Being a new student at UVa, I consider any off-grounds excursion an impressive personal feat. Especially considering that last week I took my first, solo, on-grounds bus ride and felt like I had mastered some essential component of my college experience- without getting lost to boot. To broaden our repertoires of both transportation and friendships, our RA organized a my-tie mixer for my hall with a boys’ hall from the Humphreys dorm. We were to take the downtown trolley (mental panic already), meet our arranged dates for the evening (was this going to be awkward?), and enjoy all that charming downtown Charlottesville had to offer… at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon. I was confused and skeptical to say the least. But as our chariot approached its stopping point, I was pleased to find the downtown mall buzzing. Even at such an early hour, people of all ages had come out in big numbers to grab a meal, take a walk, and even enjoy a great outdoor concert at the Charlottesville pavilion. My date, Luke, and I walked with other guys and girls and enjoyed live music by local artists at Fridays at Five. We even stopped at Splendora’s Gelato Café and enjoyed snacks after I blamed indecision as reason for needing to sample five other flavors before making up my mind. They all tasted incredible! It is safe to say that by the end of the night, I felt much more a part of Charlottesville beyond the “UVa grounds” bubble that I have found myself recently caught in. Granted, I’ve been an undergrad for a solid month and will continue to explore further, but after the my-tie, I am more excited about being a part of the Charlottesville community. If the downtown mall and all its attractions are any indication, I have a lot to look forward to.
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