2009-2010: Seth Larimore

My Final Final (for the semester)

Today is my last day at Norwich before Christmas Break.  I have one final left, Calc, at 1900 tonight.  My other finals went well.  I took my Air Force final in class and turned in a paper for English, but I feel good about my engineering final that I took Thursday and my chem final that I took last night.  So far today, I have cleaned my room for the inspection to check my room out before I leave, and after this, I am going to go study with some friends the rest of the day for our calc test.  Nothing real eventful happens during finals week, everyone does there own thing since there is no classes or corps activities.  Everyone laughs because Norwich is the only school where the freshmen look forward to finals because for this week we get to act almost like regular college students.  We get to sleep whenever, have our doors closed, and do pretty much whatever we want as long as we stay on campus.  I am looking forward to break though.  Tomorrow morning, I am flying to Jacksonville, FL to stay with my aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins for Christmas, we are going to Disney World, so that should be pretty fun.  I'm also looking forward to escaping the usual below zero temps and stay in the 60 to 70 degree weather. Then on the 30th I am flying home to Indiana to see my parents and hang out with my friends.  I also get to have my wisdom teeth out during Christmas break, but I've heard its not too bad as long as you do what the dentist says.  Well, I am going to go study so I pass my exam, I hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Snow

Hello,

So this week we got a lot of snow.  We got about 7 inches or so in a few short hours. With the snow coming, we wear ACU's or Army Combat Uniforms more often because we wear boots rather than with winter B uniforms when we wear black dress shoes that the snow gets in and the salt can ruin the outside.  Also, we can layer stuff better with ACU's to stay warmer as the temperature drops.

This was our last full week of classes for the semester and next Thursday starts finals.  I have already taken my Air Force Studies final and I am getting ready to turn in an English paper as my final, so I will only have three finals for finals week.  Finals week is different in the corps, especially for the freshmen because we will be on our own for dinner and no formations and we can have our doors closed to study.

This week Air Force ROTC had our Dining-In of the fall semester.  It was a lot of fun getting to see how everything worked.  Everyone dressed up in our Norwich Dress Blues and everything was very formal.  We watched a video created by the upperclassmen in the wing that they made based off the TV show 24, it was very funny.  We also had a guest speaker, 1st Lt Heather Cohen, a 2007 graduate of Norwich, who is a nurse in the Air Force.  She spoke about different aspects of Air Force life, focusing on the different opportunities that are offered on deployments that are not always available to do here stateside.

Tonight is also the first of eight nights of Hanukkah and in my platoon, we learned from one of my rook sisters, Pvt. Lishen about Hanukkah.  This was new for many of my rook siblings and she did great on explaining the traditions and background about the holiday.  We now know why there are eight candles, how to play and the traditions of dradle, and gelt.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Two Weeks til Christmas Break

Wow, what a week.  A week of ups and downs, but it flew by, it's hard to believe that it is already 1600 on Sunday.  This next week is the last full week of the semester for classes, so many projects are finishing up and people are starting to study for finals.  This week, I will turn in an English research paper as my final and will be done with that class on Friday, and I take my Air Force studies final on Thursday because they want us to focus on our other finals during finals week.  I will also turn in the final version of my engineering project.  My group of four people designed and analyzed an indoor/outdoor firing range.  It was a pretty cool project and practical because all of us are corps students and there is currently no firing range at Norwich.  The following week will be different from anything we have had before.  Monday will be a regular Monday to make up for Labor Day, but then Tuesday will be a Friday schedule because we missed a Friday for mid semester break. Wednesday will be Reading Day which is a study hall day all day to get ready for finals which begin on Thursday 17 Dec and end on Tuesday 22 Dec.  I am lucky enough to have my last final on the 20th so I will be leaving for my Aunt and Uncle's house in Georgia the morning of the 21st.  Some people are really lucky and get to leave on the 15th if they don't have finals during finals week, which can happen if it is just projects or papers or a professor decides to give a final early.  Some professors don't however and some people may not have any finals until the 21 or 22 meaning they have to stay all that time until their final.

Yesterday I went with my Cross Country team to our Coach's house for our end of the season banquet.  We spent most of the day at our Coach's house, playing kickball in the snow, building a fire, and eating lasagna.  His wife Amy is a very good cook.  We also got our awards.  Most people lettered.  Freshmen and upperclassmen whose first time to letter was this season got a maroon and gold N and their graduation year numerals to put on their jacket.  Upperclassmen who have lettered before get a pin to put on their letter, and freshmen who did not receive a letter, but participated, usually due to an injury got graduation year numerals.  Seniors who have letter 3 or more years also get a Norwich watch.  I only got numerals this year because I was injured about halfway through the season and could not run, but next season, I am coming back and will be injury free.  We have training that we will conduct on our own to prepare for next season.

