First Week of College

Sunday, June 10, 2007

First Week of College Current mood: cheerful Category: School, College, Greek Just wanted to get down my initial impressions of my first week of school. So far I really like it! The campus is very nice…though kind of scattered about a not so lovely area of Fort Worth. But the buildings are beautiful. I was the first to arrive at my first class…as I have been all week. I have this habitual problem with being early…but I guess there are worse issues one can have. In any case – the second student to arrive flopped down in the chair next to me and said: "I'm so glad I'm not going to be the only 'old' one in this class." Ummm…thanks. So I asked him how old he was. He sighed and said, "24." I told him there was no way in hell I was telling him my age…but since then he's been following me around and keeps telling me that my hair smells good – so I guess I'm not that disgustingly old to him. My first class was Philosophy. There are about 19 students in the class. As I watched one tiny adorable blonde file in after another – I got a little anxious. Scott has made me promise to hold all study groups at our house. This isn't looking good for my marriage. Anyway – my teacher is a total stoner and I've discovered that I hate Philosophy…mostly. It doesn't help that I've had to quit my 3 cigarette a day habit that I pick up every time we move. But I sit there wanting to throttle him most of the time…or at the very least say, "Are you friggin kidding me?" Hopefully once the nicotine cravings subside it'll be more tolerable. All of the girls here sound like Paris Hilton – but I'm finding them to be so much fun. I just hope I don't start talking like them. If any of you care about me at all – you'll intervene if this becomes the case. I am so serious! So my second class is Cultural Anthropology – which I'm much more enthused about. I was sure – at 20 minutes early, I was again going to be the first student in the class – but there was another guy sitting there by himself when I walked in… I looked at him and felt quite relieved. Clearly he had to be older than me. (Just teasing, Chris! You don't look a day over 25!) Only he wasn't…by six months. But I can explain his beating me in the classroom. He was also in the military. We are now bestest friends and have exchanged Myspace pages. My anthropology teacher is extremely nice…if a little over-excited about the subject. The first thing I noticed about him was that he was wearing one brown shoe and one black shoe (which made me sad because I thought of my bff Tanya doing the same thing…but she had an excuse at 8 months pregnant!) The first class felt like he was recruiting us for the field. We had to watch an hour long 'careers in anthropology' video during which at least 3 of the kids fell asleep. Not joking. I honestly feel bad for these professors. They seem to be so passionate about what they're doing and want very much for the students to get excited with them…but the majority of them are doodling in their notebooks or texting people. And thus far I'm one of the only ones who answers their questions…some times after a long period of silence. (Most of you know I cannot stand an uncomfortable silence!) I've actually said some really stupid things just to end a silence. Example: PH Professor: What IS knowledge? Me after at least 60 seconds of silence: "Things you know?" (Hey – I was tired and I hate this friggin class. I refuse to talk 'philosophically' until my nicotine withdrawals wear off.) The kids don't seem to think I'm really old, despite the fact that I feel like a complete imposter carrying around a backpack. I had a conversation like this with one of the very white kids in my anthropology class who dresses like Eminem with lots of bling and sparkly braces, but is really cute and I think probably very insecure. Eminem Kid: "You're married?" Me: "Yup, with two kids." Eminem Kid: "How old are you?" Me: "How old would you guess me to be?" (I know this is self-indulgent…but I'm insecure, OK?) Eminem Kid: "I would say early 20's." (Military guy is now no longer my best friend.) I then gave him some additional facts about myself and he went up to 'mid-thirties'…but that's hardly worth mentioning. Another conversation with one of my 'Paris Hilton' buddies. Paris: "So you're taking Philosophy?" Me: "Yes – I hate it." Paris: "Who do you have?" Me: "Blake Hestir." Paris: "Oh, my God – I LIKE LOVE HIM!" Another Parissy girl pipes in. Other Paris Girl: "Is that the guy that's like kind of old, but kind of not?" (The guy is my age.) Me: I guess so… Other Paris Girl: "Oh my God, I have sexy thoughts about him!" Paris: "Me too! It's weird because he's like so old…" Me: "He's not that old." So I guess what I'm trying to display with the above conversations is the fact that the kids don't seem to think I'm that old…which you all know I was concerned with. I've already decided I'm going with a 'tote' next semester. Just can't do the backpack. Also I'm going to have to come to grips that I will never be able to dress like my classmates. The typical attire (with exceptions, obviously) is really short shorts and tight t-shirts. I don't care how hot it gets. I am not wearing short shorts. And I am especially not wearing short shorts with words written across the butt. All in all – I'm adjusting well. The work isn't too bad…lots of reading and some short papers the first week…plus two quizzes. Though I have to advise against reading 30 minutes of Curious George followed by 12 excruciating pages of Socrates…it makes for some really weird dreams later on. I've also made friends with the admin in the Communications School. She reminds me a little of my former co-worker Carol (though not nearly as smart…) – so I go up and see her often. She's introduced me to all the important people in the Journalism department and let me take a grammar test early so that I could sign up for some journalism classes in the fall. She also introduced me to the director of the daily newspaper which hopefully I'll be working on soon. Though the resume' I submitted was put together after the evening of Curious George and Aristotle…and is kind of goofy. Hopefully they aren't offended or think I'm not taking the application seriously. I showed it to my admin friend Doris and she insisted that I submit it. I'll attach it for your reading pleasure…if you even read up to this point! So school is going well. I'm actually loving it. I love the professors…even the annoying, kinda old Philosophy teacher and the Doctor of Anthropology who makes industry related jokes that none of us get and laughs about them throughout the class. On the bright side – he hasn't worn mismatched shoes since the first day. I love the kids. They're rich, over-privileged and silly…but they make me laugh consistently every day and some of them surprise me with their insight. On to life… We had an offer accepted on a house today – so we'll be moving in next month. It's in a beautiful neighborhood. I think at 3100 square feet, it's actually the smallest house on the street. So we're tripling our space and it cost roughly half of what our house in Framingham cost. Scott's really enjoying his job – but hating the traffic out here. Hopefully he'll get used to it - because I don't think it's going to get any better. Yesterday we went to a Rangers game with his new company. It couldn't compare to a Red Sox game, but it was fun and they actually won. I think they have the worst record in baseball right now! It's really friggin hot here. I mean…really hot. If I had male parts - I would be sweating them off. And it's only going to get worse as the summer wears on. It's so annoying because my hair will look really good in the apartment – but as soon as I walk outside…done. Nathan hates the heat. I'm hoping he'll get used to it. It's not helping that the AC in my car is acting up. It's either on full blast or not at all. So I'm either driving down the street with my frizzy hair blowing all over the place or sweating to death. Have to get that fixed!