park. (in a zipcar! Crazy little thing that car is.) I went with some friends to Big City Tattoo so that they could get some piercings done. Great place, I definitely recommend it.

For piercings! Not tattoos.

Then that night a few of my hall mates, our lovely R.A., and I got all dolled up and went out for Sushi downtown. It was so much fun, and I finally had a reason to wear my heels! Yeah yeah I know what you're thinking, why not wear them around our lovely, hill infested campus eh? Funny.

And then there is today. Sunday. The day that I go to church and then straight to the library to conquer my mountain of homework. No fun there right?

Well I'm here. And I am conquering it. Obviously I am, or I wouldn't be blogging now would I?

Alright you got me. I should probably get to work on my huge writing assignment that's due tomorrow.

Whoops!

Well who's to say that I won't leave here and have an amazing night tonight. Which I plan on doing. Who knows, maybe I'll go play hide-and-seek in IKEA.

Good luck on our 5-day week everyone!

-Emily
#MyLife@Loma

And yes, I am going to shamelessly plug that I am running for student government, and that I would love for you to vote for me, Sept. 13-14 :) Please and thank you!

#06 This Is Where Things Get Real

September 5, 2012:

So it's our second week here at Loma.

Everyone is back from Freshman Retreat. Everyone is back from their home visits. Everything is back to normal.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! I sure did. It was really weird to be home so soon after I had left, but, in a way, it had felt like I had been away longer. Going through such a change does that to you I guess. Either way, I don't regret going home. It reminds me that, even though I'm having and will have a blast here, I will still always miss them.

It is safe to say that college is in full swing. Homework assignments are being turned in, eclasses are being used on the daily, quizzes are being passed (hopefully!), and routines are being established. It is still one of those weird 4-day "which day of classes are we skipping this time?" weeks.

It's only Wednesday, and I already feel too swamped to blog. Oh well. If you get a chance to have any free time this week, go check out the various club meetings that are happening, watch a soccer game, or even read outside at one of the MANY stinkin' gorgeous views here on campus. (I know you ALL have reading to do!) I just got back from doing that last one!

Well that's all for now folks. I should get back to studying....

-Emily
#MyLife@Loma

Oh! P.S. If you guys have any lomatastic (yours truly coined that one!) photos that I could post on here and could send them to me that would be so awesome! You can Facebook them, email them, or comment them on here. Thanks!

#05 Take A Break

September 1, 2012:

Congratulations everyone, you made it through your first week!

This week has definitely been one full of “first”s. 

We've had our first week of classes, (with millions of syllabuses and even homework! Already!), timeout, (and free Cup of Yo and temp tattoos!) “musofee”, (such great musical acts. I’m proud to say that our school is pretty freakin talented!) my first XC meet, (way to go Point Loma! You all were amazing!)and not to mention, lasts night’s first EVER SCHOOL DANCE! Glow with the Flow! It was such a crazy night, I felt like the baseball field was turned into a mini rave don’t you?

Either way, the music, the dancing, the super fun blow ups, and getting sprayed with glow stick juice or water was greatly deserved after that crazy week!

And now most of you freshman are getting ready for freshman retreat this weekend. For those of you who are, have a blast! Sleep under the stars! And make EVEN MORE friendships! For those of you going home to visit your families, have fun and enjoy your time! We may not be getting much of it…

And sleep! Catch up on it if you haven’t already!

And the others, who are staying on campus for the holiday weekend, do some crazy stuff while we are all gone. Get some things crossed off of your Loma bucket list! Sleep on the track and watch the stars, play midnight soccer, go on a few burrito runs, explore the campus at night, go NOSing, (haha maybe not. I’m horrible for suggesting that.) or have a meaningful conversation with someone unexpected. (maybe even a few!)Point Loma is all about that.

As for me, I’m on a Greyhound bus headed for home, because I have some laundry to do. I’m just kidding, my family totally misses me and I miss them terribly! So I’m taking this opportunity to go home and enjoy them while I can.

If and when you get the chance, I totally suggest that you do the same!

Well folks, that’s all for now. Until I return, peace Loma!

#MyLife@Loma

(3rd South REPRESENT!)