Undecided/Undeclared Anteaters Blog

BLOG 7

12/7/09

Stress Ball?

I can’t believe it’s already the last week of the quarter! It seems like just yesterday I was stressed about choosing my fall classes, and now I’ve already picked my next courses! Remember when I was dying from taking Persuasion and Social Changes and Humanities Core at the same time? Well, my common sense finally came through and I have dropped the class for next quarter. The courses I am enrolled in are: Humanities Core, Asian American Studies, and Life Sciences. Although I will miss Persuasion and Social Changes dearly, I look forward to my new classes!

I took my first and only final today for Humanities Core and it was easier than I imagined, but it was still pretty difficult. I studied so much! I never noticed how many students go here until finals week. Everywhere I went to study, there were already tons of people! I had to sit on the floor in Langston Library and had to share a desk at the Gateway Study Center. For the future, I will try the Student Center because they have a bunch of secret rooms (okay, maybe not secret but I felt very excited to discover them!). And a closing word of advice: wake up early to reserve a spot!

Although one final is great news (some of my friends have 4!), I still had my share of stress this past week in the form of essays (insert voice clips of pity here). I had a 7 paged one for Humcore, and a 2 page  worth 15% of my grade for Persuasion. Finals week definitely deserves the nickname, “Hell Week”. The only thing that kept me going was…

THE FACT THAT WINTER BREAK IS AROUND THE CORNER! I’m so excited! Finally, I get enough time to spend with my family and friends. However, I learned that Mesa Court closes at 10 AM on Saturday, so everyone has to be evacuated before then. And lucky for me.. my flight is at 4.

Anyway, as I look back on fall quarter, I realize how much I have changed as an individual. I can proudly say that I will never look at a speech without considering the speaker’s use of rhetorical devices, thanks to my Persuasion and Social Changes class. In Humcore, I have learned to write more eloquently and insightfully. And lastly, University Studies 2 has helped me establish my interest in Humanities and Economics. Overall, I have become a more independent and open individual (I do my own laundry now!). I am truly grateful for my experience here at UCI. My first quarter of college has come to a close, but I’ll be looking forward to Winter quarter even more.

Happy Holidays!

Faye

PS – What do you call a pig with three eyes?

A piiig!

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BLOG 6

11/29/09

Thank Goodness

..THAT I’M HOME! It felt a lot more comfortable going back to Benicia the second time. Everything’s back to normal now; I’m still responsible for chores, waking up early, and coming home on time. And thankfully my room has not been converted to a storage area (yet!).

The downside about coming home for break is that everyone wants to see you. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE seeing my family and friends. There’s just not enough time! But I did manage to sleep over at my best friend’s house and hung out with several people. I also talked about my experiences at UCI with my family, and I had two dinners with family friends.

Speaking of dinner, I ate SO MUCH for Thanksgiving! My flight was on Thursday at 4:30 (tickets for Wednesday were ridiculously expensive). My dad picked me up and drove me to our family friend’s house where they had two plates of amazingness waiting for me.

15 minutes later the plates were wiped clean. I suffered from a pretty terrible food coma (note the SoCal terminology!) but I also had the biggest smile on my face. Best. Dinner. Ever! This is what 2 months of dorm food (more specifically, Mesa dorm food) does to you. I was so happy and content after eating quality home-cooked food for a change!

Unfortunately, I leave for Irvine in a couple hours. I still need to work on my Humanities Core essay and prep myself for next week’s work load. I am definitely thankful for having a break before finals week (Now coined “Hell Week”). Wish me luck!

- Faye

PS – Hey, are you made of beef?

Because you’re acting a bit jerky!

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BLOG 5

11/22/09

Homelessness Awareness Week

I recently attended a discussion panel by OC Partnership that changed my views of life in Orange County. I have always believed that this area was a place for the rich and well-off. At least in my experience, a homeless person strolling along Irvine’s spotless sidewalks and among Irvine’s gleaming skyscrapers would be a very unlikely sight. However, I left the panel with an enlightened perspective of homelessness in the OC: It is real, and very much an issue that has been under-emphasized and needs addressing.

Did you know that roughly 8,300 people per night are homeless in Orange County? I certainly didn’t! The reason why homelessness isn’t a major issue here is not because it doesn’t exist, but because we don’t see it. The speaker pointed out a very interesting fact: Most homeless people do not fit the stereotypical description of baggy-clothed alcoholics pushing shopping carts. No, most of the homeless look and act like you and me. They have families and jobs, but lack a home to go to.

Let’s face it, it is extremely expensive to live in Orange County. It is not uncommon for someone to become homeless due to financial problems. When they cannot pay for their house, some rent out motel rooms, or sleep in cars. Others stay in the Armory and other homeless shelters.

