Choose your own adventure
Entry started last night:
I was productive today, and classes start Monday, so I am having a RELAXING evening. I've been having a great few days, so I'm going to write about them in chunks!
Meeting my RA professor
So three days ago I biked over to the Humanities building to meet with Dr. Jennifer Popiel! I'll be her Research Assistant this year, and I was pretty anxious to see what she'd be like; her emails seemed friendly. Luckily, she was! She apologized for not yet having a plan for what I'll be doing for her or helping her with, cause she had her 4th baby this summer, and so understandably hasn't gotten around to it! But she did describe the books she's working on - one finishing up, one just starting - and told me that she will probably have me start in archives doing research. That'll be good because it'll give me a lay of the land in the archives, and teach me how to do research there; even if it's not medieval related, that's invaluable information to learn.
She asked me if I could read French, and immediately said "it's ok if you don't!" and so I told her I had taken 101, and a lot of Spanish and Latin, and that if necessary I can pick my way through for a general understanding in French, but I couldn't claim to read it. She asked if I thought I'd do okay reading book titles and chapter titles in French and was pleased when I said that shouldn't be a problem at all. I think that's primarily what she was looking for.
I think this is going to be a very good job for me, because it's only 15-20 hours a week, and the way she talked about it made it sound very flexible, like if I have a hard week with assignments, I can work less that week and make it up another week. Or if I want to take a vacation day, I can distribute those hours elsewhere later. And she wanted me to ask lots of questions, which is good, because I like making sure I know exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, whether I'm doing it right, etc, and I don't want to worry that I'm bothering her. (She had an RA one year that never asked questions, and didn't get a lot done for her at all because she was confused all the time, and Dr. Popiel doesn't want that to happen to me.) She's SO approachable and friendly, so that was good. I also asked questions about her baby - that makes any mother happy!
Graduate Assistant Orientation
So, this was an orientation not for being a graduate student at SLU, but for being a graduate assistant - TA, RA, fellow, etc. Because there are a variety of assistantships in a WIDE variety of fields, it was obviously going to be rather general, but I was still a little disappointed that so much of it didn't apply to me, and was very general. Boo. Oh well. I got a pen (which I almost immediately broke the clip off of) and a folder full of information.
In the first meeting a girl named Gloria sat down next to me, and apparently she and her husband just live one floor above us! She was like "I do laundry on your floor!" That was a little crazy, and we chatted a lot. She's in Public Health, which made me think of Kerri. I wonder if I will meet her again. Maybe we could all go out to dinner sometime; make some friends besides history people! Also chatted a lot with a girl named Ine from Germany who was going into English who was really nice. We talked about how we feel like we have no idea what's going on as far as Student stuff goes, and wished we had an orientation for that and SLU in general. Though I suppose we are graduate students so most college related stuff won't seem new, but still.
I went to 2 afternoon sessions, the first of which, "Getting the most out of your humanities assistantship," was only mildly helpful, but it is where I finally met some history people! They invited me to join other history people later at Iggy's Cantina, a bar on campus after orientation. And there were even more historians to meet at the break and in the next session I decided to attend, "Stress Management." Now normally that would be the last session I'd choose if I had lots of options, but none of the options seemed applicable to me cause most were about TAing. Anyway, the one history guy said his friend went to it last year and it was entertaining, so we decided to both go and check that out. It was actually VERY entertaining, helpful, and enlightening! I loved it! It was the most worthwhile part of the day! haha.
At lunch I met a LOT more history people, but most of them were at another table, so I really only sat with two guys. Now, I was starting to get a bit disheartened by the history company I had to look forward to, because a second year guy took a year off before coming into the program and said he was the youngest one there last year, and so I learned that not many people come into this department straight out of college. I also noticed that I had met like at least 10 men, all several to many years older than me, and no women or people my age. I was sad about this cause I didn't want to be the only younger girl in a big group of older guys. I wanted to make close friends and I was worried this was not the right crowd. I did get a very yummy turkey sandwich and brownie cheesecake square out of it all though. And we all laughed during the raffle when a name was called out as the winner of something and two guys with the same name went up.
