This is where I'll be this time next week.
Although Jubilee 2008 doesn't actually start until 8pm on Friday. I arrive in Pittsburgh late Wednesday night so I can help with some of the prep on Thursday and Friday. I can't tell you how very excited I am to be with my CCO peeps! Good times are ahead! And it will be nice to be in Pittsburgh again.
So rarely do I write specifically about my job on this blog. Mainly because I'm not really convinced it would be in good taste to do that mainly because I work with students and I really shouldn't share their stories here without their permission.
However today I make an exception, only because it's not really about any students in particular. Today I made the decision to cancel the Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Trip, I only had 3 students sign up and I needed 4-5 at the bare minimum. So the 3 folks who signed up for the Habitat trip will be going with me and joining the other trip to New York City. For Spring Break this year I'll be going to New York City to work with Part of the Solution. I am really looking forward to the trip for a variety of reasons, mainly because it's in NYC and I've been wanting to go back there every since I visited last year. I am a bit sad and disappointed that the Habitat trip isn't happening, but I'm thankful that I don't have to scramble for another alternative. I've never done and innercity service project before. It will certainly be an adventure!!
So today it really begins! Early Bird move in for new students is from 7-10pm and the rest of the new students (first year and transfers) move in between 8-11am tomorrow morning. Very exciting! The only problem is that it's supposed to rain today & tomorrow. What a bummer, especially because the majority of our orientation activities are taking place outside. Such is life! I know all the folks will get moved in and classes will start on Monday morning bright and early.
Speaking of which...I am teaching two courses this Fall semester, a first for me. I've only ever taught one course at a time and it was only for 1 credit hour. And well now I'm teaching a one credit and a two credit course. Thankfully the two credit course is only for 8 weeks, so after Fall Break I'm down to one class. It's fun to tell folks that I'm adjunct faculty at a University. Except I don't feel like adjunct! Back to finishing up my syllabus so it can get duplicated by the print shop and not by me this weekend!
Celebration Day is a tradition for CCO-New Staff Training. It always happens the day before we move out. For the 2nd year in a row we went to Debbie's house and had a great BBQ pool party. But the best part were the games...a diving contest, slippery watermelon battle, swim race, wet tp & fishing for goldfish. I signed up for the goldfish event...mainly because it was the only one with one participants by the time I got there. Well it entailed 3 rounds of fishing for goldfish with my hand, putting it my mouth and then transfering it to a cup with water. The first two rounds I got 2 fish, the last round I caught 3. So that means I had 7 fish in my mouth. At one point I was so in to the game that I forgot there was a fish in my mouth. Not to worry I didn't swallow it. It was a fun game, not sure I'd do it again, but certainly a first for me.
Spring Break was a success. 15 folks, from ODU (including me) went to Lynchburg, VA to volunteer with the Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity. We worked on a variety of projects...roofing, landscaping, framing, laying a foundation, and clearing a few lots of junk and refuse. A good time was had by all. We had fantastic weather, even on the 2 days where there was a wind advisory. I have to say my favorite project was roofing. I'll post a few pictures some time soon.
This time tomorrow I will have my life back. For the last week I have been working on a presentation that I will give tomorrow. It is for a professional association for folks who work in Student Affairs. I am going to be talking about my job and what I do in Campus Ministry alongside the Residence Life staff here at ODU. I am eager to present and be done with it!
Well, I sit in my parents basement at 8:30 on a Friday morning. It's funny how when I'm in my own apartment it takes me forever to actually get up out of bed. But for some reason when I am visiting other folks I can get up very easily. Strange. Maybe it's because I know when I get up in my apartment there's no one there to greet me.
Anyhow, my first year of working in full time Campus Ministry has come to a close. It's hard to believe it's over. Some days flew by, some draged on. But in the end it was good year and God as always was faithful. I even feel a little twinge of excitement about starting back in August.
On Sunday I head off to Geneva College for 2 weeks of Spring Institute. I'm taking an Old Testament Survey class. And then a few days off and then it's back to work for me. I am working for the CCO summer training program. I am going to be the administrator for the Director of the program. In many ways I hope the job will be restorative for me. Paperwork doesn't seem to have the same attitutude as a human and it can't argue with you. That's why I picked an admin job for the summer.
Okay...well I need some coffee. Hopefully because It's summer and I have more time I'll be contributing to the blog world more frequently!