I get asked a lot what it was like to go to a women's college. I think women ask me that more than men. It's more difficult for women who are used to having men around to picture themselves in such an artificial environment. Men usually just say "Cool. Wish I coulda gone there." But, seriously, it's not for everyone, and I always say that, after I gush about my own wonderful experience. My first year roommate was a prime example of that. She had many male friends in high school and did not adjust well to the Wellesley environment. It's tough making male friends at a women's college, not just because they aren't around as much , but because when they are around, it's often a party setting, which has too many overtones of "not looking for just a friend". It can be done, but you have to know how to approach it and find the guys with the right mindset.

My roommate ended up transferring to Brown after her first year. I know she was happier there. But we had some fun times in our second floor Beebe room. She was from Arizona, hence the cactus motif t-shirt, and had a much larger concept of travel time than I did. Driving over a couple hours to get to the nearest mall was second nature to her. With my New England upbringing, anything over two hours away was a really long trip. As in, get a motel room 'cause we ain't driving back the same day. But when her parents came to visit, they drove up to L.L. Bean (that's in Maine, if you didn't know), down to New York City, and back to Wellesley, all in the same day. It was nothing. To me, that's a week's vacation. Maybe a long weekend if you skip the tax free shopping in New Hampshire.

She sent me this Brown t-shirt sophomore year. Notice it doesn't have any brown in it. I remember when the representatives from Brown came to my high school for college day. Their banner was... brown. It was one of those obvious things that sets you off laughing if you just aren't expecting it. Or maybe that's just me.

Carmelita, if you're reading this, I heard you screaming my name at graduation. I'm glad you came, and I hope you haven't forgotten about the green underwear.
 

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