It's been a busy week for me so far. Seems like I'm sleeping even later now that the exams are over...tsktsk...the irony of it all. Right now, I'm just revelling in the wonder of coincidences. Was clearing up some old contact slips from eons ago when I chanced across this slip of paper with 'Nikhil- senior student assistant' and his contact details on it. That was given to me on my first day in Nottingham, when I moved single-handedly into ancaster hall and all was new and unfamiliar. Thinking it redundant now, I tossed it into the bin. Then.... at the meeting for international week assistants today, I again met a senior assistant by the name of nikhil. Later on, when we broke up into the separate groups (there were 3), I came under his. That was when I learnt that this is his fifth year doing the duties and yes, he's that very same guy I met two years and infinite memories ago. Gosh. I'd have thought that he's graduated and gone by now...maybe he's doing a long degree like archi or med.-shrugs- will talk to him if there's a chance in sept...

During the meeting, the head of the international office asked for volunteers for the coach pick-up service. That triggered vivid memories of yellow-shirted student assistants/ volunteers I first met when emerging from the arrival gates at Heathrow with z a couple of years back. Because they needed a lot of people for the job (last year there were apparently 18 coaches driven in a day to bring some 800 international students from Heathrow.) so they would be recruiting some volunteers and also opening the job to the student assistants. I signed up eagerly, since that image of the assistants was so strongly formed in my mind that I would want to walk about a bit in their shoes too. Alas...I didn't know/ think about 2 things. 1st, I don't like coach rides much, certainly not the 4hours ride to and another 4 hrs from Heathrow. 2ndly, to take part in this service, we're required to wake up BY 4am in the morning. Yikes. But somehow, despite these, I'm still reluctant to withdraw the commitment. Why? Because for one, I've put my name down and without stronger anti-reasons on the decision made, I can't make myself go back on a word given. Moreover, I find that I really look forward to the trip past the rolling pastures and endless stretch of highway en route to heathrow. (though I slept most of it away when I first came, due to the fatigue from handling some luggage issues at the airport, one involving a short but SUPER long-waiting and boring queue that separated me from z. hmm.) Well, Glad that's history now.

During the briefing, we were warned right from the start that besides the fun, Hard Work is definitely required of all student assistants. Literally on our feet 24/7 was what he said. And we are to realise that now so that we don't complain about it after. Woah. Strong cautionary remarks from a guy who's obviously done this many times before.

I must admit though, having to come back here 1-2 weeks earlier so as to carry out the duties is something I don't particularly want, especially not since I will most prob be busy during most of this summer break to spend much quality time with my family and friends. But the pull factors are rather compelling. After all, I thought, it's my first and last chance to do something like that here, and it didn't come easy. So I shall just stick to it, and pray that things go on fine. There's no perfect situation after all, is there? Everything has its costs and benefits, and a (two-handed economist- 'on-the-one-hand-this-and-on-the-other-hand-that) ought to know that better than anyone else. Heh. (Would have been better if a certain friend could be with me though. I'd miss not having b2 around :l...but who knows, that last week might be crucial in bringing on some lovely surprises for u! Must tell me if so eh? ;p)