meet and greet
So I met some kids today. I don’t like to be superficial, but clothing and style in general is more than just shelter from the elements or a suck for cash, it also serves as a semaphore of sorts for kids with whom one might get along. So, at the universities international student orientation, I eyed the kid in the cardigan and saucony sneakers with interest. We ended up seated next to one another in an info session. Heard of Zegota? Of course. Where are you from? He studies at Haverford (which for the unfamiliar is a small, liberal arts college just outside of Philly). Been to Killtime? Which one? Singapore Vegetarian Chinese? Thumbs up! Franny and Zooey? All time favorite book! So, he seemed like an interesting guy. At least someone to go to shows with. We exchanged contact info and decided to go scope some shows some time.
When I got back from grocery shopping, one of my flatmates was back (the flat had been empty when I arrived yesterday). He was seated in the common room holding a new snowboard. Excellent. “Do you drink much?” he queried. “Not at all,” I replied. “Are you straigt-edge?” he asked. He wasn’t but at least he knew what ut was, which in a land where pubs are as omnipresent as house music, and there is a Whiskey Heritage Center, was good enough for me. He said he had a lot of respect for sxe kids, and had cut back his drinking a bit himself since his high school days. It turns out that in addition to snowboarding, he skates and listens to post-hardcore, metal, and emo. Awesome. He was the best possible roommate to meet first, because the others seem pretty crazy. Two are rugby players, which according to my flatmate is the UK’s equivalent to the US jock. The other, in addition to the being a jungle mc, has also popped too many pills, smoked too much hash, drank too much, and gotten violent enough as to smash another flatmate’s stereo. Oh yeah, he also allegedly gets so drunk he passes out and pisses himself as well. So, it should be a really interesting six months. At least the whole skateboarding housemate streak continues on. The skater and I continued talking about skating and music for a while. Just as was the case in Austin, skateboarding seems to be a common bond that spans ages, states, and now continents. I’ve met quite a few friends through skating, and even though I’m no Tony Hawk, I’m glad it’s a part of my life.