A week ago today, I was waking up in my dorm room for the first time ever. By now, it feels like home. My roommate, Angela (a close friend for twelve years), and I have made our room in Nellie Angel Smith very cozy and comfortable.

On Friday the 22nd, we lugged all of our belongings up two flights of stairs, along with increasingly cranky parents. Our third grade teacher also helped out, as she is a close friend of Angela's mother. Imagine being helped into your dorm with your third grade teacher! But the air-conditioning was on full blast to counter the nearly unbearable heat outside, and we were soon busy arranging bedding, posters, and framed photos of friends and family. Parents and third grade teachers left one by one, and in no time we were (nearly) independent for the first time.

The weekend went by quickly, and on Monday morning at 10:20, I found myself in my first college class: Japanese 2010. There were several familiar faces in the class, and so far, I have been having lots of fun. Elementary Logic was next, and I've already learned so much in that class! Monday nights, I have Intro to Film, which will be much tougher than a Saturday movie night with friends, but it will be an entertaining class.

On Tuesday morning, I got a little confused. For some reason, I went to the location of my evening Anthropology class in the morning instead of Geology ... and there happened to be the same class going on, so I didn't realize my error until I got back to my dorm room. Oh no! I explained it to my Geology professor, and he seemed pretty forgiving. I imagine that I'm not the only person that this has happened to, hahaha. Both Anthropology classes I attended on Tuesday were pretty interesting, but I'm glad that I'll be taking it at night.

I am really excited about my honors forum class on world hunger on Thursdays. I don't even mind that I have a presentation due next week! I finally got to my Geology class on Thursday, and it seems like a good class as well. The professor is really into the class, and I am glad that all of my teachers are so energized about teaching their respective subjects.

Throughout the week, I found that I was pretty sleepy from all of the special events, such as convocation and the honors dinner, in addition to school and work. I'm sure that I'll adjust pretty soon, though. I don't understand how people who live off campus can make it to class in the mornings! It is just so convenient to roll out of bed and walk to class, and I have been getting such good exercise lately. I can't wait to start going to the gym on Wednesdays with a few friends to work out. I have never done anything like that before, but now seems like such a good time to start, with free facilities so close.  

It's been a really great week overall. Angela's visiting her twin sister at UTK, and I've got the room to myself, so I'm going to go back to sleep now. What's a three-day weekend for? : )

Love,

Sally