Aaaand, we’re back in business. Last time I posted, I was studying abroad in the Czech Republic. In the time since, I’ve had a Spring semester and May Term on campus, I have led an OP trip to Big Sur for a week, joined the non-Greek brotherhood Rangi Ya Giza (RYG), and been accepted as the Honors Program Student Director for next year. I took a step away from things I had considered normal on campus before leaving abroad. I took a break from Outdoor Programs save for the one trip I led and I ceased my participation in the PRIDE Alliance club. I did this because of something I was calling Control-Alt-Delete or, a system re-boot. I spent my time developing bonds with fellow brothers in RYG, an African-culture based brotherhood devoted to social justice. I adjusted for a new perspective on life having come from living in a rather negative culture for nearly 4 months.  I clashed with people much more than I had in the past: finally learning what it’s like to lead a trip with a co-lead who has a very different idea of how to run trips, as well as overheating other relationships by the end of May Term. I left campus feeling like a comet in the atmosphere: up in flames and rapidly disintegrating. Having spent a week and a half recovering now, and facing the prospects of a month in Alabama and a month at home in Chicago, it’s time to begin picking up some of those pieces let go of after coming back from abroad.

Creative Projects are being slowly pieced together. I will be working on another significant writing project, which I will post an excerpt of again. This will serve as my Fiction Workshop III piece, as well as ultimately my Capstone. Other possible projects, such as literary essays are potentially going to show up. Most importantly however, this website will be updated and maintained throughout the summer, to prepare for the arrival of Senior year at the University of Redlands.

That’s all I have really. I apologize for the hiatus of posts, and offer a promise of projects to come throughout the summer.

Until Next Time,

Joe