Middlebury

I first want to document the week that has been Midd-infused, starting on Tuesday in NYC.

Tues
Jac and Belle 
Mike, Denise and Kartik's apartment 
JeeYeon 
Ruchi's apartment 
more time with Den and Mike 

Wed
Bfast with Den 
Guanghao 
Shopping along Broadway 
Adrian Lo 
chat with Zach 
Ann, Daniela, Mariella and Lance's apartment- a whole lot of chat and excitement about Midd, life catch ups

Thurs
Brunch with Lauren and Den 
Car ride to Midd with Lauren, Christina, Matt Sunderland, Jacob Johnson (snow, and the beginning of wonderful times) 
The Source 
the Grille with Mike Dickerson, Amalia, Yuan, Lauren, Joyce Ma, some CF kids, Nick! 
Bumping into Shan 
Chris Free and Josh 
Bar with Christina and Lauren (not my crowd, but drinks on Lauren are always wonderful) 
Crashing in the senior lounge with C and L

Fri
Quick breakfast with Hai, Jiahao, Arthur 
Pete Nelson in Allen! 
Language tables (Niko, Teresa, Mehdi) 
Lunch with Xue/Christina and Ruchi 
Bookstore and free Midd stuff with Christina and Jacob! 
Bihall, Nawras and Ben Wessel 
Kaye-Lani
NIKO TIME: birthday chai at Carol's, struggling with world problems and identity, the Co-op, Shaw's 
Ross: Rachel, bunch of peeps 
Round table mother-hen dinner with my freshmen <3: Olivia, Naw, Olga, Teresa, Ellie, Kai, Chad, Shan, Motlatsi, Jihad, Andrea (missing Harry, Hai, Amr, Jamie!) 
SHAN TIME: our usual walk around campus, choc-banana shakes at the Grille, dropping him off at an empty room in the libs. 
Beers in the townhouse, caipirinhas, skype with Sophie, C having a wild night 
Miscomm with Thea! :( 
Portuguese house 
HTHT with Ann about the big V 
Sleepover in senior lounge round II

Sat
Two hours in Ross, Shen's suite 
Taste of India: Thea, Hannah, Ann! Neat Repeats/Ann's first flannel 
Arroyo's with C, L and Ariel 
Carol's with Jon Isham :) 
Nap in Thea's Carpet Gallery heh 
WOC Alumni Reception, more like group-together time with the gang again 
Proctor (Shan, Joyce M, Mugo...) 
Ross (Chadddie, but more like dinner with Niko) 20mins outside Ross bumping into randoms 
Walk + room visit + meet Paul and Niko's gang + self-invite 
Awkward alum in sophomore party in Chad's room 
Thomas's suite (Aseem! Paul Hildebrand!) 
Lauren <3 
Margaritas 
Black Pearl Ball: todo mundo, bailamos... 
Una noche dulce con menino N

Sun
Breakfast with Shan, Lauren, missing Chad 
La despedida- off we go, back to NYC, DC, Cali and our real lives. 
Tea with Tika

Tiempo de despertarnos del sueño que es Midd

Big deals of the weekend
The breathtaking beauty of Middlebury, Vermont
Seeing and hearing how Niko, Shan and Chad's sophomore lives are different
Seeing and hearing how our alumni lives now are
The intense attachment to Midd, how large a part Midd still is in our lives, but how we can still process and reconcile the transition with clarity. And leave satisfied
Walking in the snow in heels and a short dress- some things don't have to change
Immense connection with and respect for Prof Jon

When might Midd cease feeling like home?