Monthly Archives: April 2008
University People
There may be thirty people sitting in this class this morning – about half of the total number of students registered; the professor doesn’t take attendance, and I’m assuming that only half of those who bother to show up are actually interested. I look around this classroom, especially at the ones who are asleep or not focused on the lecture, and wonder why – of all the places in the world to be – they are here. Most probably just want the degree at the end of their term. In fact, it seems like fewer and fewer students are coming to the university for the pleasure of learning, instead just treating it as stepping stone to middle class happiness. It’s disappointing.
I’m always interested by the actions of people in this university environment; in particular, those who adhere to the implied formalities of this place, and those who seem to ignore this cultural foundation altogether. My favorite to watch – least favorite to be in proximity to – is the chronic classroom diner. S/he finds it imperative to bring a greasy paper bag of fast food to class each day, reeking that fatty fried food smell into the entire room. Everything this student touches turns into an oil spill, which is especially disgusting in computer equipped classrooms. And day after day, the fast food comes in and is consumed noisily and hastily, with seemingly no regard to what exactly s/he is putting into his/her body. Absolutely disgusting. Other variants of this individual include the “Starbucks Super-sized Orange Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino with Extra Whipped Cream and Chocolate Sauce” girl, who, after sucking down 1200 calories in a cup each morning, wonders why her gym regimen doesn’t seem to be working.
And, is the university considered a workplace anymore? A long time ago, students used to wear suits to class, and the classroom was considered a very prestigious and professional environment. Now, it looks like half of these kids woke up ten minutes before class, threw on whatever pair of jeans and dirty t-shirt they could find on the floor, and stumbled hung-over down the road to class. The girls especially seem to have taken a huge hit from this trend, with the extreme over use of short track shorts, flip-flops, and the assorted t-shirt. Have some pride in your appearance! Students seem to be migrating to this common middle ground of mediocrity – looking like trash, turning in trashy work, trashing their money at a place they clearly don’t want to be, and then accepting a lifestyle that’s been dictated to them by the outside world.
I’ve always liked the big backpack people too, who somehow feel it necessary to bring every book for every class to campus each day, along with their 10 pound laptop, change of clothes, large water bottle, umbrella, rain jacket, three course meal in individual Tupperware containers, one notebook for each class, day planner, two pens, and two pencils. This person awkwardly waddles into class, legs trembling under the tremendous load, out of breath with sweat glistening off the forehead. They disturb six people around them as they try to get the mammoth from the shoulder to the floor, knocking off the Starbucks girl’s $12 Frappuccino in the process.
Yes, that is the university classroom in a nutshell. I’m glad I won’t be back for a while…
Graduation?
Forgive me for neglecting you recently, the literary mood has been escaping me. It was waiting for me right where I left it though…
Well, it looks like I’ll be graduating after all – not that there was ever a real possibility of it not happening – but still, you never know with these things… All of my classes have essentially wrapped up quite nicely, even enjoyably for a few. I was able to work on some really interesting research topics in these final few weeks, which have capped things off in style; it’s satisfying to put out good work.
As it all comes to an end, I think I’m going to miss academic life during my short hiatus before returning for graduate work, although I never thought I’d be admitting to it. Sure, there are things I don’t like – the arrogance, the distance from reality at times, the force-feeding of unworthy information. But at the same time, I think a lot of that unpleasantness can be avoided by the pursuit and propagation of worthy knowledge, in worthy scholastic departments; in a way, I think I’ve discovered just that these past few weeks.
I have a very exciting year ahead of me, full of uncertainties that I find myself thriving on at the moment; some may call my free-spiritedness crazy, but I think life is boring without a little bit of unknown. There may be a job here in Austin in my near future, specifically working with one of my city’s amazing nonprofits. I don’t really want flash and fortune, I just want to help change the world. It’s disgusts me when people suggest I should be making $40,000/yr – why on earth do I need that? Wishfully of course, more people should understand that concept; living free heartedly with what you need, and little else. Gandhi changed the world with little more than the clothes on his back and a simple roof over his head, his “carbon footprint” all but nothing. If we all took a fraction of this lesson, imagine the world we would live in.
There’s also an employment opportunity way up North, back in Alaska, that is really sounding appealing as Austin begins to heat up for the summer. Trading heat for mosquitoes… I’d be living outside, cutting trail and developing parks in the most attractive landscape in the world.
If the job thing doesn’t inspire me properly, plan B will carry me towards more uncertainty. I want to go hike, and will probably head West to walk the Pacific Crest Trail. I might write while I’m out there, or just walk and think. Typically, hikers will complete the trail in 4-6 months, which should be plenty of time for me to get my head on straight again, and leave me with a vague idea of where to go next.
I’m riding my bike again, sort of. Lets just say I’m riding often enough to see my tan lines return. I guess I still ride everyday, if you want to be technical, but I don’t count rides under two miles on my track bike as real cycling. I feel left out as everyone around me complains about skyrocketing gas prices – I haven’t bought a drop of petrol in 22 years. Living with what you need: when will people learn?
Fond Memories
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
I’m going to start doing some restaurant/bar reviews for the places I frequent or newly encounter here in Austin. I’ve always enjoyed good food and drink; believing that I have somewhat good taste on this particular subject…
First on the list is the Flying Saucer, a fairly new pub/bar, only being open here in Austin for four months or so. I believe it’s part of a Dallas-centered chain. Their new Austin location is at The Triangle – a mega-development of epic proportions, with an extravagant amount of overpriced apartments and glitzy looking restaurants on the street level. The location, and the fact that they’re part of a chain (albeit small and Texas based) knocks a few points off the total for me, but lets try to not let this distract us from the important stuff – food and beer.
The place was a little busier than usual, as Tuesday nights are pub trivia nights, which typically attracts a decent sized crowd here in Austin. Being an unmotivated college student with a decent sized alcohol budget, I have a hard time finding better ways to spend my Tuesday evenings, although my trivia team usually frequents Mother Egan’s on 6th instead of the Flying Saucer.
I was hungry when I arrived, and my default choice was the “saucer burger” – a plain old hamburger with the typical condiment, served on great looking and tasting wheat bun. Unfortunately, the meat was a little overcooked, dry and tough. Oh well.
The real magic of the place, and one of the primary reasons I was there was the beer, an area where the Flying Saucer definitely excels. They have a four page beer list, featuring some great micro-brews on tap from around the world, with most at a decent price ($3-7 per pint). I was in the mood for beer with kick, so my first selection was the Third Eye Pale Ale from Colorado’s Steamworks Brewery. I think there are better Pale Ales coming out of Colorado (Boulder’s Mountain Sun Brewery comes to mind first), but the flavor was good, and it was nice to have some local Colorado beer sitting in Central Texas. Also to my delight, the Flying Saucer features a number of Belgian beers, and my next choice was the Chimay Tripel, served from the tap in a pretty Chimay chalice. I love the spiciness of most Tripel style beers, and this was no exception. It’s definitely a sipper though, packing quite the 8.0% abv punch. Last, I went for the old favorite Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – always a favorite of mine, and a beer that brings back some good memories.
If it wasn’t a Tuesday night, the expansive beer choice would have kept me entertained for much longer, but unfortunately I had to call it early. Despite the lovely list, however, there are a few reasons that I think will prevent me from becoming a Flying Saucer regular:
- The mega-development and mass-produced feel
- The underwhelming food
- Crappy trivia
For me, the Crown & Anchor will remain my #1 beer spot in Austin, with my top choice for Tuesday trivia going to Mother Egan’s. I’ll throw together some reviews for these places later on.
