Prior to this week, my knowledge of American colleges was limited to a vast array of American movies. Surprisingly, life on an American campus doesn't seem to be exactly like an American Pie movie. My journey to Gainesville began all the way back in England, which seems a million miles away from the orange and blue town that I will soon be calling home.
A quick pit stop in a Waffle House first piqued my interest. My waitress, noticing my accent, asked what brought me to this part of Florida. Upon telling her, she proceeded to inform the whole restaurant that we were on our way to The University of Florida. Until you've had a whole Waffle House stop eating with their forks in mid-air, you haven't made it.
I was eager to see the campus in all it's glory as soon as we arrived. Coincidentally, the UF campus is roughly the same size as my hometown back in the UK. This, combined with me being directionally challenged, is sure to make for an interesting first day in August.
The next place on my radar was Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, AKA The Swamp (see, I'm already down with the locals). This place was incredible even when empty. I can't imagine how it must be when filled with 90,000 other Gator fans. A stop in the Gator Locker Room resulted in a hefty bill and bags full of Gator merchandise. Look out for me on the first day back - I'll be the girl decked head to toe in orange and blue!
It's been a great first few days in Gainesville, full of exploring and meeting new people. If this is an indication of how my next two years will be, I'll be sad to leave. Let's see what next week brings!
