I finished moving out of my house in Athens on Sunday and have been making the awkward transition to life back in with my parents. The last two days have been spent unpacking and sorting through what items I'll need in London and what can be left behind, which has been a little overwhelming. I honestly don't have that much stuff-- just a bedroom, some living room furniture, and a few pathetic kitchen supplies-- but trying to find places to cram everything has not done great things for mine or my parents' blood pressure. Slowly, though, everything is getting squeezed away.
Leaving Athens on Sunday night was a surreal experience. Before I headed out I had to drop off a water bill payment, which caused me to drive across campus and through downtown. It was a weird feeling, passing all of the streets and buildings that have made up my home for the last 4 years, and knowing that from this point forward I will only ever return to Athens as a visitor. Even though I haven't been a student since December, I've been able to vicariously live through my roommates and friends, but now all of that is officially over. In no particular order, here are some of the things I'll miss most about being an Athenian:
1. UGA FOOTBALL
There is nothing like a UGA football game. The energy in the stadium is unreal, even when kickoff is at noon on a sunny day in August and we're all on the verge of passing out from heat exhaustion. The phrase "It's Saturday in Athens!" is the most exciting thing a person can utter (followed by screaming chants of "SATURDAY! SATURDAY!"). I'll miss the traditions that take place during the final minutes leading up to the game: pointing to the South stand during the Battle Hymn, singing the Alma Mater, and of course, the hype videos. (I don't care where you go to school or what team you support, that hype video is the greatest thing ever made.) I don't understand when I see people watching the game sitting down, because even though it's 102 outside, how can you not be on your feet for the whole 4 hours?!
2. DOWNTOWN
I'll miss downtown, but not in the way that most people mean when they say "downtown". I'm not talking about getting wasted at the dozens of bars. I'm talking about the buildings that have been standing for a hundred years, the incredible restaurants, the cute boutiques that no college student can afford to shop in. I'm talking about the Christmas lights that go up every winter, concerts at the Georgia Theater or the 40 Watt or the Melting Point, Twilight, the guy with no hands who paints with his teeth, AthFest, and getting feta fries at the Grill at 2am. That downtown.
3. CAMPUS
UGA has a beautiful campus. From the old oak trees and stately buildings of North Campus to the sprawling lawns of South Campus (which ironically is north of East Campus), this school has it all. I'll miss the chaos of sprinting 2 miles in 15 minutes to make it to class, because never mind OASIS telling you that it's too far away. I'll miss the battle of avoiding eye contact and not breaking stride that is Tate. I'll miss the Founder's Garden that every single freshman thinks they're the first person to ever find. What I'll really miss is how UGA is the heart of Athens. The entire city just seems to exist around it, with everything catered to being a student. I'll miss living in a city that feels so unified.
4. THE SLC
Let me begin by clarifying: it is not the MLC. Don't let anyone lead you astray. The Student Learning Center (not the Miller Learning Center! Who even is that guy?) is moreso my home than any place I actually paid rent at while living in Athens. I don't know how many hours I've spent in that building but I can guarantee you it's inversely related to the number of hours of sleep I've gotten since 2010.
5. FINALS WEEK
Ok yes, I'm a freak. As much as I hate finals and the stress they bring, I kind of love finals week. It's like a campus-wide holiday where everybody hates their lives. I love staking out lecture classrooms in the SLC and posting up in there all night long. (214 and 213 will forever hold my heart.) I love studying with 30+ people at a time, because whenever you need a break, it's guaranteed that someone else will need one too. Not to mention, when else can you walk around looking homeless and fall asleep in public and be free of judgment? Personal hygiene and healthy eating are put on hold during finals week and nobody asks questions. Like I said, campus-wide holiday.
6. BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Athens is like a little oasis in the middle of a country/redneck desert. You can drive in literally any direction and be in open country within minutes. Some of the best memories I have began with the words "Let's go on an adventure." Everywhere you look are rolling fields, abandoned train tracks, and long highways. It's the best of both worlds.
7. WOODLAND HILLS
With the exception of the dorms, which all freshmen are required to live in, I lived on the same street every year of college. There is not enough space in this blog to accurately describe what it was like living on Woodland Hills, but it was the most fun I've ever had. Dance parties, bonfires, way too many encounters with wild animals, pranks, and movie nights are what have made up my home life for the last 3 years. Next year will be the first time in I think 8 years that no disciples have lived on Woodland Hills. It is truly the end of an era.
8. THE MINISTRY
I'm not going to miss the ministry in the sense that it was so awesome and spiritual, though it was. I'm going to miss the people. When I come back from London, the people who I spent the majority of my college experience with will have graduated and moved on. There's nothing as casual and laid back as being in college, and there's no other time when you'll get to spend as much time with your friends. You live with your friends, you take classes together, you eat together, you spend every night over at each other's houses. Your friends are your family. I'm going to miss being able to crash at other people's houses and do nothing, because when I get back everybody will have "big kid" jobs and be thinking about settling down (if they haven't already). The days carefree and spontaneous hang outs will be over.