After lunch orientation was over, and I called Casey to find out about how his dentist appointment went. Turns out his tooth that has been bothering him so much is probably cracked and needs to be removed. So he was going back to the quad cities for the weekend to see his family, do some voice work for Diary of a Superhero with John, see an oral surgeon about the cracked tooth, and of course SEE THE NEW PUPPY! Now I was frustrated about this for a variety of reasons, selfishly because I was counting on him to join me at/take me to the history department BBQ that weekend, and also because I was worried about that trip being hard on his truck. That truck needs to last; if it breaks down he will be SO sad about it, car-less, and even more stressed out about money than he is now. Anyway, I talked to my mom for awhile while I sat on a bench on campus, and eventually decided not to skip out on the bar, especially if I might not be able to get to the BBQ.
My trip to Iggy's Cantina with the History grad students
I AM SO GLAD I WENT TO THE BAR! I was nervous walking in because I knew I was late, and I didn't see them right away when I went in. They actually had the whole back section reserved for the department, and there were a whole mess of people there! I was so relieved that when I came over the few people who knew my name were like, "AMY!" and then they all stopped talking and said "op, we gotta do it again!" and went around with very friendly introductions. That made me feel so welcome and relieved.
And there were women there! Other grad student historian women! YAY! *sigh* The woman sitting next to me was also named Amy, which made me smile. She just finished her PhD coursework. Patrick, whom I'd only met when I visited SLU and Casey and I went out to drinks with him, James, another guy, and Adam, remembered me happily, and asked me how Casey was doing too! I really like how friendly he is. I was also relieved to notice another new 1st year straight out of undergrad named Robert, who reminds me very much of BC, which endeared him slightly to me. And then I was relieved AGAIN when I found out that I wasn't the last one there, and another girl straight from undergrad showed up late too. She's an Americanist, so I don't know how much we'll see each other, but she seems nice enough and between her and this other guy Scott, I have two ride options to the BBQ!!!
I had a great time. I mentioned that I would have liked a student orientation, to get my questions like "How do I find out what books I need for class?" answered. And the other Amy told me that that's what they were all for, and she answered my question and gave me lots of advice about getting books cheaply and just a lot of other stuff about being a student. I loved that she didn't just give me a quick brushoff answer, but seemed like she really wanted to share some wisdom or something. but anyway the people at our end of the table were really cool and I laughed a lot and had a good time.
I found out that Robert is also car-less, and lives on Lindell and Euclid right by me, and had walked to SLU, and since I didn't have a ride back (Danielle was generous and gave me a ride there in the morning so I didn't have to risk getting rained on biking there) and since he seemed nice enough, we walked back together, which made me feel SO much better about walking by all the construction. Plus we could talk about medieval things, and what we thought about the churches in town cause we're both catholic medievalists. So that was fun. When I got back Casey was all like "did you mention your boyfriend?" Yes, dork.
My AMAZING Thursday Night out DANCING
When I got back, and Danielle got back, and we were all watching tv (probably Scrubs) and Danielle asked if I wanted to go to the swing dance at the Atomic Cowboy that night. um, YES. Casey had rehearsal and couldn't come, but she and I got all dressed up to go dancing, went over to the bar at 7 for the lesson, ("Um, will there be dancing here?") and oh my god that was one of the best nights in St. Louis ever. I was so hoping Danielle would have fun dancing without knowing much swing, and I'm happy to report we both had a blast, and danced the night away. I was a little worried I'd feel intimidated cause I didn't really know what to expect from the atmosphere of a gay bar in St. Louis, but it was really chill and relaxed, decorated with BEAUTIFUL art, and the whole back area had a nice dance floor, so I felt right at home.
First of all, the lesson. Danielle called me the 'model student' because the teacher demonstrated a move using me, and then after that when he told everyone to rotate, he motioned for me to stay for the next move, so apparently I wasn't rotating? I felt a little awkward not rotating, but I was so happy to be the demonstration person!!! The only things I didn't follow exactly were the sugar push right away, because I've never seen it done outside of West Coast swing, and I only dance East Coast and Lindy, but it was fun to see it incorporated into East Coast! He also taught Charleston a little differently, so it was hard to make my brain change what I already know. Anyway, during the lesson I just followed what he led and was teaching, but it reminded me of how much I LOVED teaching lessons on the OC and felt reminiscent of that, and made me happy. There was a little asian guy there that the first few times he wanted to dance with me he would come up and say "Teacher!" But the guy teaching it was fabulous. He had so much FUN teaching it, used very silly metaphors like bouncing hamsters (reminded me of the trout metaphor I used to use for lindy!) and explained things really really well. I was impressed with the way he explained things to the beginners. Having tried to teach people how to dance, I can appreciate how hard it is to explain just how to do it. Anyway, Danielle did great, I felt useful and a bit like a teacher again, and then the dance started!
