I do not have any fun pictures to post but I wanted to give some updates since it has been a while so pictures to come.
Since the last post I have been able to move into Havighurst. Still not completely unpacked and there is still a lot of construction but it is nice to finally be in my hall. We finished the professional staff training and last weekend the Resident Assistants moved in which meant their training started and we have been going 8 to 8 everyday and then after that I have to work on various stuff so it has been a bit crazy. I really like my staff. All 11 of them bring something different. They are very excited but not in an overwhelming way. They have been really good about bonding and working on all of their tasks. Training is very different here than when I was a CSA at Sonoma. During the day is mostly outside speakers like Athletics coming in to do their spiel and then at night is when we actually do training about things such as programming, opening meetings, roommate agreements, etc. Training has taken over my life so I am excited for it to be over soon.
Classes start a week from tomorrow! Books for 2 of 3 classes are ordered and I am very excited. I don't know if I am ready because all I have been thinking about is Residence Life but I will get there. As soon as my office is set up I will feel better. I am also getting to teach a first year transition course (for Sonoma UNIV 102). I do not have a peer mentor but I am excited to work with students in a different way.
I have made some really close connections with a few individuals over the past weeks. Ashleigh is from New York originally and worked in Virginia this past year full time as a hall director. She brings this great outlook on life and a whole different way of thought. She is a great person to talk to for advice and interact with about personal development. Zak is from Illinois and he just graduated from Western Illinois but he took a year off to work on the Obama campaign (how cool is that!). His area of study is men's development and has a great point of view coming from a heterosexual male perspective towards Woman and LGBTQ issues. Erika is from Massachusetts and graduate from an all woman's school. It has been really interesting to get to talk to her about feminism and woman's issues. I am really looking forward to getting to know them all better.
Wednesday we have early arrivals, Thursday is opening, and this weekend is stacked full of events. I am really interested to see how 17,000 people are going to live in this small town which is basically just one main street that consists of three blocks. I am very curious what the student population is going to be like. I have heard they are some of the most priviledge students (I don't know if I mentioned that there are services where students can have someone clean their room and do their laundry every other week). Things are about to get interesting.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Kofenya, California
7.18.11-7.24.11
I have made it through my first full week of training. I have been learning a lot about the department and other parts of campus. It has been a really good experience so far and I am feeling like I am getting my feet planted. It has also been a really cool experience because even though I am a graduate student Residence Life still views all graduate students as professional staff. I talked with my supervisor Adam this week and had a really good conversation on how he sees us as being a team and both running the residence hall. He is very supportive of me getting the experience that I want/need. With that I will get to directly supervise 2-3 resident assistants and will also get to hold conduct meetings with residents that are documented for breaking policy. Next week we will be starting training on academic advising and hopefully I will to get to move into my hall.
Everything else is going really well too. Starting to get to know people more and its funny because almost everyone has talked to me about being scared of not making connections (which is exactly how I was feeling).
So this is kind of an awkward picture but I didn't have anything else. I am currently sitting at Kofenya coffee shop with my bottomless ice coffee working. This is a picture of the bathroom (thus it is an awkward picture) but it shows the style of the coffee shop. Needless to say I already love it here (and how it feels like an artsy California place) and will be spending a great deal of time here working on papers.
I have made it through my first full week of training. I have been learning a lot about the department and other parts of campus. It has been a really good experience so far and I am feeling like I am getting my feet planted. It has also been a really cool experience because even though I am a graduate student Residence Life still views all graduate students as professional staff. I talked with my supervisor Adam this week and had a really good conversation on how he sees us as being a team and both running the residence hall. He is very supportive of me getting the experience that I want/need. With that I will get to directly supervise 2-3 resident assistants and will also get to hold conduct meetings with residents that are documented for breaking policy. Next week we will be starting training on academic advising and hopefully I will to get to move into my hall.
Everything else is going really well too. Starting to get to know people more and its funny because almost everyone has talked to me about being scared of not making connections (which is exactly how I was feeling).
