Toga Time!

As many of you know, I am heading back to Northwestern this summer for some more CTD fun - this time as an RTA (no, not the train, you crazy Clevelanders... Residential Teaching Assistant). I took some time today to reflect on previous memories from the 4 summers and 5 classes I was there for. Here's my list - all dates in parentheses represent the summer I was there:

Apogee (1994)
Took the Bits and Blocks computer programming class (PC Logo!!)

• Fav Class Memory: making fun of the Mavis Beacon typing software and trying to crash the program with my classmates
• Memorable Moments: going to my first dance! Also, living away from home for the first time... and doing laundry for the first time! Oh, and watching "The Fugitive" during our pool party at SPAC.

Spectrum (1996 and 1997)
Took Non-Fiction Writing (1996) and Explorations in Chemistry (1997)

• Fav Class Memory 1996: Mr. Scher!!! And his outrageous quotes, i.e., "I don't give a flying leap!"
• Fav Class Memory 1997: beating out the rest of the class in "Around the World" with my knowledge of the Periodic Table. Sad, I know.
• Memorable Moments 1996: Rachel (my RA) and the gals in my group... by far, the BEST residential group I was in during CTD; we just totally hit it off!! (Ashley, that was our year!!) Also, the talent show performance with Jane - we played the Bach double! And who could forget the fiasco where I got hit by a brick? The scar is still there. Oh... and getting asked to dance for the first time (I can't believe I remember this... it's a good thing I can't remember the song, otherwise I would really doubt my sanity).
• Memorable Moments 1997: playing Broomball!! The look on Grace's (my roomie's) face when I had to wake her up in the morning. And then... being hit on by one of my RA's... breach of the ethics code right there! Funny how my only response was to insult the RA. ::sigh:: Learned to pick up the shotgun early, I guess...

Equinox (1998 - two sessions)
Took Physics Honors (Session 1) and Human Biology (Session 2)

• Fav Class Memory Session 1: TOGAS!!! We took our class pic dressed in togas (our bedsheets) and ivy leaves (obtained from the side of our dorm) and actually won the Equinox class pic competition. :-o Yeah, I know. Me in a toga... rumor has it that pic is still up on the CTD office wall somewhere.
• Fav Class Memory Session 2: those pigs we had to dissect. We named ours Oliver. Oh! We had rats too. Our rat had both male and female organs for some reason - neither Greg (our RTA) nor Jose (our teacher) could figure it out and just gave up. And who could forget Jose? The man could not say the word "defecate" without cracking up. (He was also married to some soap opera actress but would not tell anyone who...)
• Memorable Moments Session 1: opening the door to find Stan making out with my doorpost, our class band "Straight Edge", the class trip to Six Flags Great America (and me getting sick on the American Eagle!!), Funkel the Flute with Kristine, my roommate spreading stupid lies about me (man, was I upset), and performing an improvisational piece for the first time (thanks Joe!!).
• Memorable Moments Session 2: the massive flood that shut down Willard Hall cafeteria, going to the emergency room in an ambulance and listening to Greg give me the details of how an allergic reaction (immune response) occurs, riding back to campus from the hospital in a cop car, Bible study on Saturday mornings, meeting up with an old friend from my Apogee days!! And who could forget... Maria and me "dressing up" all the unnecessary naked figures in our textbook, the "shaving party", and the roomie water gun fight in the bathroom!

Oh man. Such good times. I can't believe I remember so much!! It did have quite an impact on me, I'll admit. I'm hoping that this time I will attend a Cubs game where we stay the entire time and that the CUBS will win!!! I am really looking forward to going back, meeting new people, and giving back to the kids the same way many of my RA's/RTA's gave to me. Not to mention, watching the kids go through the summer flings and drama and the tears and the laughter... ::rubbing hands together anxiously::

So this is going to be my last post for a while - I won't be able to have steady internet access for the next few weeks. So my posts for the summer will likely be infrequent, but never fear - there will never be a shortage of topics for me to post on. :-) I will try and update you on life at Northwestern when I get there. Until then... heart ya!