Selfie

Yesterday I (and my friend) took a selfie picture with SPU's president:

We had some sort of "New Student Convocation" where all the professors came in in their robes and then gave really boring speeches about students moving on to the next part of their lives and their parents letting go. And it wasn't just me who thought they were boring, everyone around me and everyone I talked to later did too. Hahaa.

Well, after the speeches they had all of the professors make a big circle on the floor of the gymnasium and told the students to go into the middle. I had made contact via text with my friend from middle school (Kelli) who was on the other side of the gym during the speeches and so I met with her halfway and we coincidentally ended up standing right in front of the president. He was taking pictures of the crowd with his cellphone and I thought I might be in the picture, so I smiled and gave a thumbs-up. He noticed that I was posing and took a picture of me and Kelli smiling for the camera. I can't believe there is a picture of us on the president's cellphone. That's so strange!! But cool at the same time.

The guy with the microphone then told all of the students to get a SPU pin from one of the teachers (all of whom had a handful). Obviously Kelli and I made sure to get our pins from the president, who we then asked to take a picture with us. The results are above for your enjoyment. Haha, another professor walked up and was like, "I saw you two hamming it up with the president - good job!" or something like that, which cracked me up.

Then my mom sent me this text: "I see you got your pin from the main man!! :) Well done!!!" That cracked me up too.

So, that was an experience. After that whole ceremony I went to dinner with my parents and we said our last goodbyes. I'll skip the gory details.... Just kidding, it was a good goodbye and now my parents are heading to Canada for a short vacation. I'll miss them...

Well, that's all I have for you on that front. Yes, I do seem to be posting a lot, but I think that's just cause I'm trying to take a lot of breaks from all of the huge group activities because I get overwhelmed.

This is my roommate Elayna:

"And I'll stand there with the Wizard,/Feeling things I've never felt/And though I'd never show it,/I'd be so happy, I could melt!" - Elphaba ("Wicked", the musical)

Move In Day!

Heyo hoi polloi!

Today I moved into my beloved dorm at SPU - Emerson. I live on 4th East and I already love it. Luckily we have an elevator, so I don't have to take the stairs EVERY time, but I want to do them at least a couple times a day. Move-in went smoothly because we had a lot of current students helping us and I took the rest of the morning/afternoon to unpack all of my things alongside my roommate Elayna. Now, I thought *I* had a lot of stuff. She easily had three times as much stuff as I did. Like, her clothes alone took up about four LARGE cardboard boxes O.o But that's fine, we have TONS of space. It's really awesome. I'm on the bottom bunk and with the left desk~

I think Elayna and I will get along really well. We're both really organized and we just have that necessary chemistry to make a roommate situation work, you know?

After the many welcome speeches, activities, and meals I am beginning to feel VERY tired. I appreciate the effort they're putting into trying to keep us busy, but as an introvert I NEED MY SPACE!! To my great joy they let us go at 11pm, so I'm just about ready to crawl into my neatly made bed and go to sleep.

I really like SPU and I'm very happy that I chose it over Willamette right now. I feel so welcome and loved here - there's no pressure to be someone who I am not. My PA (like an RA) is really fun and very very very excited to have us on her floor, so I'm grateful for that. Prayers are always appreciated for a continued smooth transition! Danke!!

"O hallowed halls and vine-draped walls/The proudliest sight there is!" - Chorus ("Wicked", the musical)

Why "Emerald City"?

Hello hoi polloi!

This is my new blog for the school year and, as you can see, I've named it "Emerald City". Now you may be asking, "Why 'Emerald City'? Isn't that the weird green capital of the Land of Oz?" Why yes indeed it IS the capital of Oz, but it is ALSO a nickname for Seattle - as Seattle is green year-round. My college, Seattle Pacific University (SPU), is located in - get this - Seattle, Washington, and I wanted a title for my blog that sorta went with where I was.

This past summer I challenged myself to blog every day, no matter how busy or tired I was. I'm happy to say that I have succeeded (with the concession that on three small trips I had no internet access and had to post those days' blogs when I got home)!! Now, that was fun and all, but also a serious commitment and took a lot of effort sometimes (especially when I didn't have anything to write about...). Here is the link to my old blog, "One Hundred and Eighteen Days of Summer": http://onehundredandeighteendaysofsummer.blogspot.com/

I hope that Emerald City will have new posts two or three times a week accounting some of my adventures, thoughts, discoveries, and just day to day musings for your (but mostly my) enjoyment! No promises, because I know the first one or two weeks of college may be hectic, but I do WANT to post that often. :)

While not blogging, I will be exploring SPU and Seattle as a whole! Whoot! I move in tomorrow!!!

From the City by the Bay to the Emerald City - this girl is ready to join the hoi polloi of Seattle!

"There's no place like home." - Elphaba ("Wicked", the musical)