August 27, 2014 - Post First Day of Classes

I'm super exhausted, so I'll keep this short - classes went well today.  Philosophy of the Human Person looks like something I'll enjoy more.  Metaphysics seems more like running around in mental circles to prove things I already know... and the readings so far have been super dense and make less sense than the ones for Philosophy of the Human Person.

Dr. Carreno is really nice and so is Professor McNamara.  McNamara is very quiet, Irish, and dresses very nicely, and he calls me Miss O'Neill because he's happy my last name is Irish.  Dr. Carreno is super strict, to the point, and has no tolerance for any BS.  I like both of them so far.

Today I had a ton of time to socialize which is why I think I'm so tired. I hadn't realized how much talking to people tires me out after a while, especially when the people I'm talking to are really extroverted.

This morning I talked to Asaph and Kathryn - they ended up coming up and finding me reading a book about the Holocaust in the downstairs lobby and then they said hello and started chatting, and eventually I just told them to sit down, and we talked until class time.

Turns out I have the class with Asaph, so I ended up sitting with him and Hugh.  I haven't talked to Hugh much this semester - seems like now that we're not directly forced to speak to each other, our methods of communication are laughing together at things we both think are funny, and listening to each other talk to other people, but not much else.  That's okay, he's got his own group here which I think is neat.

Talking to Asaph and Kathryn was interesting, we talked about personality types and the differences between introversion and extroversion and then people's different temperaments, and the ways the ancients studied personality.  Asaph and Kathryn are both really interesting people.  Asaph I feel like genuinely cares about people enough to think and reflect on them and then take time to understand them as real and whole people.

For instance he was telling me how he thinks it's interesting to get to know introverts and really is very valuable, because while they may seem standoffish on the outside it's just because they're shy and afraid to approach people, and they don't show their whole selves right away, while if you take the time to get to know them, they will reveal a whole rich inner life to you, which he finds fascinating.  He talked about how extroverts frequently miss the qualities introverts have to offer because extroverts give all people pretty much their personality straight off the bat - what you see is what you've got. And sometimes it's a lot easier to relate to someone who's just openly friendly right away, than to try to make the effort to talk to someone who seems less interested in you.

Both he and Kathryn seem really well read and erudite.  It kind of made me feel less intelligent in a way, which I shouldn't, because I'm able to discuss on the same level.  I feel like a lot of my knowledge however comes from just observing people and thinking about things and intuiting, rather than studying textbooks about how people work.

Kathryn's an RA in another section of the Kartause.  We've talked a bit through the last couple of semesters but we're both pretty quiet so we haven't made much time to actually hang out with each other.  We did agree that we ought to be friends quite a while ago, so it looks like now we might have the chance to see each other more frequently and talk.  She is sort of intimidating because she's very smart, not afraid of being loudly opinionated, gorgeous, dresses really well, and she has a definitely in-charge approach to life.  I'm surprised I attracted her attention or something.

Later in the afternoon after philosophy of the human person, I went to Mass and then to lunch with the exchange students and Clare. It was supposed to be all together, but David (he's from Hungary) and I got separated because there wasn't enough room at the one table for all of us to sit, so we ended up sitting at another table with some sophomore girls.

David's really funny - I thought he was quiet at first, and when I did meet him originally a couple of days ago he didn't seem to want to talk to me much, and the next time I saw him after that he almost seemed to be avoiding eye contact, so I made myself smile and wave at him and ever since that he's been really friendly to me and comes up and talks.

When I asked Iryna if I could sit with them, David was all, "Yes, yes!  My wish was for you to come eat with me!" and I think it's just because his English isn't perfect, but it was really funny and quaint the way he said it.

Talking with the exchange students is really funny because they get such a kick out of me trying out their language and teaching me things, and then they tell us that we Americans are so interesting and they ask us about our culture, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and why do American teens have such a fascination with making random hand symbols that mean things like "Rock on!" and "Peace out homie", or "Whatever".

Not only that, but just hearing about their cultures and where they live and how they perceive us and our language is fascinating.  David and I had this long conversation about languages and he made me do all the American accents I could to see if he could understand me speaking in a Southern accent, a New York accent, an English accent, an Irish accent, etc.

We ended up with this one girl named Sudie who has a huge crush on David I think.  She wouldn't stop interrupting me when we were talking, moving closer to me physically so I would have to edge out of where I was standing in front of David, and touching me randomly like... to move me, and then touching David and moving closer to him.  I gotta say, it's incredibly annoying.  Not to mention the fact that she doesn't really stay on topic or just repeats what I say, louder, so that it sounds like it's coming from her.  Massive extrovert. I managed to extricate myself from the situation because David went to class and then I found Clare, who was going to get some school supplies in town.

Turns out that people in Gaming who work in shops, take a lunch break from 12 to 2.  Seems like an excessive lunch break to me, but that's how they roll.

It was raining like crazy and Clare and I went to Gertrude's (shop) to look for notebooks and such, but it was closed, so we went walking around in the rain and we both got drenched.  Clare didn't even have a rain jacket.  I had one on, and my shirt still got sopping wet.  Seems like really weird weather for August...

We had a good long talk.  I have been pretty happy today because of the gym, talking to people, and enjoying classes for the most part, but Clare has been a little down so I'm glad I got to wander around with her and have one of those adventures we've been saying we'll have.  Even if it was raining.  We found the creek that runs down alongside the road and stood on the bridge over it, and then we wandered around looking for a bakery.

I'm not sure I cheered her up any, but I know I had a good time.  I think she's upset about the way Masses are at the Kartause.  I can't complain much - the church is just how I like it, nice tasteful decoration and big windows and lots of light and high ceilings and nice wooden pews.  I have been able to focus really well at Mass despite the music being sort of... off.  I think she's also just annoyed about the little cliquey groups at Franciscan too, which I can understand.

The lady who ran the bakery didn't know much English.  Mr. Pipp had earlier recommended something to all the students that he said was really good, but neither Clare or I could remember what it was called, so I ended up asking the lady at the counter, "Do you know Mr. Pipp?  David Pipp, Kartause, Franciscan, Kartause Marienthron?" and she nodded, and then I said, "What does he usually get?" and she pointed at this massive creamy eclair-looking log thing, and I ended up asking her for one.  Just so I could see what Mr. Pipp really likes.

It was actually pretty delicious despite the fact that I don't like pastries, but I think also it was because I was really hungry.  Going to the gym sped up my metabolism or something, because I keep eating through the day and getting hungry again and again and again. I'm hungry right now actually.

Anyway I am exhausted from talking to people and being talked to so I'm hibernating in my room.  I don't even care if other people are outside hanging out.  I did all my reading for my classes next Monday and I'm going to write a little before I go to sleep, but I'm honestly falling asleep at my keyboard right now.

I took some pictures on my walk this morning and I'll upload them later - I'm too lazy/tired.

Goodnight!