A Note to the Readers

All my posts that you see on this blog are the unedited scribbles that come directly and honestly from my mind. 

If you wish to contact me, you can reach me at my email andrewsosanya@gmail.com

or follow me on Twitter @AndrewSosanya

You can see my journalistic works on the Benedict News Online Newspaper

Maybe I'll start keeping a blog for myself, but what would I write about?

If I could go to Maumee Valley I would.

I'd like to give thanks to:

Fr.Albert Holtz for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip and have a life-changing experience.

The Network of Complementary Schools for being the framework of my trip. The Network awarded me a $168 travel grant in order to go on this trip. I wouldn't be able to pay for it otherwise.

Gary Boehm for making my trip run through the road without hitting any potholes. Mr.Boehm provided me with a tuxedo for prom as well! 

Dayal House Parents- Amber, Gehtro, Neil, and Seisha. Thank you for letting me become apart of the Dayal House Family. I fit in with the rest of the students like butter because of you guys. Not only were you role models, but you were mentors and friends as well. Not only did you happily suffer through my bad jokes and menial laughter, but you made me feel at home.

Dayal House Students- I was not expecting to live with 27 other international students. I did not know how I would fit in, but it as regular as anywhere else! I happily picked your brains on Asian cultures,society, reasoning and history! I really miss you guys!

MV Students- You guys are as accepting as ever. I felt like I had been a student there for the whole year!

Tara Reineck- As soon as you picked me up from the Detroit Airport, I knew I was going to have a blast. You're one person I know I can confide in.

Oran- It's been a long ride dude. Thanks for helping me with my video!

The Words 'Farewell' Become Redefined

As soon as I stepped onto the pavement of Maumee Valley Country Day School , I knew I was going to miss this place.

I would have never thought that in a house of 27 international strangers that I would get so close to all of them in such a short period of time. It sounds like all I do is lament right?

I spent my final hours reminiscing of the time spent and the time wasted. On Sunday night, I spent most of my time outside, pocketing whatever scenery I could before I would leave at dawn. I sat on the bleached wooden round table, lamenting the fact that I would soon leave this place. I came here for a nice experience--a nice experience which I certainly had.

I had journeyed to the bottom of the sea. Now fascinated with all the exotic creatures I had never seen, I found myself entangled. I was running out of air, yet I did not want to swim back up. The surface world was not for me. So I stayed for as long as I could, trying to hold my breath as long as I could. I fell unconscious and I slowly drifted back to the surface. I woke up back on the land I once belonged and now seemed far gone, but I did not feel at home anymore. Now I think of the sea all the time, thinking when our fated meeting would occur once again.

--
I'm thinking about posting the video on here, but I don't want to before I present it to my school. But I do want the students of Maumee Valley to see it.
--
I did not go to sleep before my flight. I stood up all night on Skype, talking to a person, one who I would dearly miss.

I had exchanged some parting words with my roommate---too few. After everything is over, everyone wishes they could have more time. My conversation on Skype kept my roommate up. But he wasn't angered and he stood up with us.

Soon, light pierced through the windows......

An Ill-Defined Goodbye

Today was the last official school day for seniors at Maumee Valley. It was also mine. Various people have asked me when I was leaving. I sadly had to reply "Monday." But everything has to end sometime right? Whether it be your career in the NBA or your life, it all reaches point Z at some point.

I'm gonna miss a lot of people. I'm leaving just as I got to know most people. I must return to the homeland now, my village needs me.

I spent some time today with people I really like. I wished the day would go on forever.

Anyway, today I did some SQUATS! I am excited because it is my first time actually doing some because I had twisted my knee in late February 2014. TOday's workout session went splendid. I did the Overhead Press [OHP] for the first time. And it was pretty good!

The video is coming along real nicely! I never thought it would turn out the way it did!

A Death in the Family

I was in class. English III to be exact. Right about the time for dismissal, Mohamed, my 'cousin', called me.
"Andrew, I have bad news," he said.
"What?" I said, thinking that it was some extraneous happening.
"Uncle Tunde is dead."
"I'm not in the right place to hear that right now." I said. I did not know of this 'Uncle Tunde' and I was not at the right place at the right time to hear such news. I hung up.

