Week 1 of Denver

Hey guys!

So the first week of being in Denver is officially over. So far, I have realized that Denver is an absolutely amazing city. There is always so much that can be done in and around the city. 

We moved in last Sunday, the 26th. At first I was a little nervous because our basement apartment was very bare and seemed more like a dungeon. We have slowly been sprucing the place up, so it feels a lot more like home now. After moving in we spent the rest of night getting settled and grocery shopping. 

The next couple of days were spent doing orientation into our classes, field placements/internships, and the city in general. We did a big treasure hunt all around the city and had to use the buses to get from place to place. Luckily Natasha (one of my roommates) and I had maps on our phones that could show us where the bus stops were and what buses to take, otherwise we would not have been able to make it around the city very well. I have realized that public transportation is very confusing, and I'm very grateful to have a smartphone. Also, when I had to go meet my field placement supervisor I had to take the bus all by myself! It was insanely intimidating but I did feel very grown up. 
Speaking of going to meet my supervisor I should probably explain that a little bit. I'm 'interning' at Denver Parks & Recreation in their Communications department. I found out that I get to help them out with the graphic design aspects of the company, and I also get to help them with event planning. They are opening up a new BMX bike course sometime this fall and I get to help plan the event to make sure that it goes off without a hitch. My supervisor showed me all around the office and even decided to brand me already. I got a backpack, drawstring bag, key chains, and some chapstick! You can never have too much stuff I guess. 

My roommates and I have actually done a lot of different things for only being in the city for a week. We drove out to Red Rocks Ampitheatre one night to look around and experience the view. It was insanely windy up there, but absolutely beautiful. I hope that I get to experience a concert there sometime this fall. We also explored South Broadway which is the road behind our apartment. South Broadway consists of a lot of different kinds of clothing stores, restaurants & bars, coffee shops, an amazing ice cream place, and the 'Target' of the Goodwills. The ice cream place was amazing because one of the walls was cut out so that it was open to the road and we just sat and ate ice cream while watching all of the shoppers go by. What I meant by the 'Target' of the Goodwills was that this place is absolutely HUGE! I had never experienced a two story Goodwill before but I guess I can check that off my list now. One night we also decided to travel to Boulder, Colorado which is in the foothills of the mountains. We walked along Pearl Street, which is a street that you can't drive on and it just has a lot of street performers and different kinds of shops. I saw a man fold himself into a 2 foot by 2 foot cube. It was insane! Holly (another one of my roommates) and I found a flyer on a street pole that was for a new snowboarding movie coming out so we went downtown to Summit Music Hall and experienced that. It was very fun, and we found out that they are premiering new snowboarding movies every Wednesday night of September so I'll definitely have to go there again!

Last night two of the Wartburg Alumni that live out here in Denver took us to an italian restaurant called Pasquini's (I hope I spelled that right) and it was delicious! They told us about different things to do in the city, and we all just shared some of the different experienced we've all had. It was a very nice gesture for them to do that for all of the students out here! 

Well tomorrow is when we all officially start our field placements/internships so it's early to bed tonight! Just kidding. I don't go to bed early, but I am looking forward to all that awaits me in this awesome city! :)