Last night by dad and I decided to go on a somewhat on-the-fly father-son camping trip. During the many quality breaks in sleeping time I was graced with during the night, I did some deep thinking on the nature of my enjoyment of camping. Continuing with the explanatory pattern of these blog-posts, I will explain (or attempt to explain) my passion for (read: "obsession with") camping. This will be done in bite-sized talking points that relate to our experience last night:
1. Escape. At four o'clock on the last Saturday of 2012, the cold night of winter was rapidly approaching and my dad, my dog Nikki, and I cruised up the dirt road near the Pisgah Forest riding stables. As we rounded a the familiar bend we discovered that our intended camping spot was taken, as well as its backup, presumably by the same group. With a rush of anguish we ventured forth into unknown territory, hoping another camping spot would present itself. As chance would have it, we discovered a spot with no "No Camping" or "Camp Not Here" signs. Upon inspection, it became apparent that we would be its first visitors since at least when the last round of leaves dumped down from the trees and onto the fire pit. In a sense, we were blazing new ground, forced into action by the change of plan and increasing Buckwheat Knob's car camping capacity by 50%. Still, we were well out of ear or even whistle shot of the other group, and no other reasonable campsites existed on the remaining stretch of road to highway 276. We had left the concerns of civilization behind us and the mountain would be just ours. This would be my home for 1/7300 of my young life.
2. Sense of adventure. After establishing camp, we took a quick hike up the Club Gap trail, ducking some power pylons and skirting an area where somebody had apparently gone chainsaw happy on some trees. After less than 20 minutes of hiking we discovered a cave, wet with a stream pouring over it's opening and legitimately the largest I'd ever seen in Pisgah. We discussed panning for gold and the difficulty of creating the logging roads that crisscrossed the mountains around us. After a two mile round trip hike, we arrived back at the campsite in the dark of night and painstakingly built the fire in the biting cold. It really made me appreciate that fact we had a combustion engine attached to a four wheel drive vehicle that could make it back to our warm home in about 40 minutes.
"Imagine being a pioneer, having to do this day in and day out," I asked rhetorically.
3. Food. With the fire's crucial warmth we were able to prepare a dinner in relative comfort. Luckily, the good folks at Bi-Lo had done most of the work for us- two sets of "gourmet" beef patties of bacon "chedda" and "blue and black" (blue cheese and ground pepper). We did hammer out some home-grown sweet potatoes by wrapping them in tinfoil and roasting them in the coals. Despite a melted spatula and a rather crispy exterior on the taters, it was a great meal. The human body's increased demand for heat-giving calories in the chilly outdoors combined with the constant activities of the camp really does lead to a deeper appreciation for life's most basic of needs. Plus, you can't ever go wrong with a dozen soft frosted, post-Christmas clearance cookies.
4. Camaraderie. Or maybe Fellowship. The former sounds distinctly Soviet but I believe it to be the most accurate word to describe the feeling of togetherness folks get while roughing it. The latter is suitable as well, and brings to mind a sort of spiritual vibe that can certainly be felt when the right group of individuals converges on a campfire. My dad and I certainly felt both last night, especially once the night's tasks had been completed and all there was left to do was talk around the campfire. Sometimes, when there is not a forty mph wind blowing through camp that forces you to utilize all four sleeping bags you brought with you, the conversation will extend well into the night even after everyone has retreated to their tents. That is the mark of an extra successful night of fellowship.
5. Dreams. When temperatures are so low that your dog squeezes into the crevice between sleeping areas to stay warm, it becomes difficult to sleep for an extended, or even reasonable, uninterrupted amount of time. For some reason, at least for me, this leads to even more unusual dreams than usual. For example, on this particular night, I dreamed that I had returned to my former middle school to stand in the cafeteria line. However upon arrival at the cash register, instead of numerals on the keypad we used to enter our account numbers, there were pictures of condiments. As in mustard, ketchup, pickles, and even olives, the one food I will not eat. Frantically, I scrambled to translate numerals corresponding to the account number I hadn't thought about in over six years into the language of food pictographs. When I expectedly failed at this, I was graciously given the meal for free. Then my tray disappeared. I don't know what it means.
6. Contrast. The occasional misery and all-around uncomfortableness of camping more than makes up itself in the increased appreciation for the comforts of home. Just like how someone growing up poor finds themselves better with money later in life compared to somebody who has always lived in affluence, the camper knows how easily we have it at home. Don't get me wrong, the experienced camper will eventually acclimate to any discomfort, and at the same time learn how to come prepared for anything. When we woke at 8:30 the next morning from our restless slumber, it was windier than ever and our fire had been blown completely out. We decided to bail without cooking breakfast.
