The rustle of textbook pages, the rhythmic ticking of your wristwatch and the hum of fluorescent lighting are the only sounds present.
Imagine moving to a foreign land where the language, the food and even the holidays are different.
Even in the middle of chilly Charlottesville winters, third-year College student Abby Goward spends much of her time working by the white-tiled Aquatics & Fitness Center pool.
Name: Key Richardson Year/School: First-year College Most unusual class: The History of Mr. Jefferson's University.
A five-minute drive from the intersection of McCormick and Alderman Roads, up a dark, winding path on the appropriately named Observatory Hill, will lead students to a high-tech, breathtaking stargazing facility.
Skeedaddle away from the monotony of Rugby Road and discover Wednesday night country line dancing at Max's. A 20-year-old Charlottesville tradition, tucked behind the railway tracks and next to the live music venue Trax, Max's offers everything from cowboy boots to back-flips, "Cotton-eyed Joe," to "Back That Azz Up," and on Wednesday nights, University students get in for free. Max's "is a good place to go if you're a cowboy nerd at heart," said first-year College student Dana Grant from Connecticut, who donned cowboy boots and a denim skirt for the occasion.