I called back 30 minutes later while I was in my own room.
"[Mohamed], so what were you saying?"
" Uncle Tunde died man, he was in the hospital on Saturday."
"Who is Uncle Tunde again?"
" My mom's brother-in-law"
Immediately I knew who he was talking about. The amicable family friend who went by the name 'Salvador' was now lying down on a sleet of metal in a morgue.

I did not know what to say. I did not know him well, but my parents knew him for decades. I did not know what to feel, seeing that it was the first death I've experienced of anyone moderately close to me. Am I supposed to feel sad? Am I supposed to mourn for the rest of the week? Or was I to continue my day in Ohio like nothing happened?

I called my mother and my dad. It was mind-crushing to deliver the news to my unknowing parents that one of their best friends has just died. To taint an innocuous soul kills the poisoner as well, not in body, but in spirit.

I played basketball right after as if nothing had happened. As if I had tripped and scraped my pinky. When I finally had some thinking time to myself after dinner, I was bounded by the thought of it. What to think?

Haiku

All the time has past,
I wonder where did it go?
I must return home.


I travel the land
Searching for soul filling ways
To quench my purpose.

Warm Winds Go Unnoticed

Today was an ordinary day. I've been reflecting on the fact that I'm leaving in exactly a week. How do I feel? Kinda sad. It feels that I've been here all year already. I should have extended my stay to  four weeks without anyone knowing.....

I don't really know what I'm going to do at school once I get back home. I'm listed under 'Backpacking Commanders' as a Public Relations, but that position has faded away because I haven't been there for the past two weeks. Oh well.

Today I've noticed how beautiful nature can be sometimes. Studying outside has been the most serene experience to date on my trip.

Another thing, I have a multitude of exams early next month. I have to take the Latin, World History, and Mathematics IC SAT II Subject Test. And the only one I've been actively studying for is World History. I'm not particularly good at math, so I'll have to try my hardest! Adding on to that huge load is the ACT test! I did not do too well on the SAT, as I have earned a 1840, a great score,but below average by Dartmouth standards. If I can at least score a 32 on this test, I can confidently aim toward Dartmouth in my ocular.

Weekend Megapost

I can honestly say that I saw this coming. I came into to prom without a date and left with one. I knew that even without an initial plan, going to prom myself would still be fun. That being my first prom, it met my expectations. Pretty much everything about it was good (excluding the music). It was  held in this fancy building and we were on the 27th floor. Everyone was looking beautiful and handsome! There was a casino room, with no real gambling of course. And a picture room!

Before prom, the Dayal House had gone to a Korean Diner called Koreana. I was exactly excited to go, but I'm glad I went. I had this dish called the beef bibimbap,, which consists of white rice topped with sautéed vegetables, marinated meat, hot chili, sesame oil, and other condiments. These ingredients are then all mixed thoroughly along with gochujang, a sweet-spicy soybean-based chili paste. Sometimes bibimbap comes in a sizzling hot stone bowl called a dolsot. (via Blue Apron)

Sunday, the aftermath of prom, I did nothing but go to Starbucks. Ben and I saw a cat-sized rat on the street, which is ironic because I am dissecting a rat tomorrow in biology.

Tomorrow I will give you guys another sneak peek at my upcoming video.

Prom is Tommorow

Well. I've already gotten my tux and my matching shirt and tie. I'm ready to bless souls.

Also, I've filmed the second part of my video. Anybody have any suggestions for what I should do?

A Work In Progress

I've finally started working on my video. In case I didn't explain it before, I am making a video that is gonna detail my time at Maumee Valley. My cameraman Oran Williams and I went to the track to start our montage. We got mostly everything that we wanted. Just have to get a few more shots in and half the sports part will be done!

Prom is in two days! I've gotten a nice tuxedo and I packed a good shirt.

I can't believe its already been 9 days already since I've came. Time goes to fast when your having fun.

