My first week at Ball State has been pretty interesting. Along with the change of class style I've seen a change of dorm room decoration styles, clothing styles, and gardening styles. The switch from high school classes, sitting in one room for 70 minutes, going to a different, but equally boring room 5 minutes later and sitting (maybe napping) for another 70 minutes to the college 50 minute classes (mostly) and then having anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple hours until your next class is quite a big adjustment, for the better. On top of the school related changes I have seen quite a variety of new "homes". Everyone's dorm has a little bit of their own personal style thrown in. Usually you can tell about a person based on their decorating style, the class clown with their funny (and possibly inappropriate) posters, the jocks with their sports memorabilia, and the earth-y people with their rustic color schemes and feather filled vases to name a few. Even more so, a person's attire tells a ton about their personality. Some may be trying out the Chuck Taylor shoe style for the first time or the bohemian style but no matter what they're wearing its how they would like to be seen in their new life as a college student. As interesting as all these observations are the most ridiculous thing I have seen here at Ball State is the choice of decoration in the massive flower pots in the middle of sidewalks. Chili Peppers. Yep, chili peppers. And I'm sure many of you have seen them on your long walks to and from class but does anyone really understand them?! If you haven't seen them I would highly recommend checking them out, they're beautiful! Sure, my mom wouldn't put them in our flower pots at home or when I get my own house I very much doubt I will grow peppers next to the petunias and lily of the valley but here at BSU I'd expect nothing less. The only explanation I can come up with for these outlandish peppers is that at Ball State you can be whatever you truly are, in whatever group you want and no matter how many people think its odd at first, in a few days it will be the most common thing on campus. So be you! :)
