A Birthday to Forget

Okay, so here's my slightly shameful secret: I love birthdays. However having said that, since having my first birthday at Rhodes, I may have to re-consider my opinion. The thing I have learnt, through experience, is to not to let anyone know that it is your birthday then cross your fingers and hope that no-one finds out. Trust me, its safest that way. Well of course I didn’t keep my mouth shut. I told all my friends that my birthday was coming up and that they just had to come and celebrate with me. The night started out tame enough-a couple of people in my room for pre-drinks, a 1.5 litre bottle of wine that I was suppose to be sharing, music and laughter. It was only when I realised that there were 16 people squashed into my tiny room and that I had managed to finish off the bottle of wine, did I realise that this was not going to end well. After more drinks (where did they come from?) and lots more laughter (mostly at my expense) did we make it down to the Rat. Once there I have vague recollections of people buying me more drinks, a dash to the bathroom and sitting on the pavement outside. Apparently there was not enough air in the Rat to suit my drunken liking. At this point my friends decided it was time to take me home (I might have asked to go home-I’m not really sure). They thought it best if I was driven home but I was in a difficult mood and refused to get into the car-I’m not 100% sure how they finally got me in the car but they got me home and put me to bed. I hadn’t even made it to midnight. Needless to say, the next morning was hell. I did not know it was possible to be that hung-over and I’m a Rhodent! Three attempts to get put of bed, two panado and a large bottle of water later did I manage to face my friends. It was a night to be forgotten and next year I’m keeping quiet about my birthday in the hope that it will pass by unnoticed and pain-free. Watch out for your birthday-you may just regret mentioning it.
Party Hard!

Tess

To my younger, more innocent self

Dear Friend

Well the time has come for you to leave the comfort-bubble known as high school and start with the next phase of your life. A time that is so different from everything that you have known or for that matter anything that you might have expected. One of the main things that you are going to have to deal with is your new-found freedom. This may sound amazing right now and it most cases it is but there are a few down falls when it comes to gaining your independence.

You have been living at home obeying (most of the time) your parent’s rules and now suddenly you are going to be faced with nearly absolute freedom. This freedom is amazing-you can decide when you are going out, with whom and where you are going. One of the best things about Grahamstown is that you don’t have to bother about getting lifts to places; you really can just walk everywhere which makes going out so much easier.

The only downfall to this new independence is Wednesday nights. Yes you know that you have a lecture in first period and its one that you can’t miss but the lure of the Union/rugby/Rat is too great and plus all your friends are going out as well. I’m not discouraging you to go out-I have, and have had to live with the Thursday morning consequences- all I’m saying is: be warned. If you think that your hangover was bad after that one particular 18th then think again because words cannot describe what it feels like to sit in a lecture with a hangover.

You might think that it’s a great idea to see how much tequila you can manage in one night but save that for Friday night when you can sleep in the next day and don’t have to try and concentrate on a lecture the next morning.

I hope that you are excited as I am about you coming here. I can’t wait for you to get here.

See you soon.

Tessa