First Time Back at Rice

I recently went back to Rice to celebrate its greatest ritual: Beer Bike. It's hard to explain to any one who didn't go to Rice, but, very simply, the kids wake up at 6 in the morning, drink a lot of beer paid for by the colleges, compete in a water balloon fight, and end the afternoon at a bike race.

Photo courtesy of Phoebe Kung.

Traditionally, it's the best excuse to go back to Rice. And all your friends are probably going back for Beer Bike, too, so you go.

I think I had more fun at Beer Bike this year than while I was an undergrad. More than the drinks and the music and the warm sun, I really enjoyed seeing my friends. I teared up a bit when I got to see them. I realized how precious these friendships are. I had four years to get to know these people. Intimately. And they had all that time to get to know me. You don't get the time to form relationships like that in the real world.

I was incredibly sad to leave. I cried for the hour before I left for the airport, in the car on the way to the airport, and in the public bathroom at the airport. What if I only had 4 years with those girls? They mean so much to me. I don't think I'll ever meet other girls as smart, talented, informed, opinionated, or hilarious as they are. My ideal situation would be to live near all of them again at some point. Sporadic weekend visits are fun, but I want to live close enough to share quiet times again.