When I arrived at Northwestern last Wednesday, I felt like an eight-year-old on the first day of the third grade: runny nose, watery eyes (illness not sadness), and no idea as to what was going on. This wouldn’t have been much of a problem had I been back at home, watching the Olympics in my pajamas, a Kleenex shoved up into my nose and a bowl of ice cream to get me through the evening; but unfortunately for this particular bout of the head cold, this was not the case. Rather I was a walking, talking, germ-breeding machine, just waiting to have someone throw me in a dumpster or steal my lunch money.
Yes, to be a freshman again. Thankfully though, this time around it’s not the people around me who are working to solidify my freshman status, but rather my serious disorientation and disengaged senses. Needless to say, all of this did not discourage me from exploring the greater Evanston vicinity this past weekend.
Starting out on an ambitious mission to find the Kinkos and the CVS (both easier said than done for a first-time freshman) via bicycle, I ended up on an interesting albeit completely disoriented afternoon adventure. Having biked only on trails and neighborhood roads up to this point, the streets of Evanston were a bit of a surprise. Simply put, where I come from, we value our lives. Unfortunately, this is not the case here, as it is illegal to bike on the sidewalks in the downtown area. So, regardless of whatever risk I was to put myself at, I decided to do as the Evanstonians do and risk my very livelihood for the sake of the law by riding in the streets.
Persevering as best I could, I eventually threw in the towel and found a place to lock up my bike, taking to the streets on my own two feet. Traveling much less dangerously, I found the CVS well enough and since it was still early, I decided to walk around downtown and get my bearings. Though I have yet to figure out Evanston’s layout, I did stumble upon an Armenian festival (not so interesting) and a kind of cool (kind of creepy) bookstore, The Bookman’s Alley. I do plan to go back, because according to the owner, Garrison Keillor spent some time there working on something, so maybe if I hang out there long enough I will see a famous literary icon too (or turn into an Emily Dickinson-like shut-in with Virginia Woolf’s capacity for fun….).
From there I headed to Evanston’s public library where I tried to get a library card (you never know, right?). However, since I have no proof that I am (or soon to be) a student at Northwestern and my freshman-like pleas apparently did not have the librarian convinced, I must return once I have my WildCARD and some kind of proof of residency in Evanston (at NU).
Following this, I headed back north, weaving in and out of South Campus, completely lost, slightly confused, and finally “humbled” into asking for directions — this was not the first time that day, and with my luck will not be the last this week either. But regardless of what road my sense of direction leads me down, I would have to say that my first adventure into Evanston was a good one, although next time I will be sure to bring a map along with me.