Ellen
First-year College student
What extracurricular activities do you participate in?
I play cello and guitar. Also sports like lacrosse, tennis, racquetball and running; art and Christian groups.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Go to shows, listen to music, eat food, art projects, take photos, swim and do things outside.
What are the physical and personality attributes you are looking for in a date?
Taller than me (5-foot-6), not too skinny and not too fat, confident but not cocky, funny, driven, happy, interesting and interested in me!
What are your religious affiliations?
I love me some Jesus! Non-denominational Christian.
What are your favorite TV shows?
“The Office,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Scrubs,” “Project Runway,” “Weeds”
What are your favorite movies and actors?
“Rushmore,” “Into the Wild,” “Amelie,” “Bella,” “Donnie Darko,” “Life is Beautiful,” “The Kite Runner,” “Mystic Pizza,” “The Graduate,” “Groundhog Day,” “Stand by Me,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Dan in Real Life,” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Never Been Kissed,” “The Painted Veil” ... anything [directed by] Wes Anderson or with Natalie Portman.
What music do you like (genres and bands)?
Acoustic, folk and indie rock ... Sufjan Stevens, Bob Dylan, Iron and Wine, Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective, Devendra Banhart, The Beatles, The Dodos, The Shins, Bright Eyes, Damien Rice, Jose Gonzales, Joni Mitchell
Are you outgoing or shy?
It depends. I can be quiet, but also very outgoing.
What do you want to do when you graduate?
Teach high school in Italy! Travel all around, write and make music.
If you were a member of the circus, who would you be and why?
I would be the cotton candy vendor, so I could eat all the cotton candy I want!
John
First-year College student
What extracurricular activities do you participate in?
Cavalier Marching Band, working out at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, and I’m signed up to attend ballroom dancing.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Hang out with friends, go out (on the weekends ... work hard, play hard), playing cards or boards games (Cranium), work out at the AFC, watch good movies.
What are the physical and personality attributes you are looking for in a date?
Physically: a pretty face and an athletic body. Personality: someone who is outgoing, not embarrassed by her inner nerd, intelligent, has a sense of humor, and someone I could bring home to Mom.
What are your religious affiliations?
I was raised as a Roman Catholic, but I’m really not into religion anymore.
What are your favorite TV shows?
“Avatar: the Last Airbender,” “Firefly,” “Chuck,” “Good Eats”
What are your favorite movies and actors?
“Sin City,” “Crank,” “Dude, Where’s My Car?” I’ll watch anything with Jason Statham in it. And of course you gotta go old-school Harrison Ford.
What music do you like (genres and bands)?
Alternative rock and feel good ‘90s. I’m talking about the songs that were on the radio when you were seven, and you get these warm fuzzy feelings when they come on. Third Eye Blind, Smash Mouth, Cake, Girl Talk.
Are you outgoing or shy?
Outgoing.
What do you want to do when you graduate?
I’d love to be working for an alternative energy source that is good for the environment but at the same time makes economic sense.
If you were a member of the circus, who would you be and why?
I would be the fourth clown to get out of the car, ‘cause I’m the one you didn’t see coming.
Date: Sunday Sept. 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: The Virginian
John: We met pretty close to six o’clock, right outside of The Virginian. I was there a little early. I’m a first-year [student] and I just wanted to make sure I could find it, [otherwise] that would have been really embarrassing.
Ellen: I walked down to the Corner, and he was standing outside, so I kind of figured that was him. I walked up to him and said, “Hey, are you John?” And he was like, “Yup.”
John: I thought she looked really cute. That was my initial reaction when she first walked up.
Ellen: He looked like a nice guy, but I was kind of worried he might be creepy. I told my sister right before I went that I was going on [the date] and she got really freaked out. And then she freaked me out. She was like, “Ellen, you shouldn’t do this. You should bring a friend.” I was like, “Um, I can’t!” I guess I was just worried that he might be really weird and hard to talk to.
John: In the beginning she wasn’t that outgoing. I would say I was the more outgoing of the two, but we were both in that awkward, beginning phase.
Ellen: We found out that we’re both first-year [students] and we talked about where we live, where we’re from, what we’re interested in studying.
John: We were making small talk. We were just saying, “Where are you from?”, “Where do you live?”, “What classes are you taking?” We really weren’t making any connections.
Ellen: It actually wasn’t that awkward.
John: It was a little awkward between us — it was very awkward. This was the most blind date possible, so it wasn’t even like we had any friends in common to set us up. I was really hungry, so I was like, “You wanna go eat?” She was like, “Yeah,” so we went inside.
Ellen: I ordered macaroni and cheese and he got a buffalo chicken sandwich.
John: It was pretty good. We were both talking about how nice it was to get out of O-Hill for a while and just be out on a date and exploring the Corner. It was something neither of us had really done too much. We talked about why we decided to sign up for the date.
Ellen: My friend Claire and I were bored one night so we thought it’d be fun to fill out the questionnaire — and possibly meet a nice guy and get free food.
John: She was laughing about it because she said her and her friend wrote almost the same e-mail. I guess they are similar in personality. But she got an e-mail back and her friend didn’t. That was kind of funny. [For me] it was the first Wednesday of classes and I had two discussion groups. We hadn’t met for either of the lectures, so they were both cancelled. It was raining and I was walking. I saw the flyer and I was like, “You know what? I can do this.” I ripped it off and then gave an e-mail.
Ellen: We kept the conversation going, talking about our lives and interests.
John: It wasn’t an exact match. Some of the music and movies we had in common, but honestly I forgot most of the stuff I filled in for the survey.
Ellen: He said he’s from a town called Sleepy Hollow in New York, so that was interesting. I’m from Norfolk, Va. He’s in the marching band and he plays saxophone, so that was kind of cool. That’s pretty much his life here.
John: After dinner we went to Arch’s Frozen Yogurt.
Ellen: He had never been to Arch’s before. He was nervous to order. I don’t know — he was confused [but] we got ice cream and we walked around.
John: The highest point of the date would be walking back toward Grounds and just trying to figure out why we were matched together and talking about movies and TV shows that we watched. We got a little bit more comfortable with each other and that was a lot better. We hung out outside her dorm and then she said she had to go do homework.
Ellen: Overall, I think he enjoyed the date. He didn’t seem like he wanted to end it, so that was good.
John: She was kind of reserved, I wouldn’t say shy, just a little reserved. She definitely opened up towards the end of the date. It was a lot of fun.
Ellen: I mean, we had a good time, but I don’t think I would try to hang out with him. I mean I guess if he called me I might hang out with him.
John: There’s definitely the possibility for more than friends. But I would have to say definitely at least friends, but I would have to see. I would like to see how a second date or just hanging out goes.
John friended Ellen on Facebook and she accepted. They have not talked since the date and have no plans to meet again.
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