After my endless studying last weekend to prepare for my exams this week, I was elated to realize I didn’t have too much homework to do this weekend. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun… and of course did a little bit of homework.
All last week was Earth Week here on campus, and Friday was filled with a stuff-swap, a sustainable local BBQ (free food!), and the Earth Games. For the Earth Games, 16 contestants eagerly tackled the “green” obstacle course, starting with sliding through a mud slide, flipping bales of hay across a field, tossing reusable bottles into recycling bins, riding a bike through a course, and then finishing up with the quickest shower from a hose. It was a blast to help set up and watch some of my friends compete- the winner got a $50 giftcard! We also had a great local BBQ, all food was from the area, and it was tasty.
Later Friday, I attended a Linfield tradition with some of my friends: the art burn. Every year, during Jan term, an art class builds a big abstract structure and in April everyone gathers around it as there are tribal drums and chanting and the structure is lit on fire. Everyone is in the middle of a field, just watching a giant art structure burn… pretty awesome if you ask me.
In conjunction with Earth week, it was also sexuality week, and Fusion (Linfield’s GSA) put on the first ever Linfield drag show. A couple of drag queens from U of O came and preformed along with some Linfield students. I had never been to anything like it, and it was a blast. The entire auditorium was packed, with tons of people standing in the wings. All throughout Earth week for the drag show, there was a lot of student involvement and interest. It really helped me appreciate how student-oriented Linfield really is, and how awesome the student body is as well.
Saturday I volunteered at La Casa Verde, an annual McMinnville green-building community festival where about 1,000 community members, young and old, come and celebrate people in the community who are working towards building more sustainable structures. Cellar Ridge construction, a local business, hosts the event and there was everything from garden demonstrations, to local produce, and lots of kid’s activities. I loved getting off of campus and interacting with some really neat people from the community, it helped me appreciate how interesting McMinnville really is, and how there are actually lots of things to get involved with in town.
Sunday was filled with lots of homework and study groups, but hey, you get to live a little and learn a lot while in college. It’s all about the balance between the two, I’m learning.
It’s beautiful outside, the sun is shining and the sky is visibly blue; I’ve gotta get outside!
Until next time,
-Austin