we have arrived at West Campus

West Campus outside

Although I had reserved a car from DFW airport to drive to Portales, I was fortunate enough to have the use of my stepmother's vehicle for a few weeks. This was a huge blessing for two reasons I was unaware of at the time. First of all, without a major credit card I was unable to actually get the vehicle I had reserved at the airport and I was very limited in my transportation options from there to here (Portales). Secondly, now that I'm here I can see how difficult, if not impossible, it would be to get set up and navigate this small town without a car. I can commiserate with international students who have only a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

Anyway, the long and short of it is I'm here, but I desperately need a car.

Being a non-traditional student I qualified for housing at the West Campus apartments. They aren't the most modern places, but my place is spacious and clean at a reasonable price. Here are some of the things I've noted so far:

Wiring
One major problem is the wiring which is awkwardly placed around the apartment. There are only 2 3-prong outlets which makes it a real hassle to get a computer safely hooked up. I have to get surge protectors for my microwave and toaster oven and can only plug in one at a time. Also, the lighting sucks, so if you are an avid reader or like being able to see your way at night, plan on getting some extra lamps.

looking into the kitchen/dining area

Internet
The internet is not included and the only service provider that I could find that worked was though Yucca Telecom. I got the basic 128kbs service which runs $24.95/month plus taxes. According to technical service at Yucca, the wireless service isn't the greatest on campus because the interference. Thankfully, they waived the $200 initial fees because I had my student card so I suggest getting student I.D. right away. So far the service is pretty slow, which is to be expected at the speed, but it also cuts out frequently which makes real-time chat awkward and streaming useless.

Laundry
So far, so good. I've done a few loads of laundry and the machines seem to work well and there hasn't been a big issue waiting for a machine. Mind you, I'm sure everyone hasn't returned to campus yet. There are only 2 washers, and 2 dryers for each building.

living area

Keys
This is one of the things I find to be a HUGE pain in the ass. You get only one copy of keys for each the apartment and the laundry/storage room which cannot be duplicated. The doors lock automatically behind you so be sure not to forget your keys when exiting your apartment or laundry room.

Appliances
The appliances are basically brand new, but the stove is small. I love to bake so it's a slight annoyance that the oven won't fully close with a standard size cookie sheet. However, the fridge and stove were virtually spotless. Also, I have my own water heater so no worries of getting a cold blast in the shower.

Storage
A big plus for me and all my "stuff" is that there is plenty of storage in the place. There is a nice sized pantry in the kitchen, a coat-closet in the hall, a small closet/shelf in the bathroom and a great closet in the bedroom. In addition, each unit has a locker-style storage in the building which is good for luggage, bikes, etc. Make sure to bring a lock if you have lots of stuff.

bedroom closet and bathroom

So far it's pretty quiet here and everyone seems to be very friendly. I've had a few minor problems since I arrived and the building manager had always been really helpful and the regular maintenance guy is cool.

My next post is going to be all about financial aid, but I'm going to wait until I deals with all of it before posting. If anyone has any suggestions, questions or comments, please feel free. I'd like to eventually put a few guides together that include some information not otherwise included on the school website.