COLUMN: A whole different world
I come from down south in Saint Louis, Mo., where I attended Lindenwood University last year.
My family is heavily involved in the military, my dad and brother being Marines, and a very big Navy family (Go Navy!). I moved around a lot in the St. Louis area for a total of nine times, but this past summer I made the decision to attend Central Michigan University, in order to be close to my grandmother who lives in Canadian Lakes.
Don’t get me wrong, I love St. Louis, we have some amazing things like the Cardinals, Blues, Gooey Butter Cake, and Toasted Raviolis, but sometimes we need a change in order to grow.
One of the first things I noticed at CMU was the sheer size of the school. I came from a really small religious school called Lindenwood University, which housed about 3,000 on campus. There was nothing to do, Greek Society was basically nothing, and it was a strict dry campus. Visitation was from 4 to 10 p.m. and the opposite sex could not spend the night.
To have some sort of fun, you had to go into the city to clubs or other schools around the area to party. So coming to CMU, 26,000 kids alone is a change.
Another thing I noticed was the food, some of you may think it sucks, but I love it. Lindenwood didn’t have any dining choices at all, and at night would only be open until 8 p.m. LU also didn’t have convenience stores either on campus. CMU students are spoiled a little bit; you guys have a designated bike area, safe-rides, and different places to eat on campus. I really do love the campus, and the people that I have met.
Michiganders: The hand thing is really pointless. I have lost count on how many of you use your hands to point where you live. If I wanted to know how badly where exactly you live I would just Google it. Yoopers is also different. Every time someone says it I think to Game of Thrones, or the people that live beyond The Wall in the book. I keep thinking of people dressed like eskimos making their way down south.
Last but not least: I am sorry to anyone on campus that is a Tigers fan. I am not sorry, however, when they lost to the Cardinals in 2006. The defense sucked, and the Cardinals blew through it like a level 5 hurricane. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is loyal to the team they grew up with, but Tigers fans need to move on. I don’t know how many snide looks I got on campus when I wear my Cardinals hat or jersey. It hurts to lose, but move on.
Your team has only won what, four World Series?
I will say this: Michigan can do something right. Superman ice cream is awesome.
