Becoming a Southern Belle

Per Becky's suggestion, I am going to revamp this blog in accordance to my latest adventure, which involves a trip across the country to Savannah, Georgia in order to attend graduate school at the Savannah College of Art and Design. After many trials and tribulations (or so it seemed) to get some internet in my dorm room, I am now set up on a brand new computer, in an air conditioned room, in the heart of historic downtown Savannah (one of the oldest, most historic, and self-claimed most haunted cities in America).

Thus far, my time in Georgia has mostly involved complaining about the heat and asking the students who agree with me where they're from (usually places like Chicago, but one guy from New Mexico said the heat was bad for him because of the humidity; he's used to a dry heat. One guy was from Arkansas, but has been in Savannah long enough to be accustomed).

I've had a few minor culture shocks; I expected I might be the liberal whackjob from Pugetropolis, and I was appalled to learn that recycling doesn't matter much. What?! At PLU, we separated our recyclables; glass, plastic, paper, cardboard. Not to mention composting and all that fun jazz.

More shocking was learning that NONE of the grocery stores I am accustomed to exist in most of the US; including QFC, Safeway, Albertson's, and Fred Meyer. Every store I thought of, the other students said "nope, never heard of it". So where do people buy food around here? Kroger, I guess. I didn't know Kroger stores existed; that's the generic store brand at our grocery stores. Well, at least it's semi familiar.

So far, I've been surrounded primarily by undergraduates. No surprise there; I am living in a residence hall, afterall. But that's okay; this experience is so new to me, I almost feel as lost and freaked out as all the 18 year old freshmen. And as far as graduate students go, I am a bit of a baby, what with being fresh out of my undergrad program.

I'm learning that while many stores exist here in Savannah which would help keep me in comfort, they are not easy to get to. At all. Hopefully, I succeed eventually in learning the transit system. Everyone here rides bikes, but I'm broke and have no bike. Walking it is! Which is fine around downtown, just less so if I want to shop at Target.

Classes start tomorrow (or, in the case of my lovely schedule, Tuesday). Hopefully I'll start to brave the heat and explore this city shortly. Until then, expect numerous complaints about the ungodly heat (which the locals keep telling me is beautiful right now, because it's cooling off. I'm sorry, but 90 is not beautiful. Ever).