Have you ever eaten nothing but fresh oysters for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
I have. I traveled to Apalachicola, Fla. for my master’s project to interview locals about the myriad of economic engines the tiny town has seen over the past 200 years.
The Apalach, as they call it, is home to some of the tastiest oysters in the world, and they’re happy to share them with visitors.
Have you ever run toward a maelstrom of blue and red lights and police with guns drawn?
I did that this semester, too. When a guy pointed what turned out to be a fake gun at a St. Petersburg police officer early in January, I ran toward Residence Hall One. There, the only campus police officer on duty threatened that he “was not going to tell me again” to leave.
I left and approached the scene from the next block over.
Have you ever gotten a little too boozed up at the Tavern the night before your interview for an important campus job?
Me either. Moving on.
As a graduate student, I’ve only had two years at USF St. Petersburg. I like to think I made the best of them. It’s a small school with a lot of charm, and I suspect there’s a lot of change in it’s immediate future.
Some of my favorite moments:
Meeting with USF President Judy Genshaft’s goon squad after publishing a bunch of stories about the University Student Center’s funding. Grabbing a beer with visiting journalists from Africa after learning about the craft in their countries. Sitting at the foot of the Pier talking politics with a good friend and colleague after a long night downtown. Watching the current, still-young staff at this paper grow and impress me every week (seriously good job, everyone).
It’s been a pleasure writing for you all and putting out a paper once a week for two years. Don’t let this place go to hell.
Ren LaForme is a graduate student studying journalism and media studies, and is the editor-in-chief of The Crow’s Nest. Email him at rlaforme@mail.usf.edu.
