One way or another, it's true in every case: being in College makes you travel! You just somehow end up travelling -- spring break to some exotic country with friends, studying aboard in France, or being sent to a foreign University to visit! It doesn't matter if you grew up with parents or other relatives who always took you to the corners of the world, or when an exciting trip meant a car ride to Wal-Mart, being a college student always makes you travel, and I'm happy to say so.
I was born into a lower middle-class family in Virginia (hillbillies, anybody?) and we were NOT rednecks because we always kept the discarded kitchen appliances and vehicles out front of our houses sparkling clean. So anyway, even though we didn't have all the money and anything that we desired in the world, we got by -- and I was spoiled rotten. Actually, that probably was why we were poor. So all my other classmates would show off about going to some far state and visit their aunt or uncle or grandparents. I never had that opportunity, everyone in my family lived 2 hours away or less, all in the same state. One exception was Mom's cousin, in rural West Virginia. It was a lovely place, but to a little boy, it was boring. No cable -- no captioning for movies, no video games.
When I was in middle and high school, I abhorred hearing about other people's summer or winter breaks. I was jealous about them going to some European country, or Disneyland, or just California. Even VA beach pressed my buttons. I went on a family trip which reached Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina, but I was nine. VA beach was fun, but it still hurt to hear about it from somebody else because they had fun going with their friends and I didn't with my mother and her adult friend.
VSDB has Academic Bowl, and we went to West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Of course, that was still not enough because we went to those places to work and to think and to not have fun. I mean -- it's not like I did NOT have fun, so cool it RJ :)
When I got accepted to Gally, I knew I had to just do something and get out and do something different. I had to be one of the many others who said they did all those awesome things during the summer and some other breaks. So I did. It didn't happen until the second semester, anyway -- most particularly when I stopped spending money on compulsive DVD-shopping. And so now I'm in Minnesota!!
I've been here for two weeks now, and I fly home tomorrow. I'm gonna miss Elisy, whom I've been staying with, but I'll see her again when classes at Gally start up again. RJ dropped me off at the airport two weeks ago -- funny, it doesn't seem that long ago! Mom and Granny are picking me up tomorrow at the airport, so that means a nice dinner out! I've already made plans when I get back :) particularly helping RJ out with her summer cleaning and a platonic date with, oh my, a boy!!
Before I forgot, I went to Ocean City, Maryland, for my 21st birthday. I'll be flying to Arizona for a friend's wedding next month. It's a great feeling finally going out and doing things on my own terms! :) Yay for college!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Hair-raising Entry!
Even though I've only been at Gally for nine months, it's still hilarious to see how much my hair changed.
The first semester I had to take ASL, then the second semester I took deaf studies. In both classes I was required to do vlogs -- video blogs, you see. I was gonna put in entire vlogs, but it took so long to upload and all, so I'm just going to put in screenshots so you can compare my hairdos!
This was my first vlog in September, and it was for ASL. The professor was delighted with the composition of my signed essay and everything, but subtracted points on it because of my shirt. Um, oops?
October! Here it looks like my hair has grown out a bit comfortably. But what's the deal with the shirt here, dude?
I clearly remember the reason why I look so crappy in this -- I'd only woke up a few minutes before this vlog was made right before its due date! October as well, I think.
I think this was done in early November, if I'm not mistaken. I'm just loving this snapshot! You can see a bit of facial hair on my chin. I look almost straight -- especially when it looks like I'm gesturing about some breasts.
I went home in Virginia for Thanksgiving break, and got a haircut! My old classic chicken butt hair, seen here :)
Here I am again, looking cute, but the haircut is already growing into my eyes. I also had to borrow my roomie's blanket to tape up so I could tape formal exam-istical vlogs! Also last vlog I did in my first semester.
I did less vlogs the second semester, but I'd figured out how I could make a nice, one-color background by using my blanket and both my roomie's and my closet doors to pin it up! Here's a lovely shade of forest green and my hair, certainly grown out during the month-long winter break!
Oh, behave, baby! This is particularly my favorite -- not because I look pretty good, not because my hair kicks ass there, not because I'm wearing my favorite jacket, not because of the green background.
Okay, I lied. It's because of those.
This isn't the most attractive photo of me, really. I look skinny and ragged, and as if I'm smelling something rancid. Probably some gross cheese I always leave in the fridge.
Anyway, my hair here. Yes.
I look somewhat weird in this picture. I was still in DC, and didn't go home for Spring Break, so I ended up going to a barbershop in DC right outside the campus. I felt like I was betraying my hairdresser of, what, 17 years. The woman did an all right job on my hair, but the bangs kept sticking into my eyes!
