Back in the Groove!

Hello Everyone!

Well, the activities are in full swing and the campus is once again bustling with activity! Last Saturday and Sunday I helped move students into the residence halls. I carried boxes upon boxes, refrigerators and microwaves out the wazoo, and flat screen TV's like you'd never believe. It was fun to be one of the first faces the families and students encountered on campus. My friend Joe, whom I know from Grey Wolf, is now a student here at Michigan Tech. His parents treated me to dinner Saturday night :) On Sunday I continued with move-in. Sunday night was the Family Picnic. We all had a great time mingling with the new students and their families. After the picnic was the University Welcome. This is where the president and vice-president of the university speak to the new students and is known to be the kick-off to Orientation week, or O-week. After the kickoff and first-year photo we had our first house meeting. This is where we welcome everyone to the hall and go over some ground rules. After the house meeting the dining hall served free ice cream :) Yum!

On Monday I finally got to sleep in..hooray! I had a few more training sessions in the afternoon and then some evening activities. I also paid my fall semester bill, so now I am officially at Tech for another year! (not that there was any doubt :) Monday night we played ultimate frisbee on the football field, which was quite fun! It was one of our first house bonding moments :)

On Tuesday I had a few more sessions. Tuesday afternoon I heard the author of the book Little Princes speak. Then I helped lead a book discussion with some first-year students. Then, Tuesday evening I heard the speaker live (earlier I heard him via video streaming) and then got my book signed and my picture with him. After that I went out and shared in the 500 foot banana split that the orientation team sponsored. Following the banana split I got got all spiffy and worked an event we call Vegas Night. It is where students come and play Vegas-like games and receive fake money for their earnings. Then they turn the fake money into tickets and the tickets go into a drawing for prizes. There is also a dance, food, and great friends!

On Wednesday I had the whole day to myself, which was wonderful. I went and bought a few books and took a trip to Walmart for a few things. Wednesday was also my parents' 25th wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them as they celebrate the last 25 years and many more!

On Thursday I had one more training session and then my very last session all together, which was a first aid refresher course. I got to be the victim in a head injury :) Pics coming soon! Thursday evening I went to the Global Social, which a dance and event for international students and domestic students alike to meet, greet, and socialize. After the Global Social we went and watched the chemistry demo out on the lawn, where they exploded balloons and lit gummy bears on fire! Following the demo I went to the McNair Dance in the McNair courtyard. The dance was a lot of fun with many great friends :)

Whew! Just to think that this blog only encapsulates a portion of what I did this week. Today I bought a few more books, did laundry, and relaxed. Tonight I am going to go see an illusionist and tomorrow I am walking downtown with the first-years to tour Houghton. Exciting stuff is in the works and school is just around the corner!

Hope all is well and I hope to hear from you all soon!!

I'm Alive!

Hello Everyone!!

In case you were wondering, I'm alive! Yes, I survived the last few days at camp helping to pack up the camp and close it down. It was sad to see such a great summer come to a close, but it was time to move on.  I traveled home on Wednesday and was home in the late evening. I spend Thursday getting things I needed (such as a haircut). Thursday evening I got to see many of you for dinner :) Thank you all for coming over. It meant a lot to see you in the very short time I was home. And then, before you knew it, Mom, Dad, and I were out the door headed to da UP for school. We moved my stuff in Friday evening and got my room all set up (look for pics soon!). On Saturday I started training for my PA (Program Assistant) job with Housing and Residential Life. I have been in training all week, learning ALL about the different parts of my job and helping residents. Tuesday was my birthday :) Thank you all for birthday wishes! I didn't have the greatest birthday (seeing as I was stuck in the same lecture hall for hours on end), but I did get a cake from some friends and that made things SO much better :) The rest of the week was more training. I have been doing a lot of things to get ready for residents to move in on Saturday and Sunday. I have JUST got to a point of completion (somewhat) and had a moment to write my blog. I will certainly put up some new photos soon (though there are not many). Know that I have been getting up and been in training from 8am to 10pm everyday, and then I still have things I am expected to do so I have to do those things after 10pm. This is why I haven't really been blogging lately :(

I am enjoying the job thus far and am certainly looking forward to a good year! I am feeling pretty official now with a staff polo and name tag :) Tomorrow is a more relaxed day to get everything in tip top shape and then we hit the ground running Saturday morning! I will be VERY busy over the weekend, moving students into the hall. Then, next week is Orientation week and I will still have things to do, but I won't be as busy. I hope to call/skype many of you soon! Know that I am not ignoring you, I am just not given time to contact you!!

Wishing you all the best as the new school year kicks into high gear for many and fall is just around the corner!

Love and friendship, Kyle