And then there were none.

The weekends are always fun in Boston. And I really truly mean that. When we're not travelling, campus life is buzzing on the weekend. On this particular Saturday night just gone, we headed to a mojito party on the first floor. It was great, atmosphere was fun, there were a lot of people there, an old 10-liter ice cream tub filled with mojito...with maybe a little too many mint leaves but hey, who's complaining. The red cups were plentiful. The music was loud.

 Long story short, around 1.30am the RA busted us. We were in a lot of trouble, a concoction of charges were about to be brought upon everyone in the room (given my most recent post, you'll understand that the Americans don't take these things lightly). Underage drinking, violation of residential code of conduct, violation of school code of conduct, supplying alcohol to minors, noise complaints and just generally having fun is not allowed in America. SO. There's about 25 plus people in the living room, sitting tight, drinks in hand, keeping quiet. Me included. There's other people in the bathroom, hiding behind the shower curtain. The RA is grumpy (fun-sucker) and he starts coming in demanding to see everyone's ID's, and taking people's names. The kid whose place it was was also 19. Le sigh. So, everyone had had a bit to drink, but me, being the clever cookie I am, decided that it was EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF so I sat looking at the room full of hopeless friends, about to all be in serious trouble and made a move. 

This was me - just imagine me with a beer in my hand under the bed though.

Caty pulls a Ross Geller

I literally hid under the couch. Smooth as hell. You can picture me doing it, I know you can. Pierre ended up opening the window, cause the RA was COMING IN RIGHT, and without a second look Annie pulls a superwoman move and grabs her jacket and literally leaps out the window from the first floor. NEK MINNIT - the entire room full of people follow her lead and there's 25 kids jumping from windows, landing on the sidewalk, to escape persecution. Literally didn't even give it a second thought, before flying out, frontwards, backwards, no-wards. People ended up falling and hitting their heads, landing on the concrete, ect...but you don't understand, they way they handle illicit things like this is not a joke. Hence people would rather risk their lives jumping form the first floor rather than be written up. The RA got the names of an unlucky few, but they were all of age, and managed to stall him if you like, keeping him away from the living room full of people. Heaven knows what he thought when he entered an abandoned party scene, people's possessions and drinks lying all over the place. There was not a single person in sight, they were probably running for their life down an alley now. And me? I hid. And waited. He never found me. Or caught up with anyone else. Look who's laughing now. College kids know how to play smart.

So that little escapade happened - it was very exciting. We all regrouped later on, but split up into different rooms as to not cause any more suspicion. We still laugh about it. It was so absolutely hilarious, and will be one of the best college experiences I will keep with me forever...it's a memory that binds me to those wonderful people, something we all experienced together.

But alas, the night was not over. Upstairs, a few regrouped and Tim and Jeppe brought over a gun (air rifle) they had bought in Connecticut. You know, they thought that would be fun. Bringing a loaded air rifle to a party scene where alcohol was plentiful and people had been drinking for hours. What blooming idiots. Obviously, they took great delight in randomly disrupting the atmosphere by pulling the gun out and shouting EVERYONE GET ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW, ON THE FLOOR AND HANDS ON YOUR HEAD, whilst pointing it at people. Sigh. And we did. They had a gun man, and it was loaded. I know you're probably thinking that I'm placing myself in grave danger or that I'm subjecting myself to very unsafe conditions here in the US, but it wasn't that bad. Really. It wasn't. I've been hit by an air rifle before. I mean, sometimes they break skin, but it doesn't hurt too much. After several 'gun scares' and them threatening to shoot us, I had had enough (you know, for the sake of the girls that were diving to get under furniture every time someone waved that thing around) so I pulled my second ninja move of the night, and grabbed the gun from Jeppe's hands. I know you're probably freaking out and asking why the hell I would grab a loaded rifle out of someones hands and hide it in my sweatpants, but it SIMPLY WASN'T THAT BAD. And that was pretty much the end of it. At one stage they threatened to go and get another gun in order to retrieve the first gun. I told them to sit down. At one stage I let them shoot me (of my own accord) with the rifle, and my wounds are healing now. The gun owners, on the other hand, howled like babies when shot. 

