Go Bears!

What a week! I am beginning to feel better after my e.coli/kidney infection! I have been off my 11 day antibiotics for a couple days now and have felt fine, just very tired. When I get home from work around 5:15pm everyday I am just exhausted. After talking with other people who have also had a kidney infection, they said that is very normal. I can tell you first hand, that kidney infections are not fun! It's definitely a blessing that I realized something was not right early on, otherwise I would have been one sick person!
This week I did two things that were new to me in Harrisburg. I helped with the flower gild in St. Stephen's and created arrangements for Sunday service and I went to a Hershey Bears game in Hershey, PA.

One of my flower arrangements

Both arrangements

I don't know a lot about flowers, I know the basic kinds and that when you cut flowers, you cut at a angle but other than that, I am clueless. I helped my housemate, Shannon and my mentor Anne with arranging flowers this week. Anne was the head of the flower gild and taught me all about how to arrange. You never want to put flowers on the same plain and the strongest color flowers should be in the center. It is important for eyes to want to look at the whole arrangement, so you do different levels- highest in the back, lowest in the front but it is also important to want to draw the eye out, so its not vertical. My color scheme this week was red and pink with some accents of white. The greens should be the outline and what is used to put the eye horizontally as well. Anne had to coach me through it quite a bit because I am a very symmetrical person, so what I want on one side is what I want on the left, but that is not the case in small flower arrangements. Luckily for me, I made arrangements using the same flowers, so I was able to make it symmetrical to each other, but the flowers are not the same on both sides on each arrangement itself.  I'm pretty pleased with my first go around of flower arrangement. They make different arrangements every week and make them on Friday afternoons. I didn't realize how time intensive they are. My arrangements were small, but the alter arrangements are very large and took almost 3 hours to create. Anne purchases these flowers from a wholesaler every week at a discounted price and then creates the arrangements. I think I will definitely help out in the future at lease for the time being! I won't help out as much in the spring because that's when its mum season and I am allergic to chrysanthemums- so that is not my place to be!

Youth group fun

Silly faces with Layla

First fight of the game

On Saturday, I got in my hockey fix! I had not been to a hockey game in months, which is pretty odd for me! I think the last game I went to was a Minnesota State Mavericks game- in April! I went with the St. Stephens school and Youth Group to a Hershey Bears game. All together there was a group of about 60 people there and it was such a fun experience! The Hershey Bears are a minor league hockey team for the Washington Capitals. Now, I am a Penguins fan, so the Capitals are not my favorite team in the world, but it was definitely fun to see! I wore my penguins scarf I got for Christmas and my Pascal Dupuis jersey and didn't get heckled once. There was even another fan on my side of the arena that was wearing a Dupuis jersey! Pascal Dupuis is my favorite player, who is injured this year because he has a blood clot in his lung from having ACL surgery. The game was in Hershey, PA which is only about a half hour or less away from Harrisburg. The Bears play in the Giant Center, which is where a lot of concerts are held. The game was really fun! I had fun explaining the game to kids from youth group and cheering for a team. There were quite a few fights, so I'm not sure if the team they were playing (Binghamton Senators) are a rival of theirs or not. There were 5 different fights and the first one broke out 15 seconds into the game and many other fights

Bears WIN!

 happened throughout the game. There was some tension to the referee, Terry, because he took away a Bears goal. Most of the game, fans booed him and made fun of him. The Bears ended up winning in overtime! They scored about 2 minutes into the overtime period. I was excited to see the Sell's at the game, I took some fun pictures of Layla and had fun explaining the game to her.  The attendance of the game was 9,700. It was Faith and Family Night, so there were many different churches in attendance. We had 200 level seats, but I don't think there would be bad seat in the venue, I could see everything and the energy of the arena was a lot of fun! I was really impressed with how much the players and staff acknowledge the fans. They always had something going on in the stands, whether they were interviewing a fan, a blimp dropping money, playing intermission games, or just doing simple things like the fans of the game, kiss cam, or having people dance and showing them on the jumbotron. I would definitely love to go to another game, it was a lot of fun and I definitely felt like my Iowan/Minnesotan self!

