By Kenneth Young |Staff Writer|
It feels like I just arrived at CSUSB, now I have to leave?
Just a month and a half ago, my first story got published in this quarter’s paper.
Now, after an unforgettable quarter, my incredible experience here at CSUSB is almost to the end.
I tried my best to blend in at the beginning. However, when I arrived at CSUSB on Sept. 16, I was carrying two heavy bags around the campus, looking for my on-campus accommodation.
At that point, I realized blending in wasn’t an option for me.
I know now that this isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it has worked to my favor. This funny accent of mine has been a great ice breaker.
Back at my home university, I had the tendency to keep to myself a lot and only talk to people when they approached me. But being in a different country has changed that dynamic a lot.
Over the course of my stay here, I have met people I would consider to be lifelong friends.
I have also heard some rather British-sounding imitations of my accent.
I have to admit, Southern California is rubbing off on me too.
On several occasions, I’ve caught myself referring to good food as being “bomb.”
I even had to correct myself when I was pronouncing “tomato” the other day. Luckily none of my Australian friends were around to hear that.
Even though California feels like a second home now, there were times where I was missing my life back in Australia.
As it was closer to the holiday season, I found myself getting homesick. It was finally sinking in that I wouldn’t be spending it with my family.
Weekends were difficult as well.
When everyone else was going home, I had to stay on campus. It’s a bit hard to go home when it’s located on the other side of the equator.
It wasn’t all bad though. With everyone gone, I had control of the television, which meant I could watch all the basketball I wanted.
Speaking of basketball, if I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say Lakers when I was wearing my Clippers hat, I could probably afford to pay for my own tuition in the Winter quarter.
Unfortunately, the only thing I could get from it was the smug satisfaction knowing that the Clippers are the better team now.
As I wrote in my first article, the feelings of homesickness I had went away fairly quickly.
Now I’m back to wishing I could stay for the full academic year.
To all the wonderful people I have met during my stay here at CSUSB, I will miss you dearly.
However, this isn’t the last you are going to see of me. I do plan on coming back to America.
Until that time, I wish everyone the best of luck and hope you all have a great time here as a student of CSUSB.
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