After a long day of get to know you games, I stood at the bathroom sink in Deseret Towers (now demolished BYU dorms). As I reflected on BYU orientation, I blinked back tears dejectedly. I would never fit into this weird Stepfordian subculture where people thought that it was normal for 18-year-olds to make up cheers about how awesome their orientation group was and belt them throughout campus competitively. I didn't know it at the time, but 90 percent of the kids who grew up outside of the intermountain west were experiencing the same culture shock.
A gorgeous Navajo girl (let’s call her Friendly Indian-she came up with this, lest you brand me as un-pc) entered the bathroom, and although I was determined to get the heck of out Dodge as soon as possible, I introduced myself. With nothing to lose I said, “This sucks so bad. These people are crazy.” I knew that I risked being labeled as an apostate, but she answered, “I know, right? They think this is EFY*.” A beautiful friendship was born that day, woven together by the bonds of bad attitude (this may or may not be a theme in my life).
Years passed and the Friendly Indian lives in Boston right now because her husband is finishing up his PhD at Harvard. As I am in Boston, I texted her yesterday morning to see if she wanted to reunite. I never heard back from her, and went to Salem with J Lo, my former BYU Spanish teacher. While we were in Salem, a sinister old man approached us and said to J Lo’s ginger six-year-old, “Do you know why the first person was hung in Salem? For having red hair." She was creeped out, but took it in stride.
On leaving Salem, we stopped for ice cream at this crazy furniture store that features a water light show (I don’t know the proper name for that) and an opportunity to become a trapeze artist. As we were eating our ice cream, a voice called, “JILLLLLLLL!!!!!!” Before me stood the Friendly Indian. We were flabbergasted, knowing that it was no coincidence that we had found each other. She hadn’t received my text, but we had been given another chance. You know you are having a good week when you have two stories to submit to the Ensign.
* Mormon summer program for teens.
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I would just like to express my gratitude in this moment that I never lived within a mile radius of the campus proper, and thus avoided such traumatizing orientation experiences.
ReplyDeleteAhh, I feel loved. Per our conversation, I paid my tithing today because of unexpected blessings. ;) It was great to see you! I miss you and look forward to our next reunion.
ReplyDeleteI have zero memory of freshman orientation. And I know I was there for it. I either slept through it, or blocked it from my memory. Too bad PUCMM orientation didn't involve making up cheers.
ReplyDeleteI am jealous you get to kick it with JLo.