Last Saturday I left South Africa, bound for the U.S. for the next six weeks.
My first destination was Nashville. I spent this past week at my beloved alma mater, Vanderbilt University. Stepping onto campus is like a breath of fresh air. No matter what’s going on in my life, or how crazy things may seem, or how jet-lagged I feel… all is well in the world when I’m at Vanderbilt : ) There’s something magical about those 300 plus acres tucked between West End and 21st Avenue. No matter how much the university changes and evolves, I always hope it feels like this, like home.
While spring was blossoming into summer in South Africa, it was still fall in the States. Autumn is by far my favorite season, and autumn in Nashville is simply breath-taking. The weather is gorgeous, a pleasant 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit most days, and the trees are the most brilliant shades of amber, vermilion, pumpkin and rust. Heaven on earth!
I had a productive week filled with meetings at the school, coffee dates with friends, and free Wi-Fi at Panera. What more can a girl ask for? I’m already looking forward to coming back in February!
Note: After more than seven months of Starbucks withdrawals, I probably had nearly 30 cups of coffee this week. For future reference, not a great idea…
Kirkland Hall
