Only in the USA

So although it’s 10pm and I have an article on ‘Who’s afraid of Post-blackness?’ to read and a paper to write on how the idea of "post-blackness" intersects or diverges with the concept of postmodernism, all by my 10am lesson tomorrow, I couldn’t help but share this with you all….

Tonight I was in the gym with one of my British friends (Claire) and after I’d gone into the changing rooms (or locker rooms so they’re called here) the following happened….

Claire was in the gym and some guy comes over and goes 's'cuse me ma'am can I ask you a question?'

So she was like ‘yeah of course’, and he goes 'who was that girl you were with downstairs in the jean shorts, the blonde girl?'

So she described my outfit and what I was wearing and he was like ‘yeah that’s her’

So she said ‘that's Alice, why?’

And he goes 'maaaaan she's beautiful'

WHY DOES THIS NOT HAPPEN IN ENGLAND?

The Running of the Pigs

One huge difference between the Universities in the UK and the Universities here in the States is that there are enormous Fraternities and Sororities which you can join and be a part of for life. The only way I can describe them are as popular cliques of perfect people who have different reputations, some bad some good, but once you’re in you’re in! Greek life at USC is taken to the extreme. Apparently 1 in every 5 students is ‘Greek’ (as in a part of a Sorority/Fraternity – they’re not actually from Greece!)

Yesterday was something called ‘bid day’ where more than 1300 girls were accepted into their new lives of sisterhood to one of the Sororities. I had heard this was a big deal but what I was greeted with was utter madness! Imagine hundreds of pristine Barbie-like girls dressed up in tutus, cowboy boots and luminous colours, jumping up and down whilst screaming at the top of their lungs. Talk about intimidating. I didn’t know where to look! Chanting ‘Kappa Kappa Gamma’ or ‘Zeta Phi Beta’ none of it really made any sense. Luckily, I’ve befriended an American girl who lives in my building and she explained the whole ‘rushing’ system. At the top of the horseshoe were a group of younger girls dressed in normal clothes (Freshmen) surrounded by the Barbie rainbow clan, on bid day the Freshmen find out which sorority they’ve got into (if any!) after a week of intense interviews and events called ‘rush week’. The new pledges get given a tshirt with particular colours on that represent a Sorority. Then they run, screaming may I add, down the horseshoe, past all the Fraternity boys trying to trip them up, to their designated area. Greeted with ‘welcome home’ signs, there were girls hysterically crying as they finally found out where they would be living for the next four years of their college life.

I’m not sure words can actually justify how mad that afternoon was. Whistles blowing in all directions, chanting, screaming, crying. Chaos! I don’t know why this event is called ‘The Running of the Pigs’ because although there was a lot of running, the girls I saw in their glad rags definitely cannot be associated with anything of the piggish nature!

‘I could listen to you talk all day long’

Being British here is like being the owner of a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Having an accent immediately gets you noticed and gets you in. Random people stop me on campus to ask me where I’m from because they ‘love’ my accent and some even seem genuinely shocked that I would come all the way to South Carolina. A few people have asked me why? Why South Carolina? Why study in America at all? And I guess the answer is why not! If it isn’t because of the amazing sports facilities and interesting Literature classes on a history that still feels very recent here, it’s because I want to understand another culture and learn about a completely different way of living.

Before I came to America I had preconceived ideas about what it would be like and how it couldn’t be too different from home. They speak the same language so how hard could it be? But after only a week I’m beginning to realise that I’ve got a lot to learn. There are so many rules here. I find myself surrounded by students who are old enough to drive around in monstrous vehicles, looking somewhat out of place sitting behind the wheel of a huge hummer truck, they can buy guns or get married, but when it comes to alcohol, they are strictly forbidden. It is the strangest thing. We are not allowed to have any alcohol in the shared fridges of our apartment or even have anything which suggests drinking activity. No shot glasses or empty beer bottles are to be displayed. Thank god I’m 21!

With all these strict rules and regulations it seems that house parties, along with beer pong and red cups, are the answer to everyone’s worries. But even at house parties I can’t seem to get away from Americans (mainly boys) smothering me with hilarious one liners that just make me cringe! ‘Oh my God you’re English, this is amazing, I love your accent’ or ‘You’re from England? I have a friend in France!’ I’m starting to feel very much like a novelty act which will wear off as soon as they realise the only reason they’re talking to me is because I sound so different. Last night, at a Jew Frat party (apparently they throw the best parties because they have so much money!) one guy warned his friend not to talk to me, I quote: ‘Dude don’t speak to her for more than five seconds, you may have to change your pants!’

