colonial fondness

There's a blonde asleep on my couch.

The reason that's so funny to me is that when Amy and I were becoming friends, she crashed on our couch several times. Susan said, "There's a blonde asleep on my couch!" long before she ever actually met her.

Yesterday's orientation was fine - it's well-organized and generally time-efficient.

I met some interesting people. First was Louisiana Boy who is NOTHING like how I conceive of a Louisiana Boy being. He sort of followed me around, peppering me with questions about education and the like. He was actually sort of interesting (he studied peace and conflict with an economics twist in Northern Ireland) but I wasn't in the mood for a Staunch Republican (his words).

Then at lunch I met World Travelling Gay Guy who said at one point (and I told him I would blog it) that he loves colonialism. That was the funniest thing I'd ever heard, and the lack of political correctness was invigorating. What he means by it is that when traveling someplace such as VietNam, locals take care of the foreigner in need. And while he won't avoid an experience just because there's a level of discomfort, he will always choose a shower and A/C over not when it's available. I liked him a lot, because he's pretty sane compared to my inexplicable need to suffer.

Then we had an information fair where I signed up for all sorts of things. Because 1st year law students (1L) are not allowed to work or serve on journals or start career preparations before December, I was worred I would be bored without enough to do. Fortunately there actually are tons of things to do, and I may volunteer in schools and with a local legal aid, and on all sorts of "societies."

I really liked the guy from one of the groups and we started up a really nice conversation. He was 1L last year and we talked about that - the majority of them had a whole year of law school in six months (because of Katrina) - meeting all day long, six days a week. Crazy. And we talked about the coolness and the frustrations of this city. "Always something blogworthy," I said. He wanted my blog url and I was like no way dude! So any of you that stumbled upon it here, you're a step ahead of that guy (whose name I forgot, but I wouldn't use his real name anyway).

I'm staying out of the intense hobnobbing and getting to know you crap. I figure I'll get to know people just fine on my own time. I like to check 'em out first.

Today is a brutal long day - I have to be there at 8:15 and it's not really over until 7 pm. And then I have bucketloads of homework and classes start Monday. The professors I've met or seen so far, they do seem really, really good.

OK, one bathroom for three women - not enough.

We went to the student rec center yesterday and they wanted my social security number as my ID number. I basically said there is no fucking way in hell that I will give you my social security number, so figure out another way. How crazy is that? They want my most private tax id number, the basis of identity theft, so that I can get on the ellipticals? So I shot off an email to our Dean of Students asking WTF?! We'll see what she says, but if they think they are going to use my SS# as my ID# at this university, then I have something to say about that.