Tuesday 7/15

Auckland: 5:10 PM; Boston 1:04 AM

Today was the first day of orientation, nothing special there, papers and books and listening to people talk. Dreary day, wanted to go for a run through the Domain, but the overcast sky and the freezing cold air (maybe 45ish?) was a fairly strong deterrent.

Yesterday was interesting, saw the main parts of campus for the first time, and it’s a very nice campus. I’m also going to get a good cardio workout going to and from: not only is it 20 minutes away, but it’s 20 minutes straight up and down hills – the most challenging part (although not too challenging) is on the way back, about ½ my walk is up a moderately steep path, probably about a 200’ ascent over at most two-tenths of a mile.

The architecture is…different. The newer buildings are like any other modern structure, with lots of glass and a real transparent feeling to them. On the other hand, the older buildings look like I could have been in the French Quarter or the Caribbean (especially those surrounded by palm trees) – very loud colors (example: the History department was a bright yellow). I’ll get down there probably by Sunday, but this time with the camera.

Registering for classes was a little hectic; according to the other NU student here, she was led to believe that we were behind the 8-ball and that the international office was fairly annoyed about it. I wasn’t too worried really, although I would’ve preferred to register for at least the 100-level classes online before getting here, it didn’t happen. Oh well. Especially since they appeared to be lectures with “unlimited” capacity. After stopping at the international advisors office, easily registered for an Art History class and an Intro to Logic class. History was a little more difficult – and I learned that the problem of administrative shuffle is not exclusive to NU.

From the international office I had to go to the Arts Student Center (vis a vis the College of Arts and Sciences Office), and find out who in the History Department I could speak to about what courses offered research papers. From there I was sent to the department and after waiting about 20 minutes outside an office, it turns out the person was now down the hall (and had been there for about 5 years according to the professor who now was in the space). Not that that mattered, she wasn’t even there. Luck was on my side though, as not only was the professor whose office I loitered outside of willing and able to help, she actually taught the perfect course for me and signed the paper I needed allowing me to take the course.

All in all, I have my four classes. And with the exception of one, I am 100% sure they will count back at Northeastern. The fourth one I intend to email the correct department and make sure it will count, probably tomorrow when I’ve down time on campus.