By the time I wake up on Tuesday, my roommate has already left the room, leaving a minor tornado drop of clothing and bedding on her side. I chuckle at the sight and rub the sleep out of my eyes. Liberal days mean I don't have class until 9:50 and I always seem to think this will give me more time to do things but usually it just means I take a lot longer to get ready. I'm sure someone said something about how if you have unscheduled "unlimited" time to work on something you'll take forever to do it, even if it's a 5 minute task. That's usually how these mornings work for me, but today I am determined. I force myself into yoga pants and sneakers, and pulling my hair into a messy ponytail I rush out into the brisk morning air of the quad. I make my way to the gym and actually pound out a good 5 miles on the elliptical with the help of my guilty pleasure pop music.
I get back to my dorm and shower, the sound of one girl in my hall belting out a mix of Disney, showtunes, and opera filling the bathrooms. I might be annoyed by this, but she's honestly so talented it just makes me smile. I get dressed for the day and about 35 minutes into my 45 minute long true crime video I realize my class starts at 9:40 and not 9:50. I grab my back and rush through the quad, tripping over my own feet as I zoom down Waterman. Passing by Carr Haus is especially excruciating and maybe I imagine it but I swear the air smells like chai tea and their parmesan and leek croissants (another campus staple I discovered way too late in the game and planned to take full advantage of before leaving in June).
I roll into Provwash and press the button, the elevator doors making a frankly terrifying sound as they open and close behind me. Landing on the 3rd floor I rush down the hallway and into my classroom, locating Erin, Anisha, Mya, and Lily across the room and taking my seat between them.
"No Dunkin today?" Erin asks Mya, sounding genuinely concerned.
"No it seemed like it was about to rain and I was not about to take that trek this morning," Mya responds.
"Well at least you're stocked with Starbucks," I chuckle, taking note of the iced coffee in a size of cup I did not know Starbucks sold, it's so big.
As people start to settle in for class, I watch Anisha pull out her color coordinated pens (pink today) and meticulously write in the cursive heading for today's class: Intro to Anthropology, Prof. French. The professor in question, lays her jacket and light scarf on the chair next to her and begins the class. I'm very happy with the class especially considering that during the selection process I didn't realize the hpss classes had different topics. All in all I'm much more suited to anthropology than some of the horror story class subjects my friends are in. I pay attention for most of the class, taking only a slight wander to research backpacking in Italy (though I have no real plans of going to Italy). I perk up when I hear Leslie talking. Bella's in section with her and she seems really cool.
After class I approach Prof. French.
"Hey there Prof. French!" I say. "Great class today, I find it so interesting how ideas of gender in the US have been historically 2 sided while other cultures have been in a trio mindset for so long. Psyched to look into it more."
"Oh I'm glad, I'm glad," she responds. "How can I help you?"
"Well, I'm interested in doing a hpss concentration and I was wondering which track you suggest I take? I'm trying to decide between the systems of belief and the regional one, probably focusing on Latin America or the Americas."
"Oh wonderful! How nice that you're interested in that," she says, leaning against a desk. "But I'm not sure how to answer because it really is up to your specific interest, if you know what I mean. You're going to get something great out of both tracks, it's just where you want to focus in, what will be most fruitful for you personally."
"No, yeah, I totally get that," I affirm.
"The most I can say is check the course catalog and find some examples of classes in each to figure out what sparks your interest," she suggests.
"Oh that's actually a great idea," I say. "Should've thought of that before. Thanks!"
"Of course, I'll see you next week," she says, turning to shuffle her papers into her bag.
As I leave the classroom I see the elevator doors just starting to close on a few of my classmates.
"Hold it please!" I cry out, holding tight to my coat and rushing towards the doors. An arm flies out to halt the metal closing in and I slip into the elevator. Following the arm I see Leslie's smiling face as she hits the button. "Thank you."
"Of course," she laughs, hitting the button, Hello Kitty ring on her finger.
"I love your ring," I say, pushing my hair behind my ears and catching my breath.
"Thanks," she says. "I've had it since I was like five."
"That's a big commitment for a five year old to make, to save a ring for that long," I say.
"I've always been stubborn," she replies.
"In my mind I just call that determined so I feel better about myself," I joke.
"Oh yes," she says, laughing. "It's all about perspective."
"You're in Bella's section right?" I ask and she nods. "Cool, cool. We're friends, she mentioned you."
"Rad, I love Bella," she says.
"Hey, we should sit together in class Friday," I say. "I feel like we should be friends."
"Totally," she says. "I'm usually late for class but…"
"We'll race to class Friday," I say. "Just to make sure."
"You have fun with that," she jokes.
As we step out of the elevator I wave goodbye and head out the door, heading back to the library once again. I make my way to the second floor picture collection, handing a slip to the student working there that says "clowns". As I flip through the photos I become distinctly aware that I have no idea what my project is going to be. But I am filled with joy by their colorful expressive faces and jaunty outfits. And then I'm filled with extra joy when I realize that they are giving me joy considering that a year ago I had been so so deathly afraid of clowns. I think the night that I dressed as a clown and got drunk changed everything. Conquer your fear by becoming it. Classic.
