A couple of weeks ago, my aunt and uncle came to visit. They are my first family members to visit since my parents and sister helped me move in a year and a half ago. They really came for the football game, and seeing me was just a bonus. I’m joking, but my uncle really did want to see Virginia Tech come out to enter sandman and we did go to a football game, also my first one. It was actually a weekend of many firsts.
They arrived Friday evening and I wanted to take them to a scenic view on a mountain to see the sunset and fall foliage. I accidentally put in the wrong hike to the GPS, so we were going the wrong way, but luckily they were in the same direction, so I had to take a random left that connected the two roads. It was my first time going down that road and actually I’d do it again because it was more scenic. For dinner, we went to a restaurant that I’d never been to and I had hushpuppies for the first time. It was the best restaurant that I have been to in the area. Unfortunately, Blacksburg doesn’t have many good restaurants.
The following day was game day. Like I mentioned, it was my first time going to a football game, but it was also my first time on that side of campus during a football game. Usually I avoid it. The day was a weird one. When I woke up it was sunny in Blacksburg, but pouring in Salem, where my aunt and uncle were staying. When we started our walk to the stadium, it started to rain, and throughout most of the day and game it would fluctuate between raining, not raining, raining, sun, and cloudiness. Luckily they brought ponchos, it was my first time wearing a poncho this year. I can’t remember the last time I wore one. Before entering the stadium, we walked around and through the different tailgating spots, my first time doing that.
Attending the game was like visiting a foreign country where you have to observe and watch the people to see how to properly do things. There were so many things the fans did instinctively throughout the game. It started with the song before enter sandman where everyone started kicking the bleachers and clapping to the beat of the song. It was very impressive sounding and then of course the stadium went wild when enter sandman came on. There was a point right before the coin toss where the music stopped, but the fans continued singing until the end of the song. It was actually really cool sounding. Then there’s this key jangling thingy they do on third down (like it’s a “key” play). I don’t think it’s effective. My aunt and I were looking at each other, like what is going on. Also, when the opposing team punts or kicks a field goal, everyone waves their hands up and down as if they’re helping. Then there’s the Hokie chant, which has got to be the least creative chant of all time where one person yells, “Let’s go!” and people answer with “Hokies!” I’m sure there were other intricacies, but I can’t remember them. We left at halftime when Virginia Tech was winning and I’m glad we did because they ended up losing. Plus, for the time that we were there, it was great and I’m glad we went. If it weren’t for them coming down, I probably never would have. After, we stopped at one of the dining halls for lunch, my first time doing that.
For dinner, we went to a restaurant in Christiansburg that I had never been to, another first. And that was the end of my time with my aunt and uncle. It was only a day and a half, but we did so much that it felt like a lot more.
