Smells Like Teen Spirit

PART ONE

I am not laughing anymore...I went to school today to get my class schedule and stumbled into a music video by Nirvana.  The building was crawling with young adults whose median age had to be 25 (and bathing seems to be an option).  My friend Mae wrote me an email a few weeks ago stating that she was officially old as she went to a Journey concert and everyone in the audience was her age.  I felt the same way today.  Im not saying I'm ultra hip or anything  but I like to pride myself in at least knowing a lot of aspects of popular culture, but can someone explain to me why would you come to class wearing Mickey Mouse ears?  Am I missing some kind of youthquake symbol or subculture...oh and I wasnt dressed right.  For those of you who know me you have seen the way I dress in the office and at meetings, I stuck out like a sore thumb.  But damn, I miss wearing my clothes so I put on a nice shirt, a blazer, jeans and a pair of nice loafers.  Everyone else was in sweats, jeans and the like, you know, typical collegiate wardrobe....I dont give a shit...

I had to stand in a horrendously long line to find out my schedule and once again, the person asking me questions started talking in German.  ENGLISH PLEASE.  I know I'm being a bitch but I couldnt help it.  I found out that I had an afternoon class from 2-6 PM.  I wasnt happy.  One of the school administrators (Dilek is her name) saw me and called me over, and it went something like this:

Allan!  How are you, do you have the morning class?

 No, I have the afternoon...

That's too bad!  I do have an alternative for you...

Oh? (perking up...maybe theres a chance...) What is it?...

Well all the afternoon students are going to the zoo to enjoy the morning before going to class today...its like a getting to know you exercise...

(My inside voice  - ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WITH THIS BULLSHIT?!?! and lady look up the word alternative in the dictionary, that is NOT an alternative, that is hell on earth.  Dante would be proud of you for creating another level)...Well, Id rather not.  I will go home and come back at 2 for the class.  I still have 5 hours to kill...

Are you sure?  It should be a lot of fun...

(My Inside Voice - Id rather gargle a glass full of razor blades while taking an acid bath and reading War and Peace in the original Russian)...thank you but no.  I just want to attend class and learn...

I guess all these activities are part of the uni culture for this school. I am way to old to be going to the zoo, eating cotton candy and pointing at the gorillas.  I almost lost my shit right there and almost went BMW on her (you remember, zero to bitch in 4.5 seconds).  Im still going to give this particular course a chance, but if things do not improve within the next month or so, I will have to talk to B in looking at taking classes with another language school such as the Goethe Institute, where I can be sure people my age are taking classes and my instructors are as unforgiving and harsh as the judges at the Nuremberg Trials.  The instructors I have seen so far all look like employees at The Gap...with a little bit of Colonel Klink thrown in...

So right now I am home.  I will have a little lunch then go back to uni at 1 PM.  Wish me luck!  I will write later today to tell you about the class itself...