More Orientation. Also Clotted Cream.

Last night was an orientation show (w/ free sausages, which is what got me there). I ended up sitting next to an older woman named "Bev" who's going back for a degree in something (the music was kinda loud, I couldn't really hear what she said). Anyway, she has a car and offered to give me lifts if I ever need them, so here's one friend that it would be to my advantage to keep in touch with. (INTJs do not do 'friendship' without a valid reason. Or maybe that's just me?)

There was a speech and performance by an Aboriginal elder (I got one picture, which will eventually be up). Australia's very respectful of Aborigines... kind of a "So, we screwed you over and took your land, and now that we've sobered up, we're really, really sorry about that. No, really, we are. We're going to make sure that everyone knows you were here first and have you at opening ceremonies for schools and all that. It doesn't make up for it, but..." As compared to America, which says "So, we screwed you over and took your land... if we let you open casinos, will you shut up about it?"

Then there was a comedian-type guy pretending to be an American professor... his accent was pretty atrocious. I've never heard anyone from Australia attempt an American accent before. It's really... bizarre. I don't know how to put it. He also made a couple of Arnold jokes, so I knew then and there that he wasn't from Sacramento, in any case. (Alisa assures me that nobody in Sacramento makes Arnold jokes because it's too depressing to them.) Anyway, it turned into a long show about drinking in college and making good choices and seek help if you need it and all that. It was actually pretty entertaining, but it was SWELTERING out (the guy had to keep toweling himself off), I was getting eaten alive by mosquitos, it was about 2 hours long, and it was nothing I hadn't heard before because I've done this whole orientation thing before and I know my way around college. It's getting a little frustrating, to be honest. Sure, the computer sites are set up a little different and have different names, but it's still the same thing as Mount Holyoke.
Did learn ONE new thing: Apparently peeing on people's lawns is a serious problem here, because the guy saw fit to mention that it's a bad idea.

Bev gave me a ride home, which was nice 'cause it was dark out and I wasn't super-sure how to get back home. My landlord/roommate was going to bed when I got there, but he says he might be able to set up a bunkbed for me this weekend, so Saturday is furniture-assembly time! He's very helpful. I'm hoping that I'll have a chance to talk to him a bit more this week, 'cause right now I feel a little like a very sketchy houseguest.

Today I stopped at the student coffee shop and got tea and a scone with clotted cream and jam. This was exciting for me, even if it isn't particularly for you. I've been seeing a lot of stuff around that I'd previously only seen in the British baking cookbook that Micah got me for Christmas (which, among other things, insists that Americans call blueberrys "huckleberries"). There seems to be a lot ofwhipped cream flying around. I kinda just want to live here forever. Or until my heart explodes.

The Anime Club had a table out today, and they seem very enthusiastic (I've decided that the VP is basically their Hannah, but don't tell him that). They said they're watching Black Lagoon this semester, so that should appease you guys. Let's face it, the fastest, most comfortable way for me to make friends with people is to hunt down some reasonably well-adjusted anime nerds, and I don't have a lot of time here to spend making friends any other way.

Also, they gave me a bottle-holder-thing from their sponsor, GameTraders Stockland... which is probably a branch of GameTraders Robina, which, as devotees may recall, is where Yahtzee
gets his blackmarket games. So I've already accumulated some gaming cred for when I get back to the States.

That's all for now, sorry, no pictures. I've got some, but it's a pain in the neck to add them to an entry and I just don't feel like it at the moment.