One of the best parts of having friends at various colleges is having the opportunity to visit them. Visiting friends gives you the chance to experience what almost all types of universities have to offer, from large to small campuses, from rural to city environments. You get the best of both worlds without having to permanently leave the comforts of your dorm. With each visit inevitably comes these five telling stages.
1. Excitement leading up to the weekend.
For the entire week before your trip, you and your friends obsess about seeing each other and plan out fun activities to do for the entire weekend. You preemptively plan all of your outfits and can't stop thinking about your future exciting adventures during all of your classes. What could be better than your soon-to-come reunion?
2. Confusion when first stepping onto their campus.
As soon as you step on campus, it seems like a different world. Students are decked out in their school colors, and there's a ton of street names that you don't recognize. You find yourself walking one block and ending up completely lost. Maps becomes your best friend, and you become the noob asking everyone for directions. Hey, at least you eventually find your final destination.
3. "No, I'm not a freshman. I don't go here."
Inevitably your response to many strangers on your friend's campus. As you wander around with your friend, you are recognized as the mysterious person that no one knows--obviously, therefore, you must either be a freshman or lost. The number of times you have to tell strangers that you don't attend school at their university and where you actually go to school keeps rising as the weekend goes on.
4. Realization that you will probably never see most of these random people again.
Accidentally tripped while walking on the street? Made a fool of yourself while out at night? Mistaken someone's name or identity? No worries, you will soon come to realize that most of the strangers that you encounter you will literally never set eyes on again. You endure the awkward moments for the time being and find comfort in the fact that their faces, and yours in their minds, will soon fade away. But never fear--your friends will never let you forget your awkward encounters.
5. Comparison of your college vs. the visiting college.
Your visiting time has come to an end and you have returned to your college home. You reminisce on your awesome times in the land far far away that past weekend and can't help but compare certain aspects to your very own university. For some, this may reinforce why you chose your own university, while for others, this may show you how great it is to have the freedom to visit universities different than yours. For those feeling the latter, you rejoice to be in the comforts of home but remorse to have left such a different environment. Never fear--you can relive the best of both worlds with another visit in a month or two.
