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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
They tell us, dear first-years, that blood is thicker than water. That of course refers to two facts; 1) blood is full of iron and hemoglobin and red stuff, and 2) family is important. First year away at university can be hard. Some of you might be calling home every day, nostalgic and gloomy. Others of you might be asking, “What parents?” Nevertheless, your family matters. Even my parents matter to me. They’re nutty and crazy but I love them. You probably aren’t wondering how bizarre they are but I’m going to tell you anyway. I’m the one with the monthly article!
Every one of my friends who have met my folks say that George and Colleen need a reality TV show. That idea scares me. They are the parents who, while speeding down the Lincoln Alexander Parkway (Hamilton’s “baby highway”) crane both their heads toward the sky – while driving at 110 km - and scream, “Parakin falcon! I see a parakin falcon! No, wait, it’s a hawk. A Hawk! I see a hawk! Oops, nope, it’s just a BIG BIRD!!!!” Odd, and dangerous as that might sound, the strangest thing is that there is no such thing as a “parakin falcon.” I think they mean “peregrine falcon.” See? They’re already senile and I haven’t even graduated yet! But because it is almost Christmas, and I’m poor, I will plug my father’s YouTube video in exchange for buying him a gift. Please look up “1234 Dad” for a small glimpse into my life.
As you can see after viewing that piece of creativity, family is important, however strange yours may be. They nearly kill you with their love, odd music videos and driving abilities, yet that doesn’t seem to stop first-years from missing their own flesh and blood. Believe me first-years, the likeliness that you will be homesick in your second year is slim to none. Not to say that you won’t miss your family, it’s just that you’ll be either too busy or sleep deprived to remember their phone number.
I recently stumbled upon some correspondence from a Redeemer student named Sally. Sally’s notes home are great examples of the way a student’s life shifts yearly.
(Disclaimer: While Sally is entirely fictional, there are some not entirely fictional accounts of events that may/ or may not have happened to the author of Dear First-Years or anyone else I know. And finally, the first-years mentioned in the third note are not reflections of the first-years I RA-ed in my third year. Mary-Lynne Hurn, Christeena Nienhuis, Bethany Petrusma, Allie Klassen, Melissa Koning and Sarah Eerkes were angels – loud angels, at times, but wonderful first-years nonetheless.)
First-year, first-semester -
Dearest Mommy,
I miss you sooooo, soooo much! Why did you leave me here?! Didn’t you see me running after you guys when you were driving away?? You nearly ran over someone in first parking lot!
Anyway, Redeemer is ok. I miss you and Dad and my five siblings all named after characters in the Bible. I miss our dogs, Judas, Lucifer and Pebbles. And I miss the farm! How is the farm? I never thought I would say this but I sure miss those cows/chickens/llamas.
My dorm is ok. My RAs are crazy. They want me to call them mom and dad, but they’re both girls! I guess Redeemer is more liberal than we all thought. First week of school was a whirlwind of stuff. They tried to keep us busy so we wouldn’t be homesick but every time I drank milk/ate an egg/rode a llama, I thought of home and I would cry. I cried a lot the first few months, but I’m ok now.
My classes are ok. I go to every single one of them. Core courses are ridiculous but they keep telling us that those classes will come in handy in the future. It must be the truth, right? Why would they lie to us?!
Anyway, I can’t wait for Christmas…only 94 days and counting! Call me when you get this! Actually… call me every day!
Love, love, love, love, love
Sally
First-year, second semester -
Mommy,
I miss you so much! Why did you leave me here? Again?! You and dad drove off in such a hurry after you dropped me off. I thought you loved me!
That’s ok because Redeemer life is getting better. Now that I think about it, I don’t miss waking up early to work on the farm. If I ever miss home I go downtown Hamilton, where it doesn’t smell like a farm exactly, but it smells different. It’s familiar…sort of.
My dorm is getting better. My dorm mates are planning a secret uprising. They asked me to chip in and buy 2 dozen rolls of duck tape. I think they like me!!
