| A Manchester Education |
| Written by Brendon Green |
| Wednesday, 30 September 2009 23:01 |
|
I am a student. Well I was a few years ago, at the good old Auckland University of Technology University (although I was there when it was just a single University, not TWICE THE UNIVERSITY OF ANY OTHER UNIVERSITY IN THE GALAXY). And now I find myself in Manchester, on the first day of the university year, sitting in the Manchester University student café, waiting for my friend to finish her first class.
I’m wondering if I can still pull off looking like a student. Am I fitting in with everyone else here? Or maybe I look like one of those recent graduates who become assistant tutors, because they discovered there’s not many jobs out there for philosophers... or French wood furniture crafted with kitchen utensils post 1912 pre 1932 that inspired Italian New Wave cinema historians. We’re still in a recession over here people, we can‘t just go giving out jobs willy nilly. Or, heaven forbid, I’m being judged as a Mature Student. And everybody is patronizing me in their minds thinking; “Good for him, getting back into school, that is so brave”. Well it is brave, but I am not that dodgy old guy who hangs out in the student bar until he has to pick his kids up from school. You can still invite me to your parties.
All I know is that I’m sitting at a table, writing in a notebook, drinking a mochachino, wearing headphones whilst listening to Death Cab For Cutie because ‘He sings how I feel’. I think I may be a student again :)
P.S. I’m also really angry at an establishment. I just wish I knew which one, so I can organise a petition for people to sign.
p.s.s. I think I’ve mastered the ‘Ugh, Monday morning lecture at 10am, I can’t believe we have to get up this early, right?!’ glance, that I use to non-verbally communicate with everyone else in the café. Us students are all the same.
P.s.s.s. This entry has been fairly snarky, and hasn’t actually said anything about Manchester. I apologise. I’m going to look around the city today and will write a quick note on it later. Needless to say, this stop has really made me want to be a student again. This is the life. |
