Post Move-In

[popo_licious]

Hello, everyone! :D As of yesterday evening, I’m officially all moved into my dorm and ready to start school! I’ve got most of my stuff unpacked, my new computer is running smoothly—for the most part, I’m getting along with my roommate alright (Example: tonight is Coffee-Pot Ramen and Olympics Night, since our meal plans don’t kick in until tomorrow) and I’ve already managed to meet up with a friend I made at orientation. I also learned that the captain of my robotics team for the 2007-2008 season is living in my dorm, as I accidentally closed the elevator door on his father during move-in. XD Despite the lack of air-conditioning, my bed is by the window and there’s been a nice breeze these last few days, so I’m keeping cool and comfortable. (The words biggest window fan is also behind my head, so that’s good too. XD )

HEAVY SIGH

I’m also really, really homesick. It’s not the fact that I have to share a bathroom with a bunch of strangers, or that my living space is about a hundred times smaller than what I’m used to; I just really miss my family, to be honest. If the four of us had to share this little dorm room, I’d still be perfectly happy—proof that home really is where the heart is. And as I told my dad over the phone a little while ago, the day can stretch out to be pretty long when you don’t have too many folks to talk to. My door has been open almost the entire time I’ve been here, but it hasn’t really helped me make friends with anyone new, at least not yet. Everyone else has their doors closed so… I can’t really pop my head and introduce myself, or even say “hi” while walking down the hall. Still, I’m sure things will get better. Right now everyone is still moving in, and I see about as many parents passing my door as kids.

Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know that I’m okay and moved in. Please leave a comment… I need to talk to people I know! Pictures will be up soon enough.:)

Love,
Popo

Comments

[mike-wot.livejournal.com]

Well, I hope you'll be able to adjust to your new surroundings quickly. *is still getting used to living in an apartment*

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

I bet things will get better. I just need to get a good feel for the place. :)

[hooves.livejournal.com]

Man, your post made me feel nervous FOR YOU. I can't imagine living in a dorm. I think I'd rather die than share my living space with strangers. But I think maybe it's just me. I mean, I'm a bit strange like that, and not very trusting. Plus I prefer to cook for myself whenever possible. It would drive me nuts if I didn't have a stove and pots and pans whenever I wanted them. Like when I might randomly decide fried potatoes sound really good. D=

And yeah, I've never figured out how people really meet other people in college. I guess saying "hello" in the halls is the best way to start. Smiling at people a little, et cetera. But still...

Good luck. I hope you and your roomie get along really well during the year, and I hope you meet some really great people in your classes. ^_^ *HUGS*

[laylea.livejournal.com]

Ha! You're not alone in that feeling. I can't stand sharing my living space with people I don't know either, I need my personal bubble in which to think and work. DX

[hooves.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not alone, haha! I've never *had* to share my living space with strangers (no college for me), but if I did...oh, goodness... I'd go insane, I'd imagine. x_X

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

Haha, in response to your cooking comment, VT was ranked #1 in the nation last year for best on-campus food, so I don't think I'll be going hungry. (Unless you meant that you like to prepare things yourself, which is a different case. XD ) Also... I don't really mind sharing a bathroom because there's never anyone in there! Still, there are certain comforts that I miss, such as fluffy bath tissue and warm water. XD

[laylea.livejournal.com]

Your nervousness will last for the first few weeks, but it will slowly ebb away as you get more and more into the semester. You should start branching out into on-campus clubs when you feel comfortable, you'll meet more people and it'll help fill empty spots in your day. :)

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

Yeah… I'm kind of in an "empty spot" as I type this! It's only 1:40 and I've already walked across the campus twice, gone on a "road trip" to the Target in the next town over with a buddy of mine and my roomie, and have successfully earned a cell phone number from someone living down the hall. I don't really know what to do at the moment, though maybe it would be better if I stopped getting up at the crack of dawn. XD

Anyways, I intend to join some clubs so I'm sure I'll meet people that way, and since my roommate loves to exercise (Eww. XP) I've asked her to help get me into shape at the campus gym, so I'll have something to do in my downtime. I guess I just need to settle down and take things in stride. I'm sure I'll adjust; it'll just take time.

[laylea.livejournal.com]

You'll have plenty of time to adjust. The time's gonna pass no matter what you do, might as well make it happy...! I remember when I was a freshman, it was more difficult to acclimate to the scene because I lived off-campus -- well, actually, I still do -- but the beginning of the fall semester is always bustling with new activities. Does VT have club fairs set up? Orientation days? Some pomp and circumstance to help incoming freshmen? Campus- or club-sponsored activities are a great way to branch out. There are also sororities and service fraternities available, I'd think.

I'm not sure if you've already looked at it/have your major in mind, but pouring over your course catalog is a great way to get a feeling for outlining future semester coursework and planning how to spend your next four/five/six college years.

