Terrapin Thoughts


This afternoon, as I wandered around University of Maryland's campus getting very lost, I realized it's so much larger than I thought it would be. As a Towson University grad, I thought I knew large schools. But UMD is something else entirely. It's like its own little city. While I didn't enjoy finding myself in one building when I was supposed to be in another (thank goodness for nice Plant Studies students who point you in the right direction!), I did enjoy being on a campus again.

 What I really loved about seeing UMD's campus was the diversity. I must have seen a thousand students wandering around between classes, and every single one looked different. There were all shapes and sizes and nationalities. I've always known that UMD had a big reach, but I didn't realize just how big. When people in society are judging others for their race or the country they were born in, it's refreshing to see an environment that embraces those differences.

 UMD really is a beautiful place and I very much hope I get a chance to see a bit more of it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eating My Way Around London

Image
I’ve never been a huge fan of tours.  I like exploring things on my own and happening upon new sites and restaurants.  Or I do what every other crafty person does; I search Pinterest for fun things in whatever city I’m traveling to, and then note them in my phone so I can find them (or get lost trying to find them) when I arrive.  However, in 2015 when I went to England and Belgium, my travel partner in crime booked 2 tours for us.  The first was a Secret Garden Tour of the Cotswolds and the second was a Chocolate tour of Brussels.  Well, to say that these tours were awesome would be a huge understatement. They were phenomenal, and I had so much fun – and I ate so much food – and they totally converted me to being a tour person. When left to my own devices, I chose Pancetta Ciabatta - Yum! That’s why, when this year’s England trip rolled around, I actually mentioned a food tour of London as being something I’d like to do.  Of course, the travel partner in crime, already aware
Read more

Gavin Creel: A Joy-filled Evening at the Kennedy Center

Image
Few performers exhibit the sheer joy of performing, and basking in the air of doing what they love, like Gavin Creel. Each time he steps on the stage, you can see his love for the arts and his desire to share it with the audience. That was no different when he joined Mary Mitchell Campbell at the Kennedy Center on Thursday as part of the Renee Fleming Voices series. Gavin is undeniably talented, and unabashedly himself, and the audience (and I) loved every moment of it! For those who may not know him, Gavin is best known for his work in the theater starring in Thoroughly Modern Millie , She Loves Me , and The Book of Mormon (in London), and later winning a Tony for his role as Cornelius Hackle in 2017's gorgeous production of Hello Dolly!   Throughout this time, he's been writing music, sharing his favorites in concert, and just being an all around wonderful performer and champion of the arts.  I first saw him in She Loves Me , and though he didn't win a Tony for t
Read more

Review: 'You are Here: A Come From Away Story'

Image
A few years ago, I took in this little musical at Ford's Theatre in DC, about the days following September 11, 2001. I had no idea what to expect when walking into the theatre. But upon walking out, I had tears in my eyes, and the biggest grin on my face. The show of course was Come From Away , and I've been in love with its simple message of kindness since the first notes of the score. In the often dark times we're living in now, it's no surprise that this show has been a global sensation and its message has resonated with so many people around the world. Not only is the message of kindness incredibly important, but it's also necessary in these days and times. Because Come From Away is based on a true story of what happened in Gander Newfoundland, in the dark days that followed the terrorist attacks of 2001, the creators believed it was important to celebrate the real life inspirations for these characters you see on stage. That brings me to You are Here: A C
Read more