The Eve before Christmas

The Eve before Christmas is a special tradition time in our home.  From my wife’s family the tradition has been to have New England clam chowder for dinner.  I believe this started many years ago by family and friends getting together Christmas Eve, then because they liked clam chowder and split pea soup the tradition started.   We have continued this tradition with my children every Christmas.  My hope is my children will continue the tradition each year with their growing families as well.  The Clam Chowder is made from scratch and it is real good.  We also make corn bread to go with it.

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What's Your Community?

     College is a community of people who come together to further their education.  People in this community share difficulties they are having in class as they eat or drink around a table.  Sometimes they work on assignments that are due the next day, and sometimes they exchange e-mail addresses so they can communicate later.  They go together to classes to learn more things they did not know before.  Some share the same educational degree goals and attend most of the same classes.  They all seem to have something to complain about like the lack of parking and they also have something they are glad about like the great teacher they have.

     This college community is held together because they want to earn a degree.  Or, if not for the purpose of a degree, they come together because the classes they want are taught on campus.  And to some degree the community is held together because of what types of educational certificates which are offered at this local college like nursing.  The financial affordability helps to hold this community together by meeting that financial requirement for its people.

     Some people share an interest in cosmetology, or computer technology at the college.  People are also at this college to meet the need to gain a degree so they can start a new career.  Some I have found share the same healthy spiritual beliefs. They value their education and share a respect for each other because they understand it is not easy to be successful at college and it takes work.

     Sometimes people at college share an underlying tension brought on by assignments coming due or stress over classes that will not fit into their schedule for their degree.  The lack of finances can cause people to have to leave the college community.   Although completing a degree is a good thing the outcome will cause the person to leave the community also.  Sometimes the age differences can come between the young and old people in this community due to the lack of common interests.  The outside needs of family or work can stress the cohesion of this college community from time to time.  

     I like the college community.  I like the communities respect for one another and the friendly willingness to help one another.  I fit in good with the college group by being helpful and by being friendly towards others.  I have found that there are other people taking the same degree courses as me, and others who have just started college too.  I fit in pretty well with this college community so far.  I also have discovered it is fun to learn.

     I want to be a part of this community because it meets the needs of commuting distance, the type of degree I want, and the people are pleasant.  Just to be able to attend college, to be a part of this community, is a wonderful experience for me.  I am very glad to be a part of my college community.

 

What's in Your Waller?

WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?

Finding a drivers license would provide a picture of me and my date of birth.  There is also a description of type A CDL endorsement for Heavy truck driving and other endorsements as motorcycle showing that I might work as a truck driver and perhaps I drive a motorcycle also.  The credit card would give a bank that I have an account with.  The debit card would give the bank name where I do my regular banking.  The small address book would give birthdays for relatives, friends, and anniversary date which could mean that people are important to me.  Some pictures would indicate that I like to keep pictures of the people I know which could indicate that I like people.  Miscellaneous business cards would indicate where I have done mechanic work, optical store for eyeglasses or contacts, medical insurance card where my doctor is located, and a receipt for some groceries. 

With just the contents of my wallet one would not know that I am attending college full time or what I am studying.  One would not be able to tell if I am married or who my children or grandchildren are.  Where I work would not be knowable either.  My relationships with family and friends would not be known.  The fact that I play guitar and drums and like music of all kinds would not be known.  The type of vehicles I drive are not indicated nor the home I live in.  The personal knowledge about me would not really be available from just the contents in my wallet. 

Peter Gienger