At college - a new life
Brown main entrance - Van Wickle Gate
So... I'm now in college, Brown University in the city of Providence in the Ocean State of Rhode Island. This is my third day here, and I'm starting to kinda miss home, NEHS, and everyone. Not to say that Brown isn't good. It's great, but it feels very different, very foreign.
I remember everyone was joking about how I would be the person most heavily in shock during the first few days of college. And now, I guess they were right! First off, the people here are large! No kidding. I can safely say I'm medium size back in Taiwan, maybe a bit taller than average, but here... I am a midget. I feel very insignificant and insecure surrounded by big burly guys... and girls.
Secondly, there are soooo many people here at Brown. I've never met so many people at once in my life. It's becoming a chore to get to know everyone. I go around everyday, meeting new people and shaking their hands, asking where they come from, what classes they are taking, some chit-chat. It's become a formula, some kind of mechanical response. Then we part, and I never see the person again, only to meet a bunch of new people. It's driving me insane. It's hard to build deep relationships like this. The diversity here is also wild. People from all over the world! It's like a crazy picture of different colors.
Thirdly, the culture is just alien! People here talk insanely fast (think Chiarng-like), and complete strangers just say "Hey, wassup?" on the street to me and continue walking. I'm standing there wondering, "Did you just ask me a question?" The topics of conversation and level of interaction is very unfamiliar. I'm a bit intimidated, but I guess I'll eventually get used to it within the first semester.
I'm staying in my dorm room now (with no roomie), with most of the people out for a midnight party. I'm tired from unpacking and jetlag. But I feel like a lifetime has passed within the past few days. I've seen and experienced so much during this time. Henry commented yesterday that I looked "mature" in my recent picture that it was "un-Putzer-ish." I think I'm finally kinda growing up. It all seemed like a dream to me, moving to the States and being independent and all that, but... now, I realize that the life that I left was the dream, and I'm finally living in reality. This is the real world.
The Brown campus is beautiful. It's very small and compact. Actually, it occupies half of Providence. The campus is "mixed" with a suburban-like setting. There are a lot of trees and greenery, and the architecture is simply amazing, gothic and colonial-era structures. The university has its own hotel, police department, hospital, and bookstore (which is actually a mall!). One of the neat things is the SafeRide system, which is a campus-wide transport network. Apparently things get a little sketchy at night (mugging and robbery), so free rides around campus are avaliable all over the place... like free taxi! I'll post a few more pics up once I have time. The place is like a maze though, and it's easy to get lost. But so far, I love the campus. No problems with that.
Brian said that college would be like an extended session of GYLC summer camp, and man, was he right! It feels exactly like a summer camp. I wake up at 7:00 AM and go to sleep at around 12:30 AM. I barely have enough time to myself... to go online or use Facebook and LiveJournal. I'm so tired by the end of the day that I fall asleep once I hit the pillow.
As usual, I didn't meet anyone who could pronounce my name right the first time. I haven't met anyone from Taiwan either, but I did meet some people who have been to Taiwan. I live in Perkins Hall, the dorm farthest away from the main campus. In fact, we're almost off the map. However, I kinda like it here, as Perkins is somewhat of a small community itself, feels very family-like, and everyone gets pretty close, especially those living on the same floors. The advisors and counselors are awfully helpful and friendly. If there's one word to describe the people here is that they're accessible - everyone's very willing to help each other out and get to know one another. It's nice.
I'm tired. (Why did I write that?)
Anyway, Orientation is one week long, with lots of parties and speeches. You know, I wish school could start eariler. I'm sick of Orientation! It should be fun, but not when I'm trying to adapt to the culture, climate, and time zone!! The weather here is unbearable. It's chilly in the morning, hot at noon, drizzly during afternoon, and cold at night. But I gotta say, Brown takes very good care of its students. Each freshman student gets two advisors - a peer one and academic one, who are basically your friends. It's cool, as the univeristy tries to break down the large incoming population into smaller groups, so that we can try to know each other better. I rather have a smaller group of close friends than knowing everyone only slightly. I'm still working on that. It's only my third day here!
Sounds fun? Not really. Yeah, still having culture shock, I'm a bit shy too. I'm missing out most of the fun Orientation events because they're mostly late at night. I can't stand it. I'm just too darn tired to go out in cold weather and scream and do wild stuff. Being independent is harder than I ever ever ever imagined. Shopping, socializing, checking mailbox, doing laundry, paying bills... it's tough! I miss the good ol' days.
A passing view
Near the campus green
Around the same area
I missed campus tour, so I have no idea where this is...
I don't remember where I took this one.
Me in front of Van Wickle Gate
Dad and me in front of Perkins Hall
Hope everyone is doing fine. This must be the longest entry I've ever written! Eek!