First Day of Third Year

October 8th 2007, Monday. First day of third year.

Well, after having rather successfully completed supplemental examinations, (a round of applause can be given now) it is the first day of third year, and can I finally say, Thank Fuck! Apart from being incredibly happy that I don't have to drop out of College or pay huge fees to repeat a year, it's also rather exciting starting a new year, with new possibilities, new lecturers and the chance of new and exciting times ahead of me. Let's ignore the fact that I am sounding like a right idiot here and just look at being in College from a very neutral point of view. They do say that the best times of your life are spent at College, and I can add that they certainly don't disappoint. But apart from that, you really do get the sense of belonging to something far greater, be it a club that you're heavily involved in, an organisation you're passinate about, or just a group of friends that help you through everything.
College, pure and simple is just a great time, and if you're not having fun you're not in the right place.

So the first day.
I live just five minutes outside of UCD, and by God can I tell you that is gonna be fun this year, winding up UCD students or just crashing their parties and seeing if the enemy does have a lot more fun than we do.
We have a new lecturer to Trinity and the Religion Department. In fact we have quite a few changes. Queue applause for the evil bitch, also known as Boris Becker, also known as Maureeen Junker Kenny. No I am not biased because she is from Muenster (Germany) because I'm from Berlin and naturally suspicious of anyone from West Germany or a Wessie. The second major change is the replacement of Eddie Hutch with Benjamin Wold, or Benji as his new nickname will surely be. True he is filling in some very large boots of his predecessor, but he looks to be a good guy. Andrew Hoffman, when asked what his name was replied "Lord" and Benji didn't fall for it, some hope returned to me. He isn't that stupid, so we may be safe for a while! The third change undoubtedly is the fact that Dermott Nestor will soon be gone but I saw him around the Arts Block a couple of times toay and he seemed in good spirits, stopped and talked to us so that's all good.
I am now the proud owner of a locker key in the Panoz Institute in the Pharmacy Building, down the back end of Trinity. Walking there with Andrew for the first time was a scary experience. I hope, that by the time May comes around I will be able to walk into the Pharmacy building and not be afraid of Science students. It may be a big task, but I feel up to it.
The first drink of third year was spent in the Pav, and what a good usage of money. Glad to see the outdoor benches are filled up with slightly drunk students as always that nothing really changes, and the grass is still as comfortable to sit on, despite wearing stiletto heels. Also not being asked for ID is a plus, but then maybe I haven't spent enough time there in the last while.
Bumping into familiar old faces and swapping summer stories is always a fun experience, though I am not done by far. Neither is the drinking.
Finding this cool new Mac computer room in the Arts block is absolutely awesome, and maybe it's the alcohol kicking in but this keyboard is just the best thing ever. I want a Mac!

Those of you who do Theology will surely be mourning the loss of Eddie Hutch, Nestor, Biggar and the idea that Boris Becker is now in charge. God it sucks right now, but hopefully it will get better. MJK might decide to move away, a miracle will cause Eddie Hutch to return and Nestor will just stay anyway. Not believable? At least one can dream!
Now to probably the most amusing anecdote of the day, the first day isn't even over and there was already a fire alarm going off. Not that anybody mindd, it meant a chance to get out of class or congregate on the grass crowded next to each other and talk. In fairness if there was a fire going on, we probably wouldn't have reacted any differently. But the most amusing part of it, apart from finding friends among the hundreds crammed outside, is hearing after we were allowed back in, on the lift up the maintenance telling staff that for once it wasn't the students, but a kettle that wouldn't switch itself off after boiling that set off the alarm. Shock and horror it was a staff member not a student. No-one could believe the man. I feel slightly disgruntled!
For the first day it was quite amusing, and I am going to try and keep this up, keeping a blog. Trinity College Dublin has never been this fun!

So this is to many great drunken nights out, hung-over lectures the next morning, working until three am to complete an essay, winging it in class and having the best time of your lives. Life wouldn't be the same without what we are doing now, and neither would it be with the people we know. To the best time of your miserable fucking life!
Cheers!