Trinity University

I took an exam earlier today (statistics). On Wednesday I had a big presentation over the creation of negative xylem pressures (with centrifugal force) to test Scholander’s pressure chamber technique. Yeah, I know. I was confused too. I also had a 3-hour honor council case on Tuesday. On Monday…seminar and biology club. Thursday was an honor council meeting with the Honor Council Review Committee. And Friday…well, Friday is today (stats exam and ecology club). I don’t think anyone would blame me for skipping ecology club this week. Right? We were supposed to read two papers on carotenoids and their deposition in bird beaks. I couldn’t handle it. My kind roommate seemed worried about my health. I’m ok now Bianca!! Just glad it is Friday.

It rained most of last week, making my week so much more pleasant. No, really! I love the rain and the cold. It felt like Christmas! It has been so hot lately that the rain and chill was welcomed. San Antonio was under an extreme drought for so long that when the rain came we were all so nervous that it would go away. But, it stayed for quite some time, making everyone very happy. I think Trinity students who are not from San Antonio despise the rain (imagine sitting in a room, soaking wet from the rain, with the air conditioning on at 60 degrees). Oh well, I say fortune favors the prepared. Bring an umbrella! I always check the little pictures on my iGoogle. If the picture has a dark cloud and big raindrops, I bring my umbrella.

Rain drops on the esperanza outside of our dorm.

Rain boots drying outside.

Someone said never to talk about the weather because people only talk about the weather when there is nothing left to talk about. I think the weather in San Antonio is definitely…dynamic. It is unpredictable and fun so I always talk about it. What else is there to talk about? Well, food I guess. Food and the weather. Recently Bianca and I have discovered the quesadillas from Mabee are really wonderful! You can even get wheat tortillas. I can’t believe I have never had them before (in all my years here). I have also yet to try the pasta line. I am always discouraged by the long line (maybe that is a good sign). I am also discouraged by all those options. Whole wheat pasta, variety of pasta, what kind of sauce, meatballs, cheeses, etc, etc. It is too much for my head. I need to try all the combinations at once or I will hold up the whole line trying to think of something potentially delicious!

Speaking of delicious, I had frog legs today. My uncle in Vietnam used to make them for dinner. They were kind of crunchy and had this awesome ginseng aroma. I was feeling a bit nostalgic so I ordered some today at a Vietnamese restaurant. I am puzzled as to why Bianca and Victoria declined when I offered them a leg. Oh well, more for me! I also went to Frederick’s Bistro for lunch with my siblings. I had Grilled Beef Tenderloin Bordelaise with frites and a nice ginger crème brulee for dessert. You can definitely eat well around here.

Apple crepia dessert that my sister got.

My sister's new haircut. Isn't it cute?

I am afraid I am getting quite fat from all this food but I try to exercise. Bianca exercises a lot! But when it is rainy and cold, I think it is best to skip the gym and have a tea party instead.

Good tea, good book (Alice in Wonderland) and cookies. Out on our balcony.

Posted by Nancy at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I have this habit of developing mad crushes at the end of my senior year. In high school, I was infatuated with this smart and handsome sophomore soccer player and now, my senior year at Trinity, I find myself crushing on someone else. I actually have no idea who he is. He’s just good looking and dresses himself well. So there I was, racing down Cardiac Hill because I swear I saw him somewhere ahead. Following a trail of smoke, I found him and passed by nonchalantly, without falling over, giggling or otherwise embarrassing myself. See, even the fact that he smokes doesn’t deter me. I find that this just adds to his allure. All in the name of distraction…distraction from the fact that life as an undergraduate will end, distraction from the thought that I will have to work to survive, distraction from long senior seminar papers…distraction in the form of attractiveness. Something to make me temporarily giddy in moments better spent writing resumes and deciding where to live.

I guess I chase after distraction as a form of self-preservation. There is this huge, looming shadow casting a pall over everything right now. I can’t properly enjoy the fact that I finally (finally, finally) have a piano class in my schedule and the knowledge that my sister is only a block away. Every day begins and ends with the same doubts about the future. What do I do with my life? There’s approval, qualifications, salary and location to consider. All so alien to me. I have been a student my whole life. Graduate school seems safe. I could just continue on, reading, writing and studying without skipping a beat. Yet, that is not what I want. Just think back to the movie “Vicky, Christina, Barcelona.” Vicky only knew what she didn’t like…and that’s never going to get her anywhere. It seems then, that I will have to bravely dive into the workforce. If I were a betting woman, I would put a dime down on odds favoring my visit to Career Services this week (just letting you know, those of you out there that obsess over these kinds of things – you’re there, I know it).

Aside from these embarrassing and paralytic episodes, school life continues normally. Nancy and I always say that we wish we could do it all over again. I know just what I would have done. I would have supplanted all the chemistry classes I took freshman year with math classes. I would have majored in math and possibly English or drama. I would have also taken French classes since all good cooks should know how to pronounce the dishes they make. But back to reality…

Nancy, Victoria and I went to Bistro Bakery today (Saturday). It was very good. Their bread pudding was sinful – lots of chocolate and butter. Thank God we walked there, otherwise I would make myself get up to run around tomorrow morning (and on the seventh day, let there be rest).
Here is a picture of them:

What you can’t see is even more interesting. I’ll describe it to you. There were five of the oddest looking people sitting behind them. A man who looked like Kenickie from Grease (black shirt, folded jeans, slicked hair and all), a large, portly gentleman with a cane, a young motorcycle woman, an athletic-looking grandmother, and a Tibetan monk (wearing his orange and red robes). It was flabbergasting. How did they all know each other?

The things you see when you leave the campus – they strike fear in your heart. (Not really, I’ve just always wanted to write that).

Well, the nice thing to say right now is that I hope everyone isn’t as lost as me, and although I do wish that, I don’t want to be alone in my confusion. Instead, I’ll wish you a productive week, and this I believe is possible.

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." - Harriet Braiker

Posted by Bianca at 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)