Grab your umbrellas.
First things first: if you don't have a pair of rainboots already, get some before you get here! I won't exaggerate, it doesn't rain EVERY day (although it comes pretty close to it); but, when it does rain, it pours. And who doesn't just adore running to class with wet shoes, wet socks, wet hair, wet backpack ... you get the drift. However, the rain alone isn't your real problem. The real problem is when that treacherous Boone wind couples itself with the rain. Then you have yourself some real trouble.
Be prepared.
Five words: rainboots, rain jacket, umbrellas, scarves. They will be some of the most important words of your entire vocabulary. Just because this is North Carolina does not mean that it is always sunny and warm. And being as that this is Boone, if that is what you are expecting, you are in for a huge surprise. Today, for example: soaking wet Nikes, wet socks, drenched backpack, and a hoodie that I could ring out = miserable day of classes.
Keeps you on your toes.
The one good thing about the notorious Boone weather: it keeps you guessing. The unpredictability can be fun, for lack of a better word. You'll get snow in October and 70 degree football games in November. No matter what the weather, Boone will keep you on your toes.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
What to do when you're hungry
Meal Plan
I give Appalachian major kudos. Some schools have meal plans that I wouldn’t allow a raccoon to eat, but not APP. Advice? Get the super meal plan. Between your three meals a day, four coffees (don’t judge me), snacks, ice cream, the markets, and McAllisters; you’ll end up swiping your APPcard about as often as you breathe.
Variety
You won’t get bored with the food options here. I promise. On campus you get choices like: Chick-fil-a, WrAPPs, Noodle Works, pizza, The Sub Shop, Traditions, Habaneros, Homestyle, The Rivers Street Grille, and McAllisters. Wings every Monday, B for D (breakfast for dinner) every Thursday, and the best homemade Rice Krispy treats ever, everyday. Central Dining Hall will become your best friend. Plus, then you still have the off-campus options such as: Macado’s until 1:00 AM, Papa John’s until 2:00 AM, Jimmy John’s until 3:00 AM, and the Boone Bagelery for breakfast. Bottom line: no matter what, you will not starve in Boone.
Fair warning
If you are in a rush or ridiculously hungry and don’t want to wait in line to eati, do not go anywhere at 12:00 PM. Lunch at that time is ridiculous. It makes a stampede look petty. If you think you’re being sneaky by going to McAllisters or Trivette; newsflash: you’re not the only one who thought of that. Wait out the 30 minutes, it will be worth it, I swear.
I give Appalachian major kudos. Some schools have meal plans that I wouldn’t allow a raccoon to eat, but not APP. Advice? Get the super meal plan. Between your three meals a day, four coffees (don’t judge me), snacks, ice cream, the markets, and McAllisters; you’ll end up swiping your APPcard about as often as you breathe.
Variety
You won’t get bored with the food options here. I promise. On campus you get choices like: Chick-fil-a, WrAPPs, Noodle Works, pizza, The Sub Shop, Traditions, Habaneros, Homestyle, The Rivers Street Grille, and McAllisters. Wings every Monday, B for D (breakfast for dinner) every Thursday, and the best homemade Rice Krispy treats ever, everyday. Central Dining Hall will become your best friend. Plus, then you still have the off-campus options such as: Macado’s until 1:00 AM, Papa John’s until 2:00 AM, Jimmy John’s until 3:00 AM, and the Boone Bagelery for breakfast. Bottom line: no matter what, you will not starve in Boone.
Fair warning
If you are in a rush or ridiculously hungry and don’t want to wait in line to eati, do not go anywhere at 12:00 PM. Lunch at that time is ridiculous. It makes a stampede look petty. If you think you’re being sneaky by going to McAllisters or Trivette; newsflash: you’re not the only one who thought of that. Wait out the 30 minutes, it will be worth it, I swear.
To shower or not to shower.
Communally Showering
If you are an only child this may be a rude awakening for you. Even if you shared your bathroom at home with a sibling or two it may still be an adjustment, just less of a shock. You’ll share showers, stalls, and sinks. It really isn’t as terrible as it seems. You get used to it quickly, because there is really no other choice.
Suggestions
Come with a shower caddy; it makes the entire process a lot easier. Leave all insecurities on a shelf, along with any history of being privileged with a private bathroom, and fears of being shy. You don’t have much of a choice. It’s either adapt to sharing with 34 other girls, or being the smelly girl on the floor. Your choice.
SHOES!