At the start of the dance Danielle told me I needed to dance with the soldier boy, aka, the most handsome beautiful man who is one of the most talented swing dancers I've ever seen... so pretty, so so so good at dancing. And she was right because he was very FUN to dance with. His name was Jeff and he told me "You dance like someone who learned on the east coast" and "you swivel! Not many dancers in the midwest do swivels." Both comments I wanted to take as compliments but was a little perplexed by. Took me a bit to realize that what he called "swivels" was what I called "sugar steps." There's so many names for the same things in swing. But it was funny that he said I had kind of an east coast style because all the people that taught me were mostly Coloradoans - Kelly & Eliav, who taught Robyn and Ian. But maybe as a Lindy City, Denver has an east coast influence - Tiff teaches sugar steps when she teaches Lindy at the Merc. Anyway, I was glad to get those comments, but it was funny because he also asked me who my teachers were, as if I had had actual training by actual teachers at some point. Ha! Either way, I like coming off as if I've had a bit of actual training. Well, I guess between Dan & Tiff and all the HSF workshops, I have, just not consistently at any point.
Later in the night, Kassi came, the one who told Danielle about the place and that we should all come, so I was glad to meet her, and impressed with what a great dancer she is. I need to work on my style so I look as good as some of these girls. I just wish I could like, be in their bodies for a second while they're doing it so I can feel what they're doing differently, because at this point I'm not quite sure what to work on. I think there's something not right going on with my shoulders and neck, and I probably look at my feet too much when I'm dancing.
Anyway, We danced with a lot of different people, and were never sitting too long between dances, and stayed for the whole night, 7-11! I liked chatting with Danielle and Kassi about dancing, and about dancers (like Mime man with that huge ego). I think my favorite people I danced with besides Jeff were Owen (he had so much character in his dancing!), the teacher, salsa guy, and the little asian guy (as rhythm-less as he was). I enjoyed that I could almost keep up with Mime man, but I didn't like that he refuses to adjust his style so that his partners could keep up. Polite dancers tone things down to adjust to their partner's ability, so that the couple can dance well together. He was clearly just there to show off, and didn't seem to care much whether his partner was dancing well with him.
I liked salsa guy because he'd laugh a lot while we were dancing and say how much fun it is to turn me. And I got asked AGAIN whether I'm ballet trained. I'm not, but he's like at least the 7th person to ask me whether I am. I think there must be something in the way I turn that reminds people of the way ballet dancers do turns? Maybe it's because I spot? Maybe it's because I dance up on the balls of my feet rather than flat footed? I have no idea.
Anyway, I was so happy Danielle was having such a good time, because I love swing so much, and I love seeing other people catch the enthusiasm for how much fun it really is. Between swing in highschool and ballroom in college, she picked up what she was taught very quickly and is a natural follow because she understands that tension is necessary. So that was all good. With all that, she could get good very fast, cause it's always the tension and the inability to follow a lead that give people the most problems when they're first learning. I'm thinking Living Room Lessons? It would benefit all, because Casey wants to practice his footwork, Danielle wants to learn, and I miss teaching people.
So the night was great. The people were great. The scene was small, but not crowded, and the atmosphere reminded me of the Mercury Cafe, but just on a much smaller scale. I loved it and felt so at home. I know at a swing club I'll never feel like the best dancer there, but I felt like I could follow well all the "good" people there, so I feel like those 4 years of dancing at Cornell have certainly done me some justice. :-)
That was JUST the swing night I needed to show me that there are plenty of young swing dancers in St. Louis that are good, that are friendly, and that DO lindy hop! I'm ecstatic about that, and can't wait to go again next Thursday after my first Historical Theory class gets out!
