As students start to filter back on campus after being gone all summer... I've suddenly become the outsider on a college campus. I no longer live here. I don't eat all 3 meals in the caf. I don't run from class to meeting to class to my dorm to work and recogonize everyone else I walk pass. I don't see signs posted around campus that I actually hung up... or helped one of my roommates hang up.
That's not how it is anymore... now I wake up in West Orange, NJ. And then drive here. I commute to the Bronx. Something I never understood when I was a student here. How people actually dealt with NYC traffic to drive their cars here for work. I say hi to the security guard at the front gate every morning then walk up to WFUV. I usually don't leave the station. I eat lunch at my desk and get my stuff done. But I've started going to the caf for lunch. It's good and cheap... and somedays you just need to get outside. In doing so... I see all these crazy kids. Walking around like they own the campus. Looking at me wondering if I'm a transfer... or maybe even a Freshman. Or perhaps just someone they've never come across before. Naturally they wouldn't think that I worked here as I sport my jeans and T-shirt. Not exactly 'professional' attire. And my hair thrown up in a disasterous mess of a pony tail doesn't help promote my 'administrative' status, either. And I'm ok with that. Though some days I want to just wear a big sign that says... I ALREADY GRADUATED! But you know... generally I can deal. haha.
So for the first time, I'm viewing Fordham as an outsider. And it's so strange. Not so much because I used to fit in so comfortably here. But more because college as a whole is such a bizarre concept when you're not in it. Throwing a bunch of 20 somethings in a gated area in the middle of the Bronx. Basically everything is taken care of and the only money they need to come up with is for beer. They need to make it to class every once in a while... and that's about it. They live with their closest friends. Stay up until 2am watching movies and ordering out. Waking up anytime before 10am... is simply not an option. They could go weeks (and often do) without so much as stepping foot off of the campus. It's a little universe here. Everything they need... is right here. There's a credit union AND a post office. Walking around in pajama pants and a baggy sweatshirt is totally acceptable. Most don't even carry wallets... just a little thing that holds their licence, ATM card, and Fordham ID. Because without that ID... you're f'd. Purses are replaced by bookbags of varying sorts.
I guess I've never really thought about how odd it all is.
There are days when I'd go back in a heartbeat... but in generaly, I think the real world.... outside the gates of Fordham fit me much better.
It's just going to get much more interesting as the month goes on and more students come back... classes start up... and things are back in full swing.
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