生命中的新驿站:A New Stage of Life — Redbrick

文/ Angelica Yang

  （编者注：这是UBC 的新鲜人讲述初到校园的新感受，中文题目为编者所加）

Still with a bit of weariness, I tried to run as fast as I can to catch the 49th bus that the driver kindly waited for me. Because it was in the early morning, only a few passengers were on the bus. The gentle breeze of September blew from the half-opened bus window. After enjoying the natural see breeze at the latter part of the bus journey, I realized that I have already arrived at my destination – The University of British Columbia. The objective of my trip today is to purchase books for my upcoming semester.

A trip plan about the landform of the school was necessary. For anyone who never feel the atmosphere of UBC before, I strongly suggest that either driving a car with a GPS or bring a map of UBC are both indispensable. Whether you believe or not, this university is like an independent city! It has its own libraries, guideposts, greenhouses, residences, farms, power plants, restaurants, villages, and even streets named for each faculty.

Walking away from the cheerless central bus loop, I followed the complicated map that I prepared earlier. Branches from those old trees blocked off the feeble sunlight making the boulevards even dimmer. Following a map is like finding a treasure in a video game.

Some people may not know (even myself) that there is a discount book store hiding upstairs at a corner in a small village. Although it’s called “Discount Book Store”, the books in there are usually like $10 cheaper from UBC bookstore. Nevertheless, saving money is still an important matter that I have to deal with as a newbie to the first year of postsecondary.

Moreover, although driving to UBC saves plenty of time, parking fee is extremely expensive. One dollar only allows parking for twenty minutes. No free parking appeared in my eyesight while I strolled around the quiet buildings.

My tour will be continued with a more professional UBC student who will spend half a day with new students doing a new student orientation. Hopefully, it will be a more interesting tour.