When I made it to bed that right, I realized that I had experienced a little bit about what life is like on the wild side; illicit behavior, hiding as a fugitive, escaping the snipey RA and then dealing with weaponry.  

God Bless 'Merica and the 4th Amendment  - the security of a free state (IT'S OUR LIFE AND WE'LL JUMP IF WE WANT TO), and a right to bear arms (IT'S YOUR GUN YOU'LL SHOOT IF YOU WANT TO). After all the excitement, I'm just glad I've still got arms to tell the tale.

Emotional aftermath.

It's about Legality

Trouble.

Hi guys, long time no chat. Got some juicy things to tell you today. Viv turned 21 on Monday, and here, that's kind of a big deal. She's legal for alcohol consumption. Yay for her - still sucky for the rest of us. There was a rumor (heh, Americanized)going around that the legal age in Washington DC was 18, because when the federal government pressured states to have the legal drinking age as 21 in their penal codes, Maryland already had the Whitehouse and didn't need the money that was being offered in return for complying. But turns out that happened like 20 years ago, so no difference. We had Viv's bday party on Friday at my place, but we had a splendid dinner and Monday-night-drinks too. It was good, sushi places downtown are exquisite. 

Viv and Zac-Attack

Ahahaha, this was so funny. I bought this dress - and, Classic Caty, the store clerk didn't remove the security tag and I left...still wore it out. Have to get that fixed. Note to self,

Annie and Kirsten

Anyway. America. Legality. They approach the law...in an odd way over here. Given I'm studying criminal justice and associated topics, I get insight to their brilliant, fool-proof legal system that balances upon crumbling pillars of justice. Just now, I've come back from my Death Penalty class, where this kid was openly expressing to the class that America should not only reinforce the death penalty, but work on factors to make it a more successful deterrent to reduce the homicide rate in the States. He suggested that we publicly hang the convicted inmates on death row on Good Morning America (as of last week has more ratings than The Today Show, he pointed out) on a daily basis. What. Am. I. Doing. Here.

But it's interesting. If you are following the blog, you may remember that I had a run in the with cops for failing to provide proper ID when entering my building, and it lead to a police search at 1.30am. Not shortly after, I got a letter saying that I had 'broken student code of conduct' and would need to report for a disciplinary hearing (the first of which I actually missed, because I wasn't in the state), and answer to a board of NEU staff, in which they would consult the police reports, get my side of the story, consult witness accounts and then ultimately decide if i was 'responsible', 'not responsible' or 'partly responsible . Basically, if  I had a guilty verdict. It was a joke. 

I was also told that I could bring in a witness to my hearing so that no 'unlawful or discriminatory conduct' could occur...you know, in case I sued them. Ridic. NEU has it's own legal proceeding system for 'cases' at a NEU level. With our NEU cops. Anyway, I went, and literally sat there with my arms crossed, totally disinterested as they yacked on about policy and procedures. What a waste of time. I wish I could have used more colorful language about exactly how I had interpreted the American Security System, but I didn't want to be rude. So I just told them how it was, essentially  that this is a waste of my time, their time, it was a simple error, let's save ourselves and go and do something more interesting with our lives and YOU SIR - YOU KNOW YOUR PANTS ARE WAY TOO TIGHT WHEN THEY EFFECT THE WAY YOU WALK. 
Finally, I was notified by formal letter that the 'charges were dropped' and I wouldn't be kicked out of college. Great. What a relief. Thank God.

Like, take my apartment building for example. Just now, as I was writing this, NEU cops busted in the door with the RA for a 'routine security check' and I was just sitting on my bed like wtf. They can do that. Just come into your place whenever they want. We probably consented to it when we agreed to move in. Classic America. Make you give consent on one of the 50 forms you get thrust into your face to even be allowed to set foot in the country. I swear there's a marijuana raid every couple of weeks. Some Einstein on the 5th floor decided to smoke weed with his DOOR OPEN, so it stunk out the entire floor, and low and behold the NEU cops roll in like a SWAT team unexpectedly and patrol and enter every room to find the marijuana source. Daily, I hear sirens of police cars whipping down Huntington Ave. 

