A Fish Out of Water

It's Thursday afternoon, the taxi door closes and off goes my mom back to her comfort of NC and her husband and there I was, in front of Whittier Hall,my residence hall, thinking to myself; it's finally here, and I'm alone in one of the biggest cities in the world! The day of me living in New York was here, and it was time to take advantage of what the Lord had placed before me, an incredible opportunity to learn from the best professors in the country, and experience life outside of my comfort zone.
I felt like a fish out of water today. A southern boy who is used to saying hi to everyone and holding the door open for girls is now in the city where if you stop on the sidewalk you WILL get runover. A place where the hellos are rare and the Thank you just as rare. I am a small fish in a very BIG pond, and I know that it is up to me to make the pond small. What a task it is to undertake, but I think it can be done.
After moving into my suite, which is not saying much (100 square foot room with no A/C), and getting settled in it was time for our residence hall orientation. I decided that in order to start the process of receding the pond waters I needed to stand out. I walked right into Milbank Chapel decked out in my Carolina T-Shirt and hat and low and behold I had three people who approached me telling me that they weren't big fans, and another person left her seat and personally introduce herself because my clothing brought a sense of comfort to her knowing that there was someone else at TC from NC!! It was then when I knew that things were going to be alright.

I'm still a little scared of living in the city and what this program is going to ask of me, but I am comforted in knowing that the Lord only gives me as much as I can handle and in that I am full of excitement and peace.

So tomorrow is our first day of orientation which culminates next Tuesday. My first day of classes begins Wednesday and then the fun really starts.