It'll be weird not living in Athens anymore, but I'm looking forward to what's ahead. It's always best to end on a high note, you know? So, here's to the late nights studying, the dilapidated old houses, the Botans, fighting for parking, scoring a booth at Jittery Joe's, Fish Taco Fridays, tailgating, breakfast at Mama's Boy, enos, Chacos, trying to look cool and mature while running for a bus, thrifting, and the Bulldog Nation. Athens, it's been real.
Leaving Athens on Sunday night was a surreal experience. Before I headed out I had to drop off a water bill payment, which caused me to drive across campus and through downtown. It was a weird feeling, passing all of the streets and buildings that have made up my home for the last 4 years, and knowing that from this point forward I will only ever return to Athens as a visitor. Even though I haven't been a student since December, I've been able to vicariously live through my roommates and friends, but now all of that is officially over. In no particular order, here are some of the things I'll miss most about being an Athenian:
1. UGA FOOTBALL
There is nothing like a UGA football game. The energy in the stadium is unreal, even when kickoff is at noon on a sunny day in August and we're all on the verge of passing out from heat exhaustion. The phrase "It's Saturday in Athens!" is the most exciting thing a person can utter (followed by screaming chants of "SATURDAY! SATURDAY!"). I'll miss the traditions that take place during the final minutes leading up to the game: pointing to the South stand during the Battle Hymn, singing the Alma Mater, and of course, the hype videos. (I don't care where you go to school or what team you support, that hype video is the greatest thing ever made.) I don't understand when I see people watching the game sitting down, because even though it's 102 outside, how can you not be on your feet for the whole 4 hours?!
2. DOWNTOWN
I'll miss downtown, but not in the way that most people mean when they say "downtown". I'm not talking about getting wasted at the dozens of bars. I'm talking about the buildings that have been standing for a hundred years, the incredible restaurants, the cute boutiques that no college student can afford to shop in. I'm talking about the Christmas lights that go up every winter, concerts at the Georgia Theater or the 40 Watt or the Melting Point, Twilight, the guy with no hands who paints with his teeth, AthFest, and getting feta fries at the Grill at 2am. That downtown.
3. CAMPUS
UGA has a beautiful campus. From the old oak trees and stately buildings of North Campus to the sprawling lawns of South Campus (which ironically is north of East Campus), this school has it all. I'll miss the chaos of sprinting 2 miles in 15 minutes to make it to class, because never mind OASIS telling you that it's too far away. I'll miss the battle of avoiding eye contact and not breaking stride that is Tate. I'll miss the Founder's Garden that every single freshman thinks they're the first person to ever find. What I'll really miss is how UGA is the heart of Athens. The entire city just seems to exist around it, with everything catered to being a student. I'll miss living in a city that feels so unified.
4. THE SLC
Let me begin by clarifying: it is not the MLC. Don't let anyone lead you astray. The Student Learning Center (not the Miller Learning Center! Who even is that guy?) is moreso my home than any place I actually paid rent at while living in Athens. I don't know how many hours I've spent in that building but I can guarantee you it's inversely related to the number of hours of sleep I've gotten since 2010.
5. FINALS WEEK
Ok yes, I'm a freak. As much as I hate finals and the stress they bring, I kind of love finals week. It's like a campus-wide holiday where everybody hates their lives. I love staking out lecture classrooms in the SLC and posting up in there all night long. (214 and 213 will forever hold my heart.) I love studying with 30+ people at a time, because whenever you need a break, it's guaranteed that someone else will need one too. Not to mention, when else can you walk around looking homeless and fall asleep in public and be free of judgment? Personal hygiene and healthy eating are put on hold during finals week and nobody asks questions. Like I said, campus-wide holiday.
6. BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Athens is like a little oasis in the middle of a country/redneck desert. You can drive in literally any direction and be in open country within minutes. Some of the best memories I have began with the words "Let's go on an adventure." Everywhere you look are rolling fields, abandoned train tracks, and long highways. It's the best of both worlds.
7. WOODLAND HILLS
With the exception of the dorms, which all freshmen are required to live in, I lived on the same street every year of college. There is not enough space in this blog to accurately describe what it was like living on Woodland Hills, but it was the most fun I've ever had. Dance parties, bonfires, way too many encounters with wild animals, pranks, and movie nights are what have made up my home life for the last 3 years. Next year will be the first time in I think 8 years that no disciples have lived on Woodland Hills. It is truly the end of an era.
8. THE MINISTRY
I'm not going to miss the ministry in the sense that it was so awesome and spiritual, though it was. I'm going to miss the people. When I come back from London, the people who I spent the majority of my college experience with will have graduated and moved on. There's nothing as casual and laid back as being in college, and there's no other time when you'll get to spend as much time with your friends. You live with your friends, you take classes together, you eat together, you spend every night over at each other's houses. Your friends are your family. I'm going to miss being able to crash at other people's houses and do nothing, because when I get back everybody will have "big kid" jobs and be thinking about settling down (if they haven't already). The days carefree and spontaneous hang outs will be over.
It'll be weird not living in Athens anymore, but I'm looking forward to what's ahead. It's always best to end on a high note, you know? So, here's to the late nights studying, the dilapidated old houses, the Botans, fighting for parking, scoring a booth at Jittery Joe's, Fish Taco Fridays, tailgating, breakfast at Mama's Boy, enos, Chacos, trying to look cool and mature while running for a bus, thrifting, and the Bulldog Nation. Athens, it's been real.