Although the cleaning staff is undoubtedly amazing; do not enter the dorm bathrooms barefoot. It’s just disgusting in theory and in practice. My best piece of advice: do NOT get flip flops to shower in. Spring for bona fide water shoes, they will definitely be worth the money. Flip flops are slippery, stay slippery, and have zero traction. If you slip leaving the bathroom and your head catches your fall on the tile step that separates the hallway and the bathroom ... you could end up becoming very familiar with the Watauga County Emergency Room, 21 stitches, and a concussion. I can vouch for it, personally.
Other things to watch out for
I’ve never had a problem with getting a stall, sink, or shower to use. Heads up though: if you are in the shower and you hear the toilet flush: MOVE, immediately. The water temperature goes up about 27 degrees, or at least it feels like. And do not treat the bathrooms like you would at home, your floormates won’t like you, and your cleaning staff is way too cool to have to deal with that.
If you are an only child this may be a rude awakening for you. Even if you shared your bathroom at home with a sibling or two it may still be an adjustment, just less of a shock. You’ll share showers, stalls, and sinks. It really isn’t as terrible as it seems. You get used to it quickly, because there is really no other choice.
Suggestions
Come with a shower caddy; it makes the entire process a lot easier. Leave all insecurities on a shelf, along with any history of being privileged with a private bathroom, and fears of being shy. You don’t have much of a choice. It’s either adapt to sharing with 34 other girls, or being the smelly girl on the floor. Your choice.
SHOES!
Although the cleaning staff is undoubtedly amazing; do not enter the dorm bathrooms barefoot. It’s just disgusting in theory and in practice. My best piece of advice: do NOT get flip flops to shower in. Spring for bona fide water shoes, they will definitely be worth the money. Flip flops are slippery, stay slippery, and have zero traction. If you slip leaving the bathroom and your head catches your fall on the tile step that separates the hallway and the bathroom ... you could end up becoming very familiar with the Watauga County Emergency Room, 21 stitches, and a concussion. I can vouch for it, personally.
Other things to watch out for
I’ve never had a problem with getting a stall, sink, or shower to use. Heads up though: if you are in the shower and you hear the toilet flush: MOVE, immediately. The water temperature goes up about 27 degrees, or at least it feels like. And do not treat the bathrooms like you would at home, your floormates won’t like you, and your cleaning staff is way too cool to have to deal with that.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Library lovin'.
Study, study, study.
There is no shame in studying. Especially in college. I have often been referred to as a "closet nerd" for the fact that in high school no one knew the serious extent to which I approached my academics. Come out, come out, wherever you are. Because if you do not come out of the nerd closet and STUDY (consistenly and correctly) that you will not do well. Period.
The Goldie Locks complex.
Find a spot. Somewhere comfortable enough to be content yet formal enough for an academic setting. Close enough that you want to go yet far enough away that you won't want to leave after only 20 minutes of your study session. Somewhere secluded enough to stay focused yet populated enough that it isn't depressing. Comparable to Goldie Locks and her porridge ... you have to find what is just right for you, the rest is easy.
When you love the library a little bit too much...
Balance is key. Studying should usually be priority number one, but in my opinion, when it consumes your entire college career you officially have a problem. Learning can occur outside of a classroom, out of textbooks, and outside of the library, believe it or not. Some of the best lessons I've learned at college have had nothing to do with any of those three. On the other hand, some have. Do not spend so much time with the library that it could have the potential to be your significant other you know it THAT well.
There is no shame in studying. Especially in college. I have often been referred to as a "closet nerd" for the fact that in high school no one knew the serious extent to which I approached my academics. Come out, come out, wherever you are. Because if you do not come out of the nerd closet and STUDY (consistenly and correctly) that you will not do well. Period.
The Goldie Locks complex.
Find a spot. Somewhere comfortable enough to be content yet formal enough for an academic setting. Close enough that you want to go yet far enough away that you won't want to leave after only 20 minutes of your study session. Somewhere secluded enough to stay focused yet populated enough that it isn't depressing. Comparable to Goldie Locks and her porridge ... you have to find what is just right for you, the rest is easy.
When you love the library a little bit too much...
Balance is key. Studying should usually be priority number one, but in my opinion, when it consumes your entire college career you officially have a problem. Learning can occur outside of a classroom, out of textbooks, and outside of the library, believe it or not. Some of the best lessons I've learned at college have had nothing to do with any of those three. On the other hand, some have. Do not spend so much time with the library that it could have the potential to be your significant other you know it THAT well.
