Emory University

I should start by saying that we have not yet accepted Emory's offer, but it could be official within the next few weeks. Status = very probable.

Chris adored his first visit to Emory in November. He came back gushing about the friendliness of the faculty, the top-notch quality of the facilities, and the kind of life he could see for us in Atlanta. He received an offer from Emory in January, revealing that the warm feelings were mutual. This morning, we just got back from our family visit, which the chemistry department provided to convince us - mainly me, they admitted - to move there. Given the fact that Emory is currently the only school we are considering, and that Chris loves them and they love Chris, I could never veto the move, even if I do have issues with the summer temperatures and bugs, congested traffic, and the plain non-Europeanness of the US.  Although I wouldn't say that I fell in love with Atlanta, I feel like I gained an appreciation of what it has to offer and I believe in its potential.

Arriving at Atlanta's international terminal is outrageously tiresome. We landed on the tarmac, picked up our bag from the carousel, and were ready to head for the exit when we realized that we still weren't allowed to leave. We had to 1) Deposit our checked bag once again onto a conveyor belt, which would turn up again at the central/domestic baggage claim and 2) Perform an exit security screening, removing the shoes and liquids and all. Taking Daisy out of the stroller again. Removing her toggles/zipper/coat. Deep breaths.

We finally got out and rented a car from the airport - a Jeep Patriot, to my joy - and used it throughout our five-night stay. Even for Atlanta, it was an unseasonably warm spell, hovering around the upper-60's and lower 70's.

Driving into the city from the airport

We stayed at the Emory Conference Center hotel on campus, which was convenient and beautifully Frank Lloyd Wright - inspired. When we checked in, the clerk handed us a giant welcome bag sent by Chris' host in the Chemistry department. It was filled with toys and snacks for Daisy. After our long trip, it felt meaningfully welcoming to us, and the variety of books and crafts came in handy, both

At the hotel:

And out and about:

Pipe cleaners: endless possibilities

One of my first glimpses of the wooded nature of Atlanta was from the courtyard of the hotel, where Daisy insisted on playing every day. There are so many old trees and wild patches of forest! One of chemistry professors told the story of how her tree fell on her house, apparently a common occurrence here.

Chris had a fairly busy schedule for the first few days. First, he met one-on-one with the professors and discussed the terms of hire with the chair. He also went over plans for his lab space and how he would want it laid out. He attended a departmental seminar and had lunch with current graduate students. Daisy and I joined him one afternoon for a Wine and Cheese reception in honor of us, where I got to meet a lot of these people for the first time. We also went out to dinner with a few professors afterward, including a couple with a 3-year-old boy. Everyone was really friendly.

Emory's Chemistry building

The second half of the trip - and part of the reason that our visit was so long - revolved around the visitation weekend for prospective graduate students. This was one of Chris' first opportunities for explaining his research at this level and establishing his character and reputation as a professor, and I know he loved trying to convince the good students to come to Emory. The final night included a banquet that Daisy and I attended, as well.

A little about Emory: In 2011, it was ranked #20 of undergraduate institutions in the country by U.S. News and World Report. It's a major draw for academically minded students (Emory's sports aren't very emphasized) in the Southeast who want to stay relatively close to home.  The average incoming freshman's GPA last year was 3.84. There are about 7,000 undergrads and 10,000 grad students attending Emory, which shows the success of Emory's interesting meld of liberal arts college and high-powered research institution.

Here are some pictures of Emory's quad, lined with marble buildings:

Oh, the money at private schools: emblemed
trash bins!

What did Daisy and I do while Chris was busy with faculty meetings and graduate recruitment? One day, I visited a professor's wife who lives a 45-minute drive outside of the city to get a comparison of homes and communities. She made us lunch and took us to a park. But the rest of my time was filled with visiting preschools and rental properties around the university, meeting with realtors, and walking around neighborhoods.

The cooperative preschool I decided on meets in this Episcopal
church. I'm looking forward to being involved with this
community.

Daisy, helping me check out this condo 

Daisy, helping us check out this apartment complex

On our last day, we also got a chance to see my old friend Lindsay! She has lived in Atlanta for a few years after completing a master's program at Emory. After more time at the playground with Daisy, we had lunch with her and her boyfriend at a good old Southern bbq place. I still can't believe how delicious it was.

All in all, a very informative and positive trip! I've applied to the preschool because the due date is soon, but we're still waiting to closer to our move-in date to commit to a rental property. It will be nice when all of this becomes final!