Hello Richers!

Guess who's back at Davidson? THIS GIRL! It's beautiful. And exhausting. I've been having an amazing time so far. The other counselors and I have been working hard to be ready for the campers, who are coming in tomorrow! Campus is far from empty...it's just swarming with kids: Duke TIP, basketball camp, tennis camp, you name it. It's a little disconcerting for the majority of kids in Commons to be shorter than me, to tell you the truth. So, I guess maybe I should talk about what I've been doing here. Well, I got in on Wednesday afternoon--earlier than the other counselors--and went to Summit, Sabi, Cars 2, and Cookout with Christine, Justin, and Julia! It was a beautiful evening, and I learned a lot of cool things about drugs from Justin. The next day (Thursday) we had a bunch of long meetings and got settled in and started planning and such. Yesterday (Friday), we counselors went to breakfast and then had this challenge course, which was crazy and fun, and we now have quite a few bruises to show for it. My shins are pretty bruised from this one activity where we had to all stand on a log and then switch positions until we were a mirror image of how we started (if anyone falls, everyone has to start over). We decided that climbing over each other would be the safest option: apparently, I'm the best at squatting into a compact ball on logs for extended periods of time, so I took one for the team and bloodied up my shins a little. We also did various balance activities (which we totally beasted--the people in charge said we were the fastest they'd ever seen) and trust falls and stuff (which weren't scary until they made us climb onto this pretty high stump and fall backwards into the arms of the other counselors). We then had to do this rope challenge, which was the hardest, by far. We were basically tight-rope walking on wires between trees, and we had to do some crazy balancing and some pretty awkward tree hugging to change to the next wire (there were 5 different stretches of wire, each longer than the last). It was definitely some serious team-building time, and we're now all perfectly comfortable with each other...which you sort of have to be after free-falling through the air into each other's arms and clinging to each other for dear life on wires tied between trees. After those and a few other activities, we had other meetings, planned some activities, started decorating our halls, went on a driving tour of all the hospitals and emergency rooms, practiced driving the 15-passenger vans, and other stuff like that. Today, we had more meetings, I wrote some rhyming clues for a scavenger hunt, I called a couple of theaters to find out about group discounts and seating availability and such since I'm in charge of the Harry Potter movie outing that we're doing on July 16th--no midnight show :*(, we ran some errands, we finished decorating our halls, we went out to dinner in Birkdale, etc. It's been exhausting so far, and we all have so many responsibilities, but this is only the start. Tomorrow, pandemonium breaks loose! I'll hardly have any time to even think, let alone sleep, but it'll still be fun. My fellow counselors are some truly amazing people, and it's a lot of fun hanging out with them. We make a pretty good team! It'll be nice to get the campers here and finally get to do some of these fun events we've been planning!

I hope you're all having beautiful summers so far! I can't wait to see you all again!

Much love,

Emma

Summer @ D-Son

Hello, my lovely Richers!

So I'm already halfway through my summer job here on campus, which is absolutely insane. Where have the past five weeks gone? You've got me on that one. But summer at Davidson has been pretty nice thus far, I must say.

First, I lived in Rich after everyone but three or four people had left. It was incredibly depressing. Then I moved into Flowe and lived with roommates that I essentially never spoke to. But it was nice to live in an apartment, cook for myself, and just generally feel kind of like an adult (I know, crazy, right?) Then for the past two-ish weeks, I've been house-sitting for Professor Thornberry, who just retired from the PoliSci department. And on Tuesday, I will be moving into Dr. Christian's house from the Physics department (his nickname is Wolfie--totally adorable), and will be house-sitting for him for almost the rest of my summer here. There will be a few days at the end where I'm homeless, but I'm sure that will be... interesting. Haha.

So that's where I've been living, but what have I been DOING all summer? Good question. You're such an attentive blog reader. I've been working as a research assistant for Dr. Lewis in the English department. She's been working on a book about sports and Shakespeare. (Yeah, I know, it sounds weird. It is.) Basically, I've been reading Shakespeare plays and then doing the corresponding sports researching. Thus far, I've researched Joe Namath and Super Bowl III, Marion Jones, Jose Canseco and a bunch of other 'roided up baseball players, Lance Armstrong, Mickey Mantle, and, beginning now, Andre Agassi (whose autobiography is actually quite compelling!) I've also done some other random tasks for her, such as ordering library books (yay fun) and searching for an idea for her to start a blog around... She also recently revised an article she wrote about the culture of debutante balls, which I did some research for--actually pretty fascinating stuff. And she's also wanting to start an article about virtual role playing games (of sorts) like The Sims and Second Life, and how people want to become their characters (or avatars, or whatever), so I've been researching that. There are some crazies out there, let me tell you. So basically I've been learning about interesting stuff all summer and getting paid for it. Supa fly.

