AFFINITY 2018: A CAROLINIAN WELCOME
One of the most fun days as a freshman of the University of San Carlos! In just two days, I have been with 23 freshmen from different courses. I became good friends with Danille and Jennifer who are both from Accountancy. It was easier to make friends with people I had mutual friends with. Danille was a classmate of my Grade 12 classmate back in Junior High School while Jennifer finished Senior High School in the school I went to during Elementary. They were really friendly and outgoing. At first, I was really shy to talk to them but before entering the gym in the Downtown Campus, Jennifer approached me that we should go together because our Tribe (Tribe 61) formed two lines. I also became friends with Tricia, Danille’s classmate in Grade 12.
During the first day with my tribe, we had introductions, games and orientations. We had a tour around the campus. It was educational because I wasn’t from the campus so it helped. There was a museum for butterflies and other artifacts from Asia. The porcelain pieces were really pretty too!
The second and the last day of the Affinity week, August 10, 2018 was a blast. I felt better because it was in Talamban Campus -- my homecourt! I spent two years of my Senior High School there and touring around the huge place brought back so many memories! Our first stop was the SAFAD building. The building can either be reached through walking up the hill (the campus was huge but most of the buildings were in higher places!) or riding a shuttle. We walked and for a person who is weak when it comes to walking long and mountainous distances -- it wasn’t a comfortable thing to do. But hey, I can’t act like a damsel in distress now, the tour was meant to tire us out anyway. Students from the SAFAD let us play games and gave a tour around their building. It was huge and full of art-related things and computer laboratories. I felt a bit happy that this would be the building that my friend, Weslene, would spend her 4 years in. She was taking up Interior Design. I really find her pretty and simple. Although she can’t fully understand Cebuano, we were fine talking to her in Filipino and English. I really like her because whenever I smile at her, she paints a really beautiful smile on her face. I hope I see her during my stay in the University. If we were in the same department, maybe we’d be the closest friends! The next stop was the Chapel. I sat beside Diana, a girl from Political Science. She’s a really active and smart girl! I also feel that we’d be really close friends if we were given more time to be with each other. We were informed about how the university has its own fire department and welcomed us to the university. My tribe and I had lunch together and while waiting for the food of the other members, I made another friend! His name is Julius. I think he was the only guy friend I made during the whole duration of the event. He was a funny guy and a meme-kind of guy who reminded me of one of my closest friends in SHS, J-rodd. The day went on with playing games administered by our ates and kuyas from the different departments we visited. We played a game wherein we had to step on those foam puzzle pieces while not letting a single puzzle piece be left without someone stepping on it or else it would be stolen and we had to redo the game. I apologize to one of my tribemates, Faith, a pretty girl from Psychology who reminded me of a Korean idol, because I crushed her hand while holding it tight. Sorry, Faith! Before I forget, I also had my period during that day! I had painful cramps and Jennifer was really kind enough to let me share her seat and give me some of her water. How I wish they were my blockmates. At the end of the day, we had a mass and the party started. I left shortly after the party started because it started to rain and it was almost 6 p.m.
The two days with my tribemates were really fun. I thank Ate Justin (from BS CE) and Ate Sam (BS Psych) for guiding our tribe throughout the days. I thank Jennifer, Danille, Weslene, Diana, Julius, Faith, Cathleen and rest of tribe 61 for being the best-est group of people for two days. It’s sad to think that I was only with them for two days and it would have been great if we were in the same course. They would make a fun block but I’m also happy with the block I’m in. We have our own dreams and separations, if necessary, have to be done in order to reach those dreams. I only hope for the best for everyone in the tribe. I hope we find the best in ourselves during our stay in the university. Until we meet again, Tribe 61! (I hope we do, during USC days! Haha!) To better days and happy memories -- sincerely, mon. :)
