Went on a day trip to Chapel Hill last Thursday, with the purpose of completing a walking tour at UNC. Guided tours weren't offered that day; but the C-TOPS orientation for incoming freshmen and their parents were taking place.

Approximately 73% of undergraduates complete a course during intersession. Guess there's nothing better to do in Chapel Hill (I'm kidding). I ate lunch at the Lenoir dining hall, where there were three services open: Subway, Chick-fil-A and a smoothie stand.

Walking through Venable Hall, I noticed that the science buildings were as old and smelly as the ones at the UofA. Their students' union is a little bit more well-funded though; they have large screen Tvs for students to watch. That day, it was the U.S. vs. Ghana World Cup match.

What's great about Chapel Hill is that their transit system is fare-free. So you can ride around campus and across town to your heart's content. It would also save you on transportation costs.

It's a shame the Oilers didn't take home the Stanley Cup. Oh well.

Yesterday, I took my leased car to Burlington (~160 km away) to the car dealership for servicing (oil change and tire rotation). I was told to bring it in before lunchtime, 'cause it might take a few hours, so I arrived at 10:00 on the dot. They loaned me a courtesy car.

Obviously, Burlington isn't exactly a tourist destination. I went to Burlington Square Mall, where I spent most of the time browsing in Books-A-Million. The mall was very quiet. Then I found Target by accident, where I bought some cheese for my lunch. I then headed downtown on US 70, where there were more buildings with the LabCorp logo than anything. The historic part wasn't that historic (okay, I couldn't find it). The downtown is very quiet too, even for a weekday.

A few hours later (13:00), I was told it would take a couple more hours because they're going to do a complete servicing (brakes, transmission, and all). So they told me I could take the loaner out again if I wanted. I went down I-40/85 to Greensboro, which took about 20 minutes. I went to the visitors' center in downtown, where the lady told me I could leave my car there and go for a walk. So I did. Up and down Elm Street, with a stop at the public library.

Six-and-a-half hours after I arrived in Burlington, my car was ready. They even updated my state safety and emissions inspection for free! I arrived back home (via Chapel Hill and Carrboro, where I got lost and found UNC by accident, but it was late and I had no time to visit) just in time to watch the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ah, yes. Living in the South not only means that people don't understand what "pop" is (see previous posts), but if you ask for tea, don't be surprised if it's cold, comes in a 355 mL (12 oz.) or larger glass, and is loaded with sugar. If you want to be extra sure, you either ask for "sweet tea" or "unsweet tea". Of course, if you're a Yankee or a Canadian, this is better known as "iced tea".

In fact, the sugar content of the tea (Luzianne brand) served at the school cafeteria was so high that it violated the State's dietary regulations for prepared student meals. As a result, only teachers could buy it at lunch since the beginning of this year.

According to author Robert St. John, tea gets sweeter as you travel deeper into the South. That rule also works for women, too. I suppose this is true as well.

I have just returned from a three-day paper engineering workshop at NC State University in Raleigh. (Well, I arrived on Monday evening after teacher workday and departed on Thursday afternoon.)

One of the first events I attended on Monday evening was the viewing party the Carolina Hurricanes had at the RBC Center. We watched Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the scoreboard. I was surrounded by Hurricanes fans. I couldn't reveal my true loyalties because I was afraid of getting swallowed by the crowd alive. So when the Hurricanes scored, and the guy next to me wanted to give me high fives, I had no choice but to put out my palms. We did this twice (Carolina ended up winning, 2-1).

NBC showed Edmonton fans getting off the LRT at Coliseum, and the attendees booed that.
They booed when the broadcast was showing the Oilers skating onto the rink, and when Ryan Smyth was being interviewed, so I couldn't hear what he was saying. It's odd how Hurricanes fans say that Oilers fans are crazy, and they are just as loud and rambunctious.

The Storm Squad was their version of cheerleaders for hockey. The blonde-haired young ladies came out and were slingshotting OLN-labeled stuff into the crowd.

I was watching Game 3 last night on NBC. On the evening local news before the game, the sports reporter (who was in Edmonton) noted that, unlike in Raleigh, there are no tailgating parties before the game. Southerners like their barbecue (=shredded pork with barbecue sauce, along with beans and 'slaw on a bun). Edmontonians would rather have a hot dog and beer inside the arena.

Of course, the fans at Rexall Place were booing every time Doug Weight touched the puck. The commentators said that the fans were booing "the old economic system", and not Weight. Yeah, right. If he really wanted to stay with the Oilers, he would have signed for less money.

The winning goal wasn't pretty, and I know Brind'amour wasn't happy with it, but the rules say it's a goal, and in Game 2, Weight kicked one in with his skate and it somehow counted.

I got two pieces of mail today, both from Citi. And I guess good credit history from Canada doesn't transfer over to the U.S.

1. "We regret that we are unable to approve an account for you at this time because of the following:
- The consumer reporting agency serving your area has reported no credit history for you.
- The consumer reporting agency serving your area has reported a limited credit history for you."

2. "Apply for the Citi Upromise Card at www.applynow.citicards.com, using the invitation number above..."

Too bad the credit card I wanted was the first one (Diamond Preferred Rewards MasterCard). The second one (Upromise MasterCard) is useless to me but somehow, they actually solicited me for that one.

You know you live in a hockey town when the front page headline on the daily paper is "Roloson gone for series" with an accompanying article, with additional coverage on the next page.

Tonight I was trying to make up a final examination for my second period class and watch hockey at the same time.

The Stanley Cup Finals: Carolina vs. Edmonton.
I must be the only Oilers fan in Raeford. No, wait, there's another student, and it's because he's a northerner (Philadelphia). But that's about it.

Game 1 was tonight at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Edmonton builds a 3-0 lead late into the second period. Then the Hurricanes score four straight (three in the third) to take the lead. Hemsky ties it. Then with under 1/2 minute to go, there is a fumble between Conklin and Smith, and Brind'amour gets the easiest goal of his life. Crap.

And I still have to finish making my test...