Day Twenty-Eight

Caitlin H.

April 25, 2010 - 1:00 PM

The following takes place between 1:00pm and 2:00pm:

 

Eugene is so beautiful today!

 

It helps that I'm still riding high from a wonderful performance last night at the Hult Center. I saw Play!: A Video Game Symphony there last night and it was inspiring. This video isn't from the performance in Eugene, but it is a clip of the show performed somewhere else.

 

 

 

 

In essence it was an evening of thep Eugene Symhony playing music from popular video games with video accompaniment.

 

After a wonderful evening with the symphony to a beautiful Sunday morning like this, my life couldn't be better.

 

I've already spent the morning taking photos, just for the sake of enjoying photography. I've been riding along the river, running into friends along the way, and looking forward to my intramural softball game later this afternoon. Citizens of Eugene are pouring out into the parks to enjoy some time in the outdoors.

 

Actually, when I got on my bike this morning I chuckled to myself. Here I am in shorts and a tank top, and the high is forecasted at maybe 70 degrees. This is tanning weather in Oregon. If I were in parts of California everyone would probably be bundled up in sweats. Somehow this small "Oregon-way-of-life" delights me.

 

At the moment my mission is lunch. Since I'm out on my bike I decide the opportunity couldn't be greater to explore some neighborhoods I haven't been through on my way to Laughing Planet Cafe they're a café dedicated to reducing their footprint and supporting local, sustainable food. The food there is delicious, but probably one of my favorite parts is the toy dinosaur on every table.

 

After lunch who knows where life will lead me. Days like this are made for creativity and adventure. I've already been to the Valley River Center shopping mall, watched a man fly fishing in the river, checked out the wildflowers in the city parks, chatted with friends, stopped at a swing set...and I've never even seen a car except for the mall parking lot. I love being able to escape, even though I'm living in the middle of a relatively large city.

 

Authors Note: This term I've decided to dissect my day one hour at a time to inform you about my college life. My own life set to the Fox Network's hit show "24." ...If only I were as sensational as Jack Bauer. In this ‘season' you can expect a thrilling and innovative drama complete with a few unforeseen plot twists.

 

 

 

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Day Twenty-Two

Caitlin H.

April 19, 2010 - 12:00 PM

The following takes place between 12:00pm and 1:00pm:

 

Condon 206 always feels crowded. Perhaps it's the long tables shared amongst students rather than individual desks. There just never seems to be enough room in this 26-student class.

 

Professor Pannell, the instructor for my Urban Geography course, is settling his things in the front of the room. I always feel like I need to be on top of my game for this class; Pannell knows how to make the most of his 80 minute lecture periods. Pannell is recently returning to us from some sort of national conference in Washington D.C...I wish I'd understood more about where he was going before he left, but I'm confident he will tell us more about it today.

 

And as soon as Pannell opens his mouth to speak, emergency sirens of some sort fill the classroom with their unrelenting wails. Condon hall is relatively close to the Sacred Heart hospital; maybe it's an ambulance. Whatever it is, it is certain we won't accomplish anything in our classroom until the noise goes away.

 

Once quiet is restored Pannell remarks how the sirens remind him of that "character" that rides up and down 13th Avenue complaining about the bus system. Apparently he has heard him a time or two from his open office window. Of course, we all laugh. Pannell is a visiting faculty member so he's still learning about the memorable faces of Eugene, but to us students this character is a daily usual on campus. Not harmful in any way, but a face you never forget since everyday he rides through campus on his bicycle letting his grievances against the LTD bus system be known.

 

This random tangent sends my mind into a flurry of other unrelated thoughts and sounds of campus. Frog, another local icon, comes to mind. He scared me the other day with his rubber chicken and joke books, but only because he squeaked his rubber chicken from behind and I didn't realize he was there.

 

Sometimes student voices fill the campus. On the Rocks and Divisi in particular come to mind. I keep meaning to go see them perform in the Fishbowl sometime, and I just have never seemed to get around to it. Each is a student group a cappella choir that sounds simply stunning. I've seen each perform at different events, but never at their weekly free performances in the heart of campus. I'll add it to my list of things to do before I graduate.

 

ON THE ROCKS VIDEO

 

 

 

DIVISI VIDEO

 

 

 

 

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Authors Note: This term I've decided to dissect my day one hour at a time to inform you about my college life. My own life set to the Fox Network's hit show "24." ...If only I were as sensational as Jack Bauer. In this ‘season' you can expect a thrilling and innovative drama complete with a few unforeseen plot twists.

 

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Day Seventeen

Caitlin H.

April 14, 2010 - 11:00 AM

The following takes place between 11:00am and 12:00pm:

 

 

It is good to see Michaela as I walk into the Mills International Center.

 

This week is International Week on campus, concluded by International Night on Sunday which hosts a feast of international cuisine followed by some impressive "international" performances in the ballroom. I-Night, as students often refer to it, is one of my favorite performances on campus of the year. I just got my ticket today.

 

As a part of International Week I'm working a drop-in advising table for Study Abroad. Michaela, one of my co-workers, is helping me out.

 

Unfortunately, people don't seem to be turning up to learn more about study abroad and global internship opportunities. I love the Mills Center, but it is kind of hidden in the Erb Memorial Union. Hopefully students will find their way to us soon.

 

While waiting Michaela and I exchange casual conversation and investigate the study abroad website. Even though we work in the International Affairs office, there is always more to learn about new programs or updated programs that the University has to offer.

