My First Impression of Yale

    “Finally here,” I said to myself and jumped off the minibus.    To avoid the scorching June sun in the early afternoon, I staggered, loaded with my suitcases, rushed to the shadows under the trees. Watching cars roaring down the road, I looked towards the other side of the street and saw the huge “Phelps Gate” open to welcome new students. Light yellowish buses waited in line outside the Gate, alongside the street, with drivers talking to each other, their backs leaning against the vehicles, waiting for the freshmen.

A street in Yale with buildings alongside

    I checked in, and saw my dorm. Being a member of Calhoun, luckily I had several roommates sharing the same room. Lying on the couch under the windows, feeling the warm wind blowing into the living room in the drowsy afternoon, I was in joy.

My Czech friend (on the right) and me

    I was so tired after the long trip that it seemed that the ha
rdest thing in the world might be to clean the room. So I decided to go sightseeing instead. I walked down the street and saw the Medieval-like buildings. The stones were enormous, quietly witnessing walkers pass by. The Gothic architecture imperially stands above me, with squared castle-like colleges nearby, The place where I would live for the next month gave me a visual shock.

    Especially when I arrived at the gym with my friends in the evening, we were amazed by the magnificent building, which made us call it a smaller “Notre Dame”. The fitness room and swimming pool are well-equipped, where  so many students and professors were doing exercises. I feel like I will be a part of them in the next few weeks.

The Payne-Whitney Gym in Yale

    “If I can meet some world-famous mastershere, that will be the happiest thing in the world!” I said.
    “The teachers here would like to talk to you. They really want you to come to them, debating, arguing, and discussing problems with them,” said the counselor who went with me.
    So let my life here begin.