|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
« September 2007 |
Main
| November 2007 »
So today is Halloween and I've already seen some pretty weird stuff! A boy in my civ class showed up in a chicken suit, first of all! At lunch down in Ray I saw some more people in costume, too. It's great that the teachers don't mind because in high school, we weren't allowed to wear anything for Halloween. One of my civ teachers only said that we were fortunate to have a special guest with us today!
Tomorrow there will be kids from the neighborhood coming to PC to trick-or-treat through the dorms. It's going to be great to see all the kids in costume because that was my favorite part of Halloween back home. I already have a bunch of candy ready!
The rest of my week is going to be a busy one, though. I have a paper due in sociology and in intro to lit. Then it's parent's weekend! It's not going to be such a big deal for me because I've seen my family quite a bit, but I know a few people that haven't seen their parent's since move-in. There are a bunch of activities planned, but more on that in my Sunday blog. I have a lit paper to perfect!
So I've had a busy and exciting week! First of all, I went to a poetry reading for Toi Derricotte held here at PC. It's just one of the many interesting things here. The reading was so great. She was animated, lively, and really funny despite the deep, dark poetry she writes.
I also found out that my friend Aaron made the women's basketball practice squad. And yes, Aaron is a boy. Apparently they have boys practice with the women's team to help them get more aggressive. I'm so proud of him!
Today I went to dance where we learned Zumba, which is really more aerobics than it is dance. It combines all sorts of dances like hip-hop, salsa, belly-dancing, and oldies. It was quite the workout!
I also had time to go home for the night to see my town's haunted house! It was great to be home ever for such a short time and see a few friends. I really have to say that I love being able to go home whenever I want -- especially because I usually return with some homemade food (like tonight's baked ziti and apple pie!).
Now I'm off to watch the Red Sox! ~I love that dirty water, oh Boston you're my home!~
Usually people think that Resident Assistants are strict, unapproachable, and are just there to get you in trouble. So not the case. My RA Nicole is one of the nicest people I've met here. I actually spent quite some time with her today. I was in my room doing some work and Nicole knocked on my door to invite me to the soccer game. I really should've done my work, but she said I should go for just one half. And I did. The game was great and I got to know her a little more. Later tonight, Nicole had a pilates night down in the social lounge on the second floor. It was a small gathering, but it was a lot of fun and a good workout, too! Nicole's great, and I think all RA's should be able to have fun with their residents. But now I'm off to do all the work I put off today!
It's so strange to see tour groups walking around when less than a year ago, I was in the same boat. I wonder how many of these prospective students will actually end up coming to PC. Going on tours is definitely a great way to get to know the campus. My tour at PC was great, and it really stuck out from the others. The tour leaders were so nice, personable, and articulate. There was a lot of information, as on any tour, but it gave me a great overview of the campus. I definitely recommend going on tours, especially for Providence!
In other news, I went home again today. I have to say that the leaves are much more vibrant in my town than here at PC. It's disappointing. But that's alright because home was fun -- I got to see my friends Melissa and Dana, and there was apple crisp ice cream at the local ice cream shop! What a great day! But now I have to read some Plato...more next time!
It's finally starting to feel like Autumn. Halfway through October and it's just hitting the sixties. As a native New Englander, I love a good New England fall, and I have to say that the past few years have been disappointing. The leaves aren't as colorful, and it's taking them longer to change. Hopefully with the cooler weather, I'll start to see some of those Autumn hues. It really sets the mood for school, and it's not as hard to stay in and do homework!
Speaking of homework, I've had a busy week so far. I had a lit paper due today and I have a paper for civ due on Friday. I've had tons of calculus homework, too. Tuesday's homework was insane, but I got most of the homework due tomorrow. And I have a quiz tomorrow! I nearly forgot. There's always something to do for sociology on ANGEL, an interactive site for students and teachers (teachers can post lessons, send group emails, have discussions, post grades, etc.). We have a bunch of articles to comment on, and we also have study guide questions to post. It's just been one of those weeks, but I like to get most of my work done ahead of time, so I'm not too stressed out. It really is all about managing your time and knowing when to goof off and when to do work.
It's already that time when we have to start thinking about classes for next semester. I have no idea what to take besides civ and another English class. I could take a theology, a science, philosophy...the options are endless. I wanted to take Honors Theology this semester because I couldn't last semester, but it's a theology II core, and I need to take a theology I first. Maybe next year. All I know is that I'm going to have a wonderful chat with my advisor in a few weeks!
So Friday night was Late Night Madness here at PC. It's a huge pep rally for the opening of basketball. Doors open at 9:30, and I was lucky enough to be near the head of the line and I got a free t-shirt. Free things are amazing. Especially in college. So we headed into the gym in Alumni Hall and the fun began with a local rapper and plenty of music. There were free-throw competitions and there was a dash for cash, which my friend Aaron participated in. Two members from each grade run through the stands trying to collect as much money as they can for charity in 30 seconds. Then there were a ton of dances. There was the dance team, and then a dance-off between the dance company, a combination of all the ethnicity clubs, and then finally the BOP (The Board of Programmers). They did a dance all dressed up in 90's gear! And finally came the introductions of the women's basketball team and after that the men's. The madness ended around 11 as the teams prepared for their first official practice of the season. It was awesome to experience such intense school spirit!
Saturday was a great day, as well. A bunch of us went into the city for the day. We went to the mall and then had lunch at Uno. Let me tell you, the price for restaurant food was very much so worth it. It was nice to change it up! We took a ton of pictures and enjoyed the nice weather. It was my first trip into Providence in a very long time and it worked out really well!
