Today, I have been to freshers fayre.
"Is Jo your friend? Could you give this to her?"
I know Jo, she's the girl that lives down the hall. Is she my friend? I've only known her five days, can you really call someone a friend after five days? We've had a few conversations, it's nice to have someone to talk to, but I wouldn't really call her a friend as such, more someone I kind of know but don't really connect wit...oh you're still waiting for an answer?
"Uh, yeah, I guess..."
As eloquent as ever, I gave the answer that was expected. Yes, I did know her, as well as I knew any of the other 100 odd people I'd met that week. But I wouldn't say we were friends, just yet.
Freshers week is weird. So weird. The first day, I met Charlie. For the first few days, we were very close; completely comfortable with each other despite the fact that we were virtual strangers. Perhaps, for that reason, we were more noticable than we would have been individually. There were more rumours than I care to recall, chances are paranoia led me to believe everyone was talking. Charlie and I were everything from best friends to siblings to partners, depending on who you spoke to:
In reality, Charlie and I are very different people. We lived across the block from each other, but after the first few weeks we barely spoke, as is the case for many fresher week friendships, borne out of expediency and desperation for acceptance in an unfamiliar land. I don't miss Charlie. I miss what we were together; the excitement; the potential; the attention attracted; the initial spark of anticipation; the taste of student life to come.
Don't fall in love with me yet,
We only recently met.
"Is Jo your friend? Could you give this to her?"
I know Jo, she's the girl that lives down the hall. Is she my friend? I've only known her five days, can you really call someone a friend after five days? We've had a few conversations, it's nice to have someone to talk to, but I wouldn't really call her a friend as such, more someone I kind of know but don't really connect wit...oh you're still waiting for an answer?
"Uh, yeah, I guess..."
As eloquent as ever, I gave the answer that was expected. Yes, I did know her, as well as I knew any of the other 100 odd people I'd met that week. But I wouldn't say we were friends, just yet.
Freshers week is weird. So weird. The first day, I met Charlie. For the first few days, we were very close; completely comfortable with each other despite the fact that we were virtual strangers. Perhaps, for that reason, we were more noticable than we would have been individually. There were more rumours than I care to recall, chances are paranoia led me to believe everyone was talking. Charlie and I were everything from best friends to siblings to partners, depending on who you spoke to:
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Oh, I thought he was your brother"
"But you know each other from home, right?"
"Oh, I thought he was your brother"
"But you know each other from home, right?"
In reality, Charlie and I are very different people. We lived across the block from each other, but after the first few weeks we barely spoke, as is the case for many fresher week friendships, borne out of expediency and desperation for acceptance in an unfamiliar land. I don't miss Charlie. I miss what we were together; the excitement; the potential; the attention attracted; the initial spark of anticipation; the taste of student life to come.
Don't fall in love with me yet,
We only recently met.
There is no way I would want to go through freshers week again. Sure, it was fun, but it was unbelievably exhausting, overwhelming, tearful and unpredictable. In writing this, I can't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia, a hint of envy, but more than that: a sense of relief.
I'm still standing, better than I ever did.
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.
Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid.
On the jukebox: Paolo Nutini ~ Last Request
My Fresher's Week has thus far been mostly to do with sewerage... :D
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting, because I would merrily go through it again. I pretty much threw any cares of my appearence etc to the wind (which might explain a few things...) and it was lovely to be able to walk up to anyone and say 'hello'. First day was a bit 'argh' but the rest I really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the freshers ball, which was rubbish in every way.
It's lovelier being able to say hello to people you already know, I find. And to be able to have a conversation beyond the tiresome & tedious repetition of "what's your name; where do you come from and what do you do?" *ensuing small talk*
ReplyDeleteFirst day was a bit wow, the rest was a bit whoa and the best was yet to come. I prefer having people I know to getting to know people. Because once you have the former, the latter happens more easily.
Ditto on the Freshers' Ball.
@Dickie: sewerage?! Sounds...disgusting.
It's quite interesting, actually :-p
ReplyDeleteIt's also not real sewerage, yet. At work, we're figuring out how to do the drainage for a redevelopment project, which involves working out where to put the sewers/moving existing ones.
To be honest, I'm not sorry to be missing out on "proper" fresher's week.
In a way, Freshers Week is the easy bit because it's OK to be socially nervous.
ReplyDeleteIt was good, but I'd've enjoyed it more if I hadn't got ill three days in (and indeed if that illness hadn't lasted throughout the year in various forms!). I think I'll be avoiding this year's alcohol-fest-week in Durham. New people are great, but it's the old ones I miss and want to see!
Something I'll never experience, I guess, since I lived at home when I went to college. The part where you said that you meet someone and you feel/look very close to them, but it just wears off because you're needing sort of a substitute family. I get it, I just feel like I haven't been there, that's why the line stuck out for me and made me think. Ah well. Glad you're happy there though!
ReplyDeleteAs for Milton Keynes, hooray for "you've been there," haha :) To answer your question, yes, we went to M&S since it was right across from our hotel in London. Nice sandwiches and fruit.
And I might as well deal out the disappointment now. There will be no full-face-photo for my final England blog. Though I've known for weeks what the last sentence will be.
--Amber
Does anyone know the correct apostrophe situation with the so called week that is for freshers? It has me mightly confused and the net isn't helping.
ReplyDeleteFreshers' Week - the week belonging to Freshers. Or Freshers Week - the week concerned with Freshers. I see your dilemma.
ReplyDeleteEnglish is so damn silly, why can't it just have cases and be done with it?!