This is a picture of University of Millikin
It is huge in comparison with my University, Universitat de Lleida (UdL). The great thing about M.U, it's that there are many different buildings, and when I say buildings I mean not only business building and science building, but at the same time, you can find an office named "Office of Student Success" which is designed to make you success in every subject you decide to take, and to help you in everything you might need.
It was really amazing the first time they did a tour of the Campus, because they even have a Chapel, which is also very nice.
We had a first-week Orientation program, which consisted of a schedule full of appointments that we had to do, like for instance, listening to the Director of Millikin University giving us a speech about how lucky we are to be here and how valuable we are to the University. It made me feel special, even though there are like 2.000 other students that might also feel special, there was a moment when I truly felt a part of the University (and I still feel like I am part of the University).
Other events were organized for us throughout the week, just for us (the rest of the International Students and me), and they were great. It is amazing the amount of time the Center for International Education (CIE) spends on us, and preparing different events.
Finally, I have to add that, in Spain, we are not used of being competitive. Not that we don't do sports or we don't get serious, but most of the people who play sports, don't get too serious about it, and we do it just as a hobbie or to spend some time playing a sport.
Before I arrived at Millikin, I intended to play volleyball. Yeah, that was my first goal. So I wrote an email to the coach and soon got a reply, wondering about how many years I had been playing and so on. But problems rose when they found out that I wasn't seeking a full degree at millikin. That is, I cannot play on the official team because I am not here for a full-term degree. Anyway, not that I regret sending the email, or even wondering about going to the try-outs, I just think it's best for me. You see, I have been told that it is the best female team on campus, so chances that I would have been hypothetically chosen were as scarce as you can imagine.
Still, I decided not to quit, and I thought... Why not swimming? So you can imagine me sending another email to the swimming coach, and explaining everythin:
"Hello, my name is Eva, I am an International student from Spain... I will be here just for one semester... and so on. "
Of course, I didn't forget to mention that I love swimming and that I would be thrilled to make it into the team, or maybe to be able to train with them if it happens that I cannot compete because of the same reason that I couldn't make it into the volleyball team.
The reply I got was just so unexpected. The coach was asking my best times in competitions and which teams I had attended during my past. My face at that moment was a poem. My best times??? I used to swim and compete as well, but I don't remember any of my times, so I deduced from that email that they took very seriously about sports, and I decided to answer him explaining about it, and mentioning that still, I would be very pleased to be able to attend. His reply was you can always come on tuesdays to swim when the swimming pool is opened.
So, no swimming, and no volleyball. My prospects of playing sports were diminishing by moments. And the hopes I had put into sports were ... Let's just leave the sentence unfinished
But no matter, no matter... I decided not to surrender, and I saw a new horizon for me: SINGING
I love singing, and I consider myself a good singer, at least fair enough, so you can listen to me singing and not cry your ears out or try to commit suicide due to my bad intonation or something like that. So I decided to write an email, and I got lucky this time, I could audition for the Choir.
So, here am I, three weeks later, having auditioned and got accepted in the Millikin Choir, (previously sang the patriotic song "My Country tis of thee" with no preparation or having heard of it before) to be a part of the soprano +1 group, which means I can sing pretty high notes. So I am thrilled to announce that I start rehearsals on tuesday, and I hope I can do it!
Recommendations for future students:
- DO NOT APPLY FOR A SPORT UNLESS YOU KNOW YOU ARE SUPER GOOD
- DO NOT WRITE AN EMAIL SAYING "I LOVE SINGSTAR" (I did it and I felt embarrassed later)
- MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME
- GET A MEAL PLAN (because the nearest supermarket is 15min walk and it is tedious to be with 5 or 6 bags on your hands for 15 min walking home specially when you have to buy heavy stuff like milk of detergent...)