Rude awakenings
Grown-up?
Just because you are 18 and you can apply to college, buy a lottery ticket, and vote, does not automatically render you mature. Just because you have completed four years of high school, the law considers you an “adult”, and you can travel outside of the country alone, does not render you mature. High school is like running with 45 pound weights on both ankles. You are not going to get very far very fast. You want freedom? You want maturity? You want legitimate experience? You want to be “grown up”? You want to know what real schooling and learning is? Well, welcome to college.
Where’d Mom go?
If you sleep through your snooze button … you better be a fast runner. Mom isn’t here anymore to be your own personal alarm clock. If you don’t like cafeteria food … you better get over your pickiness. Mom isn’t here anymore to make home-style cooking. If you can’t operate a washer and dryer … you better hope your room mate can. Mom isn’t here anymore to wash, fold, and hang up your laundry. If you can’t clean or moderate how frequently you go out … you’re going to have it rough. She is not here anymore to dust your room or make you sure haven’t snuck out of bedroom window on a school night. You’re on your own. Welcome to college.
Choosing this or that.
No one is here to force you to study, attend your classes, get your full eight hours of sleep, five major food groups, or to exercise somewhat regularly. If you would rather go out, sleep all day, facebook, or go to the rec rather than be productive, you can. Teachers no longer hold your hand and principals are no longer buffers. You will go from reading chapters a week to chapters a night. From needing books read in a month to read in a week. The key is to pace. To sometimes opt out of the residence hall football game in order to get things done. It isn’t always a blast, but it will pay off. Welcome to college.
Too much too fast.
Your safe zone has been successfully breached. Your personal protection bubble, popped. Living on your own is hard. Combine that with classes, extracurricular activities, a social life, and personal responsibilities, you’ve got quite a lot on your plate. For some of you the new found freedom will be overwhelming and frightening. For others it will be exhilarating and amazing. Either way it is going to hit you like a freight train; pumping you full of adrenaline, fear, and excitement all at once. Welcome to college, the best TRUE experience you can get.
Just because you are 18 and you can apply to college, buy a lottery ticket, and vote, does not automatically render you mature. Just because you have completed four years of high school, the law considers you an “adult”, and you can travel outside of the country alone, does not render you mature. High school is like running with 45 pound weights on both ankles. You are not going to get very far very fast. You want freedom? You want maturity? You want legitimate experience? You want to be “grown up”? You want to know what real schooling and learning is? Well, welcome to college.
Where’d Mom go?
If you sleep through your snooze button … you better be a fast runner. Mom isn’t here anymore to be your own personal alarm clock. If you don’t like cafeteria food … you better get over your pickiness. Mom isn’t here anymore to make home-style cooking. If you can’t operate a washer and dryer … you better hope your room mate can. Mom isn’t here anymore to wash, fold, and hang up your laundry. If you can’t clean or moderate how frequently you go out … you’re going to have it rough. She is not here anymore to dust your room or make you sure haven’t snuck out of bedroom window on a school night. You’re on your own. Welcome to college.
Choosing this or that.
No one is here to force you to study, attend your classes, get your full eight hours of sleep, five major food groups, or to exercise somewhat regularly. If you would rather go out, sleep all day, facebook, or go to the rec rather than be productive, you can. Teachers no longer hold your hand and principals are no longer buffers. You will go from reading chapters a week to chapters a night. From needing books read in a month to read in a week. The key is to pace. To sometimes opt out of the residence hall football game in order to get things done. It isn’t always a blast, but it will pay off. Welcome to college.
Too much too fast.
Your safe zone has been successfully breached. Your personal protection bubble, popped. Living on your own is hard. Combine that with classes, extracurricular activities, a social life, and personal responsibilities, you’ve got quite a lot on your plate. For some of you the new found freedom will be overwhelming and frightening. For others it will be exhilarating and amazing. Either way it is going to hit you like a freight train; pumping you full of adrenaline, fear, and excitement all at once. Welcome to college, the best TRUE experience you can get.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The Freshman Fifteen
The FF, and I am not referring to french fries.
Possibly the three scariest words for a freshman girl in college: the freshman fifteen. And quite possibly the second scariest phrase for a girl (or boy) to hear other than, "we need to talk". I am in no position to be giving relationship advice, but the good news: I am fairly certain that at APP the freshman fifteen is impossible.
Going to class does more than work your brain.