Since this post is lacking a bit substance, I'll give a sneak peek at the video.

A Good Day, Yet A Weary One

These Maumee Valley students are used to three hour naps. They stay up doing their homework. They go to sleep at 4:30 AM. Then, they walk into school with a Starbucks coffee in hand and dark circles of death in their eyes.

Fortunately and unfortunately, I cannot live a lifestyle like that. After school, I go to track practice, come back for dinner, and do my homework. I know it's a boring schedule, but I like my sleep. Maybe I can manage it  only because I've only been in a tug-o-war with the Maumee curriculum for a little over a week. The real students have been doing it since Septemember. Some have given up and accepted their fate that lies in the mud. But the strong ones are those who keep their coarse grip,letting their hands blister and bloody until the judgement day of June 4

I wish I had continued to play piano. The high school students had an recital today and I loathed the fact that I wasn't good at any instrument. The numbers of them surprised me. I saw classmates-- who I would never think would involve themselves in anything musical-- up on that very stage. I wanted to be on that stage right with them,

Two days until Prom. I can't find a date. It's either I'm rejecting people or somebody already has a date. Wish me luck.

2400 Meters of Straight Sprinting

The Dayal House has so much sweets that are free to eat at any time. In fact, I did not even have dinner today, I had three sugar cookies. Anyway, my bad eating habits that emerged last week has now backfired on me. Track practice has taken the life out me.

Today, we had 12 200s for out workout. Now, not only is that an absurd number, but I don't think you should be sprinting at such a high velocity that many times. But being the Stoicist I am, I did it anyway. Not only was I tired, I felt broken. I don't usually take naps, but in this case, one was pivotal.

I'm in luck. I decided yesterday to make an announcement to the whole school that I was making a video. Not only did I get a great producer, but that same producer is doing the video for his final project. So you know its going to come out good.

An Unvaried 11th of May

Today was monotonous. Nothing really happened. So today, I'll tell you guys some other things that don't concern my trip. After I got back from the basketball court, my mom called me and told me some good news. I got a 4.0 for the winter semester! I had taken the following finals for the following classes the week before I left Ohio: Latin IV, College Guidance, Religious Instruction, Pre-Calculus, and News Production 2. I am glad, but at the same time I am dissatisfied. I feel like Maumee Valley is on a higher level then what I've been doing for the past three years.

My mom also told me of the Willing Hear Community Care Center Scholarship, which I infer to be closed.

Speaking of scholarships, a few days before I left for Ohio, I was notified that I won the Questbridge scholarship. Now, I didn't get any money, I got some other stuff. But for the real banger, I have to apply a second time in September. I really want to go to Dartmouth, so I have my eyes set on it. My friend Grace is helping me study for the SAT Math I subject test that I have to take on June 6, along with the Latin and World History test. Grace had gotten high scores on the Physics, Math II, and Chemistry tests back in China when she was only 14! She could go straight to college if she wanted to!

Meanwhile, back in New Jersey, I am missing a lot of things. The Scholarship Gala that I was supposed to attend this Thursday will occur without my presence sadly. I am also missing the induction ceremony of the National Honor Society (which I hold the office of PRESIDENT). I am also missing the Benedict News dinner. I miss my highly coveted staff. And I kind of miss Mrs.Connolly's incessant scolding.

Finally Productive

I've been doing my homework that has been given to me by the Mauemee Valley teachers, but I haven't been able to study at all for the SAT subject tests (World History, Latin, Math I) I have to take early next month. Now that it's Sunday, I finally have a chance to catch up.

I've never had a completely free Sunday to do whatever I want. It's a weird feeling. In the mornings, I'm usually singing praises at Metropolitan Baptist Church or doing something school-related. But here I am at 1:56 pm, writing this post and listing to Towkio's new album. Living without a schedule is really foreign to me. I'm kinda understanding what college students mean when they say managing your time is a must. But since I'm doing work my work at Starbucks with some friends,  I guess I'm adhering to that advice just fine.

