beyond the green

Well, the time has finally come: I’ve arrived in Germany for my semester abroad! I am in Wuppertal, a city in the western part of the country. Bethel has had an exchange program with the university here since the 1950’s in which two student from Bethel go to Wuppertal, and two students from Wuppertal go to Bethel. It’s amazing to not only have an opportunity to study abroad, but also participate in such a long-standing tradition.

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Good Friday has come and gone, and Easter is in two days! I can hardly believe it. The Bethel campus has been a buzz with sand volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and happy students basking in the sun. Springtime livens the hearts of those who have been in hibernation during winter, and it calls to the warm breeze of summer.

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So it’s the first of April, and even though this is a day known for pranks and humor, the nice weather we’ve been having this week is no joke. I’m always amazed at how much the seasons and weather in general affect my moods/activities throughout the year. Having been born in the spring has always made me love this season, though I’ve come to appreciate the new leaves and green grass even more than getting presents on the day of my birth as my life has gone on. I notice that I’m usually happier during the spring, which I think may very possibly be directly related to how much exercise I get. It’s so much easier to go for a run or play volleyball with friends if the weather is nice than during our harsh Kansas winters. Sure, I could go to the basement of Memorial Hall and lift weights or run on the treadmills, but it’s just not the same, you know? Something about hearing the pound of my feet on the Bethel trails or feeling the sand of the volleyball pit between my toes just makes me feel more alive. It’s almost as if when the Earth is reborn every year I am too, and that’s a pretty cool feeling. Anyways….

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So this is the first week back from spring break…and nobody can seem to get in ‘class mode’. It may have something to do with the fact that the weather outside is amazing, but it also has a lot to do with that it is the time of year when the academic grind comes in. We have about 2 months left of school so now all of the projects, papers and tests before finals start to pile up. As a student I need to begin to buckle down and get out of spring break mode. This is easier said than done, but it is something I have to do! I have a book report due next week, two tests next week, and a paper. Well, here it goes the craziness of the rest of the year! Bring it on!

Spring break is the ultimate break for many at Bethel College, but the Monday after break is over seems to be one of the unity experiences at Bethel. Today many of the students were so excited to finally be back from their trips, see their peers and faculty members as well as sharing in one another’s stories about their spring break. The excitement and the joy that I have seen on everyone’s faces today is what makes me love Bethel College – because of the fun, warm and loving environment.