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It's amazing how differently people act from one region to another.
Where I'm from in central Virginia, the people can be mean and disrespectful. Around here, though, the people seem to honestly care about others' well being. How can two different regions within the same state give off different vibes?Everyday activities are more pleasant here than at home in central Virginia. Ordering food at a fast food restaurant doesn't leave me feeling abused and cheated.
The people behind the counter are always smiling, ready and eager to assist. They remember your face and strike up a conversation with you. What impresses me most is that your order is almost always correct. Never has fast food been so rewarding.I remember my first experience in Blacksburg: I was a senior in high school touring the campus during my spring break.
I was nervous and intimidated by the size of the campus, the number of students crossing the Drillfield, and how similar the buildings looked to one another. I was 99 percent sure I wasn't going to attend Virginia Tech. I joined a tour group with a sophomore student as the guide with a maroon and orange polka-dotted headband.
She was enthusiastic, pleasant, and (above all) nice. She smiled, interacted with us, and made funny little comments in an effort to make us more comfortable.
I was sure she was trained to be so friendly (which I'm positive they are), but it never occurred to me that she might actually be this nice in real life.But as the group walked through buildings and hogged the sidewalks, students opened doors for us, looked us in the eyes and smiled as they stepped out of our way, and a few even made an effort to say "hey" to us.
These people actually seemed to like other people. I was blown away.While I was impressed with the school for its academics and scholarly programs, I think I have to credit those random strangers to my attendance here at Tech.It's been four years now since this experience and I'm still astonished by the politeness of the people here. Not only are the locals genial, but the students as well.
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I have to agree with the author. I lived in New Jersey for many years before coming to this area for school. Upon my first visit, random people spoke to me in Walmart and I held my purse closer as this was "suspicious behavior". I love the friendly nature of the locals here and as a result, I decided to stay even though my graduate studies are over. While I am not Tech alumni, I, like many others in this community felt the impact of the tragedy of April 16th. While the national media sought blame, the community (and local media) sought healing. I remember the profound sadness of that day and the amazing love offered by perfect strangers.
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