The Rooster Doesn't Say Cock-a-Doodle-Doo

Well, I've slept two nights in the hostel, and haven't started classes yet, but I thought it was about time to give my official report on the place I'll be staying for the next two and a half months.

The hostel looks pretty sweet. It's a mixture between Hogwarts and a hobbit hole, emphasis on hole. The internet is really crappy and the mortal enemy of those trying to upload photos (aka everyone). The rooms are alright, although there was something of a shenanegan in the form of a last minute change in the sleeping arrangements. Whereas before we all had rooms of five, now one of the rooms has been dissolved, and there are some (though not me) in rooms of six. A lot of people were ... displeased with the new situation, as it meant that each girl wouldn't be guaranteed to get her own bunk. But, now that we're all here and settled, I think everything will be alright. Of course, it's really different living in the same room with four or five other people (mostly strangers), but I find it really similar to the cabins at camp. Only, you know, we're not 13 anymore.

In general everyone's pretty laid back and relaxed, and there are those that are here for a two month party, but everyone seems pretty nice, and if things are going to go bad, they haven't yet.

Yesterday I got to have my first hostel shower, and I found it alright, since I was one of the first people up. The only complaint I had (and it's a minor one) is that the water pressure's a little low, but honestly, I don't care that much. Lori, who had a shower the night we arrived, happily discovered that the hot water wasn't turned on, so after a short spell of showering in freezing water, the whole works shut off completely and she was left with conditioner in her hair. Other girls had problems getting the water temperature right, and the ones that slept in had not hot water at all. Hooray!

Anyway, besides that, the place seems a bit dingy, but clean, so it will definately be liveable, with a bit of adjustment and some shopping at Ikea (on Friday). Oh, and it's frezing in the rooms. Everyone has to sleep in their sweaters. But, shopping will fix that too.

The only other thing to tell you about is the food. Breakfast here consists of chocolate cereal, corn flakes, breads with jams and chocolate spreads, cakes, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and "Ace Vitamin Drink" (juices with various fruits and vegetables). Oh, and chocolate wafers and chocolate cookies. So pretty much every morning consists of a sugar rush complete with chocolate, follwed by a crash where you need food and meat and fruit and vegetables like, right away. Lunch has to be on the town, or whatever we buy at the grocery store, and dinner is simply wonderful. Two nights ago we had some salad and some lasagna and some tira misu. It was all delicious. The tira misu was just right. Last night we had some penne with zucchini, and my god, they made the zucchini taste good. Then we had some super salty roast chicken with a "salad" (lettuce leaves, or in my case, the heart, which absorbed the saltiness of the chicken). So, I mean, dinner has its ups and downs, but in general, it's really good, and it's really nice to have some one cooking for you every night.

On one final note, we have own own, personal, real live rooster, who, following the customs of his ancients, crows every morning. And, for the record, roosters do not say "cock-a-doodle-doo!"