My productive morning yesterday and subsequent relaxing evening
So yesterday I was determined to tie up all the loose ends with SLU stuff. I took my bike in the morning down to campus, and turned in my health insurance form. I also went to the bookstore to explore it, check out the SLU merchandise (omg, our mascot is so hilarious), and find my books. I had looked them all up last night, I purchased the Latin Paleography book, and two of the interesting looking Historical Theory books. I already bought the Medieval History book online earlier, and the two theory books on postmodernism looked far too boring/expensive for me to want to actually purchase then and there. I ended up getting the 700 page one at the library, and the other one was checked out but overdue, so I recalled it and we'll see what happens with that. My trip over to the library was an adventure, because the library floorplan is an adventure. The book I was looking for is actually in the Lewis Annex, so I had to take an elevator into like another building, so I got on the elevator at the second floor, got off at the first floor of the other building (which was in the basement), but when I left got out of the elevator on the 4th floor of the later building, which was actually the second floor that I started on in the main building. Crazy. But I really like the library and they have quite an extensive collection, so I'm happy.
I HATE BIKE RACKS. I love riding my bike; I hate the chore of locking it up places, and trying to extricate it from crowded racks cause the handlebar or the pedal or something is always caught on someone else's bike and I just want to be like "AH let go of my bike so I can leave!!!!" I may forgo the bike rack thing, and just hook my bike up to trees or something. what a pain.
I realized that not bringing my backpack when I planned to bike and get some books was a really really bad idea, because biking back with them was very awkward. I'm tired of bike situations being awkward. Like trying to get in and out of my apartment building! always awkward. But I did like biking around campus before that, and taking pictures of how pretty it is. I LOVE ALL THE FOUNTAINS! There are SO many fountains! And the grounds are so manicured and full of flower beds. How lovely.
Anyway after all that Danielle drove me over to the Salus Center, at the now very familiar Water Tower Inn. I went to Human resources, dropped off those damn tax forms, showed them my passport, and was finally done with all that nonsense. When I got back I called the history people to let them know I'm all set to be employed and that I'd drop off the receipt later, and they were pleased that I'd called so they could put me in the system earlier, even before I drop off the receipt. Now I don't have to worry about getting the receipt there quickly, cause it's just a piece of paper going in a file that they're not doing anything with cause I'm already in the computer! woo.
DONE.
Then to celebrate getting all the errands done and surviving biking with a bag of books, I watched TV and chatted with Danielle and wrote this entry all night. Yay.
I was productive today, and classes start Monday, so I am having a RELAXING evening. I've been having a great few days, so I'm going to write about them in chunks!
Meeting my RA professor
So three days ago I biked over to the Humanities building to meet with Dr. Jennifer Popiel! I'll be her Research Assistant this year, and I was pretty anxious to see what she'd be like; her emails seemed friendly. Luckily, she was! She apologized for not yet having a plan for what I'll be doing for her or helping her with, cause she had her 4th baby this summer, and so understandably hasn't gotten around to it! But she did describe the books she's working on - one finishing up, one just starting - and told me that she will probably have me start in archives doing research. That'll be good because it'll give me a lay of the land in the archives, and teach me how to do research there; even if it's not medieval related, that's invaluable information to learn.
She asked me if I could read French, and immediately said "it's ok if you don't!" and so I told her I had taken 101, and a lot of Spanish and Latin, and that if necessary I can pick my way through for a general understanding in French, but I couldn't claim to read it. She asked if I thought I'd do okay reading book titles and chapter titles in French and was pleased when I said that shouldn't be a problem at all. I think that's primarily what she was looking for.
I think this is going to be a very good job for me, because it's only 15-20 hours a week, and the way she talked about it made it sound very flexible, like if I have a hard week with assignments, I can work less that week and make it up another week. Or if I want to take a vacation day, I can distribute those hours elsewhere later. And she wanted me to ask lots of questions, which is good, because I like making sure I know exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, whether I'm doing it right, etc, and I don't want to worry that I'm bothering her. (She had an RA one year that never asked questions, and didn't get a lot done for her at all because she was confused all the time, and Dr. Popiel doesn't want that to happen to me.) She's SO approachable and friendly, so that was good. I also asked questions about her baby - that makes any mother happy!
Graduate Assistant Orientation
So, this was an orientation not for being a graduate student at SLU, but for being a graduate assistant - TA, RA, fellow, etc. Because there are a variety of assistantships in a WIDE variety of fields, it was obviously going to be rather general, but I was still a little disappointed that so much of it didn't apply to me, and was very general. Boo. Oh well. I got a pen (which I almost immediately broke the clip off of) and a folder full of information.
