Life Update: "No, I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn. Makes it all so much more enjoyable."
Today, I was more charming and chatty than I think I have ever been in my life. People here are so friendly - you don't even have to try, you just have to sit alone somewhere and look nice enough, and somebody will come over and introduce themselves. It's been fun, and I've met some really cool people, but it's also felt kind of weirdly impersonal - I'm sure I've talked to at least fifteen people today that I will never have a conversation with again.
Then again, maybe I will.
I'm feeling generally kind of peopled-out, which sucks because this is still day one of orientation. I'm kind of anxious to start getting into my normal schedule and figure out who I'm going to be seeing in a regular basis. I mean, I'm all for random socialization, it's been okay, but routine is my friend. Routine will keep me from moments like the one during the academic fair before the opening ceremonies this morning, where I found out my parents wouldn't make it to the ceremonies and I started silently freaking out and wishing more than anything that I could go home and crying a little bit.
Yeah. The day could really only go up from there, and it did. I even got lost and got myself unlost without a breakdown. Which is a big deal. For me.
Highlights:
- There's a social justice-y club here called the Justice League, which I might join just because of their display featuring the actual DC Justice League. It gave me the opportunity to talk about my love of Batman, which was maybe the best conversation I had all day.
- The orientation leaders did some pretty hilarious skits about campus safety, and gave us some wonderful dining hall-related euphenisms like "let her swipe my card" and "sneak her into my kosher section."
- I got to see my mom for five minutes. She brought my new jeans, which are now hemmed. It's funny how much better a day can get when you have just one moment of something or someone familiar.
- Talked on the phone with happybecca! See comment about familiarity above.
Lowlights:
- Got lectured on partying and alcohol and drugs, and realized that I'll have to contend with people who do that stuff more than I realized. Not that I'm opposed to hanging out with people who do that, just that I hope I can find people who will hang out with me sober. It's just really, really not my thing.
- My roommate was up past one AM talking with a friend of hers last night, and I couldn't really sleep well anyways, and I've just been dead tired all day. I'm actually surprised I managed to stay as calm as I did, considering my fatigue levels.
- I probably look kind of antisocial for not wanting to go to Casino Night tonight, but I am just desperately in need of a recharge.
All in all, generally positive first day. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon enough. Right now, though, I miss my friends, and I miss my family, and I miss my house, and I have zero comfort zones constructed on campus. Bah, college is hard already, and I haven't even started classes.
Then again, maybe I will.
I'm feeling generally kind of peopled-out, which sucks because this is still day one of orientation. I'm kind of anxious to start getting into my normal schedule and figure out who I'm going to be seeing in a regular basis. I mean, I'm all for random socialization, it's been okay, but routine is my friend. Routine will keep me from moments like the one during the academic fair before the opening ceremonies this morning, where I found out my parents wouldn't make it to the ceremonies and I started silently freaking out and wishing more than anything that I could go home and crying a little bit.
Yeah. The day could really only go up from there, and it did. I even got lost and got myself unlost without a breakdown. Which is a big deal. For me.
Highlights:
- There's a social justice-y club here called the Justice League, which I might join just because of their display featuring the actual DC Justice League. It gave me the opportunity to talk about my love of Batman, which was maybe the best conversation I had all day.
- The orientation leaders did some pretty hilarious skits about campus safety, and gave us some wonderful dining hall-related euphenisms like "let her swipe my card" and "sneak her into my kosher section."
- I got to see my mom for five minutes. She brought my new jeans, which are now hemmed. It's funny how much better a day can get when you have just one moment of something or someone familiar.
- Talked on the phone with happybecca! See comment about familiarity above.
Lowlights:
- Got lectured on partying and alcohol and drugs, and realized that I'll have to contend with people who do that stuff more than I realized. Not that I'm opposed to hanging out with people who do that, just that I hope I can find people who will hang out with me sober. It's just really, really not my thing.
- My roommate was up past one AM talking with a friend of hers last night, and I couldn't really sleep well anyways, and I've just been dead tired all day. I'm actually surprised I managed to stay as calm as I did, considering my fatigue levels.
- I probably look kind of antisocial for not wanting to go to Casino Night tonight, but I am just desperately in need of a recharge.
All in all, generally positive first day. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon enough. Right now, though, I miss my friends, and I miss my family, and I miss my house, and I have zero comfort zones constructed on campus. Bah, college is hard already, and I haven't even started classes.