I've also been taking care of some animals. Of course there's JP, my darling husky, and Milky White, the best, most badass cow ever. But I've also been walking a (real) Siberian husky named Sasha for Dr. Bory in the dance department, and I'm currently watching Princess, Professor Thornberry's dog. Wolfie also has a dog, but I can't currently remember the name. I think it has something to do with a coffee, or a caffeinated beverage of some kind. Anyway, it's nice to have some animals to tend to. (After all, my name's not Noah for nothin'.)

Outside of work and animals, I generally chill at Lake Campus, read, Netflix (yes, that is a verb), or hang with the few people I know on campus this summer. Sometimes it's kind of boring, but I guess I should relish in that fact whilst I can. *sigh*

Well, that's all I've got. Hope you're all enjoying your summers!

<3 Christine

Hey Richers!

Hey everyone!

It's been awesome to read about how everyone is starting their summers! Just wanted to say hey, and tell you about what I'm getting myself into this week. As a member of the US National Whitewater Slalom Kayaking team, I travel extensively during the summer for races in Europe. I keep my own blog and YouTube Channel that you guys should check out! Click here for the blog.
Click here for the YouTube Channel.

Enjoy! I look forward to reading more about what everyone is up to :)

LOVE, Caroline

Hello, Rich!

I just enjoyed reading about everyone's adventures so far. They sound lovely and make me miss you even more!

I was one of the final 2 people living on 1st, and I may or may not have cried a little bit when I finally had to lock my door and leave. I wonder how many RA's check out tearfully nostalgic freshmen. Fortunately, my summer housing arrangement has worked out nicely. I moved into Ryburn 203 with Catherine Hare, Allen Rigby, and Julie Coursen, and I have since been enjoying abundant opportunities to cook, the luxury of multiple futons, and an air conditioning system that really works. My typical day consists of waking up, going to work from 8:30 to 5, working out, cooking dinner, watching TV/reading, and going to bed. Some might call it mundane, but I call it relaxing.

Since I am working in the Admissions Office all summer, you all probably have a good feel for my surroundings. Not much has changed-- the average high temperature lingers around 95 (not fun when simultaneously walking backwards and yelling), and apart from some minor exterior renovations on Belk, the campus looks the same. I would include photos, but I think most of you know what summertime in the South looks like by now.

This job has already taught me that office work will not be in my future, but I'm grateful for the experience and learn something new most days. Obviously, I have a lot of spare time, considering that I'm writing this blog entry from the office. Tours are always interesting and filled with insightful inquiries ("Isn't this a smart kid place?" "Do you like Coors Light?"). One of my favorite parts of tour guiding is the opportunity to share my love for Davidson with prospective students and their parents. Of course, I always spend more than the average amount of time gushing about residence life when I point to Rich!

Apart from spending long afternoons at Lake Campus or mornings at the Farmer's Market, I have had several chances to go home on the weekends. I finally got a car a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed exploring this area and taking a few road trips. Last weekend, I was in San Antonio for my cousin's wedding, and I'm going to see Chicago (oh hey, Quincy) this Saturday at a theater in Western NC.

Campus isn't the same without y'all, and I can't wait for some more people to start trickling in for July Experience/Odyssey/etc. Continue to explore and grow, and I'll look forward to seeing you for Round 2 in the fall!

Summer Wanderings

Hello, dear Richers!

So far this summer, I have done virtually nothing. I have stayed up until 2 or 3 am every night and have slept until around noon every day. I have been lazy. I have done no work. And it has been beautiful. However, I miss you all terribly, and I've become a devoted facebook stalker. The only great achievements I have made so far are the following: I reread The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (543 pgs of pure genius...I recommend it to everyone), and the day after I finished that, I began reading Tolstoy's War and Peace (1,214 pgs...officially the longest book I have ever read), which I finished at 3:24 am last night! I was/am incredibly proud of myself.

The one place that I've gone so far this summer is Ohio. My brother (a senior poli sci major) is doing some independent research at his college for a few months. On Monday, my dad, older brother, and I took the 10 hour drive to a little town smack dab in the middle of nowhere, to a little college on a hill: Kenyon.

