As a transfer student, this year”s Homecoming Week was the first I have experienced while living in Moscow.
Last year, I went to a school with a student population that almost doubled the University of Idaho”s. Suffice to say, the homecoming celebrations I participated in while there did involve a lot more people.
But that doesn”t mean the homecoming events at my last school were any better than Homecoming Week at UI. In fact, this past week exceeded my expectations.
Gee
At my old school the homecoming events only lasted a couple of days, while an entire week is dedicated to homecoming at UI. I have to say, that made it a lot more fun.
From the beginning of the week, I felt included in the university community through the events of homecoming.
Being a part of the Greek system, I was immediately put to work with the decorations for my house. I spent many tireless hours painting and cutting out cardboard decorations with the girls in my house. Throughout the week, our dining room was full of cardboard, paint and glitter.
Friday, after we finished setting up all of our decorations, I felt a sense of pride knowing that our collective hard work had paid off.
One of my favorite events was painting the windows of businesses in downtown Moscow at the start of Homecoming Week.
I would feel a little uneasy giving college students painting tools and full access to my business” front window. When I arrived to the business my sorority sisters and I were assigned to paint, I was almost expecting the owner to come out shaking his fist and yelling at us to quit vandalizing his property. However, to my relief, the owner simply asked us what we were planning on painting and said he was excited to see how it turned out.
The overwhelming community involvement throughout Homecoming Week really stood out to me in this moment. Perhaps I am biased because I was raised in a small town, but Moscow has a welcoming charm that makes any university event inclusive to everyone.
I was also a part of my sorority”s skit for Vandal Jingles. For anyone who has not attended this event, I strongly recommend going next year. Not only was it a great opportunity to bond with my sisters and the fraternity we partnered with, but the other groups” jingles were hilarious and entertaining.
My favorite event, by far, was the Homecoming Serpentine. Before the event, I honestly wasn”t excited to walk to the Kibbie Dome in the cold October weather.
I was standing outside of my house with my sisters shivering and grumbling about the cold when I heard the growing roar of the marching band as it approached us.
Watching all of the students and alumni having such a great time together in honor of this university made me feel a sense of school pride that I hadn”t experienced at my previous college.
The events for Homecoming Week were great, but I also enjoyed the fact that the university focuses on alumni. Being able to talk to Vandal alumni and listen to their stories about past traditions was interesting and enlightening. I can see myself coming back after I graduate to reminisce with friends and show my family why UI is one of a kind.
After this year, I”m even more excited for Homecoming Week in 2016.
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jaycgeek