In the first meeting a girl named Gloria sat down next to me, and apparently she and her husband just live one floor above us! She was like "I do laundry on your floor!" That was a little crazy, and we chatted a lot. She's in Public Health, which made me think of Kerri. I wonder if I will meet her again. Maybe we could all go out to dinner sometime; make some friends besides history people! Also chatted a lot with a girl named Ine from Germany who was going into English who was really nice. We talked about how we feel like we have no idea what's going on as far as Student stuff goes, and wished we had an orientation for that and SLU in general. Though I suppose we are graduate students so most college related stuff won't seem new, but still.
I went to 2 afternoon sessions, the first of which, "Getting the most out of your humanities assistantship," was only mildly helpful, but it is where I finally met some history people! They invited me to join other history people later at Iggy's Cantina, a bar on campus after orientation. And there were even more historians to meet at the break and in the next session I decided to attend, "Stress Management." Now normally that would be the last session I'd choose if I had lots of options, but none of the options seemed applicable to me cause most were about TAing. Anyway, the one history guy said his friend went to it last year and it was entertaining, so we decided to both go and check that out. It was actually VERY entertaining, helpful, and enlightening! I loved it! It was the most worthwhile part of the day! haha.
At lunch I met a LOT more history people, but most of them were at another table, so I really only sat with two guys. Now, I was starting to get a bit disheartened by the history company I had to look forward to, because a second year guy took a year off before coming into the program and said he was the youngest one there last year, and so I learned that not many people come into this department straight out of college. I also noticed that I had met like at least 10 men, all several to many years older than me, and no women or people my age. I was sad about this cause I didn't want to be the only younger girl in a big group of older guys. I wanted to make close friends and I was worried this was not the right crowd. I did get a very yummy turkey sandwich and brownie cheesecake square out of it all though. And we all laughed during the raffle when a name was called out as the winner of something and two guys with the same name went up.
After lunch orientation was over, and I called Casey to find out about how his dentist appointment went. Turns out his tooth that has been bothering him so much is probably cracked and needs to be removed. So he was going back to the quad cities for the weekend to see his family, do some voice work for Diary of a Superhero with John, see an oral surgeon about the cracked tooth, and of course SEE THE NEW PUPPY! Now I was frustrated about this for a variety of reasons, selfishly because I was counting on him to join me at/take me to the history department BBQ that weekend, and also because I was worried about that trip being hard on his truck. That truck needs to last; if it breaks down he will be SO sad about it, car-less, and even more stressed out about money than he is now. Anyway, I talked to my mom for awhile while I sat on a bench on campus, and eventually decided not to skip out on the bar, especially if I might not be able to get to the BBQ.
My trip to Iggy's Cantina with the History grad students
I AM SO GLAD I WENT TO THE BAR! I was nervous walking in because I knew I was late, and I didn't see them right away when I went in. They actually had the whole back section reserved for the department, and there were a whole mess of people there! I was so relieved that when I came over the few people who knew my name were like, "AMY!" and then they all stopped talking and said "op, we gotta do it again!" and went around with very friendly introductions. That made me feel so welcome and relieved.
And there were women there! Other grad student historian women! YAY! *sigh* The woman sitting next to me was also named Amy, which made me smile. She just finished her PhD coursework. Patrick, whom I'd only met when I visited SLU and Casey and I went out to drinks with him, James, another guy, and Adam, remembered me happily, and asked me how Casey was doing too! I really like how friendly he is. I was also relieved to notice another new 1st year straight out of undergrad named Robert, who reminds me very much of BC, which endeared him slightly to me. And then I was relieved AGAIN when I found out that I wasn't the last one there, and another girl straight from undergrad showed up late too. She's an Americanist, so I don't know how much we'll see each other, but she seems nice enough and between her and this other guy Scott, I have two ride options to the BBQ!!!
I had a great time. I mentioned that I would have liked a student orientation, to get my questions like "How do I find out what books I need for class?" answered. And the other Amy told me that that's what they were all for, and she answered my question and gave me lots of advice about getting books cheaply and just a lot of other stuff about being a student. I loved that she didn't just give me a quick brushoff answer, but seemed like she really wanted to share some wisdom or something. but anyway the people at our end of the table were really cool and I laughed a lot and had a good time.