The many faces of Layla

Work has gone very well this week! It has definitely been busy with the students back, but it is so good to see the students! I am doing two jobs, administrative assistant and then community service intern. I have been busy with scheduling and dealing with budget things like invoices and ordering supplies and items as well as planning for my event on February 2nd called Community Service Fair. I have about 15 different organizations coming in and tabling about what students can do to volunteer at their organization. I have things from Salvation Army to YMCA to a Therapeutic Riding Center that with children who are physically disabled. I am hoping that many students from Dickinson attend this event, I need to do a lot of promotions the next week or so to make sure it is a successful event! I also found out this week that I will officially be going on a spring break trip with students as an administrator! I will either be going to Georgia, South Carolina or Alabama. I am really hoping to go to Georgia because I would be able to see my brother, who I haven't seen in about a year! He lives in Dublin and I would be in Macon, which is about an hour or so away from each other! Let's all hope for Georgia!
Also this week, I have officially signed my lease and contract for living in Mankato next fall. Whether I get in grad school or not, I will be there at least working and hopefully attending grad school as well! I have everything done for grad school, waiting on one reference but that will be done soon! So wish me luck and send good wishes about grad school! I have also completed my graduate assistantship applications, so I am also waiting on that but I need to find out if I make it into the program first. This is the only program I have applied to, so I am definitely hoping for the best! I can definitely see myself working in a college setting. I'm not sure if I can see the exact location, I am interested in many things including residence halls, working with first year students, student activities, advising. I could see myself doing all of the above!
I am not sure what all I have going on this week- I don't think it will be too crazy, but I guess that is always surprise!
Have a wonderful week!
Love, Katie



A little farm in the city!

Happy Sunday, everyone! I have had a busy week so far, but it has not been as busy as last semester. Dickinson hadn't started classes yet, so there were not students around and I did not have meetings throughout the week, but that will surely change because school restarts tomorrow! Over the past week, I have been battling a kidney infection because of ecoli, so it is a good thing that the students were not back yet, because I was not my happy-go-lucky-outgoing self. I had never had a kidney infection before but I would not wish it upon anyone! I had gone to the doctor twice in a week and have had 3 different prescriptions, but we have it under control now! I should be back to normal in a few days, once my medications are done. I went to a clinic in Steelton and they were very friendly and helpful. The clinic is in an old house, much like many other businesses in Pennsylvania and the East Coast in general. I had never really seen businesses in houses before, but I find it interesting because my own office at Dickinson is an old house as well!

Entrance to food court

Baby goats

I have done a few things this week that are not in the norm for Harrisburg. Once a year, Harrisburg brings in a farm show, which is actually really big and reminded me of Iowa. The farm show is a big thing in Harrisburg, over 150,000 people attended it in the 8 days it had been open. Like the Iowa State Fair, the farm show has a butter sculptor, lots of animals, and even a rodeo. I went twice throughout the week, the first time just to see it. I walked by the butter sculptor, tried some cheese and looked at a lot of animals. I fell in love with a gelding- he was the nicest horse in the world, so friendly and loved people, drank a wonderful milkshake and saw cows, horses, goats, alpacas, peacocks, sheep, rabbits, and chickens. The food court at the farm show was HUGE. I had never seen so many different options: milkshakes, fries, apples, cheese curds, bacon, brisket, and so many other little stations. The second day I went, I went to the rodeo finals. I was pleasantly surprised with the rodeo, it was in a large venue and had all the traits of a rodeo. Bronco riding, bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, roping, and mutton-busten. I also learned that the horse I fell in love with was a rodeo horse and was one of the bucking broncos. It was funny because it was bucking away in the arena and then went back to the gats so calm and seemed to be easy going. There was a tragic moment at the rodeo- the second to last bull broke its leg while in the arena and the whole arena went silent, I honestly could have cried. They got the bull out of the arena and three veterinarians went rushing to the side. I'm not sure what happened to the bull after that, but I'm going to pretend that he went into a easy going surgery and is going to recover quickly and potentially wear a cute little cast...

       

Butter Sculptor



Rodeo



Also this week was the opening of the Susquehanna Art Museum! It opened on Friday and over 1,000 people attended. I went today (Sunday) and over 300 attended. This is pretty neat because Tina, who I sing with in choir and joined her family for Thanksgiving, is the Art Education Director! Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, and many other pieces were there. Tina thought of a neat idea for an interactive piece involving light and creating your very own pop art and I couldn't resist giving it a try. Multiple poses, a few giggles and lots of pictures were taken. The museum will have multiple exhibits while I am in Harrisburg, with a big exhibit in May. Illustrators, live music, new pieces, and entertainment will all be happening on May 19th. I can't wait for that to happen! Also that weekend the Sycamore House will be setting up at a table at Arts Fest and will be selling books and potentially coasters and some other crafts. That will be a busy weekend! This upcoming week will be pretty fun- I will be attending a Hershey Bear's hockey game in Hershey, PA. I am excited for the hockey game since I haven't been to one live in a few months! It will be really fun!



What's been going on the past few weeks?

