I don't think I ever explained the name of this blog, "Squinting From the Front Row," but you most likely figured that I sit in the front row of my classes, and squint. You would be correct. Despite my spiffy glasses, I still struggle to read the board/projector slides from time to time. I probably need a new prescription, but who can afford that? Not me...
So, where did I leave off... Right, terror. Okay, so I registered online for my first classes at WWU, half way through my final quarter at WCC. What was great, was that I had access to the entire WWU information and research network for my final weeks at WCC. I was able to find resources for my Geology project, that were not available through the Community College. Bonus! But I digress... I attended new student orientation a couple of weeks before I left WCC and started WWU. It was a little odd. I was the only new student there that was not accompanied by my parents or legal guardian. Most of said parents and guardians were a lot closer to my age than I was to my fellow new students. I felt a little out of place, but enjoyed learning about my new school. It is a beautiful campus. Check out the website
Here. But here is a sneak peek:
I mean, am I right? Gorgeous! Any way, I finished end of term projects and quickly threw together my supplies for Spring at Western.
The first thing I noticed, my first day at WWU, is that it has hills and stairs EVERYWHERE. As an old person, naturally my knee began to protest. Now this knee had been a problem for 23 years, ever since 5th grade basketball, but it usually isn't too bad except when the weather changes. Trucking all over campus, it really started to hurt. Time to buy another knee brace (I have bought dozens over the years, and they mysteriously disappear after a couple of months. Somewhere there is a little goblin with a self-satisfied smile, and a closet full of my missing knee braces)... After running around like a crazy person that first morning, trying to remember where my class was, I rushed in right as the professor was closing the door to start class. I squirmed my way through the freakishly narrow rows of desks to the only one that was empty, as the entire class stared at me. So fun. This class was Introduction to the Study of Religion and I was in it to see if I wanted to pursue a Religion Studies Minor (I don't by the way). As an intro class, it was at 200 level, which I was used to from WCC. I wasn't that concerned about the workload, foolishly thinking it would be like any other 200 level class I had taken. Oh how wrong I was. But I'll get to that later... The first class was spent, as the professor put it, "dumping out our religious baggage." Essentially, she wanted us all to share our background regarding religion so that we all knew what bias and such we would be bringing to the discussions. The professor went first, then every student there. By the time we were done with that, class was over. I wandered in a daze to the student center, Viking Union. (Did I mention the WWU mascot is the Viking? Did I mention that I am part Norwegian and mildly obsessed with Vikings? Did I also mention that there is no evidence that Vikings EVER wore hat/helmets with horns on them? Did I mention that the WWU Viking has a horn helmet? Did I mention that I don't care? I am thrilled to be a Viking!)
The walkway up to the main entrance is lined with food stalls, one of which is Indian food. The smell of the curry cooking had my stomach audibly growling in no time. It smelled so delicious! I made my way in, and began the process of trying to find an open seat. Being almost noon, and the VU having a few food vendors inside as well, all the tables were packed full. I eventually found a little corner to stuff myself into, pulled my lunch, tablet, and headphones out of my backpack, and settled in for some Netflix viewing as I waited for my next class.
The second class I had that first day was Hunter-Gatherer Societies of World Prehistory. I was ridiculously excited about this class. I knew exactly where the building I needed to go to was, and felt confident that I would find the classroom without trouble. No such luck. While the building was easy to find the classroom was not. It turns out that you have to walk down a long hallway, turn left to enter a lounge-type area, walk toward the vending machines until you see the elevator, then take the elevator up to the 3rd floor, exit into an open study room with tables and study carrels, turn right into another hallway, and then find yourself facing the class room. Luckily I had headed over with plenty of time and even after struggling to find the class, I was one of the first to arrive. The professor of this class quickly became my favorite that quarter. He had decades of experience working in the field, so his knowledge was vast, and his teaching style was one of the best I have ever encountered. He began the class by asking us what "Hunter-Gatherer" meant, but in a way that prevented us from feeling like we would sound stupid if we did not get it right. After 3 days of debating, we never really landed on a hard and fast definition. That is his style, his lectures were super laid back and were more group discussions than actual lectures. Everybody felt comfortable speaking up in that class, and the casual format helped the info sink in.
The one drawback that I instantly noticed in that class was the fact that most of the Anth majors in the room had gone through all of their intro courses together. Everybody knew everybody, except me. This revelation was confirmed in my first Anthropological Theory class. So, for the first few weeks, I sat awkwardly around, on the lookout for a space in any conversation where I could jump in. It took awhile. The first breakthrough was when another student and I realized we were in Hunter-Gatherer
and Theory together. We sat near each other in every Theory class and would chat. What really helped was being assigned a group research project in H-G class. Although, that was after the project made me feel like patient zero, everyone keeping away lest they get infected. The professor had us a form our own groups, and everyone knew everyone, so the groups were almost instantly formed before I even had a chance to make eye contact with anyone to ask if they wanted to partner up. One afternoon, someone suggested that the formed groups be written on one side of the board and those still looking for groups write their names on the other. I went up and jotted my name down. The opposite side of the board filled up, and for the duration of class, my name was up on the board all alone... Yeah. So, I had that going for me, which was nice. After a couple of days of feeling like an old loser, I got an email. It was another student saying she saw my name on the board the other day (*facepalm) and that she too needed a group. We managed to find two others and finally had a full group together. Things went up from there...
Story will be continuing soon...
Photo credits:
WWU.edu ; https://wwuhillel.weebly.com/ ; cob.org ; https://www.theodysseyonline.com/12-ways-you-know-you-go-to-wwu ; http://www.stateuniversity.com/universities/WA/Western_Washington_University.html ; facebook.com/westernwashingtonuniversity
