I've been avoiding this blog because I think that it would be convenient if I started from the beginning, but that is more than a week ago. Main highlights from my DOC trip include: throwing up twice, being the slowest person by far, hiking the steepest part of the Appalachian Trail (Beaver Brook!), amazing burritos, meeting some cool people, H-croo (Hanover Crew), Lodj-croo (Lodge Crew), and meeting JIM KIM :). There were only 6 trippees (myself included) on our trip and 2 trip leaders. We played a million trail games, including one called Botticelli which is like an extended version of 20 questions (you have to think up stumper questions that will stump the person at which point you can proceed to begin asking normal 20-question-like questions until you get "no" for an answer). We learned a million dances, like the Salty Dog Rag, one to Party in the USA, Ice Ice Baby, and Blame it on the Boogie and we also learned the Alma Mater. Also, may I just say that I love how at every planned meeting, it ends up turning into a High School Musical-esque event (including a safety talk by H-croo and an entire dinner production by Lodj-croo.) So all in all, a good experience.

Orientation has been nice. Met up with my parents on move in day and proceeded to meet Hannah and unpack my room while still all GROSS from extreme hiking. Took my first shower, which was glorious, and finally started trying to get used to the idea of living here for a whole year. Still hasn't sunk in yet. We got matriculated! And got our '13 pins, which are actually pretty awesome :D

They have been having lots of events and it's nice not to have any responsibilities. However, it gets a little boring sometimes and I wish I had a more structured schedule. But don't worry, cause classes start on Monday, so I should be alllllll good as far as structure goes.

I've also had random attacks of loneliness. It just gets really hard when your roommate has already made a pretty close group of friends that you don't really mesh well with and you don't really feel like you've been making any potential best friends. There were definitely a couple days in there where I would cry for a while. But things have been getting better as our floor hangs out more (9 girls and 18 boys? Yes please.)

I've attempted going to frats, but I have yet to be impressed. Everything smells like pee and beer, the floors are disgustingly sticky, and I haven't been able to play pong yet (I would play with water naturally.) Mostly what ends up happening is that we walk around for a long time, trying to find a frat that isn't being broken up, and don't. My favorite times have been just sitting in people's rooms getting to know them better and hanging out. Also, had to deal with drunk floormates at least 2 times which is not exactly the funnest thing in the world. Actually, it is the exact opposite of fun and definitely makes me appreciate my friendsies at home.

I've been attending a lot of department open houses, met with my faculty adviser today (he's in the theater department?), and signing up for classes today. Exciting business!

All in all, I'm really liking it here. Though it definitely has its downs, I think the ups are starting to outweigh them. Just hoping things can only go up, up and up from here.