the lads
I met my other flatmates yesterday. Rob seems like an average, good natured sort of kid. Pretty mainstream, I guess you'd consider him a bit of a jock in the US. I think he's from Manchester, and he allegedly has a penchant for fighting, though I wouldn't think it from looking at him. Marco is from Abberdeen I think, and he's crazy. He's super animated and wants to teach primary school, which I think would suit him. I guess he's really into Mr. Bungle, which also seems to suit him. Pete is a pretty interesting guy, and he likes to talk, which is alright by me. We had a rather lengthy conversation about computers the other night. He seems cool, but makes me a bit uneasy. He sort of reminds me of some kids I knew freshmen year who I found to be nice enough, to me at least, but always caused me to keep a certain degree of vigilance. Ian is the last flatmate, and the one I met first. He skates, snowboards, and is into post-hardcore, metal, emo, etc. Awesome. He seems to be quite a nice kid as well and is really funny. For instance, he always likes to imply that Rob is a brawler which makes Rob all embarresed which I find hilarious. So, I think it should be interesting. They're all freshmen, which is a bit odd, but I think it's better in some ways. I think when people come off to school for the first time, they tend to be more respectful of one another on account of the new, shared experience. Kids who would never be around each other under normal circumstances can somehow manage to co-habitate without any major loss of blood. So, that ought to make things work out a bit better for me.
posted by geoff on 1/09/2002 07:51:59 AM
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matriculation
On monday, I went to see my director of study (the equivalent of an academic advisor) and got my classes scheduled. I still have to schedule the individual modules, but otherwise, I'm straight. I then had to hike all the way back to center city to hand in my paperwork so I could get my matriculation card. Evidently, they do all that stuff by hand, and there is a bit of a delay before you can get your matric card. This sucks because you need the card to get access to the CIS labs and to use the library. I found my director of study to be very nice and helpful, almost the antithesis of Supowit (though I confess that I rather like the fellow in a surly sort of way). I also found the lecture to be super organized and well paced which seems to be a rarity in the US. All the course materials are promptly placed on the web, which I also find to be helpful. My other classes haven't started yet, but I'm looking forward to them as the reading list for the computer security class looks awesome.
posted by geoff on 1/09/2002 07:44:32 AM
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meet and greet
So I met some kids today. I don't like to be superficial, but clothing and style in general is more than just shelter from the elements or a suck for cash, it also serves as a semaphore of sorts for kids with whom one might get along. So, at the universities international student orientation, I eyed the kid in the cardigan and saucony sneakers with interest. We ended up seated next to one another in an info session. Heard of Zegota? Of course. Where are you from? He studies at Haverford (which for the unfamiliar is a small, liberal arts college just outside of Philly). Been to Killtime? Which one? Singapore Vegetarian Chinese? Thumbs up! Franny and Zooey? All time favorite book! So, he seemed like an interesting guy. At least someone to go to shows with. We exchanged contact info and decided to go scope some shows some time.
When I got back from grocery shopping, one of my flatmates was back (the flat had been empty when I arrived yesterday). He was seated in the common room holding a new snowboard. Excellent. "Do you drink much?" he queried. "Not at all," I replied. "Are you straigt-edge?" he asked. He wasn't but at least he knew what ut was, which in a land where pubs are as omnipresent as house music, and there is a Whiskey Heritage Center, was good enough for me. He said he had a lot of respect for sxe kids, and had cut back his drinking a bit himself since his high school days. It turns out that in addition to snowboarding, he skates and listens to post-hardcore, metal, and emo. Awesome. He was the best possible roommate to meet first, because the others seem pretty crazy. Two are rugby players, which according to my flatmate is the UK's equivalent to the US jock. The other, in addition to the being a jungle mc, has also popped too many pills, smoked too much hash, drank too much, and gotten violent enough as to smash another flatmate's stereo. Oh yeah, he also allegedly gets so drunk he passes out and pisses himself as well. So, it should be a really interesting six months. At least the whole skateboarding housemate streak continues on. The skater and I continued talking about skating and music for a while. Just as was the case in Austin, skateboarding seems to be a common bond that spans ages, states, and now continents. I've met quite a few friends through skating, and even though I'm no Tony Hawk, I'm glad it's a part of my life.
posted by geoff on 1/06/2002 05:11:08 PM
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Note: This is the first of my Edinburgh journal entries that I've posted to the web. I've written others, but they'll be out of sync as I am stuck in luddite hell at my flat with no internet access and no phone.
you don't have to eat meat to be strong and wise
At least that's what the sign in front of Kalpna restaurant in Edinburgh said, though I'm inclined to agree. It seems one has to be a bit wise to find vegan groceries, however, and strong as well to carry them back to one's flat. I went shopping today for some groceries and had a hell of a time. This might sound like the prattle of a soon to be senile grandmother, but it really is hard to try to find things in a new supermarket. Especially one in a different country without the same names, and sometimes without alltogether, as the products I buy in the US. Peanut butter? Bagels? I had to go down the street to the natural food store (which sucked compared to the Clintonville co-op) to get my soy milk, but otherwise managed passably. There are a great deal of vegetarian options in the UK, though considerably fewer vegan ones. All of the burger patties, fake sausages, and fake cold cuts had eggs in them. From what I hear, the dumpster scene isn't so hot either (though I'm sure the wet weather has something to do with that). I might have to be a bit freer in this whole freegan thing if I am to subsist. But, as the guy at Strange Brew said, it isn't about being holier than though, its about doing the best that you can to be cruelty free.
posted by geoff on 1/06/2002 04:52:03 PM
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