After making a few scans I return the file and head out when I hear a dog barking. I look around before realizing that it's my ringtone. While very distinct, I'm still not used to it.
"Hello hello?" I say into the phone.
"Heyyy," I hear the low tone of Audrey's morning voice.
"Did you just wake up?" I ask, double checking the time.
"Yes," she responds slowly.
"Okay," I say. "Well I'm going to the Met anyway if you wanna get something to eat. I missed breakfast so I am quite hungry I would say."
"Okay."
I wait for her to say more but nothing comes.
"Okay," I laugh. "See you there, five minutes."
As I head to the Met it does in fact start to rain, per Mya's prediction. Of course, I'm wearing my coat that doesn't have a hood even though it really feels like it should have a hood. Instead the collar is just really ridiculously long almost like a mini cape and I try to pull this over my head as much as possible. But honestly, it's such a light and passing sprinkle (and I'm from Portland) so I quickly just give up and embrace the slight downfall.
Once in the dining hall I grab a heaping plate of food (this school is dangerous that way) and a mug of tea. I rejoice in the weird cubby booth being free and throw all my stuff down, immediately diving into the food as Audrey approaches and joins me.
"Tea?" she questions.
"Decaf," I scoff. "You know me."
"I was gonna say," she smirks, sliding into the booth. "I thought you liked sleep."
"Not as much as you apparently," I tease. "Little miss 1pm bedhead. What happened last night?"
"Okay no," she challenges. "It was actually kind of fascinating."
"Oh?"
"New information on Shen Yun," she explains. I raise my eyebrows, urging her to elaborate. "Apparently all that number stuff we were joking about the other day we were actually right."
"No way, I was just making that up," I scoff.
"Okay, yes, we were joking. Like what we said exactly was not true, but the premise of it. The idea of a system is real" she says. "And apparently it's in relation to the colors every year and it's all just full circle with the propaganda."
"Whoa that's fucking insane," I say.
"Right?"
"Honestly maybe I need to switch to GD just so I can get my dream job working for Shen Yun," I say.
"No, that's what I did," she laughs.
"You switched to GD? What the fuck!"
"No," she points at me with my fork. "But I did relive my crisis of thinking I should switch to GD."
"Ohhhh," I nod. "And I thought I was the indecisive one when it came to major."
"I think we can both be," she shrugs.
"We're allowed."
"Oh hey, I'm going to a party on Friday if you wanna come," Audrey says.
"Hmmm…" I say.
"What?"
"Nothing," I laugh. "I'm just wondering if it's going to be like the last party we went to."
"Oh," she laughs. "No. I mean… I don't think so at least."
"Dude that was so weird, what was up with that?" I ask. "When they asked us to take our shoes off? I can't believe you stayed even after we finished eating the pancakes Kate made. Kate right?"
"Yeah, Kate," she says. "I don't know, I just wanted the story."
"That's fair, that's fair," I say. "You can tell your kids 'I went to a party that was just five people eating pancakes in their socks and a dj blasting very bad tracks'."
"Exactly," she says. "It's even better that it was the same dj as earlier."
"Oh shit really?"
"Yup," she nods. "Anyway, I don't think it will be like that."
"I'll think about it, I thought maybe Jacob and I were gonna hang," I say.
"Oh, wait, but that sounds fun," she pouts.
"Well, I don't know if it's happening, but I'll let you know and you can decide then. Don't worry about it now," I say.
"Okay cool, cool."
"Okay one sec, I need to do some reading before class," I say, pulling out my laptop.
"No problem."
After my THAD section I head to the auditorium to pick up some equipment from Media Resources. Walking up to the window I put on my best 'I totally know what I'm doing and what all this equipment is voice' and it's a good thing I prepped because the really cute guy is working that day.
"Hey there," he says. "What can I get for ya?"
"Hey," I say. "Could I get a Zoom H3-VR recorder and a projector? The smaller size if you have it."
He nods, heading to grab the equipment and I take the chance to check him out. I laugh to myself of how much he looks like a stereotypical art student and also at myself for being so attracted to him. Does that make me a stereotype too?
"ID?" he asks, before I can answer my own question. I hand it to him and he swipes it, scanning my checkouts. "Alright, you're all set."
"Nice, thanks," I say, starting to grab my stuff.
"Oh wait," he starts, and I look back up at him, mind instantly rushing through all the meet-cute possibilities of what he'll say next.
"Do you need the USB adaptor for that projector?"
"Oh," I say, blushing and continuing to pack my bag. "No, I'm good. My computer's made in a way that actually makes sense."
"Crazy," he says with a low chuckle. "I never did understand that decision from Apple."
"Same," I say before impulsively adding. "You look cute today, by the way."
"Oh," he says. "Thank you. You do t-"
"Okay have a nice day thank you," I say, already walking away when I realize he was returning the compliment.
I find my sign in sheet and write my initials, moving to my usual seat. I'd be able to find that seat in the dark, the number of times I've sat there, but Clove screaming "Sofia!" as I approach definitely doesn't hurt. The lecure proceeds as most lectures do and I manage to head to bed at a reasonable time, ready for a day of design studio tomorrow.