today was hard

[angledge]

How anybody gets any work done when they drink like this - all the time! - is beyond my comprehension. Unfortunately, many things were beyond my comprehension this morning. Unfortunate because today was the start of learning UNIX, one of several new computer programming languages I'm going to have to master this year. Thank God I'd seen some of it before & I was able to keep up. Thank God also for strong coffee in the department's break room. I did almost crack up when we learned the command "whoami" (it lets you know what name you're logged in as, but it struck a deep existential chord with me today).

Took a long nap this afternoon & I'm finally feeling better. My floormates are renting a DVD player tonight so we're going to watch a couple movies & call it a night.

Also - I finally got my POS laptop working. Now all I need to do is buy one converter (doggle for a USB) & I'll be able to do email (& other online tasks, like homework) from my dorm room. Progress. My floormate Brian has proved very helpful, & he also told me that he's an experienced programmer in several of the languages I'll be using. Ehhhxcellent. Between him & the Hive, I'll have strong geek backup for this adventure. I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

Comments

[mrsjadephoenix.livejournal.com]

Your stories about how much drinking goes on over there is starting to worry me! I have absolutely zero tolerance of alcohol! ;-)

[angledge.livejournal.com]

It's really amazing how much alcohol is consumed here. I'm serious - it's endemic to the whole culture. And it's not just Scotland - I've got cousins who were in university in London, Reading, & Leeds, & they report a similar culture. However, if you don't drink - I haven't seen anymore being teased for turning down a drink. So if you don't mind being the non-drinker at the pub, you'll probably be fine.