Month: April 2009

Warning! The author of this entry requests that you are firmly seated on a chair or other flat surface with some railing mechanism. To read this entry without such safety features could result in shock, falling off chairs, or death.

Right now, I’m typing a paper…in the Science library. I know, I know. The building has not burned down, and I have not randomly combusted. This is quite a new experience for me. I have to write a paper for my Math class, and all of my books and resources are in the Science Library. Besides, I might as well experience the fifth best Science library at any liberal arts institution in the nation before I go abroad next year, right (bet that you didn’t know that fact!)? It’s so…different in here. Maybe I should study in here more often. See, there aren’t any fun books to distract me. For instance, when I was supposed to be writing my Tolkien paper a couple of days ago, Kierkegaard distracted me. Here, though, there are no such distractions. I mean, who really wants to read a book about fractals? There are pretty pictures, though. Then again, I miss the feeling of Dinand. The Science library is nice, but it just doesn’t have that old, dusty book quality to it. But at least now I can say that I’ve been in this library on my tours.

This past week has been hectic to say the least. I was tempted to write the word chaotic because I’m writing my math paper on Chaos theory in paintings, specifically in Van Gogh and Pollock. But that pun would’ve only been funny to me, hence the exclusion. Anyway… This week started out quite hilariously, actually. Sunday was Accepted Students’ Day. I was in the Chapel from 8:45-11 to answer questions. I think maybe three people came. It was filled later on in the day, but I guess that some other speeches were going on at the time. I was also Lit. Co. at the Accepted Students’ Day Mass. I kind of messed up the intro (and by kind of, I mean really). Paul was supposed to do it, but I didn’t know that. Oh well – it all worked out. After that, Ashely, Michelle, two of Michelle’s friends, and I had dinner at Ciampi with Frs. Lynch and Savard. We won an auction a while ago. It was fantastic. The food was amazing, and all of us said that we want to live there. They do have five extra rooms or so. I asked if I could live there if I became the Jesuit version of a nun. They said no. Oh, well. I’ll just keep on winning that meal auction! Frs. Lynch and Savard are two really great guys and just so down to earth (all of the Jesuits are, in fact!). We actually had a Peep war. I told Fr. Lynch how Carrie and I had a peep war last year, and he was intrigued. So, we held our own peep war in Ciampi (Fr. McFarland, if you’re reading this, I swear it wasn’t me. It was everyone else, and I just watched on the sidelines. I had nothing to do with this!). After Sunday, though, I have spent all of my time in Dinand. I’ve had several presentations, papers, and applications due. And, I officially have less than two weeks left for my sophomore year. I also have approximately two exams and eighty pages (no, I’m not exaggerating) to write between now and May 6th. Oh well; it’ll all be finished. Well, I have to return to my math paper and find some more books in this frightening location. How do these science majors do it?

As of today, there are only eleven days of class left. How frightening is that?