So this is kind of an awkward picture but I didn't have anything else. I am currently sitting at Kofenya coffee shop with my bottomless ice coffee working. This is a picture of the bathroom (thus it is an awkward picture) but it shows the style of the coffee shop. Needless to say I already love it here (and how it feels like an artsy California place) and will be spending a great deal of time here working on papers.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
One Week
7.11.11 - 7.17.11
I have officially been in Oxford for one week now and so far so good. I am really liking the town and the people that I am meeting. Monday and Tuesday was mostly used just to start meeting people that had arrived and gearing up for training. On Wednesday we started ORL (Office of Residence Life) training. Wedneday through Friday was basically just getting acquainted to the department and overall how it operates. Looking at vision and mission statements, meeting your professional team staff, learning the Residential Cirriculum (kind of like how the department puts on programs and meetings in the halls), and basic welcoming.
Friday night the group of graduate students that are in my class and working for ORL all got together for dinner. It was great having the 19 of us together and I am excited for when the other graduate students that are in the program and in my cohort (class of 2013) come. I was a little anxious of meeting the individuals I was going to be spending the next two years with and not sure what kind of individuals I would be meeting. I really like everyone and am excited to get to know them. It takes me a while to "warm up" to people and form close relationships but I am staying optimistic that it will happen and keep reminding myself that I have not been here very long and I have the next two years to build relationships, either way they are stuck with me ;) This weekend was spent hanging out around the town (mostly in a coffee shop) and getting things crossed off my to do list for work. Getting ready for another week of training and looking forward to everything I will be learning and conversations I will be having.
I have officially been in Oxford for one week now and so far so good. I am really liking the town and the people that I am meeting. Monday and Tuesday was mostly used just to start meeting people that had arrived and gearing up for training. On Wednesday we started ORL (Office of Residence Life) training. Wedneday through Friday was basically just getting acquainted to the department and overall how it operates. Looking at vision and mission statements, meeting your professional team staff, learning the Residential Cirriculum (kind of like how the department puts on programs and meetings in the halls), and basic welcoming.
Friday night the group of graduate students that are in my class and working for ORL all got together for dinner. It was great having the 19 of us together and I am excited for when the other graduate students that are in the program and in my cohort (class of 2013) come. I was a little anxious of meeting the individuals I was going to be spending the next two years with and not sure what kind of individuals I would be meeting. I really like everyone and am excited to get to know them. It takes me a while to "warm up" to people and form close relationships but I am staying optimistic that it will happen and keep reminding myself that I have not been here very long and I have the next two years to build relationships, either way they are stuck with me ;) This weekend was spent hanging out around the town (mostly in a coffee shop) and getting things crossed off my to do list for work. Getting ready for another week of training and looking forward to everything I will be learning and conversations I will be having.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Howdy Ohio
7. 10.11
We drove out of Illinois, spent a bit of time in Indiana, and reached Ohio!! As soon as I got to Miami there was already a group of individuals to help move me in, including my supervisor, a First Year Advisor (hall director) that interviewed me, and the Director of Residence Life and Housing. It was a little overwhelming to say the least but everything was out of my car and into my temporary room (I'll be moving into my Hall, Havigurst, early August) in 15min. Like I said a little overwhelming. I drove around Oxford and campus a bit to try and get acquainted with everything and start settling in. More pictures of the town and campus to come.
I had a great end of the day at dinner with a few great people including the amazing Kira Newman (a bestie that went to Sonoma and just finished her first year at Miami) and my buddy Justin!! The program pairs a first year and second year graduate student together to help the first year transition and provide support and community. There was a lot of laughs and catching up and I am really looking forward to meeting more students in the program.
I am still trying to get my head on straight but I am so EXCITED to finally be here and start my new adventure!
