The Cerebral Mum

Some people post about the bigger events in their lives. I rarely seem to be able too. When big things are happening, blogging doesn’t. Which I guess is why I’ve never kept a journal. So Week Zero (O-Week) was last week.

O-Week is “Orientation”. There aren’t any classes: It’s just time to hang out, get used to the campus, sign up for clubs and unions, go to information seminars, change your courses, sort out your books, ID card etc, etc… I only went in on the Monday, because I’ve done this before, right? And 5 hours on public transport is a lot to pay for a sausage sizzle. But I did write some scribbly notes on my home, and here they are…

Late last night… Still not organised. Should I even go to O-Week? There’s a host to meet at 9am for a “challenge”. That means I have to leave home at 6:30am. All my clothes are in the laundry. I have changed my mind 4 times already about whether I’m going to do it all or just go in for a couple of later sessions. Then it’s 2am and I still don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’m finally excited instead of just worrying about being organised.

And then today… I wake up. It’s 8am. I guess that’s my decision made for me. I say to Big Sis, “Nope. Definitely not going.” I look at my O-Week program again and see that the Arts Faculty welcome is at 2pm. I can make that session.

I have the luxury of showering while Big Sis runs around stopping Cas from pushing all the buttons on the television. And the stereo. And the computers. It’s cold. the weather and the only clean items in my closet dictate what I’m going to wear. I still haven’t plucked my eyebrows. I take tweezers with me so i can do it on the train. What’s a few eyebrow hairs between commuters, right?

I finally get there, 2 1/2 hours later, and the weather has changed. I’m wearing a skirt as a top, smock-like over a black turtleneck, and a heavy winter coat. I take the turtle neck off. Still too hot. The coat has to go too, so it’s off to the bathrooms to remove my bra as well. Not exactly perky but a strapless “smock” hides a multitude of things, and at least I’m no longer sweating. I obviously wasn’t organised enough for Melbourne weather.

I have a list. The queue for ID cards is too long. The queue to even get into the bookstore is too long. I buy a latte and hang out watching the band. And then to the lecture hall.

It is far larger than even the largest lecture hall at my old Uni. I take a seat in the centre of the 3rd row. That’s where I always sit at the movies. I ask the girl in front of me if she went to the “challenge” this morning, just so I knew what I had missed out on, but she hadn’t gone either. The girl beside me starts a conversation, an American living in the Halls of Residence for her first Australian semester but planning on moving out once she gets her bearings. She’s lovely. But a photography major, so I’ll probably never see her again…

That’s where my notes leave off, but I did get my ID card and my books. And I was completely spellbound listening to the faculty welcome and all the phenomenal opportunities which are ahead of me if I want them… Internships, study tours and even an overseas semester with, wait for it… The fees covered by HECS! So now I’m dreaming of an extraordinarily cheap semester a Harvard. I just have to take a breath here and savour that thought.

Not only that, I also found out that I could switch to a double degree and get a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the same time in stead of just following my BA with a Dip. Ed. Now that’s a plan!

And not only that, I can factor in a Graduate Certificate of Arts & Social Sciences while still an undergrad as well. I’m not sure yet if I can do all 3, but if I can, I’m sure as hell going to!

By the way, my first actual real lecture was today, and fantastic, but I’m going to have to tell you all about that tomorrow….

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