80's Party Aftermath & Orientation.

Today is Friday.

This means the first day of Orientation begins; ironically, everyone arriving to APU today is very disorienting.

On the bright side, all the Bel Canto girls and myself already find daily ways to stay connected: running in the mornings, picking up books and laptops, lunch, things like that. Also, my other roommate Olga came back from staying with her cousins; and thus, our bunk is COMPLETE! =D She and I really click on a like-minded wavelength, so that's pretty awesome.

Everyone... freshman, transfers and parents alike met in the giant gym complex called the Felix building and went through a presentation with speakers like the Azusa MAYOR (I shook his hand. Awesome guy...) who gave his number if ever we wanted to call and talk or need an interview or someone to interview, the APU president (the same guy who gave Bel Canto the One-Year Bibles. He's a little crazy, in a good way), the ASB president, and a bunch of other Vice Presidents and other titles. At this point, they went through the endless list of why APU is so amazing.

Here's why:

1) We possess 5 Dead Sea Scroll fragments, the only school in the country.

2) We own the first Original King James Bible.

3) Out of 2500 full time staff members, over 70% had their Doctorate, and the rest have their Masters with some possessing Post-Doctorate training. In short, I feel grateful and inferior to my professors. I am sure to learn much in the coming years.

4) One of the Science people makes NASA space suits/ played on the Women's Football League.

5) 22 students received some International Federal Grant, which is apparently a lot for a single school.

The list goes on.

Then we met with our "Alpha Group," another connecting point with a group of 7-20 random students together with one Alpha leader. We all gathered in the courtyard and sat in smal circles. I got 9 people: 3 guys and 7 girls. They're all really cool, and my Alpha leader and I really click. She was an ex-theatre major, and we played a Skittle Game where:

Yellow skittle= Fun Fact/Random Tidbit.

Red Skittle= Embarrassing Story/ Awkward Habit.

Orange Skittle= Hobby.

Green Skittle= Something You're Afraid Of.

Purple Skittle= Dare.

I got 1 hobby and 2 dares. First I sang for a super cute guy named Sam Over the Rainbow while holding both of his hands. Next, I "opera sang" Think of Me to the rest of the courtyard, and I forgot a part of the verse when- OF ALL PEOPLE- my future husband Sam yelled at me "We Never Said our Love Was Evergreen, Or As Unchanging As The Sea..."!!!! I finished the song and got a big round of applause. It was very cool, and people like my voice. It was very humbling.

FUN FACT: My Alpha Leader's best friend- a senior in high school- just got out of playing Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at her school. Her name's Sophie, she sounds just like Judy Garland and has been singing a mere 2 years without instruction.

She auditioned for the National Tour one and got a call back! One of the judges was an honorable guest who was friends with Judy Garland, and of all the contestants she could've chose to go through to New York, she chose Sophie!!!! Way cool. Unfortunately, the pop-y, Britney Spears-like contemporary Dorothy prevailed in the end, but still it was cool.

Things are feeling more comfortable and official, and the Lord is really strong in this place. You feel his Constant Goodness everywhere.

P.S. The 80's Party ROCKED. Dr. Hughes just got back from Indonesia and remodeled his "Men's bathroom" and backyard just like an Amazonian Rainforest. I was enthralled by the captivating exotic birds, chickens, chicks, guinea pigs and homely hospitality of his family. In the bathroom's shower, there was even a tank of FISH!

Does anyone remember when I said a sophomore from APU got into Glee? Well, that was his son, Jonathan.

I hope all is well in Oregon. I'm meeting more Oregonians and really like them.