A Place to Think

I haven't figured out how to change the name of this blog now that I'm no longer reporting on Up with People.

At any rate, as many of you know I moved into college yesterday, Saturday. I have a lovely roommate from Jersey and we share a nice, big light-filled room, which has much more space than I expected from a college dorm.

I woke up this morning inexplicably early, 5:50 to be precise, and went adventuring on my bike. I found a bike route that I followed through residential areas near Bard. I still don't know where it ends up, as I rode for thirty minutes and then had to turn around. The rest of the day we spent sitting and listening to introductions and a ton of safety info that I'm positive everyone already knew. So, mostly I spent the day fairly bored, but happy that there is only one day of maddeningly boring safety info versus the three in Up with People.

The best part of today was the Prokofiev concert, put on by the American Symphony Orchestra, which was FABULOUS. The theme was The Cult of the Child, and it covered an array of works from Peter and the Wolf, to a set of five fairy tales. After the concert, we heard from the Dean of Students, the Director of the Language and Thinking workshop (what I'll be doing for the next three weeks) and the President, Leon Botstein. They are all brilliant speakers, and, seemingly, brilliant intellectuals. I sat in awe listening to all of them lay out their vision for Bard, our class, and for the next three weeks.

I love being here. The trees are inexplicably soothing, the cicadas lull me to sleep and the birds wake me. I'm so glad I came to Bard and I'm so excited to begin the workshop tomorrow!!!

Love to all,
Marina