Jennifer: Update time (aka when I should be sleeping...)

Hey all,

I can't believe we're at midterms already. It is weird to think soon we'll be winding down the school year! Looking back so far it's been a whole lot of fun but certainly some challenges. 3 Ubuntu members have lost one of their grandparents since September and there have been other close calls so we're all getting a little better at learning to be there for each other even in the hard times - cards filled with love, friends taking each others' chores, roommates cleaning, organizing, and doing the other's laundry, or maybe just a hug and some chocolate when you hear a sniffle from around the corner...I think it's little things like that that make a big difference. Personally I'm really bad about death - I never feel like I know what to say or do. I've never lost anyone I've been really close so I feel awkward because I know I don't understand what they're feeling as they grieve. I'm learning that sometimes that's ok. I don't need to have words for everything. Like I've been learning in a couple of my classes around 90% of communication isn't verbal.

Other things you might want to be aware of...Ubuntu ran a fundraiser in coordination with Crush Week (Bren-Dell Hall Asssociation) to help the Haiti Water Project. We made solidarity bracelets out of old red, blue, and white (Haiti's colors) tshirts and lace. We also made ribbons to pin. Thanks to all the seashells my grandma donated for Peace and Justice Christmas we had leftover so attached one to each ribbon. Only after selling these for a week did we find out from Troy Osborne that apparently a shell means your going on a pilgrimage...oops! Hopefully Andie can get on soon and let you know exactly how much money was raised but it was a really good effort. I think we were all surprised by the outpouring of support from the students and staff. We actually had to make extra because we were backordered! Speaking of, thanks to the anonymous t-shirt donors who helped us fill out our order!

By the end of the school year we hope to have created a cookbook made of our favorite recipes to sell as a fundraiser so be on the lookout! It's gonna be great - some highlights - Judah makes pita bread, Kristen just made granola, I tend to make leftover-food baked goods (think pear cookies - who knew?), Jason and Andie don't have recipes but create deliciousness every time, and then there's our dietics major Karla who can't possibly make anything bad! Mmm mmm good :)