"Calculus and linear algebra and symbolic logic and physics and electrical engineering," she says. "Because I am going to be an electrical engineer!"
"Nice. I'm still undeclared. Taking a bunch of things with 'introduction to' in their names," Bella chuckles.
"Well, I am also taking a bunch of things with 'introduction to' in their names," says Janine, "because it is my first year and that is how that works. The symbolic logic course is second year, though!"
"I'm in Bio and Calc and Operating Systems and Politics, and I guess I get credits for orchestra too, but not for soccer."
"Gosh, you're busy," says Janine. "What do you play? In the orchestra, I mean, soccer... is soccer."
"Oh." Janine observes the flute. "So that is what a flute case looks like. And now I know!"
Bella laughs. "What about you, what do you do apart from academic stuff?"
"Alienate my peers with accidental displays of frightening intellect," says Janine. "And drop things."
Bella tilts her head. "Well, I don't think you're particularly scary or alienating. Maybe a top-tier college will be a better environment for your intellect. Also, dropping things, not a hobby - have you hobbies?"
"You say that only because you have not seen the frequency with which I drop things," Janine asserts. "I also read science fiction novels with embarrassing slowness."
"I used to be really clumsy until a car crash knocked something back where it belonged in my ear," Bella volunteers. "I don't think we should try anything like that for you, though."
"No that would be a bad idea," Janine agrees. "Please do not crash any cars into or near me."
"Don't have a car," Bella says, winking. "Have a motorcycle."
"That's good. It'd suck to not get along with my roommate," Bella says.
"Anything else you could use help unpacking?" Bella asks.
"Hmm," says Janine. "If you would like to help me find somewhere to put my books and then put them there, you are welcome to do that and I would appreciate it very much!"
And she heads out and starts poking her head into open doors, seeking boxen. Eventually she gets ahold of a long, short box that will suit and also fit under the bed, and returns with it, tucking the flaps inside the box for sturdiness. "Where's the books?" she asks.
"The books are here," says Janine, with a demonstrative gesture to one of the four duffel bags now open on her bed. It does indeed contain a long row of neatly stacked books. She accepts the box and starts tranferring books from one container to the other.
Bella helps. "Lotta books. I'm more of a library book person myself. That and the Internet."
"They are comfort objects," Janine explains. "So is the internet, for that matter, but differently."