NORTH CAROLINA - School's In

I'm in a dorm room, late at night, having random conversations and eating peach slices. Yes: I've gone thousands of miles and am once again doing student things again. I'm obviously destined to be trapped in student life forever. Ugh.

Anyho: between the egotists of the north east coast and the crazies of the south lie states in the US like North Carolina. Which seem to have a bit of both worlds in them. This particular corner of the world accentuates that by having a particularly left wing college in town. Crazies of all types find their way to universities. Guilford College, where my friend Isaac is currently studying, is no exception, although it has plenty of nice crazies.


Guilford College and most US universities: Old red brick look plastering shiny new million dollar buildings.

US universities, with few exceptions, are stinking rich. It's marvellous fun to listen to everyone's moans about loans and lack of money whilst the next bursary is no doubt being paid into their accounts. Guilford College has an interesting sideline in that it is a college founded by the Quakers. Like our old friends the Shakers (see: Kentucky) the Quakers in the US historically balanced simple lifestyles with extravagant spending. Not that there's much evidence of the Quaker influence around the place these days. There are some cute notices about late night Vespers, the like of which I haven't seen since leaving St. Paul's in Bristol. And the university is currently running a year of events focussed on spirituality. Except, unlike in the UK where that would mean a couple of talks and an overpriced wine reception based on an awful piece of new local artwork, this is a multi million dollar mix of art displays, historical exhibitions and talks from the likes of Desmond Tutu and Karen Armstrong (the latter of which we once tried to get to come and speak at the University of Bristol for a couple of hundred pounds. Here, they could afford to offer her ten times that) It's a different world, in some ways...


One of the more interesting exhibits in the art and spirituality gallery. Snakes, masks and icons on a shiny cross. More Indiana Jones than spirtuality, I feel, but all rather cute.

... But for the students it's the same mix of lectures, seminars and the glorious pursuit of wasting time in new and more imaginative ways. Complete with unrecognisable gruel in the canteen. Apparently all this money didn't have any bearing on the quality of food provision. I bet Desmond Tutu will have something to say about that.


And this overly extravagant building is a library.