Syllabus weekend boded fantastic weather and insane pool parties. As fellow Huskies emerged from their dorms and the dark recesses of Ode to halfheartedly study outside in the Quad, I spent the week trying to finish chemistry homework so I’d have nothing to worry about when I headed up to Bellingham to visit my friends at Western Washington University.
Friday
Too lazy to pack extensively on a gorgeous spring afternoon, I shuffled onto the Link in my Birkenstocks and wore those sandals for the entire trip. The only outerwear I brought was a University of Washington hoodie that I had carelessly thrown into my suitcase. I suffered the bane of public transportation, running over people’s feet as I frantically tried to make my Greyhound—and then figuring out I had booked the wrong ticket. My idiocy resulted in an hour long wait at the station. A thanks to the kind gentlemen working at the counter who swapped it for the correct ticket with a cheerful smile. A rant to the traffic that prolonged a two-hour trip into three hours.
I was staying with my friend Gillian that weekend, and she borrowed a car to pick me up and take us to sushi, and we were treated to a brilliant sunset as we cruised to dinner. She was the only one who knew I was coming up that weekend, and I had high hopes of surprising other friends from high school. Comically so, they were all busy that initial night. Many were up to stereotypical Western activities, but I was promised that I’d see them the following day. Gillian and I ended the night by kicking back in one of Buchanan Towers’ open rooms and watching The Office, and one of our high school friends managed to stop by and catch up.
Saturday
I had been to Western twice before for Model UN conferences in high school, but had never walked extensively around campus. The following morning I got to explore in the shadow of hordes of prospective freshman, as they and their parents were led on guided tours and corralled into the bookstore to buy Viking sweatshirts and mugs. As a souvenir, Gillian and I got matching T-shirts. The food in the dining hall was especially tasty that day to impress the accepted high school seniors, a nice surprise for this third-quarter UW student.
After some food and coffee, Gillian and I poked around the Arboretum. She hadn’t been in the “Arb” much, and was just as excited as me to stumble upon random bridges and tree-houses in the forest. Admittedly, Birkenstocks are not the best for gentle hikes, but I think I fared well for a mile trek.
Upon our return to campus, we met up with another friend that I hadn’t seen in months. The three of us took a bus into downtown Bellingham (insert a thank you to Gillian’s friends who lent me their passes). We grabbed food at AB Crepes, just across the street from the transit center, and meandered over to Henderson’s Books. Our high school AP Government teacher recommended this particular used books store. I picked up Stanley Kubrick’s "A Clockwork Orange" and Kazuo Ishiguro’s "Never Let Me Go," and they’re currently sitting on my shelf in my dorm as I try to make time to finish "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan so I can start one or other. Whoops.
We returned to campus for a quick dinner and to swap passes. Our evening adventure was a trek up to the boardwalk, where we admired the sunset on the bay and walked alongside families and young couples. Sitting on a log on the beach clutching a London Fog from Woods Coffee, with my legs stretched out to relieve my aching feet, we watched with amusement as teenagers awkwardly flirted and skipped rocks. Another quick bus ride downtown from the beach, and some very good ice cream in a lovely wafer cone at Mallard’s. Ended the night in the company of friends, who introduced me to new, friendly people.
In summary?
Bellingham has everything for the outdoor enthusiast or curious tourist. Definitely take the time to walk around outside, grab some food, and drop by Henderson’s. Next time I’m up there I’m definitely checking out more of their food, Fairhaven, and Avalon (where I was told I’d find tapestries). Maybe I’ll have the time to hike the Oyster Dome, and actually meet up with everyone I know at Western. The area isn’t too far from Seattle so it is perfect for a weekend away.
