Orientation... And So On
I've made it through my first week of college! I haven't been to any classes yet, but I've been very busy anyway. Moved in on Monday, which was not too bad. We had lots of help and I got everything unpacked and organized fairly quickly. I didn't forget anything terribly important- just printer paper and tape, which I had my dad bring up later along with my saxophone and bike. Then I had a bunch of free time to do nothing and since I didn't know anyone it was rather boring, but Tuesday was much more exciting. I was on the move all day being shuffled from information session to information session and group bonding activities. We did stuff all day and then had a sort of party/carnival thing at night. Everyone was exhausted, but I got to know everyone in the School of International Studies pretty well. We're not one of the super popular majors like pre-pharmacy and pre-dental, so it's getting to be a pretty tight-knit group already since there are only about twenty four or so freshmen.
The next day was much more laid-back, and I got my class schedule! Didn't get to choose my classes this semester, but they're not bad. Three introductory SIS courses, two seminars, and Intro to Microeconomics. I'm not really looking forward to econ, because I'd much rather do macroecon than micro, but it's a major requirement so I'll just have to get through it. I was originally in 19 units and a cultural anthropology class, but I dropped it so I could have a life this semester. Plus I can take the honors section next semester. I'm a bit disappointed I don't have any fun general ed classes in subjects I like which are not related to my major, but I think I satisfied most of the requirements with classes I took at the community college in high school.
Anyway, we had a free day and then went on a group trip to various wilderness locations for a day of fun and a day of community service. I went to a place that looked like a summer camp and had a zip line and ropes course, which were respectively fun and difficult. The community service the next day wasn't too bad, and I think my group bonded fairly well. I was actually on the same trip as a couple people I'd already met and hung out with before, which was awesome. Coming into college, I was worried about not making any friends and being lonely, but that hasn't been a problem. I've met people in really random places and then ended up hanging out for hours. I keep staying up till small hours of the morning talking or playing cards in people's rooms or the basement of the dorm. Last night was basically my first college party/dance and while it was a bit wild and not super my thing, I met some really awesome people and ended up just talking. Everyone here is super friendly, though it does seem like people are starting to form into their friend groups, myself included. I've been so much more social than I ever was in high school, I've walked to Target twice in the heat, and I've been sleep deprived basically since I got here, but I'm loving it.
Living in the dorms is all right. My roommate's pretty cool, and I've met some amazing people on my floor. For some reason I keep befriending music majors. I know three really well so far. I'm not a big fan of the community bathroom/shower thing and having a lot less privacy, but I can deal with it. There have been some cool things happening in the two honors dorms (Carter and John Ballantyne, which is where I am) like Apples to Apples, Mafia, and what was basically Glee come to life when everyone in the lounge started singing Bohemian Rhapsody and Don't Stop Believin' as someone was playing the piano. It was so epic. I'm kind of digging the dining hall things. They do give you a ton of food and it's probably not always super healthy, but it's pretty nice not having to cook for myself. Oh, and the front wheel of my bike got stolen (just the front wheel, the rest was locked up), so I have to switch bikes when I go home for Labor Day. I'm going to try to find one that doesn't have a front release mechanism where the wheel just pops off.
Well, classes start tomorrow. I'm excited and I don't have class til 9:30, which is totally manageable for me being very much not a morning person. But still, I should probably get some sleep. Can't wait to see what my classes are like!
The next day was much more laid-back, and I got my class schedule! Didn't get to choose my classes this semester, but they're not bad. Three introductory SIS courses, two seminars, and Intro to Microeconomics. I'm not really looking forward to econ, because I'd much rather do macroecon than micro, but it's a major requirement so I'll just have to get through it. I was originally in 19 units and a cultural anthropology class, but I dropped it so I could have a life this semester. Plus I can take the honors section next semester. I'm a bit disappointed I don't have any fun general ed classes in subjects I like which are not related to my major, but I think I satisfied most of the requirements with classes I took at the community college in high school.
Anyway, we had a free day and then went on a group trip to various wilderness locations for a day of fun and a day of community service. I went to a place that looked like a summer camp and had a zip line and ropes course, which were respectively fun and difficult. The community service the next day wasn't too bad, and I think my group bonded fairly well. I was actually on the same trip as a couple people I'd already met and hung out with before, which was awesome. Coming into college, I was worried about not making any friends and being lonely, but that hasn't been a problem. I've met people in really random places and then ended up hanging out for hours. I keep staying up till small hours of the morning talking or playing cards in people's rooms or the basement of the dorm. Last night was basically my first college party/dance and while it was a bit wild and not super my thing, I met some really awesome people and ended up just talking. Everyone here is super friendly, though it does seem like people are starting to form into their friend groups, myself included. I've been so much more social than I ever was in high school, I've walked to Target twice in the heat, and I've been sleep deprived basically since I got here, but I'm loving it.
Living in the dorms is all right. My roommate's pretty cool, and I've met some amazing people on my floor. For some reason I keep befriending music majors. I know three really well so far. I'm not a big fan of the community bathroom/shower thing and having a lot less privacy, but I can deal with it. There have been some cool things happening in the two honors dorms (Carter and John Ballantyne, which is where I am) like Apples to Apples, Mafia, and what was basically Glee come to life when everyone in the lounge started singing Bohemian Rhapsody and Don't Stop Believin' as someone was playing the piano. It was so epic. I'm kind of digging the dining hall things. They do give you a ton of food and it's probably not always super healthy, but it's pretty nice not having to cook for myself. Oh, and the front wheel of my bike got stolen (just the front wheel, the rest was locked up), so I have to switch bikes when I go home for Labor Day. I'm going to try to find one that doesn't have a front release mechanism where the wheel just pops off.
Well, classes start tomorrow. I'm excited and I don't have class til 9:30, which is totally manageable for me being very much not a morning person. But still, I should probably get some sleep. Can't wait to see what my classes are like!