Sitting down in a 2006 Toyota Prius, Catherine Zipf, associate professor of Cultural and Historic Preservation at Salve Regina, was like a 16-year-old learning to drive for the first time, examining the keyless vehicle with its new buttons and video screens, but so was the salesman.

A bottle of Banana Boat SPF 15 sunblock. UV protection full coverage aviator sunglasses. A favorite pair of blue rubber Old Navy flip-flops. A comfortable red cotton stretchy visor. One might not think of these items as necessities for showing up to work everyday.

Running at least two miles a day to maintain endurance. Weight training at least five times a week to build and tone muscles. Performing speed and agility drills until improving upon a previous time. Maintaining a well-balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and not overtraining in the heat.

It’s Thursday. It’s 8:30. It’s a prime night for going out and doing what normal college kids call “partying”. But, instead, I am sprawled out on my bed in my blue fleece penguin pajamas, wrapped in a blanket with the remote control in one hand and a box of animal crackers by my side (my snack of choice).

The wood-beamed walls, small dim lamps and cozy fireplace topped with driftwood and other knickknacks and surrounded by paintings of sailboats and green mountain tops create the ambience of a rustic log cabin or cozy cottage. Surrounded by rows of dully colored books by Kipling and Twain, guests are invited to get as comfortable as possible at small wooden tables to enjoy soft jazz music and conversation.