August 29, 2014
Sometimes I like to do things in lists. Today these things happened; don't question the numbering, it happened in order of appearance, not necessarily numbers.
1. Not Drowning
Or pool running, whichever you prefer. Half and hour of bliss (hem, boredom unless you're close enough to the funny girls, but in which case you have to work harder not to drown because you're laughing). Good times.
3. A Semi-Interesting Orientation Info Session
I was on my phone most of the time but I was also listening. It wasn't anything crucial but orientation is trying to drill into us that if we need mental or physical help, we need to get help. So 6 current students told stories about themselves and their adjustment to MIT and it was kind of interesting but mostly a restful time inside the cool, dark Kresge auditorium.
2. Food on the Lawn
MIT feeds us catered BBQ.
2a. The Dentist
I meant to just take a bike ride through Cambridge to see what was around, and it was an incredibly pleasant bike ride, but then I rode by a dentist that advertised Invisalign and remembered that I don't have a top-retainer and my teeth are moving so I hopped in and made myself an appointment. It was a weird adult move and I'm not sure how I feel about it
also, how are you supposed to judge dentists? Like, the waiting room was clean, the receptionist was nice, but I didn't see anybody else or the rooms where dentistry actually took place. And because I just hopped in it's not like I could check reviews or something. We'll see how this goes.
3a. Chaos
More commonly referred to as an activities fair. Upperclassmen participating in things like the Semi-Interesting Info Session always say things about how they signed up for way too many activities at MIT, but personally I don't have that many interests in anything. I think I've always been pretty good about not extending myself too wide, and just investing myself in the few things I do; except maybe in academics.
Anyway I put my name on two lists, I think - one was to be a tutor or a swim coach, which probably won't work with my running schedule, and the other was for The Leadership Training Institute, which mentors high school kids about being leaders. Also no idea what kind of schedule that looks like.
3b. Equipment Collection
Two days ago I had a bit of a realization that I hadn't gotten my XC uniforms because I wasn't here that day, and my coach insisted there was an email about it that I later searched for and didn't find - anyway conclusion, I went and met the lovely people who run the equipment room and got my stuff.
This was the highlight of my day (until about 9 o'clock). The swag I acquired here is just pretty awesome - the uniform is so official - says MIT and all, like, guys, I'm running for a collegiate team! So exciting. There's also a t-shirt and a jacket and a bag that all say MIT Cross Country, and it's just exciting stuff.
4. We Run This
practice. We just did a simulated meet warm up, so 3 miles plus dynamic stretches. We also had group meetings with coach to form up a race plan, which was just cool because I'd never done anything like that with my high school team. I'm in the slowest group on the team along with a senior who rowed crew until this year and sophomore who's trying to walk-on. Our race plan, as it's only a 3k (200m less than a 2-mile), was to have even or negative splits by taking it out with an easy-ish pace of 6:30 and then see what we could do to finish up. The coolest thing is that coach asked us who we trusted to keep pace, and both the upperclassmen said me. Which makes sense because I'm the runner, but I didn't think I spoke up much and I only mentioned something about pace once - and they still trust me. I feel a bit of responsibility now and I'm just so psyched to see if we make it through the race together.
This is the cut-off point, as well. If we don't race well, coach can cut us. So today is the first of many proving days - the day to not give any less than the best, or we sacrifice the gift. (Steve Prefontaine, anyone?)
5. Nutrition Happens
I ate dinner in Maseeh Hall with some teammates. I felt bad about eating two big slices of greasy pizza. But not really, because it's actually a fair pre-race meal: crust is carbs, cheese and pepperoni is protein, and then I had a small salad to make it at least look balanced. Geez.
6. I Get Scared by Fish
Freshman NE Aquarium trip! Because they have penguins, and the penguins are adorable. I hung out all night with a good friend from elementary school who also came to MIT and is still a really cool person to be around - and who also appreciates it when I am scared by a fish. Not actually scared of fish, guys! I don't think.
Basically, the middle of the aquarium is the big cylinder with a coral reef and tons of fish, sharks, various sea life. And there's a spiral walkway going up the thing with windows sectioned off, so we were just standing there, watching little fish go by, big fish floating along, and I'm reading a sign, right, because it was interactive and cool and I wanted (sort of) to know what I was looking at.
And then this beast comes by. Out of the corner of my eye, incredibly frightening. This thing was like 6 feet long, and right in front of my face. So I might have yelled a little and hid behind a pillar. And my friend might have laughed at me.
Conclusions reached from today: I'm a college student-athlete / cool runner kid and an adult who can schedule her own dentist appointments, but at aquariums I turn about five again. Everyone should go find an aquarium and truly appreciate the funny fish. Goodnight.
