Socialization

Today was awesome.

Every Friday in the department, there are two workshops: one for International Relations, and one for American/Comparative.  Usually at these workshops, people present papers they're working on, and receive feedback from their peers.  Today, it was just an informal meeting at one, and a guest speaker for the other.

What was great wasn't the workshops themselves (though the lecture was actually really interesting), but what happened between and after.  I was able to meet a really adorable puppy who belongs to the second-year I stayed with for prospective weekend.  It is a shame I didn't take a picture of him.  He was just so cute.  Though it made me want a dog even more than I already do.

After everything, we went to a pub; some grad students from every year went, and it was just really fun talking to everyone and enjoying some food and drink at the same time.  The whole department just seems really down to earth and nice and willing to help, which is an amazing feeling.  That uncertainty I had about whether or not I should have given UMD more of a chance?  It went away.  I definitely chose the right place, with people like this here.

We ended up going to two of the older students' house after we were done at the pub, and just had a really good time talking and getting to know people even better.

Before I knew it, it was almost 11 in the evening.

I don't regret not going home to do reading instead.