"I wouldn't want to be a pioneer," my dad said as we drove off.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Why Oxford?
Why did I apply for this study abroad program? This innocent looking application question dives into the depths of one's soul and can essentially be answered in one of two ways.
Short answer: Because it's Oxford.
Long answer (copy and pasted from statement of purpose; you don't have to read it to get the gist of this long-overdue post):
"There are a whole host of motivations pushing and pulling me towards studying abroad at Oxford this summer. First off I had hoped to go to an English speaking country. I believe having an obviously firm grasp on the language will enable me to have meaningful and memorable conversations with UK citizens. It will also enable me to absorb more information and utilize the experience to the maximum. As a university community, Oxford serves as a crossroads for diverse groups of people and ideas. This environment of learning and experiential exploring fits in well with my personal outlook, and will help me grow as a student, citizen, and person.
I specifically hoped to go to the UK partly because of its significance as the home of a plurality of my ancestors. This would likely be a great opportunity to do some much-needed genealogy research on the behalf of the Duckett family. Additionally, my cousin participated in a similar program also at In the UK, and convincingly conveyed to me the importance of studying abroad. Moreover, I am extremely awed at the opportunity to study at the second oldest institution of higher learning on Earth. Finally, I have always had an interest in British history and culture, primarily because of hugely important part in American history and culture. The fact that this is NCSU's oldest study abroad program only reinforces the notion that I must go to Oxford.
Studying abroad will enable me to earn six credit hours towards the completion of the University Scholars program. Although though this is the only degree requirement that will be fulfilled by my participation, the courses offered will augment my education greatly. I entered NC State fresh from high school as a 34-credit hour sophomore. I had a paltry six hours or so of required GEP course requirements remaining, and I hastily took care of that my freshman and sophomore year to fulfill the US diversity and interdisciplinary perspectives requirements. As a result, I have not had the impetus to take either an English or history class while in college. Despite dedicating myself to engineering, I consider these disciplines important, even essential, to the University education. This study abroad program would enable me to explore these overlapping subject areas in possibly the most appropriate context imaginable.
As for career plans, I believe studying abroad will give me an important global perspective that should be strongly encouraged in every workplace. The experience of living abroad will help me develop new ideas and perspectives that could help me down the line in the competitive opportunities offered in the Triangle and beyond. As it should be, I am unsure of what exactly I want to do with my life at this point, so I cannot say how my career plans will be affected. Although the courses will not likely strongly impact my future line of work, the entire experience should provide time for me to self-study, meet new people, and gain life direction. This could very well shoot me in a direction I had not considered prior to studying abroad.
Lastly, the wide range of field trips and activities offered on this program fit in well with my influential feelings of wanderlust. I have always been ruggedly independent, and as soon as I gained personal transportation and funds as a teenager I was planning and leading outdoor outings and road trips around the Southeast and beyond. The ability to spend over a month in a foreign country (especially in spite of not having done so before) would be a temporary travel experience peak in the scope of my young life. Finally, throughout these college years I have taken a liking to intellectual exercise and the acquisition of knowledge. I feel that this study abroad opportunity will serve as an intellectual climax of sorts, or maybe simply the start of a whole new chapter of my education."
Alright I may have made that purposely ungodlyly small to discourage you from actually reading the entire thing, but if you did: Thank you, you didn't have to! My point here is to highlight the difference between logical (no spell check, "logical" does not use L's like "llama" does) and emotional decision drivers.
You see the thing is, I didn't necessarily apply to this costly program initially for all the reasons listed in the Bible-esque mass of text above (if you missed it here's a summary: this trip provides positive utility in virtually every notable aspect). No, I applied for the reason not elaborated on in the short answer. Truth is, I mainly applied for the same reason George Mallory climbed Everest: Because it's there. I felt a strange force pulling me to this program starting around the time the informational mass email hit my inbox and building stronger after the information session that I would have missed had I not set a Google Calender reminder. Essentially, deep down, I simply wanted to embrace spontaneity, go across the pond, spend a month in a foreign land at a hugely significant place, and gain some knowledge for nothing but it's own sake. Don't get me wrong, I completely believe all the things I said in that statement, but they evolved slowly as necessary logical justification for my emotional impulse. Had I not been required to make such an explanatory statement, I probably would have done so anyway, mentally, verbally, in similar blog form, or otherwise.
So cheerio! Have fun applying for amazing things and remember the two hemispheres that influence your decision making. Ol' lefty, and Ol' righty.