With that said, I have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of Southern hospitality here. Boys go out their way to hold doors open for you, and politely refer to you as Miss or Ma'am. The locals here are incredibly friendly, everyone asks me how I am or how my day is going. Students and Teachers alike walk around campus with huge smiles plastered on their faces ready to lend a hand whenever needed. I can’t imagine sitting on the tube in London with a carriage full of smiling commuters, giving up seats and asking how my day has been! 

Food Glorious Food

Before I left the UK I was given some advice from one of my Professors: ‘Come ready for intense heat, humidity, and excellent fried food! :)’

I think it is pretty safe to say that since arriving in South Carolina the only fruit or vegetables I have eaten have been the tomatoes that were in my deep fried burger! This is a problem. I may return to England double the size I left! Burgers, pizza, coke and cookies have been the starter, main and pudding to my day to day eating schedule. But with a cookie and ice cream parlour in the middle of the Student Union it is extremely hard to say no, especially with my sweet tooth! Yesterday I tried a ‘chocolate double doozie’ cookie which is basically two large chocolate chip cookies stuck together with a mountain of cream! Pretty yum!

So with all this eating today I decided it would be a good idea to check out one of the two state of the art fitness centres we have on campus. The Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Centre literally blows Kent’s Sport Centre out of the water! Not only is it free for students. Yes FREE! It boasts squash courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, a climbing wall which is huge (over 50ft!), an indoor track, a gym with every machine you could ever dream of and both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool! I guess I have no excuse about eating badly with this literally ten minutes away from my front door….

Mugshot

The Carolina Card - an ID card that can also be used for buying meals in campus cafes/restaurants, in Coke and snack machines, for laundry services, to purchase books, as a Library card and pretty much everything else on campus!

The Start of Something New

My first 24 hours in South Carolina have been filled with sorority girls, yoga shorts and lots of proud ‘Gamecock’ wearers. Please be assured that this blog is no fiction. Instead what you will receive is truthful insight into my adventures here at the University of South Carolina. So however crazy or incredible they may seem, they are, nevertheless, true.

After arriving at Charlotte International Airport, on what may have been the busiest flight crossing the Atlantic (overbooked by 10%!) I made my way to Columbia on a shuttle bus service. Now, despite being told by numerous people about the glorious hot and humid weather the South is renowned for. It was in fact raining cats and dogs! After dragging my suitcase to the Study Abroad office to collect my room key through the rain I was greeted by a Sorority girl who kept on telling me how ‘adorable’ I was after hearing my English accent. Just what I needed to hear after a 9 hour flight!

Regarding accommodation, I seem to have lucked out and managed to get my own room in a building that was built in the 1800s right in the centre of campus on the Horseshoe. My room is in a shared apartment with 3 other girls: one other British student, a French student and a girl all the way from Downtown Charleston. Hopefully we’ll be best buds and I can go stay for thanksgiving (apparently she used to be a swimmer so we have some common ground!)

The past 24 hours have just been a complete whirlwind. I've been shown around campus by a different Sorority girl who was really sweet; however, she did make a comment on my dress style. So those of you wondering what college students in the US wear, look no further. Nearly every single girl I have seen around campus today was wearing nike trainers, baggy yoga style shorts and either a baggy tshirt or something with CAROLINA or GAMECOCKS printed on the front. I thought ‘yeah I’ll fit in fine’ but I stand out like a saw thumb and I was only wearing converse, leggings and strappy top!! After I made a comment about all the girls looking like they’d just hit the gym, the Sorority girl showing me around bluntly told me that what I was wearing was really ‘dressed up’ and that most students just wear shorts and tshirts to class. This is taking casual to the next level! Might as well turn up to lessons in my pjs then!

Campus is HUGE. For lunch I went exploring and found the student union, Russel House, which has its own ice cream parlour and bagel bar. So cool! Needless to say, I had a bagel for lunch, and yes the woman at the till did make fun of me when I asked for ‘tomarrrto’ instead of ‘tomaaato’. I think the Southern twang is going to take a little while to get used to!