Survival of the most lucid

As I write TH is already in a coma from our first early morning start at uni for 2008. I can’t imagine what everyone in the lab is thinking…head down on the desk, headphones on, document of study left abandoned. Sounds more like study week before exam block rather than the second day of semester 1 classes.

So far I have managed to survive. But it is only day two and week one can be extremely misleading. Yesterday I had my first video conference lecture, something that CI are now excited to be doing. It wasn’t too exciting but to think that QUT is stepping up the technology is great. Especially since last year we spent the majority of Journalism lectures waiting for the staff to work out how to operate the software or not being able to do anything on computers because the system crashes at the most inopportune times (usually exams which made the whole assessment process a complete nightmare). Welcome to the School of Creative Writing and Culture studies (although in my opinion those things are two very different areas and you can definately hold the culture studies from my program thanks!).

The most daunting thing about my course change is trying to keep up with all the creative kids. I’m no slouch by any stretch, I pen a couple thousand, if not more, words a week on my book or on little writing snippets. And I’m a creative advertising kid as well. I would even say that I prefer to use my imagination most days over my intelligence. However, now I have classes with insainly talents people. In my lecture yesterday there were actors, photographers, dancers, graphic designers and artists. And little lonely journo drop out me.  I feel I was too creative to be a Journo but now not creative enough for a smooth transition into the new world that I find myself in. Oh well, I suppose that’s how things go.

First day back at uni kicked off well with a big drinking weekend for me and my housemates. AS came down friday for some shopping and socialising and we headed out to the Normanby after several rounds of ‘I’ve Never’ with my great housemates and a bunch of mates. AS was so impressed by the Normanby we’ve got her birthday celebrations books there for next weekend. In my usual style, I was well and truly drunk before we left the house at 10pm. All thanks to MM’s incredibly alcoholic ice cocktails of course. After a quick drink at the Normanby, and a couple of fights with MG on the walk there, MG and LP headed off home and the rest of us caught a bus into the city. Our first and only stop was the casino where AS, MM and I had a frozen dacquri while RN blew $120 on the blackjack tables. After a quick game of Deal or No Deal in the second bar, we headed for HJ’s to end the night.

Now the Queen St Mall Hungry Jacks always seems like a great idea. Until you walk in. And until you eat the food. Ewww. Thankfully there wasn’t anyone creepy about this time, and MM was there to protect us anyway, and then we caught a cab home. We grabbed a quick nightcap before all heading off to bed at 2am.

Managed to work though an 8 hour shift on saturday with only 3 hours sleep and then gave AS some terrible directions to get back to the Sunny Coast. The rest of the weekend was filled with work, sleep and increasing anxiety about this week.

However all those things have subsided this week. Sleep is at a happy medium again with my waking hours and uni is back to occupy my mind. Let’s see how much I am enjoying my five days a week at uni by friday huh?

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