The Week Before Classes Begin at Ball State

The Week Before Classes Begin at Ball State

by River Lin

(FYI - If you want to hear me read this poem, click here)

Tis the week before classes begin at Ball State.

How brave of you all to embrace this new fate!

The bookstores are stacked with new texts and new pens,

new stickers and tickers, new fashions and trends.

T-shirts and sweatshirts and oh, so much more!

Ipads and eBooks and tech-stuff galore!

The streets have been swept

and flowers replaced,

for you we have schlepped

all over this place.

Ah, the week before classes begin at Ball State,

Muncie anticipates floods at our gates.

The workers at Wal-Mart are ready and set

to supply you with all the things you must get.

From make-up and pop-tarts

to TVs and wall charts,

ice cream and donuts and things you don’t need.

The call to get stuff is a call you must heed.

Now Blackboard’s renewed

and classrooms are polished,

New rules, all you dudes!

Now smoking’s abolished!

Yes, the week before classes begin at Ball State

the townspeople cheer, for students, you’re great!

Professors all scurry to finish their plans –

syllabi, projects - so many demands.

We open our doors and dust off our seats.

For you we await; for you our hearts beat.

The city of Muncie –

The city of fun-see

Rebounds like a bungee alive with festivity!

Now, the week before classes begin at Ball State,

we scramble to finish; we cannot be late.

You trickle in from near and from far;

we giggle and grin – oh yeah! Har-Har!

See, the week before classes begin at Ball State

Fun-see rejoices for done is the wait.

You are nervous and scared and glad and delighted.

You shall not be spared; for you we’re excited.

Students are placed and classrooms assigned,

plans have been paced, revised and refined.

We’ve numbered your days, your hours and seconds;

all work and no play – your teachers all beacon.

No play?! You may say.

Of course if you stay

and your dues you do pay,

it’s possible you may,

but still, you should pray.

Oh! The week before classes begin at Ball State,

everyone wonders “will it really be great?”

The answer to this,

the query of bliss

can be found in your heart.

Make sure that you start

with desires to impart

the dreams of your art

in this city of ours.

The week before classes begin at Ball State

We welcome all students to this our shared fate!

Delaware County Fair This Week!

County fairs are a great way to experience local American cultures! Every summer, there are fairs all over the country where people gather to eat really delicious junk food, watch some amazing shows, ride some rides, and observe the products of area farmers. (This means you can see the greatest sheep, goats, rabbits, cows, horses, pigs, and more). In addition, there are many kinds of crafts that children and adults have made during the year.

Click here on the Delaware County Fair link to see more information about what's going on this week in Muncie. The fair is located across from Minnetrista. From the Fair website, you should click on pictures to get a better idea of what to expect. You should also look carefully at the schedule of events to decide when the best time would be for you to visit in order to get the most out of your experience.

Enjoy!!

Dynamite!

Monday's Music Moment

Brought to you by Ms. Lizz!

Taio Cruz - Dynamite

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes

Saying ayo, gotta let go

I wanna celebrate and live my life

Saying ayo, baby, let's go

I came to dance, dance, dance, dance

I hit the floor 'cause that's my plans, plans, plans, plans

I'm wearing all my favorite brands, brands, brands, brands

Give me some space for both my hands, hands, hands, hands

Yeah, yeah

'Cause it goes on and on and on

And it goes on and on and on, yeah

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes

Saying ayo, gotta let go

I wanna celebrate and live my life

Saying ayo, baby, let's go

'Cause we gon' rock this club

We gon' go all night

We gon' light it up

Like it's dynamite

'Cause I told you once

Now I told you twice

We gon' light it up

Like it's dynamite

I came to move, move, move, move

Get out the way of me and my crew, crew, crew, crew

I'm in the club so I'm gonna do, do, do, do

Get out the way of me and my crew, crew, crew, crew

Yeah, yeah

'Cause it goes on and on and on

And it goes on and on and on, yeah

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes

Saying ayo, gotta let go

I wanna celebrate and live my life

Saying ayo, baby, let's go

'Cause we gon' rock this club

We gon' go all night

We gon' light it up

Like it's dynamite

'Cause I told you once

Now I told you twice

We gon' light it up

Like it's dynamite

I'm gonna take it all, I, I'm gonna be the last one standing

High over all light, I'm gonna be the last one landing

'Cause I, I, I believe it

And I, I, I, I just want it all, I just want it all

I'm gonna put my hands in the air

Hands in the air

Put your hands in the air

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes

Saying ayo, gotta let go

I wanna celebrate and live my life

Saying ayo, baby, let's go

'Cause we gon' rock this club

We gon' go all night

We gon' light it up

Like it's dynamite

'Cause I told you once

Now I told you twice

We gon' light it up

Like it's dynamite

Pictures from 7-4-2013

Happy Birthday, America! 

There were lots of international students were there! 

Thank you all for attending! 

I hope you had a great time! 

These are the only pictures I got, but if you have more, please send them to me and I will post more ~

Miss Lizz's beautiful cake!

Aziz and Jia!

America's Home Town Band!

The Pizza Man

 Muncie-ites gathered

Dr. Pimenova and  the girls!

Come Celebrate America's Birthday with Me!!

Happy Birthday, America!!

July 4th is Independence Day - the day America became an independent nation. Every year we celebrate this day by gathering with family friends to enjoy picnics and fireworks.

I hope  you will join me and other IEI teachers and students on the Minnetrista grounds for this year's celebration. Bring friends, family, and something to sit on like a blanket or a chair. If you want, you can bring drinks and food as well.

The fun begins at 8 pm with America's Hometown Band playing live music outdoors.

Then when the sun goes down, the fireworks will begin! The fireworks display happens at Muncie Central High School and they are shot across the river. We will have great seats for the show from the Minnetrista grounds.

Cost is FREE!

How to get there:

          

From the Ball State campus and RB building, go east to Wheeling Rd. At the traffic light there at Wheeling, you will see the entrance into the Minnetrista grounds. Go into the grounds and follow the directions to a parking place. Go to the main Minnestrisa building and you will see a lot of people out on the grass. Walk around the building (follow the sounds of the music) and you will find me. I will have a flag or a balloon or something high in the air so you can easily see me.

What to bring: You do not need to bring anything, but here are some things you might want to bring -

• blanket or chair
• food and/or drinks
• outdoor games
• camera