But the thing most fascinating I think, is the American attitude to suing. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look - the attitude is WE'LL SUE YOU! There was a case at Disneyland. Wait for this; you'll love it. A woman and her family had finished a fun-filled day at the park in California, and were getting into the car. Her young son got his hand jammed in the car door, so they ran back up to the park to get some ice and call an ambulance. In the mayhem of hysteria, the kid was taken backstage or something to get medical attention, and saw Disney characters taking off their masks or undressing out of their costumes. 

The woman tried to sue the multi-billion-dollar enterprise for psychological trauma to her son, because he had, during the whole experience, come to realize that Disney characters were not real. She lost the case.

What's worse, is if you Google 'dumb American lawsuits' - the lists are endless. A drunk driver drove her Honda into Gal Veston Bay in Texas. Her friend got out but the driver was too drunk to unfasten her seat belt, and hence drowned. Naturally, her parents sued Honda for manufacturing seat belts that cannot be easily undone by a drunk driver who is under water.

A couple is also suing Walmart for injuries that occurred when canned items tumbled out of an 'overstuffed grocery bag' after they arrived home after a shopping experience. The bag broke when they were unpacking their groceries. Brenda Sager suffered 'cracked and damaged toenails' (and claims ligament issues)and Ronald Sager jumped on board to sue because 'during Brenda's healing process he was deprived of her comfort and her attention'. That's a lawsuit of 60 grand, folks. 

And just for da lolz, someone by the name of Heckard is suing Michael Jordan and Nike for a combination of $832 million..."I'm constantly being accused of looking like Michael and it makes it very uncomfortable for me". He's suing Jordan for defamation, permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering. He's suing Nike for defamation, and permanent injury for promoting Jordan and making him one of the most recognized men in the world.

That's 'Merica. This is the world I live in. Excuse me whilst I resume my life trying not to get arrested or sued in this bizarre place.

Sunday Funday

I was admittedly a bit of a Bogan on Sunday morning, and I can't say I'm proud. Viv and I let our apartment block around 10.30am to go get some juice, and we left in our pajamas, and me with no shoes...because we were just going to the corner store, right? But we attracted so many stares prancing down Huntington Ave in our sleeping attire and the store manager actually told me I wouldn't be allowed in the store if I wasn't wearing shoes, and THEN we entered the gym and there was a NEU college tour in place. All these concerned parents were not impressed at our attire, hungover faces and lack of caring. The campus tour guides looked most embarrassed by our presence. Man almighty. Have you seen what people wear to supermarkets in Australia? Have you seen what I wear to supermarkets in Australia?
Another thing I'm sick of, since we're talking about shitty things in America; is the monetary notes. I always look in my wallet, see it stuffed full of notes and think I'm rich. But low and behold - it's all one dollar bills and it turns out I actually have a measly $7.50. It's infuriating. And I am sick of my household kitchen situation. I have a total of one mug, one plastic plate, one fry pan and one set of cutlery. And a pocket knife. Do you know what it's like having to live like that? If I have pasta - I eat it out of my mug. Then I have to keep the leftovers in the pot. Then if I want a cup of tea, I have to transfer the leftovers from the pot to my singular plate. But the plate's not big enough. So I end up with half my leftover pasta on the plate, and half in an old soda cup that I've pulled out of the trash and washed (TRUE STORY). So then I can wash the fry pan, FRY myself some water - not boil, cause I have neither a kettle or a  pot, you see. Then I wash my mug and make a cup of tea. Drink the tea. Wash the cup, transfer the leftovers from the plate and soda cup BACK into the fry pan and put it in the fridge. Then I wash everything, throw out the soda cup and then next morning REPEAT, and probably fish through the trash to get the soda cup out again. And repeat. And repeat. And repeat. 

I hear you asking; 'Why dear Caty, do you not go out and buy more kitchen supplies?'

Because every time I do go out to buy more things, I get to the counter to realise I've only got seven-blooming-fifty in my wallet, don't I.

Sunday Funday, down to Quincy market. At last, some aspects of 'Merica that we can enjoy.

Viv

That's my apartment building...on the left...behind the tree

I bought a cookie from here. It was as big as my head. No joke.

'Merica

Yes, they are apples. 'Merica