Rainy First Day

Ahh the glories of jet lag.  I was up at four this morning ready to head off to the University, though I settled for eating a "Cheese Toastie" with fries (side note, the menu read "fries" and not "chips"...odd).  The morning was clear, until about 7, when it started to pour rain.   I left for the University around 8:30, plenty of time to get to George Sq, only a 10 min walk.  Unfortunately I have a bad sense of direction, and first headed the wrong way down High Street.  Once I figured that out, I set out on South Bridge towards the University.  On the way, I asked someone if I was going the wrong direction, and they say yes and to turn around, which I did.  Alas they were wrong (as I noticed when South Bridge turned into North Bridge).  Finally I arrived, very late and very wet.  My advisor, Nathaniel, is actually from the San Francisco, and know of Ukiah!  He's an avid hiker and loves the outdoors (so much for bonding over a common interest) and therefore goes up north a lot.  I signed up for three classes "Health Policy Analysis", "Economics of Health Policy", and "Anthropology of Health and Healing".  Then I headed off to my first lecture.  I was planning on doing some errands around the campus (getting a student ID and registering) but instead opted to go back to the hotel since it was pouring and my jeans were soaked and my feet bleeding (my new flat boots turned out to be very uncomfortable, ironic...from now on I'm sticking with the low heels).  Now, after peeling off my pants and wringing out my raincoat (not as effective as one would expect), I'm giving my feet a rest, hoping to wait out the (in my opinion) anomalous weather (which is, according to locals, "mild at best").  Then of to the arduous tasks of trying to open a bank account, figuring out a cell phone plan, dealing with University bureaucracy, all while being rained upon.  Maybe I'll add buying an umbrella to that list.