I am currently sitting in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre…which has an astounding reading room on the third floor, if anyone is interested. I’ve just had my first day of classes (which was really just one class, seeing as I only take one per day, lucky me) Anyway, I am going to try and just basically, quickly, go over the past couple of days (which should not be easy at all) to give you the jist of my first real experiences of UBC life. Actually…I think I would rather make another list of things I’ve learned thus far.
1. Dorm showers take about 20 minutes more than the ones at home did. First of all, there are those bothersome floors, which your feet can’t really (or shouldn’t really) touch, so you’ve got to go about washing them while wearing flip-flops. I made the mistake of not fully rinsing them following soaping and nearly had a breakfast of dorm shower tile. Secondly, there is the whole process of gathering everything you need to take a shower and carrying all the way there…heaven forbid you have to run back to your room. And that whole, not being naked in the hallway thing doesn’t help, either.
2. Campus life never really shuts down. There aren’t true quiet hours. There are always people to meet, places to go, things just to do that it is rather hard to be bored, this I like.
3. Professors, in general, and this is a big general, are pretty cool people. Well, they are pretty smart, in the least. Already my brain has ached from new knowledge, I’ve laughed at one of those lame first day jokes, and basically wanted to know who is teaching me. School is different here than it is in the states…though the true details are subtle ones. I enjoy this learning environment more.
4. Making friends is easy. Not much else need to be said about that.
5. The AMS and all those other student-run societies are just that, student run, and basically everyone in them is nice and helpful enough to listen to any questions or thoughts you have. Oh, and all the people that used to intimidate you back in highschool, the teachers and the older kids, they become your friends.
6. There is a lot more, but I think I will close with one final observation…you can fall asleep practically anywhere and not worried about someone messing with or stealing your stuff, but you can lock your bike up with a $100 lock and not trust it enough to go more than a few buildings away. This worries me, as I rather like my bicycle. [EDIT: From the opinion of a very astute older friend, ALWAYS watch your valuables, even in the library they are never really safe unless they are strapped to something very hard to steal or you are in complete control of them.]
So far I have only been impressed with UBC. It’s all rather romantic in it’s complexity. I look forward to getting to know every secret, every little detail, by the end of my time here.
3 replies on “Observations of University”
I agree with most of your points, except for number 6. I’ve never had anything stolen while I was napping, but you SHOULD worry about theft, especially in the libraries. Last year, there were so many reports of stolen laptops/textbooks/what-have-you. It only takes 5 seconds!
If you’re in the library and have to leave your stuff to use the washroom or the computer, take your valuables with you!!! Or ask the person next to you to keep an eye on them.
I am so in love with the fact that you called something “romantic”. That’s my co-favourite adjective ever, next to “precious”.
About the res showers – I found that over time I got more and more efficient and had them down to 4 minutes in no time. And the key to not forgetting all your stuff between the shower and your room is a shower caddy – go to the dollar store, grab a little basket with a handle, in it you can drop all your shampoo/conditioner/soaps/shaving needs etc- if you get the baskets that are plastic with holes, any dampness can easily escape and everything stays neat and tidy. :)