The Graduate's Grind: Brigham Young University- Idaho
Dating in the ‘Burg
The Misfortune of Being Cupid
Scott Armitage
During my freshman year, my roommates and I wanted to go to some Valentine’s dance on campus. We all knew who we wanted to ask to the dance, but my cousin and I especially wanted to be a little creative in asking our dates. We spontaneously felt like asking our dates by dressing up as Cupid figures and sing to them; we were dressed in crudely fashioned, white bed sheet togas, shorts, and cardboard angel. My cousin’s date was our first attempt in singing as Cupids and boy we were a hit—I probably could just have easily asked one of the other girls present in the room to the dance!
Following our first stop, we went to my friend’s place so I could ask her to the dance. Granted, our performance wasn’t anything grand, but I at least expected some funny or positive reaction…instead, my friend ran back to her room. At the time I wasn’t sure what was wrong, but I received a call from her shortly after returning to our apartment. She felt bad, but had to politely reject my invitation to go the dance with me because she had a boyfriend who was living out-of-state. Initially, I was disappointed, but then began to feel pretty embarrassed. I still found a date, and yes, it actually did happen to be one of the roommates of my cousin’s date! If there was any valuable advice I could give to future, single men here at BYU-Idaho, it would be to make sure any girl you want to ask out on a date is single first—that should already be common knowledge, but take it as a forewarning anyway. Do this and you’ll have a better chance of getting a second date, I can almost guarantee it.
Following our first stop, we went to my friend’s place so I could ask her to the dance. Granted, our performance wasn’t anything grand, but I at least expected some funny or positive reaction…instead, my friend ran back to her room. At the time I wasn’t sure what was wrong, but I received a call from her shortly after returning to our apartment. She felt bad, but had to politely reject my invitation to go the dance with me because she had a boyfriend who was living out-of-state. Initially, I was disappointed, but then began to feel pretty embarrassed. I still found a date, and yes, it actually did happen to be one of the roommates of my cousin’s date! If there was any valuable advice I could give to future, single men here at BYU-Idaho, it would be to make sure any girl you want to ask out on a date is single first—that should already be common knowledge, but take it as a forewarning anyway. Do this and you’ll have a better chance of getting a second date, I can almost guarantee it.
"Telephone"
Adriane Wieben
Telephone dating can be very interesting, at least in my experience. I’m not referring to dating over the phone, but rather I’m referring to the game “Telephone,” where you sit in a circle and pass a message around through whispers....and at the end you find out that the phrase “I am an Art major in college and work at the news station” has turned into “I’m a Major in the army at College Station.” I had a dating experience once that was similar to the game of “Telephone.” I told my roommate I was interested in John, a guy in our ward. She said she would tell John to ask me out, and suggest that he tell his roommate Darren to take her out and we could double. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, just like the game of “Telephone,” something was lost in translation. John, bless his heart, passed my roommate’s “message” on to Darren. Then, a few hours later, Darren showed up at our apartment—and asked me out! The message had been relayed in very simple terms, but evidently it must have gone right over John’s head. Darren and I did end up having a fun date (we doubled with John and another girl from the ward), but I learned that in the future, it’s best just to make an actual phone call, instead of trying to use the “Telephone” method.
The Date of Giving
Phillip Sorenson
Generally you want a date to be fun, to have an activity that lets you get to know each other, and something that highlights some of your good qualities. A date I like for this I've named the “giving date.” You need really good dessert, something you know you can pull off that is good, to make together and also makes enough to share. Pick up your date and get the ingredients from the store, and then go home and make it. I recommend something that gives you time to talk while you make it. While you’re mixing up your dessert, say something like, "Is there a good friend of yours that is sick or you haven't seen in a while that we could take some of this to?" This of course will show your date how kind and thoughtful you can be. While your dessert bakes, have a fun activity prepared to do, just an easy, fun thing to pass the time, but be creative! After the dessert is done, all that is left is to take some of the dessert to the thought-of friend in need. It's a fun date that also lets you do something good for someone else!
X-Wing & Hot Horchata
Zach Stout
So Rexburg, Idaho doesn’t seem like the ideal place to create memorable dates for you – I understand. I was once a doubter of the potential magic of Rexburg as well. But, experience and curiosity have led me to at least one date idea that can never fail.
Heading west out of town on Main Street, passing the Yellowstone Highway overpass, you will find N 3000 W. There is a metal fabrication business on the northwest corner of the intersection that harbors an amazing X-Wing fighter from Star Wars just north of their building. Marvel for a few minutes and take some pictures with it (nobody will believe you otherwise) and then head back towards Rexburg. Stop at the Vallewide Home & Ranch store on the south side of the street for some hot cocoa or, my favorite, the hot horchata. When you get home to your roommates, be sure to brag about how you practically destroyed the Empire single-handedly. Yoda would be proud of Rexburg, and so will you and your date.
Heading west out of town on Main Street, passing the Yellowstone Highway overpass, you will find N 3000 W. There is a metal fabrication business on the northwest corner of the intersection that harbors an amazing X-Wing fighter from Star Wars just north of their building. Marvel for a few minutes and take some pictures with it (nobody will believe you otherwise) and then head back towards Rexburg. Stop at the Vallewide Home & Ranch store on the south side of the street for some hot cocoa or, my favorite, the hot horchata. When you get home to your roommates, be sure to brag about how you practically destroyed the Empire single-handedly. Yoda would be proud of Rexburg, and so will you and your date.