We also got our first snow to stick last night, we have about an inch or so on the ground, but it has got a lot colder in the past 24 hours.  Well, I am going to go study for a chemistry activity tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Back Home Again In Indiana

Its been three months since I have been home, and its been great.  I got to see friends and family that I haven't seen since before rook arrival day and be a normal person again.  It is weird being home though, some things have changed, but others haven't and it is like being back in high school again.  Sleeping in was great and hanging out with my best friend was pretty cool too.  I don't know how it will be to go back, since this is the longest break we have had since school started, but we only have two weeks of classes and then a week of finals, and then it will be a month for Christmas Break.

This break has been full of things to do, I flew home Saturday, and Saturday and Sunday were pretty quiet, but Monday I went to my high school for a recruiting visit and to see some of my teachers and coaches, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I went into Lafayette(a nearby city) for a doctors appointment and to hang out with friends, and then Thursday, the family came and today, we got our Christmas tree.   When I went to the doctor, I found out I have tendonitis in my right knee which is what kept me from finishing my XC season, and Wed, I went to a physical therapist to learn exercises to fix it.  Tuesday, I went to the mall with one of my friends and my parents said to get what I wanted for my birthday, since we missed it while I was at school.  Wednesday night I got together with some of my friends and went to our high school's basketball game against their in-county rival.  Then we came back to my house after to catch up on life and played Wii.  Thursday was great, seeing my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.  Today was fun too, because we always go and cut a real Christmas tree and this year we didn't know if I would be able to go since I am away at school, but it worked out that we could go today.

I am not really looking forward to going back and doing homework again, but I am ready to get the semester over with, find out if I get an Air Force ROTC scholarship, and go to Georgia for Christmas.  Well, I will let you all know how getting back into the routine is and I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving.

Here are some pictures that one of my friends, Malena, took

 

Sarah, Malena, and Kevin
 

Malena and me
 

Hope and Kevin playing Wii Boxing

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Recognition Night

At 22:33 on the sixteenth day of the eleventh month of the year of our Lord 2009, the class of 2013 was officially recognized as part of the Norwich University Corps of Cadets.

Tonight was a truly motivating night.  Last night we had a fake recognition, where the cadre yelled to put on our Winter B's and get on the wall at 2230, but they said just kidding, and we went back to bed.  Tonight we were at pass down, where we are all on the wall preparing for the next day, and the cadre ran in yelling much like last night, so we got ready and went outside to the UP and formed up.  This time we knew it was real, the upperclassmen were there, yelling to make sure our uniforms were perfect for a night we will never forget.  We were marched down to Plumley Armory.  When we got in, it was completely dark, and you couldn't see a thing.  Once inside, the color guard proceeded to the front and Cadet Colonel Lanz addressed us, telling us we have come a long way in a few short months, but it is still not over and we must continue to strive to become better.  She then asked the upper class-men if we were ready a couple of times and they would yell no, but after two times, they started to tap their rings, after we did push ups.  We were then presented with our new epilets with the Norwich Crest on them, denoting us as privates.  We then did push ups and then marched back to the barracks.

This recognition came with a few privileges and was very exciting.

Well, I need to go to bed because I have to get up really early for PT.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Last Weekend Before Thanksgiving

Hello,

This weekend is the final weekend before Thanksgiving break, for which we have a week off.  It will be nice, this will be the first time I will have been home since I came to Norwich.  I am looking forward to seeing many of my friends and family that I haven't seen now for almost 3 months.  Cross country is officially over for me.  The team is running NCAA regionals in southern Maine today, but I was unable to go because I am still injured. Today is an academic day for the corps, but there is also a conference championship football game, a women's rugby game, and a hockey game.  I am trying to get used to the cold, but its getting harder to adjust as it gets colder. I am currently feeling a little under-the-weather, but I am hoping to get better before I go home.

Last night at the women's hockey game, a group of us from the Air Force detachment flew a romote controlled blimp around the arena inbetween periods.  It was fun, and now that we know it works and all we will start dropping little prizes like coupons for concessions and such.  Not a whole lot else is going on with AFROTC, but I am still working really hard to compete for an express scholarship for electrical engineering.  The Air Force offers express scholarships mostly technical degrees such as engineering, but also for nursing and a few other non-technical degrees.

Classes are good, I don't like chemistry right now, but everything else is good.  My favorite class is aerospace studies which is my AFROTC class.  This semester we are learning about the Air Force as a whole.  We have learned the organization, i.e. MAJCOM, Numbered Air Force, Wing, Group, Squadron, Flight, and uniform standards, pay and benefits, etc. 

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading,

Seth

Time Change

Hello,

So last weekend was the time change when we all set our clocks one hour back.  Back at home in Indiana, it never really bothered me because it was still dark when I got up and got darker a little closer to just after practice.  Here in Vermont where I am still in the eastern time zone, but daylight is about an hour different, it is now light around 0600, but gets dark at 1630(430pm).  It is wierd having practice at 1700, but it seems like midnight with the moon up and no lights on the track.  It also gets a little interesting when we are running in one direction around the track and another group such as rangers is going the other, and niether group can see each other until they nearly run into one another.  The cold is not as bad as I was expecting, well at least not yet.  I am trying to get used to it gradually so that when it is below zero for a while, it won't seem as bad.

