Graduate School or BUST!

Zak was invited by the College of Business and Accounting at the University of Idaho to visit campus, attend a few Graduate Accounting classes, and generally get a feel for the town of Moscow. And, since they offered to foot the bill we just couldn't pass it up!

We decided to drive out there after spending Easter in Utah. Belen stayed in Utah with her grandparents while we spent several days touring campus because Zak really wanted me to have the full experience. Not only that but she wont nap in hotels, not a good thing.

Our drive took us from Utah, through Boise, McCall, through the middle of nowhere (though it was pretty...not something that I've been accustomed to after living for nearly 3 years in Eastern Idaho...if you are thinking that I'm being particularly harsh in my assessment of Eastern Idaho please visit Southwest Washington and the Columbia River Gorge...that is where I grew up and is thus my standard by which I judge natural beauty...sorry Eastern Idaho, you could never really compete. You just don't have it in you), past Lewiston, over some mountains and finally, 10 hours later, Moscow.

When we arrived it was dark and had decided to snow a bit which was sad but as we drove through downtown on our way to our hotel I couldn't help but be charmed. The town immediately emanated a quaint, homey feeling. It made me instantly at ease and excited to see what it looked like in the daylight. I didn't take any pictures of my own (I don't know why, my camera just hung out in my purse all week) I am borrowing some from the internet.

Here is a pullback shot of Moscow (including the U of I campus), the surrounding rolling farmlands and treed mountains.

Here is a shot of downtown. Charismatic, old brick buildings appear on both sides of the tree lined, 4 lane street.

I was pretty impressed by the town, there are many parks that looked clean and safe for Belen to play in as well as a community water park, swim lessons, preschool, and other activities that I think Belen and I would enjoy doing together. I was able to locate all my favorite, but hard to find in Eastern Idaho, health foods in the local grocery store. There is also a small hospital and a couple of family practitioners who were recommended to me by people we met through the U of I.

After completing our drive out there on Monday April 13th, Tuesday was the true beginning of our exploration of the University of Idaho Campus and the Graduate Accounting program.

We were invited on a tour of the Business and Accounting building. It is only a few years old and hosts many technological comforts that Zak learned to love while working on his internship in California last summer. He was pretty happy about that! Since the majority of his classes will be held in this particular building it's "comforts" were very important to him. I was just happy that there was a lunch bar area that offered healthy options because I'm sure he is not planning on packing a lunch daily to eat between classes and study breaks.

Together we attended a Graduate Accounting class and that evening were treated to dinner at a local mexican restaurant.

Wednesday Zak attended a couple of other Accounting classes and was counseled on which direction to take with his studies based on his interest in Fraud Detection and Forensics. He was offered a generous scholarship along with a Graduate Assistantship that would require him to work 10 hours a week tutoring other Accounting students. The Graduate Accounting program is only 1 year. I can handle 1 year...especially if it will be paid for!

So, at this point it looks like we will be Vandals in the Fall! Wish us luck!