Overseas briefing

Author: Greg Larsen

ATHENS, Ga. - When I told my friends at Middlebury that I'd be studying this spring at the University of Georgia, a surprising number of people replied with the question, "Georgia the country?" And I'm sure when this briefing shows up in the paper, many people will see Athens and expect something about olives and baklava, but in all actuality, I never left this country of football, coke and fried chicken.

Rather, I've traveled deeper into the heart of it. At this point you might be wondering why I'm writing for the "overseas" briefing in The Campus (to be honest, I'm wondering the same), but life in a southern state school has been pretty different, so I guess even "domestic off-campus study" gives me something to write about.

I could dwell on the differences of life in the south - with regards to "football, coke, and fried chicken," UGA football draws over 90,000 fans to most games (obligatory: "Go Bulldogs"), while Atlanta is home to the headquarters of both Coca-Cola and Chick-Fil-A. Even with this southern flavor, the town of Athens holds the familiar styles of a college town, with a healthy assortment of restaurants, bars and an abundance of live music - coincidentally, my friend had the good fortune of hearing Rick Astley sing karaoke to one of his songs in a bar last week.

As any well-adjusted college student should say, though, "the best part about living at _______ has been the people I've met." There's my roommate, a sophomore business major and basketball player; there's the 10 of us in my genetics/intensive Chinese program, an appropriately random crew; and then the other 35,000 students enrolled on campus, with the Greek chapters, Bible studies, and all extra-curriculars in between.

There are the tourists who visit from surrounding Georgia to stare at the football stadium outside my dorm. I wasn't kidding when I said they love their football here: literally every morning, I walk past families taking picture portraits in front of the empty stadium. From all conversations and friendships, I can attest that southern hospitality is very friendly and accepting, even to a thorough New Englander who doesn't even especially like football.

I've had a great time getting to know Georgia, with all its quirks and twangs, and as finals creep up I'll be sad to pack my things. Just not too sad, as after finals, my genetics program takes off on a grant-sponsored research project in China. The country.