Odd Girl Out

Hey guys!!!

Truth? I feel like the odd one out here. Because I had a really good time at CTY. I wouldn't say better. Far from it. From what I can gather, there's something special about everyone's first year. And you guys were especially special. But I did have a lot of fun. A lot of you said that you're happy that people didn't enjoy themselves as much this year as they did in our year, and if I didn't go this year I know that I would feel the same way. But I am happy that I had a good time this year. It wasn't a replacement for last year at all. It was just...different. Some aspects better and some worse. So it just worked out to being really good but in a different way.

Actually, I was pretty disappointed and depressed like, most of the first week. Because at first my hall was really cliquey because a lot of people knew each other already. But then two of the cliques kind of dissolved into one by the second or third day and those five girls became my best friends there, one of whom was my roommate. And by hall bonding the first weekend all of the cliques pretty much disappeared. I should also mentioned the dorms were much better last year. We really were spoiled in Padua.

But I mean, other than that first week and a few minor things, everything was really great. I mentioned I had a really awesome group of friends and a really cool roommate. She (and another girl in my hall) were from Brazil, and we might as well have been seperated at birth. The food was better here; it was actually hot. And my class was pretty fun. The subject matter of pop culture in general has to be fun. Though I thought there was too much required reading and I like creative writing like we did last year better in general, as opposed to analytical writing. And Amanda would say hi to me like every time she would see me. The activities weren't quite as creative as last year, though I did do a couple of really cool dancing, yoga, and pilates activities. The dance studios there were AMAZING. And my RA this year was AMAZING too. Anyone remember Ludi from last year? She was my RA and she was so much fun. Like Essie, she was far from a stickler for the rules. She let us have illegal sleepovers on the last night and watch Friends in her room on her computer. And she would always play a lot of music really loud and we would have dance parties in the middle of the hallway. I wouldn't necessarily call her better than Essie. She was very similar to her, but somewhat different all the same. And the weekends this year were absolute heaven. I was right next door to the laundry room so I never had to worry about waiting around. And at the carnivals my friends and I would just sort of go off and talk and read and lay in the sun. The weather was perfect both weekends. And I went to a farmers market, had an eating party in the lounge, had a tone of fun at the dances,and had a couple of sleepovers. Even the mandatory fun wasn't that bad-some of it (like the lip syncing contest) was even pretty hilarious. Honestly I can't imagine how I could've made the weekends any more perfect.

But guys, I need you to remember something for me. This year, or any other year at CTY for that matter, will ever take the place of our first year. This yeat wasn't better or worst. It was just different. A new experience with some aspects that I liked more and some that I liked less. Just special in different ways. Please don't hate me for enjoying this year as much as I did. I knew going in that there wasn't anything that could replace you guys, so I really tried to open up and allow myself to have fun. I wanted to experience the closeness and the magic that is CTY again. And though I had a really great time this year, nothing will ever compare to you guys.

M.E.