University of Missouri.

Today as I walked through campus I decided I wanted to write a post that talked about what it’s like here at Mizzou. Whenever I was a senior in high school and I was still struggling with the decision of where I wanted to go to college, all I looked for was a blog or something to show me pictures of what it would be like there. Not just any pictures though, I wanted real life pictures, the ones taken by people who are actually living there and experiencing the college life on that campus.

I wanted to know that when I transitioned to college I would still be able to go to Starbucks or some other coffee shop to satisfy my caffeine obsession and stimulate my writing for blog posts like these. Luckily, I got what I wished for (if only you could see me now as I write to you - I am facing the Journalism School at the downtown Starbucks, just sipping my grande mocha). **Sidenote, I might have gone broke for this Mocha (at the steep price of $4.95), but Grandma Scheperle gave me a gift card for my birthday so all is well with my bank account (for now at least).

As you may have seen yesterday, I showed you some pictures of my dorm room in Autumn. (if you missed it, go check it out!). Today, however, I wanted to show you a couple of pictures from my favorite places around campus, as well as downtown Columbia. Keep in mind that I have only been here for a few months, so I feel like every time I venture out of my little bubble, I seem to come across new treasures around the city(:

My favorite part of campus is over by Memorial Union (white campus - all of the buildings are white from the limestone that they’re made of). Of course, I also love the Columns (on the quad/red campus – mostly red brick buildings), which is the signature University of Missouri symbol (if you ask me). I also love Ellis Library, inside it is all old and cool and there are soo many books. You could probably stay in there for days, there’s even a coffee shop(!).

Off campus, I really enjoy going to Starbucks (there’s one in Memorial Union, but there’s also one in Downtown, across from the J-School). My other favorites include Chipotle (duh), Kaldi’s Coffee, Lakota Coffee, and Sparky’s (freakin’ awesome ice cream – I always get Cake Batter #omg). All of these places are downtown and within a few minutes walk from my dorm. There’s even some super cool thrift stores/shops and a bookstore downtown.

Below I have featured pictures from campus that I have taken (both new and old) and even a picture of some of my roommates and I back from when we made a visit to campus while we were still in high school (we look so young…). Oh yeah, and I can't forget Shakespeare's and Pizza Tree (they satisfy all of your college pizza cravings).

Hope you enjoy.

Until next time,

Madison Rodick

p.s. Mizzou-Rah!

0

Autumn.

Here’s to a break from writing about New York. I love writing about New York City, of course, but there is so much that I feel like you need to be caught up on. Today is October 28, 2015, and I am nineteen years old (my birthday was on the 17^th). Wow, how did that happen? It seems so crazy that I am in college. There is so much to consider for my future. It’s both scary and exciting, the overwhelming unknowns in my future seem to occupy my mind more often than I would like to admit.

I may not be writing about New York this time, but it’s safe to say that I think about living in the city almost every day. Yesterday was one of those rainy, autumn days, lucky for me I was able to dig out my Hunter rain boots. I walked to class and listened to Florence and the Machine on Pandora. Stepping in puddles and silently jamming out to the mellow melodies of “Falling” seemed to be exactly what I needed on such a gloomy day.

Now I sit writing to you from my bed (I have Poli Sci in less than an hour…), and I feel like I am just reflecting on the last couple of weeks and pondering the weeks until I get to go home for Thanksgiving break (my absolute favorite holiday). Yesterday as I walked through campus I couldn’t help but admire the beautiful fall leaves, obviously I decided to take some cool fall pics(: The red leaves across campus were gorgeous, and crunching through the leaves with my Hunters on brought out the little kid in me, it’s much too hard to resist stomping on leaves and walking through puddles (sorry mom). All I want to do is sit in my room and read a book or snuggle up in my cozy blanket and watch Netflix all day (class not included). My classes aren’t terrible, but I think I just wish I could start taking classes that pertain more to what I want to do in my future. I feel like I could sit here and write all day long if my schedule would allow it. There’s always something to do and somewhere to be… I think sometimes it’s just good to take a break. I wish I could feel like I was actually doing something that mattered. Maybe I will take my free time and start writing a book, I’ve always wanted to write a book(: I know that sounds somewhat juvenile, but I feel like I could be a great writer, I suppose only time will tell.

Right now, what I need more than anything is inspiration. With inspiration comes motivation, and I definitely need some of that… I just want to travel, I’m so eager to get out and experience the world and new cultures. I want to meet new people. I want to hear their stories.

Well, I suppose that’s enough dreaming for today(: Who knows, maybe my dreams will become a reality sooner than I think. I sure hope so.

Until next time,

Madison Rodick

p.s. enjoy the pictures of fall, my Hunter rain boots, and my cozy little room(:

0

The New York Series. Day Five.

The New York Series. Day Five. June 24th, 2015.

My fifth day in the city was entirely a day of relaxation. We had walked almost 50 or 60 miles across the city in the last few days, and we were all very exhausted. We chose to spend that Wednesday each doing our own thing. Lexy and I decided to spend almost the whole day in Central Park. We found a spot in Sheep's Meadow, and stayed there for hours. I decided to spend my time listening to music, reading Eat, Pray, Love and writing in my journal. It was amazing, a little vacation from our vacation(: My dad, of course, spent his time at the Historical Society looking for people we were related to, and my mom was out shopping somewhere.

Earlier that day, Lexy and I had decided to go to breakfast at Alice's Tea Cup. We sat there and pretended to be real New Yorkers while we sipped our tea and ate our (absolutely wonderful) scones. You should really check it out sometime, you won't be disappointed. My parents had gone there the day before and my dad bought my little sister some "fairy dust" which according to the gentlemen working at the register, was made by real fairies in the basement.

For lunch we stopped by the Shake Shack, it was pretty darn delicious. Also, it was nice to have a big juicy burger, after trying to eat new things the whole week. Later on, Lexy and I went back to our hotel and changed into cute outfits (for the pictures). That night we all met back up and went to meet one of my parent's friends for some good ole pizza (Lombardi's), and italian ice, it doesn't get much better than that.

We even made the impulsive decision to go to the top of the Empire State Building (I'm sure you're questioning my use of the word impulsive, but I promise we really weren't already planning to go see that iconic NYC spot). Well, let's just say I am soo glad that we decided to go to the Empire State Building because the views (and pictures) I got from up there were probably my favorite pictures from the whole trip. That night in the city felt like it came straight out of a movie, we walked through Greenwich Village, went to the top of the Empire State Building at midnight, and on our way home we passed through the city just looking up and admiring all of the glistening lights above us.

In case you were wondering, the rumor is true. New York City truly is the city that never sleeps.

Until next time,

Madison Rodick

0