Colin's Diary

Here's what our man Colin had to say about his second morning (actually, up 'til 1pm) of the ACC Tournament. Watch for the second half a little later today.

6:30 – wake up, not so much for the MPRE, but for the trip there. I’m taking it at American University at 9 am, and my co-worker isn’t keen on my taking away the car all day, or on waking to drive me to the test. So, I embark on a quick car (to the Metro), metro (to Tenleytwon Station), bus (American-University provided shuttle) and cab-ride (to the off-the-main-campus law school) experience. The shuttle driver, it must be noted, is pulling for the Heels. Good omen.

8:55 – We make it to the test center with minutes to spare. My contingent has grown - along the way, I encounter Zafar, from Uzbekistahn, and Kseniya, from Belarus (and if all women from Belarus look like Kseniya, I will be contacting the Belarusian Board of Tourism), and Susan, from Florida, also on their way to take the test (lawyers and soon-to be lawyers are easy to spot, neurotically shuffling along and peering at their study materials and looking at directions, so we find each other easily). Our contingent brushes with disaster upon realizing that the shuttle won’t be able to get to the off-campus law school beforfe the scheduled test time, but a quick heads-up from the shuttle driver bails us out – he directs us to a spt where cabs congregate. My contingent splits a cab ride to the law school.

9:20 – still waiting in line to sign in. glad we hurried to get here.

12:00 – test is done. I’m fairly certain some copyright and/or ethical violations prevent me from discussing it.

12:15 – walking back to Tenleytown with Zafar and Kseniya. They are blissfully unaware of this “basketball” phenomena – amazing the diversity of DC that events like this go on and large portions of the population are clueless bout it. The conversation turns to having a post-test drink, when Zafar goes on a rant about how wonderful America is due to all the choices for hard liquor. In Zbekistahn, apparently, one walks into a bar and orders only a quantity, as the kind of drink (always vodka) is never in question. Men drink only straight vodka; some fruit-juice mixers are allowed for women. Zafar is apparently trying to experience world culture through liquor, and is thrilled to have sampled Tequila, Ouzo, Sambuca, etc.

12:30 – encounter some Heels fans on the metro. One delightful old woman is carrying a bag full of UNC-related baubles, including little Tar-Heel-footie cookies. Her Tar Heel family is around. We start the “TARRRRRR… HEEEEEEEELS… chant on the Metro. I am fairly certain Zafar and Kseniya find us to be quite insane, but I think they now believe me about the “basketball thing” that’s in town this weekend.

12:45 – asking around leads me to believe that tix will be VERY hard to come by. Call my buddy who’s meeting me at the game to say that we should abort plans to get in, and just watch at a bar. Guy behind me (Wake Forest fan) taps me on he shoulder and says “so you’re looking for tickets?” and the wheels of commerce begin to roll. Gotta like capitalism.