Freshers’ Flu, Freshers’ Fair, and Freaking Out
So I’m still a bit sick, but I do feel better today. My nose isn’t as bad, but it may be moving to my throat, which isn’t good. Every time I say I’m a bit sick, though, everyone asks me if it’s Freshers’ Flu. Apparently, a lot of people get sick every year during Freshers’ Week. So I think I got mine while I was on the plane, but sometimes I just smile and nod instead of explaining. I haven’t got any other flu symptoms though, so hopefully it won’t turn into that.
The days have been going by so fast, and I haven’t written much of anything here. So I might write about more experiences in non-chronological order as I remember different things. Today was crazy busy though. We had this thing called Freshers’ Fair, where you can sign up for all these organizations and societies, etc. People just jump out at you and ask you to sign up for things. And you get bunches of free stuff. So I signed up for pretty much anything anybody asked me to as long as it was free, even one thing where I could get my own radio show (Ha!). One guy told me I was a salesperson’s dream person after I said “Sure” to whatever he had. I thought about getting a bank account at the Bank of Scotland. They do stuff for international people and they were there and I need a bank account. They also give you 55 pounds if you sign up and a “toasty” something or other “maker.” Like that sandwich maker that we made grilled cheese in, mom. Or sort of like a George Forman grill with sandwich-shaped things rather than ridges or a panini maker to everyone else. But you have to start it out with 5,000 pounds ($10,000!). Then there’s no minimum balance after that, but I don’t know about that. We’ll see. I won’t bore you with the details of all the other trinkets I got, but it was fun. Katy, a G-town girl, and I went together with the other PPEists.
Now about freaking out. I might have two essays due by this coming Tuesday. And I haven’t made it to the library because I haven’t had the induction yet, so technically I can’t get in yet. You need to be registered at each library to do that. I also haven’t had any time. But my Politics tutor e-mailed me something he had already sent to the other PPE people at the end of last term. Or at least that’s what he said. It gave 2-3 books to read over vacation on top of the reading list. And then a question for the essay. So I’m totally freaking out. I’ll get into the library tomorrow and hopefully start. But then I met the guy who’s doing my Econ tutorial, and he wants to meet this Friday so he can give us an essay to probably turn in around Tuesday and have the meeting later in the week. So I might have a tutorial at the beginning of the week and at the end of the week, but have to turn in both essays at the beginning, which sort of sucks. But I talked to Simon, another PPE guy, and he said he didn’t remember getting an e-mail. So I said I would forward it to him. But he didn’t think James, another PPE guy, had gotten it either. Because they got e-mails about switching tutorial times but neither of them remembered scheduling a first tutorial time. So at least I’m not completely behind. Fun stuff. I’m really nervous, and Katy and I had a discussion about how we feel really stupid around these people. Both my tuts (abbr. for tutorial that I’m going to start using b/c I’m too lazy to type more and that’s what people call them here) are in groups with 2 other guys. And I have a feeling I’m going to feel completely inferior. But maybe we can work together and that will make things better.
Okay, that’s all I’m going to write at the moment. I’m making friends, and keeping very busy. Oh and I might row. Woohoo!!