Hold on tight.

Who'd a thunk it? Me. In Alabama. Working. Grad School-ing. Transplanted and plopped into an unknown life. Type A personality aside, the idea of the transition was overwhelmingly exciting.

The months leading up to the move were filled with more anticipation than I can describe. I did every cliche move in the book (Kate can attest to that and now knows more about Alabama than she ever wanted to know). I bought the book "100 Things a Crimson Tide Fan Must Know Before They Die." I put the Alabama Fight Song as my ringtone. I made crimson and white cupcakes, complete with the Alabama "A" for the National Championship game. I did my research so I wouldn't be "the girl who didn't know who Bear Bryant was" (Nebraska friends: Tom Osbourne is Nebraska's version of Bear Bryant). To say I was excited may be the understatement of the century.

The days leading up to the big move painted a different picture: apprehension. Am I really doing this? Am I really uprooting from all I've ever known and starting over in a place I've only visited for a mere 36 hours? The butterflies took ahold of me and for the first time, I felt fear.

A new campus. A new job. A new crowd. A new beginning.

Kelly, my best friend since kindergarten, joined me on the journey to Bama. We packed up the Breeze, with barely enough extra room to squeeze ourselves in, and set off for the land of big hair, Confederate flags, BBQ, and Sperrys.

We took off from Lincoln, after a much needed last night out with some lifelong friends which fittingly ended at The Rail and The Bar. Saying goodbye to the Shewolves and crew was even harder than imagined. After the hugs and tears ended, I walked away knowing there was no turning back. Ready or not, a new life awaited me.

After a 2 day, 16 hour journey, we finally rolled into Tuscaloosa. The South greeted us with tree lined highways, point-and-laugh billboards, and a sense of hospitality. Trying to take it all in required one big, deep breath. Okay, maybe two.

Our first meal in T-Town combined almost every stereotype I had leading up to the move. We stumbled upon a place called Bama BBQ and boy did it scream "Roll Tide Roll." The walls were plastered with pictures of Alabama football, Bear Bryant, and other memorabilia. Heck, they even had an Alabama wallpaper border surrounding the whole restaurant. It felt so small town and homey, despite being nestled into a city of almost 100,000 people. The atmosphere? Fabulous. The food? Delicious. Our first Alabama dining experience was a great success.

After a day of unpacking and soaking up rays at the outdoor rec center pool (Yes, you heard me correctly, an outdoor pool complete with lazy river and a waterslide) it was time to send Kelly on her way back to South Dakota. She'd been an incredible travel buddy, and once again, another goodbye snuck up on me and I had to separate myself from the last bit of familiarity I still had.

Driving away from the Birmingham airport, a strange sense of calm rushed over me. I was really doing this. I was about to start working for one of the most powerful and recognized Athletic Departments in the nation and get a graduate degree in the process. Pretty baller gig I'd say.

While the first few months were tough, as with any major life transition, the steps taken have helped me tenfold. There's something to be said about the gut check I went through and what it taught me. Going from a place with many friends and familiar places to a complete unknown took more gusto than I expected. A few "I miss home and my friends" tears trickled down my face at times, but the pieces are all falling together and I couldn't be more excited about what's to come! It's going to be a wild ride and I'm holding on tight.