Nebraska

So I have left New Jersey. ... I spent two weeks in Nebraska at a copy editing training progam in May 1997. I stayed at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

I can remember this conversation on the phone with David:

David: You're in Nebraska.

Me: I'm in Nebraska.

The program was a lot of work, but we had a lot of fun. After long days devoted to AP style and headline drills, we'd head back to the dorms and watch The Simpsons. Spent hours quoting Ralph Wiggum. We went to the movies almost everynight and then found a few cool bars.

I also lost my luggage key somewhere on the trip there and had to break into my suitcase because I couldn't wait for mom to fedex the spare key.

It felt very strange to be out there. People loved their college sports, hockey and corn. The strong sense of school spirit was a strange thing too for this Rutgers student.

On a tour of the campus, we got to visit the stadium and walk out on the field. (I haven't even been to Rutgers' stadium.) A guy from Oklahoma spit on the field!