Ambrose's Diaries - Blog Entry #11 - The Freshman Years ~ Part Three

Good morning folks


I can't believe how quickly time passes, here in college.
Before I knew it, my final exams were upon me.



Luckily for me, I managed to hand my term paper in, just in time, and spent the rest of the day pursuing other interests.




I also had my very first taste of the 'real world', with a stash of bills, waiting to be paid.
Don't they realise us students are paupers? Barely able to get by as it is?

I hope I pass my finals with flying colours, so that I've got some money to cover all these hidden expenses.



With the summer over, and fireflies a rarity now, I snagged myself a few butterflies. But I didn't have the heart to keep them in the jar, so I let them go.



Actually, that was just about the time when I was approached by my Dorm Buddy Lila. We chatted for a while, and it appears she's seen all the Harry Potter movies..... several times over..... and read all the books countless times.



She even passed comment on my striking likeness to the said hero.
Sadly, that's all it is, just a passing resemblance, as I have no magical qualities whatsoever and I'm a fairly 'grounded' kind of guy.



Our conversation was interesting, to say the least anyway.

Other people were a lot harder to get to know.

Cleve, for example.

Yeah, I managed to squeeze out his interests: Soft Furnishings (curtains), Art/painting and Briefcases.



But as soon as I asked about his skills, he went all huffy and defensive on me.
Crikey, it's not as if I'm going to spread his little secrets around the campus.
Sheesh!!!!


He might look like a tough guy, but he's got some real sensitive issues going on there.
I'd better steer clear of him for a while.

Tiffany is another character.
Yes, she's a 'driven' woman, but I get the feeling that she's also very spoiled too.
She tends to run about with a green mist trailing behind her.


And recently, she complained that Hun had 'stolen' her seat on the old mouldy couch. There was a spare seat next to him she could have used.

*shakes head*



At breakfast, she sat sighing over her assignments, dropping casual hints about getting some help. I'm having difficulty in doing my own, let alone hers. Besides, I don't know what Major she's declared, I could quite easily turn in the wrong assignments and get her into trouble.

She's got a lot to learn about college life.......

...... really.


Dorian, however, is the most easiest dorm buddy to get along with.



He invited me to join him at a game of chess.
Obviously I didn't tell him that I was a 'master', taught by the very best (my dad), but I allowed him to win a few times.




I also played chess with Tiffany, but I don't quite think she's grasped the concept of this strategic game somehow. She keeps staring at me as it I have two heads or something.
Perhaps Lila told her about the Harry Potter connection.

*sigh*

That's going to hang around for, like, forever.

And she still has an obsession about owning her own factory.
Strange woman.

It's been an eventful few days so far, rounded off nicely, with an uninvited guest.

Yes, you've guessed it.

Holden, our 'friendly' cow mascot decided to pay us another visit. (He just can't keep away, really)

And this time, he picked a fight with one of the cheerleaders.


Sorry, I didn't catch her name.

Once again, they chose the common room to brawl in, but this time, he really kicked butt, sending her flying. I guess that wedding veil really slowed her down.



Needless to say, there was no love lost between those two. He's going to make more enemies than enough, that Holden. Already, he's started flirting with our 'uptight' Cleve. And I know for a fact that didn't go down too well.



I missed it again, because I was helping Lora our cook in the kitchen. I think she really appreciates someone who cleans up after themselves somehow.



I'm happy to report that there wasn't any messes to clean up this time.


Even though we are located in the desert, it does get chilly on a night.And now that Autumn is upon us, those nights will get chillier still.


I dread to think what the winters will be like. If home is anything to go by, they're going to be extremely harsh.



So it's nice to know there's somewhere to warm your hands when you're studying.

As I was saying, after finishing my term paper, and waiting for my final exam to come up, I decided to pursue some more activities.



Like birdwatching.
Amazing how many species of bird there are, here in the desert.

I really need to get out a bit more. Bug hunting and bird watching are okay, but I've got to 'circulate' and socialise. Build up my network of friends etc.

Sorry to rush the last bit here, Judgement hour is upon me, and my final exam is looming.

Wish me luck everyone and see you all the next semester.

Signing out

Ambrose.

Ambrose's Diaries - Blog Entry #11 - The Freshman Years ~ Part Two

Well, here I go, off to class. Am I nervous? Heck yes.
I mean honestly, my painting skills leaving much to be desired, so I'm not sure if choosing Art as my Major is the best thing so far.




But still, if I'm to get any closer to my dream job and LTW, college is the way to go.
Luckily for me, class isn't that far away, thanks to a map and orientation a couple of hours earlier. So I'll have no problem finding the class.

From what one Senior student has told me, the Arts Professors are really nice and supportive.
I really hope so.


Apparently, while I was in class, there was a set-to with both the mascots. And from what I gather, it was Holden who started it first.
He couldn't resist setting the sprinklers off, which irked Hun greatly.




Also, from what I've been told, it was Hun who threw the first punch, nearly knocking Holden's mask off his shoulders.




Hun really kicked butt, with Holden flopping to the floor with a bruised ego and sore rump.
After that, he slunk off. But I'm guessing that he'll be back. Those types usually do return to the scene of the crime.


*sigh*

Shame I was in class when this all happened.
But never mind, anyway, I returned to see the aftermath.




There was a great puddled, wet mass in the common room. So, before I had the chance to start any of my assignments, I had to set to and clean it all up. Which, to be honest, was a great joy to me, as I love things nice and clean and in order.



One bit of good news. That Senior student was right. The Arts Professors are amazing, and so supportive.

Professor Sharlene Gergis is in charge of the masterclass, dealing with portraits and other types of media. Although my painting skills are a bit rusty, she told me I had potential.


Professor Conrad Le Tourneau, on the other hand is in charge of the theory side and was well impressed with my extensive knowledge of Masters and Impressionism, etc.
Oh yes, I'm definitely going to enjoy the next four years, that's for sure.



Well, once the cleaning was done, I decided to make a start on the first of my assignments. It was pretty straightforward actually. It was all about landscapes and the correct usage of media against composition.



Not to be rude, and besides I need the extra skill points for my Major, I decided to settle down with everyone else during group research.

I needed 3 separate skill points:

Creativity: (which took me a little while as I was rusty, and just sloshed paint on the canvas)
Cleaning: (which I did with ease, thanks to my obsession with neatness and tidiness)
Mechanical: (which took me the longest, as I had to study out of a book)

But it was good to sit amongst fellow students, all in the same boat, all Freshmen, and soak in the calming atmosphere.




Thing was, I was so buzzed about being in college, that long after everyone had gone to bed and the dorm cook had packed up and gone home, I decided to go bug hunting.
I only collected a few, but still, it's a start.


Not only that, it was a crisp summer evening, with hardly a cloud in the sky, so I also decided to do a little stargazing too. It was nice to sit there and think about things.

And wonder about Kitty.



I left home in such a hurry that I'd totally forgotten about her.
And as I lost her contact number, it's difficult to chat to her. And college computers are hit and miss. Sometimes you can get a connection, sometimes not.

They're so temperamental.



Anyway, the evening cut in sharply and I could feel a chill in my bones, as well as feeling a little tired too.
So I decided to have a shower and soak away the tensions of today, in preparation for tomorrow. Man, that shower really feels good against my tired skin.



Anyway, it's time for bedtime.
I stayed up far later than anybody else, so the dorm is pretty quiet, except for the occasional snoring.

So I'll say goodnight for now.

Sweet dreams everyone, see you in the morning.
Signing out
Ambrose