I am very sorry for my absence the past couple of months. I was getting slightly depressed with life, and I was getting ready to head back to fall semester at college. I must interate it had NOTHING to do with the message boards or its members.
I noticed that there are some new members on S2K... welcome!
For the people that I have met on this board in the past, here's a nickel tour of the past couple of months:
School started mid-August at the Unviersity of Nebraska-Omaha. Up until this semester I have had my eyes on a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism. However, that B.A. degree requires a foreign language (two years of the same foreign language) (I know most people know what I am going to say next
).
First day, first class was Spanish, ELEMENTARY Spanish to be exact. Let's just say it was not exactly "elementary"! Other than an introduction to the course syllabus, the young instructor was already expecting fluency in dialog on the FIRST day!
That was not a great experience. 
I had Spanish from 10am to 11:30 am Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In short, I was not looking forward to a good share of my week. I went to class on Wednesday and still had problems with one-on-one dialog with the instructor. I was nervous in class; in fact, I was nervous in the elevator lobby of the building, knowing that only a couple of buttons away and the magic of hydralics would yield a LONG hour and a half!
That Wednesday, however, I volunteered to dialog but still had trouble. Needless to say, I was not looking forward to Friday. Spanish was my only class Friday, but STILL was not looking forward to it.
THe rest of my courses (Black American Culture, Environmental Geology and Media Writing) appeared to be alright (they are in English...that helps).
The following Thursday I was slightly down about my espanol troubles. Even though I did not have Spanish Tuesday or Thursday, I was still thinking about it. I prayed to God that he would help me through this trouble. He must of heard me! Not necessarily what I wanted, but it did relieve some stress!
I went to a computer lab near the foreign language offices to print off some documents. It is amazing that I chose that one lab (with many on campus), left at a certain time, and waited for a traditionally slow elevator. While waiting for the elevator, my Spanish instructor happened to be walking down the corridor (how conicidental). She told me that my grade on the dialog was failing, but she was very happy I volunteered. She said that would take me far in life; she knew I was trying hard. Further, she suggested that I drop. The instructor felt BAD that I was getting nervous and axious with the class. She said that college is supposed to be challenging but NOT nerve-racking! Sometimes people are good at some things while other things cause some difficulty, she said.
I took her suggestion and planned to drop the course through the Internet. Upon boarding the elevator, she asked in Spanish, how are you? I said "muy bien!"
Then, "adios!"
I was relieved, but since I would fall below fulltime and financial aid would be reduced; no way, jose, will I let that happen!
I had to find another course.
Now, obviously I will not be earning a B.A. degree. However, a B.S. (bachelor of science) degree is the goal, with a minor in Geography to fill the foreign language requirement.
Back to the course search...it is amazing I found a geography course with ONE seat left that would fit my schedule (of course, since God was with me, it is extraordinary), and I registered for it...now back at fulltime!
Best of all, I had Fridays OFF!
The next week I started my geography course which was still in the introductory phase.
NOW, with all this first week of school stress and just the emotion of dealing with Spanish, I did not pay much attention to the weather. I know, I should feel ashamed of myself...but...!
I knew there was a little storm called Katrina out in the Atlantic, but at the time it was not very strong and was a day or two away from hitting Florida. By that Saturday, I started getting into the Katrina storm. By this time, the northern Gulf Coast and New Orleans were getting concerned by the hour.
I went to bed Saturday night with the storm still strong and getting stronger and likely hit somwhere along the Gulf Coast. The first words on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday I heard were "F5 Hurricane heading towards New Orleans"! I sprung faster out of bed than I do on Christmas morning when I heard those words!
That was a powerful storm and pray that things return to normal in that region in the future.
Socially, things started off better this semester than last spring. People are actually friendly it seems. I have met many new people, who have become friends (I think). One of particular interest is this girl, Katie, in my environmental geology class. After class, we are both done for the day and walk across the campus to our cars together almost every day (two days a week) and have good conversation. Who knows?
Finally, some of the vetrans here, Miss Mary, in particular, will remember that I was considering to drop my church's college group back in late July. Just before breaking from these boards in early August, I returned. That was the BEST thing I could have done! I have gotten much happier. I can not do this thing called life alone, I need God, people who love God, etc to get through the challenges that come. I have even met some new friends in the ministry!
Classes are going alright. I have had some great grades (especially in Media Writing and Geography map quizzes) and some not so enticing ones, but things will turn out well in the end!
Sorry if I went long, but I HAD to return. I may not post a lot until winter break because of school, but I will be on at times! I am happy to be back with my S2K friends!
