Things

Kelsey decorated my room while I was in Amsterdam.

Goin' for a zen-don't-stress-about-finals-or-kill-one-of-the-40-people-you-live-with room

Blobe, meditating 

That's my Buddhy Sid

Ommmmmmmmmm

Look mOMMMMMM, I cleaned my room!

Back at UP the required Theology course, World Religions, is being replaced with an Introduction to Christian Doctrine or something. 

Reasons why this is not ridiculous:

-Biblical Traditions is a requirement, and this new course would be a better precursor (or pre-courser...ha)

Reasons why this is ridiculous:

-That class taught me SO much last year, and gave me such a greater appreciation for other faiths and cultures

-An understanding of other religions is critical to comprehending their culture, their literature, political and social motives...basically everything

-A culture's faith reflects what that society values--so much of this information is critical in shaping an accurate world-perspective, valuable in our globally-minded time

-Dropping a World Religions class in favor of Christian Doctrine? That can be seen by, well everyone, as small-minded, and typical of a Catholic school.

-Infinite more reasons

Gahh! So this has sparked some interesting conversation here in Salzburg amongst my friends and I, which led to more conversations about Eastern religions, which has led to Mikayla promising to teach me Tai Chi after break! yay! and now I have a zen room in which to meditate...aka listen to music and not sleep...

MY ROOM IS CLEAN AND CALM

It's snowing here in Salzburg and the Christmas markets are magic

Reading Under a Cruel Star--GAH Communism in Prague

Reading Alphabet vs. The Goddess--GAH really thorough and great thesis

Ready to see my friends and family for the Holidays!

Amsterdam post to come