SUP, MAINE?!

They didn’t even weigh my bags.

I realize that is a useless fact for you to know, but for me it was a small blessing and a great way to start out my trip. If you know me, you know that I have A TON OF CRAP. So, the process of packing for this adventure was very challenging. I have to admit, the hardest part though was deciding which jewelry to bring with me. I know, my life is rough.

The trip to Maine wasn't all that bad. After I said bye to Lynne Ellen and cried a little bit I got in the security line. I am sure people were staring because I looked like a zombie and had puffy eyes- so much for finding my future husband at O'hare! Now, as I have mentioned they didn’t weigh my bags which, for someone with a lot of crap, that was truly a miracle. When I entered security, I was randomly selected to do some weird hand swabbing test. I was sweating and shaking so much I’m sure they thought I was a drug mule. No matter how innocent I am, airport security will always make me nervous. ALWAYS.  Anyway, on my first flight I sat next to a Lieutenant who had recently returned from Afghanistan so I learned a LOT about what it was like and gained a new appreciation for those who are serving plus he gave me a piece of gum so we are now besties. My next flight wasn’t quite as interesting. I sat next to a middle aged man who smelled like Parmesan cheese and was reading 50 Shades of Gray. So… there’s that.

At the airport when I landed is when I first met two of the students I will be  working with this summer- Chelsea and Hanna. They brought me gifts so I automatically liked them. It's like they knew me! Here's a little bit about them: Chelsea grew up in the wrong decade. Everything about her is 100% 90’s. Alternative, grunge music- movies- everything.  She is smart, driven, and witty. She’s basically a cooler more laid back version of Zooey Deschanel. As for Hanna… well Taylor Swift takes a human form in Hanna. All the good parts of Taylor Swift that is. She is kind, caring, and has some of the best long hair you will ever see.

          Monday was my first official day. I did get a meal in the dining hall which had the world's boujiest salad bar and tons of fresh fruit. So, I'm never leaving.  My first day was a paperwork day for sure. Filling out my name, making sure I am gonna get paid, figuring out my desk and how to work the computer here. I also got to meet the other two students I will be working closely with. Paige and Alec. Alec is a gentle soul who never is short of a sarcastic quip- we get along very well. He is very efficient and task driven, he's capable of anything! Paige has a laugh that can make me join in even when I am crabby, and she loves to be weird in public. So naturally, we also get along. She also has this leadership characteristic that you are born with. She's incredibly smart and finds ways to connect with various types of people.

         It has become very apparent that I will be working a full 9-5 with additional evening activities as needed- but I don't even notice the time. I am so busy with planning and learning and developing that time flies each day. I have settled into a nice routine of work from 9-5 then some type of walk or hike that lasts around 45 minutes or so outside- I know that this is a shock to those who know me but I am enjoying nature! There is so much land and free space and wildlife that I feel like I am on a different planet. So far, and I have been here a week, but I am in love with everything about this experience.

 Some fun things about UNE/Maine in general:

-  It is flanked by the Saco River and the Atlantic Ocean. So you can always smell the sea.  And it brings tears of joy to my eyes.

- They rehabilitate SEALS here. So, they have this weird tank thing where they have three adorable seals who bob up and down and look at you when you are coming to say hey! I'll grab a picture for next weeks post.

-  It is SUPER close to the beach. So the campus is surrounded by trees and a lot of greenery that I’m not used to, but in 5 minutes you are trolling onto a private beach that has soft sand and plenty of room for fun. Here’s a pic for you! The first one is at a weird angle because I wasn't trying to waste sun time taking a picture for y'all:

  (This picture is of the rocks leading the jetty! As you can see there's a little path and it is GORGEOUS.)

- THERE IS A HOUSE SHAPED LIKE A CAMERA NEAR BY. I REPEAT, A HOUSE THAT LOOKS LIKE A CAMERA. It is the Kodak House! A camera, I told you!  

 - Other than that, Maine is completely different than Chicago. People actually care about complete strangers. Everyone says hello and smiles at you. They move out of the way when you are walking, and contrary to my belief- there isn't a whole lot of pastel...yet. "Just wait till the tourists get here" is what I'm told. 

If you want a postcard, send me your address and I would be more than happy to send you one!

As always, positive thoughts and juju sent my way are appreciated. I will leave you with a picture of the sunset. This was taken on campus last night, I told you it was beautiful! 

Lots of lobstah love,

Ally

A Little Bit of Background

For years I have seen my friends go off and doing great and amazing things. Throughout their grand adventures they have kept some type of record of their travels. My friends who went to London kept pictures, ticket stubs, and random trinkets of memories.  Every time they pick up and examine one of these items a flame of adventurous inspiration behind their eyes is lit. That flame cannot be extinguished until they've turned over every detail of the story of how they came to own that little piece of their past. From diaries to letters to blogs like this one, I have been able to watch each of them grow throughout their challenges and experiences and they have always appreciated the gift that they had to look back.

I want that. I have always wanted that.

So, I finally did something about it.

It was just over a year ago that I decided that Graduate School would be the next chapter in my life. I had finally figured out what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become and unfortunately for me, that meant two more years of school and quite the financial investment. One step towards writing this new chapter in my life included moving to downtown Chicago and paying way too much for a closet on the 24^th floor of a building in the heart of the city. Another step included coming to the harsh realization that instead of the fridge magically refilling itself when it looked a little empty, I had to learn how to juggle ten grocery bags four blocks in the snow… in negative temperatures. Very developmental.

Another step towards completing this wonderfully terrifying chapter of my life was starting actual graduate school classes. Within my first semester I was terrified, challenged, and wonderfully impacted by not only my cohort but also my professors and TA’s. 

One of the best things about graduate school is that you are delving into things that you live and care for every day. Plus, you get a lot of free counseling because being assigned papers reflecting on who you are never ends. NEVER ENDS. 

 Through finding mentors who have helped me learn how to be a better me I have come to the conclusion that Student Affairs, though I’ve had many doubtful evenings with many more to come, is definitely for me.

Finally, this brings us to the next chapter of my adventures after college that will be happening this summer. Maine. Biddeford, Maine to be exact. 17 hours and 21 minutes from where I live. 1,070 mere miles away from my family and friends. I’m not nervous.

…… Actually I am. I realize that many of you have traveled further, and lived away from your families and friends for much longer. But what you must understand is that I have not. This is all a little new to me, so keep that in mind. 

I will be working at the University of New England with their Orientation staff. I have started this blog to document my adventures. Some things that you can expect from this online diary are:

-         Pictures of whales. Somehow I will see one.

-         Pictures of me bragging about the various foods from the sea that I enjoy.

-         Moments of real, honest, and raw struggle with this experience.

-         Many MORE moments of reflection and happiness.

-         A whole lot of me nerding out over student affairs.

This blog will reflect on all of my experiences and more, which all begin on May 12^th.  So, whether you read every post I send out into the interwebs, or even if you read just this one- all of your positive thoughts and vibes are much appreciated as I take this next step!