Meemos are for PUBAs

It has been 2 weeks I guess since my last entry, so based on this, it looks like this will be a fortnightly updated blog. I am really ‘learning’ estimation skills that I am being taught in the class “decision making analysis” (…such a nerd).

Before continuing I should explain exactly what the title of my last blog meant. First, let me preface this anecdote with this statement: American television is garbage. It is certainly a fast food nation, and the television is no different. There are, however, certain exceptions. There are some excellent news shows on PBS and current affairs shows like 60 minutes. HOWEVER, there is so much reality TV…enough to make me want to beat myself in the face with a shoe. We literally do not watch TV anymore. I do feel that I should share the plot and content of one reality show in particular, purely for the G factor*. Although I am deterring from my original anecdote, stick with me, dear reader. So, it called something along the lines of “Momma’s boys” (http://www.nbc.com/Mommas_Boys/). It’s about these three guys who are given a handful of bimbos to choose from, but the catch is, their mother will be accompanying them through the process – these lucky girls will get to hang out with (and LIVE) with their neurotic mums! (Cyanide tablets, anyone?) There is obviously an elimination process. So, the show seems fairly (as much as it can be) innocuous. WELL, I watched this gem of a program 3 weeks leading up to its final show and became a bit familiar with the characters. There was this one mother in particular who was aggressively protective of her son. Like, he was on a date at this remote resort with ho number 4 or whatever, and Mumsy was so pissed off that she got the show to get her into a helicopter to fly over the hotel in which they were staying (they were dry humping in the pool) to spy on them. Thus, mummy got angry. So angry that she punched the window of the helicoper. Needless to say, the pilot was not happy with her. Well, it got worse. By the final episode, it was just plain creepy. She became really hostile to the competing hos and refused to select any of them as her ‘fave’ (one of her tasks). Then, she made her son go on a ‘date’ with her, cuddling him, telling him how much she loved him and how handsome he was…she was basically HITTING ON HER SON. Ick! Anywho, we decided after that, the world of TV was not for us. Whew, so now back to the original the story: the title of the blog, which was ‘side effects may include’…the reason for this is that they advertise medication on television. Weird enough as it is, they also advertise anti-depressants and other staple prescriptions of the American diet. However, they must also have some regulation where they need to disclose the side effects. So, following this glowing endorsement of whatever legal crack you can get prescribed, they announce, ‘side-effects may include’: constipation, dizziness, nausea, fainting, swelling, blood clots and DEATH. You can only imagine the hysterics that this induces, dear reader.

Now onto the other stuff:

At the time of writing this, I am totally exhausted because I have been on an exercise binge (no disorders, don’t worry, dear reader). I have started Taekwondo training which happens about 4-3 times a week. Yep, it’s intense. We do a vomit-inducing (again, no disorder) amount of pushup and sit-ups in every class, which is great for fitness, but not good for my neck/guts. I am, however, keen to raise my endurance and physical discipline, along with being able to potentially stand my ground if ever intimidated. How tough do I sound?!Yeah, don’t with eff with me. Seems like this place is definitely rubbing off. In addition, our student fees have paid for unlimited use of the University indoor pool and gym. We’ve been abusing that power.

We’ve been in Chapel Hill for about 3 weeks now. We’ve really settled into our place and are starting to enjoy the town. It is almost sad that we are only here for a 5 months because we’re just starting to get to know the place, and people. I guess it’s just a matter of embracing the time we have rather than mourning the time when we have to leave. As for the everyday stuff, we’re living in this great townhouse that backs onto a forest. We actually had Deer in our backyard the other day! And there are always little red and blue robins flittering around. We live with an awesome housemate and we’ve all really clicked.

As for uni, we’re both finding the subjects that we’re taking at UNC much more challenging than at our respective Universities in Australia. It may have something to do with us both undertaking policy subjects in which we need to have some level of U.S. political knowledge. The teaching and content here is very parochial. It is not tailored to suit the needs of high fee paying international students (looking at you, University of Sydney). And this is actually one of the advantages – they have standards as to the level of students that they admit (stinging).

The last few weeks have been fairly minimal but hectic nonetheless. Of significance: it snowed (apparently the first time in like a decade) which was beautiful. I made my way to class in it…trudging through the snow to get to class. I kept replaying the line “we used to walk 15 miles barefoot through the snow to get to school” (from the Simpsons, maybe?)We also experienced some eye-watering cold nights (um... -15) in which I levitated above by body and joined a metaphysical plane of existence before rejoining my numb self that was, although wrapped in many layers, hating me for making it walk around in said cold temps.

We’ve also been introduced to the other exchange students at a recent induction session. There were plenty of Australian students there…most are undergrad and live on campus. Speaking of Australia, we went to an 'Australia Day' themed college party last weekend. It was kitschy, alcohol-fuelled and very funny. There was even a bogan in a flag-cape there. Seriously, they are unavoidable! This was our second university party and there is definitely a consistent theme emerging: blind drunkenness and bad music. I am pretty much over it and eager to socialize in other ways. One bonus is that there have been some good people that we’ve met through these parties, though the actual events have been pretty pissweak. The funniest thing is ‘drinking games’. I mean, really? Do we not know how to interact? Drinking games are so, eh.

So, I am missing friends and family ridiculously (lump in throat), really, but glad to be on this adventure. Til next (estimated) fortnight!

*G factor = gross disgustingness factor