The Official First-Day Shirt

A lot of people probably have a "favorite" piece of clothing or two.  A dress that's really flattering, a pair of pants that go with anything, shoes that can be worn all day and still be comfortable enough to sleep in.  Today I wore one of my favorite shirts.  It's just a simple purple, ruffled thing that I've had for years and years, but it invariably ends up being my go-to shirt for both casual and dressy occasions.  And, after today, it's become my "Official First Day of School Shirt".  It's the same shirt that I wore for my first day of high school (which was also my first day of public school), the first day of my first undergraduate class after I graduated, and now my first day of graduate school.  I fully planned to wear a different outfit today, but when it came time to get ready this morning, I realized some of the pieces I needed weren't clean.  I was looking through my closet for another idea, and lo-and-behold, I saw my purple ruffle shirt. I had a really great day today, and I wonder if it has even just a little bit to do with the shirt, since it seems to have been my good-luck charm in the past.  ;)
(This isn't the actual shirt, but I like it anyway!)

Walking Tour

Today I took an accidental walking tour.  I say accidental because the original plan was drive up to closest parking garage to the Union, walk the short distance to the Ohio Union, get my ID card, and quickly walk back to my car and leave.  Easy walk, short errand, life is good.  But my plans changed (as always), and I parked a little farther away instead of driving through pedestrian-infested streets.  As I was walking out of the parking garage that I chose, I saw a map of campus.  I took a quick look to be sure of where I would be walking, but neglected to take a picture (I even posses a copy of the same map, but had left it at home on my desk--nice move, Bozie).  So I started walking in the general direction and hoped for the best.  And I kept walking.  And then I started following one street and then turning down another and then changing my mind and picking a new direction that I hoped was correct. Whenever I get lost somewhere (which really happens less often than this blog might lead you to believe), I just re-label it as learning my way around and figuring out the landmarks. With that in mind, I figured out a LOT of landmarks today.  I finally did make it to the Union, went right in a got my ID without issues, and set off on my way back to my car.  I decided that I wanted to find the post office on campus, since I had some letters to mail, or maybe even the bookstore so I could browse for some Buckeye paraphernalia.  I started walking in that direction, but quickly turned myself around AGAIN.  I almost asked someone for help, but then suddenly, I realized I was right in front of the post office!  I actually did a small victory dance and song right there on the sidewalk because I was so excited.  Just a very small one, though.  However, when I tried to find the book store from there, I completely failed.  I don't really think I ever even came close.  However, I did accidentally find my parking garage on the way, so I considered that a success, grabbed my car, and took off for the rest of my adventures today.

Busses...

Riding a bus shouldn't be too hard, right?  Well, I've never ridden a bus in a system before.  I was homeschooled in grade school, so I never rode a school bus, and I didn't try the bus system that was recently started in my hometown (mostly because I couldn't find a schedule anywhere).  However, I decided it was time to learn because I don't want to fight with parking on campus.  I figured out my route before I moved here.  I memorized my route and checked it again on the way here.  I checked it on my phone last week.  I Googled it and downloaded a map last night.  With all of that preparation, I should have been an expert, right?  Should have gotten right where I needed to go, right?
 Unfortunately, "the best laid plans of mice and men..." Long story short, I ended up ten miles away in the wrong direction and an hour and a half late for my orientation.  Thanks to my wonderful, amazing, I-can't-thank-her-enough roommate, I eventually got where I needed to go, and just in time for the best speech of the orientation (at least the one I was really excited to hear).  After that, the rest of the day was great, and then it was time to catch the bus home.  After my problems that morning, I added the new info to my thinking and knew...was mostly sure...hoped...I had the right bus. It turns out that it certainly was the right bus, but I was thirty seconds too late to catch it, so I settled in to wait for just a little while longer.  Fast forward an hour and I finally walk in my front door after learning even more about bus schedules.  I decided that since I eventually got home before dark and didn't lose any appendages on the way, today was a success.  I'll do it all over again Wednesday, but with a much better understanding of the process and less crying and getting lost; I'm sure I figure it out eventually!

O-H-I-O

I've now been in Columbus for forty-eight hours, and it still doesn't quite seem real that this is my new home.  I did a lot of driving today and figured out the nearest grocery stores, banks, and place to get an Ohio driver's license eventually (that one was both accidental and ridiculous). I'm all moved in, and I have orientation on Monday (or maybe I should say orientations...four, or maybe it's five).  Things are exciting and scary, and overall I'm just trying my best to keep thinking about what I need to do today, right now, and how I can keep doing the next right thing.  Thank you so much to everyone who's been praying for me and supporting me through all of this!