Steven Jensen

Recognition

Walking through campus, there were at least five different rumors about when Recognition was. A lot of people said Saturday, because making it on Saturday would give everyone Sunday to screw around with their new freedoms. Some said Sunday night for whatever reasons. Others said Monday because the Rookbook states March 5. And lastly, the cadet colonel said March 7...Wednesday...which was too far away for me to sit down and contemplate how much longer I still had to wait.

I crawled into bed...dead-sore from the Culminating Event...which by the way was awesome. My platoon was as good a team as everyone else out there, of all teams in the ENTIRE WORLD! We worked together, joked around, helped each other out, and managed to beat a lot of other platoons (especially one of the platoons in my company that we always found pleasure in beating). Other than that, the name of the event pays homage to the culmination of our platoon's improvements and successes. I remember on August 21 I was an individual.

Anyway, I went straight to bed after lights out. We watched all of 28 Days Later before hand. A bit of a weird movie. I looked around the room...everyone had their B's dressed. Haha, because we were expecting a fake Recognition. 

Screaming, door banging, ripping door cards...marching...telling us we don't deserve to be Recognized...too slow...into the darkness of Plumley...upperclassmen on the track...Colonel Dibastiani asking them if we were ready..."NOOOOO!!!!" they screamed...we did pushups...twice...before they said "YESSSS!!!!"...I never felt so relieved...and just as my roommate and I discussed last night, Recognition hasn't hit us yet. 

I don't know what will happen next. Something tells me it'll be hard to keep my Rook buddies together. Other things tell me I'll have more fun and more time to focus on my studies (but I'm pretty sure everyone says they'll have more time to do homework and it never works out.) I'll figure out a way. 

until next time

Very Short

There's only two weeks. We all say Recognition is on March 5th, but we really don't know. Some are anxious, others are "eh." I can't decide what I want more right now: Recognition or Spring Break. Weeks are going by fast. I'm applying to a lot of internships for the summer. I also applied to the Washington Semester Program for Spring 2013. 

Our Staff Sergeants are telling us that after Recognition, we're all going to form little cliques in the platoon and disperse. That's true, and totally fine. Most of my Rookdom memories are about the things I did with my Rook buddies, and not with my SSGs or for them or about the life of a Rook. What's going to happen is that I'm going to leave for home in May or to whatever internship I might get and I'm going to miss doing dumb stuff with good people like my Rook buddies. 

Sledding

The Winter Carnival was yesterday. My roommate and I turned in our ID cards and rented sleds. One yellow, one black. We found the steepest hill at the base of Paine...mostly dominated by shrubbery and ice. It was a difficult climb for such a hill that wasn't too high up. It began on an easy slope at the top, but as it sloped downwards, the terrain would get iceier and the hill would get steeper. 

Seconds before we were about to launch, a cameraman is seen running from the firepit to the base of Paine. Why??? We look at each other and can instantly tell that he would take more pictures of us crashing than sledding. I counted down. Three...two...one. GO! We both launched. Hard, icy snow immediately washed my face. I couldn't see to save my life. I didn't even know where my roommate was. The sled was going so fast. Just as the hill switched its slope to "steeper," the sled suddenly dropped and crashed into the ice and rolled a quarter of the hill down. I somehow flipped over and slide on my back the rest of the way. 

My roommate was in a ditch. Without hesitation, and without us making sure we were all right, we grabbed out sleds and ran back to the shed where we rented them. My hands were violently cold and stinging...my back was icy hot...and I couldn't feel my cheeks. 

We entered the shed and stood there talking about how much our lives were in danger in those ten seconds of sledding. He told me that if he hadn't crashed on his own, he would've run straight into the trees. 

I looked myself over. My back is scratched up and red. My hands are struggling to find more blood to fill it up. 

Although this winter hasn't been such a great one, our little sledding incident was definitely a highlight of it. Even though spome sledding enthusiasts wouldn't call our sledding crash a cool one, it was still something my roommate and I would probably do over and over again...if we were properly dressed. 

Champs

One of the things I hate the most is when it snows and then it rains. It's a damper. I love snow, not necessarily the cold, but the snow. But when it rains, and it freezes over night, us recruits and cadets have to take on a new form of sailing...sailing across seas of ice. You have to glide your feet one in front of the other and manuever your body weight to adjust to the tiny hills. On most occasions, though, the mornings tend to be really beautiful. Cloudless, sunny, and glistening snow. 

