Don Training

Perhaps the most intense week I've ever experienced, don training has been really educational and inspiring. It's helped me bond with my house team of fellow dons and council members and I'm learning from different characters whom I would not have met otherwise.

Yesterday, we woke up early to go to Camp Kennebec. It was a long day of fun and relaxation. Jaclyn and I canoed out to the middle of lake, not really going anywhere, but just feeling the peace and bright, bright sunshine. It was so peaceful, like a moment of respite in a long, arduous journey to reach the day our residents arrive! That day is like a bright end of a tunnel. You don't know where you'll find yourself when you exit the tunnel, but you know that it is bright and therefore you anticipate that moment to come.

During our dialogue book conversation (where a conversation between two people who have met recently but are comfortable with each other go through a book of personal questions that reveal more about the other person's personality and character), we discussed something along the lines of, "The more education we have, the deeper we can go to help people." Going along with my "deeper" theme, I need to start preparing myself to be a university student once more.
If we want to help people in deeper and more meaningful ways, it would be good to have a deeper knowledge and wisdom about our world.

Now, I must think of a floor theme.

West Campus: Closer to the prison than your classes

After a long, lone, expensive* road trip up to Kingston, I have moved everything and settled quite nicely into my new room on West Campus. This must be the smallest room I have ever lived in, but the storage space is incredible and the room is now livable.

The few days before my drive, I was feeling sad and unwilling to leave Markham, which had once again become a dear home. Yet now that I am here, I am feeling like Kingston is quickly turning into home again. As I drove downtown Kingston in search of a gas station (the only one I remember ever seeing in my days as a pedestrian student), I noticed the incredible night life of Kingstonians. Behind City Hall, a huge silver screen was set up and a lot of people were on portable chairs and bleachers watching a movie. The streets were quite crowded with people and the pubs were fuller than I expected. This was a side of Kingston I hadn't known in my previous two years. I really should check it out some more with my friends this year. It's hard to believe I'm already entering my middle year. I love this place and know that time will zoom by too quickly.

Something I noticed today: people actually drive at the speed limit in Kingston. I was impressed. Perhaps my driving habits shall conform to the other drivers of this quaint city.

*I was caught speeding in a construction zone and must pay a hefty fee of $283. Remember friends, when driving in a construction zone, the speed limit is only 80 km/h. If I remember correctly, if you're speeding in a construction zone with workers present in America, your punishment is some jail time. Fortunately, I'm in Canada.

Farewells to the Familiar and Diving for the Deep

Summer is quickly coming to a close and in four days I'll be driving back to Queen's on my own for the very first time. As difficult as adjusting to home was, it'll be just as hard saying good-bye. I've treasured the fleeting four months I've spent at home, not knowing when I'll have a chance to spend such a prolonged period of time in my hometown again. Meeting up with friends, best friends, and new friends has been so special. Spending time with family has been a priority, knowing that my brother is going to go through some huge changes throughout his teenage years without me has made me long to stay home more. I'll even miss starting my mornings at the YMCA and hanging out at Across U-hub.

Nevertheless, I know God has so much waiting for me back in Kingston. I've learned and grown so much in my first two years and I know this year will not be different. Starting with an intense week of don training and then meeting the residents whom I'll make a temporary home in residence with, I think there's a lot of unexpected surprises in store for the next eight months.

Lastly, there's a quotation that I found especially meaningful in our church bulletin today by one of my favourite authors.

"Superficiality is the curse of our age... the desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people."
- Richard Foster

It brought me back to the realization that studying hard is not only to get good grades and become intelligent, but to make me a deeper person who has a greater understanding of the world and people around me. This year, I hope to work harder and really know my material deeply. I aim to build deep relationships with the people I encounter. I strive to discipline my body in deeper ways. But mostly, I hope to dive deeper into God's over-flowing well of love and grace.

Toronto friends: farewell and see you soon!
Kingston friends: here I come!!!