Episode 1: Initiation

What better fit to initiate myself as an unofficial University of Toronto Student... a Random student than to go to a college party?

Jaime invited me on Friday to attend Victoria College' End of Year Party. I gladly accepted and at 10.30 we met up.

We walked to the place, and were... disappointed. There were only a few tweeny girls on the dance floor and an otherwise empty bar.

It was probably too early anyway.

We walked around campus and I got a tour of UofT by Night. We heard some loud music coming from a residence. A Party! Jaime knew it was coming from a center courtyard in the building. We walked around looking for a way to get in. We found an entrance and could see the party, but we found ourselves on the outside of a locked gate. We saw other people attempt to get in the same way, and when they failed, we gave up on that place.

Walking away, two girls approaching us asked from far something like: You guys want to party? Or maybe she said: You guys know how to get in the party?. I dunno. Either way, despite being cute, the girls were too young to hang out with us old folk. I'm 25.. Jaime is... well.. older than me.. Those girls couldn't be much more than 18.

A nigh watchman passed by and the girls asked him how to get in. He took us to a door and we were in! ... Not so fast. There was a guest list... and we weren't on it! Oh well. As we were leaving we saw some posters, one of them advertising a live Jazz concert at the Heart House.. The best of all: It was free!

We arrived just as the concert was ending. It was time for Plan C: Return to Plan A. We went back to the original party which was to our luck, filling up. Jaime found somebody he knew, apparently part of the organization of the party: Anya was her name. I was introduced to Anya and her friend... was her name Branda? Brenda? eek... maybe none of the above. Sorry girl if you read this. Get back to me with your name, I promise I'll remember it next time.

We entered to the sound of Billie Jean. It was still too early for me to hit the dance floor and I was much too sober to pull out the Moonwalk. I got a White Russian, we played some fussball and I gloated to beating Jaime ... and then he royally kicked my ass at 2 games of pool.

I went back to the bar for a second drink and found myself face-to-face with the hottest girl in the place. She had green eyes, tanned skin and long black curly hair. We passed eachother and briefly glanced eachother in the eyes, I felt her having a second take which got me to smile as I approached the bar. I ordered a Cosmo. I got Jaime's attention and we talked as I watched her chatting with her friends.

Soon after she left her friend's table and I got an even better look. She walked out of sight. We followed her to the other side of the bar. She was holding a half empty (or full) drink spending quite a bit of time at the bar. I was wondering why the bartender wasn't getting her a new drink. I went through my options with Jaime. I could

A: Play another game of pool then go up to her and ask her to give me a Beautiful Woman's Luck b'cuz my friend is kicking my ass
B: Walk over knowing that I'll have an idea by the time I get there.
C: ... to be honest, I can't recall what option C was as a result of what happened next.

I went with Plan B: Walk over and pray that I'll know what to say when I get there.

I approached the bar, looked at her and asked:

Are you having a hard time getting a drink?

She gave me a very inviting smile and look. I thought: GOTCHA!... but before she or I could say another word WOOOOOOOSH!

Her boyfriend got between us and kissed her. I did a 180° turn and walked back to Jaime who was flabergasted at how fast her boyfriend intervened. I wasn't embarassed or pissed surprisingly. I was actually laughing. That guy got there so fast it must have been a World Record of Boyfriend Intervention! I was also flattered that he would feel intimidated enough to show me she has a boyfriend. He was the bartender. I don't know how he got over there, he must have flown over the counter as I didn't see any exit on that side of the bar. Ha!!

I walked away feeling proud that I attempted to make a connection with the hottest girl in the club. Actually, I'm still laughing about the experience right now.

Later, we were introduced to Hugh, a visibly drunk (but sober - does that make any sense?) dude who was having a great time by the looks of it. We also met... hold your breath.. the dynamic diva of the part: Leslie. She was also noticebly buzzed from a drink or two. She was wearing a white one piece dress with rather little fabric. And getting the attention of 90% of the guys in there. The other 10% were obviously gay.

We hit the dance floor and a couple of songs later, some of us found ourselves on the floor with slow music playing and no partner. The couples had all hooked up and I, Leslie and Branda (we'll call you that until I can hear from you with your real name) were wandering around like disoriented beetles. Branda and Leslie danced and soon after, Branda and I danced... and finally, I got Leslie in on it and we all slow danced in a quite disynchronized threesome. Hey, we had fun and I was dancing with two good looking girls. Humm... upgrade the word "good" to "HOT".

I'll keep the rest of the story to your imagination, since I know that none of you are here to read a novel. To make it short, we headed off to a couple of bars, drank a lot then walked over to the U of T student association office where we hung out on the couches for some time... until 4.30 am.

... and that my friends, marks my initiation in my Random Education. I now know that I have embarked on an adventure that will lead me to make new friends, have a ton of fun and learn a random thing or two in the process.

I truely experienced University life that one night and I look forward to my first classes in May.

Episode Beta

I arranged to meet Jaime at S.George station so we could walk to class together. I arrived late and nearly gave up when I didn't find him there. I got back on the subway on my way home. One station into the ride, I decided: "I like a good wild goose chase".

Facing the mammoth campus of UofT, not having any clue where Jaime's class was located, I was determined to somehow attend the class.

I had my PowerBook with me and recalled that earlier that month, he had asked me to take a look at one of his Portuguese papers. I opened Mail and found that his paper had a code attached. The class code!

I walked through the streets, and eventually found a place where I could sit down and study my plan to find PRT 320. After asking a few people, I found out that his class was at Victoria College. I studied a map and sifted through the snow until I arrived at a small building across from Queen's Park. I Walked through the halls and passing by one room, I heard Portuguese speaking. I reversed my stride and saw Jaime inside. Bingo! I walked in and attended that Portuguese Literature class.

It was quite small, with about 10 to 15 students. I was definitely noticed. Midway through the class, after I had actively participated by writing a short story and asking questions, a girl turned around and quite loudly whispered: WHO ARE YOU?

"I'm a mystery man" I replied smiling.

Random Education: Learn in Shuffle Mode

Every year, I set personal and professional goals and think up a unique experience I would like to go through.
A couple of years ago, I went in door rock climbing with my friend Kelly. Last year, I went backpacking/hostling to Northern Ontario/Southern Quebec, New York and Washington.

This year, considering that having gone back to school @ George Brown College has rocketed my life to a new level, I wanted to further imerse myself in college/university life. I looked into enrolling at University of Toronto but I couldn't settle on one subject I'd like to study.

I had an idea.

Because I'm interested in so many different subjects of study, and because my schedule is too full to enroll full time @ UofT, I invented a new method of study: Random Education.

I plan to walk through the halls of UofT on any given day and randomly enter a class. One day I'll end up in a Law class, the next I'll be attending a Physics lecture. I'll write a blog on my experience while in class.

Coming Soon...