Last Sunday, I think, I went on the Green Mountain Experience. It snowed that day, and then the rest of it was sunny. I took up skiing. I had never skiied or snowboarded in my life. The lessons offered some help in that matter, the rest of it was a matter of learning, watching, and crashing. In the end, skiing seemed to be a matter of swerving and adjusting your body. However, it was hella difficult keeping the skiis straight. 

Week of academics. Lately, I've been intensively working on applying to interships and getting stuff done in that matter. Internships will play a big role in job searching in the future. 

I SAID "MATTER" SO MANY TIMES. 

This weeked. Every year, they host something called "The Penguin Plunge" in Lake Champlain. Waves, as the spectators call the groups of contestants, approach the lake front and dive in for about a minute or so. The event raises money for the Special Olympics in Vermont. I volunteered. Me and a few other Norwich students volunteered for such things as traffic control, lakefront security, escorts, etc. My job was to direct the groups to the lakefront and back. The entire crowd, and all of the contestants, were the most energized people I've ever seen in Vermont. Some girls wore bikinis, some guys wore hardly anything, some wore costumes, and others carried signs to deliver messages (Occupy Champlain). In the end, the Norwich students who volunteered gathered into a formation. The cadet who organized our volunteer party marched us to the lakefront. We did some motivating pushups, and some of those "One for this and that" pushup holding things, and then we dove into the water. I could lances of pain shoot through my leg, as I got deeper, I really didn't want to take it anymore. We were in and out in about twenty seconds. Nonetheless, it was a great experience. 

I'm in my room eating Schoko-Butterkeks, waiting for breakfast. Etc. 

Snowwhoa

It's been awhile since I've been on the site to type up a blog. This will be short, though, because I'm busy. My winter break marked the end of a long four-month march through the basics of Rookdom, and it marked the beginning of a new four months of part Rookdom-part recognized Cadet. I went home, slothed around, and came back. It was just like that. 

This first week has been busy with getting acclimated back to Norwich, to the weather, to the lifestyle, and to the daily routine. As for the weather, I'm rather excited. I'm the kind of person who would rather live in an area that recieves good snowfall every winter, and then have a mild summer. However, I didn't expect cold like this. Back home, over break, we had windstorms that began at America's East Coast and then ravaged across the Atlantic. 

The Cadre have definitely taken on a new atmosphere of training. We've passed the part of training that disciplined us through room inspections, recruit life, etc. Now, we're focusing on leadership by assigning squad leaders, planning our own events, and marching the platoon. Some of it is fun, and if looked at in a certain perspective, we have a lot of freedom on our hands to manage our own platoon. 

Other than that, I'm taking things step by step, as had been said by numerous cadets in the past. 

My countdown says: 7 days, 15 hours, 49 mins, and 15 secs

I have a little over a week left before I arrive home on the 20th. This last week marked the last full week of academics. Last Tuesday was the Air Force Dining-In. It was classy. We did everything by the book, and conducted ourselves with the utmost respect. What else could we do? Everyone was there. Col Van Arnam, President Schneider, and a bunch of high-ranking Air Force members. For the first thirty minutes to an hour, my Rook buddy and I walked around in search of food and people to talk to. And then, we sat down for dinner. After that: dessert. And finally, a speech by a Norwich graduate. 

Much of the night was funny: Mr. Vice and Mr. President bickered back and forth. Mr. Vice often took people with him to the grog bowl by declaring wingmen or embarrassing people with stories of the past. Others called for a point of order with Mr. President to send unsuspecting victims to the grog bowl. It was an enjoyable break from Rookdom. 

Yesterday, we attended our Rook sister's football game. Army vs. Navy. The Army won the game by a marginal difference. However, during the actual Army vs. Navy football game, the Army failed to sink the Navy for the Navy won by six points. So much for the Goatbusters. 

Today's Sunday. We have two more academic days, and then the week of finals. We're told to do three things as much as possible over finals week: sleep, eat, and study. 

War

This entire week has been a blow. From day Monday to day Friday, a long line of pathetic, revealing, and pyrectic events occured. I can't really get into detail, but all this week has proved how much a platoon should work together to face a challenge. It's safe to say the platoon has recovered with the help of a few people within the platoon fixing themselves. 