Today is the first day of classes after Easter Break. My break was extremely relaxing. I stayed here (it’s a long story. Basically, my plans fell apart at the last minute.), and, although I was one of twenty five kids on campus, it was still enjoyable. I spent most of my time either in the Chapel or working on my papers. The Chapel services were gorgeous. Our really big week began with Palm Sunday. We started outside on the Chapel plaza and then made our way into St. Joseph’s. I was altar serving at that Mass, and it was incredible to see how many people were at that one Mass. St. Joseph’s was literally filled. It was great. Our solemn liturgies continued with Mass on Holy Thursday. Fr. Lynch said the Mass, and he gave a beautiful homily about the washing of the feet. We ended that Mass with adoration of the left over consecrated Body of Christ in the McCooey Chapel. Good Friday, as always, was an intense Mass. For those of you who have never been to a Good Friday service, it’s an emotional draining experience. Add some of the most brilliant men on this earth (aka the Jesuits) and it’s just an all over strenuous experience. Fr. Savard said this service (it’s technically not a Mass), and, like Fr. Lynch, gave a stirring homily. The service culminated with the veneration of the Cross. Fr. Hayes’ nephew, who is about five, was at the Mass, and it was adorable to see him venerate the Cross. He kept on looking up at Fr. Hayes for approval. It was really cute, trust me. Mass on Holy Saturday was probably one of the most beautiful Masses that I have ever attended (it’s second only to the Mass I chanced upon in Montserrat). Fr. Hayes said the Mass. Even to hear the Exstultet sung is such an amazing experience. Of course, that Mass is particularly long (about 2 hours, and that was without any initiates!), but it’s just so gorgeous. There are so many readings to remind everyone about God’s works through salvation history. Oh, yes – at this Mass, I learned that I cannot set up a tablecloth. See, on Good Friday, the altar is completely stripped, and it’s set up again only at the Vigil. Well, because I was altar serving, I had the task of setting up the tablecloth. I spent about three minutes trying to put it on the altar. It was kind of embarrassing. But that’s not the point. The point is that the Mass was gorgeous. And, of course, our Triduum celebration ended with Mass on Easter Sunday. I have never seen the Mary Chapel that filled. Students, faculty, and locals attended the Mass. Fr. McFarland said the Mass, and his homily (as always!) was so intellectually engaging. He even apologized for it being so heavy for an Easter homily. Welcome to life with the Jesuits – you are constantly learning, even if you’re just walking.

Saturday night, the Jesuits had all those who attended the Easter Vigil Mass at Ciampi for a brief reception. As I sat and talked with Fr. Reiser, Fr. Lynch, Fr. Hayes, and all the other members of the Jesuit community, I realized how much I’m going to miss this group of fantastic and brilliant men next year. Even seeing them on campus just makes my day. I’m excited to study abroad – don’t get me wrong. I’m just trying to take in everything that these last twenty four days have to offer because I know that I won’t be able to experience any of it again until senior year. That’s just scary, isn’t it?

My most pressing matter of business: Congratulations to all the accepted students for the Class of 2013. I know that I already said that in a previous post, but I just wanted to say it again. (A special shout out to Katie C. from St. Pius in Georgia! Yet another Georgian on the Hill!)

Tuesday (March 31st) was a fantastic day for music. Both Keith Urban’s and Diana Krall’s new CDs were released. Yes, I do realize that country is a tad different from bossa nova jazz. But they’re both incredible CDs. Of course, I now feel guilty because last night at Mass because we’re all focusing on giving alms, whether it be to the local Worcester or global community. Hm.

Yesterday, a bunch of the Classics majors and groupies (aka yours truly) went to Brandeis to see their Theater department’s adaptation of Euripides’s “Hecuba.” It was brilliant. A professor in the Classics department (who is a friend of our very own Prof. Mary Ebbot, actually) translated “Hecuba” with his class, and the Theater department performed their translation. Isn’t that cool? They adhered to the text very well. For instance, when Polymester gives his prophecy to Agamemnon (who was actually portrayed as a good guy for once!), they translated his prophesized death as a “blood bath.” Agamemnon actually died in a bath tub (so kind of like an ancient Jean Paul Marat…). That translation really made Ashley happy; she started giggling non-stop. This is why you shouldn’t let Classics kids out of our cages…

Scarily enough, I have exactly one more month of work. My last final is May 6th at 2:30 p.m. Let’s not think about the amount of work I have between then and now, shall we? Brendan and I have started working on our final paper for Math; we want to explore chaos theory in art. I’ve finally settled on a topic for my Tolkien research paper (that’s always a good thing, right?). I’m starting my Honors paper over Easter break. It’s a lot of work, but still manageable. And, strangely enough, I actually enjoy this work, so it’s not really even work to me.

Speaking of work, we made our decisions about the new Kimball captains. We could only choose 29 from 65 applicants, but I think that most of our selections will be fantastic captains. I’d like to note that all four of my Thursday breakfast workers (including my fellow blogger, Melissa Browne) who applied for captain were accepted. That means that Will and I don’t have to do anything on that shift anymore. Just kidding. Kind of.