The Real World: Seattle, or Hey, I didn't sign up to live in a reality TV show!

Every show has a cast of characters:

Julia: UW (pronounced U-dub) senior from the bay area of California whose parents co-own the house with Alison Wobbrock's parents. She is about to do an internship in Poland where her family is from. Likes: Europe, Europeans. Dislikes: Americans, and UW students in particular. I hear about these topics a LOT. I also hear a lot about the "fat" she has around her waist (we're the same size -- which means triple the wardrobe for me!), as well as how her ex-boyfriend won't leave her alone. I met her about 5 days before she could legally drink, 2 years after she had started drinking illegally, and 2 days before I started realizing that those drama queens on reality TV weren't actors after all. Don't get me wrong, she means well and while she may be annoying at times, at least she talks to me on a regular basis. We must be chums by now, judging by the way she interrupts my phone conversations with James like a kid sister (he calls her the Peanut Gallery). And she actually invites me when she goes out, even if it is to get hammered at the local college bar where the patrons are half as old as they look and the drinks are twice as strong. Um, yeah, that's what they tell me anyway.

Shane: The only other person besides me who goes to work and doesn't carry a fake ID. He is about my age and is an equipment mechanic. A self-described "dirtbag" among women, but around his housemates he is more of a harmless flirt (Yes James, I said harmless). Besides, he has a girlfriend and he seems serious about her anyhow. Probably the only person I genuinely enjoy talking to in the house. Oh, and he likes his music with the bass waaay up.

Brandon: A sophomore desparately in need of a haircut and shave, yet who manages to cuddle on the couch with a different girl each weekend. Eats his meals at odd hours, such as 4pm and 11pm. Loves football and alcohol. Not sure what else though, since he doesn't even talk to me unless I talk first. He's a sociology major, which I actually find really cool, but I'm afraid of talking to him about it lest I start to sound like his mom.

Olga: Another sophomore whom until recently I had only seen in passing, plus/minus boyfriend. She lives in the room next to me, but keeps her door closed. After we finally got to exchange more than 5 words, she seems well, kind of normal. And nice. She likes to clean, which makes her an ideal housemate because she does things like offer to vacuum my room and wash my darks with hers. And she just came out of her room to show me a funny website about cats, of which she owns one.

There is one other housemate, Halley. I've seen her and said hello, but that's really it. She lives in the basement along with the guys and is also a sophomore at UW.

And then there's me: straight-laced Bible-reading med student from big city San Fran, but who has grown soft from being in the midwest. I guess I'm back in college now. In any case, I sure am getting re-educated!

p.s. I miss all you yinzers.