Then my hair looked like what it does in my profile picture right here, and we're all done! Is it just me or do I really feel hairy right now?
The first semester I had to take ASL, then the second semester I took deaf studies. In both classes I was required to do vlogs -- video blogs, you see. I was gonna put in entire vlogs, but it took so long to upload and all, so I'm just going to put in screenshots so you can compare my hairdos!
This was my first vlog in September, and it was for ASL. The professor was delighted with the composition of my signed essay and everything, but subtracted points on it because of my shirt. Um, oops?
October! Here it looks like my hair has grown out a bit comfortably. But what's the deal with the shirt here, dude?
I clearly remember the reason why I look so crappy in this -- I'd only woke up a few minutes before this vlog was made right before its due date! October as well, I think.
I think this was done in early November, if I'm not mistaken. I'm just loving this snapshot! You can see a bit of facial hair on my chin. I look almost straight -- especially when it looks like I'm gesturing about some breasts.
I went home in Virginia for Thanksgiving break, and got a haircut! My old classic chicken butt hair, seen here :)
Here I am again, looking cute, but the haircut is already growing into my eyes. I also had to borrow my roomie's blanket to tape up so I could tape formal exam-istical vlogs! Also last vlog I did in my first semester.
I did less vlogs the second semester, but I'd figured out how I could make a nice, one-color background by using my blanket and both my roomie's and my closet doors to pin it up! Here's a lovely shade of forest green and my hair, certainly grown out during the month-long winter break!
Oh, behave, baby! This is particularly my favorite -- not because I look pretty good, not because my hair kicks ass there, not because I'm wearing my favorite jacket, not because of the green background.Okay, I lied. It's because of those.
This isn't the most attractive photo of me, really. I look skinny and ragged, and as if I'm smelling something rancid. Probably some gross cheese I always leave in the fridge.
Anyway, my hair here. Yes.
I look somewhat weird in this picture. I was still in DC, and didn't go home for Spring Break, so I ended up going to a barbershop in DC right outside the campus. I felt like I was betraying my hairdresser of, what, 17 years. The woman did an all right job on my hair, but the bangs kept sticking into my eyes!
Then my hair looked like what it does in my profile picture right here, and we're all done! Is it just me or do I really feel hairy right now?
Room 431. Erm, 421. 431 -- 421!
The subject will be explained momentarily :) First things first:
Gally's students right now know Krug Hall as Ballard West, or simply West
And they refer Cogswell Hall as Ballard North -- or North, yes.
I don't know why, I've heard a lot of speculations and it's a waste of my time, so I shift my choice of words between the different type of people I talk to. My first year at Gally, I lived in Ballard West -- Krug Hall -- on the fourth floor. Apparently, so history tells me, that both said dorms were the first buildings on the campus to have central air conditioning and carpeting in the bedrooms.
If that's the case, then please will somebody tell me why the fuck there is no elevator in both dorms??? Cogswell -- North -- has an elevator, but it seems to have been built in several years later, because the minute you enter North, there is this large eyesore built in front of you, in the middle of the lobby. That's the elevator. For West, the door opens into a large lobby where you can look up the winding stairwell all the way up to the fourth floor. No elevator.
I live on the fourth floor of West, remember?
Here's something else that's also ironic (ironically amusing?) the majority of people living at West last year were thin or average, and the majority of those who lived at North were more than average. Coincidence? Just don't take my word for it, hmph.
I'm not whining about all the stairs that much, it just gets difficult when you have a shitload of books in your backpack, or when you're stumbling drunk and it gets sickening to try and walk all the way up there. But after every time I overcome the stairs, a good, fuzzy feeling would always well up within of me.
Room 431 -- erm, 421! No, wait, 431. Jeez, for a second I was truly confused. For some reason I always thought and always told people that my room number was 421. It usually resulted into them wandering around the lobby, searching between doors that were numbered 414 and 427.
Regardless of its number, I loved my room. I think it was just because of the large windows and the beautiful view I had. I enjoy getting up in the morning and letting in the breeze and the sunshine. Unfortunately my roommate likes his room dark and stuffy -- but whatever. Of course, there are precious memories that will last for a lifetime there. It became my new sanctuary -- a place where I could be me away from home. I held movie nights in my room, completed with popcorn -- just because I had the best DVDs and a comfy mat on my bed! I had a birthday surprise done up by my friends in there. I had my own photoshoots in there, made friends, laughed and cried, woke up hungover, danced, and had my private moments where I sipped coffee and did nothing but write. I loved my room.
