Posted September 1, 2006 in Uncategorized
“Sneakers” is a flavor of ice cream. “Room,” despite being spelled with two o’s, is pronounced “rum,” and no, I don’t know where Syracuse is located. Or what CUNY stands for, or what a Wegman’s might sell, if anything. I’m from Wisconsin. The plates on my sporty Honda Civic say “America’s Dairyland,” and yes, I drink milk. Lots of it. Some might take my ignorance for stupidity, but make no mistake: I drove 13 hours across seven states and a time zone because I’m honors material. I’ve earned the smallest dorm room on this campus…literally. Between my burgandy bed that’s raised to the level of my waist and my roommate’s lime green mattress is four feet of carpeted wonder. This is the largest space in our room. It’s smaller than me. And I’m only 5′3′’.
It’s not a huge deal, though. If I ever have friends over, they can always grab a bite from the fridge…that’s resting in my closet. Next to my tennies.
It’s taken a month, but my roommate and I have finally done it: we’ve finished the pink bible that is the entire collection of “Sex and the City”. All of it. And I am so ready to take on this beautiful state of New York as a result. Except I don’t have the wardrobe for it. Nor the money to pay for it. Which leads me to Point A: I love that I can walk around in sweats here and no one will care, as everyone else is walking around in sweats, too. Plus if I wear sweats w/ “UB” or “Buffalo” labeled anywhere on them, I’m no longer a slob or a lazy bum, but a student of the SUNY Buffalo and Damn Proud of It!Â
Do you know no one outside of the East Coast knows for what the acronym SUNY stands?? It’s true. I first thought it was pronounced “sunny,” like the atmospheric condition. It was the biggest letdown when I discovered my future school wasn’t this cute, happy place with rays of sunshine streaming down on it with a big rainbow in the background. All evidence to the contrary, actually: it’s cloudy, it’s rainy, and sometimes it’s both.  But it’s ok, ‘cuz I’ll still wear my sunglasses. ‘Cuz, as they say in Madison (the state capitol of Wisconsin, people…), “the sun never sets on the cool people.”
My suitemate is from Long Island. Therefore it’s not “laundry,” but “lawn-dree”. And lawndree sucks. Point 1: Half the machines are broken. Point 2: I went down to the lawndree room this evening; there were no people there and none of the machines were running. The sketch part: ALL THE MACHINES WERE FULL!!!!!! Point 3: the lawndree rum is colder than outside air temperatures.Â
But, hey. It’s free. ;) And I love not spending money. I always thought Governor’s gave me a pretty good life. Free laundry services, free cable, a great internet connection, a cleaning service that cleans my bathroom for me…It’s a good college life.Â
…Except compared to the 4-star hotel that is Washington University in St. Louis where I visited this past weekend. Now I love our lounges because they have all the personalized murals and big windows and couches and stuff. The private, top-ranked WashU has common rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, 30-foot-high ceilings, and chandeliers. The lounges (yes, they’re different there) have wood floors, leather furniture, and fireplaces.  ?????????. It’s amazing. It even has turrets. Yes, like on a castle. Plus the students are allowed to USE the elevators provided in the building. It’s mad crazy, yo, as my Long Island suitie would say.Â
Items, though, that make Gov rock compared to WashU cuz they don’t have ‘em: Big-Screen TV’s so boys can watch their sports or play DDR next to the dining hall; ummmmmm a great bus service for the walk of shame (everyone gets booed off the bus in front of Governor’s, right?); hallways that are narrow enough for me to climb; more NY attitude than anywhere (I’m from Wisconsin, remember, so I’m speaking relatively…); and me! ahahaha
Posted October 17, 2006 in Uncategorized
Does anyone know that movie? Snow Day, I mean? Did anyone ever see it? Chevy Chase was in it…I think he was a principal of some sort… Anyway, it must not have been all that great because I can’t remember it.Â
Thus the two record-breaking snow days here at UB have been so much better than that movie. I have never before in my life had a snowball fight at one in the morning. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen snow before in October.Â
It all started in my chem lab. It was raining and I was complaining. Because it’s cold and wet. And it’s always cold and wet. Because it’s Buffalo. No one paid aaaaaaaaany attention to me when I pointed out the waffle-like flakes of snow falling haphazardly above ground. Wait–I lied–yeah, they did. People made fun of me, told me to get used to it, that this wasn’t that special, that I was foolish and ridiculous to be so easily amused.Â
 And then it stuck. Â
 Don’t you hate it when they say… To Be Continued…
Posted October 18, 2006 in Uncategorized
That’s the only French I know, by the way. That, and bonjour, and a few other words but can’t really spell them.
