Road Trip: Fall is here!

Given my previous comments about heat, it will probably come as no surprise that my favorite season is fall. I like the weather. I like the changing leaves (that wasn't always the case. Having grown up in Washington, The Evergreen State, my first fall on the east coast resulted in a deep pining for green once all the leaves had dropped). 

I also think I like fall so much because, for those of us in academia, it is the beginning of the year with all that that entails: new students to meet, new projects to start, colleagues to re-connect with--in general, a sense of optimism. Thus, the usual descent into decay that fall may symbolize to many is completely lost on me: I think of fall as representing just the opposite. 

That's THE Saint Anselm

My visit to Saint Anselm's College made me think about fall because, as you can see, the leaves are right in mid-change. It helps that it's in New Hampshire, but even upon my return to DC, the nights suddenly were chilly, and my preferred uniform of shorts and a t-shirt was insufficient and regarded with shock and astonishment by passersby. ​

My trip to St. A's (in the local parlance) also made me think of my interpretation of fall because they are a new partner institution, and so the students, faculty, and staff I met with saw our program with fresh eyes and reactions. While I enjoy talking with students who know everything (and perhaps more than I do) about our program, it's also fun to walk students through the possibilities that await them in DC. ​

So, a chill in the air means new possibilities ahead--and the ability to wear what I want without necessarily sweating.​

 I don't know what this is, but I love weird things like this on campuses.