My Friday

Friday, September 26, 2011

                         I got up at 11am today and took the 92 bus into town. I was outside the union by 11:30 for the start-noon- of the recycled bike sale. I thought I would be one of the first people there, and then I saw the line. (See pictures posted). I heard there were 40 bikes. There were more than 50 people in front of me. But the bikes were in my price range, around 65-80 pounds, so I decided to stay and hope not everyone in front of me was getting a bike, maybe they would leave, or maybe they would not like any of the bikes. There is a bike shop in town, but the bikes start around 200-300 pounds. I saw Chris, the post grad I talked to about KU basketball at dinner a few nights ago, a few people, maybe 10, ahead of me. I joined him. At noon the bike company let 5 people in. They got to look at the bikes and test them out a little. When one of them purchased one, then one other person could go in and look. It was going to take forever! I was ready for a mad rush and pushing. At 12:30, we had moved about 5-7 people. I decided that I did not need a bike; I could spend the money on something else, like a trip somewhere in Europe. I also wanted to go to the opening ceremonies, but I wanted to go back first to get that night’s event wristband. So, I left. I still regret not waiting longer. I think everyone got a bike that wanted one, and in the end I still want one. I think it would be very useful around this town.

                         For the first time the bus was late. Some guy told me that the buses are NEVER late… he jinxed it. I got lunch at the bistro, which on the weekdays you have to pay for. All I saw was soup, so, I got some. Then I asked the lady at the checkout if they had any other food. She handed me a menu, apparently you order with her. I ordered a burger too. Then I sat down with some random girl that was by herself. We were 2 of 4 people in the whole place. She was very nice and it is cool that I can just sit down with anyone here and they are happy to talk to you. I then ran back to the room to get my Bop ticket. I had to hurry if I was going to get a bus into town before the opening ceremony. I ran into Douglas, Faye, and Naomi in the apartment. Douglas and Faye were going to take a taxi, so I decided to join them.

                                  We split the cab fare to Younger Hall (the place where I matriculated, even the same room, a picture is posted of the building). The ceremony was really cool. It was not boring, like KU’s was. I wish I had worn my gown like some people did.  The teaches, students in administrative positions- elected positions, and some staff, like the Chaplin, who is new this year- replacing the guy that had been here for 18 years- and the head of all the sports guy, walked in a precession as we sang a song; some song about praising the teachers. It was in Latin. It was actually really cool. All of them were wearing different designed and colored gowns. I saw one professor was wearing a kilt. There were 4 speeches, including one by my warden of my hall, although he did the opening speech, before all the teachers and people were on the stage. He did describe graduation. It was really cool. He said that in 4 years we would be on that stage, we come up one by one, kneel down, and our degree is conferred upon us. I am picturing a knighting scene. The principle told us what a proctor and  a rector was. There was an MC, a lady that smiled the whole time, even when I saw her at the church service on Sunday, she was smile. I hope I get her as a teacher. The English teacher, the last speaker, was the best. He had a heavier accent and was very animated. He read us a war time speech told to a clan, that I think fought around St. Andrews… many many years ago! It was about a 2 minute speech, every line started with “be.” For example, be caring, be strong, be daring, etcetera. And, some of them were repeated a few times, every other one. I think the daring one was one of them. But the words after the b were all in alphabetical order.  I thought it covered every word, and then some, that I think of when I think of what you need to be successful and complete university. People laughed and then quiet, and then laughed, and so one, as the speech seemed to go on for a long time. People clapped after that speech and then a few seconds later when he said like a sentence and then went back to his chair. Also, the principle went first out, but there were 2 sliver maces that went out before her. One of them is 500 or 600 years old, the St. Savlator mace and then was given to the university in the 1950s or 60s. There are special mace bearers, wearing very cool outfits- a black suit with a long coat in the back with red trim, front and back, a black vest and a white shirt and white bowtie. I would not dare touch the maces. On Sunday, in church, one of the maces was brought in right in front of the principle and then placed next to her in a holder thing on the pew. It was really cool to see the mace so close. The staff had some decoration on it and on top there was a man, which looked a little tired, carrying/holding an x as big as him, ground to head. Anyway, the opening ceremony was 45 minutes- one hour.  It started with one mace barer walking in and posting at the end of the benches, and then the people came though and sat on the stage. Then, the next mace bearer came and posted on the other side, followed close behind the principle. Then she went on the stage and stood in the middle, she was wearing a hat like a graduation hat and gown that was black and looked like a Chinese dragon costume because of all the gold grouped stripes in various places), the two bearers then went on stage and placed the maces in holders on a table in the middle of the stage. Then they bowed to the principle. After that they took their places, in front, of their chairs, off to the side and back, on the stage. The principle took off her hat. Then the MC said please be seated and everyone sat down.  The MC gave a short speech and we started the other 3 speeches.  If you should like to watch the opening go to http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/orientation/opening/. Watch the first 8 minutes.

