Quest 2011 and GO NVW!

My first few days at Calvin have been fantastic.  Before classes start we have a week of summer-camp-remnicient orientation and introduction activities called Quest.  We are all divided into Quest groups, who we will continue to spend time with for the next seven weeks in our required class called Prelude, which is apparently about Calvin, Reformed tradition, and being in college.  My Quest group rocks.

On Monday, I flew into Grand Rapids and was picked up by my roommate Gwen Fuller and her family.  We got my car and I stayed with them Monday and Tuesday night.  On Tuesday we were able to get onto campus and into our dorm early to set up and move in stuff.  Our dorm room looks fabulous; I'm so proud of us.  Wednesday was officially move-in day, when I became an official resident of Noordewier Vander Werp, my residence hall for the year.  Our hall theme is Pirates of the Caribbean, so it's a good thing I took the time to pack my pirate boots.  (By the way, these were taken during the organization process.  The room is much cleaner and less chaotic now, I promise :)  I'll put new pictures up soon.)

Today was our StreetFest day, when all the Quest groups descended upon the unsuspecting city of Grand Rapids and volunteered in various organizations and services around the city.  Our Quest group split, and I was sent to the local Salvation Army, where I and three others helped organize the pantry and clean the refrigerators out for teenage mothers with nowhere else to go but the Salvation Army.  This evening, to have fun and get to know each other better, our Quest group went to Aerials, a gymnastics gym that lets paying customers play with all the gym equipment.  Super bouncy trampolines, foam pits you jump into from a platform, spring mats, balance beams, uneven bars, and protective pads everywhere for tricks and stunts.  Afterwards, we made the obligatory journey to Yesterdogs and enjoyed their classic hotdogs on the Calvin dime.

Basically, it's been awesome.  I've met numerous people from all different groups and places who are friendly and fun and eager to meet people.  I've done a stellar job at fooling everyone to believe me outgoing and social, including myself.  I'm loving my newfound, long-desired social life!  I've moved in and settled, and already feel at home.  I've learned my way around campus enough to walk with a fair amount of confidence wherever I need to go.  My car is parked five minutes from my dorm, instead of most other people's fifteen.  And I did a stellar job driving a full car to and from Aerials.  I'm learning south-east Grand Rapids pretty well too.  The Barnes and Nobel just south of campus is almost a fair trade for a beach in the backyard, and I'm already planning to take a gaggle of car-less girls to Target on Sunday for some overlooked necessities.  Or maybe I'll try out Meijers like a real Michigander.  Basically, I'm obsessed with college and can't wait to start classes.  (Also, I have more bookshelves than I'd been afraid.  Guess that means I'll need a few more books :D)