College Chronicles pt 1-Culture Shock

So I have been in Utah a total of 3 days and I still dont think I am used to it. Compared to Maryland...probably anywhere, its way different. The first day I got here my three friends Winnie, Christine and Heather picked me up from the airport and we went to lunch at this little pizza place in Salt Lake which was really good and then we stopped by Heathers missionarys house to say hello. After coming home and setting up our sweet room, we went out to meet people. Let me just say everyone out here is SO NICE. Seriously after every single person I meet I turn to Heather and go she/he was sooo nice! So I'm really working on not saying that so much...although I guess its way better than saying he or she was so mean...Anyway the real fun started yesterday on saturday night. I went to hang out with my friend kelly and we were going to some random dance party in Liberty Square with a dj and everything, right out of someones apartment. It was pretty sweet but the guy to girl ratio here was not up to my standards. There should be 10 guys for every 1 girl, that is very fair. However, I think it was actually the opposite. Not cool. Anway so it was super hot and we decided to hang out outside when I met him. Definitely the cutest guy I had seen yet in Utah. He of course, was an RM and he just got back like a week ago and he wasnt even awkward or anything. This is no doubt a breakthrough for missionaries everywhere. Congratulations. But no really he was awesome and I instantly fell in love with this boy. We shall call him Lan Lan because thats what my room mate nicknamed him and it will have to stick I guess. All in all it was a pretty successful night. Next time I would prefer to meet more than one boy, but having at least one will suffice. So onto today, Sunday. So Heath and I woke up today and made Hootennany/German pancakes (whatever you wanna call them, I have heard them called everything) for the ward breakfast and I must say it was a major hit. So we head down to the apartment where the breakfast is, and im scoping out the competition and of course boys and its not bad. I really like my ward, everyone is...go ahead and guess, soooo nice. Yup, well they are. Anyway, heres where LDS boys differ from non LDS boys. So a bunch of girls walk over and we have our hands full and were looking for a seat...maybe the floor will do...in our really cute dresses and skirts..when without even being asked the boys stand up to sit on the floor :O. WHAT?

So then we go to church and theres boys everywhere. But I of course was being spiritual and not even paying attention to any of them. Skip past sacrament and go to Sunday school. Everyone has to go and take pictures for the ward directory and so we go out there and I see this guy looking at me and Heather goes oh thats Tim, who friend requested you. (Background: Tim friended me before I even got out to Utah and he didn't even know me? odd maybe. But its Utah so nothings really that odd and hes just trying to make friends right? I cant blame him) Anyway so heather was like whyd you friend her? And he goes oh i was talking to Kelly about her cute room mates and I decided to look them up. She was right, you are really cute. Ummm thank you?! Things like this are very hard to respond to but boys here dont even think twice! Its crazy. At home I feel like the approach is act like a jerk to get the girl but here the boys are so flipping nice and outgoing and they speak their mind. And then he proceeded to tell me if I get a boyfriend he will delete me...Good thing I accepted his request because that could have been an awkward conversation...oh wait.

Embarrassing or awkward boy encounter number two comes right after church. Scene: Heather and I sitting out on some benches eating some health food bar. I shove half of it my mouth being so dainty and ladylike when just at that moment two boys take that as their cue to come and introduce themselves. Heathers on the phone so one boy comes up to me and shakes my head introducing himself. His friend then does the same. So with my left hand im trying to cover my mouth and chew super fast so I can introduce myself but Im seriously chewing for like 5 minutes...what the heck? Hes like "oh dont be embarrassed" and "dont even worry about it, you dont have to say anything, I'm just here to invite you guys to my apartment tonight for drinks and such." These only made it worse. I definitely looked like an idiot but they were being typical gentleman and smiling at me and being so nice. As they were walking away saying their names again I halfheartedly go "im Caitlin..." "hahaha oh there we go" Although Heather informed me that they thought I was so cute. I guess the new cute this season is a face stuffed with food but I kept using the thumbs up sign and shaking my head so I guess that was the cuteness part. The guy was really cute by not letting me try to talk though and he smiled the whole time so good sign. A+ Mr. Interrupter on your picking up girls skills.



I'm probably so embarrassed when boys see me eating because this is what i look like...and since I'm not 5 years old this isnt too attractive...

Skip a couple hours and a bunch of us are laying in the courtyard on blankets eating popcorn in the most perfect weather anyone could ever ask for and who appears again? Why its none other than Mr. Interrupter. These two guys pop up on the balcony and one starts talking to Heather and she introduces me and I go I'm Caitlin and the guy he was with goes "ohhhh she responds to you right away" Me: "I thought I recognized you!"  He then said something about me not giving him my name on purpose and the food in my mouth was all a ploy haha. That may be inaccurate, which is why its not in quotes btw. Then I go on saying wouldn't it be cute if we dated because we would have a funny story about how we met. I'm like always eating in front of this boy, I pushed the popcorn away and said "Heather he cant see me eating again!" haha too bad I dont think anything is going to happen  between Mr. Interrupter and I. Haha I love these boys already.