Honors Recital
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Fowl Living Core Cambridge Sports Netflix Reviews INSIDE THE See what Marty the Keep up to date on Coach Paula Weishoff Find out what you Eagle is up to this what’s happening with Wins PacWest Coach of should be watching week! our Eagles in England the Year for Christmas! NEWS pg. 8 pg. 5 pg. 3 pg. 8 Volume 11, Issue 7 Concordia University Irvine Friday, December 9, 2016 Around-the-World Semester®: Feet, family and farewells KENDRA SITTON EDITOR-AT-LARGE Earlier tonight in a travel comfort as I travel far from fam- She found that now people group dinner, we discussed the ily and friends, and the places I constantly ask what her plans In the liminal space between first time the team gathered at call home. are and want her to join them. the hug of sleep and bright awake the Vezner house after receiv- “Community is a place to find “People don’t do that quite as of the loft, I listened to the patter ing our acceptance letters. The a home when you are traveling much on campus. You’re invit- of voices without individuality. conversation was choppy, intro- without one,” said Sophomore ed, but not pursued,” she ex- The warm buzz of people talking ductions overwhelming, games Adam Dougherty. In our nomadic plained. echoed along the wooden roof of awkward. Much has changed in lifestyle, the only permanence has “I don’t think I could have the open room in Ecuador. As if been each other. made it through a trip like this underscoring the joyful reunion “Community is If the team is home, like any without everyone,” said Bakker. before the climax in a movie, family, there are issues with “Collectively, the team has meant Vinh serenaded us with his guitar. a place to find feeling alone while surround- an ear to listen to me when I need With eyes closed, I only pieced ed by people, being annoyed by it and people to understand me together where people sat along a home when other’s quirks, conflicts not eas- and really knowing who I am,” he the narrow aisles of bunks when ily resolved. Going through cus- said. “We are constantly striving my teammates laughed. Each of you are traveling toms and onto airplanes with 38 to make each other better and Michael Hammerle, PC: Adam Lee their laughs was too personal, people is often clunky, difficult helping each other to know Christ without one.” said Senior Will Bakker who has too familiar to be mistaken for and complicated. “It’s kind of better.” With people from all grade struggled with a desire to en- another. Through this method, this group that once struggled in like being a part of a permanent levels, majors and backgrounds, gage the community of the team I mapped out that Sam was at learning each other’s names. Now group project... but more pleas- the only real universal factor on while also needing alone time to the front of the room with Nys- we are fully comfortable in ac- ant than that,” said Junior Laura the team was a foundation on Je- recharge. sa, Christian and Kyleigh sat be- cepting our feet being washed by Mietzner. It’s easy to resent each sus Christ. A time in which the stress of side me, Maddy was somewhere each other from the grimy reality other when sheer numbers add In the final week of ATW, the team seemed to dissipate was across from me. I enjoyed the of traveling. I was comfortable to the stress of travel. “Sometimes some of us are already separat- in Ghana. With no wifi and no waves of refreshment spilling enough to fall asleep on someone I just get overwhelmed with so ing in the community as we di- nearby towns, we ate each meal from those around me into my else’s bed while surrounded by a many people. And I just step vide between people so ready as a group and spent all our time near-dreams. party. This group has been my outside the community at times,” for home and people who never together. This time away from want ATW to end. As prepara- any other distractions allowed tions for going home heighten, for self-reflection as well as com- each of us grapples with holding munity searching. “In Ghana I on to the lessons and relation- saw the community change sole- ships most impactful this semes- ly as a result of God’s grace and ter. “On this trip I’ve learned the faithfulness. I saw people inter- more I get to know a person, the acting in ways they wouldn’t more I like them,” said Mietzner. have previously. I saw people So far into the trip, I live with- reconciling differences with each out that fear of judgment and other in very honest and open without the judgments I once ways,” said Dougherty. held. As the last girl to get her Many of our attitudes about feet washed tonight, partially be- the team have evolved as we began cause I spent the first hour of the to appreciate traveling in a group. party sleeping, I happily splashed “It was frustrating to always have my feet into the soapy gray water. someone by my side, but now I My feet have carried me kind of like that,” Mietzner said. across five continents and have At this point, she thinks any three the tan lines, blisters, callus- people on the team could hang es, scars and smell to prove it. out and enjoy it. She added, “I The past five months have held would never have talked to some hardships and joys, and, as Mi- of the people on this trip– we just etzner said, “ATW isn’t what I ex- didn’t have the same friend group. pected... but I’m really glad I went!” I’m really happy to get to know people on that level.” PC: Adam Lee 2 Campus December 9, 2016 The most wonderful time of the year? DARBY SCOTT concluding the semester, Jona- three siblings. The Peleras fam- As students count down the vation, remember what is wait- STAFF WRITER than Predney, junior, said he is ily celebrates Christmas with a days remaining before travel- ing at home over winter break. looking forward to “spending 16-year tradition. “On Christ- ing home to spend quality time Predney wants to encourage December has been deemed time with family and getting mas Eve, we all open one pres- with family and friends, it is his peers to “keep pushing be- the most wonderful time of the lots of sleep.” Predney’s favorite ent, which is always matching also a reminder of how swiftly cause it’s almost done.” The year by Christmas enthusiasts winter break activity is his fam- pajamas, and then we watch the final exams are approaching. all-nighters and long study ses- around the world. However, ily’s tradition of caravanning to ‘Polar Express’ followed by ‘The Although it is an unforgiving sions are nothing compared to college students unanimously various suburbs around Orange Grinch,’” Peleras explained. week, Peleras admits she uses the satisfaction of doing well. cringe when they think about County to look at Christmas In addition to her dog, Sal- her busy schedule to her advan- In addition, Studdert re- what December means in terms lights. Admiring the decorative ly, Annie Studdert, junior, is tage. “The thought of seeing my minds everyone to cherish the of school: Finals week. Although lights has been a Predney fam- thrilled to go home to her other family gets me through finals,” family time and keep in mind it is rewarding to put another ily tradition for about 15 years, pets (including cats, chickens said Peleras “The more I study that Christmas is not just about successful semester behind us, and has become one of the and sheep) and spend time and the busier I am, the quick- gift giving. Remember the rea- it is astonishing how quickly family’s most cherished activi- with her long-distance boy- er break seems to come.” To son for the season and thank the 16 weeks pass by. College ties during the holiday season. friend. The Studdert activity Studdert, the thought of break Christ for all of life’s blessings, is tough, but many students Junior Victoria Peleras, is she is most anticipating is a distracts her from studying no matter how small they may are using their anticipation of also using her excitement for 20-year tradition: Ro-Sham- and the pressure of finals, but seem. Lastly, Peleras wishes the most wonderful time of the Christmas break as a means of Bo.”“It’s like white elephant,” she admits “it’s definitely help- “everyone a safe and fun win- year as a tool to stay motivat- pushing through finals. Much says Studdert, “everyone brings ing me remember that there is ter break where they are able to ed during this stressful period. like Predney, Peleras is eager a present and draws numbers light at the end of the tunnel.” enjoy and appreciate the time Finals week is filled with to spend quality time with her for their turn to pick, but if you Finals week is approaching, they have with their families.” sleepless nights, an overabun- immediate family and dogs. want to ‘steal’ you have to beat but there is no need to fall vic- To everyone struggling, good dance of pressure and remind- “We are all scattered around the person in rock-paper-scis- tim to its daunting nature.