School is back in session

Heidi writes:

Well, training is over and all of the residents are here and classes start tomorrow! There were a lot of fun activities these past couple of days on campus for all of us. On Friday, we say "V for Vendetta". I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I really did enjoy it and would recommend people to see it. It was playing in our campus theatre. On the way home, I noticed a lot more activies taking place in our student union area. Jeff and I walked up there and we got to build a stuff animal. I made an elephant and Jeff made a cow. They are so cute!




Yesterday, there was a carnival for us. I really enjoyed myself. I had cotton candy, nachos, a rootbeer float and midnight breakfast! I think going on the inflatables so many times built up an appetite. My favorite inflatable was a giant 30ft slide. I think I went down it about 25 times and each time was just as fun! It was great. Jeff and I also got our picture taken in the giant chair. Unfortunately, it was with a polaroid camera and I don't have a scanner so I will not be posting that picture. I also got an airbrush tattoo. Since I am not allowed to get anymore real ones, I thought that an airbrush tat would be the next best thing.

Today we played tennis and then went to the Welcome Back BBQ. It was a good time. I have my first class tomorrow and am looking forward to it. I will post later this week to let you know how classes are going. I will also take a couple pictures of my office. Jeff and I are also hoping to get some more pictures of the grapes - they are now purple and harvest time is just around the corner. We found a place that has a grape stomp celebration, so I am hoping that I get to participate!!

Other good news - we got tickets to 2 of the San Francisco 49ers games - one on Nov. 5 when they take on the Minnesota Vikings and the other on Dec. 1o when they take on the Green Bay Packers!! I am so excited!

Ok, that is all for now. I hope all is going well for everyone! Let us know if you want pictures of anything specific :-)

A quick trip to San Fran

Heidi writes:

I wanted to post a couple of pictures. Tim visited us this weekend. Jeff got to spend all weekend entertaining him and showing him around the area. I had an RA retreat in Vallejo, so I didn't get to spend time with them until Sunday. From the stories I heard though, it seemed like they had a great time. Yesterday we had our fantasy football draft and then we went to San Francisco and had dinner with a friend of Tim's before dropping him off at the airport. We had a great time. Tim and Jeff found some cool places that I had previously not seen, so we walked by them on our way to dinner in China Town. Here are some pictures from our walk:

Jeff Writes:

above is a picture of the Monte Cristo cafe and the front entrance to the Embarcadero. Turning around 180 degrees you can see the ferry building. There are ferries that come in and out of the pier behind the building all day long. Inside the building there is a market area that is really cool. Lots of trendy little shops and restaurants. Also outside there are farmer's markets and art and crafts shows every now and then.
The below picture is the entrance to the Embarcadero center. You can walk through about 4 or 5 blocks of the city either through the middle at ground level or through the 2nd and 3rd floors where there are many patio areas to sit and each lunch or relax. It is really cool because even when you are inside the air flows through and it is very open. Lots of trendy shops.
Below is a picture from St. Mary's Cathedral in China town...rumor has it that the verse was put on the outside of the building to hopefully catch the eye of a some of the miscreants that spent all night drinking at the bars and spent most of their money on booze and trips to the brothel. Clearly some of the finer San Francisco history and lore.
unfortunately I didn't get any better pictures of China town as we met with a friend of Tim's and walked right on in to dinner. It was awesome to be in the area with someone who actually knew a thing or two about where to go and what was going on. Believe it or not China town can be a little over whelming to the casual tourist. Tim's friend Bill was a great guide. He was also great to talk with, he is working his way through living in pretty much every major city in the US and attending some of the finer Universities a long the way: Boston U, Loyola, Georgetown law and SFU. All I have to say is after he gets his PHD finished I think he is going to make one heck of a professor.
The pictures below are of us standing in front of a fountain between the Embarcadero center and the Ferry Building...the water looked kinda nasty...interesting shade of yellow...but it actually fit really well with the industrial feel of the sculpture.

Campus & Apartment Pictures

Heidi writes:

So, I finally got out of training before 7pm so Jeff and I walked around campus and took some pictures in the sunlight.

Apartment Pictures: The picture below is of the hall we live in - Weymss House. The 3 windows on the first floor are the windows of our aparment. We have a view of the "sunken" field and the football field.

