Leaving on a Jet Plane

Hola!

I am writing this because I am headed off tomorrow. The last couple of days all I have felt like I have done is laundry, pack, and did I mention laundry. I have so many (damn) clothes. I guess that is what I get when my dad is a "better" shopper then most people and women. Notice better is in quotations.

I will keep this blog post very brief. I am writing this one because I forgot to mention a couple of things that I think are important. First, are the reasons that I am studying abroad and why I choose London. I have a learning disability called dyslexia and essentially this affects my ability to learn languages and I mix up several words, letters, sayings, grammar etc. Therefore, I choose England because I already know english!  Also, I apologize for grammar and spelling on any these blog post, sometimes I just can't help it.

Another reason that I choose London is because one of my favorite professors at OWU is the British history professor. Out of the seven history classes that I have taken, he has taught three of them. His name is professor Spall. If you take his class prepare for many monty python jokes and impersonations. I think one of my favorite jokes by him, when he gets something wrong, he says; "Well, I guess The Germans bomb pearl harbor if I wanted them too." Hilarious! Take his class, he was a very influential on my decision. Hopefully, I will be able to take a picture next to Jeremy Bentham body.

The last main reason for studying abroad is that I was getting worn out and tired at OWU. After three years everything started to fill the same and I felt too complacent. I was ready for something new. For how much I love Ohio Wesleyan there were a lot things that started to annoy me. I didn't want to grow and dislike my school. I guess I just had the' junior slumps, but now I am ready to experience something new.

Alright, to switch gears I have to give a fresh x shout out. For all of you that don't know, fresh x is a pre-orientation program for incoming students. It is completely lead by students, but of course administration plans the logistics and trains us. There are only two programs wilderness and habitat. Wilderness goes camping and Habitat does habitat for humanity, in delaware county. This summer I was a Habitat leader with one of my best friends Katrina. It was amazing. We had great group of freshman that I hope to continues to be friends with, though it is sad that I won't see them change and grow this semester. Oh well.

I have to say that fresh x was a little eye opening for myself. I did fresh x my freshman year, and after leading it this past summer I could see how much I have developed. These last three years I have grown to the person I am today, and the most noticeable difference is the confidence that I have in myself.

Now on to a more sombering note... This summer one of my friends and fraternity brother tragically passed away. His name is Aaron Riley, he graduated from OWU this past year and was going to MSU for graduate school. He was doing an environmental internship in D.C. I believe he and whoever else was doing the internship went to a lake in Pennsylvania, to study lake management. I don't know too much of the details but Aaron went for swim in the lake... And you guess the rest but Aaron did have epilepsy and they believe that had a part to play in his death.

There was memorial service in east lansing,  MI. It was a wonderful service. There was a lot of support for Aaron's family and a bunch of OWU students ended up making it to the service. Aaron had touched, livened, and help many people in short but filling life. I was never particular close to him. At times we didn't get along or see eye to eye. However, at the end of the day I always knew that Riley had a great heart. He genuinely cared for others. He had passion and motivation for his interesest that is lacking in most people.

Aaron you taught me a lot about myself. I know that you will be missed, but never forgotten in our memories.


Very Truly Yours,

Brian


P.S. For each blog I think I will include a link to a song or music video, depending on my mood. This one of course is "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine Show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2vJUadjdmo.