I've been living in Rexburg, Idaho for a little over a month now, and here are a couple of observations that I have made....
There are two (and a half) types of people who attend BYU-I: Married students, Engaged students (who are within a month or two of being married anyway, so I just roll them into the Married students category) and Hopeful/Hopeless.
Dating is a competition here. Seriously. If you have a ring on your finger you are glanced over and then quickly overlooked. "Friendship" is not really possible here for the opposite sexes, because Heaven forbid the girl or boy of your dreams is snatched away right under your nose!
I am so happy that I don't have to play this game! I am perfectly happy to be "ignored" by the opposite sex as soon as they see my engagement ring.... or Neal walking towards them as they ask if the seat next to me is taken. Why yes, yes it is.
Another thing that I have noticed. Curfew. It is not a fun thing. And it's a good thing that I am not the only person in my apartment complex who feels this way! Midnight, 12:05am, 12:15am... it's all the same, right? Yeah. Whoops. I mean... of course everyone is in their apartments by midnight!! That's the rule, isn't it?!
Costa Vida is a million times better than Cafe Rio. I've tasted both and have been fully converted to Costa Vida. It is also
the spot to be. Costa Vida followed by a night at Fat Cats (don't ask) is like the ultimate date night activity here in Rexburg. (Well, if I'm being honest, it's one of the
only date night activities here is Rexburg)
Fat Cats. Fat Cats is a movie theater (don't get too excited, there are only like 3 movies and they are all PG-13 or below) a bowling alley, a laser tag course, and an arcade, all in one. Like I said. This is
the place for date night. (Neal and I have not had a chance to go to Fat Cats yet, so I cannot comment on it's awesomeness or lameness yet)
Date Night. The fact that BYU-I recognizes and encourages a Friday night "Date night" is just... well, I guess a BYU-I thing. BYU-I has a weekly agenda for students, but there are a few activities that happen every week. Tuesday afternoon devotional and Friday night date night.
Great Scott's is the best place in town for a 44oz soda. They are by far the cheapest (by like a dollar) and they have the most flavor options. Red cream soda mixed with diet dr. pepper equals an explosion of goodness, let me tell ya. Great Scott's is so popular that their punch cards (the buy ten and get the eleventh free cards) are distributed and gone the morning that they are shipped in. In less you know someone who knows someone, you aren't getting a punch card. It's not gonna happen.
While making these observations, Neal and I have been having a lot of fun! It is so nice to see each other everyday, instead of relying on a daily phone call and occasional skype date.
We finally signed a contract and paid a security deposit for married housing! We are so excited! We drive by our apartment every couple of days to say hi and check out our neighbors (yeah, we're lame). We are going to be living at
University Courtyard. Even though it only has one bedroom and is just about 500 sq ft, we are very happy and excited to move in! The complex is literally right across the street from campus (not even a block away), the apartments are super cute and clean, they are less expensive than most of the other options we looked at and they include utilities, we get two parking spots, and we can stay during our off-track (most apartment complexes only have room for "on-track" students, so once your track is done for the year, you have to find different living arrangements).
