October 6, 2006

• Map Of The Problematique!

  Problems, problems, problems….! All I wanted to do tonight was fight with swords! All I wanted to do tonight was update about fencing, but it looks like politics are set to rip the Fencing Club apart! Basically Paul, our coach, wants to teach the club the best way he sees fit. He’s an experienced fencer and coach and knows what he’s talking about and I don’t disagree with his methods. Problem is, he wants to teach the club in 6 week courses. According to the club committee (and they’re right) the Student’s Union says the club has to allow anyone who wishes to participate, to participate. Paul wants to stop people from joining, say, 2 or 3 weeks in (after missing the starting classes) and have them come back when he starts the next batch of beginners classes. If the club weren’t a University club, this would be the norm, but cos its part of the Student Union it has to abide by the SU regulations! This has led to arguments between Paul and (Sabre) Dave, who’s club chairman. Paul has said that its his job to teach fencing in a safe and professional way and if the SU won’t let him do that, they’ll have to fire him! I happen to think he’s right… the problem is the SU rules (like Sith) deal in absolutes and he can’t refuse to acknowledge them, but he is really stubborn and won’t back down! As a result our club is on hiatus, until further notice! No training, no lessons, no nothing! Which sucks, especially cos we are fencing in the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) leagues and most of the team are inexperienced. I have the experience but am rusty, and with no coaching…. well, we will probably get our asses handed to us! I didn’t come here to have my ability to fight with swords decided in a committee! I hate politics! I hate bureaucracy! Gaaaahhh

  

  The rest of the week has been relatively straight forward! We’ve started class and have found that Takako seems to expect us to possess fluency levels akin to N class at NUFS! Maybe higher…?! She had us watch a video on a Japanese historical figure, Shirasu Jirou, who was a major player for the Japanese during the post WW2 US occupation of Japan. We had to answer questions on this video as part of a homework project.. problem is the majority of this video was way beyond any of us! As a result the entire UCLan NUFS alumni (being myself, Balex, Kate, Sandra, Alison and Yann) gathered round Kate and Balex’s and watched this video over and over and over until we had weaned just enough info out of it to give some vague answers. We did OK but if thats what all our projects are gonna be like from here on in… (Points fake gun to head. Pulls trigger! Bang!)
  I’ve spent most of the rest of my time round Balex and Kate’s, but engaging in decidedly more enjoyable activities! We have pledged to watch all 6 Star Wars movies in chronological order. We reached A New Hope (Ep. 4) today. Balex and I have been playing Star Wars Lego consistently and have recently moved on to Star Wars: Battlefront 2. Same plans for tomorrow I reckon. We do a lot of NUFS reminising and sure do miss everything! Kate has even been setting about creating “Neverwinter NUFS” on her laptop! Its unlikely but if any of you can make it over this year, do it! (Holly…! Mario…! ) We will, we must, meet again!

  Until then, Peace Out! Everyone! “Because of Obi Wan…?”

  
  

  • 7:18 pm
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