<p>I don't know anything about US politics at the moment, apart from what I pick up on CNN, but when I count my 'friends' on facebook (even though I havn't met any of them) Every single one is Liberal or Very Liberal. I was thinking that being liberal meant your open minded, not to staunch in your views, but I guess it leans towards the left. Not that thats bad, it's just where I am from we have had a left government for many years and it's not very popular at the moment. But Middlebury is a Liberal university and Vermont is a blue state, so I am always open to changing my views on things. I've left my political views on facebook blank. </p>
<p>Hey jesamemucho, did you know that even we are friends on facebook!? I'm that guy from New Zealand. Thats pretty funny I think, since we havn't talked, but Americans are pretty friendly arn't they! ;)</p>
<p>yes we are!! heh, sometimes i get in a mood and i'm like "hmmm who looks like fun?" and i add them and then later i feel shy and am like "well, if i actually start talking to them they'll think ' go away, weirdo stalker girl' but yes, that IS cool. i like being friendly" and i just used 'like' altogether too much for someone who is about to attend a decently respectable college in the fall. </p>
<p>btw, i am very interested in hearing your accent. i study them, kind of. at least, i would if i didn't have the shortest attention span this side of minnesota.</p>
<p>oh, and about the politics: some people are quite random with how they categorize themselves politically. and even if they aren't being random, there are those who are 'morally' liberal or conservative, and those who are 'politically' liberal or conservative. they aren't always necessarily the same thing. personally i think i'm kind of a mix, and i like to think things through...i may have put moderate. then again, i may have put liberal, because i tend to be categorized by others as a liberal (unless they never talk to me, in which case they assume i'm conservative based on how i dress. heh).</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm politically liberal in a very conservative area so Midd will be a nice change. But it is funny that everyone on the facebook is apparently liberal; I think a lot of people don't really know what being liberal means, but it sounds more fun to them than being conservative.</p>
<p>Yeah, I am. I thought you were probably the New Zealand guy in Atwater on thefacebook. I was so excited when I found out about Atwater because I wanted to live in Allen, but I didn't realize we could be in Coffrin too. I really don't want a single and I think that's what Coffrin has. I don't know about the whole Commons spirit thing, but our mascot seems pretty intimidating...or not. Whatever, I think Cook Commons' is a pig, so frogs are way better than that.</p>
<p>Atwater seems to have the most kids in it, but now people are saying that their commons is disappearing on the directory. Actually, I just tried it and my commons disappeared too! I just want to know where I'm living!!!Hopefully, Midd just realized that we could see that and they got rid of it until they send us the info. Whatever, this is just frustrating.</p>
<p>many dorms have coed bathrooms and it's not a big deal. for battell i believe it depends on which hall you're on. some have two bathrooms and they might be single sex whereas some other halls only have one, which probably means they'll be coed. another issue is that other dorms are single sex by floor, such as stewart, where there are typically alternating boy and girl floors. battell is completely coed, i think alternating room by room, except for the third floor (at least in the past) which i think belongs to wonnacott now. but either way it's up to whoever lives there. halls vote on that kind of stuff and if somebody really has an issue with it, it won't happen (at least in theory. there's nothing to prevent people from coming into a bathroom if it's convenient or if they are drunk.).</p>
<p>In Ross, we voted on bathrooms being co-ed. Commons pride varies. Ross and Atwater are the only "completed" commons, and a good number of folks don't support the idea. Sometimes though, there's a little mischief. Cook kept pranking Ross last year, and Ross is envied for the luxury of all buildings being completely connected--including the dining hall and some class rooms, nice for January. Don't be discouraged if you're not in Ross though; people think it feels like a prison or asylum, as its riot-proof and all the buildings look the same inside. Battell, I think, is the largest first-year dorm; it's split between Cook and wonnacott. Allen just got renovated, but they are pretty far from everyone. Atwater now has their own dining hall, though, so people come for that. Stewart is the other extreme, and is the only dorm without co-ed floors (with the exception of battell's nunnery). I think Stew rooms are nice (though I'm sure some would disagree with me), and they are the closest to the gym and athletic fields.</p>
<p>I just got a book or poetry today from Atwater. William Blake. I have never heard of him. It's 155 pages though, and theres a response session the 2nd day of orientation. </p>
<p>I was pretty excited when I got my book too. It seems every 2nd day I get a package or email from Middlebury.</p>
<p>heh, i think that's kind of funny about cook. still, civil disobedience is an important read, not that i've gotten to it yet. good for cook!</p>
<p>william blake....victorian? a lot of love poetry anyway. there's one about a sick rose that's pretty famous. </p>
<p>well, anyway, this is fun! i like commons. although, personally, i am not a gambling type of gal (at all, not for any moral reasons, just because i despise taking any sort of risk and i hate being wrong), i find it v. amusing that ross has a "viva ross vegas" event every year. way to be punny.</p>
<p>We just got back from visiting Midd and it is my D's first choice. any of you have experience with athletic recruiting at D? if so, would you mind sending me a PM so i can ask you a few questions. What a great school!</p>
<p>I haven't gotten the reading yet, but I've read Blake in school. He's really weird and mystical, but I'm a nerd and kind of like it. Definately not the worse thing to be assigned.</p>
<p>o i love william blake...i got something from brainerd but yeah i totally forgot who it was..didnt check it out yet..anyway..im going on the easiest hikin trip too sambouc..heh...i could def do more..i dont knwo why i signed up for the easiest...so far on facebook..i see im the only person takin the faith and reasoning course..i read somewhere recently that that professor is ur first yr advisor..oh man..didnt know that</p>