Open-mindedness is key while you adjust to Athens—and even after becoming a seasoned resident. In the spirit of learning new things and never fearing failure, every “mistake” will prove only a lesson in leading a happier, more fulfilling life in this strange and beautiful town.
You Moved in With a Stranger: Among the more terrifying aspects of moving to a new city can be finding new roommates. Rather than jeopardizing an existing friendship with the strain of shared space, much can come from spending a year with someone new. Former UGA student Brennan Schrade found herself desperate for a roommate as she prepared to move to Athens. Via Facebook, she met Kristen Smith, of Wadley, GA. On move-in day, Brennan says, “I could only understand about half of what Kristen was saying through her Southern accent. At one point, her brother, who was probably 10 at the time, said, ‘This room has the great smell of a new tractor.‘†Based on their first meeting, Brennan feared she would have little to share with Kristen. Instead, she says, “Kristen’s accent became more than endearing, and now I call her sometimes just to hear it. She took me hog-hunting for the first time, kept our fridge stocked with boiled [pronounced ‘bowl-ed’] peanuts, and introduced me a whole other realm of Athens that I otherwise wouldn’t have ever known. I am now proud to call her one of my best friends.â€
You Brought Too Much Stuff: After securing a roommate, you may consider the material things that fill your new space. Sifting through boxes of unidentifiable knick-knacks, old clothes and ill-fitting shoes is enough to make anyone question their hoarding habits, but, thankfully, in Athens there are numerous solutions to the packrat problem. This is a town of sharers that host plenty of opportunities to give away unwanted things. The Athens Really, Really Free Market occurs on the second Saturday of every month at Reese and Pope Park. To partake, arrive with what you don’t want and leave with what you do. There is no bartering or buying, simply an opportunity to free yourself of unwanted belongings—and snag a few things you might like.
You Missed the Bus: Once you’ve sufficiently nested, you may find yourself anxious to navigate the new city. Confusing schedules and crowded routes open the bus system to many user errors. However, missing the bus can increase your knowledge of the interior corners of Athens. Emily Ponder, a rising sophomore at UGA, felt her stomach plunge with disappointment as the East-West bus pulled away with her hope of making it to class on time. Disappointed, she says, “I followed the stairs into what I now know as The Founders Garden. I missed class that day, and probably caught some grief from my professor about it, but I found a beautiful spot to study, eat lunch or escape from the stress of a busy day.â€
You Thought It Was a Megaplex: Coy names can be misleading in the case of Athens businesses. Such is the case with Ciné, a downtown movie theater that plays an assortment of foreign, domestic, independent and commercial films and documentaries. Carter Bowles, a former Athens resident, mistook Ciné for a “regular†movie theater when seeing what she thought was a horror movie about flesh-hungry sharks. She soon learned that Sharkwater was not, in fact, a horror flick, but rather a documentary about the exploitation of the animals. Likewise, she found that Ciné is so much more than a standard theater. Not only did Bowles discover what became her favorite place in town, but she also scored a brief love affair with one of the many attractive staff members. “The ticket teller and I ended up going on a few dates—and the shark movie was really interesting.”
You Got a Crappy Job: Affording purchases from local businesses typically requires finding a source of income. Answering a vague job description may seem to be a poor choice, but it is often the way to learn about a different industry, as well as skills you didn’t know you had. When Jessie Merriam moved to Athens six years ago, she answered an ad for a waitressing position at Kingpins Bowling Alley. She found herself spraying shoes and managing lane rentals. In all, Jessie says, “I discovered… crashing balls ruin meal ambiance, I should probably be a lifelong hostess, and that beer, relative darkness and retro, kitschy decor [especially pinball machines] are more important in enjoying bowling than bowling balls that fit human fingers and lanes that operate consistently.â€
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