With two huge, overweight suitcases, and exhausted after two days of traveling, I arrived at the Skaptopara Residence Hall on a bright Saturday afternoon. Looking up at the beautiful buildings, I was relieved that I finally got here and a bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I had hardly stepped into the building when a cheerful girl with a bright smile welcomed me and guided me through the registration process. When she learned my name, she exclaimed with excitement: “Michelle, you are my roommate!”  What? I was completely shocked: My roommate is a Resident Assistant? And I met her when I was totally exhausted and sweaty? For a second I didn’t know what to think. But I had to admit, her personality was so charming and delightful. Her smile was contagious; looking at her sparkling face, I felt my tiredness being swept away by a friendly breeze, and I knew that a semester of wonderful adventure was about to start.

Is everyone at AUBG that welcoming and pleasant? The answer is positive. It was the first thing I noticed and it still holds true today. Later that week, I learned just how diverse the students here are, and I was totally amazed by it. Without any doubt, AUBG is the most interesting and accepting campus I have ever been on. It offers a sense of community and belonging that one could not experience anywhere else.

Of course, AUBG had more to offer besides wonderful people. The second I stepped out of the taxi and saw the nice dormitories, I knew immediately that I had chosen the right place. I love my home university in the United States, but the Skaptoparas are literally ten times better than the residence hall I stayed in last year. Even better, every room has its own bathroom and shower. I was so glad that I didn’t have to wait in line to use the community showers again.

A few words leap to mind when people ask about my first impressions about AUBG: friendly, diverse, comfortable, and full of surprises! I have no doubt that I will have more to add onto the list as time goes by, but for now, I’m extremely pleased with what AUBG has to offer. If there were one word that summarizes my experience so far, it would be AWESOME!