Wherein I contemplate the effects of spring on the psyche of a college student...

One of my favourite hobbies has always been people wacthing--On the subway, on the street, in a cafe, on the Ram Van, in the caf (especially in the caf). Let me clarify one thing before I continue. When I say "people watching" I don't mean it in a stalkerish way, or in a creepy way; I just love observing people's habits and tendencies, and perhaps trying to speculate on their characters.

Anyway, now that spring appears to have offically sprung (pardon the cliche), I have noticed a few key effects that the warmer weather has on the brain of a college student:

1. A lack of motivation to do anything other than take naps in the sun and sit outside. It's nice out and we want to be outside. That's all. There's no harm in that. The problems kick in when the amount of time spent outside eclipses the amount of time spent going to class, doing work, and doing anything productive in general.

2. An increasing number of people (read: Fordham students) who have changed their appearance drastically in some way. In the past two weeks, I have seen more people dying their hair (especially guys dying their hair red, very peculiar) and people with faux-hawks. Wtf. Perhaps the rebirth of spring inspires people to have personal rebirth. Maybe they're just crazy. Who can tell...

3. Everyone is falling in love. I know that spring is the time for lovers, but the recent change is kind of ridiculous. I swear that in the last four weeks of people watching, I have seen at least an 80 % increase in people holding hands. PDA has hit harder than allergies. Everyone is confessing their love for everyone else. These extraneous signs of affection, of course, make me all the more glad that I am single. Now, I'm not bitter; I believe that everyone should love someone. However, it makes a girl feel really good about herself when everyone seems to have someone and she's in the dust saying, "What about me?" Good times.

4. An extreme heightening of school pride or an increasing hatred towards the place. Take your pick. I know a lot of people who don't want to leave, who thought it went by way too fast, and just as many people who have professed a strong desire to "get the hell out as soon as they can."

Anyway, my people watching is not creepy. In fact, it lets you learn a lot about people in general and about yourself. There's no better way to spend an afternoon.