Learning the Hard Way

I just finished my third orientation session. It went pretty well. Most of the incoming Drake football players, which affected the business school the most. Business is perceived as easy and athletes generally want an easier workload, so it makes sense. Not to mention, this session was probably 75% male, unlike a near balance in the past sessions.

I chose to wear a new pair of bright colored shoes yesterday, which received many compliments, especially from the football players. I was even told that one of my group members found me in a group of people by my shoes. Nice.

When I was checking into Stalnaker yesterday before orientation, I dropped my stuff in my room. My room is conveniently located across from the restroom, so I feel fortunate. I needed to use the restroom, so I walked across the hall to go inside.

Now, the way this restroom is laid out is different. There are stalls near the entrance and there are also stalls toward the back of the restroom, near the showers. Of course I head toward the back, to scope things out. I found a stall and shut the door behind me. Just then, the restroom door opens and I hear feet. However, the voices accompanying these feet are deeper, more like male voices.

I suddenly freeze as I realized I had not taken a look at the sign outside of the door. I was definitely in the men's restroom. My plan: wait until I hear two stalls close and dash out of the restroom. No worries. Plus, I was in the back stalls, and they surely would not walk back to where I was. Wrong.

One of the guys walks into the stall next to me and shuts the door. Perfect. They probably think it's another guy in my stall.....wait. My bright, very distinguishably girly shoes. Crap. I attempted to step back toward the toilet, hoping my shoes would not be noticed.

The guy in the next stall starts doing his business while I wait to hear another stall door close so I can make my getaway. Several seconds later, another stall closes and I rush out of the restroom. No harm was done. I did happen to take a glance at the sign on the door as I left though: Men's Restroom.

Next time I am definitely checking before I walk into a restroom at Stalnaker. Apparently, they change between sessions.

Oddly enough, I was also told that I "look like the girl off Twilight." Hmm....that's definitely a first for me. But I'll take it as a compliment, because I believe she is very pretty. You can be the judge.