Winter? Go away, please.

It. Is. SO. Cold.
Like, freezing.
When I was walking to class this morning, I'm pretty sure I saw snow flurries. Okay, okay it was just the misting rain but still. Another five degrees colder and it definitely could have been snow. When the heck did winter sneak up? Seriously. I cannot function in cold weather. When it snows? I basically shut down. I was born in the too hot to handle south for a reason- I can handle that. Cold? Nope, count me out. At least I got to break out my cute winter coats and scarves that I love? That's the only good thing about cold weather. After two days in the 40s, I've learned there is no possible way I will willingly go any further north than North Carolina for Graduate school. Line is officially drawn.

Anyways, I was back in South Carolina for the weekend! It was my Fall Break & I was suppose to be observing an Occupational Therapist in the school back home. (Thank you lovely South Carolina school districts for confusing that whole situation. I don't understand how you can be in a school district and not communicate with one another.) Oh well. The weekend turned out amazing regardless. Can you say #3 Gamecocks?! Thanks to my other school, NC State for taking care of FSU and allowing us to move up to #3! Seriously best day ever. My host school helped out my home school. :) haha We were watching the NC State game after coming back from the stadium and I had everyone throwing up the Wolfpack symbol. But back to my first topic..
Temperature at South Carolina on Saturday- 90
Temperature today in North Carolina-40.
Not okay. No wonder I'm getting sick.

THE FAIR IS IN TOWNNNNN!!!! North Carolina's & South Carolina's actually.
I am such a kid at heart when it comes to the State Fair. If I could eat fair food all day every day, I would be one happy person. Extremely overweight, but happy. Plus there are some of my favorite artist are playing. :) Now the only decision to make is which concert to go to...

Hopefully we'll be able to take the cow pictures this weekend or next! I don't think I've talked about that yet so I'll just wait to explain when I can load the pictures...

XOXO

Guess I should be a Panther.

So.. the brickyard preacher is saying all the Carolina Panthers are going to heaven because they're the Panthers. Odd.

I know, I know, I fail because I haven't posted in a while! A LOT has been going on. Let's see, there was Vegas during Labor day weekend (woohoo! Didn't win any money though). Travis & I went with another couple from here (Shefaali & Andy) for Shefaali's birthday. It was ridiculously fun! I was way to scared to actually bet any money. Like, I put down $20 at a roulette table & cue anxiety attack. Haha. I did win like $150 the first night there! (And by me, I mean Travis. It was his money & I just told him to put it on red because that'a all I understood about the game.) Oh! And I saw Ice-T & Coco in one of the clubs we went to!!! I love the shows 'Ice loves Coco' and Law & Order:SVU so I was so excited. No one else with us knew who they were. Whomp.

What else have I been doing? I started volunteer work! I've spent who knows how many hours contacting OTs like within a 30 mile radius. Plus sending in all kind of applications. I started working with the Miracle League of the Triangle!! It's amazingggg.. It's a baseball league for children (and adults) that have development disabilities. I work as a "Buddy" so every game I pair up with one of the kids and do a ton of encouraging, help them bat/catch, run the bases (or push them around if they're in a wheelchair), and basically just have fun with them & make sure they're safe! It's the kind of thing I love to do. :)

I had my first exam on Tuesday..ahh!! I think I did better than I thought I would. We'll see soon.

My scary history professor isn't so scary anymore. Okay, he still is but at least he likes me & the scarriness isn't directed to me. That class is definitely making me step out of my comfort zone but hey, that's what I'm here for! Plus the people in the class are amazing.

Okay, now I have to get back to studying for the GRE. I'm taking it Friday. I'm gonna die. No, really.
(Catching up on this blog was a great little procrasti...I mean break. Yeah, a study break.)

XOXO

Happy

Just kidding. I found it.

(It was in the same building. This place is confusing even with a map.)

Hangry

This is going to be a short rant.

Where the eff is Chick-fil-a??? I am so confused right now. Like, seriously. I thought it was in this one building that like everyone was walking into. Nope. I was in the library. No food. (Glad I found that but not right now. I would have been happier if they served food.) I'm starvinggggggg. All I want is a chicken sandwich. Is that too much to ask for? I didn't think so but apparently it is. 

Play time?

I was just sitting in class trying to pay attention. I was doing pretty good with it too. I look out the window & guess what was there... BLOW UP OBSTACLE COURSES! Like really, how am I suppose to pay attention with that going on?! Guess there's only one thing to do. No, no, no..not look away. I'll go play on them after class! :)

Freshie

SO. I feel like a freshman.

I just got out of my first class as a NCSU student! Woohoo! I was kinda nervous this morning/last night. Okay, I was really nervous. I have REALLY bad anxiety. About like everything. But obviously it all went okay. The instructor was extremely nice & the class seems interesting. I even found two more girls who are interesting in OT and one will start applying for grad schools in a few months with me. We're talking about observing OTs and working with each other through the stressful process. haha

Now I have two hours before my next class. Pretty good lunch break! I think I'm going to get something on Hillsborough St. (I think that's how you spell it?) I just started walking around randomly when I got out of class and I found the brickyard! OH! Remember that story I told in my first post about the reason NCSU has so many bricks? It's NOT TRUE! WTH? I'm upset. I liked that story. I'm just going to keep pretending it's true.

One thing I'm seriously missing right now? My sorority sisters. It's so odd walking around campus and not recognizing a single person. I keep seeing other sorority girls walking around and sitting with their sisters so it's making me really miss mine.

(Shout-out to my Phi Mu sisters- I know ya'll are going to rock in this week for spirit week and all during recruitment these next few weeks! I wish I could be there with y'all when the AMAZING new Phis come! SWOOP!!!)
Okay I'm done now. :)

Making It

I've survived four days of P90X! Well, kinda... On the first day I bruised my foot, popped my knee, and pulled a muscle in my arm. But it's getting better! Well, kinda.. Yoga was today & that was just a hot mess. Why the heck is yoga so hard? Anyways..

