One of my coworkers at The University of Akron- knowing that I like to teach origami – connected me with one of the program coordinators at Kent State University to see if I would be interested in particiapating in the Family Weekend Program on their campus. I had done UA’s family weekend in years past and I was signed up to it again later in the fall so it seemed like it might be fun.
The week before the event, Jim and I made a dry run to the KSU campus to see what the drive and parking situation were like. We found it easily enough and scoped out several parking lots that looked like they would work – then went to some of the shops in Kent to check out the town.
On the day of the event Jim agreed to go with me and help out – as long as I made it clear that he couldn’t help with the paper folding. We got there plenty early and got set up – and then waited for the people to arrive.
I had several projects ready and Jim set out the paper. Kent State students and their families began coming in – we ended up with about 25 or so total people.
As we got started, I introduced myself as the Director for Web Services…at The University of Akron. I let that hang in the air for a moment, then explained how I had come to be there – and then downplayed the rivalry as silly since we were neighbors. Then I took a drink from my bottle of water, where I had taped a GO ZIPS! sign to the bottom of the bottle. I got a good laugh and broke the ice a bit.
Most folks did pretty good with the folding, though we went over by a few minutes. I think everyone had fun and when the coordinator finally stopped by she said that she passed people in the hall that said they enjoyed it.
It was interesting to compare the two schools – even for the little we saw of KSU – and the rilvary is, indeed, silly.
But I did feel a little out of place being an alumn of UA and a long time employee. I was a stranger in a strange land, but I was welcomed none the less.