Another reason why we don’t see homeless people on a regular basis is because of city policies. Orange County has organized “sweeps” where wandering homeless people are immediately picked out of the street and placed into a shelter. These shelters provide housing, food, and training so that they can enter the workforce once they leave. One major issue is that this system does not solve the problem of homelessness. Even if these people acquire a job and money, eventually they may not be able to afford housing (again) due to the high cost of living in the OC. This is one of the vicious cycles that the OC Partnership is trying to address. We need to change our city policies concerning homelessness and create cheaper, affordable complexes for people to live in.

Homelessness is very much an issue in Orange County, and I am very grateful to have attended this insightful panel.

Love,

Faye

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BLOG 4

11/14/09

“I hate Mondays.”

After high school, I thought I was done with mandatory wake-ups at 7 AM. Unfortunately, there is one exception.

Housing Day. The day where students go neck-to-neck in order to apply for next year’s housing. I heard rumors that the server crashed last year due to the over-whelming amount of applicants. So, not to fall victim to this, my roommate and I decided to wake up early. At 6:45 to be exact, on a Monday morning (With difficulty; I am not a morning person.) But to my dismay, everyone else apparently heard these rumors too!Edit Page ‹ Undecided/Undeclared Anteaters Blog — Edublogs

Do you remember how frustrated I was during midterms? Well, this was the most stressful non-academic thing to date. I spent 2 hours trying to log-in, failing at logging-in, and having to log-in again. I became well-acquainted with the “Error Page.” IT WAS SO STRESSFUL! Finally, I got in at 10:00 and it felt wonderful to be done. For my housing next year, my first choice was VDC Norte, then Campus Village, VDC, and lastly AV. I would advise you to find a computer outside of Mesa Court or Middle Earth to battle the housing application. That’s what some people did and they submitted their applications at around 8! Lucky ducks.

I won’t have a car next year so that’s why I was interested in living in CV (it’s on campus). But I found out that VDC Norte has free shuttles to campus, and that is what initially helped me decide on my first choice.I don’t know when we’ll be getting our official housing notice yet, but I do hope I get into VDC Norte! It’s weird to think that I was already applying for next year’s housing. Time is ticking by way too fast…

On a different note, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THANKSGIVING! I’ll be able to see everyone again! My parents are saving me gumbo soup in the fridge for when I come back and I am so excited!

But for the time-being, I have a paper to finish and more reading to do.

Until next time,

Faye

PS – The early bird gets the worm?

Well, the second mouse gets the cheese!

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BLOG 3

11/6/09

Breath in, breath out.

MIDTERMS ARE FINALLY OVER! It feels so nice to be done with midterm studying, midterm writing and midterm exams. Goodbye for now midterm anxieties and lack of sleep! I recently completed my last essay for my Persuasion and Social Changes class and I was overcome with relief when it was submitted and I realized that I had no serious homework left for the weekend. Unheard of!

But yes, it is true. I celebrated this accomplishment with a nice, long nap. Speaking of relaxation, I had to research a UCI facility for my University Studies 2 class and discovered the Health Education Center. More importantly, I discovered the Health Education Center’s Wellness Room. It is a quiet room specifically aimed to help students relax. It has a massage chair (bonus), comfortable couches, a television, a Wii and much more. I know where I’ll be headed come the next round of finals!

Aside from that, I want to update  you on my personal life. Halloween just recently passed, and guess who I was?

SUPER MARIO!

But yes, my buttons are indeed made of cardboard. I searched several stores until I came to the conclusion that overalls will never come back in style. No one carried them! Determined, I cut up an old pair of jeans and fashioned my own costume. I bought the Mario hat from the Tokyo Lifestyle store in the University Center nearby, and it is now one of my favorite articles of clothing. But it gets better. Not only did I have an awesome costume, I got to spend Halloween back home!

My parents purchased a plane ticket for me to come back home (after a month and a half of homesickness) and I was very excited to see my family, cat and friends again. It was an hour and a half flight from Irvine to the San Francisco Airport. I was a bit nervous about riding the plane by myself, but it really isn’t that bad. I passed the time watching television shows. I never have time for them at school, so I indulged in watching Family Guy and King of the Hill. It was a very fulfilling flight.

Once I arrived, my dad and I ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant. (Oh how I missed Chinese food!) My family was glad to see me, and my cat was in disbelief for several seconds before happily yelling at me. It was good to be home. I spent three days in Benicia spending time with family, visiting friends, and attending my good friend’s Halloween/Birthday party. All in all, I had an amazing Halloween. It was definitely nice to go back home again. I can’t wait for Thanksgiving!

On a different note, I can’t believe we’re picking courses for winter quarter soon. That was quick! I will be continuing my Humanities Core and Persuasion and Social Changes classes, and may be taking up Asian American Studies to fulfill my Social Sciences GE requirement. I hope I get the class times I want!

Love, Faye

PS – How does a lion like its meat cooked?

Medium ROAAAAAR!

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BLOG 2

10/29/09

MID – TERM

- noun

1. the middle or halfway point of the quarter, you begin realizing that you’re terrified of the idea of midterms.