Later on, I am going to teach my friend Kyrie some of my tactics to getting a fit body. We are heading to the track for a high intensity interval training workout (HIIT). Since Saint Benedict's got a new head coach, I've been sprinting more and working out more efficiently. I've just notice how adept my body has become. After the workout we are going to do a core workout. Might not sound fun, but I need to burn off all the calories from all the sugary sweets and ice cream bars I've devoured the past three days.

We're Gonna Have Us A Champagne Jam

Long lines. Hot weather. Overpriced goods. No, I'm not talking about your favorite tourist spots in New York City or the midnight iPhone release dates, I'm talking about the all too-familiar amusement parks spread across the state, where you take your partner and kids for a fun time and family bonding. But specifically, Maumee Valley has decided to bless the Dayal House with a full day trip to Cedar Point, dubbed  'The Roller Coaster Capital of The World'.

Except that it wasn't a blessing, it was more subtle version of " Here, Johnny go buy yourself some ice-cream and go to the playground while us adults have some fun". Maumee Valley had to kick us off the property because they were holding an auction which included alcohol. Fair reason, but to send us to Ceder Point on their crowd-packed opening day? Merciless. I know I'm over-exaggerating because I did have fun!

I'm not an adrenaline junky--I never was. I wasn't as excited to go on rides nor did I agree with the justification of most of the rides' long lines. I'm the type of person who would only go to an amusement park on a Tuesday, where it is quiet and the wait for the rides are ephemeral. But anyway, I took the roller-coasters with a stoic attitude. I never exactly desired to wait an hour-and-a-half in 90 degree weather only to go 120 miles per hour up a 420 feet tower of steel. I never did. But I did it anyway. What else was there to do. I forgot to mention that we had to depart for Ceder Point at 8 am and return to the house by midnight!

I got to know some people better. One of the kids in the house, Kyrie, really loves basketball and based his English name off of star point guard Kyrie Irving.

Pictured is Ben Wang, Eric Wang, and I

A Party for One...But A Dance For All

On Friday May 9, the Dayal House dorm parents threw a party for a guy named Eric, the dorm's first and only senior to graduate this year. It's a pretty big deal, considering that the Dayal House has only been around two years and a majority of its residents are underclassmen.

We invited a former dorm parent, who left the House to devote some time with his kids, to dj the party. Accompanied by his wife, who is also a former dorm parent, the DJ got the seemingly stale crowd up and moving, something you could not believe until you saw it with your own eyes.

Of course, knowing me, I decided to bless the dance floor with my stylish moves. I didn't know many of the songs played because they were either a mix of house party music or korean music, none of which is often played in New Jersey. Regardless of the sounds, I improvised.

Honestly, this was really one of the best times I've had this year. Even with corny music and horrible dancing, spending time with friends just makes everything better.

Side Note: Today was also Open Gym, which is a day where students participate in 5v5 basketball tournaments. I realized how average I was at basketball today. But it had a familiar taste to it, akin to the Shanley Saints ( the de facto name to the basketball culture of the Shanley Gym at Saint Benedict's).

I Went Skiing Today... Down a Mountain of Homework

The school website stays true to its roots in claiming that Maumee Valley has one of the most rigorous curricula in the area. The work is not hard but it quickly piles up. A teacher assigned me to read two acts of Macbeth, which is a third of the book. I have to read AP prep books for subjects I have no clue about. I have solve AP word problems for I class I have no knowledge about. So you can say everything is going smoothly.

Anyway, it was my first full day of class today. I take 6 classes and a free period: Honors Pre-Calculus(which seems easier my previous pre-calc class), AP Statistics, AP Literature, International Relations ( A modern world history class tied in with politics), English III, and AP Biology (which doesn't seem as convoluted as I thought it would be). All over the halls and seething through the classrooms, is a miasma of stress and anxiety. With AP exams commencing this week and the overall stringent course load of the school, students are really stressing. It's so noticeable. The best will survive, and perhaps, beat the system in a Social Darwinism kind of way.

I know where everything is. With the environment as friendly as it is, its so easy to feel at home. Today I felt like every other student, who had been there for the whole year instead of starting his/her's first day.

