From Texas

I'm learning fast and furiously, guys! My programme is packed....

I've blogged three times and got the message 'published successfully', but when I go back, my new post is not there. So let's hope this time ;-)

It took me longer to get from Seattle to College Station than it did the participants from UCT to UrbanaChampaign - Mandy and I left the Westin at 8h20 for Dallas, were booked to stay over in the Hyatt Regency at Dallas Airport and believe me, I was first in line the next day to board for College Station when the announcement was made that the flight was cancelled. So, re-booked, this time to Houston!! at 15h15 and from Houston to College Station again at 18h05. Arrived at my destination on 19/03 at 19h00 where I was warmly welcomed by a library staffmember and being treated like someone really special since I arrived here. A&M is known to be the 'friendly' university and it is true - students are always ready with a smile.

My accommodation is okay... we cannot expect to stay in the Westin or Hyatt for another 6 weeks! Spring is in the air, trees are blossoming and budding, flowerbeds are full of colourful springflowers. It has been quite hot at times.

I was taken last Friday to the Horticultural holistic garden and introduced to the Texan State flower: the blue-bonnet. The university colour is maroon, and the university horticulturists even managed to grow maroon-bonnets!

With just under 50 000 students on the campus, it is a real behive of movement. Tradition is a strong element here, and one waiter-student told me he's the third in their generation graduating at A&M, so from father-to-son.... They can still opt to do a military first year, which he did because its the tradition in his family! So there are also several students on campus in uniform which scared me quite a bit the first morning as i was walking to the library.

Without the students, this place will be dead!