Revisiting the University of Idaho
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 8:59PM 
We were only there for four years, but those were some of the most significant years, in terms of the impact they had on our life. My husband and I came to the University of Idaho right after we were married, this is where our daughter was born. We loved the town of Moscow so much that we would have stayed after graduation, had we been able to find jobs there. It has been more than eleven years since we left, and we felt it was time to return for a visit, to show our kids where it all started for our family, and to say hello to some dear friends who are still there.
Moscow Idaho is a small university town, situated amongst the beautiful rolling hills of the Palouse. The sky looks so big here that it seems like you can actually see the curvature of the earth.
It was very cold, but we had fun showing the kids around the campus. We had no idea that Ron Paul would be speaking on campus while we were there- but there he was! My husband and I were pretty excited. The kids didn't really share our enthusiasm. We couldn't get into the auditorium where he was speaking because it was so packed, so we had to listen from a stairwell in the hall. But we did get to see him afterwards.
Above, is the cute little town of Moscow. And below, is our favorite coffee shop, Bucers.
Of course, we had to go to an indoor track meet. Derek used to run track for U of I- and he was fast. He was the Big West conference 800m champion in 1998. Now we think we might have another Vandal in our family. Trent says that he doesn't want to "just run around in circles". He wants to do the pole vault. He was clearly very proud of his Daddy though.
This is my favorite place on campus, the auditorium of the Administration building. I went to a lot of concerts here. Grace loved the building too. The first thing she said when she saw it was, "Downton Abbey!" It was built in 1907, so she was correct about the time period.
It was a long drive, but I'm happy we did this. We have so many special memories here. It was important to us to share them with our kids.
Reader Comments (9)
That is so nice. So special to share with them. That is a nice little town for sure!
This must have been the most amazing experience for all your you Dawn xo
what a great visit. I have never been there but it looks like somewhere I could live. Your pictures are fabulous especially the ones of your family all together.
What a beautiful university and town!! It looks so cozy and quaint.
your university culture is so different from ours here, it fascinates me. what a wonderful place it looks to be.
I think I took a photo of The three of you (before Trent) at the U OF I fountain when you all three still lived there. Nice picture of the clouds over the Paloose.
Rick- I have that picture still! I almost included it here, but I was having problems with my scanner.
Sarah- I'm curious to know more about the differences in university culture with our countries. I didn't realize it was different.
I think I've been there too. I think we hit that campus on one of our high school choir tours. Of COURSE it was cold. Idaho is as frozen a place as I've ever been. The campus has that old world charm to it, doesn't it? I love a traditional campus, one that reeks of Oxford. And there - I just KNEW you guys would be watching Downton Abbey too. And your two men look so very much alike. We don't have to take our kids to visit our university as we only live ten minutes away and they've almost all graduated from there. So you may indeed have at least one more Vandal. I love it that you took them back there though - I wish my parents had taken me to the U of Mo back in the day - I'd have had some concept of what a university was before I got sent to one.
Kristen- You must have been to Jazz Fest with your choir! My husband and I love watching Downton Abbey. I'm so sad that it's over until next January....so long to wait.