educational summer camp, part 2

Today was great fun.  I purchased a $146 French textbook and was assigned to read a book over the weekend.  But wait, IT GETS BETTER.  (No really, it does.)

At its worst, college (before classes start, at least) is a lot of free time punctuated by moments of "What in the world am I supposed to be doing with myself right now?"  Well, let's just say that I started watching the first season of 30 Rock on Netflix Instant.  Thankfully, this conundrum is easy to fix.  So easy, that I didn't even get finished with the first episode (although I will probably finish it before I go to bed for good measure).  The solution?  Step out of your dorm and be more vulnerable than you've ever had the displeasure to experience.  This sometimes means sitting next to someone you don't know, or as the case was today, sitting alone at lunch to wait to see who is attracted to your awesomeness vibes.  Or you will attract upperclassmen whose job is to make you feel welcome.

This happened today at lunch (Geez Louise, that seems like lifetimes away).  I was waiting to save a spot for someone, but ended up being bombarded with NSO leaders who probably felt bad for me sitting alone eating my bean taco.  Anyway, it was kind of great that this happened, because they gave me a description of my E&D (freshmen intro class) professor and his mannerisms, which undoubtably came up within 30 seconds upon meeting him.  The moment he put his fingers through his "amazing multicolored hair", I had to stifle back laughter.  Yeah, I'm mature.

This also happened tonight at dinner.  The two girls who sat by me were super nice, so we ended up going to do tie dye which was going on outside my dorm.  After that, I headed over to the Co-Op party with a girl from my dorm.  It was the best thing ever!  There was slam poetry, which was actually really awesome and sometimes hilarious.  When that was over, I roamed the campus with a few people before heading back to the Co-Op for the bands to play.  Thankfully I spotted someone from my E&D class, so I settled in with her and her friends.  The bands were really nice, jazzy, folksy, and a little of everything.  There was also face paint!  After it was over, a few of us went upstairs where they were having a "Wild Rumpus" which was basically a "Go dance to music that is the opposite of what you were just listening to".  Regardless, it was a lot of fun, and afterwards (and after losing and finding one of the girls' cell phones) we went to the Bon for midnight breakfast.  In true college fashion, we ended up talking about everything from religion and human rights to Harry Potter and romantic comedies. 

Needless to say, I am having a lot of fun.  This past week Portland has been unusually warm and sunny, so I am quick to rub my heat tolerance in everyone's face.  I probably shouldn't do that, but it's an easy icebreaker (or should I say, icemelter?).  Throughout orientation I have extended my vast knowledge of Arizona culture, specifically Mesa culture.  What is it that Mesa has?  Well, 115 degree weather, Mormons, scorpions, and the author of Twilight.  Yeah!