I found out that Robert is also car-less, and lives on Lindell and Euclid right by me, and had walked to SLU, and since I didn't have a ride back (Danielle was generous and gave me a ride there in the morning so I didn't have to risk getting rained on biking there) and since he seemed nice enough, we walked back together, which made me feel SO much better about walking by all the construction. Plus we could talk about medieval things, and what we thought about the churches in town cause we're both catholic medievalists. So that was fun. When I got back Casey was all like "did you mention your boyfriend?" Yes, dork.
My AMAZING Thursday Night out DANCING
When I got back, and Danielle got back, and we were all watching tv (probably Scrubs) and Danielle asked if I wanted to go to the swing dance at the Atomic Cowboy that night. um, YES. Casey had rehearsal and couldn't come, but she and I got all dressed up to go dancing, went over to the bar at 7 for the lesson, ("Um, will there be dancing here?") and oh my god that was one of the best nights in St. Louis ever. I was so hoping Danielle would have fun dancing without knowing much swing, and I'm happy to report we both had a blast, and danced the night away. I was a little worried I'd feel intimidated cause I didn't really know what to expect from the atmosphere of a gay bar in St. Louis, but it was really chill and relaxed, decorated with BEAUTIFUL art, and the whole back area had a nice dance floor, so I felt right at home.
First of all, the lesson. Danielle called me the 'model student' because the teacher demonstrated a move using me, and then after that when he told everyone to rotate, he motioned for me to stay for the next move, so apparently I wasn't rotating? I felt a little awkward not rotating, but I was so happy to be the demonstration person!!! The only things I didn't follow exactly were the sugar push right away, because I've never seen it done outside of West Coast swing, and I only dance East Coast and Lindy, but it was fun to see it incorporated into East Coast! He also taught Charleston a little differently, so it was hard to make my brain change what I already know. Anyway, during the lesson I just followed what he led and was teaching, but it reminded me of how much I LOVED teaching lessons on the OC and felt reminiscent of that, and made me happy. There was a little asian guy there that the first few times he wanted to dance with me he would come up and say "Teacher!" But the guy teaching it was fabulous. He had so much FUN teaching it, used very silly metaphors like bouncing hamsters (reminded me of the trout metaphor I used to use for lindy!) and explained things really really well. I was impressed with the way he explained things to the beginners. Having tried to teach people how to dance, I can appreciate how hard it is to explain just how to do it. Anyway, Danielle did great, I felt useful and a bit like a teacher again, and then the dance started!
At the start of the dance Danielle told me I needed to dance with the soldier boy, aka, the most handsome beautiful man who is one of the most talented swing dancers I've ever seen... so pretty, so so so good at dancing. And she was right because he was very FUN to dance with. His name was Jeff and he told me "You dance like someone who learned on the east coast" and "you swivel! Not many dancers in the midwest do swivels." Both comments I wanted to take as compliments but was a little perplexed by. Took me a bit to realize that what he called "swivels" was what I called "sugar steps." There's so many names for the same things in swing. But it was funny that he said I had kind of an east coast style because all the people that taught me were mostly Coloradoans - Kelly & Eliav, who taught Robyn and Ian. But maybe as a Lindy City, Denver has an east coast influence - Tiff teaches sugar steps when she teaches Lindy at the Merc. Anyway, I was glad to get those comments, but it was funny because he also asked me who my teachers were, as if I had had actual training by actual teachers at some point. Ha! Either way, I like coming off as if I've had a bit of actual training. Well, I guess between Dan & Tiff and all the HSF workshops, I have, just not consistently at any point.
Later in the night, Kassi came, the one who told Danielle about the place and that we should all come, so I was glad to meet her, and impressed with what a great dancer she is. I need to work on my style so I look as good as some of these girls. I just wish I could like, be in their bodies for a second while they're doing it so I can feel what they're doing differently, because at this point I'm not quite sure what to work on. I think there's something not right going on with my shoulders and neck, and I probably look at my feet too much when I'm dancing.
Anyway, We danced with a lot of different people, and were never sitting too long between dances, and stayed for the whole night, 7-11! I liked chatting with Danielle and Kassi about dancing, and about dancers (like Mime man with that huge ego). I think my favorite people I danced with besides Jeff were Owen (he had so much character in his dancing!), the teacher, salsa guy, and the little asian guy (as rhythm-less as he was). I enjoyed that I could almost keep up with Mime man, but I didn't like that he refuses to adjust his style so that his partners could keep up. Polite dancers tone things down to adjust to their partner's ability, so that the couple can dance well together. He was clearly just there to show off, and didn't seem to care much whether his partner was dancing well with him.
