In-spired and ex-cited

Where do I start? So much has happened in the past few days that no matter how hard I try, this post will be endless. Therefore, similar to the Dining Hall on campus, I'll display a selection of the finest bits and pieces.

1) Orientation. A giant BBQ party, talks on self-esteem, alcohol abuse and eating disorders, a wild boat cruise in Boston Harbor with spectacular views of the skyline, Visa Info sessions (I thought America wasn't bureaucratic ... I was WRONG.), lunches with faculty and staff, Bingo organized by the Panhellenic Council (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Sigma Epsilon Chi and all those girls that wear big Greek letters on the front of their sweaters).

2) Freshmen. I sat next to five of them on the shuttle bus to Boston Harbor. Conversation topics ranged from pressing international issues ("What language do they speak in Austria?") to a genuine interest in my person ("You're 24!?!? Do you have an ID? Can you buy us alcohol??"). Their favorite and most frequently used four-letter word definitely began with F. By the time we left the bus, I had developed an almost maternal connection.

3) Food. I love burgers. I love pizza. I L-O-V-E chocolate chip cookies. It is a real act of self-discipline to squeeze in the occasional plate of salad and helping of fruit to avoid the infamous "freshman 15" (or exchange 15, in my case). Anyone care to bet that I will still fit into my jeans by the time I leave? If I do, you owe me a double bacon cheeseburger.

4) Classes. Definitely more challenging, but also a whole lot more interesting than anything I have taken back home. In Negotiations today, we were deep into our first negotiations exercise 5 minutes after entering the classroom. I sold a $15,000 piece of land for $19,500 and was really proud until I found out that the lowest anyone else went was $22,000. Dang. I have a lot to learn.

5) People. Smiles, waves and individuals with an incredible memory for names impress me every day. Coming from a country where it is almost rude to start a conversation with someone you don't know, it takes a little effort to get used to introducing myself to people I stand next to in the cafeteria line, but I am really enjoying it. Where else could you say that you've met about 60 people in your first 4 days?? Professors take you out for dinner ("The first one who sends me an e-mail can pick a nice restaurant downtown and take three friends."), peer mentors who stop by Target to get you a pillow and search friends' basements for blankets, bus drivers who recognize you 30 minutes later and still know where you were going ... that's America. Or at least the little part I am priviledged to know.

6) Wellesley. A main street with a convenience store, a hair and nail studio, a pizza place, a cafe, a wholefoods store, a gas station and a fire department, a twenty-minute walk from campus. (The mere fact that us Europeans walk resulted in surprised looks from car-crazy fellow students and friendly waves from a family watching us across their picket fence.) Also, Wellesley is a dry town - you cannot buy alcohol there, and if you really want a glass of wine with your pizza, you can bring your own bottle. Nice, huh?

7) Dorm rooms. I am amazed at the amount of furniture and gadgets people manage to stuff into their tiny dorm rooms. I've seen plasma TV screens, gigantic stereo systems, couches, queen sized beds, to say the least. Compared to the U-Haul trucks regular students arrived in, my two 70-pound suitcases suddenly seem ridiculously small.

As a friend told me today, welcome to America.

On a lighter note: Girls, how much time do you spend on your hair?