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Friday, September 4, 2009

Getting Situated

Hello from sunny Athens! My futile attempts to meet other freshmen will have to be put on pause while I simultaneously blog and allow my nails to dry, but as soon as I'm done, I'm going to come out of my reclusive, nerdy shell and turn into a social butterfly. As soon as I shower and, um, change out of last night's clothes.

Oh, are you still there? You can pick your dropped jaw back up, guys, and stop reciting the Lord's Prayer. This Morning's Walk of Shame was only from my big sister's apartment. My roommate didn't move in until today, and the school hasn't yet put the guard rail on my top bunk bed, so skillfully I avoided both loneliness and plummeting to my death by hanging out with cool senior sorority girls. So, in turn, I spent my first night away from home in Kelly's cushiony full-sized bed with a familiar comforter that smells like my house, after eating grilled cheese made by my big sister. Comfortable? Very. Appropriate behavior for the adjustment period? Not at all. I'm working on it.

More than I'm worried for myself, though, I'm worried for my mom. She hasn't had an empty nest since she was practically my age. We had to pry her hands off my stuff once I got situated in my dorm; she wanted desperately to hook up every appliance, hang up my clothes, vacuum something. My dad, after installing plushy wall-to-wall carpeting (showoff!), finally had to tell her it was time to move on. So my parents-- first to arrive and last to leave, just like at church every Sunday-- went on their way, four kids down.

Since then, I've spent the time away from Kelly's apartment organizing my bookshelf (which could totally support twice as many books; biggest regret!), hanging posters (Half-Blood Prince, Wicked, Flight of the Conchords and a Hogwarts plaque), filling my mini fridge with carrots, milk, pizza rolls and other essentials. Eight picture frames are on display along the little windowsill in front of my desk, including a big 8"x10" photo of the fiveawesomegirls. My summer clothes and shoes fit perfectly in my closet, and the fall and winter clothes slide well under the bed. It turns out that most of my worries about space were silly and exaggerated.

I have a few prospects for friends: my roommate, a girl down the hall, a couple people I've talked to on facebook, a guy from my high school. I just have to force myself not to retreat to my comfort zones, like Kelly's friends... or my blog. I love you guys, and you know it, but there's a major college campus full of lonely people my age right outside this here window, and I'm going to go brave it and hope for the best.

Sexy: The delicious bagel place I told you about a couple months ago. I went out for bagel sandwiches with Kelly's best friend, because we're both vegetarians and eat like it's our job. Bagel Street is officially my second-favorite place to eat.
Unsexy: Wearing excessively cute clothes to move heavy boxes. My roomie gained about a million Awesome Points when she arrived in our room in sweats.

Chipotle burritos this year: 29
Bagel Street visits this school year: 1
Subscribers: 20,073

Bye, guys! Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow. <3

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have a good time, and good luck! I hope your experience is as good as mine has been. :)

*rushes off to class*

Eric Gomez said...

Good luck making all your new friends and such. If all else fails, introduce yourself with a false name, so if you come off weird, decide to change back into Hayley and introduce yourself again. Form the base of the conversation on how weird that other girl was [I predict the name Gertrude.] You may need to switch clothes, and a wig would help. People might think you're schitzophrenic. If you're caught, say you're an actress or pull out some video camera and say "You got Punk'd." Instant awesomeness.

Ok, that was bull.

Good job on the packing, although the book situation must be tearing at your brain right now. Buy new ones! :D

courtkraw said...

Thankyou for writing even though you are busy. I just got back from seeing my boyfriend off for his first year of university. After freaking out for half an hour, I knew i needed to read your blog & start feeling better. You didn't let me down.

Eddy said...

It sounds like everything will be fine with you. You'll probably make many new friends this weekend. I'm sure everyone will want to meet someone as awesome as you are.

Have a great weekend and don't worry about your blog. Just have fun.

-___- said...

Whoo! Go unleash your social butterfly, you!

Now excuse me while I kick myself for leaving my summer work until the last minute. Hello Armory Blaine, Goodbye Harry Potter. ):

The Vagabond said...

Gah, you are so lucky! Bagel Street sounds AMAZING! I'm obsessed with bagels. My college town doesn't have anything like that. The usual place I would go to for bagels (Panera Bread) is missing from this horrible dust bowl as is Panda Express and (dun, dun, DUN) Chipotle. I know, I know. Poor Unfortunate souls is running through your head right now. So sad, but true. No Chipotle for me. :-(

Anonymous said...

best of luck hayley! everyone will adore u, im sure =]

traderbob11 said...

wow Rome huh? hope you enjoy your studies aboard. Hope the language won't be a barrier to you.

Take care Hayley

Phyllis said...

Good luck, Hayley! And just always remember there is a huge number of people that think you are super awesome, and are always here for you.

Anonymous said...