Other than that, it's getting colder! Some high-ranking C/NCO just recently said, "Wow, it's starting to feel like December!" My last PT session is tomorrow, and then the Air Force Dining-In is on Tuesday. The Dining-In's going to be neat. A preliminary to the Holiday Dinner, which occurs on the last day of academics for the semester. After that is a week of exams. I have a few take-homes and one or two written exams. Finally, on December 19, I can leave. Go home. To Germany. For the first time in nearly four months. It's a lot longer than the words aesthetically suggest. 

 

Thanksgiving Week Interview

I’ll be taking your questions now. Please maintain high intelligence quotients when asking your questions. Please keep your questions weathered and precise. Speculation, theorizing, or suggested actualities when not apparently said by the answerer will be met with harsh resistance

 I’ll take your questions now!

You, sir. The one in black!

 “Yes! That’s me. Based upon the idea of Thanksgiving, which is primarily all about buying and eating animals in excessive amounts, what plans do you have under your belt for the holiday?”

            “Based upon the statistics gathered by our intelligence analysts, it’s been concluded that the average thankful American devours more turkey than any other animal devours another animal. Unfortunately, the turkey population decreases significantly during this holiday, however this has no effect on progressing the potential Malthusian Catastrophe. I’ve concentrated a significant amount of resources to locating and acquiring turkey for my holiday dinner.”

 YOU!

“What other kinds of devourables do you have in line? Unless, of course, you eat in accordance with a specific algorithm or geometric design.”

            “Personally, in accordance with my desires and preferences, I accordingly align my dishes in accordance with the design of Pascal’s Triangle. I thoroughly enjoy mashed potatoes and turkey mixed together.”

 The one with the glasses.

“Um…um…Jensen, sir…uh…Mr. Jensen. It’s come to our immediate attention that through life and death, you’ve tactically acquired liquids of unapproachable circumstances? To further my reckoning and historical incredibility, please name all of them.”

            “That’s classified information until further notice.”

 And you, ma’am…sir!

“That’s incredible, sir!”

            “In the 1600s, a Thanksgiving Dinner’s volume was often determined by the sequential progression of the seasons. An endearing harvest would invigorate the Pilgrims to supplement their lank corporeal images with more food.”

 Guys, guys, we’re getting off-topic here. You sir…ma’am!

“Hello. I have a question.

            “I know.”

“Describe to me the magnitude of this Thanksgiving Dinner, in detail. I require detail.”

            “My Thanksgiving Dinner does more than encompass the simple audacities and exemplified and much-practiced austerities of thankful Americans. We go above and beyond. We deliver shock and much awe to the Third Circle of Hell. Bigger turkey, creamier mashed potatoes, longer green beans, and fatter pies! It’s chillifying!”

 Ugh! The one with the notepad and pen!

“Fiscal management has become a big concern for many Americans. How have you fiscally-saved for your Thanksgiving Dinner?”

            “I haven’t. That’s a speculation. Please leave.”

 Next question. Please keep it necessary and able to be answered without me exercising any degree of sarcasm.

            “Hey, haha, bro, ugh, question here. Will…will…you begin decorating your dorm with Christmas decorations? Because…I bet…bet you know we’re all waiting for that kind of knowledge coming from you…you know…knowing, you know, we are all curious about how you plan on decorating your…your…you know, dorm.”

“That’s classified.”

            “Well…hey, hey! Wait! Haha, ugh…will you have any green, red, or ugh…purple…blue…in your…to color your dorm? Any colors to green your dorm? I mean, you know.”

“That’s classified.”

 You…the one who’s standing.

            “Um, what’s the price of a typical Thanksgiving dinner? Yours in particular.”

“The average thankful American spends more than what some Americans spend for a lesser meal. Meaning, if more Americans would spend less money for a meal of lesser quantity of the average meal, then we’d have more food to go around for a Thanksgiving Dinner. All in all, I spend more for food on this day than I ever do in the year, including the year with a lesser amount of days…Leap Year. But, I decline to give you a specific amount.”

 Oh my god.

            “Ugh, hey, hey. Question here. Will…will, ugh, based on your strategic anaylizations, will you be buying a fake or real Christmas tree? Just wondering. Will you be fake or real…buying one tree? That’s a good question, right?”

            “Listen here, son. You and your insatiably unvaried and gluttonous questions are done here. Christmas is another story and nearly four weeks away. Please, keep your questions within the acceptable margins of reason.”

 You with the nose!