My sophomore year, I'm to live at Benson's Hall. I have mixed feelings about that. Colleen and I decided to go to Benson and have a looksee at our rooms. She did, but the people who lived in my next year's room weren't there -- but then I noticed a condom that was pulled over the doorknob. Great. It was later at dinner when I sat with Jesse and found out that he lived in it! It was the same room I had, well, partied in the first semester when my best friend Jessica visited Jesse.
Guess who were the most drunk?
Gally's housing department emailed me last month telling me that they were going to make Benson the freshman dorm this coming fall and asked me to pick between Peet and Ballard West. I deliberated with my roommate and we both picked our old room again -- and I confused them with the 431/421 thing. But then a month later, they backed down on their decision because a lot of students complained. I don't blame them, though, this decision was fast and without warning, but it will happen for sure the fall of 2009.
I just feel like I am demoting down into a sucky room. In a dorm full of potheads and drunkards, no less. At least I wouldn't be surrounded by froshies -- like it would make any difference, anyway. My first year at Gally in West, my hall was full of guys who roomed up with their girlfriends, had sex every night, smoked pot while thinking they'd never get caught (what is that godforsaken smell?) then host abortion parties on Monday mornings.
But I'm not complaining :) Maybe I can live in West -- Krug -- my junior year!
Gally's students right now know Krug Hall as Ballard West, or simply West
And they refer Cogswell Hall as Ballard North -- or North, yes.
I don't know why, I've heard a lot of speculations and it's a waste of my time, so I shift my choice of words between the different type of people I talk to. My first year at Gally, I lived in Ballard West -- Krug Hall -- on the fourth floor. Apparently, so history tells me, that both said dorms were the first buildings on the campus to have central air conditioning and carpeting in the bedrooms.
If that's the case, then please will somebody tell me why the fuck there is no elevator in both dorms??? Cogswell -- North -- has an elevator, but it seems to have been built in several years later, because the minute you enter North, there is this large eyesore built in front of you, in the middle of the lobby. That's the elevator. For West, the door opens into a large lobby where you can look up the winding stairwell all the way up to the fourth floor. No elevator.
I live on the fourth floor of West, remember?
Here's something else that's also ironic (ironically amusing?) the majority of people living at West last year were thin or average, and the majority of those who lived at North were more than average. Coincidence? Just don't take my word for it, hmph.
I'm not whining about all the stairs that much, it just gets difficult when you have a shitload of books in your backpack, or when you're stumbling drunk and it gets sickening to try and walk all the way up there. But after every time I overcome the stairs, a good, fuzzy feeling would always well up within of me.
Room 431 -- erm, 421! No, wait, 431. Jeez, for a second I was truly confused. For some reason I always thought and always told people that my room number was 421. It usually resulted into them wandering around the lobby, searching between doors that were numbered 414 and 427.
Regardless of its number, I loved my room. I think it was just because of the large windows and the beautiful view I had. I enjoy getting up in the morning and letting in the breeze and the sunshine. Unfortunately my roommate likes his room dark and stuffy -- but whatever. Of course, there are precious memories that will last for a lifetime there. It became my new sanctuary -- a place where I could be me away from home. I held movie nights in my room, completed with popcorn -- just because I had the best DVDs and a comfy mat on my bed! I had a birthday surprise done up by my friends in there. I had my own photoshoots in there, made friends, laughed and cried, woke up hungover, danced, and had my private moments where I sipped coffee and did nothing but write. I loved my room.
My sophomore year, I'm to live at Benson's Hall. I have mixed feelings about that. Colleen and I decided to go to Benson and have a looksee at our rooms. She did, but the people who lived in my next year's room weren't there -- but then I noticed a condom that was pulled over the doorknob. Great. It was later at dinner when I sat with Jesse and found out that he lived in it! It was the same room I had, well, partied in the first semester when my best friend Jessica visited Jesse.
Guess who were the most drunk?
Gally's housing department emailed me last month telling me that they were going to make Benson the freshman dorm this coming fall and asked me to pick between Peet and Ballard West. I deliberated with my roommate and we both picked our old room again -- and I confused them with the 431/421 thing. But then a month later, they backed down on their decision because a lot of students complained. I don't blame them, though, this decision was fast and without warning, but it will happen for sure the fall of 2009.
I just feel like I am demoting down into a sucky room. In a dorm full of potheads and drunkards, no less. At least I wouldn't be surrounded by froshies -- like it would make any difference, anyway. My first year at Gally in West, my hall was full of guys who roomed up with their girlfriends, had sex every night, smoked pot while thinking they'd never get caught (what is that godforsaken smell?) then host abortion parties on Monday mornings.