The following 3 pictures are of our aparment - 1 for each room :-) It is small, but it has not been that bad. The first picture is of our "kitchen" area and the dining room area is to the right. The second picture is of the living room. The bathroom is connected to this room. The third picture is of our bedroom. We have two dressers and two closets - so that is nice! We still have to do some "decorating" - hang pictures up and stuff.







Campus Pictures:

The above picture is of the football stadium. Unfortunately, we no longer have a football team, so there are mostly women's soccer games and some high school football games in the stadium now.

The picture below is of Morris Chapel. It is part of campus and pretty much everyone in Stockton gets married there. We have not been inside but I have heard it is gorgeous!

The picture above is of Knoll's Hall - it houses our Admissions Office (which is right when you walk into the front door) and other administrative offices.

Below is a picture of Library Columns. For some reason we just have these columns in the middle of campus - not really sure why they are there, but they are pretty!

Above is the Clock Tower and then behind that is an open area with trees and places to hang out and study or lounge around outside.

Below is a picture of a fountain that is outside behind my building. It is built on to the Quad Dining Hall.

So, there are some pictures of campus. It is really pretty here. There are so many more I could post, but if you want to see more, you will just have to come and visit! Or, go to the Pacific website - www.pacific.edu

On a side note, we are getting our first MN visitor this weekend. Tim is coming to visit. Unfortunately, I have to be at the RA retreat and we are going to Vallejo, so I won't be here. Hopefully we will get back in time on Sunday so I can get up to the football draft/cookout to see Tim for 2 hours before there is more training on campus! That reminds me...if anyone has a list of who I should draft for my fantasy team, please email it to me as I have not had time to compile a list of players!! Any help would be greatly appreciated :-)

A Few Misc. Pictures

Heidi writes:

Hello all! Sorry that it has taken me so long to write on here. Training has been keeping me extremely busy - we go from breakfast through dinner, so I do not make it home until 8pm or later. By that time, I am exhausted and just want to sleep. However, my training is now over and RA training starts tomorrow. I have a few things to plan for that, but I am starting to meet with other groups on campus that I will be working/involved with. Below are some pictures that Jeff and I took of campus tonight. It was dark when we took them, but I wanted to get some up. Hopefully, I will have time to take some during the day this week.



Jeff took this picture of me in front of the Pacific sign for the University.


This is Burns Tower. It is the tallest building on campus. I don't exactly know what it is used for (besides visitor check-in) but it is the most prominent building on campus and can be seen from a couple of miles away.


This is one of the classroom buildings on campus - all of the buildings on campus are brick and most of them have ivy growing on them.


Last night, Jeff and I went to a Saturday Night Live themed birthday party. After much discussion and lots of costume ideas and a ton of shopping around, we decided to go as the Blues Brothers. We had a great time and it was so nice to be off campus!




OK, that is all for now. I will do my best to post more and all that jazz!! I hope all is well with everyone!

Ane we're off...

Heidi writes:

Hello! I wanted to write a quick post about training and my new colleagues. Training is going well. The Graduate and Greek Resident Directors are pretty fun. We have a good time during training. There are around 16 of us and we all have been getting along great. Each of us is different and come from all over the US and world - it is pretty exciting and leads to some good conversations. I have been mostly hanging out with Alicia (from CA, but went to school in IN), Jason (from MO, but went to school in IA), and Sylvia (from Slovakia, but went to school in NE). We have good times and lots of laughs. My Graduate Assistantship is different from what the others are doing. I am the GA for Programming and Training. That means, that I will help train the rest of the group (and RAs) on the programming model, help with ideas for programs throughout the year, and I will be helping create living/learning communities on campus. Those are the main aspects of my job, but I will be doing more - I am really looking forward to it.

I met with my advisor today. Her name is Joanna and she is awesome - I really like her. We sat down and wrote out my program model for the next two years, so I now know what classes I am taking and when. The big question now is thesis or no thesis...I will most likely write a thesis so my options for a doctoral degree stay open - can you imagine, me a doctor in something :-) I guess we will wait and see what the future holds! I do know that if all goes as planned I will graduate in May 2008 with a masters in Educational Administration and Leadership with a Specialization in Student Affairs!!

OK, so this quick post is becoming rather long, so I will wrap it. I promise that I will post pictures soon - both of campus, people, the apartment, etc... I hope all is going well with everyone!!