I am here (aka London)

Hi all!

Just wanted to let you know that I'm safe and sound in London.  Have spent the entire day exploring the city.  Much more to come in the next two days!  Internet access is questionable so I only have time to say a brief hello.  Keep your eyes out for more!

Adventure About to Begin

Well, it's time for England. I am all packed and ready to go. Maybe. I will hopefully be posting to this blog about my adventures. Check back for updates!!

Check out my packing below! I made it fit in the small suitcase!

What I've been up to

As promised, my adventures that have gone unsaid since finals took over my life!

• Publication Release.  All three of our literary publications (The Coe Review, the Pearl, and Colere) had a release celebration on Reading Day.  Since I am involved with two (Coe Review and Pearl) I was in charge of the event.  It went very smoothly and all three publications turned out fantastically.  If you want to check out the Coe Review, you can view our online edition at our new website!  Here's a photo taken at the release by my good friend, Haley.  There were also prizes given out at this release and I won one of the Young Essay prizes for a piece I wrote last semester for Dr. Bob.  Pretty cool, right? 
• Also on Friday, I was on a panel to talk to sophomores in high school about Coe.  It was a lot of fun and although they didn't always seem interested (you know, thinking about college as a sophomore isn't "cool"), I enjoyed being able to share my Coe experience with them!
• Last Sunday one of the math professors on campus, Jon White, was holding a brunch at his house for any student interested.  Since my friend Alison W. is a physics and math major, she invited me to come along.  Such a good choice.  Delicious food and great company.  People were glad to see me there, since I am an English major and all.  Hahaha :)
• I played for my fourth clarinet jury.  It went very well and was much less stressful; I guess once you perform in Recital Hour, juries are not as big as a deal as they were before.  
• Our retiring poetry professor, Ann Struthers, had a poetry reading on Tuesday.  Lots of people came out and my favorite part of the reading was when she showed a picture of Lake Grasmere, where I'll be in a matter of weeks.  Got me really pumped.
• Helped friends pack.  Definitely bittersweet.  Glad that they are going home but sad they are leaving.  
• Had lunch with Gordon Mennenga (Coe Review advisor), Whitney, and Emily W.  We discussed Coe Review things.  We are really working on making the magazine more well-known to attract even more submissions.  With our website and the work Whitney and I will do over the summer while on campus, we hope to really get the Coe Review running next semester.  
• Still packing for England.  We had a class meeting right before finals and another one tomorrow.  My parents even came down on Thursday to help me get some final things.  I AM LEAVING TUESDAY. 

Graduation 2012!

Today was a big day at Coe...GRADUATION.  It was a little tricky this year because rain was definitely an option.  Because of potential downpour, President Phifer and his staff decided graduation would be best in Eby Fieldhouse today.  We hauled all the band equipment and chairs from the library quad to Eby at 8 AM and were ready for the graduates to start walking at 10 AM.  Before entering the gym, they all rang the bell for the final time (for most, the last time they rang it was four years ago during their orientation).

The ceremony was wonderful, although a bit cramped.  I am sad to see some of my friends graduate, but I know they are off to do amazing things.  Campus will really be empty tomorrow.

Finals are OVER!

I'm done with my second year of college!  Holy man!  I can't believe it.  Finals went really well and I'm glad that they're over.  With no classes or homework, I am catching up on a few things and preparing for England!  Yes, I'm leaving on Tuesday for England.  Hard to believe, right?

Well, check back for some more blog posts about things that happened pre-finals.