Turkey in my future?

Second semester is not quite halfway complete and I've already had four tests and three papers due! Professors are going to make sure that you leave Centre with as much knowledge as possible in four years; neither your time, nor money, nor potential will be wasted. But to be an honest dork, I've already learned a great deal this semester about things that I never would have, such as the advanced military strategy of the Ottomans and the benefits of lateralized consciousness.

One of the benefits of a liberal arts college, such as Centre, is that you have the opportunity to explore many subjects, and professors personally facilitate the development of well-rounded citizens who graduate ready to impact the world. Okay, corniness aside, school is great. I mean I really enjoy downtime with friends on the weekend, but classes are going well.

So I have some big news for you, or at least the possibility of big news: I applied to study abroad in Turkey. Can you imagine that I could be on the other side of the world (practically) for three months? Centre is affiliated with the Global Partners program, which allows students to study during the fall semester somewhere besides the other great programs Centre has around the world (Mexico, France, Ireland, Japan and England).

Currently, I'm taking a class about the Ottoman Empire that's teaching me so much about the historical, religious, and cultural aspects of the area that I might live in next school year. The more I think about the chance to study at Turkish universities in Ankara and Istanbul, the more excited I become! Just think, I could be writing to you next semester from Turkey. I don't know many other students, besides Centre ones, who can say that they studied and lived abroad for a semester. I'm always shocked at how common it is to study abroad for Centre students. It's expected, encouraged, and made financially feasible for all of us.

Oh, I almost forgot: basketball is finally over, or at least for the women's team. The men's team, however, played in the NCAA tournament and beat Capital 69-55 first round. I drove to Wooster, Ohio with some friends for the second round game; it was an amazing road trip despite I-71 freezing over on the way back preventing us from accelerating over 40 mph for more than an hour. Nonetheless, it's unbelievable to think that our guys won the conference tournament and were actually in the big dance (basketball lingo for NCAA tournament).   GO COLONELS!