Just as I logged in to update, a fire alarm went off in the EMU (student union). So I walked my butt over to Klamath hall and walked in circles until I found stairs, then in circles again until I found the computer lab - Klamath is one of those buildings that doesn't have enough windows or colored paint to keep your sense of direction. "Now theoretically," I said to myself, "I should be able to get to my lecture in Columbia without going outside." I've yet to see if I can figure out how to do that.
Minus signs are out to get me. They are sly little creatures and they like to slink out of sight mid-calculation. As one math prof said, "the greatest obstacle to progress in mathematics is the human inability to distinguish reliably between a plus and a minus sign." At least I am working with the abstractions of calculus in my notebook, and not applying the Pythagorean theorem on the radio.
During the hour between chemistry and math I once again studied with the physics major/crazy dancer for whom I will invent a creative name soon. We made up chemical compounds and evaluated their solubility, and he helped me with some math. I realized this morning that since I started needing help with math sometimes, I've never known anyone besides my teacher who could supply it. Now I'm no longer the highest-placed math student in my school, and it makes me so happy.
Yesterday I played the piano in the EMU and to do so I had to check out a key from an information office. I got to chatting with the guy at the desk, who is also from Portland, about TriMet and LTD. We traded email and he invited me to watch the debate on Wednesday at his apartment with some people, so that's what I'll be doing. Wednesdays are turning out to be the best days for me, even though I thought I would like Thursdays the best.
I'm trying to spend more time on campus lately, and do things here besides take class and study - even do some of my sitting-around-doing-nothing on campus. I've shifted my food budget partially away from home groceries and toward campus food to account for this, but I am still stubbornly resisting spending more than $5 for a meal. Anyway, I consider this idea to be "working" in terms of assimilating me into the community, because I met the info desk guy pretty much due to deciding to spend all Sunday at school.
Somebody wished me happy Columbus Day this morning and I just thought "oh... I didn't know it was." But later I passed by a table set up by a Native American cultural group and this cute little boy offered me a red ribbon to wear for anti-Columbus Day. I put it in my hair and thought about just how inappropriate it is to celebrate Columbus. I wished I had thought of that on my own in the morning.
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