I love being home. As I sit here writing this post, I realize that this is the first time I’ve opened my laptop this entire weekend. Break is a time to enjoy time with family and friends, and that’s just what I’ve been doing. I’ve rarely looked at my phone either. At Midd, my laptop is a necessity for homework and other modes of procrastination. My phone is necessary to communicate meals with friends, homework meet-ups among other things. Being home has made me realize just how relaxing it is to be without technology (flashback to the media fast). Anyways, I hope everyone is enjoying their breaks and I look forward to seeing you all!

I am embarrassed to say I did not make it successfully through the media fast. I lasted a solid 15 hours but couldn’t find it in me to make it the full 24. I began my fast at 11Pm Saturday night. It was great to be with the basketball team and feel like I was fully present in the moment with them. We sang karaoke at the grille (killed it I might add) and I could not have been more thrilled that I didn’t have my phone attached to me. I woke up Sunday morning and did all the reading homework I could do. 4PM hit and my anxiety got the best of me. With my political science paper due Tuesday, I didn’t think it was the smartest idea to leave it all for Monday night.  I was most surprised by  how little I missed my phone. I thought if I wasn’t going to make it through the fast it was going to be because I needed my phone. I felt free when I didn’t have my phone. It was nice feeling that I wasn’t constantly accessible to people. Without this paper looming over my head would I have made it the full 24 hours? It is tough to say. I like to think I would have but who really knows. This experiment made me realize we need to set aside more time without technology. Maybe not a full 24 hours, but even just a couple hours can make a huge difference.

This might just be the most random post to date but has anyone else noticed the squirrels here? I am taken back every time I walk by one. Now I realize I am from New Jersey so the squirrels should not be that much different here. However, the behavior between Vermont and New Jersey squirrels are totally different. If you go within ten feet of a squirrel in New Jersey, they frantically run the other direction. Here, my foot will be inches within a squirrel and it doesn’t seem to be phased in the least. In fact, it doesn’t seem to even notice me. Is this just me? Can someone please confirm or deny whether these squirrels are as audacious as they appear to be to me?

On Sunday, I decided to take a drive down to Rutland with my parents (who were here visiting for the weekend) to go to the Verizon store. My iPhone 4s had been freezing so I figured now was the time to upgrade. We arrive and they tell us it would be a 45 minute wait. Fine. 45 minutes turns into an hour. An hour turns into an hour and 10 minutes. Finally, my name is called. The employee helping me is extremely nice, explaining the various options I have to upgrade to. I decide on the iPhone 5c. The 5c is a new addition to the 5 generation. The only difference between the 5c and the 5 is that it has a colored backing. I pick the baby blue one and wait for my contacts and such to be transferred over. The employee tells me everything from my 4s seems to be backed up on the iCloud so transfer will be quick and easy. She proceeds to erase the contents of my iPhone 4s. Bad idea. I watch as the contacts on my 5c are all of my mom’s contacts, including email addresses from her three emails. I immediately inform the woman of the mistake and she tells me that my contacts are coming in, but it will just take time. I leave the store feeling very unsure.

Arriving back at Middlebury, my parents and I both came to the conclusion that my contacts were not in fact going to come in. We then took matters into our own hands. I call Verizon and my mom calls Apple. By some miracle, Apple was able to restore my contacts and send them to my phone. As you can imagine I was extremely thrilled. Looking past my stressful day at Verizon, I am loving the 5c. It is so light and durable, I sometimes forget I am carrying my phone at all. 

For months leading up to leaving for Middlebury, people told me that college was the time to become an adult. To mature emotionally, mentally, and physically in ways that I did not think possible. The time to find out the most about myself. I would smile and nod politely when someone would give me this speech and would ultimately go in one ear and out the other. It wasn’t until I actually got here that I suddenly understood what they meant. What does it mean to be an adult? When do you actually start becoming one? These have been questions I have struggled with in my first few weeks here at Middlebury. Sure, I can physically take care of myself. Do my laundry. Feed myself when needed. But what does it mean emotionally to become an adult? Without a question, emotionally becoming an adult takes time. Yet when it happens, do you feel the change inside of you? Will the close bonds I have with my family change as a result?I guess time will only tell.

Kerri

I remember receiving my first ever cell phone. A bright red, slim Krzr. What would most kids that age have done? Most likely texted every person they have met or tried to find cool games. Not me. I got the phone and simply threw it in a drawer in my kitchen, powered off, where it stayed for weeks. Texts from friends would come in but they would go unanswered. I didn’t feel the need to be tied down to this device. How I wish I could go back to that point. I am attached to my phone now. I relish in the times when I can simply throw it on my bed and walk away from it for hours. Knowing I am always accessible is annoying, frustrating, and wonderful all at the same time. I think I need to start setting aside times for myself when I am completely technology free. My inner 7th grader is still there and I need to take advantage of her.

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