PSU: week one.

Wow, it's been so long since i've updated, but it's been CRAZY! First of all, two weeks after graduating high school, i'm officially a college student! it's nuts, but i feel like i've been here a year and not a week! Like i feel like i'll be a sophomore in the fall!

So i moved in last Sunday (June 28th) and it went really well. I love my dorm (i'm in the Honors College building; that's where they stuck everyone doing the LEAP program i'm doing this summer); it's really big (for a college dorm), the bathrooms are decent (again, for college dorms), and my roommate is so sweet and low-maintenance. I've met a bunch of people, one girl i've started going to the gym with, others i met during a community service project i did (working outside at a recycling yard...in the rain...in shorts...and flip flops. But the other girls i hung out with were wearing shorts, too, so we bonded). I've started chatting with some of the people from my classes about the homework and stuff, and i'm getting to learn all their names, too. A big group of girls from my building went to see the 4th of July fireworks, and then last night we went to the basement lounge and had a movie night! We watched Mamma Mia and ate pizza! So fun, i think we're going to make it a regular thing!

As far as classes go, i'm on day 3. They're good, a little intimidating (each class comes with a syllabus to tell us what we're doing this semester, and my speech one is pretty detailed, which i sort of like, so i can work ahead if i want to). For my speech class, we're going to have to do six speeches, three are big ones and they're linked together (1: present a social problem, 2: make a policy to change it, 3: motivate others to help change it). The others are small (your biggest pet peeve, one relating a youtube video to the course). And there's an impromptu one (the only thing about this course that's freaking me out) where the instructor will randomly pick a few people a day to do a spontaneous speech about a topic she picks. And since i'm not great speaking without prep, it's making me nervous. I did my first speech on my pet peeve (when my books are loaned out and returned to me in worse condition...yeah i'm bizarre like that). Otherwise, that class is fine.
English is pretty cool; i love writing, and we're doing 5-6 papers. I'm so glad i took AP English this past year; i feel so prepared for these essays, thanks to Mr. Wall! Both my instructors are really young (early twenties, grad students maybe?) so that's less intimidating. I answer lots of questions in class, because i'm sick of just sitting around being shy. No one from college knows how i acted in high school, which i think is sort of awesome! Anyway, i'm really chatty in English, and it makes it so much more fun!

As far as other stuff i've done, the night i got here, there was a big social (complete with Creamery ice cream, which apparently can't be sold anywhere off campus because the fat content doesn't pass inspection...limiting myself on ice cream now) in the Hub (the center for non-alcoholic nightlife at PSU). They had a guy making INSANE balloon animals (he made me Elmo!), a comedian who specialized in college campus performances (and was HILARIOUS; we sat in the front row and he picked on my Elmo), circus performers who juggled all sorts of things, and an ice cream social. Graham Spanier, the president of PSU, came for a while and scooped ice cream! He's so cool! Apparently if you write him an email, he'll respond within three days. I'll have to try that. Then last monday evening, i went to a movie with Bridget, my amazing RA, and some of the other RAs. It was really cool, and Bridget told me about what it takes to be an RA, so that's something to consider for next year. Guarenteed housing! :)

As for today, i have my English class at 12:45. I think i'll just eat some snacks here instead of going to lunch (since i ate at 9 and it's only 11:30 now); i don't go to lunch too often. After class i'll probably hit the gym for about 45 minutes, then do some homework and go to dinner. At 8:30, Bridget's holding a cookie baking party in the kitchenette on our floor, so that'll be fun.

Guess that's all my news. Arts Fest is coming this week, which is apparently a big deal. No one seems to know exactly what goes on, except there's a TON of people. So it should be interesting. My mommy's coming up on Satuday for her birthday, so i'm staying in the hotel with her and we're going to Johnny Depp's new movie! YAY!!!

If anyone wants to send me letters or anything, here's my new address. i love getting mail!!
Kaitlin Bartlett
116 Atherton Hall
University Park, PA 16802

Love you guys!
-Kaitlin