At this time last year, I was beginning a new job as a preschool teacher, which was truly an incredible experience. At this time last year, I had no idea where I’d be today.

I certainly never expected to be one of the 8,000 lovely and laid-back people residing in the capital city of Vermont, near the foothills of the Green Mountains.

College Hall, Vermont College of Fine Arts

I have already explored a bit, though I expect Montpelier will always keep a few mysteries to itself.

A few of my adventures so far have included:

• eating farm-to-table root veggie hash at the cozy Down Home Kitchen on Main Street
• meeting a few of the local pets, including Veruca the tortoise who lives in the local Bear Pond Books.
• exercising my legs on the heart-pumping hills (seriously, these hills are giving San Francisco a run for their money).
• signing up for my own library card at the downtown public library
• while at said library, befriending a sweet 85-year-old woman named Jan who called me “The Girl with the Pearl Earrings” and instructed me to be the strong woman this community needs, to go out on the streets and promote reading, and help the homeless and mentally ill. Jan, I very much hope our paths cross again!
• Participating in a terrifically difficult trivia night at the Langdon Street Tavern. No joke – Round 4 was “Presidential Middle Names” and Round 6 was “Famous Athletes in Plain Clothes.”
• Getting a good night’s sleep because this town shuts down on average at 7 pm.

In addition to discovering the green pathways, the locations of all Free Little Libraries, and greeting the friendly locals on the sidewalks, I also had my VCFA orientation yesterday. We learned about the resident ghost on campus (you can read about Anna Ghost here), took our photos for our ID cards, toured the historic library, and received some advice about how to find success during our MFA program. Our always-encouraging program director, Miciah Bay Gault, reminded us to manage our time well, to stick with a routine of serious self-care (may I suggest this daily yoga calendar?), be fearless, and remember that we were accepted to this program for a reason. We belong here. We need not doubt that.

I’m so excited to continue to build relationships with my cohort. I’ve already met so many of them, shared some laughs at trivia night together, and I have even bonded with one classmate particularly over a mutual love for the Dutch movie, Antonia’s Line!

Classes begin on Tuesday. As we’re going into Labor Day weekend, I plan to see The Glass Castle, explore the Vermont State House, snag some fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market, and soak up the last rays of summer along the grassy trails of the 185-acred Hubbard Park.

New home. New school. New state. New adventures.

Happy first day of September!