Monday, September 5, 2011

Cousins on Tour







We stayed with cousins in Virginia this weekend, visiting colleges nearby. Two of the cousins, the ones already in high school, tagged along on the tours. Another one, the young man in the orange polo shirt above, has just started his freshman year at a university in Washington D.C., and in between classes and his afternoon water polo practice, he joined us for lunch and showed us his dorm room and gave us the unofficial tour. He is an international student from Jamaica, and he's loving the college choice he made. He lobbied for our daughter to seriously consider the school so they can continue the (unplanned) family tradition of cousins attending college together.

As it turns out, after the information session and official tour, my daughter decided she did like the school. She liked the energy and diversity she saw and felt a kind of passion in the students there. She also said, "It's the only school I've visited where I heard a different language being spoken around me." But there are three other schools she likes at least as much, so we shall see where she gets in and what the financial aid packages will be, as that will definitely be a factor.

Then, later in the evening, we drove to Maryland to attend another cousin's sweet sixteen celebration. That's the birthday girl in the blue shirt, in case you can't tell. It was a glow party, and young and old, we decked ourselves out in glowing necklaces and ate and danced. The kids taught us older folk to do the Dougie and the Wobble, and we were quite a sight, let me tell you.

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12 comments:

  1. Too fast! I'm not ready for your daughter to know where she's doing to school! :)

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  2. I've said it before, but your family makes beautiful babies. And I know they're not babies,but hec... They look beautiful and smart and serene. Crossing my fingers for your daughter.

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  3. Diversity! Isn't it wonderful that your daughter seeks it out because that's where learning, challenge to our way of thinking and growth happens. I never did the college tour thing so it is interesting to read about such experiences.

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  4. Elizabeth, don't worry, we have no idea yet! It's a tough field out there, more kids applying than ever before. please send prayers!

    Miss A, they are beautiful souls, these babies. they are still babies to me, lol. thank you on their behalf.

    Gary, yes indeed. i so agree. she was really excited by the many different kinds of people she saw, and the freedom everyone seemed to have to be themselves. as for the college tour, it's new to me with my children, too. i applied to one school early decision. and that's where i went. and i never visited it before the day i arrived for orientation. times do change. and maybe parents are also more indulgent, lol.

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  5. What a wonderful time in your daughter's life. This year is going to positively fly by for you all.

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  6. My oldest friend is a GW grad and because of that, I lived a year in D.C. This was in the late 60s and the world was very different but how I loved the city. So many choices and I agree, the year will fly. xo

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  7. I love this post. It just made me feel happy inside, especially the picture of your daughter in the kitchen cooking.

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  8. Whatever college gets your daughter is the lucky one.

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  9. She's lucky to have her pick of schools. Although, I'm sure she worked hard for that honor. m.

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  10. Must be a wonderful feeling being surrounding by happy young faces. I wish your daughter best of luck.

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  11. ellen, it will, that's what worries me!

    marylinn, it's supposed to be particularly great as a college town, and can you imagine being at GW during a presidential election. it must be electric.

    grady doc, the cousins are so happy together, so free to be themselves. i love it. my daughter and that particular male cousin were dreamy dreamy children who totally "got" one another's spaciness. Now they are so bonded.

    Ms. Moon, your mouth to the admission officer's ear!

    Mark, let's hope she has her pick. it is a tough field out there. but no matter what, she will be fine.

    olga, you are so right. and thank you.

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  12. Could those kids be any more gorgeous?!

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