Greek Life.........

No, I am not a part of Greek Life, nor do I really have an interest in becoming part of it. One of my good friends is though so I decided I would go with her to a frat last night. Bad idea. We spent the night walking around Frat Ville with some girls in her sorority without ever getting anywhere. I could have had a fun, productive night hanging out with friends at the ITM house..but no. Spending sometime at the Alpha Xi Delta house last night made me very sure about my decision about not being in a sorority.

Phil Levine

Friday night I went to hear Phil Levine speak with a few friends. I had never been to a poetry reading before so I figured I'd give it a chance. I think it would have been more fun if I actually liked poetry... It was hard for me to pay attention to what he was reading. He kept telling what I guess were jokes but I didn't get them or find them very funny (maybe because I'm not into poetry) but everyone else was laughing and I didn't really understand why. My friends and I were talking when it was over and they both felt the same way. Both of them are dance majors as well and I think we (or at least I) wasn't interested in it because I had nothing to watch. I've noticed that before too when I've had to watch speakers that I lose interest quickly if I have nothing to watch. That's probably just because I have been watching dance my whole life and that what I love to watch pretty much no matter what and that's what I'm knowledgeable about. I don't think I will be attending another poetry reading anytime in the near future. 

HeLa

Yes, I am a person that uses abbreviations for things whenever possible. This week for class we had to read part one of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I started this book over the summer and didn't mind reading it. I'm kind of a history nerd (mostly American history and WWII stuff) so I actually find the things that take place in the past interesting to read about. I've never been a fan of science but reading about the history of science and how far it's come isn't that bad. It's crazy to me that; one, the HeLa cancer cells never died and that they are in people today, still helping others and being used in medical science. And two, that Henrietta and her family were never told that her cells were still growing outside her body and that they were being used in research. I think the family should have been told what the doctors were doing with her cells. If it were me, I don't think I would have been happy not knowing that my cells were being used for medical research until after it had already been done.

being away from home

I really have loved the past three weeks I've been at WMU.  I've met so many new people that I absolutely love to be around but of course there is that little part of me that really misses everything at home. It didn't really hit me until yesterday when some things sort of blew up in my face (long story). I was talking to my roommate Lizzie this morning and we were just saying it's all the little things we miss. Like driving, the places to go to eat at home, your own bed...and of course all by best friends. I actually did talk to my best friend at home yesterday and I told her how I do have really good friends I can talk to here but it's definitely not the same as seeing and talking to her every single day. So a big shout out to Xenia Mansour for always being there for me, no matter what. ♥ #bestfriends #snookiandjwoww  

Where I'm From

While we were writing our "Where I'm From" poems, I realized how much I appreciation I have for everything and everyone back home. I always knew I was lucky to be given the opportunities I had, I just didn't realize how rare those experiences were. I'm not talking about the things I owned or anything, I'm talking about my experiences in the dance world. My dance studio is my second home and family (that's basically what I wrote about in my poem) and I am so thankful I spent my whole life there. I know so much about dance history because of that which I have really come to realize how rare and special that is. So many of the other dance majors don't know as much about that stuff as I do and I think that might be one of my biggest strengths here. Lots of them have never heard of famous dancers and I'm lucky enough to have performed some of their works. Writing this poem really helped me realize all of this too and I'm so glad it did.

that awkward moment...

I don't know about anyone else, but my life is filled with awkward moments. More like my life is just one huge awkward moment. Lots of people say that things aren't awkward unless you make them awkward so maybe it is my fault. The worst is when you're with a group of people and everyone stops talking all at once and then no one knows what to say at all. Or when you're driving and you think you see someone you know at a red light so you pull up a little to see if it is them and it turns out it's not them and the other person sees you staring at them. I know I've been in much more awkward situations and I know there will be many, many more to come.

Get to know me :)

Hi, welcome to my blog! My name is Rachel, I'm from Chicago and I am a dance major at Western Michigan University. I'm pretty quiet until you get to know me but I love meeting new people. I've never had a blog before so this should be interesting...enjoy!! 

My little sister and I on our way to a wedding we attended this summer right before I left to come to school.