2. the source of stress and lack of sleep; emotional preparation for finals later.

I just took my first midterm for Humanities Core today! And I admit, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be.

But it was still pretty bad.

To begin with, I had an essay to write and a test to prepare for. If anything, do not procrastinate on your midterm papers. It is quite stressful. Even though I had other assignments and readings to do, I regret not starting my paper sooner. Proper time management (a skill I have yet to master) is crucial when juggling multiple assignments. For one, it’d let you have more sleep!

Sleep in college is a funny thing. You don’t get enough of it during the week, and then you splurge on it on the weekend. Commons even has later breakfasts to accommodate for these habits! So, lesson of the day: Get as much sleep as you can, when you can. You will dearly miss it if you don’t.

Now, stress + lack of sleep is not a wonderful combination, as I have found out over this past week. Midterms are a bit intimidating, but surprisingly I’m still alive! In order to study, I rewrote my lecture notes and made flash cards, reread the Symposium and took more notes. Notes notes notes. In my search for the perfect study environment, I worked in the Library, Study Center, the Mesa Activity Center and my dorm room. Unfortunately, everyone else was studying for their midterms as well, so these locations are usually crowded. It is my mission to discover a new secret study space!

I had butterflies at the beginning of my exam. And as my fellow classmates gradually walked to the front to turn in their blue books, I kept reminding myself not to panic. I ended up working until class ended, but it felt so nice to be done!

My roommate and I decided to celebrate our first midterm (she is in my class as well), so we went for sushi with a couple friends. There’s nothing like celebrating with a happy stomach! Midterm #1 is done!

I have yet to find out how I did on my paper and test, but I am very anxious and excited to get my results. And luckily I’ve gradually regained my sleep and have been trying to relax in preparation for my other midterm…

Which is next week. Sad face.

If I survive my Persuasion and Social Changes midterm and essay, I shall see you next week!

Love, Faye

PS – “Hey, is this test curved?”

No, it looks like a rectangle to me!

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BLOG 1

10/25/09

Greetings everyone!

My name is Faye and my favorite things in the world are family, friends, and food. I am a fairly complex individual, but that does not mean I always act my age. Stick me in Disneyland and you would never have guessed I turned 18 a month ago. My motto: “Maturity is knowing when to be immature.” I find happiness in the simplest things, and I love making people laugh. I’m your average goofball but with a twist, unless your average goofball is fascinated by bright fireworks and new school supplies. I’m notorious among my friends for loving food and lame jokes, and if anyone has a joke to share, PLEASE TELL ME. I assure you, the lamer the better.

I am originally from Benicia, CA. (I never heard of it either until I moved there.) It’s a pleasant town about one hour from San Francisco, with an amazing view of the bay and all the antique stores one will ever need. Upon arriving here, I’ve never realized how many times I say “hella” in  a day. My UCI friends never forget to point this out to me, and it is now my mission to convert them! Irvine is definitely different from Benicia, but I absolutely love it here. The weather is amazing (for sun-lovers like me) and the beaches are incredible. AND we’re 20 minutes from Disneyland!

I am currently living in Palo over in Mesa Court, and dorming is a different but pleasant change from living at home. For one, my parents aren’t here with me anymore. There is no one to remind me to eat healthy, sleep early, or to start my homework. It’s all me now. From a typical student’s perspective, this situation promises personal freedom. But for me, it has also been a test of my ability to be internally motivated and to develop responsible habits. I keep my room clean, make my bed every morning, (my parents are astonished to hear this,) and methodically do my laundry every weekend. And the amazing thing is, I actually enjoy being organized now! My new-found independence has made me a better person. I am now responsible for every decision and action I make in college. This new power excites me.

Adjusting to college courses is more difficult that I imagined. My friends think I’m crazy for taking Humanities Core and Persuasion and Social Changes at the same time. I even question my sanity sometimes because these are the hardest classes I have ever taken. But despite the frustration, I secretly do enjoy it. I want to challenge myself so I can develop the proper skills and techniques for dealing with college, (getting enough sleep is still under construction!) In your experiences here, you may get the urge to “burn this book as soon as possible!” (as I have claimed while reading Aristotle), but I have found that stepping up to a challenge has led me to appreciate learning even more.

Aside from academics, I  have gotten involved and taken advantage of new opportunities. Last summer I was a part of the Summer Multicultural Leadership Institute. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to realize my potential as a leader. I am currently a part of FYEP, U/U Club and I am an involved member  in the Chinese Association. I hope that if time permits, I can join more organizations in the future.

They say, “time flies by when you’re having fun” and it is incredible how fast 4 weeks have past! I am having a wonderful time here, and I can only suspect it will get better from here. (Well, after midterms that is. Currently I am locked up in my dorm with a paper to finish and two midterms on their way. Not your typical idea of fun.)

But to sum it all up, I LOVE UCI!

Faye out.

PS – Why was San Andreas blamed for the earthquake? Because it was his fault! <insert jolts of laughter here>