Oh, Group Dynamics!

Well, I am officially upset because I have heard and seen pictures of all the snow that has gathered in Colorado, and I must admit that I am feeling a bit homesick for some cooler weather. Things here have cooled down significantly (we even had a day last week of 58 degree weather) but it just isn't the same. I wish I could snuggle up in front of a fire with some hot cocoa and a good book with Christmas music playing in the background...but alas, I guess I will actually have to wait for Christmas to enjoy that! In the meantime I guess I'll have to make do with turning the air conditioning on high in our apartment, putting some flashlights underneath some colored tissue paper and sippin' on some iced coffee... (since it still won't be cold enough for hot
anything!)

Life in Waco seems to have taken a definite turn as I passed the two month mark. I know I have read somewhere that the two week and the two month usually
mark significant changes in attitudes whenever you are experiencing a transition
into a new culture or place. So, I think the reality of my life in Texas has come full circle, and I have accepted the fact that I do indeed live here. It has not come easily, and there have been more tears in the past week than there have been in the rest of my time here, but I think it has been good to get some emotions out and hopefully continue to move forward with positive feelings about Baylor and the program as a whole.

I think a significant turn this past week has happened in the dynamics of our small cohort. I know I have mentioned that I am studying with this small group for the entire time I am in the program. This has its obvious benefits and downfalls. It is great because I was thrown into a new culture with automatic community, and it has provided some friendships and a foundation for some great collegues in a new career in the future. Downfalls of course, include spending all our time together, and the drama that can come about with any small group setting: people feeling left out, irritated, not communicating, and just frustrated in general.

Just a quick scope at some of the people I am working with. Leslie (who I
have mentioned before), Dan, Ashley, Jason and I all work together in the Student Activities Office. Ashley received her undergrad at Baylor and is one quite possibly the greatest Baylor fan around. If we ever have a question about ANYTHING related to Baylor, just ask Ashley and she'll know the answer, and a great story to go along with it! She's great! Dan is from Texas A&M, was a member of the Core there, and apparantly that has a lot of significance that I am learning more and more about everyday. For the most part, I know him as the guy who went to A&M, really likes Law and Order, and has great things to say about the Dallas Cowboys. Basically, he is a classic Texan. I think he would agree with that statement as well. Jason is from Trinidad (the country) and is fantastic. I love his accent, he definitely livens up our office with some Soca music (Pete you should be jealous of all the new tunes I have heard) and claims
that he can cook a mean pig-tail...but I have yet to taste or see that! Leslie is my story-telling friend who loves to talk and is the next best thing to Martha Stewart! We spend a lot of time studying and laughing together! The rest of our cohort I have not been able to know as well, because I usually only see them during our class sessions. We have an xceptionally quiet group, a lot more introverts then extroverts which makes for interesting class discussion. A few of the others include Julia who is another Baylor alum and is quite possibly the sweetest girl I've ever met. Clint LOVES Baylor, got his undergrad here and he also has a history of working with the live Bears (whose names are Joy and Lady) so I am hoping he can somehow introduce me to them soon! (I still can't believe they have live bears on campus!)

Anyway, that is a quick look at some of the people, and dynamics that I get to be a part of every week! I'm sure I'll have more stories as I get to know everyone better but for now all you get is the big picture!