First Impressions

It's the end of my third day here on Campus and things are not what I had expected. For one this is a dry campus, so despite being of legal age, I am still forbidden to have any alcohol in my room. Any images of American Pie and Old School have been destroyed in my mind. I have however found a bar just down the road from Campus that is equipped with a TV for every sport. I did ask about English Football, but the barmaid wasn't sure.

On Sunday morning, I approached my halls of residence and was hit by a wall of tie-dyed t-shirts as the Orientation Leaders checked us in. There was plenty of whooping and shouts of Carroll Cobras (My residence is Clarence Carroll) as they made a human tunnel for me to walk through whilst they chanted my name. Luckily my room had single beds rather than bunk beds, but air-conditioning is non existent. It gets very hot, even with the window wide open all day and night.

Tunnel Of Orientation Leaders

After unpacking, the first job was to get some bedding. After asking the army of tie-dye where the best place to go was, I wandered to the Uni shop. For some strange reason, everything is designer. All I wanted was a cheap bed-set, yet what I got was Tommy Hilfiger. As I carried my pillows and duvets back to my dorm, I was again greeting by chants of 'yeah he's got his bedding' and more whoops! These people are easily excited and very animated.

The Orientation Leaders arranged many activities for the Freshmen and International Students to take part in to help make friends. Luckily, being British seems to have given me an advantage with people coming up and asking questions about home. When I try to explain the difference between Freshers Week back home and what they have here, I am met with wide eyes. It seems we have a problem with alcohol back home.

I still am having problems with jet lag. I'm awake at 5am every morning, despite staying up late in an attempt to get in sync with the US clock. With lessons starting tomorrow, I hope I won't be too tired.

My roommate has just moved in today, I haven't had much time with him but it seems so far that we'll get along fine. I've already made some friends who plan to take me to various places around Connecticut and further. So far so good.

I may have forgotten a few things, but will no doubt return to describe them when I can keep my eyes open for longer.