The Weather and Everyone's Health

Monday, September 10, 2007

More blog vomit, aka Welcome to Boston II

Regional food variation: there is something called a bulkie roll. Apparently (based on Wikipedia description) it is what in the UK is called a bap. I don't recall such an item having its own special name in the midwest or CA.

Anyway, orientation was today. I was online this morning about 7 or 7:30am trying to find the schedule for the week and then I finally found it about 8am. Oh look! It starts at 9 with a welcome from the dean! Oops. But the cool thing is I left the apartment at 8:30 and I was in my seat before it started. Plus I ran into a friend of mine from Berkeley whom I had lost touch with--she recognized me when I came in the door. So that was good, anyway.

blah blah blah, a lot of talking by people. And then more talking by some other people.

I have to admit that this morning my primary feelings, rather than being excited or nervous back-to-school feelings, were more centered around cynicism and resentment. Because we are all giving up so much for me to be here, I am on guard in case it's some kind of scam or trick. I'm still not convinced it's not, but at least the student support services (including career office) seem to be excellent.

Met my classmates in the afternoon (the one who are in my program, not one of the other very many programs at this school). The good news is that I learned that they were forced to write those haikus in groups. 1)forced 2) in groups. And we had to talk in small groups and at least the ones in my groups weren't total whiny idiot wankers. I mean, most people really aren't when you talk to them and get to know them.

Also saw Famous Professor (has a bunch of books for general public, is featured in Time magazine, etc). He seems nice. Recognized him right away from the website and his picture in Time magazine. Told the guy sitting next to me, who either didn't care or didn't hear.

In general, I haven't been noticing a lot of regional differences (which is what makes the bulkie, above, so notable) but still everything is new in the sense that nothing is familiar. Plus they tell me it's cold in the winter and people (at least natives) are standoffish if not hostile (though that hasn't been my experience so far). So although the differences are small, there are a lot of them. I think there's a certain fatigue that comes from seeing new people (even if they look like all the same people from everywhere else) and new places all the time. Kind of a Culture Shock Lite.

In other words, as my subconscious informs me, "Can I go home now? Where is my girlfriend?"

- posted by k @ 6:35 PM