It's settled then.

Day 1 upon arrival into NC in the morning (about 1030am), we drove from Budget (Durham, pronounced 'Dur-ram') to the Holiday Inn Express along Farrington Rd and Route 54. The roads here remind me so of Australia. Check-in was between 1-2pm so with time on our hands and a far from all-inclusive map below, we managed to reach my dorm. Cobb residence! It was just a look-see before I move in to get our bearings and all right.

Realise one thing about NC and that is they're really proud to be a N.Carolinian, especially being part of the UNC community.



Many people had the signature baby blue tees/caps/shorts/jackets and NC logo prints like this:


The ramshead is UNC's mascot and looks like this:


N.Carolinians also love to call themselves 'tar heels' and logos of a foot with a tar patch on the heel is displayed almost everywhere.
The story goes that during the American Civil War, in a battle in Virginia, the North Carolinian troops held their ground while supporting troops retreated. After the battle, supporting troops asked the victorious North Carolinians: "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" and they replied: "No, not a bit; old Jeff's bought it all up." The supporting troops continued: "Is that so? What is he going to do with it?" The North Carolinian troops' response: "He is going to put it on your heels to make you stick better in the next fight."

UNC's very proud of their top-notch athletes and teams in many fields! This is especially so for basketball, hockey, football, volleyball!






Back to the day's affairs... Checking in was quite similar to renting a place in Perth. Without the initial viewing choice of course. So got there, signed in, filled out forms, received my room key, then a checklist for any defects in the room. After checking and writing down paint chips bottom left door, scratches top right wall, floor dents left door center left wall etc., went back down and got my general access key which is like a mini mobiliser! Basically, we wave it in front of an A6 size black magnetic reading plate at the main door and it'll unlock it for your to enter.



The whole of Cobb is a auto-lock building so note to self - Sarah-Jane, don't forget your keys. The room's really nice! I'm on 2nd floor though I've got views of the on-going construction happening in many places throughout campus and my adjacent neighbour. My parents were really happy with it considering I'm a door away from the stairs down to the East entry and the bathrooms are 3 doors away.

Here's the Main Entrance


Corridor from staircase entrance


My Dorm!


Each Residence hall has a theme and mine was everything about the sea


After necessary paper work, deposited my baggage and got up and out to do all the admin stuff. Bank account, Student card, check-in with Study Abroad, fees payment, all of which are scattered all around campus. Finally, met Steph @ Bank of America and was it great to see her! After mega big hugs and grins, our families caught up over lunch!

Had to go to Wal-Mart to get beddings and a pillow so car trailed each other there. The highlight of Day 1 apart from finally seeing Steph, was that we met the whole lot of NUS exchange students at an impromtu stop at Cingular to arrange Steph's phone! Truly it was divine appointment! After Cingular and Wal-Mart, went straight back to Cobb to arrange and unpack everything in. Took about 45mins and it was a wrap!!

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Day 2 found us waking up to orientation @ 10am. Got dropped off @ Cobb for me to deposit the rest of my barang from Holiday Inn and change out. Met Steph and went for O! According to statistics, there are about 13,000 international student at UNC, from 105 countries! O was the usual, briefings and all - reliving Murdoch's orientation, only American style!

Lunch break was very welcomed and we had it at one of the main dining halls - Lenoir (sounds so french doesn't it? Haha) Then proceeded to Carroll Hall (one of the buildings I'll be seeing very often for my JOMC units.) for another round of talks from 1-5pm. The whole environment of UNC feels very colonial. Sort of takes you back in time and really is an established academic institution.

At the end of the day, I was really thankful for the proximity of my dorm to everything. Already walking back to the dorm, gave me a good workout. Can't imagine if I were staying further away... gosh! My papa picked me up from Cobb to meet Matt and his mum for dinner @ a Jap restaurant owned by a Shanghainese. Food was good! Though, it wld take some time before we get over the extra 'salt flavouring' made for the locals.

I've been staying with my parents past few nights. Spending time with them before they fly off for good. Tml's (Sat) my mum's 55th birthday! My dad bought her a beautiful pearl cross for the very first time he buys jewelry! Ok other than the wedding ring but ya haha! Am glad that my parents decided to stay on so that we'll get to celebrate her birthday as a family! So to you mama, I love you and pray that God's great favour and love will continue to keep you in health and joy and strength for each day!