This is the second weekend in a row with a big event at the university that FOC is expected to attend. Student Life 101 gives incoming students the opportunity to learn about and experience just what first year life is like at the university. We ran the orientation week booth in the Student Life Centre (SLC). The booth gave students and their parents more information about the week that we’re planning, as well as allow them to register for the events. I don’t remember much about the time when I went to Student Life 101 in 2000, but I don’t think it was ever as busy as it was this year.
When I arrived at the visitor’s parking lot, it was packed to the point where I had to park in the far lot. That’s crazy. They actually had to have parking attendants flag people over telling them where to go. Usually I can find a spot right at the corner closest to the intersection. Man, it wasn’t a good day to be wearing my other shoes. I usually wear my hiking boots because I wanted to give them a rest. Since I hadn’t worn the shoes I wore for a long time, they had that unbroken-in feeling to them. Halfway to the SLC, I found myself limping from the pain. That’s not right. I tried to walk as best I could without drawing much attention to myself. Last thing I need is to be a spectacle.
When I got to the SLC, I got myred vest and joined the rest of the group. I ended up handing out sign-up forms to the crowd for a while. Drawing energy from the people around me, I started doing out of character things like bounce around with another FOCer for no reason.
So much for not being a spectacle.
At 11 a good chunk of FOC moved to the Physical Activities Complex (PAC). We sat in for a session given the the students and parents. During that presentation certain Waterloo cheers were taught to the crowd and we were in charge of pumping the crowd up. Hahah. There are times when you just have to be absolutely shameless. I just went for it and screamed as best I could. Hell, it’s not like most people are going to remember the dude screaming loudly in front of them.
So, OK, after grabbing a quick bite to eat I head back the booth and take over someone’s spot at registration. I started greeting people and taking their money. It’s nice seeing all the fresh faces and their parents taking interest in all the stuff they’re doing. It gives me an awesome feeling asking them what they’re going to take and what they’re looking forward to. I mean, I was once one of them. I don’t remember anyone really trying to take interest. I figured that I might as well try to do so, because someday someone might remember that people actually gave a shit about them, you know?
Well, apparently the smiling and small-talk made a difference with some people. One parent-child group came up to me and said, “you make a great salesman, you know?” Hahah. That reminds me of last weekend when I was told the exact smae thing when I was “pimping sandwiches”.
Damn. Maybe I’m in the wrong line of work.
Taking registration was fun. I mean, two hours passed by really quickly. I didn’t want to leave my spot even though there were people ready to relieve me. I pried myself out though at the insistance of one of my supervisors. Go figure. Well, during my break I went down to the arcade with Roselle (another FOC) to play Dance Dance Revolution. I think I must’ve stomped hard on a misstep or something because my back started aching. I thought I felt fine at the end of the third song, but when I sat down I find myself so out of breathe, almost like I was going to pass out or something, you know?
That’s pretty much the run down of the day. It ended with a lot of pizza for the volunteers at the university’s bar patio. It’s great. It looked like all of FOC was so chummy together. As one person put it, “There’s just so much FOC bonding that’s been happening over the past weeks”. It makes me wish I could go to meetings, but I’m just not able.
This is the last weekend I’ll be heading over (I think) before frosh week. Time is winding down quickly. I’m gonna freak out soon. ^^
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