Don't Be Alarmed

One of the luxuries of living in a university accommodation is that the landlords are always happy to help us become better at getting out of the building quickly when there is a fire by doing drills. In the past two weeks there have been two alarm incidents. The first happened right as a birthday party began for one of our friends. The fire alarm screamed at us to get out of the apartment and we stood outside in the cold for waiting for the “fire brigade” to arrive. When the firemen got to the complex they didn’t do anything, they just talked to the warden and had a nice chat, not even bothering to turn off the alarm or make sure that it was really just a drill and not an actual fire. Since the firemen weren’t concerned about anything, and the warden didn’t stop us from going back in the building, we went back up to the apartment to eat the cake that we had been waiting for. Fire alarms make a really good soundtrack to a party.

The second alarm happened this past Saturday morning. After finally falling asleep for the night I woke to the shriek of the fire alarm once more. This time, it was not a drill. No, it was caused by a group of drunken people trying to have a little fun – another luxury of living with college students. My roommates were frightened and were running around gathering coats and shoes and such yelling at us to get outside. When we opened the door it looked like smoke was in the hallway, but when we were walking through it we realized that someone had sprayed the fire extinguisher. I don’t know why anyone would be stupid enough to mess around with a fire extinguisher, but it sure made a big mess. Because it happened at 3a.m. on Saturday, the mess is still in the hallway. However, instead of a cloud of white greeting us when we step out the door, we have to walk on a blanket of yellow dust. It is nasty.

Other than the fire alarms and drunken scoundrels my life has been pretty un-eventful (yet again). I finished my final papers -- drafts anyway -- and submitted the last of my graduate applications that are due the 1st of December. So, I watched a lot of movies and read two whole books and made some banana bread for my roommates. It was most enjoyable and relaxing. All I have left to do is edit and revises my papers to turn them in and then take two exams the second week in December. For the most part, I’m already on Christmas break.

Life is wonderful.