"lookin' out my back door..."

Fall is most definitely here at Purdue. In just a few days, the leaves have changed to crimson reds and golden yellows, littering the campus and obscuring the fliers left from the first few weeks of activity. The average temperature has dropped from about 85 F to about 65 F. Windy days, cold cold mornings. I've finally started wearing my hoodie. Fall has come swift and decisively. And it's not like back home, where the hills of Southern Ohio break up the wind...no, the biting gusts of wind really get to you if you're not prepared. So as a result, I've started to ride the bus a lot more. Thanks to my family for bringing me some more pants, so I can avoid that "save the one pair of pants for chem lab on Thursdays" scenario. Not like I would've worn them in September, though...I wear shorts till October 1st out of spite, no matter what the temperature. We closed our dorm window for the first time since we've been here last week.

Still, some people have it bad. It's gotten a little chilly some days, but it's still very comfortable. Still shorts and hoodie weather (T-shirt and shorts in midday). Some people I know, though, are already freezing. Sarah, from Texas, never takes her hoodie off. Abbas, a kid in my engineering team from Kuwait, has never seen snow. He already wears a coat to class...he's gonna be in trouble in a month or two. Dad bought me a new coat, because the one he made me take is bright red, the school colors of IU (rival school).

Indiana weather is very different than in Cincinnati. There's very little humidity, and it hardly ever rains. The wind is stronger, and it smells different. It's nice...definitely tolerable, especially with the time (no change for daylight savings), but I can feel it's not "home."

A look out my window reveals a quiet part of campus. I'm on the sixth floor of McCutcheon Hall, on the Westernmost part of campus, looking North. Right outside, straight ahead, is the parking lot, and farther beyond is the West Parking Garage. To the right is Hillenbrand Hall (upperclassmen air-conditioned dorms) and Hillenbrand dining court. Continuing along the right is Shreve Hall and Earhart Hall. To the left is the end of Purdue West, a small strip mall...I can see Pizza Hut, University Spirit Store, and Subway from here, as well as the McCutcheon bus stop for the Gold Loop. Far beyond the parking garage is the intramural playing fields where I often get a glimpse of an informal football game, or perhaps the ultimate frisbee team takes some time to practice. The water tower, with it's giant black and gold "P" stands looming over the field, a silent sentinel of Boilermaker pride. Behind the fields are a few Fraternity houses...you can tell when they have parties by the lights in their windows. The houses are a 30 minute walk from my dorm. Over the top of Hillenbrand Hall I can just barely make out the top of Ross-Ade Stadium where the Boilermakers (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) play on Saturdays.

I survey the landscape from my window and know that this is my school. And it fits just right.