Going Back

I was driving along the Hutchinson Parkway while Sebastian speed read a book about Thailand. Out of a moment of quiet I sighed and mumbled to Sebastian--

 "Do you think we'll see anyone we know?" 

He sat thoughtfully for a moment and then responded. 

"Do you have any sweatshirts with hoods?"

The first stop on our epic journey across country is none other than Vassar College. Sebastian, who's applying for a Fulbright, has a battery of interviews and meetings today before his application is due at 4:00. Several days ago, when Sebastian informed me that our first stop on this grand adventure would be the very college we just graduated from, I was secretly panicking. There are two kinds of college graduates. Those who can't wait to return and those who would prefer to remain far away... far far away. The first type of person can be seen taking beer bongs at the first couple parties of the season, the second (if they're seen at all) will be spotted hiding in corners and behind sunglasses as they try to inconspicuously make their way to their destination. 

In many ways, Vassar is still my home. The place itself-- the gorgeous sweep of trees, the quiet lake, the profusion of flowers circling old stone-- holds a part of me that will stay here forever. What made me cringe as I drove here today wasn't Vassar itself, but the scene, the soul-crushing parties where people who've pretended not to know one another for months finally get drunk and admit they facebook stalk one another. I dreaded the way people at Vassar avoided one another with that particular brand of small liberal arts college self-conscious paranoia. 

I got out of the car at Vassar with a sigh, expecting the worse. Within minutes I saw a whole brigade of old teachers and acquaintances. I was shocked as they all hugged me, spoke with me, and bid me a heartfelt goodbye. I ran into a girl who took my belly dance class and found out that she's teaching her own class this year. She was excited, nervous. I promised to come surprise everyone if I could. Walking the trails behind the golf course complete strangers stopped to say hi. 

Where am I? What did they do with this place called Vassar?

I can't tell for sure. All I know is that today is unexpectedly beautiful. The leaves are just starting to turn orange here and the sky-- a bright, bright blue-- is much clearer than I ever remembered.