Big Man on Campus
Today was another LOOOONG day. Up at seven, home at seven, worked the whole way through in some fashion. I don't know why I'm sitting here instead of showering and going to bed as I told myself I would, but I guess some part of me must still feel guiltily obligated to try and blog at least somewhat before I leave so I don't risk thinking, later, "boy, I wish I'd at least kept some record of my thoughts in that time just before Japan." Why it matters, I'm not sure, as I can only think to write of things inane with what's left of my brain.

I've been managing to study Japanese at least a bit, and I've finally nailed katakana into my mind. See, in first year they actually tested us on hiragana (of course) but never bothered to give us an exam on katakana which resulted in the majority of us learning 'neccesary' characters and neglecting some of the lesser-used ones. So now most of the UO's Japanese students read katakana words like dyslexic foreigners. I mean, more than normal. Anyway, I think I've got it down pat. Now I just need to review about ten typed pages of grammar structures and, oh, three hundred or so kanji. UGH. You see, it's not that I think this will actually help my conversational abilities much once I get to Japan, I just refuse to be "placed" below my level via the introductory aptitude test. I am, after all, there to learn and I don't want to suffer for a summer of slacking.

Despite this, I don't really think I've been slacking at all. The last two weeks at work have been bloody full of activity, especially with upgrades and the new virus that's terrorizing the campus. Really, you stupid hacker fucks, it's just NOT FUNNY. j00 4r3 $00000 |\|07 1337, j00 ASS FARMERS. I mean, yeah, it's cool that people can write such "potent" programs but the end result is NOT that Microsoft will either crumble or evolve into a better company. The end result is just whiny users and pissed-off techs. Fucking pansy-assed linux geeks. Ugh. (Sorry guys, not you...) Today I actually reformatted a machine (not infected, mind you) and reinstalled farking Windows 98 on it. Like it isn't FREAKING FIVE YEARS LATER!!!!!111 I've been trying for the last two days to get the upgrades of 18 lab iMacs (all of which need some personal attention) underway without avail. Everyone else leave me alone to my projects, damn it!!!

Erf, anyway... these 8-hour-full-packed-no-break days are starting to wear on me. It's IMPOSSIBLE to come home in the evening and get anything done and IMPOSSIBLE to do anything that needs doing done during the day, especially considering that most things need done during so-called "business hours." I've decided that, without a doubt, I will not tolerate a two-career partnership. If I ever get married it's absolutely mandatory that one of us only work part time at the most. There's no way to EVER get done housework, cooking, and relaxation with a two-income house. The day just isn't long enough. I fully respect stay-at-home moms now, especially because I've been operating on a no-weekend (read: NO catch-up time) schedule. Now if only I could convince myself that Justin would actually get done the housework if I were the one with a career. Hmmmm.....

Today an interesting day, even if it was unbearably long. TBS was filming on campus, I saw a masturbating-stalker-perv escorted from the Knight Library, and I left work with a check for $5K in my wallet. What's that, you say? Well, TBS screens some retardelicious "Super Playstation Saturday" thing during the summer where they come around to college campuses. In commemoration of Animal House's 25th anniversary they're showing the movie and, of course, came to the UO (where Animal House was filmed) to interview people and film their commercial bumpers. I would have loved to have been an extra except I was so unbearably frazzled that I didn't have time to wait around. That and, um, I've never seen animal house so I wouldn't have been the best at their trivia.

The incident with the perv occurred at Knight Library whilst I was checking out some books for research on Japanese ethnography and cultural etiquette. I was walking around carrying a stack of books up to my head when I stepped out of one of the stacks and almost crashed into a very intimidating DPS officer. I watched him round a corner and look a few directions before carrying on downstairs. It occurred to me that I thought it creepy he was wearing gloves. While I was at the check-out desk, I saw another officer or two lurking around so I asked the staff girls what the DPS was doing in the library, fully expecting them to not tell me. Instead, one of the girls (who must have been feeling chatty) informs me that one of their ex-employees was caught wanking off in the stacks last year (you may remember reading about this on campus) and was banned from the library, not to mention consequently unemployed. In the last half-hour or so he'd been sighted in the library and so, rather than risk further embarrassment, DPS was called in to search for him. We had a good laugh at his expense and I wondered what I might have done had I come across him (or anyone, really) "doing his business" in public. I think I'd probably laugh my ass off extremely derisively. Being a fairly sexually liberal girl, and having seen my share of masturbating men, I can't say I'd be extremely traumatized by indecent exposure. Mildly amused, yes. Traumatized? Pffh. She continued on, telling me that after he was fired he even went so far as to stalk on of their student workers, who eventually acquired a restraining order against him. Sounds like a real creep, ne? Well, as we were standing there, the bugger comes walking right out of the main floor doors right up to where the DPS officers are congregating. All the girls at the counter look appalled at seeing him and sort of glare his way. Meanwhile, another three or four DPS officers come trotting down the hall after being radioed and escort the guy into the lobby by the entry where they proceed to lecture the moron on why he's NOT allowed in the library, despite his protests. And really, the guy just LOOKED like a molester. It was so disappointing. I hate seeing people cater to stereotypes. Come on, all you molester-types, get some better hygene and stuff!

So, the $5K check... no, I didn't win the lottery or anything special. I was just handed a chunk of my Freeman-ASIA scholarships unexpectedly. I had HOPED it would go into my student account, where I wouldn't have to deal with it, but it might be for the better that it's in my hands now. It means that I don't have to wait for direct deposit to hand me out chunks of money every term and that I can delegate the rest of the check as I please. For a moment I was so highly apprehensive about accepting the check and managing my own funds that I wasn't aware of the irony of the situation: I never thought I'd be displeased to take a chunk of cash that large from anyone. But it's all been figured out now. The only thing that remains left to be seen is exactly how much of the check I get to personally keep... and that depends on how much of a loan my dad decides to take out. If he takes out a $4500 parent loan, I should end up with nearly $3800 in personal "income" while in Japan. More than I planned on and enough to get by without too much work. Here's the financial low down:

FINANCIAL AID FOR 2003-2004
Student loans: $5500
University scholarships: $7600
Freeman Scholarship: $7000
Parent loan: $4000-$5000

Between my loans and the scholarship money, tuition and such is pretty much taken care of. The rest of the surplus is so that I can "get by." Of course, I'd LIKE to say that I won't need it if I find some form (ideally) of lucrative, low-effort work so that I can pay off some loans when I come home... but with my spending habits and the chance to NOT WORK for a change, I doubt that will happen. C'est la vie!

Everything's come together so much that I'm finally starting to become apprehensive. With this check in hand, it's only weeks away. Let's just hope I don't forget my ticket! =D