ETSU has had many phases. It was a mixture of feelings, full of smiles and sighs and other exaggerated mannerisms. I simply expected more than my eyes could ever appreciate and it came with its own consequences.
It is not unusual if I start by commenting on the infrastructure here relative to my former university, known as the University of Buea in Cameroon. Without fear or favor, until my first month, I thought there was still some part of ETSU I had not visited even though I paraded all the corners.
For me, ETSU seemed to be a small university compared to my former university with respect to the size of the campus, the buildings, the number of its students and staff.
For instance, back in my former university, we had a lecture room called “amphi 750” which could conveniently accommodate 750 students, which featured sophisticated lighting and sound systems.
In my early days, I met with the faculty, staff and students of the chemistry department. I was overwhelmingly impressed by the parental orientation, patience and love especially from the staff and faculty. It will be a crime if I do not cite the pivotal contributions of the chair to the chemistry department, Dr. Jeffrey.G. Wardeska, and the secretary to the department, Mrs. Susan Campbell, which I remain indebted wholeheartedly to. They were an optimal part of my transition.
Moreover, my transition was smooth and quick. Being an open-minded individual, I prided myself with so many acquaintances with little stress and it was amazing the number of friends I made in so short a period of time.
I tried to learn fast outside of class, especially since many things were new to me. Pertinent on the list was the issue of sexual harassment. I learned jail might be your next habitat just by looking at a lady in a certain way. This was so amazing to me for we considered jail to be the house for murderes, thiefs and not for a keen body-admirer.
Johnson City to me was kind of a low-key town not very different from Buea, where I received my bachelor’s degree. Being the heart of economic activities in the south of Cameroon, it has so many schools, banks and other forms of businesses.
It is also a tourist center as it accommodates Mount Fako, the highest mountain in West Africa. The basic difference is the numerous shopping centers here and also the cluster of traffic lights. Back there, we have a few traffic lights and every driver understands how traffic flows. Surprisingly deadly accidents are extremely rare; every driver is aware of the danger of reckless driving and safe driving is a matter of an in-borne awareness. In a whole, my transition to ETSU was one in a million experiences I forever have to appreciate in my life.
Even though it came mixed with smiles and sighs, it broadened my scope with life-long lessons. It became clearer to me, the adage that “smooth seas do not make a skillful sailor.

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