One thing I've learned about myself since starting college: I'm really good at becoming friends with guys. Contrary to popular belief, it's not because I'm boy hungry or anything of the sort. In fact, I wouldn't romantically touch 99% of those boys with a ten foot pole. I just have a lot of guy friends. It's part of the reason I became a fraternity sweetheart in my first year at UGA (Shoutout to my DKE boys!!!). I love all of my guy friends dearly and would go to the ends of the Earth for them. But if you are a girl that has lots of guy friends, you know there are certain... qualities that are a bit different than your gal pals. So I've put together a list of some of those things that you would only understand if you're a girl with a lot of guy friends.
1. You never have to worry about car issues.
Okay so this doesn't apply to the more auto-savvy girls out there, but that term never has and probably never will apply to me. The second a light pops up on my dashboard, I'm calling my dad. But seeing as he is over three hours away now that I'm in college, there's only so much he can do. Just last month the light warning me about low tire pressure came on. I know how to check my pressure and even how to add air but had only ever done so with my pump back home. So what did I do? I called up one of my boys and an hour later we were heading to a gas station for him to show me how to use the pumps there. Did I get made fun of for my ignorance? Yes. But did he fix my tire? Also yes.
2. You have a guaranteed date to everything.
Being in a sorority, I have a lot of events that require dates, whether it be a date night or Philanthropy event. If you aren't dating or at least talking to someone, it can be stressful to be set up with and take someone you barely know. It always feels like there is a layer of pressure there to make sure they have a fun time and--if you get a particularly awful date--to "repay" them at the end of the night. When you have guy friends, none of that matters. You know they're going to have fun because anytime y'all are together is a fun time. And the idea of a good end to the night is hitting up McDonalds and gorging yourself on nuggets and fries. Even if plans get messed up or something goes wrong it's no big deal because y'all are just hanging out same as every other day.
3. You're always safe wherever you go.
I am never worried about my safety. If I ever have to go anywhere sketchy, I have one of them by my side, sometimes even despite my protests. These boys are my brothers, which in turn makes me their little sister, and they treat me as such. When I call my Mom before going out, she always asks if they're going to be with me because she knows they have my back. This has shown itself in Downtown Athens a couple times. When a guy gets a little too handsy or close for comfort, all it takes is a glance and they're by my side and the offending guy's time is limited.
4. They are some of the biggest babies you know.
While they may be watchdogs in public, any girl who is really close with their guy friends know they whine more than any puppy. Whether it's a common cold or a small headache, the most minor pain can have them completely out of commission. I can't tell you the amount of times I've run by the gas station to pick up some Tylenol all because some six-foot boy thought he was dying from a cough. Whoever said male is the stronger gender...we need to talk.
5. They are either the best or the worst when it comes to advice giving.
One thing I have found: when you want sympathy, go to your girl friends. When you want a game plan, always go to the guys. Men are action-motivated--when you present them with a problem, their immediate reaction is to find a solution for it. This can be really great when it comes to more serious topics they require that initiative. However, when it comes to other situations--such as that nightmare named Janice from work who will not shut up about her crappy boyfriend--I often require a different approach. Most of the time I just want to sit down, hate eat some chips, and complain about Janice and the fact that she leaves all the closing duties for me to do. And in return, I want the person I'm ranting to to just nod along and tell me how they think Janice is a total tool as well. I know I'm being irrational, they know I'm being irrational, but it feels good just to sit there and complain to listening ears. I don't want practical answers and that's something most boys can't seem to comprehend (for admittedly good reason).
6. Your family asks lots of questions.
One of the less favorable aspects is that being a girl with a lot of male friends can be somewhat...confusing to those around you. Thanksgiving consisted of my relatives asking for the backstories of every boy I'd ever posted on facebook. Of course the conversation was filled with innuendos and implications that were shot down with minimal faces on my part (if I do say so myself). For some it is hard to understand that people of the opposite sex can be just friends. Even my mom struggles with it a little bit, commenting on when I hang out with certain people more than others.
7. You flirt more than an actual couple sometimes.
This is something that definitely contributes to the previous point. Just because you would never date your bro doesn't mean y'all can't have fun with it. Nothing is more hilarious than making the people around you uncomfortable and majorly confused with raunchy jokes and flirtation. Especially when you swing wildly between that and threatening to fight them every few minutes. None of it is real but it makes you both laugh and leads to some great inside jokes.
8. They SUCK at planning.
I cannot stress this point enough. It is probably one of the most annoying things they do. Sometimes boys can forget that you need more than a ten minutes notice for just about anything. My get ready process consists of a lot more than throwing on a tshirt and hat like them. The example that first comes to mind is from my first semester of college where I got a phone call asking if I wanted to go to a concert with them in Atlanta...twenty minutes before we left. This resulted in a wild dash for me to get home, change clothes, and pack an overnight bag, all while they just sat calmly on my futon waiting for me to get ready. I have never been one for spontaneity and they made fun of me as they watched me get more and more frantic in my preparation. We ended up having an amazing time and it was my first ever concert but I'll never forget how frustrated I was with them at that moment.
9. They talk to you about their girl problems a lot.
Afterall, what are you there for other than to provide a more feminine perspective in their life? While you would never date your guy best friend, there is some poor fool--I mean lucky girl--who will and when they come along, you bet your life you are going to hear about every text, flirt, and touch. Then it is up to you to decipher what everything means with your expert opinion. And when they do get into a fight, you're one of the first people they come to to see who was really in the wrong and what they can do next to fix it. At this point, it is a balancing act of helping your friend and staying true to "Girl Code," but as long as you have everyone's best interest at heart, your advice is almost always sound.
10. But they hear about your boy problems, too.
It is definitely a two-way street. Guys can be just as confusing as girls when it comes to relationships so it helps to have an "inside look" at the other side. They support you in all your endeavors, but they aren't afraid to call you out for your...less tasteful behaviors as well. But god bless the poor soul who does you wrong, because you have a few "big brothers" who will "just wanna talk."
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