Summery

"Maybe that's why you put gas in your car instead of paint thinner."
-the summary of my evening

Last night, with warm breezes and moon almost full, I realized that I could not have asked for a more perfect last summer. I snuck out. I partied. I went down the Brandywine on an alligator. I played guitar, and I napped in the hammock. I've been surrounded by friends, and the whole thing feels a bit surreal.

I Have Been Oriented!

My Temple Orientation was slated for the 19th overnight to the 20th.

Day 1:
Within ten minutes of arriving, I was given the wrong room key (but I didn't notice until ten minutes before it was over). Lecture. Blah blah blah. Lecture. Blah blah blah. "I'm freezing cold! Why did I wear shorts?!" Blah blah blah. "They just gave me a rape whistle...?" Blah blah blah. The first day was spent almost entirely becoming informed. The Honors Luncheon was scheduled for 12:30, which meant another lecture before we ate. While everyone else went to the all-you-can-eat dining hall, we got a cold sandwich, chips, an apple, and nasty shortbread cookies. I selected the chicken sandwich, ready to enjoy a good chicken patty. FUCK! It was chicken salad. Thankfully roast beef was still available. Dinner was spent with some kids from my orientation group, both of whom play guitar and one of whom is now my on campus connection, so to speak. The night was spent in and out of rooms after our leader abandoned us to the wolves of the street. Two of the girls I hung out with were from Serbia and Moldova. Woo, Eastern Europe! We tried to check out the dance party, but the DJ was awful, so everyone dispersed into the night. I wound up with an English major, and we discussed literature in his room until check in. He was adorably awkward. Mop of hair, Rayband glasses, laughed at inappropriate intervals. It was a good time. THE WORST SLEEP OF MY LIFE FOLLOWED THIS PLEASANT EXCHANGE.

Day 2:
I woke up early enough for breakfast (no pancakes or Honey Nut Cheerios, so I was about to get all up in here to petition somebody). More lectures. Not as freezing cold. Finally! Signing up for classes! Me and the other honors kids in my group wandered off for our advising, and there were a few laughs. Everybody there had some sort of AP/IB credit, but had no idea what kind of classes we were getting credit for. General Education classes are low-level bullshit classes that give everyone a "well rounded" exposure to culture. Of the 13 classes required by the Liberal Arts college, APs and placements mean that after my first semester, I will be completely done with all but one of them (providing I study abroad, which is happening). My first semester classes are as follows:

Honors Calculus I
Programming and Higher Languages
Honors Mosaic I
Intermediate Spanish
Race & Poverty in the Americas

I'm so excited! I had my band audition at 2, so I unfortunately missed the skits about buying condoms 10 for a $1, but ah well. There was a super awkward guard boy who was practicing roughly the same time I got there. Dr. Brunner gave me some time to practice, because I hadn't touched a marimba since graduation. The mallets were the shittiest Mike Balters with almost no weight to them, and the marimba was a slightly more professional "big red." Despite this, I warmed up with everything I knew, including playing The Heart Asks Pleasure First with only two mallets. Finally, I played Zoot Suit Riot, did a little sight reading, and was accepted to the band! They pay for everything except my shoes. Hoorah!

Growing Up

Physically, I have stopped growing up. In all other respects, I realize I have much farther to go.