Today was my first day to set foot on campus. In a trip Mom and I made up here earlier this year, we drove around and looked at everything, but I never actually got out of the car. Stepping into the music building today was a pretty intimidating experience. It's the first time I've been to a school where I know absolutely nobody, and every time I've started somewhere new I've always had marching band as a social introduction. It was nerve racking, but I met a few people and I think my music history entrance exam went alright.
I know one thing. No one from my old school is ever allowed to complain to me about their music building ever again. This new one is fine, but Lubbockians don't know how good they have it. Seriously.
What really cracked me up today, though, has nothing to do with school. The road to school, Poplar, is possibly one of the most busy roads in the city as far as I've seen. It's not a highway, but it is a major East-to-West road running from the suburbs to downtown. I hadn't personally driven on Poplar since I drove into Memphis when moving here.
I noticed today how narrow the lanes are down Poplar. They're uncomfortably narrow, and lumpy, and busy...and kind of scary to someone unfamiliar with driving here. For the lanes already being as narrow as they are, a surprising number of people have some serious trouble driving within them. Once in the parking lot on campus people seemed to have the same trouble staying within the lines. And again, on the way home, I was in the lane beside a truck that spent more time in my lane than in his own.
I began to wonder if lane lines were more just a suggestion in Memphis. I've also been wondering if maybe that just has something to do with the overall casual and laid-back attitude of this city. I haven't witnessed any road rage, save for one student who seemed to be in a huge hurry this afternoon....but it's certainly nothing like driving in Dallas or Houston. Thank goodness. I've also noticed that, at least when I've been out, people tend to go whatever speed they feel like. A few people speed, but there's a surprising amount of people who go as far under the limit as they please.
Tennessee is driving friendly. :) Good for them! There are some points where you have to drive a little like an a-hole when you want to change lanes in traffic or something...but the personality of these roads is significantly different and, in my opinion, better. Except for the narrowness. :)
In other news, I think one of my neighbors might be a musician. I haven't met them yet, but it sounded like there was practicing coming through my wall tonight. A bass-like instrument...though I can't tell if it was electric or string bass, and some voice. But they were doing scales. It was kind of nice.
I also had Corky's for dinner again. This time I stopped through their drive-thru on the way home...because it's right on the way and on the easy side of the road. This is not diet friendly, at ALL, but my BBQ nachos were quite tasty. And I think the chicken sandwich will be a good lunch tomorrow.
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