Education education education Part 2

Education, education education.

I drove the 8 miles to the Collage. There were plenty of parking places and I took the opportunity to have a cigarette. As I watched students begin to appear I became aware of how young they looked. My God they looked like children, some with facial hair and other with breasts, and yet others who defied identification as a gender grouping by their wearing of hooded, floor length garments. I plucked up the courage to join the students making their way into the college. Be sensible I thought read and follow the signs. “Ha” I said to myself there above a fire door was a sign for the refectory. I followed the arrows this way and that and after some basic ‘sign following’ I was able to enter the refectory. Why they had adopted using the word refectory instead of the good old fashioned restaurant I had no idea, perhaps it was the new trendy name for a variation of ‘rest room, restaurant and they had decided to use refectory. Why not use canteen I thought? Why the change. In fact it was only the literature I had received in the last few days from College that mentioned refectory among other strange sounding names.
I approached the counter and ordered a tea, before making my way to a seat in the otherwise quiet and surprisingly unpopulated refectory. Perhaps it wasn’t thought trendy to be seen in a refectory on the part of the students, I thought to myself and they opted instead for cans of drinks, and perhaps a joint of some illicit substance; who knows but whatever the reason the place was really quiet. I pondered the question of name changes. Like how did we arrive at words like refectory? The maths study room? The sports arena? The language suite? How and when did our society adopt these alternative names in favour of the traditional words like classroom, hall canteen? I was at a loss sitting there sipping my tea under a smoking area sign. I tried to imagine what the day would consist off, would it be written work? Or theory? Or perhaps even practical? I had my sports bag with me in case the latter was true. I read through the paper sipped my tea, and had another smoke before it was too late. I looked at my watch after what seemed like a brief time and was horrified to see that it was after nine. This can’t be right I thought, I was sure we were to be allocated our suites or study room or whatever the hell it was called before 9 15 am. I approached the counter and was about to ask if there was something wrong as there were no students to be seen anywhere.
“Are you the fish fryer repair man” a tall woman in a white coat and hair net said politely
“What” I said completely dumfounded at the question
“Have you come to repair our fish fryer, its broken you know” she said knowingly
I half laughed and was embarrassed at the thought of the question
“No no I’m going to be a student, I don’t know the first thing about fish fryers” I answered shaking my head to reinforce my statement
“Oh I’m sorry love I thought you were the fryer man” she said with a look of disappointment.
No I’m starting college today, I’m doing Sport and Recreation” I answered confidently sure that she would be in awe of my status.
“Well why are you here” she said inquisitively
“I’ve told you I’m starting my college course today in Sport and Recreation 1 and 2 ” I reiterated proudly, emphasising the 1 and 2 so that she was left in no doubt that I was undertaking both 1 and 2.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in the lecture theatre for the induction?
“The what” I replied sensing that something was beginning to register in the back of my mind.
“The lecture theatre” she said smiling and pointing toward the door
“It’s where you go for your welcomed by the Dean”
Panic, nerves and that feeling of nausea was surfacing again; I must have looked ashen because the women gave a little reassuring smile.
“You’d best hurry up, you don’t want to be late for your first morning”
“Where is the lecture theatre” I asked desperately trying to control my fears
“Through them doors and follow the signs for lecture theatre” she said pointing and smiling at the door.
“It’s quite a way’s away” she said looking slightly serious.
I ran back to the table and collected my things in a complete state of panic; my mind was focused on getting to that lecture theatre as soon as possible.
“Excuse me” I heard the voice of the women saying as I rushed toward the door.
I stopped and turned toward her voice
“Can we have our cup back” she said gesturing with her outstretched hand.
I looked at the content of my hands; in them were a coat, a bag containing pens, paper, my cigarettes, my timetable and an empty cup. I gave an uncharacteristic yelp, dear God If I had went into that theatre with an empty cup in my hands I think I would have fainted. I ran over to the counter and apologising deposited the offending article. I rushed out through the door and began desperately seeking a sign, literally a sign for the theatre, thankfully I found it quite quickly and began to hurry along the deserted corridors. My footsteps echoed and my breathing began to labour and hurriedly followed the signs for the theatre. Down a flight of stairs and yet another corridor with empty rooms all lit up awaiting students, who for the best part were enjoying a welcome from the Dean in the theatre, apart that is from me , who was scurrying along .like some demented grave robber. Why oh why didn’t somebody write school hall, meet in the school hall? Why didn’t I read the stuff from the college? I ran along beginning to gasp. My god I said to myself where is this dammed place.
At last I could see the 2 blue doors in front of me with LECTURE THEATRE boldly written for all to see some 50 yards ahead. I tried to compose myself and steady my breathing as I walked the remaining steps to the doors. I had no idea what lay behind these doors, was it a theatre like in universities, where the stairs ran down toward a central point, like old medical theatres? Was it a theatre like a Hall in my day’s at school, like an examination room where you took tests and exams? I could hear occasional voices from within the theatre, I couldn't make out what they were saying but I was aware that there were people inside. I thought I had better put on my jacket and check my dress in general. I adjusted my shirt collar and ran my shoes down the legs of my trousers to improve their dull shine. I breathed deeply and tried to compose myself. When I felt a level of control I straightened up and reached for the 2 round handles one on each door about halfway down. I felt the latch holding the doors closed move ever so slightly as I gripped the handles. In a fraction of a second the doors swung toward me as hordes of humanity exited from the theatre. I was forced back against a corridor wall as a tide of faceless, featureless human beings turned left and right into the corridor. I stood still and was petrified of being swept up in the crowd and being carried to God knows where. Soon however the numbers of people began to slow to a trickle. I watched as the stragglers walked the corridor with some even entering the classrooms on this particular corridor. As quick as it had started it was over, I was alone again in a corridor that echoed to voices of far off students and that of classroom doors closing. I stood feeling very vulnerable and very lonely in a place of so many. I heard a classroom door open and a young women looking in my direction intently.
“Can I help you” she said walking toward me and smiling
If you mention frying fish, I’ll fuckin scream I heard myself say
“Hi, I’m Linda” she said quite magically as her lips appeared not to part as she spoke
“Hiya” I managed to say as she closed the gap and was almost standing next to me.
“My names Sam” I heard myself saying.
“I’m supposed to start a course today, but I seem to have gone wrong somewhere” I managed to say without crying
“Oh I see, and what the name of the course” she enquired bending her head to look at my course details I was carrying.
“Sport and Recreation” I said choosing to drop the 1 and 2
“Well you are lucky” she said smiling
“Marion and Judith are both in this corridor, you just stay here a second” with that she was gone; up the corridor before disappearing into the first classroom
Lucky, bloody lucky? I thought, somebody was kidding somebody, and I’m sure it wasn’t me.
I heard the same room door opening and both Linda and another young woman appeared. They were in conversation and occasionally looking in my direction as the neared me.
“Hi the new lady said you must be Sam” she said extending her hand for me to shake.
“I’m Marilyn, and I teach on one of the Sport and Recreation courses”
“Pleased to meet you” she added
Linda stood with her hands clasped smiled in my direction.
“Right then” she said I’ll leave you two to get on with it, before turning briskly and walking away.
“Right then” Marilyn said
Let’s get you in the classroom, and meet your fellow students” she said gesturing with her outstretched hand in the general direction of the classroom