Intro

I started this blog as a way of easily keeping in touch with friends around the country and around the world with whom it may be nearly impossible to maintain contact for various reasons, while at college. It will also serve as a journal for me, when I (God willing) graduate, to look back on my time here, especially since I type much faster than I write. I would like to post every day but I know it's not realistic, so check back every few days for updates, if you're interested.

The name of my blog is a dedication to my amazing GOYAns of last year at Dormition of the Theotokos (my home parish) in Aliquippa, PA. They named me superman for whatever reason (not sure that I'm really that super, but I'm going with it), and then added an "oli" on the end to make it Super Manoli haha.

I moved on campus on Saturday, midday, and went to the weekend's services - Vespers, Orthros, Liturgy - here on campus. Sunday afternoon we left for a retreat at the Metropolis of Boston's camp in New Hampshire, sponsored by the Office of Vocation and Ministry (OVM). It was a good time...we prayed, had a campfire, talked, hung out, discussed stuff, took a hike and went lake swimming - all in 24 hours. We got back today around 6pm-ish.

I'm exhausted right now because I stayed up talking last night with Sebastian, who was my roommate at the Retreat. The Hellenic College dorm rooms are singles, but at the Retreat it was a hotel-like setup with two double beds (we each got a whole one to ourself). Sebastian and I didn't know each other well so we stayed up talking about many different topics, until about 2:30...I woke up at 7:23 this morning and I am exhausted. I also am getting up to go running at 7 tomorrow, so I'm waking up at 6:40.

One last quick tidbit...we had a "Boston T-Party" tonight, where we rode the T (the Boston Subway) and became familiar with it and its various lines that go to various parts of the city. I was with a group that went to the Harvard area of Boston...we took a walk in Harvard Yard and I got a piece of chocolate cheesecake at a nearby bookstore/cafe. We met Frankie J, this black guy from the Caribbean with a cool accent. We hung out with him a little bit as he played reggae music on his guitar. It was really awesome.

Clarification: Only the new students are here now. A few upperclassmen can be seen wandering around, for various reasons, but the campus is by no means full. Everyone else arrives Thursday. I have made friends with just about everyone that's here so far (college and grad students) and have thoroughly enjoyed the first three days here :)

On a side note, unfortunately, I have noticed a few cliques develop within our class. I have also "clicked" with several people, among whom are Theodosi, Gabriel and Sophia, whom I knew before coming to Hellenic. A goal I want to set, though, is to not make the "click" a "clique" and only hang out with the same people all the time. I HAVE FOUR YEARS HERE, DUDE! I can spend as MUCH time with them as I want, but NOT exclude the others...I want to establish deep friendships with all my class- and school-mates and not just a few.

PS - EVERYTHING we do is OPTIONAL (except the OVM Orientation retreat)...this is college, dude! They can't make us do anything...I voluntarily went on the T-Party but I very well could have stayed back on campus. Not being a "seminarian," I don't HAVE to go to church. I don't HAVE to be at meals at a certain time, and I don't HAVE to go to bed at a certain hour. This will take a bit of getting used to, as I am used to high school/GOYA/church events that have a structure and a chaperon has to know your every move :P