Hello. Welcome to my website. It started while I was in Europe for a semester, and I've kept it up since then. I'm now at the University of Chicago Law School, living in Hyde Park, and the story continues. If you want to say hi or visit me, email cfloyd at uchicago dot edu.
"Life is nothing if not the sum of your anecdotes." -Scotty The Body, on storytelling "But it ain't that bad, man. Just figure out the system before the system figures out you." -T. Matthew Smith, on the 1L year "The beer just doesn't taste as good when you're not drinking it with your buddies." -Anon., on being away from good friends "Somebody has to pay the rent around here. Why the hell not us?" -Cotton, on studying for exams
3/09/2003
Well, new idea: Mail Day will be on Sunday. That's today. So here we go:
Buzz, aka Bennett Preston Starnes, of Tulsa, OK, writes:
Are cds as fricking expensive in Austria as they are elsewhere in the EU? Dear Buzz,
The other day I wandered into a CD shop, and yes, the popular music CDs were expensive. Equivalent to about $20. But I found a Schubert/Schumann CD and also a Beethoven for €1.50. So there are bargains to be had.
Will Merrick, of Norman, OK, writes:
Been to the Schlauzberg yet? I wish I was there. Have fun. Who is in charge of you while you are there. Do you have and guides or anything? Let me know what is up. Dear Will,
No, I haven't yet hiked up the Schlossberg (Castle Mountain) that dominates the central part of Graz. Although I am excited to see the view of Graz's red rooftops I've heard so much about. And did you know about the big clock tower up there? The minute hand is the shorter, because the clock originally only had an hour hand and it is the longer of the two. And as far as guides, I have a mentor named Martin who studied law at OU last semester. I think you met him at the DU house. He has helped me out picking classes. But the most help I get is from a wonderful lady named Doris Knasar. She is the director of the Joint-Study program here, and she is wonderfully interested in making sure all my questions are answered and I find my way around. Other than that, my guide consists simply of my feet, my heart, and a map of the city.
Heather von Rhee, currently of Edmond, OK but a Stillwater Cowgirl at heart, writes:
I do not know how I feel about you influencing the minds of people all over the world about OU football. It sort of makes me want to cry, but wait! We won! Hope you're having fun Charles!!! Dear Heather,
Don't worry, sweetie. I tell everyone the truth about both OU and OSU football. I tell every single person I meet, whether they care or not, that the vaunted Cowboys have a storied tradition of being kicked around by the Sooners. Thanks for writing!
Justin Lantz, of Tulsa, OK, writes,
I'm interested in your reflections on the whole process so far. What thoughts went through your head during different parts of your journey? Have you found any unexpected difficulties (calling home notwithstanding)? What have you wrapped you mind around easily? What's been hard to get used to? Do you feel at home? Displaced? Welcomed? Anonymous? Curious to know how the whole thing is sitting with you. Dear Justin,
Great question! The journey here was quite interesting. It got difficult when I finally got to Austria. Look for a link to an essay on my first 48 hours in the next day or two. As far as unexpected difficulities, et al, I can say that the whole thing is much like starting college all over again with the added hurdle of the language barrier. I moved into a strange dorm with an idiosyncratic roomate. I didn't eat much for a while. I didn't know anybody to call up, and if I had known anyone, I didn't have a phone. But the first difficult step was literally that: I left my room and explored. I soon found the grocery stores similar although not the same, and I learned that a Doner Kebap from Turkey is cheap, filling and tasty. I do feel at home, thanks mostly to my 5 roommates. They are more welcoming than I had ever hoped. And certainly I feel as anonymous as I ever have in my life. There is almost zero chance of meeting someone I know on the street or on campus. Of course, that has changed by the day, as I have met so many new people. The thing is, there are scores of students here in the same boat. Although most of them are folks I wouldn't normally talk to, now I love to see any familiar face. So maybe the clichéd horizons are expanding. More, of course, to come on that one.
WELL, that's it for the inaugural Mail Day. Keep writing, because I love to know what's up. And ask away, for next Sunday!