But I'm not complaining :) Maybe I can live in West -- Krug -- my junior year!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
As Promised
I'm finally doing a second post. It is mainly because I'm sitting here with nothing to do. Let's see.
My first semester at Gally pretty much sucked. RJ would tell people that I was gonna quit at one point, and that is only half true! I merely wondered what the hell I was doing there. I was pretty unhappy. Not homesick, so that was good -- you had to have a home to be homesick when away from it, but that's a whole 'nother entry! So anyway, I wondered why I was there since I'd expected so much before I came. It was pretty much "That's it, this is what people have been telling me about Gally? What a gyp!"
So I struggled with myself. I stayed in the closet with Elizabeth. I cried myself to sleep once or twice... a month, I suppose. I lost 12 lbs, which wasn't good. I was failing a class -- it was FYS/Critical Thinking and Writing in English... or some shit like that. It was also in Honors, jeez. I abhorred it. Most of it was the consequences I drew myself (i.e., not reading necessary materials, missing classes, etc) and the professors weren't great either.
People had warned me that the first semester would suck, but I just didn't expect it would suck that much. All in all, I pulled through with a 3.0, just on the line where I can still stay in the Honors program and still apply for VRS support. I told the truth when people asked me how my first semester was -- it was just shoddy, but I came back for the second semester anyway and I loved it all right.
Here are some pictures from the past year at Gally:
Mandie and I, after dressing up in some girl's prom dress -- and yes, that is my own wig.
Elisy and I on my bed.
Meredith and I up in some tower... in... where the hell were we? I forgot, oh well :) keep an eye out for a comment from her explaining this photo!
Me in the Honors lounge, hard at work!
The Union Station, when there's nothing else to do on a Saturday at Gally!!
There are zillions of pictures, but they are either the same over and over, or just piccies where I look crappy in :)
My first semester at Gally pretty much sucked. RJ would tell people that I was gonna quit at one point, and that is only half true! I merely wondered what the hell I was doing there. I was pretty unhappy. Not homesick, so that was good -- you had to have a home to be homesick when away from it, but that's a whole 'nother entry! So anyway, I wondered why I was there since I'd expected so much before I came. It was pretty much "That's it, this is what people have been telling me about Gally? What a gyp!"
So I struggled with myself. I stayed in the closet with Elizabeth. I cried myself to sleep once or twice... a month, I suppose. I lost 12 lbs, which wasn't good. I was failing a class -- it was FYS/Critical Thinking and Writing in English... or some shit like that. It was also in Honors, jeez. I abhorred it. Most of it was the consequences I drew myself (i.e., not reading necessary materials, missing classes, etc) and the professors weren't great either.
People had warned me that the first semester would suck, but I just didn't expect it would suck that much. All in all, I pulled through with a 3.0, just on the line where I can still stay in the Honors program and still apply for VRS support. I told the truth when people asked me how my first semester was -- it was just shoddy, but I came back for the second semester anyway and I loved it all right.
Here are some pictures from the past year at Gally:
Mandie and I, after dressing up in some girl's prom dress -- and yes, that is my own wig.
Elisy and I on my bed.
Meredith and I up in some tower... in... where the hell were we? I forgot, oh well :) keep an eye out for a comment from her explaining this photo!
Me in the Honors lounge, hard at work!
The Union Station, when there's nothing else to do on a Saturday at Gally!!
There are zillions of pictures, but they are either the same over and over, or just piccies where I look crappy in :)
Monday, June 23, 2008
Promise?
Hi guys,
I know what you're thinking. I'm pretty notorious for going through many things until I get it right. My name, my AIM screenname, the arrangement of furniture in my room, and blogs. Namely, I already have one that I have been using for the past 6 years, but it is private. I got this last year in March, expecting to post it full of adventures that's occurred in my frosh year at Gally.
Unfortunately, I never bothered. So this is a second try (okay, what, fifteenth?) So let's see if I will keep this up! I'll post in stuff from my very first year at Gally. It's also very possible that I will spiff this blog up, because frankly, it looks shit.
Thank you!
I know what you're thinking. I'm pretty notorious for going through many things until I get it right. My name, my AIM screenname, the arrangement of furniture in my room, and blogs. Namely, I already have one that I have been using for the past 6 years, but it is private. I got this last year in March, expecting to post it full of adventures that's occurred in my frosh year at Gally.
Unfortunately, I never bothered. So this is a second try (okay, what, fifteenth?) So let's see if I will keep this up! I'll post in stuff from my very first year at Gally. It's also very possible that I will spiff this blog up, because frankly, it looks shit.
Thank you!
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