This morning, I attended a talk with several of my classmates, Professors Qualls and Crouch (science dept), and Steve DePaul, Dickinson's Director of Global Education. DePaul is new to Dickinson and has been traveling to a few of our partnership schools asking for feedback from the students. The discussion has made me realize that while I am enjoying my time here immensely, there are definitely a few things I would change. For one, their technology is atrocious. The university email looks like something out of the 90s.
Next, there is the all around efficiency problem. I had a few problems moving to Pennsylvania with its sometimes Southern tendency for slow paced business, however the school administration has always been prompt and my grievances were quickly forgotten. Not so here. I personally have not needed to change classes, but many of my friends have. The experience is best described as a ping pong game played between the Taught Programmes Office (the administrative office for each school which deals with enrollment) and the professors, with the student as the ping pong ball smacked from one side to the other. Apparently, neither the professors nor the administration believe they have the authority to let students into a class. So I have a question - if
they don't, who does?
Kitchens:
We don't have an oven.
.........seriously, there is no oven. it's a microwave that they
claim turns into a convection oven.
"Shoilet":
The term "shoilet" is used to describe the bathroom in my room. The only thing separating the toilet from the shower is a curtain. The shower is not elevated or in anyway divided from the rest of the room so the entire bathroom floor gets wet when I turn the water on. (Also the sink has two separate faucets one for hot, one for cold. So the water is either scorching or freezing. It's also one of those that you need to press down on and hold which makes it rather tricky.
And the pressure is a little funky so the water tends to explode out of the sink and onto me, the floor and the wall)
It should be noted that while I did just go on mini tirade, I really do like this school. And I find these things more laughable than anything else. And so, to end things on a brighter note.....I have more pictures from Ely and Wicken Fen (stolen of course from my classmates cameras)
That's me and Jamie in a sword fight in Oliver Cromwell's house. Don't let that smile fool you, when the cameras turn off, its a fight to the death!
............And of course, no soldier goes into battle without the proper attire.
I think the raincoat makes me appear rather dashing, don't you? Really completes the ensemble. Anyway, you can't see it because the camera cut it off, but I am actually in "macho-man-sumo-position".
And finally, THE GREAT LEAP!
'til next time........