Cross country is going well, the men got 2nd and the women got 6th.  We went to Rivier College in Nashua, NH.  I was unable to run because I still am having knee problems, but I am working on getting it fixed so I can train to be ready for next season.

Classes are going well too, this is spring semester registration week.  Freshmen register tomorrow.  I am participating in the new online registration system that the school asked a few advisors to have their students try.  Hopefully it will work this time and the entire school can use it for next year so we can do away with paper registration and the long lines.  Next semester won't be too different, except I don't have to take chemistry, but will be taking engineering programming, and I get to take an elective, so I am going to take logic in the philosophy department to fill the requirement.  I am also taking the general classes such as calc II and english 102, and for my major the second class to intro to engineering and my Air Force ROTC class.

That is about it, everyone is counting down now to Thanksgiving Break which starts in 16 days.  I am very excited because it will be the first time I will have been home since rook arrival day back in August and I will get to see all my friends and family again.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Mid Semester Break!!!

Hello,

This weekend, in addition to being Halloween, is Mid Semester break for Norwich.  It is a nice 3-day weekend about halfway between Parent's Weekend and Thanksgiving.  Most people are going home if they live close, or going home with friends that live close.  I run cross country and this weekend is GNAC at Rivier College in Nashua, NH, so instead of going home, I am staying close to school.  After this weekend there are only 3 weeks until Thanksgiving, when we get a week off and I will go home and get to see my family and friends. 

Classes are going well, we are all registering for next semester's classes next week.  I will be taking more general engineering requirements for the most part, although I get to pick an elective, but I don't know what I will take yet.  The Corps is going well, nothing new is really going on, we are just learning more about it and studying the history out of the Rook Book. 

Well, I have a paper to work on because I have a feeling I won't want to do much homework this weekend.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

Catching Up

Hello,

So last week, I got up I couldn't see the grass because there was snow everywhere.  The weather up here is crazy, I haven't seen snow this early ever.  It has melted away now, but there was a good amount on the ground up until about lunch time.  This week has been much better though because it has been getting into the 50's for highs.  Last week we also had a briefing by the Regimental Commander that outlined what the rook class has to do in order to achieve recognition. 

School has been busy, midterms were last week.  It hard to believe we have been here for eight weeks, sometimes its "Wow, we've only been here 8 weeks."  or "Wow, we've been here that long."  I had midterms in Chem and my Air Force Studies.  Two Sundays ago I also took the AFOQT or Air Force Officer Qualifying Test.  I feel that I did well on it, I studied before I came to school and during school.

We also had the Regimental Ball last weekend. It was really fun, there were displays from the Drill Team and Mountain Cold Weather Company.  Everyone looked good in their dress blues for the guys and dresses for the girls.  Also last weekend we were allowed walking leave into town for a while on Saturday and Sunday.  It was nice, I went in town on Sunday with some of my rook brothers and sisters and had lunch and walked around Depot Square.  Cross Country is still doing good, we have the GNAC race October 31 at Rivier College in Nashua, NH, and it should be a good race.  

 Looking out my window at Jackman Hall

13 Oct 09

 
 09-3-3 Parent's Weekend Banner.

Thanks for reading,

Seth

  
   

A Rainy Day at Norwich

Hello,

This week has been going well, but like all weeks here, it is flying by.  It seems that there are just never enough hours in a day.  Last night was the Junior Ring unveiling where all of the juniors that meet the requirements go in their dress blues to see the ring design for their class.  The way class rings at Norwich work is that one side is the same for every year and the other side is designed by a committee that the class elects.  The Norwich class rings are huge, in Massachusettes, they have to be registered as a weapon because they are so large.  The rings can vary though in size and color depending on the preference of the individual.

Classes are going well, I gave my first presentation in my intro to engineering lab and I think it went well.  Right now we are learning to use AutoCad which is proving to be a bit difficult because the set up of the program is similar to that of the new Microsoft office 2007 where all the commands and settings are located in little groups and represented by symbols, but it will just take getting used to.  I am gearing up for the AFOQT this Sunday.  This test will determine if I am eligible to receive my scholarship as well as be a factor in what type of job I get in the Air Force.  My goal is to get a score high enough to become a pilot and also receive a 3.5 year express scholarship for electrical engineering.

The corps is busy as always.  All of the parades and functions of Alumni Weekend went well and I think that the rooks are doing well in learning about the corps and how to become a cadet.  We are in the process of issuing winter uniforms to everyone which includes the gray long sleeve dress shirt for B uniform, gloves, and we also were issued our dress blues for the Regimental Ball which is coming up in a week and a half.  Cross country is good, the men placed third at the Vermont State Meet and 3 or 4 people got personal best times.  Right now I am trying to figure out what is wrong with my knee though, so I don't know how long I am going to be out.  Hopefully not too long, because I want to finish the season well.  And, cross country has the best captains in the world, even the crazy women's team captain.

I wanted to include pictures of the company banner from parents weekend, but its not working, so hopefully next time.

Well, I have some studying to do and have to go to lunch soon.

Thanks for reading,

Seth