When I moved to college, I expected some facts of my life to change. However, many moments or instances that happen to me on a fairly regular basis are completely, in my opinion, unexpected.
1. The days last forever.
Okay, I've heard of having long days before, and I had my fair share of them in high school. But suddenly at college, the hours drag by. I can barely remember brushing my teeth in the morning by the time it gets to be dinner, let alone by the time I go to bed.
2. The weeks fly by.
At Kalamazoo College, because each term is ten weeks long, we measure how far we are in the quarter by numbering the week. Just when you feel like second week has wrapped up, suddenly you're starting seventh. Where does the time go?
3. Time itself is just an illusion.
You glance up from watching Netflix, doing homework or just hanging around and it's one AM. Suddenly, the actually time makes no difference whatsoever. It feels to you like it could be three in the afternoon, or maybe nine in the morning. You come to the conclusion that time itself is a man-made concept, only made to warp society into doing Big Brother's bidding.
4. Eating is unnecessary and simultaneously all you do.
I can go almost an entire day without feeling hungry, or like I need to get anything into my body, and yet as soon as a bag of chips, a bowl of popcorn or a plate of baby carrots is placed in front of me, it's like I can't stop.
5. Most social interactions involve food.
Coffee, tea, pizza, caf food. When you want to hang out with someone, you ask if they want to grab coffee or dinner. There is no "hey do you want to hang out?" and then you go to your dorm and chat, becoming best friends, because food is always involved. The chatting must take place over lukewarm coffee or french fries.
6. Sharing
It's not that I was a selfish kid. It's just that when you are living in an area with all people who also are not originally from that area, something magical happens. You need a nice belt for an event? I got you. High heels? Ask around the building. Gum? Anyone will give you a piece-- this isn't high school anymore, where people hoard their breath freshening means.
7. Friendliness of strangers
The people who you meet will remember you. It might not be that they remain your best friends, your closest friends or even people you see fairly regularly, but if you recognize them, they will recognize you. Saying hello to complete(ish) strangers and having them respond is a fascinating new concept.
8. Not being constantly homesick
I don't think about going home every day anymore. Living away from my family is bleeding into being completely normal, which I never expected to consciously notice. Sure I miss my old bedroom, my family, my kitchen. But those things have slowly moved to the backseat of my life, which I don't know if I was ready to have happen, but happen it has.
Being in college is truly different from anything that I expected, in more ways that I could have ever imagined.
