North Carolina’s location is in the southeastern region of the United States. The state is well known for its various elevations, landscapes, and education. It has about 85 colleges and universities that offer various courses. The state has a good study environment and different things you can do when you are not in classes. You will not believe the number of treats you will experience. Here is a guide to college life when you get to North Carolina and things to do.
What to do when you get to North Carolina?
The first thing you must do when attending North Carolina college is making new friends. However, to make friends with native North Carolinians, you need to know something about them first. You might think knowing about the population is all, but you need something more. You must dig deeper and know things like culture and the foods they eat for easier blending.
When trying to mingle with locals, ensure you get straight to the point. Some important communication phrases you need include saying “Yes sir” and “yes ma’am.” It is commonly used and regarded as a sign of manners in this southeastern state.
Where are you going to live?
If you are not planning to live in the hostels, you need a place to stay. The state has rentals around areas of these colleges and universities. For example, apartments around Chapel hill go for approximately $1,415 a month, and around the capital Raleigh, it’s $1,213 a month. However, you can get cheaper options if you look in the nearby cities. You can also look for roommates so that you can split the rent, which makes it cheaper.
What’s the culture?
To successfully live among locals of the state, you must understand them. When you move and attend North Carolina colleges, you must know which side you belong. If you attend one of these schools, Duke, UNC, or North Carolina college, you know they are rivals. Therefore you must pick a side carefully as it might affect your social status in years to come.
Besides the school’s rivalry, the state has a few cultures. The main ones are the western and eastern part cultures. In the western part, it’s home to the Appalachian mountain range. Farming didn’t go as well in this region as in the low-lying areas. So, here the mountain life prospered, which got its influences from Cherokees and Scottish immigrants.
In the eastern region, farming is the main cultural influence. In the olden days, the region was well known for its huge plantation homes, tobacco, and cotton fields. Although there are two cultures, anywhere in the state, you will experience the southern charm.
Where to study on for a quiet evening or weekend
By now, you are settled into North Carolina life. But now it’s time you focus on your studies, and the dorm or apartment can be distracting. So, for a break, you can go sightseeing and local hotspots for some studying. Here are a bunch of these places.
- Outer Banks: It’s popular for its friendly and welcoming nature. It’s a 200-mile strip of barrier islands off the coast that boasts of relaxing natural beauty and some laid-back coastal towns. It can be a good place to escape the college madness where you can study and enjoy nature.
- Krispy Kreme: Did you know North Carolina is the birthplace of the greatest donuts worldwide? Krispy Kreme is the place you can go to their stores and get coffee and donuts for a change.
- The swimmin’ hole: Locals and other residents in North Carolina have their favorite swimming hole. You can explore and find yours to enjoy and take a break to study.
Weekend activities to engage in
In college, weekends are always the best as you have free time. Instead of sleeping all day, there are various activities you can do. Here are some of the common local things you need to see:
- Cape Hatteras: A small part of the land extends into the Atlantic Ocean. The place has the most incredible views that display the East Coast sea life. There’s a lovely lighthouse, beautiful sandy beaches, and sea turtles.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: It’s the most frequented national park in the US. The park is famous for its variety of wildlife, remnants of Appalachian mountain culture, and folklore. Its g]read for hikers, explorers, moonshiners, and anybody enthusiastic about nature. Therefore this should be on the list of the things you need to do.
There you have the basic guide to college life in North Carolina. Not only are you going there to study but to mingle, have fun and enjoy life. The guide will help make your stay here successful, enjoyable and memorable.