Mizzou

Thursday:
We woke up bright eyed. Finished cramming everything we possibly could in to our suitcases and headed to the airport.

We were ready to board our planes! It was exhilarating to see something we had been talking about for so long actually become a reality. We were leaving!

While I waited for Abbey, Millie and Alyssa to check-in to their flights, I perched myself up in front of the escalators of the airport. A couple walked past me in a hurry, and the man accidently dropped cash behind him. I quickly called out to him and pointed out his money. The man walked back, scooped up his cash and came up to me.  He began to pull out his billfold and pulled out a $10 bill. Then handed it to me. I refused to take it. I told him he did not have to pay me! He placed the money on my suitcase in front of me and said “Buy yourself breakfast, and have a safe flight”. And he and his wife ran to catch their plane. 

“This is going to be a good day” I thought to myself.

And it was.

We said our goodbyes and parted to go to our separate gates.

At times that day, I would catch myself smiling and had no idea why. I think I was just still in shock that I was actually getting to have this adventure.

I landed in a tiny airport in Columbia, Missouri. Was picked up by some adorable new friends and drove the short ten minutes here:

To The University of Missouri.

Good Ol' Mizzou

I have been spoiled in this gorgeous house getting to hang out with some of the funniest people I have ever met.

One of their traditions, that I love so much, is a Panhellenic Chant War. It starts at one house where the girls run and yell a chant to another sorority in "Greek Town". Like clockwork, house by house joins in running down the street, chanting each others sorority cheers until they all join in.

This campus holds so many other wonderful traditions and gems. 

These five pillars are the only architecture remaining of the original campus of Mizzou. There are five similar pillars down the road which were made to link the community with the campus.

This tiled clover is in front of the Engineering School. If a girl walks across the clover it is said that she will marry and engineer. 

I walked across it...three times. Not sure what walking across it three times means or what is going to happen now. Stay tuned.

One of the coolest things Mizzou holds is Thomas Jefferson's tombstone. 

Fun fact: The President of the United States is not listed on his accomplishment's because he didn't want to be remembered for just his presidency.

Needless to say, this campus holds some pretty remarkable history and even more remarkable people. It has been such an honor to work with these girls. I have worn many "hats" this week: Consultant, counselor, friend, maid, hairdresser, cheerleader, tourist and I have loved wearing all of them.

What I have learned here:
Be yourself. It is so much easier to be you than try to be someone you think people NEED you to be.
Jump in. It is scary in a new place, but I need to just try to dive in and help in any way I can.
Balance. Still struggling to say in contact with people from home and finding "me" time.

But hey, I'm living and learning.
Thank you Mizzou.