I don't really know why we take this Monday off but I'm not complaining.
So I left you all with that SUPER cool video on Carbondale and a few pics from my campus. And I was about to go to my first event as an IM/Sport Club GA.
Whew. Let's just say that I am oh so glad that it is over.
I started Saturday morning at 5:45am to meet the team to set up the fields at 6am. I know, super fun, right?
Then my staff, B and I, started doing our own set up to make sure that tables and chairs and lots n lots n lots of ice to be ready for the projected 100 degree heat that day.
It was every bit of 100 degrees and so flipping humid, you needed gills out there. We used a canoe as an ice chest for the concession stand and then had probably 14 coolers of ice for injuries and water too. I lost count of how many ice runs we made and I left at 3 to take a shower.
The tournament was done well on our part as we made sure that any injuries were attended to.
Let me just quickly explain the culture of Rugby.
They're tough. They're loud. They're crude. They sweat. They bleed. They curse. They're not always the brightest crayons in the box… But they know how to have a good time.
Most of the time, men and women alike, would walk around shirtless tossing rugby balls around, talking about hookers and wingers and tackling etc, chewing on their mouth guards and talking about how they couldn't wait to get back to the bars for the rugby social and to tap the kegs.
To be completely honest, I felt like I was in another country, watching the locals in their odd rituals, trying to understand their language and just try to understand why the heck they kick the ball at seemingly random times, or why they lift players up to catch the ball and why a 'scrum' is just a big dog pile.
We had a few major injuries, a broken ankle, dislocated shoulder, ya know, the usual. Oh and the numerous bloody noses, bloody heads, arms, legs, mouths, etc.
Eww. It was like the episode "The Red Wedding" from Game of Thrones out there. So much blood. And lots of jeers and cheers and rowdiness. So ya, EXACTLY like GoT.
But other than that it went well. But it was a very long day and very very very hot and I think I lost 10lbs just from sweating. Gross.
But afterwards the staff who worked all day and my boss all went out to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. It was pretty fun time as I got to know my staff more and just laugh and have fun. The stress from the tournament was gone and it was nice to unwind.
I'm really starting to get to know the people I work with more and more and I'm starting to like them more and more. Truthfully, they're all my age if not older in fact since I'm young for my grade. And for the most part I think (hope) that I can manage a good line between GA/Boss and friend/colleague. I had a great relationship with my coworkers back in Davis, so much so that a lot of my closest friends started out as coworkers. I hope I can continue with that trend as they're a pretty cool bunch.
I hung out with them sunday night too. We ended up having the after party at one of the apartments and just sat around doing story time of their various college adventures with some random guitar playing. It was really fun and exactly the type of thing I did with friends back home. I laughed so hard I almost cried at some of their jokes and stories. I like to laugh. It may be one of my favorite things to do so anyone that can make me laugh is a friend. Guess I have 17 new friends. Hope they can accept my weirdness.
A couple more fun things from this weekend:
-Cornhole is called 'Bags' out here.
-I'm really bad at Bags. Or I'm really good. No in-between.
-They had 90's night on Sunday.
-It kind of felt like I was transported back to my 6th grade dance.
-I still dance like I'm in 6th grade.
-$1 on well-drinks is an amazing concept.
-It'll kick your ass in the morning though.
-My staff calls me 'Cali' and/or 'Cali Swag'. Not sure why, but they also give me the hang loose sign.
-I'm ok with this.
-Grilling is a complicated endeavor.
-Next time just use the stove, it won't take as long.
-Country music is on ALL THE TIME
-I'm starting to say "y'all" and sometimes I'll put a random Minnesota accent on random words. Like I said 'soda' the other day like 'sOdah'. Where did that come from???
-One of the other GA's is getting married on my birthday.
-Totally going to the wedding and making them play '22' by T.Swift. Sorry I'm not sorry.
-Grad school is just an extension of college… just with more rigorous agenda and a harder grade scale. But don't let anyone fool you into thinking it's different.
-I kinda am becoming pretty good friends with my staff.
-I hope they're ok with this.
-So excited for football to start. I'm going to win the fantasy league.
-I actually have very little clue as to what I'm doing in fantasy football.
-I am so so so so glad this is a short week.
-I am so so so so glad it's almost fall.
-Phone calls from friends back home always make me happy.
Good night, y'all.
To be continued!
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