            “Yes, hi. How are you preparing for the trek to Christmas? Has Thanksgiving helped you?”

“Thanksgiving has given me the opportunity to allocate as much resources as possible to keeping my battery full for the next four grueling weeks. I will emerge victorious on the fourth week as I conquer the airport terminals and fight patriotically and valorously for seats on the airplanes. I will triumph in the face of bewilderment and monotonous humdrums.”

 

Week Before Thanksgiving

It's the week before Thanksgiving, and now what? "Oh it's only one more week until Thanksgiving." NO! It's not! It's a year! It's the last homestretch before Thanksgiving Break, and by no means is it just a week. I'd have to wake up on the Thursday of next week to realize how close Thanksgiving is. 

As for my plans, I'm going to visit my Aunt in New Jersey. She's probably the most hospitable person in the world, so I'll be happy there. A longer break, so I've got one of two things to do: relax or do everything. I'd like to relax and have a good Thanksgiving dinner there. I can't wait. 

This week was like any other week. In fact, I hardly remember any of it. I don't remember any of it. Which means that while I write this I'll probably forget something that might be important or insightful, but oh well. 

The week started with Monday, and ran into Tuesday. On Tuesday, for Air Force Lead Lab, we played dodgeball. I don't know why, but then again, I don't care why. It was fun and my flight nearly won. We got second, I think. 

Tuesday dove into Wednesday, and then into Thursday, and alas into Friday. Saturday was the most eventful day of the week. To start it off, we all thought we were getting privileges until we figured out it happens on Tuesday. So, that's something to look forward to. And then, halfway through the day, our platoon played flag football in Shapiro. We won against a platoon in fourth company, but then lost against the platoon down the hall from us. Ah...we worked hard. After that, our Cadre took us to play volleyball. Since the competition was ourselves, it was okay for us to kind of suck. And then our Staff Sergeants took one team or the other, and I had a feeling the Staff Sergeant on my team kind of regretted it. Ah. After that, myself and a few other of my platoon buddies attended a barbecue hosted by the club we're in: International Studies Society (speaking of which, the whole point of the club is to give the students oppurtunites to become involved and expand our horizons). While sitting by the fire pit, we all talked and reminisced and complained. It was a good way to cap off another rough week. 

So be it. 

Week at a Glance

    Most precariously, I entered a dangerous crowd with my platoon buddies and just danced. I did intentionally push people...so, that was fun. 

    Regi Ball Weekend seemed like two minutes long, but I used those two minutes to enjoy time with the platoon as much as possible...even if it meant eating cookies and talking about how much we don't like to dance during a dance.

    Speaking of which, the cookies were good. My sore and aching sweet tooth was eradicated that weekend. 

    Anyway, it snowed that weekend. It didn't snow incredibly hard, but we got the gist of a northeastern snowstorm that supposedly damaged many parts of New York and Pennsylvania. My Aunt in New Jersey told my family that all sorts of things were damaged, like power and water. Like Hurricane Irene, we got some of it, but managed to escape the brunt of it. 

      Either way, I enjoy snow, and first snowfalls were one of my most fondest memories as a lil' kid. ...And then it will get to the point where I wish it didn't snow anymore. I bet you. 

    After the exciting and relaxing Regi Ball Weekend, there was another week of academics. The same old stuff. I got a good schedule set up for next semester, so I'm excited about some of these new classes. I think I'm excited. They don't sound interesting, but I like the change of pace. Maybe I'll be able to top German off this semester and head into Chinese next year. It might be advisable to try and get two foreign languages under my belt. But I imagine it'll be difficult. 

    Regi Room inspection was...I don't even remember it happening. 

    This Saturday, we had our culminating event for Rookie Basic. It was a lot of PT. Mainly PT, and a few sessions of Rook knowledge and a knockout tournament. It included some races...setting up a closet and making a bed...running...climbing up Mt. Payne...pushing a small truck...and what not. It was fun to some degree, but what was really motivating was how cohesive we acted as a platoon during these events. 

    Last night, a cadre member woke us up, told us to get into our B's, and said we were getting recognized. None of us felt energized about it...it wasn't like anyone got on the wall and felt deep down inside, "Oh, crap, this can't be happening!" We went to bed disappointed that we had to dress into our uniforms for something we knew wouldn't happen for a very long time.

    Oh man, I can't wait for Thanksgiving to roll around. But I'm still not going home. I've got another month and a half.