This article was originally published prior to June 2, 2013. Due to a change in the content management systems, the initial publication date in not available. 

I may not have taken an interterm in January, but I personally think I should get credit for learning one of the biggest life lessons I’ve picked up on during my time at Baker.

I am fully capable of surviving days, weeks even, without Facebook.

I also learned how expensive one interterm at Baker without a computer can be.

Due to some sort of unfortunate malfunction with my USB port, which left me without a printer or any new music on my IPOD for an entire semester, I took my computer in to get fixed.

It was during those two and a half weeks that I realized just how much I rely on my computer. The information, the entertainment, the practical use. I missed all of it.

It didn’t help that all of my friends were either traveling, working or taking a class.

At first I didn’t quite know what to do with myself. I was near comatose. I caught up on sleep after about three days, and spent the rest of my time staring at really, really bad reality TV

After a few days, I finally braved the cold and left my apartment. Luckily, since this is Kansas, it wasn’t too cold outside. I stocked up on things that I thought might entertain me.

Three puzzles, five novels and about $50 later, I started to enjoy myself. <br/>    After assembling a lovely puzzle of the New York skyline, reading about "Love and Other Natural Disasters" and watching the previous Sunday's episode of "Rock of Love" rerun for the twelfth time, I started to remember what it felt like to relax without the stress of class and the constant urge to check my Facebook.    After assembling a lovely puzzle of the New York skyline, reading about "Love and Other Natural Disasters" and watching the previous Sunday's episode of "Rock of Love" rerun for the twelfth time, I started to remember what it felt like to relax without the stress of class and the constant urge to check my Facebook.
After assembling a lovely puzzle of the New York skyline, reading about “Love and Other Natural Disasters” and watching the previous Sunday’s episode of “Rock of Love” rerun for the twelfth time, I started to remember what it felt like to relax without the stress of class and the constant urge to check my Facebook.

I started spending more time with friends, who luckily became more available after a few days. I spent more time in Lawrence getting coffee and watching what felt like every movie that has come out in the last three months (which, if you haven’t seen “Slumdog Millionaire,” do it. Now. It’s great.).

I forgot all about wall posts and the status updates I received were through the old fashioned phone method or the now almost completely obsolete in-person method.

I even shared a night or two (give or… give five or six) at The Mine and the Lodge with friends.

There were some downfalls to this technological feeling of isolation.

First, I felt like I had no idea what was going on in the world. My daily dose of news was severely lacking and I couldn’t help but feel slightly out of touch with reality.

For as long as I can really remember, the world has been at my fingertips thanks to the Internet. It was frustrating to have a question and not be able to pick up my laptop and instantly have an answer.

Finally, after spending every dime I made last semester on finding entertainment, I got my computer back.

And then I started classes.

My days of relaxation are over and, it’s a tough call, but I think I may have learned more this January by not taking an interterm than I ever did my last three spent at Baker.