It's an amazing liberal arts college...it's similar to Davidson in size and academic caliber, and it has arguably the best English department in the nation, as well as the most beautiful campus. (This year, it was voted by Forbes magazine as the most beautiful campus in the world, which my brother likes to rub in my face whenever any appropriate or inappropriate opportunity presents itself.)

As much as I hate to admit it, Kenyon does beat Davidson on the beauty scale. There is a gorgeous, mile-long gravel path that stretches the length of campus - Middle Path - that everything is basically situated around.

The cafeteria is stunning, and it's probably what I'm most jealous of when it comes to Kenyon.

It literally looks exactly like the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Long wooden tables stretch the length of this room (they don't usually have tablecloths on them...they weresetting up for a banquet when I took this picture), which has a tall, arched ceiling. You can't see this from the picture, but all of the windows are stained-glassed, and each pane depicts a different author or work of classical European or American literature (Kenyon is best known for its fantastic English department).

The buildings themselves looks like castles...they're all made out of stone and have a really regal feel.

Another one of my favorite aspects of Kenyon is the artwork that is scattered all over campus. My favorite sculpture is this one:

I just love it. Every time I'm on campus, I end up circling it for about 20 minutes. I must mention, however, that the pose is not really bodily possible unless you have an abnormally supple backbone. My brother and I attempted to recreate this art and failed miserably.

Despite all of the wonderful things about this college, I realized this week that I would not trade Davidson for anything in the world--not even a Harry Potter dining hall. I am just too in love with the people, our Georgian architecture, our weather, and the overall environment of Davidson to ever wish that I had chosen a different school. Throughout my application process, I never expected to go to Davidson. Kenyon and several other schools were above it on my list until the very end. However, I somehow ended up at Davidson, and I can't image myself being at any other school. So, whether my Davidson days are the result of an accident or fate, they are my reality, and I am perfectly content.

...Also, it was with great glee that I noticed that our dorms are infinitely superior to theirs, despite the external beauty of their campus. My brother's room for the summer is just plain dingy. GO RICH!

Hey Richers (and select few other awesome people)!

I am writing to y'all sitting under three blankets and shivering as I try to keep my hands warm. Somehow I had forgotten that May in Vermont feels something like late February in North Carolina...

I am glad to be back in the Green Mountain State with its winding, bumpy roads, beat-up subaru's, and wild turkeys that usefully serve as alarm clocks for a 7 am wake-up. I have been catching up on gossip girl and the office, working at a grocery store, planting all kinds of veggies in the garden, and running on the beautiful backroads of Montpelier (see photo). I am afraid my life hasn't gotten much more exciting than this. Once the weather warms up a bit I may have to join the hippies playing ultimate frisbee, doing yoga, and singing along to acoustic guitar on the state house lawn (yes Jacob, you were meant to be a Vermonter) just to spice things up a bit.

It feels very weird to have free time, and I keep having little panic attacks where I think I should be doing something or being productive. I have to remind myself that in fact I do not have sooooooo much work to do. I still have not unpacked any of my stuff, and am currently living out of a suitcase while the rest of my things are piled in my brother's otherwise empty room.

I hope y'all have had a wonderful and liberatingly stress-free summer so far! Let's get this blog crackin'! I want to hear about all of your summers, and Quincy and I didn't put in sooooo much work on this blog for nothing! (just kidding, it was all Quincy :)

Love,

Sarah

Also, does anyone know when we find out our classes for next year?

#domesticgoddess

This isn't twitter. I don't even know how to do twitter... if you can "do" twittering. But I always see people doing that tagging thing on facebook, I don't know what it means, but it looks cool, and I wanted to do it in a forum that I might be slightly less judged. Or more judged, but by people I like better.

Real point: I am a domestic goddess. I have replanted over twenty pots of various shapes and sizes with hundreds of dollars of flowers. I have made pot-de-creme (chocolate), swordfish, roasted corn-sweet potato-pepper deliciousness, and pasta. I attended a cooking class with my mother today. I bought a creme brulee burner.

If you're concerned about my well being, you probably should be.

On the more positive note, I have watched a movie every night since I got back from school. This should also be concerning, yet encouraging for all who know of my cinematic illiteracy. Don't worry, I'm reading more. Acting like myself, you know, but like myself in a house that also has a big TV.

Fortunately I will be headed back east in a week and a half, where I will once again whiff the Atlantic Ocean and identify birds as they migrate south from Canada while I wipe my hands with those fir needles that smell like Christmas as I simultaneously eat a succulent lobster without staining my preppy outfit the likes of which I have never shown any of you (you're not ready quite yet).

In other words,

I miss you guys. Hope your adventures are fruitful.