Today, I helped build a wall

[Tuesday, January 18, 2011]

Literally. Not in the metaphorical sense.

As a part of volunteering this week with Habitat for Humanity, I (along with 3 other students) put up a wall in the interior of the house. My left arm (all the way from my fingertips to my shoulders) is a little sore from all the hammering. I’m looking forward to our tasks for the rest of the week!

One thing that has been great about this trip is that a group of 20 young women from a really competitive school where you tend to always look out for your best interests can come together, and aren’t afraid to ask for help and work together to build a house. We understand the importance of working together and building a community, not just amongst ourselves, but with the other volunteers and staff members. It’s so wonderful to be a part of something that requires so much team effort that you forget about the competition that usually exists amongst us, and go for a common goal. It is not WOMAN who will make a difference in the world, but WOMEN who will make a difference in the world. It isn’t up to one of us to change the world; it’s up to all of us. It’s by working together, recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses (and knowing how to address both), asking for help when we need it, and putting a common goal/good before the individual that makes us the strong women that rock the world.

No task is too small. No task is insignificant. Every little bit matters.

Entering food coma...

Operation: Thanksgiving Potluck - SUCCESS!

Everyone had a great time, there was more than enough food, and it's so great to just have a night to relax with friends. :)

I'm so thankful for all of you!

And ze bird is out of ze oven!

Checking on the bird...

Aaaaand, it's DONE!!!!!

This is the first time I've ever cooked a turkey with someone who also has little experience. The ultimate test will be taste. I can tell you all that it smells and looks good!

Nom nom nom nom

So close...2nd round of basting! It's looking really good. The whole dorm smells like Thanksgiving. :)

Mmmm...TURKEY!!!!

1st round of basting! It looks and smells so good!

Also, check out our take-over of the kitchen. This will be a feast fit for QUEENS!!!

Slapsgiving 2010

The bird is in the oven! Countdown to an amazing potluck with uber-cool people: 3-4 hours. So excited!!!!

The Bubble

We joke that Swelles has a lovely little bubble where we often forget that there is an outside world, and we can comfortably discuss intense topics (my dinner conversations regularly include religion, war, politics, etc.).

It also means that you tend to forget to communicate with said outside world. Or leave campus, but that's another story.

I just remembered that I actually do have a blog, and should maybe post every once in a while.

I'm also trying to pretend that I don't have a crazy amount of work due before Saturday. Despite such denial, the work will get done on time. It always does.

I want to go back to my dinner conversations. I have to say, I am really going to miss those when I graduate. It's not just the level of conversation (I could have the same level at home), but I'm going to miss sitting in the dining hall having hour long conversations while different friends come and go (and sometimes, come back again). I'm going to miss marathon weekend brunches and marathon dinners. This is what scares me about graduating - this lack of a community. I know my friends will still be around, but we'll be physically scattered around the world. We won't have a communal dinner time in the same space where we can run into each other at any time when hot food is served (or even when it's not served). This is what I love most about college, this is what I will cherish most about college, and this is what I'll miss the most.

Well, the cruel reality of research papers and midterms beckons me...