So I flew to Charlottesville this weekend. It made me realize that it’s probably better that I didn’t stay in Charlottesville this year. I remember a couple of entries ago, I said something about how homecoming the first year out of school is the best time to go back because it hasn’t been long enough for it to feel alien yet. Homecoming the first year is probably still the best time to go back because things aren’t as alien as they would be say for the 5th Homecoming. However, I felt pretty alien in Charlottesville this weekend. Not alien in the sense of being in a different country where I’m unfamiliar with everything … but alien in the sense that I never once really felt like I belong there anymore.
During the Saturday afternoon Syracuse football game, I sat in the student section with a bunch of alums who just graduated this May. I’m sure we looked young enough that no one would ever notice that we were alums, but we didn’t FEEL young enough. Football games in general are a different atmosphere, and I hate Al Groh. Having a good football program doesn’t mean that UVA has to also become the traditional big football program school. The majority of alumni still hold dear to our hearts the tradition of decking out in our Sunday bests for games. What’s so wrong with that? Why must Al Groh try to phase it out?? Orange tshirts just are not the same, and 80% of the student section wore orange tshirts, including all the First Years who each got a free so-called “Orange Fever” official football shirt.
Friends are still friends, and it was great seeing friends. It’s actually funny how you get closer to people after not seeing them for a long time. Everyone of course asked about Ryan, which was a bit awkward for me, I think. I know that most people were just trying to make conversation, but it was a constant reminder that these people were HIS friends who only became my friends because Ryan and I started dating. I’m glad though to have had some free time to spend with my friends during the weekend, something I very much neglected to do Fourth Year.
It was a bittersweet weekend overall. I think the sweet part comes from the thought of actually being in Charlottesville again seeing friends and trying to relive the old times. Everything else was bitter, including the reliving the old times part because we no longer belong there! Grounds weren’t as beautiful as I remembered it; I think I played up UVA’s sights too much in my own mind while thinking about the drabiness of MIT.
My thoughts on UVA now, just mere months after graduation, is comparable to my thoughts on Governor’s School three years after graduating: the friends I have from college will remain with me, but I am content with not being there anymore. The past four years are wonderful memories, but memories are exactly that: memories.
Once a wahoo, always a wahoo. Wahoowa!