designated, that repeated for that day week after week. On Sunday’s, the kitchen was closed. I dreaded Friday’s meal of a blood sausage which was a loosely filled sausage of blood and gristle that was served with boiled potatoes. Each student was assigned a small refrigerator with a lock and key that was built into a wall near the cafeteria. Some students complained about the cost of having to purchase meals in town on Sunday, the one day of the week that food was not served to students. To accommodate some student’s requests, the school administration permitted the students the use of the kitchen on one Sunday. After arriving back from town, I heard noise and a commotion permeating from the kitchen. I went in to see what was happening. There were many students cooking all kinds and varieties of food simultaneously leading to a foul order. I greeted them and declined their invitation to sample some of this food, and left the kitchen. At daybreak the following morning, a school official was pounding on the door of my room demanding that I open the door immediately. Sleepily I arose from bed, answered the door and asked what was wrong. He stated that the kitchen was left a mess and that I had been seen in the kitchen the previous evening. He asked me if this was true. I replied yes, but tried to further explain that I neither cooked, nor ate any of the food. The school official paid no attention to my explanation and so I was also held responsible for the kitchen clean up. Upon entering the kitchen that morning, I could not believe what I saw. Piles of filthy pots, pans, plates, and bowls were left along with greasy and food encrusted appliances and countertops.
Although I did not have full bathroom facilities in my room of assignment, I was relieved and grateful that I had my own place of solace. For many students who roomed two to a room there always seemed to be some controversy, trouble, and the casting of blame. Once a week, housekeeping services were provided where rooms were vacuumed and cleaned in accessible areas. I was complimented on the tidiness of my room, which I did not think was very clean due to a dust build up on the bookshelves. I then wondered about the appearance and condition of some of the other student’s rooms.
Frequently during the week, I would venture into town sometimes with fellow students or solitarily. I noticed a considerable population of young people with birth defect deformities that were caused by the drug Thalidomide. This drug was prescribed to pregnant women from 1957 to 1961, to prevent morning sickness. A point worth noting is that Thalidomide has a similar chemical compound structure to methylphenidate (brand name known as Ritalin) both of which are teratogenic drugs meaning that these drugs cause birth defects. A rehabilitative hospital was located in the city where I attended school which explained the considerable presence of this afflicted group. It was disturbing to see these atrocities caused by a drug that was negligently approved for use by pregnant women, in some countries around the world.
During a long weekend recess a student offered a ride in a car to visit Paris. Four students and I departed on a bright and beautiful day in springtime enjoying the sights along the way. Especially stunning were the groves of blooming cherry trees seen in the countryside of France on our way to visit Paris. We arrived in Paris by late afternoon and immediately sought an inexpensive hotel in which to lodge for two nights. The group asked me to inquire about vacancy and price as I appeared more European. At the first hotel of inquiry, I spoke English to a woman at the front desk. She asked me what my nationality was