Snippets nonchalant

It's been one long week and I can't believe that it's only been about nine days of seeing blockmates, professors and sore feet. There are interesting things that happened over the week; I'm quite apologetic that I couldn't write them down sooner-- between dinner and arriving home, there's the huge likelihood that I fall asleep or forget this thing completely. Too bad, it wouldv'e been amusing to describe these things in greater detail.

Tuesday, OUR 1:00-2:00pm

Sometimes you think you're the end-all-and-be-all of some things. Like the UPCAT, for example. So I was really surprised to see long lines at the Registrar's: turns out that it was the second to the last day for submitting the application form. Jamie, a classmate from Math, was getting her id and so I, having nothing better to do, went with her. I sat near the fan while she sat in the id queue. Incidentally there were other people near my area, most likely getting registered or something. A mom sat to my right; she was waiting for her son to finish: he was one of those tall, mestiso types who obviously like sports and who's probably rich enough to enroll in an elite all-boys' school and go to the US every summer. I didn't know him, therefore I had no opinion of him, except that he was being incredibly whiny about something that was not getting done. He kept going back and forth between the chairs and the window with a scowl on his face. His mom, on the other hand, who was coaching-nagging-talking-not being helpful to her son, was calling out his name for all heaven to hear. His name was Mark.

Anyway, he was given the Bracket B certification form a little while later. So he went to his mom.

Mark: Mom, do you have a pen?

Mom: *looks into bag* Ay wala. I changed bags.

Mark: Shoot. No wait, I got it. *rummages in own bag* Crap. I don't have a pen.

And so they tittered for a while on what they were going to do. I was sitting a foot away to the left, and through sheer inspiration, I opened my pencil case and sedately said, "Would you like a pen?"

The mom was nice enough to thank me at least, and so I opened my Socio 10 reading while waiting for them to finish with it. With the form accomplished, the mom returned my pen to me with her thanks (but not her son's :|). I continued to read while waiting for Jamie to finish, but I couldn't help hearing the the little drama being played out to my right.

Mom: O Mark, since you're in college na, you should start reading. You know, they give you thick books to read, etc etc...

Mark: Mom, I don't read. I'm a soccer player.

I must've read one sentence fifteen times. What a jock!!! :| I hope he doesn't get into UP, cause he doesn't deserve the slot some poorer bloke could've occupied.

Wednesday, Econ 11 discussion 1:00-2:00pm

It's the only time our block gets together. It's a pity we don't know everyone too well. I think I'd love to be friends with all of them, even with the Makati girls; college makes you realize that people are people, and there's something to be discovered in each of them.

We had group work for that day. Yay! It's roughly the only social interaction you can hope to get in class, since you can usually go through a lecture without even turning to the person beside you. I quite realize that making friends is somewhat of a choice, because reaching out is not exactly the easiest thing to do in the world. It's a small achievement of mine that I've managed to know perhaps 45% of my blockmates by name, and an even bigger achievement to match those names to the right faces.

Another thing that group work makes you realize: that everyone in UP is SMART. Like really. And sometimes they don't even have to look like it.

Guess the UPCAT counts for something then.

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Oh yeah, there was an Oblation Run earlier that day. :)) Yes, they are naked, and yes, they do run/jog and give roses and make the queers screaaaaaam like hell. And most likely all of the rumors you've probably heard about it are true. :))

Thursday (Birthday!)

Twas okay. Although of course it was a little strange "celebrating" it in an environment where virtually everyone is a stranger and most of them won't care if you're turning a year or not. I mean, it's not a piece of information you'd let slip to someone you've just met; otherwise they'll think that you're asking for attention and all.

Friday

Generally today was better than yesterday, because the weird awkward feeling of my supposedly special day had passed. First day of eighteen today! And I spent it catching up with old friends and making new ones. There's Geoff and Gilbert and Iris. So I have guy friends now. Well at least now I know that not all of them have the social capacity of a teaspoon-- I used to think there was something wrong with me because I couldn't carry a proper normal conversation with guys, because usually they vomit out one word and then leave it to fate and silence to direct our conversation. Wala lang pala. :)) Whew.

I rode the wrong jeep going home. Good thing I realized it before I got lost, so I got down at Robinsons, where I decided to get the Econ book I needed. I was able to buy it at the NBS in Q Plaza. The baggage guy was trying to talk to me. Wth. Generally I like chatting with random, friendly strangers, but I wasn't in any mood to do so today. I had been walking for hours on an empty stomach, which made me really cranky. The weight of my bag was cutting the circulation in my left arm, so I guess that was another factor.

Back in AA, I didn't have good days and bad days. I just had school days, which means that all of them were the same to me. In UP, I have good moments and bad moments, and times when I just want to sit somewhere clean; the volatility of my day (and the weather!) astounds me. But it can be quite fun actually.