You'll hear it many times: 'So, where ya from?'

West

My first day on campus, my dirty FOOT backpack was all I had with me from home. Of course, my New York roommate's room was already furnished and decorated with the help of her parents and a rented U-Haul. I remember waiting alone at the High Street gate for my boxed-up life to arrive in the UPS truck, unable to recall exactly why I had decided against staying home in California for college.

The move to Yale undoubtedly presents more of a challenge to us Westerners than it does to our friends from the Atlantic. But once your boxes are unpacked, your roommates' parents are gone, your e-mail account is opened, and the expense of making long-distance phone calls is overcome, you will feel much more settled. Pretty soon, Yale will begin to seem like home.

Of course, the weather also requires a serious adjustment. It may be sunny on your way to class, but that's no guarantee that you won't get caught in a torrential downpour on your way back. And when people say it's a beautiful day out, it means you only have to wear a light jacket. You'll learn that there's a difference between temperature (20 degrees) and temperature with the wind chill factor (20 degrees below zero), and that there really is a purpose to wearing a scarf.

Yes, it gets pretty damn cold, but it's not as bad as the horror stories you've heard. The seasons are actually very beautiful, and once you've expanded your wardrobe appropriately you might come to love them almost as much as the sunshine at home.

When you first arrive, you may think the East is a totally different world. But if that longing for freeways, sunshine, and parents with a car begins to take over, just grin and remember that you get to come back from Thanksgiving break with a tan.

Midwest

New Haven sure isn't the heartland. And although you'll point out to your new friends that in some parts of the country people are actually friendly and civil to each other, Midwesterners will continue to be the butt of a thousand and one jokes.

Coming from the serene beauty of the western Michigan lakes region, I was excited to jump into the hectic, fast-paced life associated with the East Coast. The cities on the eastern seaboard, New Haven included, provide a myriad of social, cultural, academic, and economic opportunities. But like everything else, there's a downside to this rosy picture. So don't be too shocked if life "out East" takes some getting used to.

For starters, the wonderful outdoors are a little harder to find. Living in the city, you may come to think that Connecticut is all smokestacks, loading docks, and skyscrapers. But just a short distance away, you can still find the rural charm of the small town that so many of us Midwesterners adore.

One of the great things about the East Coast is the concentration of people. The Northeast boasts some of the most diverse cities in the U.S. and, if you're like me, you'll enjoy the excitement this diversity brings. On the other hand, the pace can seem unfriendly at times. The highways are clogged, and the trains are full. At times, it'll seem like nobody smiles out here.

Dealing with Midwesterner jokes, though, is the easy part. Be good-natured about it, and poke back at those smug Eastern sophisticates. Laugh at the Californians who wear their down jackets in late September. And take with a grain of salt the claims of your roommate from Atlanta that Southerners are the world's friendliest people.

Living out East is exciting and new, but it takes time to adjust. And hey, there are enough of us Midwesterners at Yale to ensure that we can look out for each other.

South

I've never been as surprised as when, during my first week at Yale, people interrupted me mid-sentence to proclaim with an obvious, hidden smile, "You must be from the South!" How did they know? I don't have an accent, or so I thought. I soon learned that I not only have an accent, but also some odd notions, eat different foods, and behave differently than my classmates from above the Mason-Dixon line. And you know what? I'm delighted.

Upon the revelation that I was born and bred in small-town Alabama, the conversation immediately turned to the War of Northern Aggression. Now really, I don't recall thinking about the Civil War except in AP U.S. History. Since I came to Yale, however, I am constantly reminded that "we"--i.e., the South--lost the war.

Don't believe what your grandmother says--not all Northerners are as cold as the weather. My closest friends from the past two years are Yankees. Still, strangers on the street can be unfriendly, and after my first chilly winter here, I swore that I was never coming back. That Christmas I acquired thick gloves, scarves, boots, sweaters, and coats. I am now the proud owner of a large collection of wool clothing, but I have yet to get used to the interminable itching that accompanies them.

Sometime around the very end of February when Momma calls to tell me she's wearing short sleeves, I yearn for Sweet Home Alabama. But despite the cold weather and overabundance of concrete, Yale is a wonderful place and I love it. Sometimes the snow is beautiful, sometimes the dining hall serves grits, and there are always fellow Southerners quite eager to reminisce.

Just enjoy the attention and silently laugh at all of the Yankees--but do it politely behind your dinner napkin, as all of us Southern belles and beaus know how to do.

East

The move from the East to Yale is usually the easiest, but don't underestimate it. While most of you are used to the harsh winters and the wet, grey March mornings, don't think that just because your hometown is nearby, the transition will be a cinch. Being the closest to Yale in the suite does have its disadvantages.

Expect to lug your TV or the couch stored away in your garage to furnish your common room. It's a good idea to get this stuff straightened out with your suitemates over the summer to minimize the number of trips. While it will be relatively easy for you to travel home for your high school's homecoming game, it is also that much easier for your loving parents to make those unexpected--and unwanted--visits.

Just because you live nearby, however, doesn't mean that you will get to go home anytime to get those items you left behind. Bring your sweaters, umbrellas, and snow boots in the fall, because in New Haven, you never know when you'll wake up to find two feet of snow. Make sure you come to Yale with all you need, or else you'll find yourself paying way too much for household items at the store.

Being from a city is especially helpful. Hopefully, you'll be able to sleep through the omnipresent noise of the Elm City, and you'll be used to being on guard while walking around late at night. But be warned--New Haven is not your typical East Coast city. The nearest decent mall is quite a distance away, the closest first-run movie theater is even farther, and the restaurant selection within walking distance is limited.

While new Yalies will be arriving from all corners of the country calling soda "pop" with weird accents, you'll be the experienced guide for many--a guide to a hectic, faced-paced, but always exciting part of America.

Abroad

Yale is an island wide enough and diverse enough to be a continent of its own. It is not Europe, nor is it Asia, Africa, or home, though it will soon feel like it is. Be prepared to accept and bear any situation, especially American students uttering "Wow, that's so cool" when they realize: 1) that English is not your native language, but you speak it fluently; 2) that you do not hold a U.S. passport; 3) that one of their friends flashed through your hometown many years ago and, of course, loved it.

Don't get upset if Americans retain simplistic stereotypes about your own country. (Italy is not just a place for Mafia and pizza, which, by the way, really is different from the pizza you will get here.) Nonetheless, a few of these exchanges are often all it takes to establish a good, solid friendship.

One common question is whether foreign students think in their native language or in English. Answering that the two languages are perfect substitutes is usually an effective reply: but some just can't get over bilingualism. Also, a person's poking fun at your accent is usually a hint that that person likes you, so don't be too offended. (I have a number of interesting experiences to back up this theory.)

You can be assured, however, that most Americans will remember you for a long time because non-American undergraduate students are relatively rare on campus. Foreign student associations do exist, but the best way to get in tune with Yale is to regard yourself foremost as an individual. Foreigners should not consider themselves as guests at Yale.

It's true that at Yale, you may feel something subtle missing in your life: the unique atmosphere of your native land can't be replicated here. But don't let homesickness overwhelm you. Always remember that your experiences at Yale will only enhance your attachment to your native culture.

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