I'm not familiar with the UMaine community. Sure, I've been working here 2 1/2 years, but campus has always been very overwhelming to me. I attended college in a place 1/20 it's size. (yeah, THAT small) I arrived here and fell into this CITY - with people everyone, offices everywhere, unfamiliar places at every turn. It was intimidating. I didn't know anyone, and I wasn't used to co-existing in a place with so many unfamiliar people.
So, since I've been here, I've largely kept to myself. Sure, I go to work, walk to the Union once in awhile to grab a bite to eat, but that's about it. I haven't 'connected' with this community.
A few weeks ago one of my co-workers received a top secret email. After conferring with the sender, she shared with me the contents - some people on campus were preparing a surprise 'flash mob' dance to take place on Maine Day. My co-worker asked me if I wanted to participate. Well, of course! (being in a flash mob is actually on my bucket list!) So, we started attending rehearsals, some in the middle of the night - and drove the 30 min. back to campus to learn our moves in preparation for the big day. Largely, the group was comprised of students, with a staff member thrown in here and there. I was so excited to be a part of it, and the energy from these students was contagious. It reminded me of my own campus, (UMaine-Machias) and the community there, the connectedness. For the first time in 2 1/2 years, I felt like I was in the right place sharing this experience with these students. I was finally a PART of their community, and not just an outsider.
So, today I showed up for work. As soon as I entered the building, I realized that I was, once again - an outsider. I had dressed in my favorite UMaine shirt, and jeans - appropriate for the day's events. (and, in both the prior years I've been here, our staff has been encouraged to wear UMaine clothing in support of the day) Well, I was the only one. The rest of the staff were wearing their regular business clothes, and here I was - the only one in UMaine garb. (dress code rules here are heightened to the level of terrorist activity - green = low risk, yellow = significant, red = time to hit the bunker) It's was terrorist 'red' here this morning. I was given a thorough head to toe stare by one staff member, and a gasp of 'JEANS?!?' before I was even here an hour. That's the spirit.
I was completely deflated. Now, you should know that I dressed in a full Easter Bunny costume last Friday, and no one seemed to have a problem with that, but - on our campus's day of celebration GOD FORBID I show a little campus pride. Here's the Easter bunny photo:
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| My office attire last Friday |
I made my way to the field house (rain location) today by myself. I stood in the unsuspecting crowd, and waited for my cue, jumping into the dance at just the right time. I didn't know one face in that crowd, (well, except you, Kathy! Thanks for being there at just the right moment!) but I spun around, whirled, smiled, clapped and saw smiles spread across the faces of strangers. I joined 100 other students today, as part of their group, as part of their community, and I helped them pull off a flash mob dance. Here it is: (scroll to 3 minutes in...the first 3 minutes are just the crowd mingling...)
So, while I don't understand my immediate surroundings, and I probably never will - I saw a glimmer of hope outside my office walls today, and it felt good. This isn't 'home' and it never will be, but there's a good bunch of people on this campus who are proud to be a part of this community. It's a familiar feeling, and one I haven't felt in a long time. So, for what it's worth - Goooooooooooo, MAINE!
(don't worry, Downeasters - UMaine, Machias will always be my #1)
