Smith College is a small liberal arts school in Northampton, MA. The school is for women only (with the exception of about half of the professors and a few MFA students), and the campus is beautiful. The professors are amazing and the resources plenteous (if only you're willing to look!).

This is where I live and learn.

I have to admit that I wasn't too thrilled about being here during my first year, but this place is definitely growing on me. I miss my room when I am away! I even miss the smell of cut grass and warm bricks. After all, I was missing my family so much last year that I couldn't appreciate my school! Now I miss my family but I keep my eyes open and my heart looks for beauty. Fortunately, my heart is always gratified when I look around the Smith campus. For an online tour of the grounds and buildings, visit this website!

I took some great classes last semester, and I really and honestly loved them all! My schedule was quite busy (as per usual), but it was filled with time for both work and play. In addition to four classes (they were hardcore) I sang with the Noteables (a big job), worked on two long-term community service projects, and payed for tuition through a couple of jobs on campus.

My spring 2001 classes were: Abnormal Psychology with Professor Frost, Language Acquisition with Professor de Villiers, Child Development with Professor Pufall, and clarinet lessons with my fantastic teacher, Lynn Sussman.

Well, I finished up the 2000-2001 school year with a 3.95 GPA (I'm pretty proud of myself). I'm going to miss Smith during this year abroad, but my experiences in Ecuador will be well worth the pain and sorrow of leaving the campus and my amazing Smith friends. I'll see you all so soon!