My parents didn�t understand. Why don�t you go to a nice planetside college, they asked. Cheaper, you get to be with people like you, and you have more fun, they said. Jakinors don�t need to go to fancy Academies, they said.
But I�m not going to the Academy just to be a good Jakinor. That�s a side effect. I�m really here to broaden my horizons. This is the first time I�ve left my home planet. Ever. And now I�m thousands of lightyears from home, seeing the galaxy and getting to learn about other cultures. The word �awesome� isn�t strong enough.
But anyways, I should start at the beginning.
My name is Emimac Crossim Dundiedimbledell. Some call me Crossim, some call me Emi, most call me Makros Dell. I�m from Vandersham, which explains my name. Culture, ya know. I used to live with my mom and dad and my little sister Stratanin Ecto� eh, let�s just call her Strata. I have dark brown hair, straight, to around my shoulder; I�m 5�6�, have yellow eyes, and I can sing all the words to The Most Complicated Song Ever. It�s top of the charts back home.
I guess I was pretty popular at my old school. I remember how everyone laughed when I pulled what was later known as �The Infamous Makros Blue-Jello-In-The-Swimming-Pool Prank�. I never had a problem getting dates if I wanted to, and the last girl I went on one with actually tripped me as I got up for drinks. Talk about charming. I just hope the people here are as fun as those back home.
Once finished with my morning hygiene routine, I pulled out my travel pack of skin markers and picked out a yellow one. I�m gonna draw a big happy face on one of my cheeks to start the day with, to show how thrilled I am to be here. Hm, and maybe I should do the Academy logo on my forehead. Or just �SA�. Either way, no one could mistake that.
I just can�t wait to meet my classmates. I wonder if I should use the old-fashioned hand buzzer to get the friendships off to a good start. Nah, maybe just a whoopee cushion for when class begins. When does class begin, again? Looking at the clock on my table (the happy-kitty clock I brought with me, it meows to wake you up and growls if you don�t), I nearly dropped my marker in shock. I�m late! I�m late for my first class! Oh, bugger!