As we reach the last week, it’s time to write the last blog 🙁
Last week was a week of celebrations and hanging out with friends. We did a lot of fun things to counter the hard work we had finishing up the projects.
Starting with Thursday last week, it was Shae’s birthday! So many awesome July birthdays in this group. We decided to go to the park to play some games and hang out while the weather wasn’t too bad out. After collecting everyone and getting food, we arrived at Inis Grove park. We played with a frisbee, a soccer ball, and also satisfied our inner child by playing on the playground there as well. Turns out, as we were there, another kid in Ames was celebrating his birthday as well! It was a fun night.
Friday, was another day of activities for us. After seeing a jackpot over $1 billion I suggested a little office pool to see if maybe we’d be millionaires. We picked up some tickets and just had to wait for the drawing that night at 10. Until then, we had a full day of work to get done, including finishing our poster to be reviewed by Dr. Michael and Yvonne. Friday night, the other REUs we met had set up a fun end of summer party. We got to all see each other one more time as a few of the REUs left that weekend. I almost feel like we’re the last ones and its empty. 🙁 Time for the drawing came, we watched as the little numbered balls roll into the screen and we frantically check our numbers. Unfortunately, we didn’t become millionaires, but it was a good time and congratulations to the single winner. After the drawing, we continued to the party and had one last blast with everyone.
Saturday was yet another busy busy day. It was also my birthday! Starting at the bright and early 10 AM we were to depart for Adventureland. Except I ended up having to run home quickly to get a few things. Once I returned and we were all in the car, we hadn’t even left the parking lot yet when we all agreed that going upside down wasn’t an option. The car ride felt quite short as it usually does every time I go, even though its about 45 minutes away. We found a Toyota Prius along the way with the license plate resembling “gas guzzler” which I found hilarious, and on top of that it had more bumper stickers that were also fun reads.
Upon arriving to the park, a long wait for parking, and finally getting up to the gate, we’d made it in. It had been nearly 7 years since I’d been there last and it felt both so familiar and so different all at once. We toured the park, rode a couple roller coasters, and wandered all the way to the water park. Where we spent quite a few hours in the wave pool, the lazy river, and various waterslides. There was a super fun slide that 2 people rode down in this big tube. “Screams of Joy” was exactly what happened.
After the waterpark, we finished to tour of the park with another roller coaster and then we noticed the time. It was nearly 7:30 and we were all quite hungry. We asked the others back home if they wanted to go out for supper, to which they agreed and then we’d left the park. Leaving the park, I was already feeling a lot of emotions. I had arguably one of the best times of my life, where the last time I was there on my birthday, I had the worst time ever. This group of people is special, it’s hard to really describe.
We returned to the apartments, gathered all our friends and went to Macubana for supper. I had never been there, but it was pretty good. I feel like I might go again but it’s way too expensive to go very often for me. I had a good supper, even if the sunburn on my back was slowly roasting me the whole time. Afterwards, we were heading back to the apartment where I could finally shower and then the possibility of games was on the table.
By some kind of secret plan, pure coincidence, or even divine intervention, my car was waiting for Shae to get something from CVS. I didn’t think much of it, people need things. I got back to Freddy Court and up to my apartment to which I noticed an open door but no lights. “Huh that’s odd” was the thought I had in my head until the person behind me flicks on the lights and people shout “Happy Birthday!” I was speechless, nearly motionless, and then they sang happy birthday to me. That’s when my emotions won. I had plenty of tears that night but I wouldn’t want anyone else to make me cry. If anyone of the group is reading this, just know you are the best people I’ve ever met and thank you so much for making my birthday special. We continued the night eating cake and chatting, I was getting more tired by the second and it was time to rest.
Sunday morning, I was going to go to church as we had a farewell and welcome luncheon for some members who were leaving to Africa and the family that came to fulfill the positions. I got to help my dad grill up the burgers and hot dogs, and then eat a good lunch with some other good people. I shared about my experience here at this REU internship at least 15 times. Then the rest of the day went by like it was nothing, because I just SLEPT. And boy oh boy did I need it. That night my dad took me out for supper at Buffalo Wild Wings so one less meal I had to make myself, even if the fridge has plenty of stuff to make meals.
Sunday night, Emma and Thomas got to play the ending of It Takes Two, a game we’d been annotating for our project. It was fun to see them explore the game world and finally get a little closure on the story of Rose and her parents Mae and Cody. I loved that game when I played it with my friend Sam, we had a lot of fun and it was a good memory.
Monday morning was it, we needed to finish the poster. Our mentors had responded with feedback and we got to work on it, trying to make our poster the best it could be. It was a bit difficult, but through plenty of discussion, we had done our best work. Except it took all day Monday and into Tuesday morning to do so. We turned it in right on time and I’m proud of our work.
That about wraps it up. It’s been a long week of working hard and playing hard as well. To end these 10 weeks, it won’t be easy. Everyone here is amazing, the people in the office are all a blessing and would help us with our many questions. The experience I got was amazing, learning new things like programming languages, an idea of grad school, and hearing from everyone else has been awesome. I’ll never forget this whole Summer. 🙂