As promised, my New Year’s resolution that I’m determined to keep is to try something new every week, and create a blog about it. Week one, let’s do it.
For those of you reading that were not aware, I moved to Starkville, Mississippi to begin a graduate program and assistantship at Mississippi State University. To save on rent, I brought a fifth-wheel camper to live in with my puppy, Milo.
Have you ever watched olympic figure skating where once a skater falls, it’s almost inevitable that it will happen again… and again…? This week was similar.
This blog will be about my first week’s experiences, which are so eclectic that I thought it best to present them in a chronologically ordered pros and cons list. Here’s to taking 2018 exactly as it comes, and appreciating the ups and downs as growing moments. Enjoy.
Pro: We secured a driver on January 2 to deliver my camper from Texas to Mississippi.
Con: My original account executive secretly quit months ago, and regardless of signing my contract in October, we were pacing the room until they found us a last minute replacement driver.
Pro: The new driver arrived on time.
Con: The slide-out motor died 15 minutes before he arrived, making transport impossible. He returned back to the company.
Pro: A repairman arrived and successfully fixed the slide-out.
Con: He arrived, pressed a “secret reset-button” on the main battery in a matter of seconds, charged us $120, and left.
Pro: The driver was able to return and begin travel the same afternoon.
Con: We were required to meet him upon arrival in Mississippi, so we left Texas at 6 pm and arrived in Starkville at 4 am.
Pro: Arrival to the campsite went smoothly for the driver, and I chose a really pretty spot facing the water.
Con: The spot I had originally reserved was taken upon arrival, and after 25 phone calls to the office, I gave up and just chose a spot.
Pro: After parking the camper, the driver signed the contract and left us to unpack for the day.
Con: He only leveled it enough to pull out his truck, leaving the fifth-wheel door unable to open, slide-out too unlevel to expand, and no way for us to level it by ourselves.
Pro: I made new friends with the neighbors the first day, and they told me they would help me level the camper.
Con: I only met them because I was desperately walking around the campsite looking for help.
Pro: I finally was able to get into the camper and hook the water up.
Con: The water is pouring from a tube that nobody can find the valve for.
Pro: They have a keurig at work.
Con: …..I think I broke it. (I didn’t, but it definitely spewed water onto the floor which I quickly cleaned up before everyone knew…. but now they know.)
PROS:
My campsite is honestly beautiful.
The neighbors are awesome.
Milo is enjoying the dog park and its many inhabitants. We go daily.
My co-workers have been such an important support group for me.
Classes seem interesting and engaging.
There’s a sonic ice machine at my new work.
Chance the Rapper is my favorite desk poster in my office.
The people in Starkville are so friendly and warm.
Family and friends helped create my camper into a cozy home.
EVERY con in my last week has connected me with important, genuine people or taught me lessons that I will need to know for the duration of my stay in Starkville. When it’s easy to get frustrated in the moment, I’m learning to pause and take advantage of what the times of adversity have to teach me. Here’s to more adventures!
I’m looking forward to trying more new things, and sharing them with you. Stay tuned.
PLEASE leave comments below with suggestions of activities, events, places, foods, hobbies, crafts, and experiences I could try out this year for my blog.
Until next time,
Hannah Ford
TurnRow Media 