Stickin' With Sam

I arrived at Richmond three days ago and I’m still getting adjusted to the new lifestyle here. I don’t have my own car anymore and can’t just do what I want to do, so I have to walk everywhere. My dorm is really far away from where the gym is, a 10-minute walk. It’s not like hopping in my car and driving to Darien High School to work out.

The food so far has been awesome: I guess I can understand the “freshman 15″ because it has been so good. I’m pretty much unpacked and settled in, and my roommate Kara, who is also my teammate on the lacrosse team, is great. I couldn’t have asked for a better roommate. We have been doing everything together.

My parents left yesterday afternoon and said their final goodbyes. It was sad: my mom started crying so I started crying. It was like, Oh my God I am by myself. It was kind of scary.

We have a strict schedule for orientation, all the freshmen are put in groups and you get tours of campus and get introduced to the college. It is very helpful but a little overwhelming.

I’m so surprised how nice the people are. I’m so used to people walking by you and just blowing you off. Here everyone says hello or smiles as you pass them.

I met my new coach two days ago and she seems really cool. She is really energetic. Kara and I had just unpacked and we wanted to stop and see if she was in because this is her first year at the school and she is just getting moved in like we are. We talked to her for about 20 minutes. She discussed our schedule and how we start off with Maryland. Great!

Because of the schedule I have only worked out once so far, which is kind of weird.

Tonight there is a dance and tomorrow there is going to be a get-together with the lacrosse team. Then on Sunday there is a picnic at the president’s house.

It has been a little overwhelming: I kind of feel like I am in camp because everything is scheduled. I’m in college and I want to do things on my own. Still, it has been very exciting.

I’m really looking forward to starting classes on Monday and really getting settled in at my new home.

I’ll check back with you next week and hopefully have more stories to tell.