Sarah Rosenthal is a first year who doesn't quite meet the status quo. She lives in Brown College, she's majoring in architecture, she juggles and she rides a unicycle to Barracks Road for a little grocery shopping at Harris Teeter.
Seven years ago, "Santa" brought Sarah two gifts: a unicycle and a grocery cart "borrowed" from the local Kroger's grocery store.
"I'd go on the back porch," Rosenthal said, "and you put the cart in front of you, like a walker for an old person, and you just grab onto the cart and hold on for dear life. Just balance on the unicycle until you get used to it -- It's muscle memory."
Three months later, she was riding around the neighborhood. Since then, the unicycle has become a great way for her to exercise, especially on the hills of Charlottesville. Unlike a bike, which can coast down a steep incline, a unicycle has no brakes and thus requires the rider to maintain constant balance. But
that hasn't stopped Rosenthal from riding to Fontaine Medical Park, where she receives treatment for her diabetes, or to Harris Teeter for some shopping.
"When I go to Teeter, I can only buy small things. ... Like gum or chips," Rosenthal said.
People who have seen Rosenthal ride around Charlottesville often comment on how she has "made their day." In one case, two men in a U-Haul from Florida whistled and leaned out the window to give her a high five, she said.
She also rides on a special imported unicycle her father bought her from Japan, which she claims is crafted better than any other in the world.
"The Japanese know how to make unicycles," Rosenthal said, explaining her unicycle's high quality.
Though her unicycling currently remains just a hobby, Rosenthal has not ruled it out as a career option.
"If the architecture thing doesn't work out, I can always use unicycling as a backup," she said. "You know, like circus work."
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