Tuesday 27 September 2011

I Believe I Can Fly

I have found a small window of opportunity to update you all on this University experience, seeing as I've just got back from a marathon bike journey. And besides, I have to tell those of you lucky enough not to get a phone call from me at a ridiculous time of the day last night.

It's all a bit hazy, so bear with me. After the potential on the first day, it was time for the 'Where's Wally' pub crawl. We had our t-shirts, that bizarrely cost us £8, and looked nothing like the ones seen in the popular childrens books and I had my glasses, drawn on in permanent black marker by a Student Union rep, and something else written on my forehead, that I never worked out what it said. I now know it was simply, "FRESHER" and nothing more... sinister! It was a slow start, admittedly, just sitting in the SU, chatting, having a couple of JD and cokes, and a couple of Agwabombs, (Nope, I don't know either), before we were ushered into different groups and left for the now familiar long walk to Town.

It was very strange on the way. The reps, (3 to a group), attempted to play some games that included different actions when 1 or 2 whistles were blown. Either getting on the floor or getting off the floor with the punishment if you were the last one, some unbeknown challenge that was designed to be embarrassing... I didn't lose at all, especially after jumping on Ryan's back to get off the floor, but my time would come later... We moved on to about 5 other bars, playing some games along the way including 'I Have Never', 'Boat Race', (which is pretty much a race to see who can see off a drink quickest) and, in the first bar, we had your generic, 'Go Round The Group And Introduce Yourself' game. Name, where you're from, what course and an interesting fact about yourself.

Now, I've never been very good at this. Not that amazing, despite my brief acting days, at standing up in front of a group and telling them about myself, especially when 99% of these people, I hardly knew at all. The only difference this time, from other times, is that I had a decent enough amount of alcohol circling my system, and I decided I would go for it. I couldn't think of a fact though, so Brummie Ryan suggested I tell them I was the creator of MySpace. You all know that story by now, right? I went for it, stood up on my chair, (that exuded confidence), and introduced myself, said I was from Bedford and told this group of around 50 Freshers that I created MySpace. Obviously, it went down well. The reps said it was 'Quite obviously bullshit' though, which was fair enough, and my punishment was to stand on the large table, in the middle of the squared group, and sing a song. Right. This is unfamiliar territory, but I decided that I would embarrass myself even more if I refused, so got up on the table and asked everyone what song they wanted to hear. There were quite a few suggestions, of which I can't remember, before I overheard someone shout, 'I Believe I Can Fly'.. I know that... (I thought). I can do that!

And, before the Rep could stop me, I was belting out a version of 'I Believe I Can Fly', in front of 50 people I had only just met..

"I believe I can fly! I believe I can touch the sky! I think about it every night and day! Spread my wings and flyyy awayyyy! I believe I can soar! See me runnin' through that open doooooor! I believe I can flyyy!"

Everyone joined in, and I have to say, it was amazing. The rep said to me after, "You know what, I felt a bit bad making you do that, because I thought it would be a bit awkward if you were shit, but that was fucking amazing". I was shocked. I'm no singer, but I've gotta admit, it did sound good, and I even got compliments from a few others saying I was "a very good singer". Ha! And just the fact I got EVERYONE to join in... It ranks up there as an amazing moment.

The rest of the night was your standard, but very enjoyable night. Of course, the old Jagerbomb trick came out, but I only ordered 6 this time, in fear of making a fool of myself, and, in 'Kings', Rachel very kindly spent a lot of money on a few double JD and cokes, and some ridiculous tower of shots that cost her £6, but I did return the favour later in the night, even if she did pour her Vodka all over me in revenge for me pouring water over her. Just ridiculous. And all of this was before we ended up laying in Eastbourne Royal Golf Course, for over an hour, on wet grass. Oh deary, deary me...

I was supposed to attend the Freshers Fair earlier, but I genuinely woke up at 8.30am, still drunk. I went back to sleep at 9.30am, and slept through until around half past 2, which signalled the start of my marathon bike ride to find a route to my college. It was insanely long, but simple, yet I do think there is a shorter route. I've just got to find it. One more word about the food, which is amazingly ridiculous, and certainly justifies the crazy amount of money I'm spending on these Halls. Talking of food, I suppose I'd better go get some!

I can only presume we're heading out again tonight, but I'm really not feeling going mental again. Clearly, that means another mental night ahead. No rest for the University wicked.

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