Two Successes in One Weekend!

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day at NUCL (Northwest Undergraduate Conference on Literature) and it was a nice break from a stressful week. I presented my paper during the second session (mid-morning), and despite feeling a little nervous beforehand, the presentation went well. About 10 people attended, and we had a lively discussion. One of the three students who was supposed to present was absent, so we had more time to talk. After presenting, we made our way down to the Terrace room (private room below the Commons reserved for events) for a delicious lunch. I sat at a table with the two respondents and the other presenter in my panel, as well as a few students from another panel. We had a very fun discussion about literature, including our guilty pleasures--children's books is my guilty pleasure, in case you are wondering. After lunch, we listened to one of the English professors read a keynote address by the speaker who was supposed to come but had to cancel at the last minute. Then we had another session, which I was a respondent. There are two respondents on each panel, and though my partner and I read through the papers and came up with questions in advance, we did not need to ask ours because everyone asked each other questions. I was tired after a long day, but happy to have presented and responded.

After two months of figuring housing options with various people, I anxiously attended housing selection day. I originally was in a group with two other girls, which would have made separating difficult if we did not get a house or apartment. My two friends wanted to go back to Fields if these options did not work out, but after living in a dorm for three years, I decided that I was ready for a change. However, I found three very nice nursing students who were looking for one more person to join their house. I invited them to join my three friends and I, even though our housing priorities were different. Despite housing day being hell last year, today at least ten times better! We all showed up a half hour before our appointed time (technically, my appointed time, as I had the highest point total of all the girls). By the time my number was called, most of the apartments in Haggerty/Tyson were filled. Luckily, my next plan was to get a UP owned house with the lovely ladies I met recently. Thanks to the housing powers that be, I am living in a house near behind my current dorm with four nursing students (one who is currently studying abroad in Australia). I am beyond thrilled that housing day was not a replay of last year, and that I have more independence than I do in the dorms. All of us have our own rooms, and I am very excited to trade in the Commons cuisine for the ability to cook my own food.

NUCL and housing aside, I am happy that spring break is on the horizon. Five days, I think I can make it!