Well I’m currently in the second day of week 4 (of 14) and things have settled into a bit of a rhythm, for better or worse.
I’ve got my room set up pretty much the way I want it, with study notes plastered all over the walls and doors (as well as a target full of holes which makes me feel rather tough and cool, I’m sure) and a steady supply of snacks to help me recover from the canteen food. I’ve got a small pile of DVDs to watch at night before bed (I’m still working through the West Wing), and some little speakers for the iPhone so I have good music available.
We got issued with our uniform on Saturday morning, but we aren’t allowed to wear it until next week. My order arrived without my proper issue of cargo pants (just the ‘dress’ pants), so I have to find out what happens next week. They’re very strict on wearing the correct items at the correct time, so I might be restricted from wearing uniform at all until everything arrives. Not a big deal, but you really don’t want to stand out for any reason at all, and being dressed differently to the rest of your class is usually a fairly obvious difference. We have a lecture this evening after dinner on ‘Proper Care, Maintenance, and Wearing of Uniform’, which is going to be delivered by a stern gentleman who marches around campus carrying a swagger stick, and wearing shoes that make little ‘click click’ noises as he walks. A fairly intimidating guy, and not someone you want to have too many interactions with while you’re here, as it usually means you’ve done something against the rules.
The tribes are getting a little bit more open for the most part, with us distance ed students finally being spoken to by some of the internal students on the odd occasion. There are a few people who have made a real effort to be friendly which is nice, and some others who are just being not quite as hostile as they had been previously. I’ll take what I can get, I suppose.
There are quite a few homework assignments being issued at the moment, all of which take up valuable time in the evenings when we also need to be revising the work we’re doing in class. I find it stressful occasionally, but then again there are a lot of people who have passed through here who have been significantly less literate, so I suppose I should just count my blessings. I’m trying to get something done at the moment, but the internet’s working relatively fast at the moment so I thought I’d get a quick blog in before it all slows down later in the evening. I occasionally get frustrated at the way we are told to do certain tasks, mainly because I think that I could see a better/easier/more succinct method, but I just have to bite my tongue and try to stay under the radar. I constantly have to fight the urge to point out spelling mistakes in PowerPoint presentations or lecture handouts, but I’m assured that this is not a place for ‘intellectuals’ (which apparently includes anyone who has a vague appreciation for grammar). I think it’s best that I say no more about that sort of thing… I’m even starting to annoy myself, even if I usually keep my thoughts to myself.
The food hasn’t improved, although I must be getting used to it. I got excited today about burgers and wedges for lunch, even though the burgers were probably more than slightly undercooked, and might be seen again later this evening. I sat with a guy who’s just down here for a short course, and who isn’t as numb to the food as we are. He wouldn’t eat one of the things on his plate, but I thought it wasn’t too bad and got a second helping. If this is what I’m like after 4 weeks, I’d hate to think what I’m going to be like by the end of the course.
On that note, dinner just started, and I should probably get up there so I have time to eat before the uniform talk.
