Sooo, that was first year, huh?

Okay, I know what you're all thinking. You can say it, really. You can say that I'm a bad person, that I've neglected my blogging duties and that you're all angry will me. It's okay, I understand. But hey, I do have good excuses:

I was studying for exams
I was writing exams
I was packing
I was saying my goodbyes
I came home
I was still packing
I work at Parliament now!

So yeah, I've been pretty busy, what with packing and wrapping up the first year of my university career! And what a year it's been. I can hardly believe that it's already over; it seems like just yesterday I was packing my life into
Rubbermaid totes, ready to head out and start a new life, in a new place, with new people. And then, before I knew it, I was packing up my life again, and heading out on another adventure, this time to Parliament Hill, for a summer experience that I'm sure I'll never forget. Being home was a nice rest stop, but for some reason, coming home is always a bit strange. My room doesn't feel as familiar or as comfortable as my room in Harper, even though I have pretty much the best bed of life. I don't sleep as well sometimes, probably because people just get up way too early in my house, haha, and its even weird to see how your relationships with certain people just aren't the same anymore. So I do think that it's true what they say -- that once you leave, you can never go home again. You can always go back to visit, but it will never be home, in its' truest sense, again. Now that's not necessarily a bad thing. We all need to grow up, to test our wings and stand on our own two feet. Which, in turn, allows us to create a new home of our very own. For me, my new home is at Mount Allison, and it will always be a sense of deep comfort to me, even long after I'm gone, just like my home in Campbellton will always be. Home isn't just a place, a building or a word. It's a feeling, it's people, it's relationships, and it's memories. Home is wherever you are, and wherever you've been, and wherever you love and cherish. I love Mount A.

Being away this summer is also a strange experience. I'm away from both of my homes, missing two lives, two sets of people, two places I love. But Ottawa is already beginning to set its roots in me, and I have the strong feeling that when it is time to leave Parliament and the capital city, that I will again, be missing yet another home of mine. I guess that's what it is to grow up though... To move, to live, to experience, to remember and to make connections with as many people and places as we can. And this summer, well, that is definitely what I'm doing. As a Parliamentary Guide, not only will I meet those that I lead on tours around our country's government buildings, but I will have the opportunity to meet 39 other university students from across Canada who are just like me. I've only known most of these people for a few days now, and I can already tell that these people will soon become friends that will last a lifetime, and that I will miss a great deal when the summer comes to an end. Leave one place, miss the life, leave another, and miss that life too. A never ending cycle, but a positive one, so long as we look back on the memories with fondness and a smile on our face.

So, I'll be continuing this blog all summer long, telling you about my wonderful tales from Parliament. Now I'm not sure how I'm going to keep this very "Mount A focussed", though there are 5 MTA students (including myself), working on the Hill this summer. 4 of us are guides in the Center Block, while 1 is a guide in the East Block. So I guess this is a great way to show you guys what MTA students are capable of, and the great opportunities that exist for us students :) I'll do my best to post once a week, though it is pretty hectic around here, and I'll do my best with regards to pictures and such too, particularly if I can snag any of famous people, haha. I've seen a few MPs already, and a Cabinet Minister, which was pretty exciting. And, we're meeting the Speaker of the House of Commons tomorrow, which is also great! Oh, I'm such a political nerd... Oh, that picture up there is of me sitting in Rona Ambrose's seat in the House of Commons! :D

Much love,

Sue

sjhumphrey@mta.ca

Coming to a close

I honestly don't know where this year has gone. It seems like just the other day I was moving into an unfamiliar and empty room, in a House where I knew almost no one, and now, on this last Monday of classes, I have a hard time imagining being anywhere else. This year has been one of ups and downs, good and bad experiences, but for the most part, it has been fantastic and rewarding. I have made countless new friends, expanded my academics, learned some important life lessons, and had some serious fun. Now this, this is a good year.

The whole campus seems to be drawing into wrap-up mode, with elections, grad activities, studying for finals, summer plans and even some packing going on. Year-end recitals, concerts and parties are going on, and luckily, I've been blessed by the gods of academia with a very light load of work these last few weeks. This means that I've been pretty much free to take everything in, and now I can tell you all about it!

Harper Hall 2006/2007!

Alright, now Wednesday night was the Harper Hall Banquet. This is a great end-of-year event, where all us Harperites gather together at the campus Pub for dinner, a slide show, awards, and the inauguration of next year's House Executive (President- Brent Williams, Social Chair- Mike McKinnon, Secretary/Treasurer- Jessica Davidson). The slide show was absolutely hilarious, with a Star Wars Episode theme, and tons of great pictures bringing back all kinds of good memories :)

Mike McKinnon (new Social Chair), Sandenn Killoran (current Social Chair), Brent Williams (new President), Brian Crouse (current President), Jessica Davidson (new Secretary/Treasurer) and Ben Goldberg (current Secretary/Treasurer).

The SAC also came to an end on Wednesday night, when our last meeting took place. The power was transferred back to the Executive and all the final appointments were made. It's pretty sad to be done with the SAC, especially since I won't be a councilor or representative on it next year. But the people who will be working on the SAC are awesome, and if you're interested in student government, next year's SAC is going to be a great place to get involved!

The Swing Society also had its formal ending with a delicious pot luck on Thursday night. There was food, dancing, laughing, and of course, Jenga. All four instructors are graduating this year, so Aldous and I have been left in charge of the society. But Mandy, Jerrod, Casey and Lindsay, you will be deeply missed next year :( But hey, prospective students, don't let that keep you from joining the Swing Society next year! Aldous and I have learned a ton from these guys over the past year, and we even choreographed this year's routine, which can be seen on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZHDzqAwaM. Also, the swing routine from the JUMP Campaign can be seen on You Tube as well, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VKk9DI6SWg.

The ASCARS, with hosts Erica Hendry (SAC President 2006/2007) and Marianne Green (SAC President 2007/2008).

The ASCARS also took place this weekend, setting the stage for a fabulous Saturday night. The ASCARS are an awards show, kind of like the Oscars, but for Mount A students. Some of the awards include Frosh & Upperclassman of the Year, Movement/Organization of the Year, Residence of the Year, Residence Party of the Year, Off-Campus House of the Year, Off-Campus Party of the Year, ASCAR Hall of Fame Award, Dons of the Year, Band/Solo Artist of the Year and Theatre Production of the Year.

Two Hours Traffic, from Charlottetown, PEI.

Now no awards show is complete without an after-party... Sooo, Campbell Hall hosted two bands, Windom Earle and Two Hours Traffic, in Hesler Hall! They were both awesome, though Two Hours Traffic was my personal favorite!

Now that all the fun has been had, I will unfortunately be living in the library with my head buried deep inside my books for the next two and a half weeks. But after that, I'm off to Ottawa, to have myself a great summer! :D

Much love,

Sue

sjhumphrey@mta.ca