The Student Life

Having been at university for the best part of seven years prior to coming to America, it would be fair to say that i had become accustomed to the student way of life - namely, flashing an ID card and being given usually 10% off whatever the hell it is i'm buying, as well as cheap entry to the cinema, access to cheap nights at clubs and, naturally, cheap booze and that sort of thing. Of course, this had the downside as well - being treated like a lesser human being on occasion by people who, generally, had no right to even think it but, hey, you take the rough with the smooth.

So, on finally graduating from uni, it was with some reluctance given that i was going to have to pay full price for everything now - unless i could blag it with my Manchester University ID card - although i don't think that'll work here. Well, it has to be said that there is one plus for working in academia - and that's having a university ID card - especially when you wear it conveniently on display for all to see and forget to take it off (as i often do). Thus, the good folk behind the counters of a number of shops and cafes tend to see the big "MUSC" logo, look at me, think Medical student (cause people around my age here are usually students in Charleston - they seem to take their time with it unlike in the UK) and hey presto, instant discount. Of course, being the very definition of honesty, i usually correct them.....yeah, right. They say 'take whatever's free' so i'm going to take what i can get - hey, its what the students would do, right?