I've only been here for about 36 hours and the Dayal House already feels like home. I joke around with my roommate and the other inhabitants like I've known them for months already. I can already tell I am going to miss them when I leave.

The real star player of today was my student aide, Benjamin Wang. Since last evening, he has shown me the ropes. He speaks very good English, but I don't see him all day because he still has to take ESL classes. He bet me that he could beat me in a 200 meter race. Now, I am $5 richer.

How do Maumee Valley Students Get Sleep?

I've infiltrated the Maumee Valley Country Day School curriculum for the past two days now. The mission is bearable, but tedious. With all their work is piling up, why do these students take up so much coursework? They might as well take on school as a full-time 18 hour job, akin to the farmers in the old country. Although teachers assign a plethora of work, the classes are actually really interactive. From solving hard-to-do-why-would-anyone-do-this kind of equations with the whole class to acting out Macbeth in front of the class, learning new things was a fun experience.  I think I've learned a full month's worth of material already.

I'm having trouble finding a prom date. I won't talk too specifically about it, but the girl I met yesterday has been giving me mixed signs. And I have to pick by Sunday. What a struggle.

I have resided in Dayal house for less than 72 hours, but I feel like I've been here for months. I feel like I can bond with whoever I talk to. The four house parents are really friendly and supportive!

I am having trouble with my hair though. Apparently, all of these international students have never heard of an Afro pick. Talk about culture shock. They were really helpful in helping me study for the World History Subject Test that I have to take next month though. I guess it's only natural that they would know their Asian history.

It looks I'm in luck. I had no idea how I was going to get a tuxedo for prom next week, but Head of School Gary Boehm came to the rescue. He is going to let me borrow one of his!

Gary Boehm's office looks so cool. Goals for the future/

It Seems So Surreal

Everything went by so fast. Only ten hours after I woke up, I  can hardly remember the intricate details of what I did today. Anyway, this morning, it was the first time on an airplane that I can actively recall. I'll admit, I was a bit anxious boarding the plane. Every slight twist and turn caused me to prepare for the worst in my cramped economy seat. Other than that, it has been a smooth sail. I met my trip adviser, Ms. Tara Reineck. She's so cool! It's only 5:46 PM (as I'm writing this) but I know for sure that I am going to have a good experience here. The school looks much better than it does on the website. Talking about culture shock , the school is in the woods and there is not a tall building in sight. There is so much diversity. And the Dayal House, the student residential dorm, is full of awesome international students from Asia! I can't say much about the classes yet since I abstained from them for a tour of the school.

Being the eccentric athlete I am, of course I had to step on the basketball court. Let me say this: do not judge anyone by their physique! I had some random student, who looked like he hadn't touched a basketball, rain three-pointers on me like he was Stephen Curry. Then, I proceeded to get blown out by a basketball player 8-1. But it's all about having fun, right guys..? Then came track practice. Since did a hard workout yesterday, I made the mistake of even attempting to complete the hard workout the Maumee Hawks were trying to do. On that note, I can't compete for the Hawks due to Ohio's stringent laws on transfers.

Breakfast at 8:15, lunch at 11:15, and dinner at 6. Wait..what? Yes, you heard me, lunch is at that time. It's gonna feel like I'm in first grade again, but I guess it won't be so bad. I had dinner tonight, but I didn't know what it was. But I'm not picky so to say....so I dug in. A bit bland, but something completely new.

I haven't shared a room with anyone for a prolonged period of time since I was eight years old. But luckily, my roommate Richard  is cool. Sometimes I know what he's saying. but sometimes I don't. I just nod my head and say ' yeah man', He is Chinese and he loves building robots. It's his first time having a roommate. He was more nervous than a boy talking to his first crush. Funny story, the first thing Richard said to me was his explanation that a common word in his language,＂Na Ge＂（那个) ( meaning that/that one)  sounds like the N-word. I couldn't contain my laughter. Is this the first thing people think? I love Richard already, such a funny character.

I can't wait for the adventures I'm going to have during these 20 days. My following posts will have much more substance. Thanks for reading!