Indeed it has been a while since my last post...but I assure you that it has nothing to do with a "lack" of my SC adventures to share, but simply the busy schedule I have kept for that last week and a half or so!
First, let me begin by sharing that I feel like the most lucky, blessed 1st year GA (graduate assistant) at USC - I work for a simply wonderful office. As I've shared with many this past week, it feels really great to know that I made the right decision in coming to Carolina. While the anxiety of "the move" and leaving my loved ones in the North were no easy task, my transition here has been incredibly smooth and that is largely to do with the wonderful people I have the opportunity to work with at USC. (For more details on my work at USC etc., we'll have to chat :) In an effort to be as professional as possible, I won't be posting much here! However, I wanted y'all to know how excited I am to be working with such a wonderful staff!)
I know your jaw may have dropped as you read that last sentence...did you pick up on the "y'all?" Well ladies and gents, it has indeed happened...I now use the word "y'all." I promise once you live in S. Carolina and are surrounded by this all encompassing "phrase" you cannot help but make it apart of your vocabulary! I'll never forget the first time it just rolled off my tongue...last week when I was on the phone with Drew. We were just talking and all of a sudden it just came out! There was silence on both ends of the phone until I said, "Oh my gosh..." to which Drew said, "Yep, that just happened." So, y'all better get used to it!
So today was USC move-in day. Let me tell you...I've never seen anything quite like it! Between yesterday and today over 6,000 students moved into the on-campus housing at USC. Today I had the pleasure (and I mean this sincerely!) of serving on the "Water Project" for USC Housing. It was incredible how everything was orchestrated, and it was great to have the opportunity to provide cold water to many, many, many sweaty, tired parents and students who were busy moving-in and setting up their "new homes." The whole day brought back a lot of memories of my "move-in" days - mom's worried about keeping things neat and clean, and dad's concerned with how much they could physically pack in one "trip" up the elevator! I even had the opportunity to check out one of the dorm rooms...and can I just say I am SO glad to be done with that phase? That is one box I am glad to have "checked off" on the list of life experiences. I'm thankful for a small place with several rooms and my own bathroom, thank you!
Overall, I have had a number of wonderful experiences over the past week and a half - the southern hospitality down here is truly something to write home about! However there was one observation that I made today that was certainly the "cherry on top" of my move-in-day experience.
As I left the building where our office is located this afternoon, I noticed a family and a female student that were saying their "goodbyes." As the family said their goodbyes, I saw the girl give a kiss to the young man I assume was her boyfriend. While they struggled to loosen their hold on one anothers' hands, the girl said goodbye and turned to go back into the dorm (clearly trying to hold her smile.) What she didn't see is that as she walked away, the boy she had kissed started to walk away and then turned around and watched her walk into the building...he had a smile/broken-hearted look on his face. At that moment I wanted to run up to him and tell him, it would be okay...as someone who is all too familiar with that "goodbye." As I walked to my car and my eyes welled up, I had a moment where I couldn't believe that I could say "Been there, done that." Sometimes it is hard to believe that I have a Bachelor's degree, and am now a graduate student and staff member at my dream school in Columbia, SC. Sometimes it is hard to believe that I have done the whole "goodbye thing" with the ones that I love so much, that are truly apart of me. But as I pulled myself together, so that I could actually see to drive to Starbucks for a much needed iced coffee (priorities!), I realized once again that it is those difficult moments that have led me to the greatest journeys of my life so far...with incredible people, opportunities & experiences!
Until next time :)
Love you all, miss you always, and I promise to "post" again soon!
SCD
PS: My title justification is as follows...I've learned that I am not surrounded by "palm trees" here in Columbia, but rather palmetto trees (I guess palm trees are more what you find in Hawaii). Secondly, you have not lived until you've had pimento cheese...it is delicious and if you come to visit me I can take you to a lovely place called DiPrato's where it is truly the greatest you'll ever have! xo.
No comments:
Post a Comment