 

A program in Bonaire particularly catches my eye. Students dive on tropical coral reefs as part of their "classroom" learning experience. That's my kind of classroom! A dear friend of mine was recently accepted to a journalism program in Ghana. I decide to check out that program as well...what I wouldn't give to study abroad again...

 

Maybe International Night will help soothe my thirst for international exploration. I'll continue exploring without having to leave Eugene.

 

Authors Note: This term I've decided to dissect my day one hour at a time to inform you about my college life. My own life set to the Fox Network's hit show "24." ...If only I were as sensational as Jack Bauer. In this ‘season' you can expect a thrilling and innovative drama complete with a few unforeseen plot twists.

 

 

 

 

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Day Fifteen

Caitlin H.

April 12, 2010 - 10:00 AM

The following takes place between 10:00 and 11:00am:

 

This business with ABC is not helping me focus; I still have work and class and soccer practice to get through before going to the show tonight.

 

I woke up this morning from a text message from a friend...something about ABC News was looking for a student to interview that was going to the Conan O'Brien show. My name came up, contact information was shared, and the next thing I know I'm on the phone with a guy in LA wanting to know if I can take video for Good Morning America. In case you hadn't heard: Conan O'Brien is kicking off his 30-city tour right here in Eugene, Oregon. And I am going to be there for it.

 

Conan will be in the Hult Center tonight for his variety show. I'm excited for the show but not exactly sure what to expect. This all started only about a month ago when it was announced that Conan was coming to Eugene and tickets were going on sale. It has all been kind of a whirlwind. And now somehow ABC is talking to me. What an odd way to start the morning.

 

Refocus: the show isn't until 8:00pm.

 

In the interest of making some academic progress, I log onto the University Libraries website. For my Urban Geography class I'm going to need additional resources for a review of a text of my choosing. I'm kind of excited about this ‘independent learning' opportunity because I'm torn as to how I want to focus my Masters degree. This project will allow for a little exploration, and ultimately, could influence the graduate level classes I take next year. One problem: it would seem the book I'm looking for is checked out at the UO library. Luckily, we participate in the SUMMIT program.

 

The SUMMIT program exists between 32 Northwest colleges and universities. Essentially it extends the loaning services available in my University of Oregon library to the volumes available at any of these participating institutions. Thank you Washington State University for sending me the book I need. That should arrive in about three to five days. And all I had to do was type in my UO ID number and last name before clicking a button. It's like using a library just couldn't get any easier.

 

Authors Note: This term I've decided to dissect my day one hour at a time to inform you about my college life. My own life set to the Fox Network's hit show "24." ...If only I were as sensational as Jack Bauer. In this ‘season' you can expect a thrilling and innovative drama complete with a few unforeseen plot twists.

 

 

 

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Day Thirteen

Caitlin H.

April 10, 2010 - 9:00 AM

The following takes place between 9:00 and 10:00am:

 

I'm confused. My schedule was so light yesterday my body can't make sense of what day it is. Is it Saturday? Or is it Sunday? There is an infinite difference in understanding the sense of urgency my reading for the next week requires depending on what day it is. Saturday, it is definitely Saturday.

 

I have softball practice soon to meet with my intramural team for the spring. I get excited just thinking about it. Last season we had a really fun team, and even though we were a bunch of friends thrown together, we turned out to be a competitive team. This year we have gone all-out: team jerseys, official practices, batting orders...actually, now I'm kind of nervous. I haven't played softball since last intramural season. The competitor in me doesn't want to be the weak link on team, and I suspect we've fielded some pretty talented players.

 

Before I get ready to go to the park there are some miscellaneous tasks that I know I should think about. I thought it would be an excellent idea to schedule the softball games in my planner, but then I realized our final regular season game is the same day as the Eugene Marathon. Technically I'll be done with the marathon by game time...but, well, I was better off not knowing that A) I had that many athletic commitments and B) the marathon was happening that soon. Time to switch gears and start thinking about something less stressful.

 

After practice there are a couple of things I'd like to do today, but I don't know how to decide and thus how to plan accordingly. I definitely want to check out the Saturday Market, but I'd also like to go to the track meet at Hayward Field. I know I'll probably end up surveying my friends' interests at softball practice and go with the group. When in doubt, plan for everything.

 

At 9:45 I rush out the door in a whirlwind to meet up for softball practice. I'm a little upset because my camera battery is dead and I really wanted to do some photography this afternoon. No matter, it is a convenient excuse to experience everything again another week. The feeling of the sun cascading down my back as I walk through the park on my way to practice makes me feel energized and enthused. At first glance, I recognize everyone at practice. And then out of the corner of my eye I see the new face I was looking for.

 

The UO hosts a "free agent" option for students wanting to play intramurals but who don't know a team to join. We invited a player to our team, Farleigh, who we are really excited about getting to know and to have playing with us (she is a very talented softball player). As I introduced myself and started chatting, I discovered she was also from the great state of Washington and actually had cousins from my small hometown, Ridgefield. Small world!

 

A few tosses of the softball later and it was time for batting practice. The season is officially underway. I sure hope this goes well...

 

Authors Note: This term I've decided to dissect my day one hour at a time to inform you about my college life. My own life set to the Fox Network's hit show "24." ...If only I were as sensational as Jack Bauer. In this ‘season' you can expect a thrilling and innovative drama complete with a few unforeseen plot twists.

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