We drove out of Illinois, spent a bit of time in Indiana, and reached Ohio!! As soon as I got to Miami there was already a group of individuals to help move me in, including my supervisor, a First Year Advisor (hall director) that interviewed me, and the Director of Residence Life and Housing. It was a little overwhelming to say the least but everything was out of my car and into my temporary room (I'll be moving into my Hall, Havigurst, early August) in 15min. Like I said a little overwhelming. I drove around Oxford and campus a bit to try and get acquainted with everything and start settling in. More pictures of the town and campus to come.
I had a great end of the day at dinner with a few great people including the amazing Kira Newman (a bestie that went to Sonoma and just finished her first year at Miami) and my buddy Justin!! The program pairs a first year and second year graduate student together to help the first year transition and provide support and community. There was a lot of laughs and catching up and I am really looking forward to meeting more students in the program.
I am still trying to get my head on straight but I am so EXCITED to finally be here and start my new adventure!
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| Welcome to Oxford - Home of Miami University |
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Windy City
7.9.2011
We had a whirlwind of a day in the windy city. We got everything crossed off our list but there was a lot more to see. I will definitely need to go back to see more of the city and some museums. We started out at Millennium Park and saw the bean, went to the Lincoln Park Zoo (the poor polar bear looked so hot), went to Wrigley Field, went on a bus tour (It was really cool to be up high on a double decker bus in the city. There was so much I learned about the history and architecture of the city), got some Garrett Popcorn and Chicago Dogs, and finished the day at the Skydeck at Sears (aka Willis) Tower, and we only got lost once in the beginning of the day (win). Now gearing up for the final destination of Ohio.
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| There is a little bit of the skyline in there. |
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| 2nd Oldest Ballpark in the Country |
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| One Side of the City from the Skydeck |
We had a whirlwind of a day in the windy city. We got everything crossed off our list but there was a lot more to see. I will definitely need to go back to see more of the city and some museums. We started out at Millennium Park and saw the bean, went to the Lincoln Park Zoo (the poor polar bear looked so hot), went to Wrigley Field, went on a bus tour (It was really cool to be up high on a double decker bus in the city. There was so much I learned about the history and architecture of the city), got some Garrett Popcorn and Chicago Dogs, and finished the day at the Skydeck at Sears (aka Willis) Tower, and we only got lost once in the beginning of the day (win). Now gearing up for the final destination of Ohio.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Lost in Chicago
7.8.2011
We made it to Chicago! We had a short drive to the windy city (compared to the last few days) and got a chance to walk around and explore. We got "lost" a few times but that seems to happen if you ever travel with me.
We went to dinner at Gino's East Pizzareia on Superior. It was a great landmark to see and get to take Joey to celebrate his graduation on the trip.
We made it to Chicago! We had a short drive to the windy city (compared to the last few days) and got a chance to walk around and explore. We got "lost" a few times but that seems to happen if you ever travel with me.
We went to dinner at Gino's East Pizzareia on Superior. It was a great landmark to see and get to take Joey to celebrate his graduation on the trip.
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| All the walls were covered just like this. |
Casey'Dilla
7.7.2011
Happy Birthday to baby Georgia and Congratulations to Julie and Brynn. So happy for your family!!
We drove through the rest of Colorado, made it all the way through Nebraska, and finished the day in Iowa.
We didn't see a state sign for Iowa so I was not able to get a picture but as promised we saw a lot of corn fields.
All throughout Nebraska and Iowa (and Illinois) there have been these Casey's Geberal Store gas stations. Made me chuckle. You can even get a delicious Casey'Dilla :)
Happy Birthday to baby Georgia and Congratulations to Julie and Brynn. So happy for your family!!
We drove through the rest of Colorado, made it all the way through Nebraska, and finished the day in Iowa.
We didn't see a state sign for Iowa so I was not able to get a picture but as promised we saw a lot of corn fields.
All throughout Nebraska and Iowa (and Illinois) there have been these Casey's Geberal Store gas stations. Made me chuckle. You can even get a delicious Casey'Dilla :)
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