I've been in the college game for three years now, and because of my transfer, I'll be at it for another two and a half to three (oh boy...). So, trust me. It gets easier. And faster. And you'll start wondering... "Where did the time go?" And, eventually, "What's this diploma doing in my hand?!" XD

[superbus.livejournal.com]

I'll spare you the flames about to eminate from me towards the rest of the staff at FESS, then (they don't apply to you, so just hide in a basement until I shake out the idiot that cost us two days in posts). XD

Essentially, the best thing to do about homesickness is to make your current home your "home". Don't give yourself an idle moment if you can help it! Find people to hang out with, activities to do (I'm guessing VT has places and programmes set up especially for incoming Freshmen), and basically, load yourself up until you become more comfortable with things. And remember, you're going to VT, which is RELATIVELY close to your actual home; on long weekends and vacations, it doesn't take much until you're back home. XD

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

When I finally had Internet access in my room, I went to check on the forums and found myself staring at a rather ugly looking directory. I didn't click anything. Everything was up and running by morning. (So it wasn't me! XD ) Anyways, it looks like everything is alright for the time being, so that's good. :)

Heh, I've already looked into booking a bus ticket home for the first long weekend on the calendar. (Oct. 9th.) Apparently, a distant cousin of mine conveniently planned her wedding over that weekend, but even if I'm not invited, I'm still coming home. And what you mentioned about keeping busy is so true; it's been my strategy for the last few days and it's working really well. It's just those moments when I'm lying in bed at night with nothing to do, or struggling with my computer and wishing that my Dad was hear to help me instead of the local computer students.

[superbus.livejournal.com]

Is your roommate cool? That could help things. Didn't you say you contacted them on Facebook? (You're not the only person on my FL starting college - a friend is at Byrn Mawr - so I might be off) That might help things in idle time. Shit, get her into Fire Emblem! XD

Could you also look into going home next weekend? Don't forget it's Labour Day.

And hey! It could be worse! Four women to a bathroom with a shower curtain is a lot better than 70 naked men to one shower and six showerheads. XD

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

My roommate is great, so that's a big help. (Yesterday morning, she gave me a pair of nice earings she got in Korea!) I was so scared I was going to get stuck with one of the uppity, preppy, blonde-haired white girls that I seem to be surrounded by. XD I'm not sure if she plays video games, but I'll find out soon enough! >:D

As for Labor Day, I have class that day. D: And... Yes, my bathroom set-up could be worse. XD

[laurak23.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, things will get better. :) It's always awkward those first few days where, like you said, there are just as many moms and dads milling about as kids. Once you start classes and eat in the cafeteria you'll make more friends.

Wow, does your building not have AC??

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

I agree, and it's making me so eager to start my classes! The work will give me something to do during the day, but will also allow me to get to know different people and make new friends.

My building doesn't have AC, unfortunately... It was built in the late 60's, and while the dorm rooms are surprisingly cool, the hallways are like ovens! You could drop an egg on the tile, come back in an hour, and have yourself some breakfast, though I don’t suggest eating off the floors. XD

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

*chuckles*

Apartment for me, dorm for Popo. Let me know if you have any questions, 'kay?

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

I will definitely make use of your college knowledge! >:D

[ahnxlazyman.livejournal.com]

Called it, I'm pretty sure I mentioned earlier that You'd get homesick, or maybe I'm feeling very mean right now.

Sorry.

xD moved in? I didnt even get to say goodbye!

but need not worry? it's only the first couple days, it's like, coming into high school and you didnt meet up with anyone you remember. you're kind of lost in the hallways trying to find room 123.(I believe that's a math classroom)

as the late "old" andrew nguyen once said "GLHF"

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

I think you're feeling very mean right now. (Don't make me pull out my postable Rickroll!) XD Then again, I'm not a very hard person to read, and I tend to be pretty predictable... Heh. ;3

I can't really say this is like the first day of high school though... On the first day of school, I met Lori, Matt, Kit and Grace, in that order. I spent my high school years with pretty much all of them. XD I also had some "fall back" people--folks I'd known for a while but wasn't really chummy with. Here? I only know Radeya, and I can't seem to get in contact with her. (Well, I also know Robbie, but not well enough to hang out with him...) Everything and everyone is completely new in college, which is what makes it so hard.

Room 123... I think I had Geometry in there. XD

[highrollercsno.livejournal.com]

My new apartment has been fun, but I really do miss my old dorms a lot actually. Our dorm building had air conditioning and heating, but one "head" person controlled it for everyone.

The best thing to do is talk to the people living next to you and walk around. While driving around campus last night I saw a ton of freshman groups walking together(and I did that too last year). And if you meet a few people and walk and talk, you quickly build the ground work so you can talk to them again and again. I lucked out with an awesome hallway of people, but I'd wait till your mandatory hall meeting. They usually suggest you leave your doors open(I know you have been I'm surprized more people haven't) and people usually start doing that. And eh, I was homesick too, but once you get comfortable and make a crew of people you see regularly, it should be no problem.

[popo-licious.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're enjoying the apartment set-up! Are you sharing a room, or does everyone have their own space? Also...I would go crazy if only one person could control the air conditioning! I'd rather not have it at all, because then we could all suffer equally. XD

My hall meeting is coming up pretty quickly, so that's good. I think I'll make some friends then, and maybe the RA will inspire people to be a bit more friendly. There's this one girl whose room I can see from my desk; she goes in and immediately closes the door. She doesn't smile, she doesn't appear to have a roommate, and she's always hanging out with this slightly creepy looking guy... I'm sure what's up with that. XD