Eastern students moved in this week.
Just when I thought my police scanner was broken or that I missed a change in the frequencies for Charleston and University Police, the first round of Friday night party calls started coming through.
Whew, I don’t need a new scanner…
Some things have changed in Charleston since students left in the Spring… Wendy’s closed, Jimmy John’s opened, McDonald’s didn’t close, Wal-Mart was remodeled, the pool aquatic center opened up, Doudna is starting to take an enormous shape.
Traffic has been crazy, parents and grandparents coming to Charleston helping their students move in. Luckily, Mal and I did that earlier this week before the rush hit.
I could hit a golf ball from my apartment to Wal-Mart, but it’s no use. I’ve gone the past three nights to find things I need and the entire store is gutted. All I really want is a shower curtain liner! I might have to go over to Mattoon to get it.
Last night was ridiculous… I have never seen so many confused wandering freshmen looking for parties and hotspots.
Any one that has been on or around a campus knows they are easy to spot. I can’t quite put my finger on what makes them different (besides the fact they look 12).
For a minute it made me get all sentimental and think about my freshman year; moving in to a small dorm room with a complete stranger, not being legal to buy beer, not knowing where things are and not knowing many people.
It seemed like a fresh, new world back then.
Now I’m feeling like this is my beginning as a ‘townie’… someone that doesn’t get to go home for breaks and the summer. I don’t have semesters to worry about. I just have to fight traffic to go anywhere now.