Classes are still ok. I have yet to miss a class. I get scared thinking what would happen if I accidently slept in and missed a class. It might go on my record or something. But don’t, worry; it will never come to that!
Anyways, I can’t wait for the summer…only 98 days and counting! Why aren’t you calling me everyday like I asked?!
Love, love, love,
Sally
Second-year -
Hey Mum,
This place is amazing! I love my dorm! We have so much fun together. Sorry that I haven’t written as much - I just love my dorm! This will be the third night in a row that we pulled an all-nighter. Someone said that I could die if I don’t get sleep soon. Whatever. I’m living the dream!
The stuff that we do is crazy! The other night a friend of ours came over and at 3 AM we poured everything in our fridge on his pants. It was so funny!!!
I don’t go to as many classes as I did in first year but I still make it to most classes, don’t worry. Speaking of classes, what day is it? When was I supposed to write that mid-term again? Oh crap….
Gotta go, Mum.
Tell the fam that I love them! And wish me luck!
Sal
Third-year -
Mum,
Why did I say I wanted to be an RA again? I might be going crazy. My first years stay up and watch movies all of the time. I don’t think I’ve seen them do homework yet. I hope I don’t get in trouble if they fail and get kicked out. Wait, Redeemer never kicks anyone out. Ever! I’m glad I have a co-RA because I would have had a nervous breakdown like some of the ghosts of RAs past. We definitely don’t go to our executive meetings and we decided not to tell our boss what happens in the dorm. I was warned by past RAs last year that if something goes wrong in the dorm it would be better to deal with it with my co-RA. Isn’t that sad?
We could really use the help, too. There is no way that I was this bad in my first-year! One of my girls has a problem with keeping the door open when her boyfriend is over. I don’t know what is wrong with this girl. Rules are rules. I remind myself that it could be worse; my girls could be hiding bottles of vodka under their beds. Believe me, I check…daily.
What did I get myself into? I have three 400-level courses which equal death and I have 11 papers to write in one week. It’s so hard that I end up having to skip important classes because I have to write a paper due every other day.
I think my girls are planning an uprising. They’re hiding duck tape in the basement. Amateurs. Please pray for me.
Love you,
Sally
Fourth-year -
The kitchen faucet is broken again, and we think there is mould growing in the bathroom. Can you ask Dad to come back and fix everything? The landlord should do that but we can’t get a hold of him and if I have to talk to his secretary Roxanne one more time I’m going to move back home with you.
Don’t get me wrong, I like living off-campus because I’m not living in the bubble anymore, but I wish the house wasn’t falling apart. When we had our wine and cheese party someone noticed that the ceiling has water damage. I wouldn’t be surprised if this house was built on sand, either.
School is the hardest it has ever been. I have a thesis to write and I’m still finishing two core courses. If I hear that core courses will be useful in the future one more time I will beat up any first-year within a ten km radius. Why did I think it would be ok to take Enviro in my last year? I’m losing my mind. I’m so glad I have accumulated over forty thousand dollars in debt and all I will have to show for it is insanity and a diploma. Lord only knows where I’ll work when I’m done here. Maybe Starbucks is hiring.
Hey Mum, I have to go; apparently the hot water heater is broken too.
Love,
Sally
p.s. Please bring toilet paper when you visit next.
Hopefully, dear first-years, your university lives won’t be this extreme. But if all of that, and more, does happen to you, be thankful that you have your parents to talk to and get toilet paper from. Right about now everyone is ready to end this semester and go home for the holidays. Keep in mind while you’re home that things will change for you each year you’re at Redeemer. I pray that your family will be there throughout your time here to talk, listen, and counsel you through it all. Don’t take them for granted - their lives are as fleeting as yours and mine.
So, go, rock your exams, don’t go three days without sleep, and come back in 2010 rested and recuperated because a few years from now you’ll be a certified loony.
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