Junior Year of Grad School

I am WAY behind on blogging, having realized I haven't written anything since my final Alaska post in August. For those interested in perusing my Alaska summer blog, you can find it here: http://sarahalaskaadventures.blogspot.com/

I'm going to write two blog posts to catch up on last semester, and this current semester. So, what did my "junior year" of grad school look like last fall? I'll give you a summary, photo blog version!

 I started a new Graduate Assistantship in International Student Services, and couldn't be happier! I have phenomenal coworkers and absolutely love the projects I work on. The photo above is during international student orientation in August.

 In August, we welcomed the new HESA cohort to USC. The photo above shows the second-years waiting to welcome out the first-years and reveal spuddies! In HESA, a second-year in the program mentors a first-year, which we call a "spuddy" match.

The HESA band, #IPledgeToTheSwag, with our HESA program director Jenny Bloom. We wrote a song for her to celebrate her birthday. HESA would not be what it is today without this amazing lady!

My amazing spud Michelle! Michelle stayed with me during GARP (HESA interview days) the prior February, and I was so excited that she decided to call USC her home for graduate school!

 This is our "spud family". Michelle and Thomas (left) are good friends in the first-year cohort, and are spuds to Ryan and I. This was on a spud family date to the Columbia Zoo.

For Labor Day weekend, Katie, Michelle, and I road tripped to Savannah. None of us had been before and we had an awesome time! 

A semester highlight was spending another magical weekend at Dr. Rotholz's cabin up near Brevard, NC. It was a fantastic weekend to spend in the fresh mountain air with good friends. :)

 Pup love at the cabin!

This is my wonderful roommate Tessa. It has been a blast living with her (and her spunky cat Obi) this year!

Fall 2013 I co-taught a University 101 course at USC. These are the students from my class at the Farmer's Market on campus. They were quite a group!

In October I was fortunate to spend an extended weekend back home in Iowa. We had a family day at an apple orchard, which as you can see from above, was quite a fun adventure!

Reconnecting with friends in Iowa

With the siblings at the apple orchard

With grandma and grandpa at the orchard

In October, I attended the regional NAFSA (Association of International Educators) conference in Raleigh, NC, and had the opportunity to present a session with my lovely co-worker Lauren! This was our obligatory post-presentation photo. :) 

 Academy-award nominated director Mira Nair was at USC in the fall for International Education Week. It was a pleasure to view one of her movies and hear her speak about her experiences! Fun fact: she was offered the director position for the fifth Harry Potter movie and turned it down. *insert nerd freak out here*

I was able to reconnect with coworkers from last year, which was wonderful! I miss these two so much.

SPAliday celebration took place in early December, which was a definite success! 

I had the privilege of serving as an American buddy to Sara, a graduate student from France (on the left). Her good friend Thomas (also from France) is buddies with Ryan, so this is our "buddy family" at the end of the year banquet in December.

My dear friend Joanna got married in November! Her and Lydia (middle and left) were two of the first people I met when I moved to Columbia and I can't even put into words how much their friendship has meant to me. It was such a treat to reconnect at the wedding.

My Australian friend David (who I originally met at Iowa State) came back stateside for a visit and spent Thanksgiving break in South Carolina (and D.C.) with me. 

I FINALLY made it to D.C. over Thanksgiving break, which was a fabulous trip. I was able to catch up with my friend Olivia, who I became friends with during NHSMI 10 years ago. 10 years separation didn't prevent us from catching up and enjoying some delicious D.C. coffee! :)

I was able to see the Lincoln Monument. This was a definite highlight of the trip, as anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE Abraham Lincoln.

With my friends Ryan and David in D.C.

Getting presidential treatment

The White House

All in all, the fall semester was a busy one. Between starting a new job, teaching my first class, and traveling, it was a wonderful "junior year" of graduate school. Reconnecting with old friends and making some new ones reminded me that there's no way to predict where life may take us. The time we have with others is finite and it's so important to make the most of opportunities with those around us during different stages of life. I hadn't thought I'd be reconnected with David or Olivia, but alas I was reconnected with both of them last semester. Life is full of fun surprises!