Week Two: The rubber meets the road
We are in the middle of week two of classes and we definitely are beginning to get an appreciation of the enormous task before us. This first semester keeps us busy with Hebrew (the pace is moving along pretty quickly!) and Greek (participles… yikes!) and four other courses that have extensive reading lists, papers, and exams to prepare for. We are finding that it is a wonderful advantage for Mark and I to be taking the same courses. We are able to drill each other on vobulary, compare notes taken in class, and challenge each other on various theological discussions.
We have also both decided to embrace technology and take notes for our classes (except the languages) on our laptops. Yes, instead of the sound of graphite smoothly adhering to paper, you are more likely to hear a multitude of “clickity, clickity, click” in our classrooms. Unfortunately, the electricity-challenged classrooms have a minimum of outlets, so there are extension cords and power strips criss-crossing the classroom. We also need to be vigilant about backing up… I am nervous about having everything disappear from my computer right before exams.
I am still searching for the best place to study. So far the WORST place is the library. It is FREEZING. Even by male standards. The local Barnes & Noble plays its music too loud. The local Starbucks does not have enough seats. The Westminster Café is a bit too distracting (too many conversations to get involved in). Our apartment (default for evening) tries to distract me with household tasks. So far, my favorite place is one room in Machen Hall. This is the administrative building at WTS. There is one room that is a “student lounge” but the majesty of the building and the beautiful furnishings make it seem like a lobby in a posh hotel. If only the fireplaces were used in winter! Of course, you do have to try to ignore the larger-than-life portraits of former faculty staring down at you.
September 21st, 2004 at 11:06 pm
Your early Christmas present requests should be secondary batteries for the laptops! Tell me what you two have and I’ll pony up for one of them.
September 21st, 2004 at 11:07 pm
That’s J. Gresham Machen brooding over the fireplace. You definitely would not have wanted to hand in a late paper to that guy!
J.G.M. was one of the founders of Westminster (as well as of the Orthodox Presbyterian denomination) and one of the staunchest defenders of the orthodox faith in the 20th century. Despite his stern appearance in his portrait, we have it on good authority that he used to take out his glass eye and hold it through the door in Van Til’s classroom to distract the class. Who says theologians are no fun!
September 21st, 2004 at 11:11 pm
And we also have it on good authority that Van Til was known to throw pieces of chalk at his students. One student returned to class after such an incident wearing a football helmet.
September 22nd, 2004 at 5:04 pm
You blogged! :falloverbackwards:
But seriously, what a posh place to study - although, I’m not sure I’d get much done with the bigwigs staring down at me.
October 22nd, 2004 at 11:19 pm
I believe it was John Murray who had a glass eye. (It could be identified by being the one with a glint of mercy in it, according to one tale.)
October 22nd, 2004 at 11:30 pm
Yes, you are correct. Thanks for noting the error! Mark (my husband) had originally told me it was Machen, but has since been corrected by other students. I was surprised to see someone still commenting on this blog post or I would have edited it earlier!