SEPTEMBER 6: HOO-RAH-RAH

I'm on mid-semester break and everyone back home has their first day of classes tomorrow. 

Homesickness attacks in many forms, and when you're in a different culture you start to miss things that you maybe never even LIKED when you were back home. 

For example, I never really LIKED bratwurst. Brats were always tough for me to eat growing up with my fucked up teeth, they never cooled down and always burned my mouth, and sometimes the flavor was boring. 

Man, I could really go for a brat right now.

But the biggest thing that I never realized I would miss was school spirit. UW-Stout isn't exactly known for overwhelming school spirit. We don't have striped overalls that we wear to our college football games. Some students will wear branded apparel (hell, I have a Stout baseball cap I wear every so often.) we go to our school events, we get the merch and listen to the outdoor concerts. 

None of that happens here. No merch, no huge events, no super intense sports games. School pride is extremely minimal compared to the States. 

Is it because tertiary education is expected, not celebrated? Is there not the same quality of community and family that comes from going to college...I mean...University? Back home the arts program feels like an extremely competetive but closely knit family. The fine arts program here just feels like a place to learn. Yes, people are friends, but everyine has their own little friend group outside of school.

Does this take away from that college hoo-rah-rah experience? I would say yes.

The F.O.M.O. I've had while I watch the freshman move into Stout for their first time, hearing about my roommates back home finding their groove in the new place, seeing all the events...which would never happen here.

-Backyard Bash
-The Great Stout Cookout
-Homecoming WEEK
-Family Weekend
-Blue Devil Productions
-Bingo
-Drag Shows
-F.W.O.F. (fashion without fabric)
-Dances (that cost nothing to go to.)

and a lot of other events I can't remember right now. But, these are all events that make american college what it is.

My partner goes to The University of Minnesota, a school known for it's hoo-rah-rah. There's a street dedicated to fraternities, they play music and throw footballs and bounce ping pong balls into cups. The football games are attended by people from across the state. There are cheerleaders and a marching band.

American College fall is real my friends, and when you say "I have no school spirit." You do. You just don't realize what it's like to be somewhere without it.

Me, before starting my freshman year, this was the day I decided to go to state school instead of private school.

Freshman Year, Living on the fourth floor of Tustison Hall. Iced over windows in the dead of winter and my perfect view of the Power Plant.

I guess I'm already getting nostalgic for what these days will be like in my memory. It's easy to say I'll have a greater appreciation for my school when I get home.