Exploration

Seattle is not far from my home, but despite having lived in Washington since I was a few years old, I still don't know Seattle all that well. Luckily, Terry hall is literally across the street from the Burke Gillman Trail. On weekends or times I needed to get away from my books or the chatter of the dorm, or even to just get some air on a sunny day, I found myself seeking solace with my bike on the trail.

My routes are usually along the Burke Gillman or the Lake Union Loop. I usually don't have very much time to ride, since I put studying as a priority. On short rides I like to go to Magnuson Park, Golden Gardens, or aroun Lake Union. For longer rides I go to Seward Park through the Arboretum or to Bothell along the Burke Gillman. I'm always trying to find new routes to try out. Near the end of my first year I rode the Burke Gillman to Bothell, then to Golden Gardens, then back to Terry. In total it was 42 miles, which is the longest I think I've ever ridden.

I usually do not go on jogs because it hurts my knees, but I also tried to go jogging more often. I usually go to Gasworks, but once I had so much energy that I went to the Fred Meyer just off the Burke Gillman, past Fremont. I think it was the longest I've ever ran.

My friends and I went downtown to look at the gingerbread houses during the holidays, and also to watch "Deadpool". We also went to Golden Gardens for the Fire Festival and to Northgate to see some other movies. I thought I would explore Seattle a lot more by living there, but that wasn't really the case. I went to Pike Place Market several times during the year and to other places downtown, such as the Columbia Tower and the public library. I also went to an event on the Columbia Tower top for Girls Who Code alumnae.

I also took several friends to Bellevue, which I found particularly exciting, because it was like having two worlds meet one another, that is, showing my new friends around where I grew up.