I am joining Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for her favourite thing party. I've given this post some thought because I want to clearly express this feeling I get in September when the students return to school. If you live in a college or university town, you might feel the same. This time of year, the last week of August and the first week of September, brings a level of excitement and vitality to my city that nothing else seems to accomplish. I love the feeling of the city coming alive. Instead of mourning the end of summer, there is a sense of anticipation, of many wonderful things to come.
You start to see the rental trucks and vans bringing furniture and boxes. A lot of the older houses that line our two downtown streets have been turned into rentals. The last week of August you are dodging double parked vans with 20 somethings unloading beds and couches that have seen better days. The trail of students in and out of the houses remind me of ants taking their prized morsels back to the nest. For a lot of these kids, this is their first place of their own; their first nest to feather. By the end of this week, they are settled in. The boxes have been flattened and await pickup curbside.
The new inhabitants lounge in old chairs on covered front porches, wearing t-shirts and shorts, and swigging back a brew or two (or 3 or 4). The colours are bright and the voices are free and joyous and it sounds like a party you really want to join. Unfortunately you had your chance many years ago and now you are just a member of the audience. But there is a vicarious thrill in the air and I gulp it down while I can.
The downtown grocery stores are full of students buying supplies that are tucked in their backpacks and carried back to their new digs. I love being behind these kids in line, visualizing where they are heading home to, with their kale and tofu or their Kraft dinner and chips. The stores and the bars come alive and it feels like the city awakens and is starting to pull all-nighters again.
My city has two fine institutions of higher learning - Trent University and Fleming College. I've attended both and love the diversity they bring. A chance to learn and interact with students from all over the world is a great treasure in life.
This is my favourite time of year because this influx of fresh, young faces into the city makes me feel like anything is possible and a brand new shiny adventure is just around the corner. All you have to do is hold your breath and dive in.
You start to see the rental trucks and vans bringing furniture and boxes. A lot of the older houses that line our two downtown streets have been turned into rentals. The last week of August you are dodging double parked vans with 20 somethings unloading beds and couches that have seen better days. The trail of students in and out of the houses remind me of ants taking their prized morsels back to the nest. For a lot of these kids, this is their first place of their own; their first nest to feather. By the end of this week, they are settled in. The boxes have been flattened and await pickup curbside.
The new inhabitants lounge in old chairs on covered front porches, wearing t-shirts and shorts, and swigging back a brew or two (or 3 or 4). The colours are bright and the voices are free and joyous and it sounds like a party you really want to join. Unfortunately you had your chance many years ago and now you are just a member of the audience. But there is a vicarious thrill in the air and I gulp it down while I can.
The downtown grocery stores are full of students buying supplies that are tucked in their backpacks and carried back to their new digs. I love being behind these kids in line, visualizing where they are heading home to, with their kale and tofu or their Kraft dinner and chips. The stores and the bars come alive and it feels like the city awakens and is starting to pull all-nighters again.
My city has two fine institutions of higher learning - Trent University and Fleming College. I've attended both and love the diversity they bring. A chance to learn and interact with students from all over the world is a great treasure in life.
 |
| I graduated in Business Administration, Marketing from Fleming |
 |
| Trent has the most picturesque setting |
This is my favourite time of year because this influx of fresh, young faces into the city makes me feel like anything is possible and a brand new shiny adventure is just around the corner. All you have to do is hold your breath and dive in.
Julie
Amazing town you live in. Nice tour.
ReplyDeleteJudy
Julie what a great post! My daughter and her family live in a college town. I visit often and know the excitement of when the students return! hugs, Linda
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! I've lived in college towns and taught at colleges. It's pretty exciting come fall. You described it beautifully. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
Parece que a cidade recebe um grande fluxo de energia nesta época do ano! Muito emocionante seu texto. Abraços,
ReplyDeleteZilda
I never seem to get too old to feel that excitement of 'back to school time'. We have had such a hot, dry summer that the cooler days and nights are such a blessing. I love the picture of the night scene, you live in a lovely city.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely 'take' on 'back to school time'; it is exactly as you described and it brought back some very sweet memories for me at the U of T. So true what you also said about the students' voices being free and joyous and how we are audience members now. Thanks for the nostalgic moment!
Poppy
Such an evocative post! Although Los Angeles is full of bustle and busy-ness all the time, there is still a heightened sense of excitement as fall quarter arrives. We were shopping at the new Target outside of UCLA yesterday and it was seemingly full of students - I think possibly on the mission of celebrating the waning days of summer before knuckling down when classes begin in a couple weeks.
ReplyDeleteI had a little bit of longing to be part of that again, to be on the cusp of new beginnings again ...
Having just moved my kiddo into her dorm in north Ga. I understand this. You live in a charming town. Visiting from MHC. Olive
ReplyDeleteI agree, Julie, that a college environment really makes this time of year feel special. Here in New England there are so many college cities, and while I enjoy the peace and quiet of summer, there's something invigorating about the return of students in the Fall.
ReplyDeleteAw, this was a really nice post. In idea I would like to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means seem to get something done.
ReplyDelete