So yes. The snow stuck. After lab was over I went to the dorm, grabbed the camera, and took a ton of pictures like some crazed tourist at Disney World. It was a special moment. And I was so excited, I didn’t know what to do! So I did what every college student does when they don’t know what to do…I took a nap.
When I woke up, it was a Winter Wonderland, except with lightning. Because apparently in Buffalo, lightning may accompany snowfall. Which is weird as all hell. My friend, Seth, kept telling us all we’d have a snow day, but no one really believed him until later. Then we had a snowball fight and nearly lost our lives in the collapse of one of the trees out in front. Which was hysterical…:-D
Everyone in Governors screamed and hugged and ran around and made plans for the long weekend…when the weekend arrived, however, we were housing South Campus refugees and cursing ourselves for not doing laundry earlier. And everyone was bored. All the time. Because there was no place to go and nothing to do except build snowmen. Which many of us did. It’s quite humorous, actually, as one of the snowmen’s faces has melted right into his torso.
No one back home knows about the storm. It’s huge news here and federally recognized but my Wisconsin friends don’t seem to understand that. I spoke about a natural disaster to one guy, and he thought I was speaking metaphorically about our relationship, or, actually, lack thereof…slightly awkward, I have to say.
School is back in session. And now we’re all part of history. Buffalo history, anyway. Or maybe just that new Facebook group, “Snow in October? WTF? I survived the Buffalo blizzard of 10/12/06!” Either way, it’s momentous…
Posted October 31, 2006 in Uncategorized
There are remnants of Ramen Noodles in the sink. The libraries are full to capacity. And the Starbucks is sinking. Quickly. Because all the coffee is running out and people are growing rapidly irritable. It’s Midterm Season. We dare not say it, and we can hardly bear to speak it because acknowledging its presence will only make it worse. Everyone knows: Yo…This Week Is Going To Suck.
Even my dad called to extend his sympathies. The entire University System has recognized this week among the worst and sent him a brochure. “Care Packages,” it says, “for Students Preparing for Midterms.” Dad wants to know if I want the Energy Drink Package. Or the Comfort Foods Package. Or the Apple Package. Because obviously when im suffocating from anxiety of the immediate exams, “an apple will help,” comforts the brochure. Sure, it can’t really inflict amnesia on my professor, look up the answers to the calculus problems I’m studying, or turn back time to a week ago when I should’ve started studying, but yeah, it can sit there on my desk until it rots and my roommate throws it out. Kind of like a decoration. Except uglier.
Well thanks, anyways, Dad. The only thing I need or want is the weekend…and we all know it can’t come soon enough.
Posted November 29, 2006 in Uncategorized
“Love Actually,” one of my favorite movies EVER, shows poor Colin getting into a cab outside the airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My friends and I watched the movie just before Thanksgiving break and were so excited to point out to me, “Chani, that’s where you’re going to be in a few days!!!” They were referring to the neon blue sign that says “Milwaukee Airport,” which, I’m sorry to say, doesn’t actually exist outside of the movie. I came home to the only airport in Milwaukee, the General Mitchell International Airport…
Everything seemed bigger and smaller all at once. My room, my bed, my desk were larger, yes, but they were also shorter. I could sit on my bed without jumping; I could reach the shelves of my closet without climbing on top of the fridge. Oh, home. I no longer need a heavy coat in Wisconsin; the weather, particularly with the wind, makes Buffalo far worse than WI could have ever been. My friends and family were swearind up and down that I would get sick without “proper winter attire…” except that 30-40 degrees is nothing compared to Buffalo, especially with the sun.Â
