College So Far

Sep 03, 2008

So I've officially been in college for about a week now and so far its great. Last Weekend we had a tournament up in Michigan. I started thinking about everything on the 6 hour ride up there and the more I thought the more scared and nervous I got. I still hadn't met any of my roommates or housemates, except for Anicca, my teammate, and I was hoping that we would all get along just fine. I was scared about playing at the college level. How would I do? Would I be able to measure up to the level of play? I had to be confident in myself but there was so many things running through my head that I couldn't think straight and all I was really able to do was worry. What have I done? Why did I come all the way out here to play? What if I'm not good enough? What if I don't make any friends? Will it be High School all over again? That was the worst thought. My stomach clenched and turned and felt weirder than weird. Finally we got to our hotel rooms and settled in and then the whole team went to lunch. I decided I would do my best to relax and not worry about anything until it was absolutely necessary. Then it was game time. I didn't play at all that weekend. I was bummed. But the team did well, and I'm going to take this as a learning experience. I've played volleyball for 7 years and all 7 years I have been a starter. Not playing at all is so hard. Watching your teammates and trying to cheer them on and pick them up from the side lines is the hardest thing, and I'm just now learning that. Anyways, we won all four games that weekend and we won our game yesterday so now we are 5 – 0. Undefeated. On Saturday night when Anicca and I got back from Michigan we met 3 of our housemates. The first two, Toni and Chelsea, are from different parts of Ohio. They are both kind and nice. Chelsea is a bit more outgoing and loud than Toni, but I get the feeling that once Toni warms up to you she is the same way. The third is an exchange student from Spain. We all talked a little bit and got over the awkwardness that was sure to surround us for a little bit. Then Ari, the Spanish student, introduced us to her 3 friends, all guys from Spain, who are living next door. First, there is Israel. He just turned 23 on Monday and is very tall. He's funny and outgoing, and I don't think he really cares about what people think, he just entertains. Next is Pau (pronounced pow). He's 22 and is like Israel's counterpart. He too is very funny and outgoing, for instance both Pau and Israel will break out into random song and dance, like when we were walking through the U.C. and they both starting singing Grease and dancing to it. I was in stitches. Last, but not least, there is Jose. He's quiet and shy at first, but I've come to find out that if you're sitting next to him while were all hanging out, he makes comments that will leave you gasping for air. I've talked to him quite a bit and we continue to laugh "with" each other over random things, but mostly our pronunciations and terms we use in each other's native languages, for instance here we say "that's the shit" when we like something. Well, in Spain they say "that's the cock," only in Spanish of course. Ari is very kind and lives downstairs in my house. She is kind and sweet. The four of them are amazing people. But then, there's more. After meeting those four, they met a Russian exchange student and one more Spanish student. The guy from Russia is Michael, and the guy from Spain is Raul. Michael is hilarious. Last night he taught us the Russian alphabet and we couldn't stop laughing if our lives depended on it. Michael never stops laughing or smiling and he fits perfectly in with Pau and Israel. Raul on the other hand is very quiet. He will say a few things here and there, and yes, most of the time they are funny, but for the most part he seems like an observer. After we met those too, we finally got to meet our last downstairs roommate, Elene, from Georgia the country. She is very nice and sweet and laughs a lot to, however I haven't gotten much time to get to know her as well as the people. And then last night I met one of her friends, and I'm sorry but I can't remember his name. But from what I can tell he is very nice and funny as well. Then there is Doug. Doug is Jose's roommate next door. He's funny and kind; one of those people that can cheer you up when your down. And as funny as he is sober, he's even funnier drunk. So far these are the people that I have met and have been hanging out with. Then there is my roommate, Tina, and Anicca's roommate, Heather. I don't see or talk to either much but they both seem kind.
I started classes on Tuesday. So far they are all interesting and not too hard. I really like my English teacher and I think I will enjoy that class the most. I learned she is from Riverside as well, and loves sports. I'm sure we'll get along just fine. Then there's my sociology teacher. She's from the Netherlands and speaks with a heavy accent. However she is quite intelligent and says she is going to try to make the class as entertaining as possible. Next there is my Drawing teacher. He seems cool, yet a little unorthodox. I can't wait to really get into this class. We do nothing but draw and I love to draw and want to get better at it. Lastly there is my theatre class. I haven't had this one yet so I don't know anything about it. Homework so far is really easy. I have to draw something for 2d foundations and read random stuff for English.
I think I've done pretty well so far and I hope I keep doing well in all aspects of my life here. My worries about this being like high school was are pretty diminished. I still hope to get more playing time but I'm going to keep working hard, that's the best I can really do right now. I hope my classes continue to capture my attention so I continue to do well in them. And I hope I continue to enjoy the company of my roommates, housemates, neighbors, and new friends. Time can only tell. I miss my family and friends back home so much, but I'm glad I made this decision. I've already grown and I've already learned so much more than I ever would have if I stayed in Riverside. It's very relieving for me to be out here. I felt so trapped back in Riverside with the same people the same places and worst, the same reputation. It's a clean start here. I can be whoever I want to be. And I just wanted to be me, something I could hardly ever do back home. So far, so good. I still appreciate the well wishes from everybody and every time I talk to my parents or brother I want to cry. I miss them so much. But it's making me stronger. I hope to keep doing well. Wish me luck, I appreciate everything. Later days people.