I have to admit that I was somewhat apprehensive about going on this trip as I made my journey to Iowa this morning. I had some idea of what to expect as far as specific things we would be doing but was uncertain about the trip’s overall vibe, which is important to me. Other than knowing Cecily very well and talking to Rachel a couple of times because she was friends with Cecily’s roommate, I did not know any one else going on the trip nor did I know HN very well beyond the interview for Farm.

After the first day, I am super excited about going on the trip because of all the positive interactions and conversations that happened today. Starting during the ride from the airport to the farm and including our lunch, I began to realize that everyone on the trip was very easy to get along with and that HN is one of the funniest professors I’ve had. When we got to the farm, I was happy to find out that I also equally enjoyed the company of HN’s brother Denny and Dalona. When Denny took us on the tour around the farm, it was really cool to see how much knowledge he had compiled over many years as a farmer, and I appreciated his willingness to help us learn more about the many things that happen around a farm. Other than being a fabulous cook as evidenced by our first meal, Dalona was as nice as can be and I feel like she was a great addition to our group as we ate dinner tonight. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and the next three weeks.