Continuing on this fun-themed post, I'm going to respond to a comment. What do I do with my friends here? Well, on weeknights, I never really leave campus. I tend to do my homework after class and hang out until dinner. Sometimes we'll play basketball at the gym after, but usually we'll hang out in someone's room and watch a movie. We'll go down to the turf field and watch our friends play flag football at night. A lot of time at night is spent on homework, though. It's just a part of school. But on Thursday afternoons, there is always something fun going on at Slavin. There has been a make-your-own-sundae day, and there was also a day for free Henna tattoos! One thing is for sure, you'll always find something to do. I also recommend joining a club. On weekends, we usually spend the afternoon hanging out, maybe doing some homework or laundry. At night, the city is always an option. There's the mall of course, and there's a cinema inside. There are plenty of restaurant options. I tend to stay around campus and hang out with friends There are usually concerts at McPhail's, too. Watching sports games (like the Red Sox last night -- can't believe how that one turned out! And I'm not even a huge fan!) is always a big hit, weekends and weekdays, day or night. That's one thing about college...I was never really into the whole professional sports thing, but I kind of get into it now. It's fun with everyone cheering for a different team! But I can guarantee you that you won't be bored. Even if it's just hanging out and staying in, the break from the week is exciting in itself.
That's all for now. I'm off to the library!
I've been having such a great day that I just had to share it with all of you!
First and foremost, I'm doing amazingly well in math 132 (Calculus and Analytical Geometry II)! I thought this would be the class that I'd have the most difficulty in, but I managed to pull of an A+ on the first exam!
I also found a roommate for the honors trip to London and Paris! All of the paperwork can now be finished, so that's a load off my back.
I also got so much work done today. I spent a solid 2 and a half hours just getting ahead on all my work. It's a great feeling knowing that I don't' have to spend my entire weekend on homework.
And finally I went on a run with some girls from my floor. It was great. I haven't just gone on a run in a really long time and the fact that I didn't stop or anything made me feel very good about myself. I think I'll be going on runs with these ladies more often!
It was a very productive day and just a great day overall. I wish I had days like this more often. Now if only the rain would clear up...
Today was a glorious day. I went to the gym with my roommate Whitney. We attended a pilates class at 3:00. It was delightful. It really got my abs working! There are a variety of other classes offered weekly. There are classes like Cardio Pump, Zumba, Step/Abs/Back combos, Butts & Guts, Boot Camp, and Strength Express. What makes these classes even better is that they are all free! There is no membership fee for anything in the gym or any of the classes for students. And the fitness center is brand new, state of the art, and downright beautiful. All of the machines (like treadmills and ellipticals) have cable TVs on top so all you need to do is plug in a pair of headphones while you work out. There are tons of free weights as well as lifting machines. It's definitely worth a look while on a tour of the campus!
In other news, I have a busy few days ahead of me. Tonight I have an honors meeting for declared students just to let us all know the requirements for completing the program. Thursday I'm having dinner with my sister at her apartment. She lives right on campus in Davis. And then Friday is Late Night Madness! It's the official start of winter sports and the whole campus is invited to join in the fun and watch the basketball teams at their very first practice at midnight! It should be an exciting time, though I'm not really sure what it's going to be like. That's all for now; I'm off to my meeting!
The strangest thing happened to me today while I was home for Columbus Day weekend. I noticed it when my mom said "wicked." Of course I always realized that people said "wicked," but I never really thought to myself that someone just said it. It was just kind of there, like the word "very." Just a word. That's thing thing about going to college not only out of state, but where people from all over come to. There are the "Lawnguylanders," the New Yorkers, and the Californians, and I even know people from Washington state and Virginia. You begin to really notice how you speak. The first few days were amusing with people asking me to say "coffee" and the infamous "pahk the cah in Havid Yahd" (For those of you that don't speak Bostonian, that's "park the car in Harvard Yard"). And I don't even have a strong accent! Sometime I feel like it gets worse at school because I notice it and when I hear people talking from different places, I identify with those that speak with a Boston accent and speak like that. Because at home, everyone speaks that way. My accent definitely comes out when I'm tired and I don't have energy to speak, or when I'm talking really fast and the r's just get in the way! All in all, I'm wicked proud of my accent -- because everyone knows, if you're not born with it, you can't imitate it! And once you lose it, you can never get it back!
Living in Ray is perhaps one of the greatest things about my initial experiences here at PC. The location is so convenient -- the dining hall is right downstairs (a huge plus during the rain and eventually the snow!), it's right across from Feinstein Academic Center (which is where all of my classes are), and it's close to the Slavin Center, the library, and lower campus. The rooms are pretty big for a triple (which I'm lucky enough to have -- with two great roommates, Steph and Whitney!) and it even works as a quad. We each have our own closet and set of drawers, which is really nice. I have a bureau and both Steph and Whit have under-the-bed drawers. The way it's set up is really awesome because we each have our own little section and a big space in front of the TV which is perfect for guests. The atmosphere or Ray is great, too. Everyone is so friendly and it's great to leave the door open and see everyone walk by. We live right next to the stairs on the third floor, so we get to see a lot of people! It's always nice to have impromptu conversations as girls walk by, and even sometimes in the bathroom! I think I met most people on my floor in the bathroom during the first few days, quite honestly! So overall, I love living in Ray a ton and I definitely recommend it for a female first year dorm!
|
|
|
|
