THe Halls of Learning

Hello friends, I'm finally reporting to you from Nashville, or "Nash Vegas" as some people call it.
I'm already using blogging as a homework-avoidance tool. This does not bode well. The laptop is a dangerous thing.
Dad and I drove down here last week. It was nice to spend the time together, though Dad would have preferred less togetherness with the car trailer. He did not enjoy towing my car.
We made it here in one piece and had the joy of unloading at 1:00pm in hundred-degree heat. Nashville natives keep assuring us outsiders that this heat is unusual, but I'm not so sure....
My plan all along has been to bike to school, but since it's been over 100 every day since I got here, I folded and bought a parking pass. I have never enjoyed AC as much as I do now.
Orientation started Wednesday and went through Friday. It's been a little overwhelming. Meeting hundreds of new people gets exhausting.
Here are some stats on my class:
-20% are 25 or over. This means 80% is under 25. I did not expect this. Why not? I don't know.
-several of the men showed up in pink polo shirts. Draw your own conclusions.
-one guy managed to annoy the entire class on the second day of orientation and earned a nickname he will probably never be able to divorce himself from (unless he transfers schools...)
-the guy sitting next to me in my legal writing class was working at a bank and survived a bank robbery! Exciting stuff!
I have no problems to report from the homefront, other than the fact that the dog ate my underwear. This is much funnier than if the dog had eaten my shirt, so I decided to forgive him for it.
I was trying to find the bookstore today and took a wrong turn. I ended up in the middle of hordes of freshman moving into the dorms. I have to say I'm glad those days are behind me.
I'm reading about the origins of contracts and contract law for my first class on Monday. I actually think it's interesting, but blogging is providing a necessary break.
Hugs.
Lauren

Learning from shampoo

Hello friends, it's been a while since I blogged. I think I'm suffering from the same thing that kept some of you from writing to me while I was away: is my life really THAT interesting? Does anyone really want to hear what I'm doing? The answer for me was "yes" when I was away and wanted to hear from people, so at the risk of boring you all, I'll assume the answer is "yes" for you too.
If you are bored, be consoled by the thought that I'll once again be a stranger in a strange land all too soon: Lauren in the South. Hopefully that will produce some fun anecdotes.
Anyhoo, I'm feeling mostly readjusted to being at home. At first I was having some trouble with having to be places at specific times. It made me feel anxious. I'm doing better with that now.
I got home from the wedding and crashed. I think all my tiredness finally came out. I've been sleeping anwhere from 9 to 12 hours a night, which is really unusual for me.
The biggest transition thing for me right now is integrating the things I learned in India into my everyday life and interactions with people. In India, I could choose who I wanted to spend my time with and when, etc. There was no real obligation to invest in relationships and compromise with people the way we all have to every day in the real world. I'm trying to figure out where to draw the line with people--where I can be myself and be true to what I want and need, but not be a jerk to other people or to myself. It may take me some time to find a balance point.
A silly example:
I bought shampoo yesterday and the sales lady kept trying to upsell me at the register. "I really think you should get this, did you know about that, this would be really great for you, bla bla bla." I was getting irritated because I just wanted to buy the shampoo. So I said, "could I just buy the shampoo now?" I wasn't rude, just matter-of-fact. She looked shocked. Was that an inappropriate thing to say? I'm not sure. I said it without malice, but who knows. Where to draw the line between just wanting to buy the shampoo and having to sit there for 10 minutes while she tries to sell me hair product I don't want???? These are the questions that shape our times.
TTFN,
Lauren