Awkward Andy

I lived with 14 people throughout my University education.  It wasn't always a good time, let's just say that.  There are numerous stories that I could tell about these five years of my life, but I think I will start with the one that I will never forget.

Awkward Andy.

That's what we called him anyways.  So basically, I bought my own house in third year of university, and then had the task of finding roommates.  I had just taken a year off to do a co-op so all of my friends had houses and I was kind of on my own.  So my mom (I blame my mom), went down to the city to meet a potential roommate.  She said he was a quiet guy in second year and she thought he seemed ok.  Thanks a lot mom.

We tried to befriend him.  But he was so awkward!  And this is coming from a socially awkward penguin like myself!  I have some examples of his awkwardness:

Besides Awkward Andy, I loved that little house

• He lost his key all the time.  We would find it on the driveway, the living room floor, the counter, the backyard.  One day we knew he had left it inside, so we sat in the living room and waited for him to knock on the door.  But the knock never came.  Then we heard him downstairs in his room.  To avoid talking to us, he had crawled through his bedroom window.
• He would do all of his cooking in the middle of the night so that he didn't have to be in the same room as us.  One night the smoke detector woke me up at 2 in the morning.  He had food on the stove, but had decided to go out for a late night stroll while it was cooking.
• He walked to school, 45 minutes, in the rain, frequently. 
• After 6 months of this, I confronted him about using the phone (he didn't pay for it).  Things got a little heated and I told him I thought he should find another place to live next year.  He responded with "Do you have a problem with me?"  Um this is the most we have spoken in five months and you frequently climb through your bedroom window so that you don't have to talk to us.  So yes, I have a problem with you.

Let's just say, I was glad when he moved out. 

Back to School

The other day, I got to thinking about University....

Oh ya, this isn't Sex and the City.

But I was going through my University's website and to be honest, I kind of miss it.  I miss the excitement that comes with starting a new school year.  You get to hit refresh every 4 months when you are in University and that's kind of liberating!

I promise this isn't all I did while at university, I studied hard

I miss being completely on my own and relying on nobody but myself.  I could workout in the middle of the day.  I could make whatever I wanted for dinner.  I could stop at the mall on my way home and wander around for an hour.  It's not that I don't have these freedoms anymore, it's that I feel that I have responsibilities.  I have to get home, maybe make dinner, maybe clean (notice the maybes).  I can't just take an extra two hours to get home from work without telling Ryan where I am.

Sure, some parts of University were stressful.  But overall, University was a great experience, and sometimes I wish it wasn't over.  Today is the day when all of the first year students will be moving into residence.  It's a terrifying and exciting time.  You are wondering if you will make any friends and what your classes will be like.  Just because you were a good student in high school doesn't mean university will come easy.

It's important to have a strong little brother to help you move in

When your parents finally leave to go home, you don't really know what to do with yourself.  Times that by a million when you live off campus for the first time.  (I had cheerios for dinner).  But I think that most people probably grow more as a person in that first year of university than at any other time in their life.  So congratulations to all the newbies out there.  Enjoy it because someday you will wish you were still there.  (People told me this about high school though and I can honestly say I never wish that I was still in high school.)

Not Back To School

Today is the day when the University students are back at school.  At my University, this was an O-Week Day.  Actual classes don't start until Thursday.  That's right, 2 whole days of Frosh action!



Brock University - The Tower



Anyways, this day has got me to thinking about how much I miss University and how much I don't.

Things I miss about university:

• My job: I worked at the campus convenience store.  It was an amazing job and I worked with some great people.  I made some life long friendships there.
• Freedom: Having the weird schedule gave you free time in the middle of the day.  I liked the inconsistency.  I could work out in the middle of the day, watch tv in the middle of the day, go to the grocery store....it was great.




The room where I spent most of my time in my first purchased home

• Free Coffee: From above job.  FREE. COFFEE.  It was great.
• Having something that was my own: I felt like Brock and St. Catharines were my own.  I was proud of the fact that I had something separate from the rest of my family.  Something else defined me besides just being a part of the family I'm from in our small town.
• Having so much time to study: This isn't so much the case when I'm working full time and taking courses
• The gym being so convenient: I could go to the gym between classes.  I loved that.





Things I don't miss:


• The inconsistency: Yes part of me like it.  But there's something to be said for having to get up and get going at the same time every day.  
• Always having to be studying: You never ever feel ok about not studying.  There is always more that can be done.  I missed reading my own books while I was at school.
• Being 2 hours away from home: Especially when I started dating Ryan.  Going home on weekends also decreased my productivity.

The one thing I regret....graduating so early.  Ryan Gosling was at convocation this year.  (His mom was graduating).  Why do I have to be so smart?

A few shots were had during my years

Overall I'm glad it's done.  It was great while I was there, but I was ready to be done at the end of it.   

 

Some second year roomies