Back to the Bay

Well, it's all over! I am typing this blog from the comfort of my dining room table at home, as opposed to the discomfort of my dorm room desk, and I could not be happier to be home. The sight of fog and the simple fact that I needed a sweatshirt to walk around was enough to tell me, "Welcome back!". It was so nice to see my family welcome me home at the airport and I was pleasantly surprised to see my little cousin, Jackie, waiting to say hey!

I thought I would be a little more sad to leave Cornell, but I think I've just accepted the fact that my time there was amazing and that it's time to get on home. The friends I made were some of the best people that I've ever met, and the class has given me a great basis for all kinds of moral thought. Cornell Summer College was one of the best experiences of my life, but I am very happy to be home.

Tonight's celebration has included picking up my brother, who is currenty living in San Francisco, going out to eat at Round Table Pizza (one of my personal favorites), and coming home to watch a movie as a family.

It's so nice to be back in my element, and I am just going to be happy to lay down in my own bed. Just the idea, honestly, is making me go crazy so I think I'm going to have to make it a reality very soon here.

Like I said, this trip has been the opportunity of a life-time and I am so glad that I got to experience it. Thank you again ILC for everything that you've done, and I have done my best to represent the WCCUSD.

Thank you readers for your loyal support throughout these times, and I will say, for one last time to you, GOOD NIGHT!

With much appreciation,

-Joe Arciniega

Never Say Never

Today (or well, yesterday) was the last day for school.  Yes, the last day.  After that, all was done, finished, it is all over.

I do not know exactly how to feel right now except that I am smiling a lot for no real reason at all.  That's rather strange isn't it?  I would hope that I am smiling about the past few weeks - the places I have been, the things I have done, and the people I have met.

Today, Mark and Reneta wrapped the class up in a nice little bow for all of us with an inspirational lecture about our futures, pretty much telling us to stay on top of our game.  It was a good gesture, especially since the stressful group reports were due at 1 PM that day as well.

So for the last time, I worked as part of my group at the Binenkorp Computer Lab.  We were all stressed out from the past few days of work and there were a few arguments scattered here and there throughout our work time.  Nonetheless, we finished our work, complete and as close to perfect as we could possibly make it, and we turned it in.

Other highlights of the day included bowling with our TA, Gorka, who I have grown to appreciate a lot over the last few weeks.  This led to our attending the talent show, where my friend Leo played a piano duet with our classmate Chris.  Afterwards, Gorka came down to our dorm to say goodbye to us.

Something that has wildly occurred to me today amongst all the goodbyes and the general sadness of the situation is a very simple thing.  I realize that despite the low chances of any of us meeting again, it is not impossible.  For example, my roommate will be in our area soon and we will spend some time together.  Other meet-ups like these are occurring all over the country at this point.

I guess the point is that there is not a point to saying things will not happen.  Because that is extremely far from true.  Just being a part of this program proves that you cannot really say "never say never," and I hope everyone, from doners to students, understand how important this kind of experience really is to a young person.

Maybe I will not see these people again, or do things like these again.  But then, maybe I will.  Being absolute about it makes it seem so boring, does it not?