My First College Birthday!

This past month I celebrated my first birthday away from home. To be honest, I was not that homesick or nostalgic (probably because I was so busy with school work that I didn't have time to think about it much). My friends knew when my birthday was because there is a calendar on our hall where everyone marks their birthdays.

My school had a long weekend, so Rebecca and I spent a night at Abby's home. We went to the mall to experience normal society (being on campus is so much different from living in the "real" world). During lunch, Rebecca sneakily told the waitress that it was my birthday so we got free ice cream! She also made me an adorable heart shaped birthday badge.

The next night was my actual birthday. We went into town to have ice cream, which you can see in the video.

Thank you to my friends for making this birthday a happy celebration!

xxOlivexx

How to (not) Survive College Exams

Today I finished my first round of college exams! It feels like my brain was force-fed encyclopedia pages while being squished by an angry elephant. But I did (not) survive. Here are some tips I learned over the past two weeks that you will (not) want to take to heart:

1. Don't plan ahead. This one should be pretty obvious. This works best if you do not use a schedule, planner, journal, diary, what have you. The goal is to memorize your schedule and everything you have to do and when it is due. You will probably forget a lot of things, but that's okay because it means you're trying hard.
2. Don't even look at the study guides or practice exams. What are you, a whiny five year old? Study guides are for sissies! Just glance at your notes - after all, you have a photographic memory and know all this crap anyway.
3. Don't go to office hours. Just don't. This is where people go to be intimidated by the organized students. If you do happen to wander in (totally by accident), never ever be prepared with questions.
4. Study alone. This will help you get into the mindset of the lone student who stays up all night cramming for her exams while listening to songs such as this and this. 
5. Slack off in courses that don't have exams. You'll totally have the energy to tackle double the amount of school work after. 
6. Eat lots of sugar. Sugar is your friend. It helps you focus. So break out the gay bacon strips and munch away!

Good luck!

Er, you don't even need luck if you follow these tips.

xxOlivexx

Day in My Life - 5

Need to prepare better for lab lecture... Went to Chinese tutorial (on time this week! Phew!). Studied in the student center for the first time, but it was a bit too warm for my liking. Al + Chinese classmates and I prepared the skit next week. Afterword, Al, one of the classmates, and I talked for a while about our high school experiences. Tomorrow is Yom Kippur. I might try fasting.

Day in My Life - 4

I got an A on my Chinese exam! YAAAY! I studied in the science senter for about three and a half hours. Got a lot done, but still more work to do. In neuroscience class, my professor made an inside joke from office hours about me asking too many questions. Afer class, I had dinner with some friends. El tried to convince me to go sky diving with him. No thanks!

Day in My Life - 3

Next week our Chinese class will be performing skits in small groups. I'm in a group with Al plus two other students. I took care of laundry and cleaned, which was badly needed. I'm feeling stressed out about chem. Due to studying for the neuroscience and Chinese exams, I am a bit behind. I will try to catch up this week.

Later on I had dinner with Abby and skyped with a couple friends from home who are also in college now. They are doing well.

Day in My Life - 2

First Chinese test went well! I finished early. After the test I went to the science building to study for neuroscience exam with a couple friends from class. Then I went to my chemistry professor's office hours. I try to go once a week. After his office hours, I went to my neuroscience professor's office hours with Al, Ann, and the two friends I was studying with. We peppered him with questions. His practice exams had a lot of typos and some of the questions were tricky. Then Al and I did some last minute review for the exam. Al is going to China next semester.

A half hour before the test I convinced Al to take a break. I was very tired, I nearly fell down the stairs! Despite this the neuroscience exam went extremely well. I think I got a good grade.

My day ended well - I watched Seven Samurai for film class. The film was fantastic. Then I talked with my grandmother.

Day in My Life - 1

Today Al suggested after Chinese class that we study for our neuroscience exam. We agreed to meet up after the review session. Ann joined us at the library. Al and Ann are juniors. Unfortunately the review session wasn't terribly helpful, but studying with Al and Ann was.