College update
I’m in New York City and at Barnard now. I arrived Monday for move-in day and this week has been filled to varying degrees with orientation activites and other social things. I’d like to get into all the interesting details and stories here if I can since it’s hard to tell everyone over and over! I want to post photos, too, but unfortunately Columbia or Barnard or I don’t know what is making it very difficult for my ftp connection to work. When I get that figured out, there will be photos and, soon, a new theme.
The week started off a little uncertain because I talked to a lot of people but I didn’t really feel like I was meeting anyone. I wanted to just hang out with Ricky and Ally and not worry about making new friends, but I didn’t want to miss some great opportunity here, either. Both times we’ve heard Anna Quindlen (Barnard alumna, novelist, journalist) speak she told us her first year felt only mediocre, and it wasn’t till after that that she settled in. So I suppose that’s all right for a while.
Since then, though I’ve gone out and had a nice time with some girls from the floor below. We even interacted with–yes–guys. After that I feel like I can get some of the party and going out life when I want to, but I know it’s there so I don’t have to do it all the time.
On Thursday I went to some required (but not attended by most) play of contrived scenes about first year issues like alcohol and roommates. It was mostly ridiculous, but I met a girl from Queens and afterwards we walked really fast down Broadway and talked and found out we have a lot in common. Both of us were feeling uncertain about meeting good friends, but we actually got along very well together. Recently I’ve met some other great people through her.
I don’t think there was anything I started doing differently to meet people. I guess it just happens eventually.
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I’m mostly settled on my classes now. I only have four–Psych, Anthropology, German, First-year seminar. I might add a 1 credit “Introduction to the Social Sciences” class, which is just a lecture and discussion on Wednesday nights. Tuesday they’ll begin! I’ll start off with German and my seminar that day.
I’m getting involved in other groups and activities, too. I’m thinking of joining the bulletin, even if only as a copy editor for now. I’ll also be doing some community things, like volunteering at a farmer’s market next Saturday. I might babysit sometimes for extra money and perhaps take a non-credit class at the fitness center like yoga since I don’t have PE till spring.
And now, I’m doing laundry.
Hm, interesting! I’m a bit restless these days because everyone is leaving and I’m just about the only one around who isn’t at college yet. I just want to get out and do stuff!
For photos, I think it’s best to register at a place like Flickr or Photobucket so that you can have those services manage your images. You can also upload through the web too which is very helpful.
I’m not the type to meet new people either. When I went to Caltech’s Prefrosh weekend, I said hi and talked to a bunch of people, but like you said, I didn’t get the sense I met them. It was mostly like a business-type conversation stuff: light and fake.
But it’s good that you’re making an effort to meet new people. That’s what my sister advised me to do when I get to college. She said something like: “BlahblahblahMikeyouidiotblahblah, the first couple of days in college are when friendships are solidified. The people you meet are going to be the ones you hang out with. Blahblahblah…” My sister is usually right about this stuff.
Sounds like you’re having a good life up there ^^;. Nice update.
-mX
Btw, your blog now completely transparently works from blog.blueyville.org. All the links reflect this now.
Comment by Michael — September 4, 2005 @ 5:07 pm
Ah, I would have wanted to do things with you if I had known you wanted to hang out with kids from the slum. I figured it would annoy you if your high school friends kept wanting to hang out with you. Now I know, though. I guess that will teach me to read your blog.
Comment by Ally — September 14, 2005 @ 1:58 am