Freshers Week

Well, Freshers Week started on Saturday when some of the freshers arrived and moved into their halls. This means that Aberdeen has come to life in the past couple of days. I totally forgot what a college town Aberdeen really is, but when the University isn't in session there are much less people walking the streets past nine. But this Saturday when we were walking back from the cinema we saw  group of freshers walking to the pub in their silly costumes. I guess we can't say they aren't organised as most of them had probably only arrived that afternoon.

The biggest part of Freshers Week for me since I'm a committee member of a society is the Societies Fayre. This is where all the societies set up stalls in a HUGE tent on the King's Pitch and try and get the new students to join. I think it's way more fun to work the fayre than to actually attend. But that's just me. Anyway, I got up at the ungodly hour of 7:45am to shower, dress, and get to campus by 9:00am to sign in our society so we didn't lose our stall. Then I spent the next hour and a half setting up the stall which actually involved a lot more sitting around than actual set up. Then the freshers slowly started to arrive and it was time to get to work in handing out my amazing fliers (not to toot my own horn or anything). We got a whole lot of people signed up to receive emails this week as reminders for our Freshers Events. I hope that many if not most of them decide to actually join.

The fayre ends at 3:00pm and even though it's only 2:00pm, I'm already home. Why? Because my new laptop broke and I'm waiting for the repair guy to come. I had a flatmate stay in this morning for me, but can't make them stay in all day and the repair technician can come any time from 9:00am to 5:00pm. *sigh* If they don't come there will be a long email written to Dell about scheduling appointments and not keeping them. Especially since the next one they'll probably make will be after classes start and I might not have a completely free day this year. They still have a few hours to get here and fix my brand new computer so we'll see.

Anyway, tonight will be Slains Castle Pub Quiz for the new people and I'm running on like four hours of sleep. Not by my own doing. I just haven't been able to sleep for the past few nights. There may be a nap in my future...or at least a gallon of coffee.

Fresher's Week

This past week I have been a very busy bunny. Fresher's week has been quite busy this year...probably because last year I was the scared, little sheet wondering around the "fayres" not knowing what to do or where to go and being mauled by people handing fliers and information cards and what not. This year I was the person mauling scared, little sheep with fliers and information cards.

My week started Sunday when the rolplaying association committee got together and realised that we hadn't done anything for Fresher's Society Fayre except make vague plans. So, we got the rest of the day off after the meeting (because we had already set up some board game and movie time!) then promised that we would get some work done! Which we did. Marlene and I headed down to the hobby store to buy black crape paper and silver spray paint on Monday. Tuesday was a pretty busy day. First I helped Jamie on some poster ideas then went to campus to print out big letters and work more on poster ideas and then Marlene came over and we all made a big sign out of the black paper and silver spray paint. Not only did we make the sign that said "AURA ROLEPLAYING" we also made two silver shields with the dragon we've come to think of as our crest. Then we all stayed up late into the night printing fliers and posters. Wednesday was the fayre and started out with me having to go print more fliers early in the morning due to a misspelling. Then we all worked the fayre from 9am-3pm. Mostly I was either walking around handing out fliers and directing people to our booth or running back and forth from the print room. I did take a small break due to a stomach ache and dizziness (I think I didn't eat enough). That night was the society pub quiz for new people. Thursday was a little more of a break, but Marlene, Lisa, Amy and I all went to buy food for the give it a go sessions and I made cookies, entered emails into the list and sent out some reminder emails to people who were not lucky enough to happen by the booth when we still had fliers. Friday I ran down to campus early to print reminder posters and put them up all around campus. I had an hour's break before give it a go and board gaming which lasted from 2pm-10pm. This morning I volunteered with Guide Dogs taking donation in the city center and then did board gaming with new people from 5:30-8:30 (it went until 10 but I was too tired).

Did I mention that between all of this I had a Tier 4 Visa Check and my advisor meeting (which deserves its own post due to all the hassle)? And that I have been living on one meal a day and crisps and biscuits in the afternoon for the past week? And that the electricity here shorted out my facial brush? And that I found out I have a lecture right at the time of puppy class and will have to figure out how to get things settled with the person in charge? There are a few words that describe me right now; broken, dead, stressed, sleepy, annoyed, etc. You take your pick and that's probably me. But I think one word sums all of it up.

EXHAUSTED!

Good Night! My week isn't over until Tuesday when I can stop stressing but until then...*bites nails* see you later.

Freshers' Fling

So, Last night was the Freshers' Fling. It was loads of fun! It was the first Ceilidh I had ever been to so I enjoyed myself immensely. These are videos of the first three dances. I don't have anything else from the rest of the time I was there because I danced for almost 2 1/2 hours straight. Again, so much fun. Even though I really couldn't partake in the food because it was all meat substances. But I really did enjoy myself. This was to wind down Freshers' Week because on Monday we start classes. Great Fun. Actually, I'm quite ready to get back into the swing of school.

Friends

I think Erin might have some friends guys!

I went to "register", which apparently was code for sit around in a room, a VERY pretty room though, for an hour talking to people and maybe talking to a teacher. Anyway, I went to "register" my History of Art and Philosophy class and I met a few people there. I ended up going to another Freshers' Fayre for the Society sign ups with a few of them. Then afterward we went to have lunch at the Hub. There I met a few of their flatmates. We parted separate ways after lunch because of my stupid bank and student portal situation and they had to take care of some things as well.

Then I came back to my room for a little while before going out again. While here I went to get an early dinner (nutella sandwich. oh yeah!) in the kitchen area when who should I meet? A flatmate! Amazing really. He's the only guy on our corridor...I think maybe the whole floor. Anyway we talked for a little bit about American politics (yes! I've been missing that!) even though he's from London (well, Nigeria originally. How cool is that?). Then I left.

Why did I leave? I signed up for the Improv Society today and I went to my very first meeting where I met a few people I think I could actually become friends with. Two of them were Germans and another I'm pretty sure was Scottish. But they seemed like the kind of people who I could really be around for a while. You know? Like friends. I'm really happy about this.

For All the Harry Potter Lovers out There...

Yesterday I got my "freshman" packet. Basically it had my Freshers Week Guide, a list of things I need to get done if I haven't already (including how to pay fees and everything else that I spent weeks stressing about), and my advisor of studies appointment. All Freshmen have to go to a meeting with their Advisor of Studies within the first few days of being one campus. Mine happens to be the first day of classes (September 21) with my Advisor who works in the Celtic department. Guess what my Advisor's name is! Mrs. McGonigle!!! I can already tell it's going to be a good year. I'll let you guys know if she turns into a cat on me during our meeting. :)