Attack of the Giant Stereotypes

Why is it that I always get my best ideas right as I’m drifting off to sleep? Or at least, I think they’re my best ideas. I guess that doesn’t make them particularly good, just better compared to the others. Maybe it’s just that I’m in a particularly welcoming state of mind when the lights go out (try to get past that sentence right there without any comments)…these cold pills probably give me illusions of grandeur. Delusions of grandeur.

Anyway, it’s not fair that I get Freshers’ Flu…I’m not even a Fresher! I swear!

So…everyone’s behaving as they ought to, stereotypically (see title). I was reading a book and biting on a pen yesterday in the park, sitting peacefully against a tree, when an Asian girl came up to me and asked if she could take my picture. The shady German neighbor next door is being shady and German, knocking on my door by day and offering me coffee, drinking vodka and playing European techno by night. I went out this evening (ignoring – denying – signs of sickness) with a group of third year Americans, and we ended up at a good ol’ U S of A restaurant that was surrounded by pubs and pan-Asian bistros, eating ribs and fried chicken. I checked the student “survival guide” when we got back…two out of five stars. Classic. Of course, the Brits are still biking around, saying “bloody” and “cheers” a lot…I met a fantastic Welshman and a Scotsman, but I don’t know enough about the Welsh and didn’t talk long enough to the Scot to determine how they were conforming.

This afternoon, I headed out to the Thames – also known as the Isis? I don’t get it – to try out Oxford rowing. (What flu?) The weather was perfect…blue skies and a slight breeze. It’s a good half-hour’s walk down to the river, though, so I’ll definitely have to invest in a bike if I want to pick up this jolly old tradition. Apparently I have good form, but I think my rhythm needs work. I don’t know any of the lingo, and our novice boat nearly crashed into another boat, causing my oar blade to get jammed between the two vessels, which caused the other end to whack me under the ribs and make a mighty attempt to launch me into the water. I made it, though. Dangerous stuff, messing about in boats…or hey I could be a cox? Ramble ramble…the Nyquil sets in…

No one else seems to be sick, and I think I know why. When I was a little girl living in England, my parents’ good friends would sometimes have us over for tea. On one occasion, I believe just after the family’s first child was born, my parents commented on how quiet the baby was being. “Oh, that’s because he’s out in the garden!” was the response. “What, on his own? Is that safe?” enquired Mom, somewhat appalled. “Oh yes, quite safe, he’s asleep, napping in his pen.” Or something like that. Which explains a lot, I think. Mom should have taken up the practice of airing out her children, because then maybe the fire alarms that keep going off in the middle of the night wouldn’t disturb my immune system so much. Wet hair and freezing toes hasn’t seemed to faze any of the Brits.

Well, before I fall into bed, I think I’ll give you a few hints of what’s to come…here are some of the subject lines in my Oxford inbox:

[FOODCLUB] Welcome to AFTERNOON TEA!
~~Fresher Rowing~~~
BEGINNER’S FENCING *Free Taster Session*
Bop Tonight!!!!
Oxford Union Michaelmas 2008
Pistol Club Induction
And
Oxford Blind Tasting Society!

As you might be able to determine, I have recently put my name on rather a lot of email lists. I think once tutorials and lectures actually start (aka get assigned), my panicky nerd persona will show up and I’ll back out of most, if not all, of these clubs I’ve signed up for. Until then, I’ll continue to make up for all the standard behavior everyone’s displaying by acting completely extroverted and out of character. Or, kind of. …’Night!