Arrival at UNC: Finding my Feet

By Louis Cotterell, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA

After to flying to New York JFK, taking a midnight subway and bus to LaGuardia (with no mobile data), landing in North Carolina and begging the bus drivers to let me on for free, I arrived in Chapel Hill. It was a very weird feeling, knowing that no one in the entire country knows you’re there, or cares in any way. I felt very empty that first hour, wandering around the campus, taking in its beauty and the hot sun, a different kind of loneliness.

Wilson Library and Main Quad

I met a Chinese man wandering through the arboretum, singing opera loudly as he strolled. He seemed crazy, but also like he had everything figured out. We had a conversation, and he expressed the importance of always keeping an open mind. It felt like a strangely spiritual moment, and it was exactly what I needed to hear.

I then walked down Franklin Street, the main street of shops and bars in Chapel Hill, and walked past a man with a guitar. I asked him where I could buy a cheap one, and he pointed me in the direction. We exchanged contacts, and decided to have a jam in the quad the next day. Conor was my first friend here.

Connor and myself playing music in the quad

After jamming (under a big American flag) we decided to go to get some free ice cream from an international students meeting. Nicole, the exchange advisor, saw us with our guitars and invited us onto the stage to play a song. We played a Zach Bryan tune, and in return were given T-shirts sporting the Carolina blue – this saved me having to buy any (overpriced) school merchandise. Since then, Conor and I have been playing open mic nights and have found a bassist to play with us also.

Settling in felt a lot easier after that, though the first couple of days I was here it felt difficult to meet people, as neither classes nor orientation had started. Once I reached orientation I met a few other Brits, who I have become friends with. I have made American friends in classes, and have a nice mix of internationals and natives.

Alba (Madrid), Sarah (Pennsylvania) and myself

In terms of first impressions of the country, it is very much how I’d expected – although disappointingly, the portion sizes aren’t as large as I’d been led to believe. The campus is grand and aesthetic, with huge buildings and an abundance of facilities. They go absolutely crazy for the accent, and I hear a “oh my God… you’re British?!” at least once a day.

Once classes started I got into a routine, and have been very much enjoying myself. It is now the third week of teaching, and I’m questioning whether I’ve chosen especially hard topics, or if the American education system isn’t as easy as I’d been told. Either way, class is enjoyable, teachers are engaging and it is a much more discussive style than back in the UK.

In these first few weeks I have experienced so much it is hard to keep it all straight. I’ve had trips to the lake, great nights out, a long weekend away in a beach-house, a day in Boston, American football games, and hopefully much more of the same to come.