Visiting Campus

Only having been to campus in April and on Friday to get my ID card, I figured it was worth going back to campus to truly get my bearings on the campus since I didn't really have a chance to do that when getting my ID card. The big issue with this trip was planning my route. I knew (relatively) where the campus was in proximity to both my apartment and the Mellon Institute (which is off the main campus and where the graduate chemistry department is located), so I tried to find a bus that would take me there. Turns out that there is no direct bus route to the campus from where I am, which is disappointing. So my only real option via transit is to take a bus almost to the Mellon Institute and then walk, which really isn't that big of a deal, but it's very warm out and it's uphill (not both ways :P).

So, I did that and when I got to campus, I was quite surprised to find next to nobody there. Then again, it was Sunday and the undergrads are not there yet, so I really shouldn't have been surprised. I made an effort to see all the buildings that were science-related or music-related or were a student common area. So, first off I visited the University Center, which is basically the "student union building" and gym/pool all in one. It's really a big place. There's a fairly large common area for sitting with a couple TVs along with a few web stations. Beyond this area is the racquetball courts and the gym and the pool. I couldn't see the pool because to do that I would have had to go through the locker room. Upstairs is more lounging area, the fitness center and a bunch of meeting rooms and some food establishments, none of which were open.

Exiting that building I went over to find Doherty Hall where I would be attending the undergraduate class that I will be TAing for. I quickly got lost (which I learned later is not hard) and thought the building was smaller than it looked on the outside. Giving up on that endeavor, I decided to find the CFA (College of Fine Arts) which I discovered was completely separate from the School of Drama and in a different building. I did find the building though and upon entering, it bore a striking resemblance to an old European church. Even the way you entered through the main doors and then entered this small Plexiglas room where you exit into the main building on the left and right mimicked the European churches. Noting this, I looked up and there was art all over the ceiling. It was fantastic. I noted that this building also housed the School of Architecture and I believe the School of Visual Arts as well. It was really cool! Anyways, I walked around the building for a while, looking at all the rooms and where things were. It's a pretty big building, but I think that I missed the practice rooms. The door might have been locked.

Anyways, I left the CFA and then went to Wean Hall where I will be teaching my recitation session (about which I'm thrilled...). The building is 8 floors and so I decided that it would be worth my while to see what was on each floor. Found out there was physics, math, CS and the Institute for Software Development. So, another "science" building.

At this point I was a bit "toured out" and finding myself at the opposite end of campus, I attempted to take a shortcut back to the bus stop. I didn't quite end up where I wanted to go since the road that I thought I was going to take actually ran under the road I was on. I ended up back at the Mellon Institute though and caught the bus home successfully.

Got back and went to bed early since the day would start early with an 8:45 breakfast.

Info on my first few days to come! I swear I'll catch up at some point.