I liked salsa guy because he'd laugh a lot while we were dancing and say how much fun it is to turn me. And I got asked AGAIN whether I'm ballet trained. I'm not, but he's like at least the 7th person to ask me whether I am. I think there must be something in the way I turn that reminds people of the way ballet dancers do turns? Maybe it's because I spot? Maybe it's because I dance up on the balls of my feet rather than flat footed? I have no idea.
Anyway, I was so happy Danielle was having such a good time, because I love swing so much, and I love seeing other people catch the enthusiasm for how much fun it really is. Between swing in highschool and ballroom in college, she picked up what she was taught very quickly and is a natural follow because she understands that tension is necessary. So that was all good. With all that, she could get good very fast, cause it's always the tension and the inability to follow a lead that give people the most problems when they're first learning. I'm thinking Living Room Lessons? It would benefit all, because Casey wants to practice his footwork, Danielle wants to learn, and I miss teaching people.
So the night was great. The people were great. The scene was small, but not crowded, and the atmosphere reminded me of the Mercury Cafe, but just on a much smaller scale. I loved it and felt so at home. I know at a swing club I'll never feel like the best dancer there, but I felt like I could follow well all the "good" people there, so I feel like those 4 years of dancing at Cornell have certainly done me some justice. :-)
That was JUST the swing night I needed to show me that there are plenty of young swing dancers in St. Louis that are good, that are friendly, and that DO lindy hop! I'm ecstatic about that, and can't wait to go again next Thursday after my first Historical Theory class gets out!
My productive morning yesterday and subsequent relaxing evening
So yesterday I was determined to tie up all the loose ends with SLU stuff. I took my bike in the morning down to campus, and turned in my health insurance form. I also went to the bookstore to explore it, check out the SLU merchandise (omg, our mascot is so hilarious), and find my books. I had looked them all up last night, I purchased the Latin Paleography book, and two of the interesting looking Historical Theory books. I already bought the Medieval History book online earlier, and the two theory books on postmodernism looked far too boring/expensive for me to want to actually purchase then and there. I ended up getting the 700 page one at the library, and the other one was checked out but overdue, so I recalled it and we'll see what happens with that. My trip over to the library was an adventure, because the library floorplan is an adventure. The book I was looking for is actually in the Lewis Annex, so I had to take an elevator into like another building, so I got on the elevator at the second floor, got off at the first floor of the other building (which was in the basement), but when I left got out of the elevator on the 4th floor of the later building, which was actually the second floor that I started on in the main building. Crazy. But I really like the library and they have quite an extensive collection, so I'm happy.
I HATE BIKE RACKS. I love riding my bike; I hate the chore of locking it up places, and trying to extricate it from crowded racks cause the handlebar or the pedal or something is always caught on someone else's bike and I just want to be like "AH let go of my bike so I can leave!!!!" I may forgo the bike rack thing, and just hook my bike up to trees or something. what a pain.
I realized that not bringing my backpack when I planned to bike and get some books was a really really bad idea, because biking back with them was very awkward. I'm tired of bike situations being awkward. Like trying to get in and out of my apartment building! always awkward. But I did like biking around campus before that, and taking pictures of how pretty it is. I LOVE ALL THE FOUNTAINS! There are SO many fountains! And the grounds are so manicured and full of flower beds. How lovely.
Anyway after all that Danielle drove me over to the Salus Center, at the now very familiar Water Tower Inn. I went to Human resources, dropped off those damn tax forms, showed them my passport, and was finally done with all that nonsense. When I got back I called the history people to let them know I'm all set to be employed and that I'd drop off the receipt later, and they were pleased that I'd called so they could put me in the system earlier, even before I drop off the receipt. Now I don't have to worry about getting the receipt there quickly, cause it's just a piece of paper going in a file that they're not doing anything with cause I'm already in the computer! woo.
DONE.
Then to celebrate getting all the errands done and surviving biking with a bag of books, I watched TV and chatted with Danielle and wrote this entry all night. Yay.