Quintessential college town

Quintessential (adj.): representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

College (n.): an educational institution or establishment.

Town (n.): an urban area that is larger than a village and generally smaller than a city.

You can try and put that all together and figure it out. Or, you can just look up Bloomington, Ind.

This is a place where you can browse through old records or see an off-Broadway musical, where you can grab a pizza at MotherBear’s or a Hairy Bear at Bear’s Place, where you can take a stroll down Fourth Street and eat from whichever country you choose. It’s a town where wine and beer are made locally and where people swarm Eighth and Morton Streets every Saturday morning for one of my favorite farmer’s markets.

I’m going to be honest and tell you that there was a lot I missed out on during my first year in good old B-town, and I must profess that I’m no expert.

But what I do know is that a new year is starting and while there will always be some old favorites I can count on – blueberry pancakes at The Village Deli or intellectual speakers at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater – there’s still a world of things to do, taste, hear and see.

As an IU student, you will not only build a connection to the school but also to the town.

Being a Bloomington-ite, even for only two-thirds of the year, you will be part of a university town that is steeped in history and tradition, one that will support local businesses before chains, and one where artistic and cultural experiences of all sorts can find a home.

I think we can all agree that IU is a great place to go to school, not only to learn, but to enjoy the best four years of our lives. But, by the same token I think it’s Bloomington that will ultimately make our college experiences special and unique.

So, if you are a Bloomington virgin, let this be your warning: After nine months here, your life will never be the same. It’ll be a place to call home for four years, a place you look forward to coming back to and a place that you can call your own.