September 3rd, 2008
It’s been two weeks since I’ve last posted–I’ve been busy. First I was home getting all my stuff ready for school, and then I was out in the Maine woods and on Maine rivers leading some incoming Bowdoin first-years on a whitewater canoeing trip. Bowdoin’s pre-orientation sends out some 40 trips of 8-10 freshman out with two leaders doing various exciting activities, including hiking, paddling, surfing, biking, and community service. Training fell a bit by the wayside for a week, but it was worth it in exchange for the opportunity to mold some impressionable youths. The pictures are glamor shots of me and my co-leaders.
But yes, the moment I’ve been waiting so long for is finally approaching: the end of summer. I know it sounds a little crazy that a student might actually be awaiting the beginning of school, but there are actually quite a few things to be excited for–no more 40-hour a week internship, organized practices, meal plan. The meal plan is the only way I can psychologically justify the ridiculous Bowdoin price tag–19 delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners a week from the nation’s second (or third, I can’t remember) ranked dining service. Among my favorites are the buffalo chicken burger, Mongolian chicken hot pot, cheese and bean tostada–the list could go on forever. Seriously though, the addition of more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains added to my diet by the Bowdoin dining halls may potentially improve my physical well-being, even if curly fries and bi-weekly ice cream bar does not. Being able to tuck into a huge breakfast or dinner immediately following a hard workout will also be nice, as opposed to having to cook it after I’m finished. Tomorrow’s semester-inaugurating lobster bake marks the beginning of classes, as does the two-mile “lobster run” that takes place directly beforehand.
I haven’t been doing too much exciting for training for the past couple of weeks–I did have a really nice three hour classic ski last weekend, however. One thing that I thought was worth mentioning: I saw two kids jumping on pogo sticks in their driveway, and for the first time while rollerskiing I was pretty confident that I’d seen someone doing something that was actually more odd than what I was doing.
Much excitement comes my way this weekend with the Blue Angels performing in the Great State of Maine Air Show this weekend at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. My room on the fourteenth floor of Coles Tower makes for optimal viewing; give me a buzz if you’re going to be in the area…
