Orientation, Day 2

The morning came too early... Eugh. Did NOT want to get up. The others were having the same issue, apparently, because we all started nodding off during the remainder of the orientation program, Layla and I especially.

When the program was over, we went to the Seamus Heaney Library and used the computers to log on to our Queen's accounts and check mail, etc. After that, I went to my enrolment appointment at the School of English and officially signed up for classes. Somehow they are all on Tuesday and Wednesday! My advisor assured me I had a full workload of three modules, but I can't understand how I am going to get used to this loose system.

I went to the Student Guidance Centre and got my student card... wooo. They used a webcam to take my picture, which turned out better than some of the ones my friends got. Allison and I were going to have lunch together, but she ended up going on a wild goose chase for her advisor and ran out of time. When it was time to meet up with the orientation people again at Peter Froggatt, I hadn't eaten any lunch. =(

Luckily though they had some tasty sandwiches in the reception area; I scarfed a couple down, and then went with my half of the group on our little tour of a few places on campus. We revisited the Seamus Heaney Library, took a look at the main library, and then trekked over to the physical education center which was AMAZING! They have a pool, areas for basketball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, raquetball, and rock climbing, plus a room full of treadmills with miniature televisions built in to each one, as well as rowing machines and two weight lifting rooms and I'm sure there's more which I am forgetting.

While we were looking at all these machines, I realized how thirsty I was, and made a beeline for a water fountain when I spotted one. During a brief pause in the tour, I pulled out my money and bought a blue Powerade from a machine. Ahh.

By the time we left the phys ed center I was really regretting my choice of footwear. I picked a bad day to sacrifice comfort for appearance. =(

There was a brief introductory slideshow in the Students' Union, where I met Laurel and talked with her for a bit. When the show was done, I went with Layla and Allison and Arne and a couple others to buy some drinks for the night; I bought some wine and fruit juice to make sangria. =D

We split up to change clothes and met back up in Whitla Hall for a fancy international students' dinner. I sat with Clarissa, Arne, and Linda at a table with some people we didn't know, plus the residence coordinator Nicola who I met earlier. The food was extremely tasty! I didn't recognize any of the desserts so I picked one at random, but ultimately decided I didn't like it. Oh well.

After dinner, my massive group of friends walked over to Grant House for a little party. I had a good time sipping my sangria and talking to everyone! When the party was over and I was safely back at 40 Mount Charles, I had no trouble slipping off to sleep, content with my new home and my wonderful new friends.

~Catherine