February Sunset

 This afternoon, the sky was gray and overcast, but when I came home from work this evening, I noticed that it had cleared and was looking quite lovely.  I wanted to share this sight with those of you who are following our blog, so I literally ran back to my room to grab my camera.  By the time I got back outside, the sun had sunk below the tree line, but the sky was still streaked with vibrant pinks, oranges, and purples. 

I was able to take the pictures below before the sun set completely.  The pictures are of the athletic fields surrounding my dorm, Governor's Hall.  As I looked out over campus, seeing the reflection of the sun on the windows of the new fitness center and my dorm, I thought how lucky I am to be able to live in a place as beautiful as Asheville.  At my previous school, the setting sun was not as striking and the views less serene.  I think a large part of  the reason for this is that UNC Asheville is a school that allows itself to live with nature, rather than one that attempts to tame and sculpt the world around it.  Despite the proximity of UNC Asheville to the city center, it is a place where students are able to live peacefully and closely with the world around them. 

In the spring, as the leaves start to grow back and the flowers begin to bloom again, Asheville will become even more beautiful and the sunsets even more spectacular.  Although pictures do no not do the sky I saw this evening nearly enough justice, they can help you imagine what it would be like to be standing where I was, thinking, "Wow.  This is where I get to go to school."