I'm referring to brains.
Last but not least, a terrible thing happened today. Possibly the most terrible thing in quite some time. Pray for the victims of all sorts from this terrible tragedy.
Short answer: Because it's Oxford.
Long answer (copy and pasted from statement of purpose; you don't have to read it to get the gist of this long-overdue post):
"There are a whole host of motivations pushing and pulling me towards studying abroad at Oxford this summer. First off I had hoped to go to an English speaking country. I believe having an obviously firm grasp on the language will enable me to have meaningful and memorable conversations with UK citizens. It will also enable me to absorb more information and utilize the experience to the maximum. As a university community, Oxford serves as a crossroads for diverse groups of people and ideas. This environment of learning and experiential exploring fits in well with my personal outlook, and will help me grow as a student, citizen, and person.
I specifically hoped to go to the UK partly because of its significance as the home of a plurality of my ancestors. This would likely be a great opportunity to do some much-needed genealogy research on the behalf of the Duckett family. Additionally, my cousin participated in a similar program also at In the UK, and convincingly conveyed to me the importance of studying abroad. Moreover, I am extremely awed at the opportunity to study at the second oldest institution of higher learning on Earth. Finally, I have always had an interest in British history and culture, primarily because of hugely important part in American history and culture. The fact that this is NCSU's oldest study abroad program only reinforces the notion that I must go to Oxford.
Studying abroad will enable me to earn six credit hours towards the completion of the University Scholars program. Although though this is the only degree requirement that will be fulfilled by my participation, the courses offered will augment my education greatly. I entered NC State fresh from high school as a 34-credit hour sophomore. I had a paltry six hours or so of required GEP course requirements remaining, and I hastily took care of that my freshman and sophomore year to fulfill the US diversity and interdisciplinary perspectives requirements. As a result, I have not had the impetus to take either an English or history class while in college. Despite dedicating myself to engineering, I consider these disciplines important, even essential, to the University education. This study abroad program would enable me to explore these overlapping subject areas in possibly the most appropriate context imaginable.
As for career plans, I believe studying abroad will give me an important global perspective that should be strongly encouraged in every workplace. The experience of living abroad will help me develop new ideas and perspectives that could help me down the line in the competitive opportunities offered in the Triangle and beyond. As it should be, I am unsure of what exactly I want to do with my life at this point, so I cannot say how my career plans will be affected. Although the courses will not likely strongly impact my future line of work, the entire experience should provide time for me to self-study, meet new people, and gain life direction. This could very well shoot me in a direction I had not considered prior to studying abroad.
Lastly, the wide range of field trips and activities offered on this program fit in well with my influential feelings of wanderlust. I have always been ruggedly independent, and as soon as I gained personal transportation and funds as a teenager I was planning and leading outdoor outings and road trips around the Southeast and beyond. The ability to spend over a month in a foreign country (especially in spite of not having done so before) would be a temporary travel experience peak in the scope of my young life. Finally, throughout these college years I have taken a liking to intellectual exercise and the acquisition of knowledge. I feel that this study abroad opportunity will serve as an intellectual climax of sorts, or maybe simply the start of a whole new chapter of my education."
Alright I may have made that purposely ungodlyly small to discourage you from actually reading the entire thing, but if you did: Thank you, you didn't have to! My point here is to highlight the difference between logical (no spell check, "logical" does not use L's like "llama" does) and emotional decision drivers.
You see the thing is, I didn't necessarily apply to this costly program initially for all the reasons listed in the Bible-esque mass of text above (if you missed it here's a summary: this trip provides positive utility in virtually every notable aspect). No, I applied for the reason not elaborated on in the short answer. Truth is, I mainly applied for the same reason George Mallory climbed Everest: Because it's there. I felt a strange force pulling me to this program starting around the time the informational mass email hit my inbox and building stronger after the information session that I would have missed had I not set a Google Calender reminder. Essentially, deep down, I simply wanted to embrace spontaneity, go across the pond, spend a month in a foreign land at a hugely significant place, and gain some knowledge for nothing but it's own sake. Don't get me wrong, I completely believe all the things I said in that statement, but they evolved slowly as necessary logical justification for my emotional impulse. Had I not been required to make such an explanatory statement, I probably would have done so anyway, mentally, verbally, in similar blog form, or otherwise.
So cheerio! Have fun applying for amazing things and remember the two hemispheres that influence your decision making. Ol' lefty, and Ol' righty.
I'm referring to brains.
Last but not least, a terrible thing happened today. Possibly the most terrible thing in quite some time. Pray for the victims of all sorts from this terrible tragedy.
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