Finding Friends and Frost on FOO!

Author: Matthew Klein

I just came to the terrifying realization that I am now a sophomore in college. Almost one year ago, I arrived at Middlebury for Feb orientation expecting little more than tacky name games and teamwork exercises. Name games, I knew, wouldn't help me remember anyone's name — in fact, to this day, I cannot remember each Feb's name in my group — so I figured I would just have to endure the "usual" orientation activities.

Actually, I did not hate orientation. In fact, towards the end of J-term this year, I was jealous of the incoming Febs because they would experience the same wonderful orientation I experienced, and a great number of them would be fortunate enough to brave the Vermont winter weather through the February Outdoor Orientation! (or FOO!. denoted with the exclamation mark) program.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the square dance, the elaborately catered meals and free food at The Grille, the FOO! trip was the pinnacle of my experience. I remember everyone's name from that trip, and the mental images of it remain clear. FOO! is unique in that it is entirely student-run. It is coordinated this year by Mandy Walker '02.5 and Eric Skovsted '02.5, and group leaders are predominantly sophomore Febs. Most people who went on a FOO! trip agree that it was the most memorable aspect of their orientation.

FOO! certainly isn't for everyone since it does take place in February. But for those willing to dismiss the subzero mountain temperatures and relentless wind, the FOO! program is truly rewarding. While great bonding takes place during September orientation, FOO! incorporates the natural beauty and isolation of the outdoors with a close group of new friends in a way that a square dance cannot.

For two days my group snowshoed through the hills surrounding the Snow Bowl, basking in the silence and beauty. My first week of college had been fairly uneventful, aside from the shock of having more homework than ever before. After all those advanced placement classes in high school, everyone had told me college would be easy! FOO! gave us time to reflect on our academic, athletic and orientation experiences. It also was the perfect time to shed our serious college faces and roll and wrestle in the snow.

We compared high school experiences. We told the stories of our semesters away from school. We snowshoed all day and were asleep shortly after dark. There was really little discussion about academics, but rather our discussion centered around what we hoped to get out of college. For the first time, I saw college as more than a purely academic institution.

I sincerely hope this year's Febs enjoy FOO! as much as I did, and will let themselves fall in love with the outdoors. I also hope that they realize that the Middlebury Mountain Club offers gear, free of charge, to students who wish to take advantage of the splendor surrounding us — check the Mountain Club board in the mailroom of McCullough for information on equipment and trips.

In the end, my FOO! friends and the trip itself were responsible for my realization that there is more to college than classes and grades. It allowed me to see past the academic portion of college and to realize that, at any time, relief can be found outside in the snow.