The One with MLK Jr.

Today I didn't have a class until 5, so I hung around in my room and showered in our shower FINALLY!!! I had a couple of errands to run, so I walked down to the Convocation Center to pay my accommodation and meal plan bill, which involved me signing numerous travellers cheques for about ten minutes. Then I had to change my name, as they had spelt my middle name Rebeca with one 'c', and it's with two c's.

When that was done, Becca called me and asked if I wanted to meet for lunch. We went to the cafeteria and ate lunch, then she went back to East to finish some work and I went to check my post, buy post-its at the book store, and to the library to see if a book one of my professors had put on reserve was available (which it wasn't).

I went back to the LLC, and tidied up a bit. Then at half past four I set off for my Popular Culture class in Chapell Wilson Hall. It was once again full, with no spare seats once everyone was sat down. The professor walked in, a guy named Larry Keeter. He was one of those people that had a presence the moment he walked into the room. He came in, set down his bag with a picture of Elvis on the front and sat cross-legged on the desk. He then proceeded to tell us the story of how he started the Popular Culture class, and how App was one of the first colleges to do it as a course. After talking for about half an hour, he announced we were going on a little field trip. He took us to the Students Union, to the International Cultural Center, and we all sat down. We had a talk from the assistant director of the center, and then Larry talked some more about his life. Whilst the assistant director was talking, Larry had donned an Obama baseball cap and a large stars and stripes tie, complete with a picture of Martin Luther King Jr. It's hard to describe him in words but his character is just amazingly dynamic and fun, he has a real energy about him.

He told us the story of how he was at Colombia University in NYC, and then he transferred to Harvard. Whilst he was a student, the year before he married his wife, he went to Washington and was at the front of the crowd when Martin Luther King Junior made his 'I Have a Dream' speech. He went on to speak incredibly passionately about MLK, and Obama, and it didn't feel like a lecture, I actually felt privileged to be able to sit there and listen to amazing stories from him. He tells stories in a modest way, making light of it, but some of the things he did were admirable, and the stories had such incredible meaning. I can't praise this guy enough, even though he went on 45 minutes longer than was timetabled, I didn't mind because I felt like I was learning so much already. I can tell it's going to be an amazing class. I got a sub to go, then walked back to my room to finish my reading for tomorrow.