i was not altogether enthusiastic about being the only girl in a house of boys, because bathrooms in all-male houses never inspire confidence, besides which i was prejudiced enough to fancy it was going to be all beer and late night tv and rowdiness. the loud music and rowdiness i can hear quite well, and things get banged about upstairs alot, but the beer-drinking happens mostly on the porch, very placidly rather than in any overly-convival way. everyone has been very polite and helpful to me so far, especially in the heavy suitcase department, but generally otherwise also very courteous, and i'm beginning to think there is some advantage in being the only girl in a house of boys, in the old-fashioned sense.