The simple act of walking to classes may be a work-out enough to avoid the accidental onset of those extra pounds. Between the size of the campus, the geological terrain (aka hills), and how forgetful you are, your legs will be sore by the end of your first full day. I guarantee it.
For example, I live on West Side. Eggers, to be specific. It's the perfect location for football games, literally the ASU ones, or just the ones that we play outside of Trivette. Other than that though, it's the equivalent of living on the other side of the world. Not only do I have to trek and hike to East side every day for classes, but then when I do go "home" there are five flights of stairs just to get into Eggers' lobby. Once inside, pray the elevators are working. Because if they are not, in my case, it is another nine flights to get to my room. It is then that the freshman fifteen sways into the negative, because my flight six, you might be gasping for breath and napping in the stairwell.
A home away from your home away from home: the gym.
Besides just the grueling walks to class in the beyond unpredictable weather, the gyms come in handy. Whether it is working off the big-pack easy macs, midnight hot pockets, 3 AM Ben and Jerry's, the four lattes you will learn to survive on, or just genuinely an avid exercise machine; the three gyms on campus are there for you. Between the "manly gym" (aka the Quinn), the "girly gym" (aka the third floor of the Plemmons' Student Union), or the Student Recreation Center (aka the SRC), there is no excuse to not utilize them. In fact, most of us WANT to go. It gets you out of the hot dorms, allows you to procrastinate on reading the dozens of chapters you have due tomorrow, and relieves your frustration over facebook creeping. No shame, we all do it.
Procrastination stretches outside the dorm room.
On top of all of this there are the greens, either sanford Mall or right outside of Trivette Dining Hall. There are constantly games of football, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, or soccer going on. Or; yoga, African dancing, or dance parties. Do not misunderstand me. The freshman fifteen can be completely real and it can happen. But only if you try your absolutel hardest to become and introvert, lock yourself in your dorm room all day, and live on cookie dough and Pepsi. Leave the reality television for ten minutes, there will be re-runs on later anyways, and get out and do something. Anything! And the freshman fifteen will remain nothing but a myth to you.
Possibly the three scariest words for a freshman girl in college: the freshman fifteen. And quite possibly the second scariest phrase for a girl (or boy) to hear other than, "we need to talk". I am in no position to be giving relationship advice, but the good news: I am fairly certain that at APP the freshman fifteen is impossible.
Going to class does more than work your brain.
The simple act of walking to classes may be a work-out enough to avoid the accidental onset of those extra pounds. Between the size of the campus, the geological terrain (aka hills), and how forgetful you are, your legs will be sore by the end of your first full day. I guarantee it.
For example, I live on West Side. Eggers, to be specific. It's the perfect location for football games, literally the ASU ones, or just the ones that we play outside of Trivette. Other than that though, it's the equivalent of living on the other side of the world. Not only do I have to trek and hike to East side every day for classes, but then when I do go "home" there are five flights of stairs just to get into Eggers' lobby. Once inside, pray the elevators are working. Because if they are not, in my case, it is another nine flights to get to my room. It is then that the freshman fifteen sways into the negative, because my flight six, you might be gasping for breath and napping in the stairwell.
A home away from your home away from home: the gym.
Besides just the grueling walks to class in the beyond unpredictable weather, the gyms come in handy. Whether it is working off the big-pack easy macs, midnight hot pockets, 3 AM Ben and Jerry's, the four lattes you will learn to survive on, or just genuinely an avid exercise machine; the three gyms on campus are there for you. Between the "manly gym" (aka the Quinn), the "girly gym" (aka the third floor of the Plemmons' Student Union), or the Student Recreation Center (aka the SRC), there is no excuse to not utilize them. In fact, most of us WANT to go. It gets you out of the hot dorms, allows you to procrastinate on reading the dozens of chapters you have due tomorrow, and relieves your frustration over facebook creeping. No shame, we all do it.
Procrastination stretches outside the dorm room.
On top of all of this there are the greens, either sanford Mall or right outside of Trivette Dining Hall. There are constantly games of football, ultimate frisbee, lacrosse, or soccer going on. Or; yoga, African dancing, or dance parties. Do not misunderstand me. The freshman fifteen can be completely real and it can happen. But only if you try your absolutel hardest to become and introvert, lock yourself in your dorm room all day, and live on cookie dough and Pepsi. Leave the reality television for ten minutes, there will be re-runs on later anyways, and get out and do something. Anything! And the freshman fifteen will remain nothing but a myth to you.
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