Last night we went out in Chapel Hill. I got into an argument with the bouncer about which was the "real" Carolina. It was funny. He asked if I get mad when people talk about NC and say 'Carolina'. I told him no, because I still assume they are talking about SC. And I do. I've had to think it through a couple of times. Oh! Today I went to the flea market at the NC State Fairgrounds. We got there towards the end so we're going back tomorrow. It was pretty big. And they had HUGE chocolate covered strawberries- 4 for $4!!! (AHHHH) I will be purchasing those tomorrow. I mean, strawberries are healthy, right?! I'm going with yes.

Abby is having a bit harder of a time adjusting than I am. She isn't eating much which kinda worries me. Well, she eats more when I give her the "special" food that my parents spoil her with when she visits them but I don't want her getting use to that. She's basically ignoring Copper still, which is good. Copper is still trying to figure out what Abby is. (Copper is Abby's new roommate..he's a year old cat.) He usually keeps his distance and stares from a far but occasionally he thinks he's a lion and tries to attack. That's when we have problems.

One last thing!! I ate at Orange Leaf today. :) (It's a froyo place that we have in Columbia. My roommates & I basically ate there 3 or 4 times a week all summer.) I was sooo excited to see there was one close. Seriously, best froyo ever..especially the pineapple flavor! I was talking to the owner and it just opened two weeks ago. Good timing, huh?

Well this was a bit all over the place but so is my life so if you're going to be reading this, get use to it. :)

Last Words

I do not exercise. EVER. Like really, it just doesn't happen. I will avoid it at all cost. Am I'm not exaggerating. I've been blessed with being tiny my entire life without watching what I eat or stepping foot in a gym. Dance and cheerleading gave me enough exercise growing up without any extra effort. Yes, yes, I know. Exercising is good for you and all that mess. I just avoid it.

I just got talked into doing P90X.

If you don't hear from me for a few days, call for help. I may not survive.

Settling In

So I've officially been in NC for a few days now! If I thought packing was going to be the death of me, unpacking was way worse. I really hate unpacking. Heck, I even dislike putting away the laundry. But I am (mostly) unpacked and settling into a new place! I've had a blast these last few days (with the exception of unpacking, seriously).

So far I've had a pool day where we grilled out, a day of painting the room red, a night out in Raleigh (yes, I turned 21 in June so don't worry..not breaking any laws!) :) and a day out in downtown Raleigh. I even drove downtown!! If you know me, I have super high anxiety about driving in new places- especially cities since I'm from a small town that doesn't even have a stop light. I went and explored campus, found my parking deck, and got my new student ID. When I walked up to the desk where they issue the cards, I told them I needed a student ID and handed her my license. She got a REALY confused look on her face (I guess because I showed up in the computer as an 'exchange student') and asked me if I was a foreign exchange student because she's never met one who talked as southern as me. After I explained I was from USC (the real one in SC) seriously like three guys working there jumped up to take my picture for the card & print it out. As soon as I walked back there is was like an interrogation of USC baseball. Thankfully I've gone to the game my entire life and was able to hold the conversation & answer their questions! I even learned something new... Ray Tanner went to and played at State and later coached there. According to one of the guys, he left because NCSU wouldn't build him a new stadium with lights. Looks like we got the good end of that deal, National Championships and a gorgeous stadium!

I have a lot more to say but I have to finish getting ready and Abby wants to go outside (she's so demanding). I'm going to the movie tonight with some people to see the new batman movie (finally)!

From SC to NC...

I'm Caitlyn and I'm currently a senior psychology major at USC! This semester I'm participating in a student exchange and will be attending NC State! You'll be able to follow my life over the next six months as I move out of state for the first time. In this blog I'll most likely talk about the differences I notice between the Carolinas, probably some stories of me getting lost in Raleigh, and heck- even getting lost on campus! You think USC's campus is big? It's maybe half of NCSU. (So there will probably be a few blogs of me complaining about having to walk too much.) Oh & you'll most likely hear about my sweet little Abby a lot too! Yes, I am one of those people that makes my dog wear cute outfits, raincoats, and bows. You'll learn to live with it- she has!

Over the summer I took a weekend vaca to NC to check out the campus, try to figure out where my classes were so I didn't look like a lost freshman, and explore the city! I've already learned a few things from my trip just from a weekend visit...

1.  EVERYTHING on campus is made of bricks. Yes, EVERYTHING. It's ridiculous. Like sidewalks, benches, even random sculptures. Obviously all the buildings as well. I learned from a friend that apparently there's some alumni who donates bricks to the school every single year (some ridic amount of bricks) and as long as the school uses every single one, they'll keep getting the donation. When they don't use them all, the donation will stop. Not sure how true this is, or if I even told the story right, but I'll be sure to find out when I get there!

2. NC does not know how to make sweet tea like SC. I will be keeping a list of all the places that have acceptable sweet tea. What can I say? I've been spoiled with my extremely sweet sweet tea all my life and I'm picky! SINS. 

3. Everyone that I've spoken with on campus (while trying to figure out parking, credits, hours, classes, and schedules) has been ridic nice & extremely helpful! They've gone out of their way to help in any way possible. Not saying any names but that's one thing a few people on our campus could learn from NCSU... Where's the southern hospitality SC?! We need to step it up.

And finally....

4. People in NC do not get nearly as excited as we do in Columbia when "Wagon Wheel" is played. This made me sad. I'm not sure when the obsession began in SC but I'll just have to look ridiculous this semester when I'm singing/screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs all alone. Oh well.