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August 19, 2005
The first day of school is always the hardest
Okay, that's not really true. The first day of school was easy. I'm all moved into my studio, and I got to meet most of my colleagues in the print department and I think it's going to be a good group to work with. What's going to be hard is tomorrow, after Peter leaves to go back home without me. Luckily I've been too busy running around doing errands and getting to know Athens a little to dwell on it as much as I was before I left home, but tomorrow I'm not going to know what to do with myself. I think I'll probably go in to the studio and do some work, but maybe I'll just park my arse in front of Jenny's telly and feel sorry for myself. Haven't decided yet.
Some things I have learned about this town so far:
-Except for on campus, it's not terribly pedestrian-friendly. There aren't many sidewalks once you get out of downtown. If I wanted to walk home (I might want to, since the last bus to my neighbourhood leaves downtown at 5:45 pm, crazy-early) I would have to go down the Atlanta Highway at least part of the way, because there's a river that there is no other way to get across. And the Atlanta Highway has no sidewalks.
-I can buy tequila, Guinness in bottles (yay!) and a frightening variety of good wines in my local chain grocery store, but I can't get Arabic pita bread (only Greek), and they only have one kind of creamed honey.
-People drive like idiots here. I'm sure once I've experienced my first game day I'll realize that I never knew idiot-driving before, but still. We've sat behind a lot of drivers who go into the left turn lane so timidly that they'd rather sit and wait through another light than assert themselves and pull out. Ontario drivers are far more impatient.
-Athens is kind of like Windsor in that it looks bigger than it really is; on the map it looks like my apartment is way out on the edge of town, a hopeless distance from campus. When you drive it, though, it's not that far. Athens is a lot prettier than Windsor, though, and it smells better. Back home in the heat we've been having I'd be waking up with the stench of Detroit seeping into my bedroom. The campus, of course, is far more beautiful than homely Windsor, but of course Canadian universities don't have the billions of dollars that this school has.
I have a pretty good studio space, and got my hands on a couple of really excellent litho stones; since there seem to be only two of us who do stone litho, I can take what I want. I'm used to being in a place where stones are more scarce, especially good ones. And since Pete keeps telling me to accentuate the positive (every time I get pissy about the labyrinthine campus or not being able to find everything I need), I'll say this: at least the cockroach that was in my studio was dead, and it wasn't the biggest you can see here (although it was far bigger than the ones we get in Canada, like three times bigger). I wish I'd kept it to take a picture; my first enormous Southern roach. Gah.
The thrift stores are definitely better here than in Windsor, and I got some great chairs today that will look great in our old house. In the ongoing quest to replace my special tea mug that the fats so heartlessly broke, I bought this dorky Star Trek mug at the Sally Ann to use in the meantime.
I'm not even all that much into Star Trek, but I thought this was too cheesy to pass up. And look what happened when I put my tea in it:
Such fun, and for twenty-five cents.
This is the first big chunk of time I've been able to spend online since I got here, so if you're waiting for an e-mail from me I promise I'll get to it after Peter leaves, either tomorrow night or Sunday.
Posted by jodi at August 19, 2005 08:29 PM | categories: athens : school
Comments
I loved the thrift stores in Athens, found some really cool books printed in 1896 once. Gave them to my brother for his birthday.
It was great seeing you guys the other night. Tell Peter we hope he has a safe trip back. If you need anything, let me know....
I'll look for Arabic pita round these parts, K?
Posted by: Sandy at August 19, 2005 10:23 PM
Now thats a cool mug. Your are completely right about how small this place actually is.
I'm in the grad studios on Cedar street most of the time. I should make it to the printmaking grad studios Monday. Will you be around?
Posted by: Cap'n Pete at August 20, 2005 01:22 AM
That is the coolest Star Trek thingy I ever saw! It even looks good! I'm not the biggest trekkie either, but a tea-beamer must be what everybody needs. I love it. Thanks for your comments, and I'm sorry to say I might just visit one side of the continent this time around... I think you understand. :)
Posted by: Lisa at August 20, 2005 04:34 AM
If you were a real geek, you'd be drinking Earl Grey out of that mug. Or am I crossing Star Trek metaphors?
Posted by: Rebecca at August 20, 2005 07:35 AM
I hope you get into your groove there, Jodi, I hope you feel comfortable soon and have some fun. You sound so stressed right now, and I don't blame you. I have to tell you though, I have serious mug envy. :)
Posted by: Mandy at August 20, 2005 03:32 PM
What a cool mug! Hope you are settling in OK in Georgia.
Posted by: Kathy at August 20, 2005 05:18 PM
Hey Jodi- Can you get a bike down there? It's not like it's going to snow or anything.
Posted by: lunastrixae at August 21, 2005 07:27 PM
What a mug! Well worth it.
:)
Posted by: Micky at August 21, 2005 07:53 PM
the best advice i received on living in athens: on game day weekends leave town, or camp in your house. ugh... SEC football... i'd forgotten about that.
in october, look for the maysville autumn leaf festival - it's about 20 minutes north of athens on the way to... hmm, i can't remember how to get there, but they have arts funky stuff, great antique shops, and you can see remarkable things like a piglet and a puppy sharing a pen.
my friend michele said, "what's in the pen with the pig?"
i said, "a dog."
she said, "oh, then i guess it's the PIG that's confusing me."
Posted by: heatherfeather at August 22, 2005 10:36 AM
Man, I LOVE that mug! I think I may just ge jealous.
Posted by: La at August 22, 2005 01:59 PM
what is the 'sally ann' i have a friend i MUST Get that mug for.
Posted by: uglyagnes at August 26, 2005 08:04 AM
that is the coolest mug in the whole world; i am so jealous that i could cry!!
Posted by: sarah at August 31, 2005 05:03 PM