First of all, I apologize for not blogging last Sunday, I had every intention of doing so, but traveling proved to take a toll on me, and I was not in the mood to sit down and write. With that being said, I have a whole lot to talk about! Coming back to Harrisburg was a little stressful and not completely planned. I got back 3 hours later than I was supposed to because of some nasty weather in Chicago. I spent just over two weeks at home and it was definitely needed! Thankfully, Tina was gracious enough to pick me up at the Amtrak station in Harrisburg because when I got back, it was cold and down pouring rain! That would have been one dreadful walk without her! I was very excited and ready to go home and see my friends and family, but it also does not feel wrong to be back at Harrisburg and working at Dickinson College. My analogy that I am thinking of may have something to do that my favorite musical, Wicked, announced that it will be becoming a movie, but this week I have been thinking about the song "For Good". The lyrics are:

Plane out of Philly on Dec 18th

"I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you..."
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQJaZO2nfGg)
I think that song is speaking to be because it doesn't feel wrong to be back in Harrisburg. I will be the first to say that I was not completely happy the first few months that I was here. I didn't have any friends or anyone I could talk to, but I am beginning to know more people and am involved with families that I know I can go to if I need something. I love my job at Dickinson and I feel like I have a lot to do and prove at it. I am able to do more things that are time intensive and work with students one on one with different things like programming or fundraising. The students are helping me more than they realize and I am helping them in some way, shape, or form, too!

New Years Eve babysitting

Not so little Brooklynn

I was so excited to spend time at home in Iowa, I had been waiting for the day I went home since the day I arrived in Harrisburg. I got to spend a lot of time with my mom, saw my favorite little girls, caught up with high school friends, attended an engagement party, ate lunch with my aunt and uncle, saw Into the Woods with close NIACC friends, had a long conversation with my "second mom", ate the Taco Johns that I had been craving, and spent time with my family during Christmas. This Christmas was an odd one it felt, because I hadn't been home in a few months, it was weird to start a routine again because, in a way, it felt like I was a visitor. My brother, who lives in Georgia, was unable to come to Iowa for Christmas, so my mom and I skyped him and opened presents, it was almost like my family was together again for the holidays. I have always loved Christmas; the movies (especially Eloise, A Boyfriend for Christmas, Miracle on 34th St, and Christmas Story), baking, spreading Christmas cheer, and the magic it brings. I loved Christmas as a child and though it has lost some of its shimmer and glamour as I have gotten older, it is still one of my favorite times of the year. My mom is a huge supporter of Toys for Tots and she purchased 740 dollars with of toys for 240 dollars and donated them all to Toys for Tots, because of that generous donation, my mom and I ate breakfast with a couple Marines on Saturday! My mom and I spent a lot of time playing the app Trivia Crack and we just hung out throughout the two weeks, we did not do anything overly exciting, it was just nice to be in the same room as her! The theme for this year's Christmas was penguins, which I love! I love the animal and the team, so it works just fine! My mom found the greatest coffee cup! It is a penguin that has a little lever on it where you can kick marshmallows into the cup with it! I spent many nights playing with it and got the kicking of the mallows down to a T! We loved decorating cookies this year too, we used lots of sprinkles! I definitely enjoyed the simple things of life when I was home!

Penguin coffee cup

Cookie Decorating

One thing that I was not used to be being home is a lot of free time. I did not work over that 2 weeks, with the exception of babysitting, but I felt so lazy and a bum all the time. I wore sweat pants more than I wore regular clothes. I am ready to get in a routine with work, choir, and church.
Work this week has been very laid back! The students do not officially come back until January 19th, so the office has been very quiet! My boss is also gone because she is taking a service trip with students to Belize! I am also two people in the office because the administrative assistant had her baby the day after Christmas and I am taking over her spot as well! Right now, I have my own little work area by the front door with windows and a large desk space. On top of working with the students, credit cards, Dickinson vans, and sorting mail, I am doing my own work relating to community service. On February 2nd, I am having a community service fair and members of the Carlisle/Harrisburg community are coming in and tabling for volunteers. I need to sit down and do some work with that about reserving tables and verifying the groups that are coming. I am also working on a craft project at work that shows the faces of the 18 student workers that we have in our office. Because my office is an old house, there is a living room that is also a meeting or hanging out room. I am taking one of the walls and putting a decal of a tree on it and then putting picture frames all around it with pictures of the student workers. I have ordered the materials and that will hopefully be put up by the end of the week!


Penguin necklace

This week has also been a busy week with graduate school! I have officially sent in all my graduate assistantship applications and have completed my graduate program application. I have applied to the positions of IMPACT- Graduate Assistant, which would be helping assist students in programing events at Minnesota State. I was apart of IMPACT as an undergraduate and I would love to be able to use my skills I have learned at MSU and Dickinson in that position! I have applied for Greek Life and Off-Campus Housing and Community Engagement through Student Activities as well! And, Residential Life Coordinator through Residential Housing. I had been very productive by re-doing my resume, writing 4 cover letters, getting transcripts, and filling out the application! They were all mailed on Friday! We will see what happens, wish me luck!
Being home was extremely needed and relaxing, I feel like I am in a good place in Harrisburg right now. I hope to go back to Iowa at least once more while I am in Pennsylvania. I will be in PA until the end of July.
Till next Sunday,
Katie