1. Not Drowning
Or pool running, whichever you prefer. Half and hour of bliss (hem, boredom unless you're close enough to the funny girls, but in which case you have to work harder not to drown because you're laughing). Good times.
3. A Semi-Interesting Orientation Info Session
I was on my phone most of the time but I was also listening. It wasn't anything crucial but orientation is trying to drill into us that if we need mental or physical help, we need to get help. So 6 current students told stories about themselves and their adjustment to MIT and it was kind of interesting but mostly a restful time inside the cool, dark Kresge auditorium.
2. Food on the Lawn
MIT feeds us catered BBQ.
2a. The Dentist
I meant to just take a bike ride through Cambridge to see what was around, and it was an incredibly pleasant bike ride, but then I rode by a dentist that advertised Invisalign and remembered that I don't have a top-retainer and my teeth are moving so I hopped in and made myself an appointment. It was a weird adult move and I'm not sure how I feel about it
also, how are you supposed to judge dentists? Like, the waiting room was clean, the receptionist was nice, but I didn't see anybody else or the rooms where dentistry actually took place. And because I just hopped in it's not like I could check reviews or something. We'll see how this goes.
3a. Chaos
More commonly referred to as an activities fair. Upperclassmen participating in things like the Semi-Interesting Info Session always say things about how they signed up for way too many activities at MIT, but personally I don't have that many interests in anything. I think I've always been pretty good about not extending myself too wide, and just investing myself in the few things I do; except maybe in academics.
Anyway I put my name on two lists, I think - one was to be a tutor or a swim coach, which probably won't work with my running schedule, and the other was for The Leadership Training Institute, which mentors high school kids about being leaders. Also no idea what kind of schedule that looks like.
3b. Equipment Collection
Two days ago I had a bit of a realization that I hadn't gotten my XC uniforms because I wasn't here that day, and my coach insisted there was an email about it that I later searched for and didn't find - anyway conclusion, I went and met the lovely people who run the equipment room and got my stuff.
This was the highlight of my day (until about 9 o'clock). The swag I acquired here is just pretty awesome - the uniform is so official - says MIT and all, like, guys, I'm running for a collegiate team! So exciting. There's also a t-shirt and a jacket and a bag that all say MIT Cross Country, and it's just exciting stuff.
No lie, it's official looking. Also my feet? Sorry.
4. We Run This
practice. We just did a simulated meet warm up, so 3 miles plus dynamic stretches. We also had group meetings with coach to form up a race plan, which was just cool because I'd never done anything like that with my high school team. I'm in the slowest group on the team along with a senior who rowed crew until this year and sophomore who's trying to walk-on. Our race plan, as it's only a 3k (200m less than a 2-mile), was to have even or negative splits by taking it out with an easy-ish pace of 6:30 and then see what we could do to finish up. The coolest thing is that coach asked us who we trusted to keep pace, and both the upperclassmen said me. Which makes sense because I'm the runner, but I didn't think I spoke up much and I only mentioned something about pace once - and they still trust me. I feel a bit of responsibility now and I'm just so psyched to see if we make it through the race together.
This is the cut-off point, as well. If we don't race well, coach can cut us. So today is the first of many proving days - the day to not give any less than the best, or we sacrifice the gift. (Steve Prefontaine, anyone?)
5. Nutrition Happens
I ate dinner in Maseeh Hall with some teammates. I felt bad about eating two big slices of greasy pizza. But not really, because it's actually a fair pre-race meal: crust is carbs, cheese and pepperoni is protein, and then I had a small salad to make it at least look balanced. Geez.
6. I Get Scared by Fish
Freshman NE Aquarium trip! Because they have penguins, and the penguins are adorable. I hung out all night with a good friend from elementary school who also came to MIT and is still a really cool person to be around - and who also appreciates it when I am scared by a fish. Not actually scared of fish, guys! I don't think.
Basically, the middle of the aquarium is the big cylinder with a coral reef and tons of fish, sharks, various sea life. And there's a spiral walkway going up the thing with windows sectioned off, so we were just standing there, watching little fish go by, big fish floating along, and I'm reading a sign, right, because it was interactive and cool and I wanted (sort of) to know what I was looking at.
And then this beast comes by. Out of the corner of my eye, incredibly frightening. This thing was like 6 feet long, and right in front of my face. So I might have yelled a little and hid behind a pillar. And my friend might have laughed at me.
Conclusions reached from today: I'm a college student-athlete / cool runner kid and an adult who can schedule her own dentist appointments, but at aquariums I turn about five again. Everyone should go find an aquarium and truly appreciate the funny fish. Goodnight.
Comments
Post a Comment