The problem with first impressions

So as you may know or not I currently live in a hostel. My room has two bunk beds, so usually 4 people. I've tried to keep a good attitude about it because I know its only temporary, and I've actually started to like it. Most people there are long term, been there for 3-4 weeks and are in the same position as me; coming down to Australia for a while to work, looking for jobs and apartments, so its a pretty good way to meet some people. Recently I've been in a room with 2 French guys who work so they go to bed early don't make noise etc... Two nights ago a new guy walks in. Hes about my height, but huge, I mean looks like he plays linebacker for Texas Tech or something. So that night I have what amounts to the hostel goers nightmare, an extreme snorer. I'm not talking a little snoring, were talking full on sawing logs, like hes joking, snoring. So I turn my ipod on full blast and listen to The Hives and finally make it to sleep. The next day I walk in, he asks me where I'm from, I give him pretty cold short responses. I mean I'm super tired because of him. Also he tells me that hes in Melbourne to watch a Rugby match and he'll be here for another 14 days. This might be the low point of my trip so far, 7 more days of this (in a week my friends Micah and Nikki get here so I'll be outta this dudes room). That night I go to bed early thinking I can doze off before he gets in. Well he gets in around 2am and within minutes is back at working doing his jackhammer impersonation.

So this is the impression I've formed. This guy is just some old washed up Rugby fanatic who now spends his time partying, playing cards at the casino, working on cars or motorcycles, you know the type I'm talking about...

So yesterday hes in the room and I decide to start talking to him. If anything to ensure my impression of him is correct. So ask, "where are you from?" Hes originally from England but has lived in New Zealand for the past 6 years. (So your a bigger bum than me, I knew I was right (my inner monologue)). "What were you doing in New Zealand?" He tells me he's been a lecturer at the University in Wellington. At this point I'm starting to think I might have been a little quick to judgement. "What did you teach?" Glaciology. Turns out this guy has a PhD. in GLACIOLOGY. Thats the right, the study of glaciers and the environmental effects on them. I couldn't believe how wrong I had been. This guy might actually be one of the most interesting and intelligent people I've come across so far.

Anyway I asked him a ton of questions about glaciers and global warming since I've never really met a true expert. I only hear Al Gore and Sean Hannity taking about their expert friends, who also both happen to have completely different views.

Heres what he told me. The glaciers in New Zealand are actually increasing because of a weather cycle they have. They expand and retract every 30 years. Its been 25 years of increase, so in another 5 years or so they will begin retracting again. He said all glaciers have been retracting since the last ice age, about 18,000 years ago. Except there was a 400 year period in from about 1200-1600 called the little ice age during which Glaciers expanded because of colder weather. When I asked about global warming he said "There's no doubt that after the industrial revolution started you can see it drastically effected the retreat of glaciers. The more carbon we put in the atmosphere, the more it speeds up the warming of the Earth, which causes more rapid retreat of Glaciers." But to be fair he also added "Its probably not going to be a huge problem anytime soon. We still have much bigger problems in the world right now to worry about, like 3rd world poverty". So there you have it, from a licensed Glaciologist.

Anyway, just goes to show you first impressions aren't always reliable.