Friday, September 29, 2006

More Reflections Upon the First Month

A second update this week! I'm spending too much time writing about college instead of studying for it... and yet, I am content. Fear not, this time I promise to not go on a spontaneous rant about any of my teachers.

It's strange to think that I've only been at Covenant for almost six weeks, and that I've known everyone I've met for such a short amount of time (compared to my friends back home, the most recent of whom I've known for two years). Honestly, it feels like I've known everyone for much longer than I really have, especially the friends that I've adopted as "my" friends.

I adore my hall. Ours (called Gallery) has the reputation of hosting the non-conformists, the "artsy" people, and those who should be wearing leather jackets that say "Born To Rune" (yes, rune, because it's hard to find a Presby who doesn't like Tolkien) on the back. I love having this reputation -- if I tell people "I live on Gallery" and if (even with foreknowledge of how strange I allow myself to be) they still want to be my friend, I've truly found acceptance. And even if no one else on campus found me to be an appealing friend, I rest secure in the fact that my fellow Gallerians would still accept me. We all love each other, and I'm not sure why, but I'm not about to mess with a good thing. The community of Gallery is something that, apparently, is not as common for other halls on campus (note: I have not completed an official survey, and I'm prone to biased statements, so... yeah). Hugs are a common Hello for us. We leave our doors open to passers-by when we aren't studying. A semi-regular group of Gallery girls go to dinner at five o'clock because we don't see each other any time before or after dinner. We enjoy each other's company, not because we're forced to live on the same hall, but because we genuinely like each other. I can't wait to grow with my fellow Gallery freshmen and see future freshmen come to find out just how amazing the bonds of friendship between hallmates can be.

However, to put my reader's mind at ease, I must say that I am finding a life outside of Gallery. I love being with my friends from the former O-Team (I hate to admit it, but the Covenant faculty had a really good idea for getting some freshmen to know one another before school started... because it worked), who have now become my friends from Psych and Christian Mind. We already have some nicknames (BEAGLE! ^^) and running jokes that are going around. I've found friends who are from anywhere in the US, who come from completely different backgrounds, and all of whom have no idea what is so funny about any running joke from my friends back home. And, strangest of all, I like it. I see people walking on campus and not only have the opportunity to wave at them, but they wave at me, too. I've gotten to know a few of them more personally than others, and while they might not feel like they know me very well, I believe that I've found friends I never knew I could have.

I've found that I haven't been writing as much fiction since I've been at Covenant... because, for once in my life, reality is so much more appealing to me. (note: this is scheduled to change for Finals week) If only I could have my friends from back home up at school with me, life might actually be perfect!

More later. I have a lot of studying to do today. I'll probably get into my favorite stories from on and off the hall next time I update... I've got to think them through first and make sure I won't get in trouble sharing them with the general public :)

14 comments:

Caroline said...

So. You're my twin. Nice to meet you. (Just out of curiosity, does the association get on your nerves as much as it does mine? Because, y'know, if we were twins, we'd be equally annoyed.)

E-mil said...

*waves* Hello, twin! ^^ Is it reassuring to know that I wasn't just created to annoy you? Mwahaha...

Oh, yeah. It was really weird at first (especially since Annie couldn't remember my name and just kept calling me "Caroline's Twin"), but I think I've formed a Covenant identity now. ...but I keep alarming your brother at random times, I think. You should've seen him when I let slip that I was into Anime. o_O

Josiah Lewis said...

Yeah sis, I just about died when she brought it up...*knowing smirk*
Hey Elizabeth, just wanted to drop in a customary welcome comment.
1) Derek Webb is fascinating. Tell Hope about liking it and she will love you forever.
2) The Phantom Tollbooth is a childhood favorite; I should read it again.
3) Tell Evan Phillips (often in cowboy hat and boots) about an interest in forensics and you will never lack someone to discuss that subject with.

Caroline said...

Did I miss something? o__0

Josiah Lewis said...

Oh, well, time to mediate the confusion. I believe all three of us are experiencing some.
Elizabeth:
Your confusion is probably stemming from thinking Caroline and I are siblings. We are not. In fact, not even Caroline has yet dug up any 43rd cousin excuses for us. No need to apologize for thinking so. I got quite a kick out of it!
Self:
Self, your confusion is from wondering if you somehow caused Elizabeth to think this, if it was more of a typo than a 'think, or if someone has played a joke on us.
Caroline: Your confusion, which is probably now resolved, was that you were wondering what in the world we were talking about and if I was up here posing as part of your immediate family. I am not.
Anyway, sorry to spoil this wonderfully hilarious misunderstanding, but I thought we would probably be better in the long run if un-confused before much more time elapsed.
Allow me to take my leave.

Josiah Lewis said...

P.S.
If this is to start a trend, our comment threads may be quite enjoyable!

E-mil said...

What the heck? I thought... oh, bother. NOW I'm confused. And embarrassed. I could've sworn that someone told me y'all were related. >//< Very embarrassed, even though I do this kind of thing all the time and should be used to it.

Ah, well. If she can be my twin, maybe you could be her surrogate brother or something (I defy your reality and insert my own! Bwahaha!). We're all one big happy family! XD

Josiah Lewis said...

Don't be embarrassed. *laughs*

Caroline said...

If I had to have a brother, I'm sure Joben would make a good one. But no--I'm just a lowly friend. *ducks away behind a strategically-placed llama*

Josiah Lewis said...

Caroline, you ARE a strategically-placed Llama!
*cough*smirk*
In other news.
Lowly friend? Well, I always have had trouble believing you're as tall as you claim.

Annie said...

Do not insult Caroline's height my dear boy!...I wonder if I was the cause of the sibling confusion. Having none myself, perhaps I was over zealous in assigning siblings to others. Oops.

Josiah Lewis said...

Oops is right. I'm going to start telling people you have tons of siblings. See how you like it!
And that wasn't an insult. It was the truth! (I do believe you, Caroline, I just would have guessed you were shorter).

E-mil said...

Honestly, I have no idea who mixed me up. It was probably just me -- my sensory input synapses and perception output synapses never really seem to work in my favor. I just got my C-names mixed up ^^; Watashi wa baka onigiri desu yo!

Yes, I did just call myself an idiot riceball. I'm also the Hitokiri Onigiri (manslaying riceball). Fear me.

Josiah Lewis said...

YEEAAAAAGGGHHH!!
*Joben flees the internet in terror, and hides under his bed*
...hold on, I like rice. I eat rice. *comes out from under bed*
This is silly.