Spot the new guy #feelinawkward

The actual date of this post is July 14, 2013 (oooh aaaah time travel)

Up until reaching Port Elizabeth, I had felt like just another nondescript traveler. It was easy to careen through airport terminals, disregarding everyone else, focused solely on my gate, my destination. In London, other travelers could be headed anywhere. We were all out of place – in transit. Now, in Port Elizabeth, where I was actually supposed to be, I realized how out of place and far away from home I truly was.

Exiting the plane onto the tarmac, we walked into the airport to a singular baggage conveyor belt, mercifully collected our bags and searched for the bus service that would take us to Grahamstown. Not gonna lie… I was hoping for a beautiful strapping South African to be standing at the gate with my name on a sign. No such luck. We did however find Blunden Bus services. The office was surrounded by other tired unsure travelers, who I assumed were other internationals en route to Rhodes. Turns out there were only two other students headed to Rhodes, Jennah and Sean – two delightful people from Boston College.

After some extreme Tetris-like packing of suitcases into a tiny trailer behind the bus (because of course the smallest trailer available should be provided to accommodate college kids who packed for 5 months of travel. Duh.), we climbed aboard and road along the coast to Rhodes. Eventually we lost sight of the coast, but we did see was stunning. It was less cold than I expected, but it was drizzling a little bit as we headed further inland, specks of rain hitting the windshield as we wound our way up and down hillsides.

For your reference:

I drifted in and out of unattractive mouth-hanging open bus ride sleep, waking up in time to see cows and…wait for it…..ZEBRAS!

Eventually we arrived at Rhodes. I recognized buildings from their website and saw the school seal hanging on walls and banners. Here at last! But where were we supposed to go…? The only information we had received was that we would be shuttled by Blunden Buses to our “vacation residence” where we were to stay for the duration of orientation before moving into our permanent res halls. (Res = what everyone here calls their dorm/ resident hall. They love to abbr.) So there we were in front of Jameson (my soon to be home), but that couldn't be right.

The university is also hosting a conference right now so a bunch of people are indeed being housed in Jameson Hall, but I was pretty certain that we were not. We called Aidan, our International Office host, to let him know we had arrived but had no stinking clue where to go. The bus driver meanwhile packed and unpacked our luggage from the trailer, not knowing if we had to drive to a new destination. Aidan told us to walk up to the corner where there would be someone to meet us.

The bus pulls away. The four of us lug our collection of suitcases up the hill to the corner where we meet…no one. The rain is heavier and no one is there. Womp. We go back down the hill considering calling Aidan again or running after the bus. I run into Jameson to ask if they know what we are meant to do. They don’t know. I run across the porch to the next building called Oriel and meet the sub-wardens of the residence. The two girls in the lobby flash two beautiful smiles and ask me to verify my name is on the list before confirming we are where we are meant to be. Sweet relief floods over us as we drag our suitcases across the awkward cobble stone and brick courtyard up into Oriel House, where we are given keys and directions to our rooms. Of course, I’m on the third floor.

My frustration at having to lug my suitcase (that now sports a sticker that says just how damn heavy my bag is) up to the 3^rd floor is mitigated somewhat by the beautiful view from my window.

I’m also just so relieved to have actually reached the place I had traveled 2 days straight to see. But I know I can’t relax until I actually see my room. And…

My temporary room is wonderful! We are all in singles, equipped with a decent sized bookshelf, a desk, a bed, a bureau with a mirror, a heater, a bulletin board, a spacious closet (good thing I brought hangers….) and a little sink in the corner with a mirror. I gently tug the curtains apart and I am greeted with an amazing view of trees and terra cotta roof tiles of neighboring buildings. On the horizon are colorful buildings cascading down the side of the mountains at the edge of Grahamstown.  Despite my exhaustion I am thrilled with my accommodations and can’t wait to settle in.

The first person I meet is the lovely, bubbly, perfect Gillian from Furman University. She has become easily one of my very favorite people here since her friendly greeting in my doorway. 

Study Abroad tip: As a general rule, people who study abroad are driven, adventurous, smart, amazing people. Get to know everyone.
*** Also, remember that you are awesome, too and people are just as interested in getting to know you.

The commotion of new arrivals attracted other international students into the hall way to meet us. We exchange names, share travel stories, and get the scoop on life at Rhodes so far. Everyone is so nice and we bantered for a long time. It was great how readily we befriended one another. Being the only ones on campus, and having Rhodes in common made for easy conversation. One of the students, John (also a BC student), helped me take my biggest bag up to the top floor. Thanks John!

A handful of us decide to kill time walking around campus before dinner. It’s a lovely night, not terribly chilly and we are anxious to see the campus. The people who have been here for a day than us have already been to town and already walk the sidewalks of campus with more comfort and sense of belonging. I hope I start to feel that soon.  (Though we all looked stupid when a car approached us from the left side of the road and we scattered desperately to get out of the way. Smooth)

For the first night I felt pretty out of place, but now (almost a week later) I keep forgetting that I am the stranger here. For orientation week, the majority of the student body is comprised of the exchange students. We walk around and talk about how strange and different everything is, until, abruptly, I remember that I am the thing that is out of place. The trees, the plants, the birds, the terrain all look and feel totally different here. I want to hold on to this feeling of how exotic and new everything feels, but I know by the end of my time here even the most novel thing will become common day. “That bird of paradise outside my window? Whatev they’re everywhere.” “Hadeda Ibis chillin’ in the courtyard? Pffft they are just like Canadian Geese. Over it!!” But for now…I’m still painfully, unabashedly, obtrusively the new guy.  

Travel tip: It's okay to feel completely out of place. Ask questions. In many circumstances there is absolutely no hiding that you are foreign. Go with it. Find little ways to feel like you belong (ex: become a regular customer at a cafe or be able to give someone directions)