Just a Small Town Girl

Sure, Grinnell College is surrounded by seemingly endless cornfields. The bustling metropolises of Des Moines and Iowa City are each about an hour away. Still, you won’t believe everything you can do on campus each week. Sometimes, though, after running around from one appointment to another during the week and studying in every open nook on campus, I need a brief retreat from the College’s grounds. And that’s when I head to town. Grinnell, the town, may not be that big, and at first glance, it may look like there’s little to do. Don’t let appearances fool you. As someone who grew up near a sizable university town, I was at first skeptical of how much fun I’d have in small downtown Grinnell. But I love this thriving and friendly community, and have many fond memories of events or activities that have taken place just a few blocks from campus. From time to time, I like to grab a meal in town. Whether it’s curry at Thai Basil, pizza from Pag’s or Jimbo’s, breakfast at the A&M Cafe, or Chinese food from Chuong Garden, I’ve always had fun bonding with my friends over copious amounts of food. Similarly, my friends and I like to walk over to Saints Rest Coffeehouse, grab a cup of joe, and nurse it slowly while enjoying the cozy atmosphere and chatting with regulars or writing papers. For those times when we get a case of the midnight munchies, my friends and I resort to the traditional 2 a.m. bakery run to the Danish Maid Bakery, where we get fresh donuts just out of the cookers. In the fall, we head to the downtown farmers’ market to grab some produce, drool over mounds of fresh baked goods, and chat with the vendors about their products or life in general. Regardless of what time of day it is, there always seems to be a moment when food can bring you, your friends, and the town closer together. Another great way to explore the town of Grinnell is by volunteering. A lot of my friends do community service work and have been involved in projects at local schools, churches, the community center, and retirement homes. One of my favorite volunteer experiences was with the Community Meal, which takes place every Tuesday at the elementary school. After helping prepare a meal, there’s nothing better than to sit down with members of the community and talk about non-academic subjects. We all need a break from school every now and then! While it may seem that all of my intown adventures revolve around food, I assure you, I’ve had many fun nonfood experiences in Grinnell as well. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than to take some time off and run to one of the nearby parks with a group of friends. I’ve received some odd looks from the 5-year-olds when I swing on monkey bars and act even younger than they do, but acting like a kid can be the best of all stress-relievers. There’s a lot more to Grinnell than cornfields, as I’ve learned over the past few years. Creative minds partnered with a town like this one make the best adventures and stories to share with people at home. Aki Shibuya '11 is a History major from Orinda, California.