Here We Go!

As of today I am officially a college student!!

That's right, after an entire summer of waiting, I have finally moved into my dorm at Elon University. We arrived early this morning and had to wait for our turn to unload our stuff, but the Elon students and staff was there to help and brought all my stuff to the dorm. After unpacking, running errands, and setting up my NEW room, I had my first orientation session, which I just got back from.

It hasn't even been 12 hours, and already I'm lovin being at Elon and being in college. I mean, I know I still have a weekend left of orientation before classes begin on Tuesday, but still, it's been loads of fun already. I can already tell that choosing Elon was the best decision I ever made.

It's gonna be an awesome 4 years! :D

Wisdom-less?

The picture below is of me looking like a chipmunk, 24-hours after going wisdom-less:

Yes, wisdom-less meaning that I had my 4 wisdom teeth removed through a surgical procedure. Now, I'm sitting here sore and unable to eat anything but yogurt, pudding, smoothies, and milkshakes.

When I went to the dentist about two weeks ago, he told me I needed to have the impacted teeth removed ASAP. Being that I was leaving for college this coming week, it became imperative that the surgery be done enough time in advance that I would be generally well and un-swollen for orientation a week from now.

The procedure was quick and painless, as I was put under the whole time. When I awoke, I was very loopy and pretty high from all the meds that were in me. After coming home and taking painkillers, as well as a nice, long nap, I was able to relax with minimal pain. There has been little swelling and my mouth is still sore, but I will persevere, especially if I wanna go visit my friends in Athens tomorrow!

So, my first surgery was a success, and hopefully by the time college begins next week, I will still have enough wisdom to begin that march towards my degree! :D

Mac!

Who would have ever thought that my dad (who works for HP and praises all things PC) would have bought me and my sister brand new macs?!?! I guess miracles really do happen.

Upon my Mom's arrival to the states from that land across the pond (where we have now moved into a new house for the third time since relocating to the UK), she surprised us with new computers. Let's just say I was shell-shocked. Did I mention how much I love my mother??*

Anyways, our new macs are just as awesome as predicted. They are completely user friendly and are ready for use right out of the box. I guess it's what you deserve for how blatantly expensive they are. Not only are they easy to use, but that also have so many cool amenities! I can take quality pictures from the webcam in the screen, and immediately organize them in iPhoto. I can make or mix songs in Garage Band to use for personal enjoyment and then import them into Itunes, which came already installed into the computer. I can set up an address book for names and numbers, as well as a calender for all the events and scheduling I will have to do in the next four years. The list is endless!

So, if you couldn't tell, I love my new mac, and can't wait to write many more blog posts using this awesome computer! :)

*This line was added due to my mom's complaints that I didn't blog enough about her...happy now??

Three Weeks To Go!

Today marks three weeks until my first day of classes at Elon!

I'm so excited, however it is quite a bummer saying goodbye to all my friends I've been able to reconnect with here in America. Oh well, life is just like that sometimes.

I guess all this business has prevented me from blogging....oh well. Here's a quick update:

• The last two weeks of July, I worked as a day camp counselor at my church for kids in grades 1 and 2. It was extremely exhausting, but a very rewarding and fun experience
• I saw the BEST concert of my life- Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts. Definitely getting tickets for next years show!
• Gina is back in town along with her boyfriend, David. It's been really fun spending the last few weeks with them, because I know they are soon to be few and far between.
• HOT HOT HOT! It's so hot and humid here.....
• I'm so flippin excited to start college. I'm super jealous of all my friends who are moving in this week...

That's pretty much it. I promise to blog a bit more as I begin the new chapter at Elon!

Braves

One of the highlights of coming back to the great Atlanta area is going to Braves games. Since my return to Hotlanta I've already been able to experience two Braves games, both won by the home team and both truly exciting spectacles.

The first game I went to happened a few days before Independence Day, and what better way to celebrate 4th of July than to relish in America's Pastime. I went with Gina and our family friend Jeffrey. There was a HUGE American flag rolled onto the field, and a great display of patriotic fireworks following the game. On top of that, the Braves got an exciting win, breaking the tie in the bottom of the 8th inning to win the game. The second game occured last night, and as opposed to going with family, this time I went with about 10 friends. We all took MARTA (the metro in Atlanta) down to the game and then had a great time enjoying baseball and each others company. One of the highlights for me was seeing the great Greg Maddux have his number retired in a ceremony preceding the game. After an 11-0 win by the Braves (wooooo!) there was a fireworks display and a fun train ride home.

I absolutely love Braves games and look forward to it everytime I come back to Atlanta. Not only is it baseball, a sport that I love and someday wanna make a career broadcasting, but it's that sense of comfort I get. When I'm at a Braves game I'm surrounded by people enthusiastic and joyous for their home team (at least when they win) and being in that atmosphere makes me so happy. At the end of the day, even though the may sometimes lose, I can still be happy to be a fan of one of the best baseball franchises, the Atlanta Braves.

College Confusion?!?!

Over the past week, I have had the opportunity to visit TWO college campuses that aren't even my own! First, we took a trip to Athens (Georgia, not Greece, don't get too excited) and took a tour of the University of Georgia. Then, my friend Emily took me down to Milledgeville, Georgia to see Georgia College & State University, the college she is attending.

While the main purpose of visiting GCSU was to see where Emily was going, I wanted to see UGA not only for Gina, but to make sure I made the RIGHT decision in choosing my school for the next four years. Low and behold, I was in love with UGA. I mean, the campus was absolutely perfect. It mixed the old and new buildings, while maintaining a well organized campus and an awesome college town. Not only that, but a bunch of my friends from here in Atlanta are going there AND they have an awesome SEC football team...why did I choose Elon again??

Despite all those good things I loved about UGA, I still feel confident in my choice of going to Elon. It's a smaller school in a great state with the perfect communications program to suit my needs. AND, if after the first year I absolutely hate it, there is always the possibility of transferring to UGA. As far as GCSU goes, the campus was absolutely beautiful, and although in the middle of nowhere, it still seemed like a great college town and the perfect fit for Emily. I can't wait to come visit her there throughout the next four years.

So all this college confusion basically tells me that I made the right choice in going to Elon. I hope I still feel the same after seeing Bama next week and Auburn in early August.

Georgia...On My Mind

Now that the England door has finally closed, it's time to begin the new adventures in my favorite place:

THE SOUTH!

Hooray for sweet tea, Chick-Fil-A, the Braves, warm nights, and tons of fun