Ever Hear of Mead Library

Anyone ever hear of Mead Library? I spoke to about 6 upper class-men and 3 librarians and in the end the only person who could point me in the right direction was a lady who appeared to be a file clerk of some sort. She told that it could be located off campus 3 miles south from the Digital World building and thus I began my journey...

First let me say that I am a proud UF freshmen (innocent and fearless at the same time!) Except I forgot the fearless part as I wondered farther and farther away from campus in search of my destination, onto empty streets and foreign roads. The few cars that whipped past me drove dangerously close to curb and the few construction workers I saw were giving me the 'stink-eye'. Suddenly I remembered the Freshman Manual! Rule Number 34: When scared sh#$less call your mother! Yup, I called my mom. She wasn't very proud of the feat I had undertaken, explaining to me that I could get "shanked or killed walking alone"... moms always know just what to say to make you feel better. After 15 minutes of walking, I finally saw something that remotely looked like a school (bloodied books on the sidewalk, JK!!).


I was walking around campus for a while before I saw the main office. The lady inside said I could get to Mead library by going 'down the stairs and across the creek'. It was overcast and when crossing the old wooden bridge above the creek I couldn't help but think of the theme song to 'Are-you-Afraid-of-the-Dark'...best show EVER! Anyway I finally found Mead Library. Within minutes I had checked out my book and made my way once again back to the street.


I wasn't looking forward to the return journey, when I noticed a block ahead of me a bus was pulled over to the side of the road. When I got to the bus I peered in side the open doors. The bus driver turned to me a smiled "Come on in!"
Really?! Now come on! Would I be stupid enough to jump on an EMPTY old rickety bus when the bus driver wants me to "come on in" even though he doesn't know where I'm going!?

Heck yeah! It was hot outside!

I asked if he could take me to Rawlings Residence Hall and he did -quickly. I don't know if this in anyway constitutes Interactive storytelling, but I thought about how quickly my journey ended simply by jumping on a bus. I wouldn't have had a story at all if I'd found a bus route to my destination in the first place. Anyway...that is the basis for interactivity right? Choices? How many times have you made a seemingly insignificant decision that effected your entire day and or life?

Comments

thebhav said…
always trust your instincts. When in doubt take the road most would not. you might end up where you want.
Minh-Tam Le said…
I remembered my two weeks in Gainesville. I had to bike everywhere I went. Once I had to ride my bike down Gale Lemerand Drive in the rain to get to a meeting at Shands. After that I had to take a bus at night (very dark). I waited for like half an hour. I was familiar with the bus schedule. I was dropped off about a two minutes bike ride from my apartment, which can be pretty scary late at night. What made it worst was that I had the hardest time putting and taking the bike off the rack on the bus.

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