Freshmen Folly

One phrase to capture what the situation is like right now would be “They get stranger and stranger each year”.

I just have to say a couple of things about the freshmen that came in this semester after hearing so many things about their wonderful batch. In a way it reminds me of how I was once….way back when I was still a greenhorn. But a lot less naïve, honestly.

Case 1: Girl Meets Boy.
Ok, so I attend this open house organized by a fellow senior and see this white guy getting really comfy with this malay girl. Ok, white guy in a Malaysian open house…kind of strange, but it has happened before. But this white guy’s pretty physical with this Malay girl. Now that’s something to talk about.

Then I hear that they’re like an item and she’s going to visit his home in another state for winter break. Boy do relationships move fast nowadays. Certainly breaks the record of a sleep-in SPG sophomore last year.

What should have been done:
Slooooow things down girl. Does he know that he has to lose part of himself later on?

Case 2: Cellular Crutch
Yes, yes, everyone in Malaysia has a handphone. So naturally you’d get one when you relocate to the States, right? But would you get one if you had to plunk down US$500 as a deposit and never see it for a year? That’s what the freshies did. Got themselves handphones within less than a month of being here when their dorms do come complete with a working land line.

What should have been done:
They should wait for about 4 months to build their credit history and then get a line without having to pay the deposit. T-mobile’s sucking off interest from your $500 while you have to skip meals. Besides, do you even have enough people to call to justify paying $50 a month in phone bills?

Case 3: American Already?
I picked up the phone this evening only to be greeted by a ABC, whom I thought was from my church. She certainly sounded like one. But guess what… it turned out to be a freshman. After being persistent with my Manglish, she buckled and the “lohs” and “mahs” returned. Heck, you’ve only been here for about a month, and you jolly well know that I’m a fellow Malaysian. What the heck is that?!

What should have been done
Need I say more?

Case 4: Going Around on 2 Wheels
I was told that a bunch of them bought bicycles. Gosh, who orientated you guys? P. Ramlee? Out of the 8 months of academia here at the U of M, you’re going to see 4 good months of snow and slush. Besides that, the bus service here on campus is THE way to get around.

What should have been done:
Use the $80 you spent on the bike to buy a senior dinner. Then you’ll get a good meal and be a lot wiser afterwards.

Ok, enough self-righteous pummeling. I’m sure there’ll be more stories soon…