Wow, this gives me flashbacks to when I started, three weeks ago. Could you make a video showing us your room? Or just a picture would be cool. Good luck making lots of friends (not that you need it, because as they say: Hayley Hoover is awesome).

Pip said...

My parents are empty-nesters now, too! Four kids moved away from home. And right after they dropped me off at school they hopped on a plane to Vienna. They couldn't wait to get rid of the kids. I'm not sure which is worse, parents who are clingy and tearful or parents who are a little too excited to get rid of you.

Have fun at college!

grokim said...

I'm sure you have heard this or will many times, but be that social butterfly! EVERYONE feels awkward and wants to hide in their room, and it seems like you are cognant of it. Put yourself out there, and meet new people, it is so worth it!

Nokorola said...

Sounds like a comparatively fun first day Hayley, congrats.

This sentence: "filling my mini fridge with carrots, milk, pizza rolls and other essentials." made me say to myself out loud, "Wow Hayley, you're such a party animal".

Have fun with your classes on Monday Hayley!

Ravenclaw2313 said...

It's tough to know how much space you'll have. I'm glad it all fits and hopefully when you finished this blog you really did get out there and meet some people. If not, there are always the people in your classes (you already have something to talk about).

Also, great grammar queen, do I put a period outside parenthesis or inside?

kelsothebum said...

I wish you well! I'm in the middle of my first year at uni, and I'm not liking it too much at the moment. The people and the place I am living are amazing, but the stress of all the work is just getting to me! Anyway, I'm sure you'll be great and that people will love you. They'll see your passion and how awesome you are and you'll make lots of friends. Good luck =)

Oh, by the way, have you read Catching Fire yet? I just bought it online and I'm sooooooooooo excited to read it!

Louise Morgan said...

Good luck, and enjoy being a social butterfly! :] <3

Maya said...

Sounds awesome! I can't wait to hear about your new friends :)

Elizabeth... said...

Sounds like it's going well.
Gives us all hope!
:)

Anonymous said...

The fact that your bookshelf is only half full just means that you have to buy more to fill it ;)

Natasha said...

I know this is your life and everything but I totally feel like I'm reading a book and have just turned the page to an exciting new chapter.

I'm sure you'll settle in great, Hayley. You're more awesome than you realise.

Indigo said...

Good luck with meeting new people, it'll be easy because you're so jokes!

Margaret said...

BAH, I am so jealous. I have another two weeks until I move in. It sounds like everything is going your way, though! You'll be just fine at making friends! And if we find you blogging too often, we'll let you know. :)

Anonymous said...

Good luck, girl!

Kara said...

I'm glad everything's going so well! I only wish I could be among the great new people you're going to meet, despite the three long years of high school ahead of me.

See you later!

Bre Melvin said...

i approve of your decoration choice

Anonymous said...

Enjoy! Mingle! Mesh! Do whatever! Don't be like me, who going into my last year, barely knows anyone on campus :)

Anonymous said...

I just finished Second Helpings and the crush I thought I had on Marcus Flutie after Sloppy Firsts pales in comparison to my crush on him now. In the words of Sara, "Omigod!" Thank you for the wonderful recommendation. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Good luck this year!

Michelle said...

As soon as I read "Athens" I had an epiphany. I remember this show on fox family called "World's Scariest Places", in which they mentioned Ohio University being haunted. So, of course I went on trusty wikipedia to confirm this and bam!

"Athens was declared one of the top ten most haunted cities in America on the Fox Family special "World's Scariest Places" that aired on October 23, 2000. Other sources have made similar declarations. Ohio University has been called one of the most haunted college campuses in America; most notably, local legend includes stories of hauntings in the former asylum. The area of the asylum is known as The Ridges. There is a museum contained in the old asylum's main administration building."

awesome right? totally awesome!


The challenge you have now is to go on a ghost hunt, sometime while at school!


:)

Unknown said...

I start university in three weeks, and I'm dreading the first week, but I'm determined to force myself out from hiding when it comes! Best of luck ^^

Unknown said...

Good luck with everything Hayley! I completely know how you feel about the making friends and all that, I just moved into my college dorm for the first time a week ago. It may be a little rough at first but it gets better :)

kateribethrose said...

While my college experience was somewhat different I still understand what you are talking about Hayley.
I am more curious about what you are going to do when people find out or come up to you and your "That girl on youtube" But I guess you have already had that happen before.

seurat2 said...

Awww your poor parents, deprived of awesomeness at home. You'll call them a lot though I;m sure, and sounds like you'll be back for more books to fill up that bookcase. Yes, go out, be a butterfly, spread some awesomeness around the campus.

Anonymous said...

good luck!!!

Maria said...

Good luck! If they have any sense, they're all gonna love ya. =)

Margaret said...

I'm moving in tomorrow. I just read this and the blog that preceded this in preparation.

That's right, Hayley. I use your blog like a how-to book.