Days One and Two from the University of Michigan!

"Konban Wa, ladies and gentlemen; good evening."(--Kevin Brauch, floor reporter, Iron Chef America).

I write to you all today as I sit in my standard-issue dorm desk and non-standard issue OfficeMax rolling executive chair (believe me--it was WORTH every penny!). I am very excited to be here and I know there are a thousand potential opportunities here for me to utilize, plenty of resources to help me succeed, and many many new people to meet. The whole concept of those things is slightly overwhelming. On top of that, my parents left today...after two nights and two full days of college life (sans classes for the time being)...so I'm feeling a little lonely and a little vulnerable. But I think that once my roommate moves in on Thursday, I'll feel more at home. I'll at least be distracted for a while.

My roommate, his name is Zeid; he goes by "Z," is a nice and peaceful guy. We've gotten along really well so far, and I anticipate that that will continue. The only downside to me moving in first is that Z is bringing the TV on Thursday!

For those of you that have never been to Ann Arbor or U of M, it is such an incredibly beautiful place. It is a smaller city (population of less than 200,000 including the 60,000+ students/staff/faculty at the university), so it has all the modern conveniences and stores that you could want, plenty of dining variety, and public transportation. But it also has lots of greenspace, a nice downtown that's never TOO hectic (although traffic can be bad!), and plenty of fresh air, sunshine, and quiet. It's overall the perfect place for someone like me and it actually was voted "the quintessential college town," by US News and World Report. You should come visit sometime!

Tomorrow, I meet with Dr. Marie McCarthy, department head of Music Education, so I can add my double major in Instrumental Music Education. Yes, you read that correctly. I switched to instrumental. The bottom line is, as a good friend and colleague advised me, which would I rather envision myself in front of daily as a high school director--band or choir? And the answer for me is band. Both band and choir have unique challenges and benefits, but you to do what you love. And that for me, right now, at least, is band. Who knows...I've got a LONG time to decide for sure, so I'll see how it goes. Tomorrow will be an interview with the department head and another professor. Hopefully it'll be easier that I'm already in the Music School. Wish me luck!

Briefly, I got my parking permits, have all my textbooks, got all my office supplies and other dorm supplies, I setup a meeting with my German advisor to make my German minor official, and I will go see the UHS (University Health Service) later this week and work all that out. The end of the week has plenty of welcome events for freshman and returning students, so I'll have fun doing that later in the week.

Well, that's about all for now...any questions or comments, please email me! I'd be happy to answer them here on the blog. Thanks for your emails of support--keep 'em coming!

"So now, America, with an open heart and an empty stomach, I say unto you in the words of my uncle: Allez Cuisine!" (--Chairman, Iron Chef America).