A Night to Remember

Today started in a much less scheduled way than the rest of our days here at VSA, instead of having a designated time to check in at our proctor's doors, we were able to wake up any time between 8 and 12 and go down to breakfast on the first floor of our dorms on our own. Because the kitchen where we get all our meals is closed on Sunday mornings, VSA has Panera bring breakfast which means pastries and fruit, and a lot of time to sleep in. 

Instead of taking advantage of the easy schedule for sleep, I used my morning to work on a presentation for class on Theodore Roosevelts inaugural address and watched the final match of the World Cup with some friends in one of the Proctors dorms. Cyndi was rooting for France, and I was not, so needless to day one of us came out of the experience in higher spirits, but the game was still so much fun for a pretty casual spectator like myself. 

That took us all the way up through lunch, and as soon as we had cleared our trays it was time for the highly anticipated afternoon activities, and as you may have guessed (or may not have) mine was the zoo. 

Cyndi posing on a Hippo at the playground

Now, in general, I do not support zoos because of what they mean for the animals that live in them, but I miss my dogs so much that I decided to give it a chance. As it turned out, I could not have made a better decision. The zoo was an absolute blast, between the goats and kangaroos that we could pet, to a hidden monkey exhibit located in one of the bathrooms, to the peaceful flamingos, and much much more. Additionally, although I have no real idea, the seemed to have pretty good enclosures. 

Peaceful Flamingos

A bathroom Monkey

After the zoo, which left me exhausted from 4 hours spent in the sun and then the rain, but always in the everpresent Nashville heat, we returned back to the dorms for a bit of downtime before dinner. 

After some more SOFT time, that was spent in once again, working on finishing up my presentation, I fell into a restful sleep, gearing for Monday. 

Monday morning started bright and early with my roommate's helpful alarm, and I tried to force my body into compliance with the VSA schedule, dragging myself through a shower and a brush through my hair. 

Breakfast gave way to class, which started with presentations, and gratefully I was able to get through mine without any major issues, and before I knew it, it was time for lunch. The afternoon offered a welcomed break from the pressure of the morning with speech delivery exercises, that involved reciting poems as dramatically as possible. 

Soon it was time for the first day of our new ACE, mine being Stage Combat, a class where we learn how to use tricks of perspective to make it look like we are fighting people. Our teacher performs and teaches stage combat professionally and he walked us through two punches and a slap to start off our arsenal.

Soon it was SOFT, this time I was a bit more adventurous and took part in t-shirt making with some friends. There was puff paint and fabric markers, and I found out just how talented some of my fellow VSAers are when given the right materials. 

A call with my parents and some much-needed sleep brought about morning again. I rose with a smile on my face because today was field trip day. We would be visiting The Hermitage or the home of Andrew Jackson in order to conduct an ideological criticism. 

We analyzed the ways that the museum ought to portray the controversial president with his infamous Trail of Tears and pro-slavery policies, and the implication of the way that the museum chooses to present him to all of its visitors. We diligently took notes and peeled back the layers of deception and indoctrination that surround all aspect of our daily lives, carefully examing the musem.

My friends Clay and Kate outside The Hermitage

A guided tour of Andrew Jackson's home concluded our time at The Hermitage, and it was soon time to get back Vanderbilt for ACE.

ACE today consisted of us polishing some of our punching skills, and adding the "John Wayne" punch along with a few others. 

Instead of going to the dining hall after free time, we had our first Proctor Group Night (which included dinner). Proctor Group Night is, in my opinion, the best thing since sliced bread, maybe better. Our group elected to spend it in, and we started off with some games, and before it was over we had all laughed, cried, and laughed some more. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of such an incredible group of women who all love and support each other so fiercely, despite only having met a week ago. 

My Proctor Group during PGN

Most groups ended at around nine, but we kept the party alive until just before lights out at 11 and had the best time the whole way through. 

So now, I write this blog, with my stomach full of ice cream, and my heart even fuller.