The Start

I've been at UVA now for almost two and a half months. They have most definitely not been dull or uneventful in any way. Since being here I have learned how to make new friends, live off of only salad and cereal, sleep less than I ever have in my life, sing the good 'Ole song and grow closer to the Lord. It's amazing to think about how much has changed since I got to school and as a result of that how much I have grown. He has blessed me with a wonderful community to live in with my hall mates, bible study girls, dorm buddies, old friends and new classmates. It's been eye opening and it's been fun.

The first week that we are on grounds the school has a convocation ceremony for the first years that are entering the university. It's a very big deal, the president of the university is there along with other very important members of the faculty and student body. Speeches are shared and words of wisdom are imparted about our upcoming years at The University. I sat in the sun for about 3 hours for the ceremony so it is definitely something that I will never forget :) In all seriousness it was really special; something that I will look back on and think about what a cool school I went to. After the ceremony we sign the 'honor scrolls', which look like recycled paper with the UVA seal on it :), and head off to the presidents house which is less than a block away from the lawn. They had appetizers and lemonade for us as we mingled with our new classmates. At this point I am with basically the only people that I know at the university. (Keep in mind that me knowing them means I met one of them the night before, one went to my middle school but I am not even sure that we ever shared a conversation and the other I shared a few letters and facebook conversations with her. Let's just say you get tight fast.) This, however, did not keep me from sharing weird comments and being my charming self from the get go. :)
As the party progressed I became increasingly amazed at the fact that there were probably 15 hundred girls there ALL wearing dresses and not one person was wearing the same dress. It seemed impossible. Naturally i shared my observation with my friends who thought that was peculiar too. Just as we finish discussing my dress observation we turn the corner only to find a girl wearing the exact same dress that I was!!!! ( I think it might have been a different color, but that's irrelevant). I mean what are the chances?!?! I guess it just goes to show that my jinxing powers are still as strong as ever.
If that wasn't crazy enough the party just keeps getting weirder. So me and my girls are standing around when a guy approaches us and proceeds to ask us questions about what constitutes cheating and if his friend should break up with his girlfriend? We answer hesitantly. . . actually I don't think we even answered I think we just kept saying, "Um" and "That's weird." Then his wing man comes up and tries to help the conversation. After the initial awkward and inappropriate leading questions we start talking about where we live on campus. My friend Abby and I proceed talking about Brown college (which is a residential college in the middle of grounds that is known for the peculiar people that live in it) how weird it is, how it's the worst place to live, how we would never want to live there and the discussion goes on and on along these lines. Then I turn to our new acquaintance and ask, "Where do you live?"
"Brown College" he replies. Needless to say the conversation ended shortly after that.

Things I took away from the second day at school:
1. Brown College is THE BEST place to live- tell everybody. I actually know a few awesome people that live there as I am sure most of the residents are. Brown guy wherever you are- I'm sorry.
2. Keep more observations to yourself- maybe they won't come true.
3. The president has sweet digs
4. My cup- a memento
5. Friends- Kathryne, Abby, and Christine
6. An optimistic view of what life at UVA was going to be like.