Welcome to Hotlanta!

The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. I have arrived! While we may never have expected it when Dad gave up on my golf career (must've seen how much money I was going to make with my pro swimming) and sent little Maggie to golf lessons for a couple summers, I have officially become my father's favorite daughter. Yeah, my summer working in junior golf may be overwhelmed by the fact that Mag will be going to "university" in Scotland in September, but for a few short months, I am on top of ol' Jeffer's list.

I arrived in the ATL yesterday afternoon and was whisked away to the first of many free meals, with very few veggie options, but very many polos and enthusiasm. The other interns are funny and smart and the full-time staff are great to work with. I do have to say, though, that the cultural differences between the north and south (or maybe just Carleton and the rest of the world?) are going to be big, as far as I can see. Like saying a gay joke in the elevator? That's cool? Or using the word "retarded"? Or talking about getting tan in terms of "becoming Mexican"? I mean, sure, we're a really insensitive country overall, as our politics over just the part of my lifetime that I remember have shown, but we can do that? So, needless to say, I will surely pick up something of an accent, but I'm not so sure I can shake my silly, liberal PC-ness in the south.

Our day today included learning to hook up 15,000lb trailers to the backs of trucks and huge conversion vans, backing them up, driving them on the highway, and, of course, peeing in a cup again. Each team will have a big GMC truck with a trailer attached to it and these old-school party vans for the eight of us to move from golf tournament to golf tournament. In the evening, we got our 7 Polo Golf Shirts and 4 pairs of shorts, along with Bolle sunglasses, Fooyjoy rain gear, Under Armour shoes, and a couple hats. It's going to be a classy summer.

Other than that, the big highlight of the day was thinking of what restaurants, snacks, and activities we want to do if a tournament director wants to feed us or entertain us. I've started a list of southern foods that I need to try, and checked off sweet tea today... not my favorite. Made me think of that day in Burma when I had sweetened green tea and it was really hot and I spent the rest of the day throwing up... But I can check off the sweet tea! Next up? Maybe grits? Biscuits? Chicken and waffles? Send some ideas my way, this is so far out of my normal vocabulary I don't know where to begin! Waffle house, anyone?

So please, keep reading. I bought a laptop battery just so i could write from the car and hotel bed this summer, and I hope there might be someone out there interested in what I'm doing? I think junior golf will be an experience, but the south will be a whooooole 'nother one. Let me know what you want to hear about!