Emilie had been to a desert before. It was nowhere near as hot as this. The heat seemed to visibly warp the ground, shifting buildings and people in the distance. She felt as if she were within a man-made oven, specifically designed to broil people alive.
She couldn't help but miss Quebec. Though despite the heat, Dallas was a nice city. Almost too nice, though. Used to the socially and geographically colder environment of her home province, Emilie was taken aback by the forwardness of southern Americans. Many had long-winded conversations with her about mundane things like weather, local politics, football, or gas prices. Many spoke with heavy, acoustic accents, just like some of the bad cowboy westerns she had watched as a child. She heard the word "Y'all's" used more than once, in regular conversation instead of as a joke.
She idly sat in a hammock hung in the shade of two large trees, watching people go to and fro. Many were well-dressed, wearing latest trends and styles. Some wore backpacks or satchels, chatting to their classmates as they walked. She even saw a trio of well-built guys throwing a Frisbee in an incredibly large, well-trimmed clearing. It looked like a university, sounded like a university, but it still didn't feel right. Conversations here felt forced or reserved, and she was certain she got more than one nasty look whenever she spoke, almost as if this campus was the one hidden niche of unpleasantness that Dallas had since failed to offer.
Emilie blamed her cousin a little bit. Anne had hyped the school for her, throwing compliment after compliment about how great it would be. Besides, she needed a roommate, and it had been a few years since they'd seen each other. In addition, she had a foreign exchange scholarship and the money from a recent court settlement, so why not?
Of course, Anne was the one who had nailed Emilie the scholarship. Heavily involved in Greek life and campus politics - she had dated the Dean's son once - she talked to the Registrars board, Commissions, and somehow convinced them anyone who mattered. She probably over-hyped Emilie just as she over-hyped the school. Emilie found it amazing on how just one student could wield influence like that. Though, she didn't complain. She was finally a college student.
She sunk back into the hammock, closing her eyes. Her classes didn't start for another few days, so she might as well comfortably nap while she still can. From what she'd heard, university was one long, sleepless night.
It's a pity that for her, it would be much worse than a few late-night cram sessions.