                           After the opening ceremonies, 6 of us went to get coffee. We all live in Fraser. One kid, for Scotland, has bright red/orange hair- I think it is dyed a little stronger color then his natural color- is named Hamish (pronounced h-amish). We sat and drink our drinks for a while, I got a hot chocolate. Then I went to check out the cold medicine supply at Boots. On the way, I stopped at that place that I took a picture of that I said was “The everything stereotype Scottish shop” because they were having a 50% off sale. I got a nice green tartan blanket, it is actually a felt rug, but it is on my bed now. I then went to see about the medicine, which I did not find any for just a sore throat that I wanted.

                          As I waited for the bus I saw lots of cute dogs: a hunting dog with a stuffed duck in his mouth, a white Scotty with an old lady (see picture that is posted). And my favorite, a dog sitting outside a shop, with no leash, that looked like the dog in Pirates of the Caribbean, in one of the first scenes in the first movie, when Jack is in jail. The bus was late again, not that late, but it had never been a second late before and I was being impatient- now I really think that guy jinxed it. There was a cute old lady on the bus with gray hair wearing a longish green tartan skirt and holding a walking stick. I thought this is what I came to see, stereotypically countryside Scottish people.

                        After I got back, I hung out by myself. I seem to do a lot by myself so far here. It is okay though; it is easier to meet people when you are alone then when you are with a group. If you are with a group no one will approach. Plus, I would like to meet more people like me currently. It is also more relaxing to be by myself, then I don’t have to be funny or cool for anyone, I don’t have to worry if they like me or not. (That sounds really shallow, but I would like to make friends here). I can also do what I want, I can go explore the castle if I want, go shopping in stores I want, go back to DRA, etc.

                          So, when others got back, we planned the evening because tonight was The Bop. Dinner tonight had the option of… fish! After dinner, I have yet to have fish here, we went back and chilled and planned tonight again. The party did not start until 10pm. At 8:40 ish, Douglas, Faye and I went to the bar to kill time. We hung out there and talked to people. I met a nice guy from Northern Ireland, Rory. I was ready to give him my number, until I saw him trying to get with every girl he saw… boo.  

                                    I little before 10pm, we left. Douglas, Faye, and Rory walked to the union. I was not about to walk, I might have been a little scared; I know it is St. Andrews, but still.  Faye said that she had ridden her bike around London’s most dangerous part of town after midnight. I was just thinking, not smart! I called a taxi. As I waited outside, a really hot guy came up and asked if I knew the taxi number. I asked if he was going into town. He said yes, and I suggested that we share a cab because then we could split the cost; it seems to be the thing to do around here. He is from Boston but goes to school at McGill. We had a very nice conversation and after the ride went our separate ways (no goodbyes or numbers, too bad!)

                          I waited for the group that walked for a little under 15 minutes. Then we went in, we had to show our student ID and wrist band. We figured out that the really really long line was for people without wrist bands, so we just walked in. There were very few people there and even fewer dancing. There were balloons everywhere, including all over the floor, which everyone loved to pop, it was very annoying. There was also 2 huge balloons that people kept in the air, it reminded me of Ku basketball games with the huge beach balls.The event soon got going and it was okay. There were like 4 DJs on the stage, a band? It was just like a party in Lawrence/ at Abe and Jake’s, but almost no grinding. However, I did see some people making out on the dance floor. The only difference was that there was a full bar at a school party. I danced for awhile and took a break and sat down with another group of friends (Naomi, and her friends, Sam (guy) and Marian (Canadian), who I met earlier in the night.

                           Douglas was really funny tonight. He was totally drunk. And, quiet Douglas was dancing and just letting lose. He was actually touched people, on the shoulder. Wow, that sounds weird. A girl grinded on him, and he didn’t know what to do because he didn’t want to; but, he did it for like 2 minutes anyway. It was really fun to chill with Douglas tonight. He was more friendly and talkative then I have ever seen him.

                              It was just like American parties, and I lost Douglas, and Faye and those people so at 11:30 pm I left. That is the earliest I have ever left a party, sometimes that is when I get there at KU, but I just did not see the point in staying. I called a taxi and got a very nice driver. He inquired about why I was going back so early and how I was a “good girl.” He also called me honey, in a nice way, not a creepy way, and when I gave him a 5 for a 4.10 ride, he gave me back 1. He had lots of tattoos, which I was not excepting. I have had him again for a taxi ride 1-2 more times since. And, I think he was the dispatcher one day, because I recognized his voice, and he called me honey. Even though I got home early, I went to bed around 1:30am.