Admission & Financial Aid Madeline Bustos '19

This weekend, I went to Northampton with my friend and my boss. The three of us decided to go to brunch and then to do some shopping in the neighboring city. During my three years at the college, I have worked similar jobs with a lot of the same staff, not only creating seniority and thus work-time flexibility for myself but building close, personal relationships with my coworkers and bosses.

My first job here at the college was at Schwemm's Cafe, one of the two alternative dining options on campus. This particular spot sells sandwiches burgers, fries, milkshakes and the like every weekday and weekend, closing at midnight during the week and at 2 am on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I began this job with my first-year roommate and friend, and she and I continue working here now. The particular struggle of working weekends until 2 am during your first year in college and sometimes working over 8 hours a day really bonded us and our other first-year coworker. For those reasons, amongst others, I am still super close to my coworkers and continue to hang out with them regularly outside of work, both around and off of campus.

During the semester, I don't get to visit Northampton as much as I'd like. I do make my way over several times a year, however, on most occasions, the visits are at night, and in the more intimate setting of a Smith College dorm room where my friends are having a gathering or party. Hence, I don't get to explore the many adorable and delicious cafes and restaurants that the city has to offer as frequently as I would like. I imagine I would go more often if I had a car. The drive is super quick, lasting about 20 minutes. My friends, being from New York City, also don't own cars, so if decide to take a trip, the visit has to be planned beforehand so we can rent an Amherst van. This time, we caught a ride with our boss.

I asked one of my Smith friends what the best places for brunch were in Northampton and she recommended Jake's. Usually, during the school year, there is a long wait to get into the establishment for a bite to eat. However, my pals and I were lucky to only have a wait of only 15 minutes. While outside, my boss begins talking with an older man waiting just beside the doorway. After raving about the food and service, he tells us that another Jake's will be opening in Amherst, toward the northern part of town. This caught our interest and we all proceeding to engage in conversation pertaining to specifics of the new restaurant like the specific location, the former life of the old building Jake's 2.0 would be inhabiting and the employees being hired or brought over to staff it. I found this conversation very reminiscent of my hometown and most comforting. If you've read my oldest blog you might know that I'm currently in search of homelike qualities in my everchanging environments. I found it quite nice to be around a couple of people I've known for some years, who have known me while I've grown, and it was comforting to have the familiarity and friendliness I feel with them to be extended to us, as a group, by another pioneer valley local. 

NOTE: I would like to make it quite clear that I am not in the habit of blogging. My discomfort, I believe is showing through my writing. I think my rhetoric is not quite up to snuff and hope I can provide a better writing sample in the next week. 

A couple of weekends ago, I went to an egg-themed pop-up in New York City for my birthday. I had turned 21. As I have no family nearby to celebrate, I traveled to see some friends in the city. Surprisingly to me, most of my close friends are from New York and live in the Greater NYC area. This has prompted me to visit the region much more often than i Had ever anticipated. Coming into Amherst, I quickly realized that there are quite a lot of people that go here that are from NYC. Being in the Admission Office this summer, I've learned that New York is one of the top three states from which people come to the school. This was definitely something very exciting to me, as a young person from south Texas, I had never met anyone from New York, let alone thought about living there, or even visiting. Over the years my excitement toward New Yorkers has definitely gone down, I realized that they are just ~normal people~. However these days, I do visit the area quite frequently and lived there last summer. I have grown affectionate for the place and the many opportunities the city has to offer. 

This season, New York has offered me the opportunity to enjoy some eggs. Eggs are somewhat of an inside joke with my pals (and honestly a comedic subject for a lot of people). During the school year, my friends and I enjoy updating each other's Facebook statuses to egg-related topics. The status update usually happens whenever one friend goes to the restroom when we are all studying in the library and leaves their computer open or when my friends and I are hanging out together and someone changes the music on another friend's personal computer. We understand that the whole premise of "hacking" each other is a little juvenile but we enjoy doing it as a little bit of light teasing. The egg exhibit was also relevant because I LOVE EGGS. I think they are one of the most wonderful foods and very joyful in their appearance. This exhibit got all of my sentiments toward the small, fragile foods just right. Everything was nicely painted light and cheerful colors and decorated with photo opportunities in mind. It was swell.

Afterward, my Amherst pals and I went to get Mexican food and drinks. We were finally all 21 so we could each enjoy a margarita without feeling guilty. I chose to take us to Rosie's, a Mexican restaurant on the Lower East side. It was pretty good. Though it wasn't quite south Texas, the tacos satisfied me well. Overall it was a wonderful weekend, thanks . for reading!

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Hello!

My name is Madeline and I will soon be a senior here at Amherst this fall. I am from Raymondville, Texas, a small town in the southern-most Texan region known as the Rio Grande Valley and I double major in English and Religion. I came to Amherst three years ago and am now preparing to leave in less than 11 months! Before I go, I’d like to accomplish a few goals, make some more new friends, and take a few more Amherst opportunities, such as take part in our radio show or making one more sprinkle waffle at Valentine Dining hall! This summer, I’m looking to have some quiet time and to flush some things out, logistically speaking, pertaining to my current academic lifestyle and personal habits. I know many say the perfect time for tweaking your habits is the first year of college, but I'm always a fan of revisiting and reusing old tools. Hopefully from my entries over the summer, y’all can get a good idea of who I am, what I enjoy doing and see some kind of personal progress. What you choose to do with those sweet morsels of information is up to you!

Always warmly,
Madeline

Howdy!

This summer is a complete change of pace (and another change of scenery) for me. I am returning to Amherst from a winter break in sunny Texas followed by a spring semester in Rome, Italy. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been back on campus and another hot second since I’ve been a “working woman.”

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Being abroad was beautiful and breathtaking at times, however, one thing I became frustrated with was my inability to work. I really enjoy supporting myself, my habits and needs, through my many jobs here at Amherst or with my summer work. I found that I enjoy my collegiate summer times because they provide opportunities to intern. During the school year, I work four jobs that are relativity low intensity. When the school year breaks for summer, I get to play “grown-up” and work, commute and practice my planning skills if I want to meet up with some friends. On that note, this summer is a change of pace from my previous summers and my time abroad. After summers in Houston and New York City and a semester in Rome, Amherst seems a bit quaint. However, I know each unique place offers unique opportunities so I excited to see what summertime in western Mass. will have in store for me.

That’s not to say that all of this travel and transition is preferred. Over the past several years, I, like many college students, find that I am constantly moving, traveling, and changing paces. For instance, in a short 3 years, I have gone from rural Texas to a New-England college town, to working in Houston’s hustle, to returning to academia, to a summer in the city (New York City), back to Amherst once again, then home for the holidays, to Rome, Italy for study abroad, and the right back to Massachusetts for a final summer under the trees in Amherst’s First Year Quad. If you can’t quite tell, I’m a bit exhausted of it all. I often see individuals online, some famous and some friends, write or post about their “wanderlust” and desire to get up and see every inch of the world. While I recognize that desire and feel it myself, I often find myself thinking about the homes one might be leaving behind in the process, even if the departure is only for a short time. I come from a large family in a small community where everyone knows everyone else. While I frequently dreamt of going off to a "bigger and better” place and of witnessing new and exciting things, I never quite factored in how much time I would have to spend away from my family to do so. I have recently begun to realize how important a sense of belonging is to me and I can’t wait to set up camp here at school and blend this summer experience into this school year, making my final stay here at my home-away-from-home seem a little bit longer.

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Always warmly, 

Madeline