First days in Vermont

First, let me give you a little background as to why I decided to "move" to Vermont from California in January! I grew up in Northern California, went to school in Southern California and have lived most of my professional adult life in California. I have lived in San Francisco for the past 4+ years and I absolutely love it. But....I have always wondered what it would be like to live in a different state. I thought that wanderlust might go away once I settled in a career. It hasn't. Graduate school and a change of career has been on my mind for the past three years and I am finally making the move! I am here in January to see if I really would like to live here and if I can survive the cold. This blog is going to be my journal about my experience and life here.

So I am applying to graduate school for a masters in counseling with the plan to become a school counselor. I lived in London after college and worked in a school administration office for a year. I decided last year to apply to school and to apply out of state. I mean, what better opportunity is there. Move some place for two years of school to try it out and see how it goes. Yes there are downsides (higher tuition costs, being new to town, etc.), but in the end, it's only two years of my life. Right?

Vermont is a place I had visited as a young girl for a day. My mom's cousin lives on a farm outside of Middlebury and I remember riding a horse, visiting the Ben and Jerry's factory and not much else. I don't remember loving it or really giving the place much thought for the next 20 years. That is until my mom's cousin, Judi and her daughter, Alex came to visit us in California two years ago. I got along with both of them and Judi told me to come visit. Since I love to travel, I took her up on the offer this past summer. I've been itching to connect to some kind of life outside of the city and I had a great time this summer driving through the country, hiking, and enjoying relative peace on Judi's beautiful almost 100 acre farm. My visit this summer made me think about Vermont and me in Vermont. And I applied to the University of Vermont's counseling program.

Last week I was home in California where the weather was something like low: 45 high:61. I arrived in Burlington on Saturday where the weather was low:3 high:12! That's a big difference for someone like me, a softy from Northern California. But you know what, I love it!! So far at least. I stepped out of the airport in my California clothes (Uggs, cords, layered t-shirts, scarf and down vest). It was cold, but not freezing. Yes, I only had to walk to the car, but it wasn't that bad. Plus, the sky was blue and the sun was shining.

Since my arrival, I have spent some time with the family and recovered from the red eye flight from California. I'm also enjoying the horses right outside the door, the beautiful scenery, the snow and the two dogs that live here. This morning the dogs (Henry and Phoebe) came in and rested on the bed with me--see my picture below. I've always wanted a dog, so I'm loving it!

I'll end this one now. This morning I've been doing some research on financial aid for graduate school (because I need it!). Judi and I are going skiing this afternoon. It's been a couple of years since I've been and I can't wait!

Until next time...