Is it really over? Freshman year seems to have just started yesterday. I vividly remember moving in and writing my first entry; this morning I moved out and now I am writing my last entry. Freshman year has flown by at warp speed and now, as I sit waiting in the Houston airport for my flight home, it all seems so surreal.
I cannot begin to convey how much this year has changed me. The many events that I have relayed to you through my diary entries are among those that have significantly formed my first year experience at UR. Within my first year, I experienced living on my own for the first time. I learned what it is like to be independent and self-reliant, two qualities that have helped me to mature into my own person. I have also experienced totally new places, including my travels and the city of Richmond itself. Along with my exposure to new places, I have learned new cultures and met new people. I have also formed meaningful relationships with incredibly talented and interesting people from all over the world. And above all, I have had the privilege of attending ten UR classes and learning from dedicated professors who have challenged my way thinking and supported me in my academic and personal endeavors. Â
No amount of pictures or blog entries can sum up these past nine months. I have had nothing but opportunities ever since I was accepted into the University of Richmond. My first year was an incredible success and I cannot wait to see what the next three years have in store for me. Thank you for sharing my first year with me, dear readers, I hope yours will be just as amazing.
Signing off,
Kim
Happy Easter weekend!
Although I do not celebrate Easter, it has been a great holiday weekend for me. I accompanied the UR Model United Nations (MUN) group on our second trip of the year – to Chicago! Along with MUN delegations from over thirty other colleges, we attended the Model United Nations conference hosted by the University of Chicago. We stayed at the Chicago Hyatt Regency where the conference was held. This was an extremely ideal location as it’s set right in the middle of downtown Chicago, right across from the river and in walking distance to all the major Chicago hotspots. It was an incredibly enjoyable weekend full of meeting new people, debating historic issues and exploring the city!
When in Chicago, I had some spare time outside of conference committees to meet up with a few old friends from high school. They showed me around the city and we caught up over delicious Chicago cuisine (aka deep dish pizza). My MUN group and I also found some free time to explore Chicago on our own.
After four days of conferencing and exploring, we were ready to go home. I loved my weekend in Chicago and I love it even more that the University helped to make it happen by financially supporting MUN. It was a great learning and travel experience that makes my freshman year more memorable. It was also good for all of us to get off campus and experience something different for a weekend. Now it’s back to the grind, where everything is piling up in preparation for the semester wind-down.
Chicago by night
Meeting up with my friend from home!
I had to get a picture with the night skyline 
The famous Chicago “bean”!
UR Model UN and the obligatory “bean” picture.
At the fountain. The skies are so blue and the city provides such a nice background that this picture almost looks surreal!
Close-up
We wanted to prove that we’ve been “in” Lake Michigan.
The official Chicago picture
The large and lovely Easter package that awaited me upon my arrival home. My roommate’s parents had sent us all sorts of Easter goodies!
Until next time!
Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to announce my finalized summer plans! I was recently notified that I have been accepted into the summer study abroad program in Cordoba, Argentina. Additionally, the Latin American and Iberian Studies (LAIS) department offered me a generous scholarship to help alleviate the program cost. I cannot wait to spend my summer exploring a whole new culture all the while earning credit towards my LAIS degree!
               Through the program, I will take classes on Latin American/Argentine culture and Spanish-American literature at Blas Pascal University during the week and explore different parts of the country on the weekends. Weekend excursions include visits to small historic towns of Alta Gracia and Villa General Belgrano in Argentina’s Cordoba Province with other UR students in the program. We will also venture on hikes and horseback outings to explore natural wonders such as Valle de la Luna and Talampaya National Park. Then, we will spend the last five days of the program in the nation’s historic capital of Buenos Aires.
               In addition to exploring the country through excursions, I will have the once in a lifetime chance to personally get to know the Argentine people and culture. I will be staying with an Argentine host family during my four weeks in Cordoba. Through home-stay, I will experience family customs and enjoy home-cooked meals. I will also be partnered with a student from Blas Pascal who will show me how the average Argentinean college student lives.
               Sharing my summer plans with you has only made me more excited for my Argentina adventure. All this to show that the University offers amazing summer opportunities in addition to everything else, so you should definitely scope them out when you’re here!
