University of New England: Alexandra Panaitiu

Time flies...

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:55:06 -0500

Hi, everyone! It’s finally that time… remember me telling you about this moment during spring break? It’s here: the time for packing and moving!! The horror of it! And as I warned you back then, you’ll have to put up with my whining. So, to introduce some logic in this entry, classes ended last week and final exams this Wednesday. All students were supposed to leave after their last exam, but I’ve mentioned before that I’m staying over the summer, to work in my professor’s lab. So I’m one of the last ones left. And, as great as it is to have a room (actually, an entire dorm) to myself, I miss everyone. I think I now understand a bit how our parents and friends must have felt when we left home. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to be here, but it’s odd not going to classes and not having my friends here. For 2 days I kept saying goodbye to people and I realized that I had grown quite fond of a number of them. It’s odd. You’d think that 8 months isn’t that much time… The funny thing is that some bonds formed after Spring break, for example. I guess this is one more of the many college experiences. Some people reach this point earlier than others: a few of my friends started calling campus “home” in November, for instance. The idea is that, when you reach the point where you don’t want to leave school and where you miss the people here, you know there’s no turning back: you’ve set the building blocks for a new life. It’s a gradual, unconscious process – for example, if I think back at, let’s say, December, when fall semester ended, I was, emotionally and socially, in a condition where I could have left UNE and gone back home, making fall semester feel like an extended trip or something. When I think of that now, I feel that, if I were to leave, I’d be leaving a part of me here; it would be a change similar to that experienced when I left home. And I’m sure that as more time goes by, this sense of belonging will grow stronger. (My ideas lack any logical flow, but I’m just writing them down as they come to mind.) So, back to more prosaic things: tomorrow is my last day at the library. I want to work here again in the fall, but this summer I’ll be working full time in the lab, so I can’t do anything else. I will have summer work study, which, as I recently found out, is different from usual, year-round work study, in the sense that it’s not financial aid, so anyone is entitled to it (including non-residents like me). Also, for those staying over the summer, if they’re enrolled in classes or working full-time, they benefit from reduced housing rates (i.e. half of what they’d be paying otherwise). I’ll be moving out of Assisi and into Featherman on Sunday, which is bound to be a nightmare. I started packing last night and I have no idea when, how, or why I managed to gather that much junk. A piece of advice for all you in-coming students: don’t bring any luggage, you will never use it. A toothbrush is enough. Anyway, for the following 14 weeks I’ll only be doing research, which is going to be amazing. After that, I’m going to RA camp:) That’s a whole new adventure that I’m looking forward for. I’m really excited about my classes next semester, as well. Not only because I managed to get into all of the ones I wanted, during the times I wanted (and this way put together a very convenient schedule), but because I’ll be with many of my friends in most of them. I’ll be taking Organic Chemistry, Genetics (both with labs), Bio Statistics, and 2 honors courses that cover the Social Global Awareness and Human Traditions sophomore year requirements. One of them is a psychology course (Mental Health and Society) and the other one I think is an English course. But, again, as excited as I am about these courses, I’m going to miss a couple of the professors I had this semester (and being in their classes). If you can have the experience of loving the simple fact of going to class, of looking forward for that class just because it’s so much fun and so stimulating to sit in it and to see the professor giving his lecture, then you’re getting the best of the academic side of college; I’ve gotten a great deal of that this year. Anyway, this summer I also really want to touch base with my friends and family back home, read, walk (I miss walking just for the sake of it), and take advantage of the fact that the beach is just 10 minutes away, and so on :) On that note, have a warm and sunny summer, everyone! Make the best of every moment! Thanks to all those who’ve read these entries - it’s been a great year. If you ever have any questions or thoughts you want to share, leave a comment and we can connect via e-mail. Best wishes, Anda.

April 13th...

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:45:37 -0500

Hi, everyone! This blog is long over-due (so what else is new, huh?). Anyway, I’m sort of “sleep-typing” right now, but it’s high time I posted something…. Today was April 13th --- bad luck? I beg to differ! Last year on April 13th I received THE e-mail, informing me that I had been accepted in the Honors Program at UNE --- and that’s when I decided I’d come here, I foresaw chances I couldn’t turn my back at… This year on the same date I signed the RA contract – we had our Spring Training today, which was fun and interesting. I’ll be in charge of Avila 2nd next year (make a note of that when you fill out your housing contracts:P ). Oh, and my fellow-blogger, Andrew, will be the RA on Avila 1st --- that dorm will be “Bloggers’ Central” from what it seems:)) After today I feel I’m looking forward for this experience even more… One thing you’ll get to find out about UNE is that it’s virtually a work in progress – it’s so dynamic at all levels, everything’s expanding, being reshaped, or even built from scratch – new buildings, new programs, new, young staff and faculty, new majors, new courses, everything… And because it’s all being worked on around us, we get to be an active part of everything and help put the pieces together, whether we do it as students, as employees, as staff members, as assistants, as volunteers… or all of the above… And I’m sure that having this kind of experience(s) so early in life is something that will carry out and be an amazing advantage later on, through the skills, the independence, the creativity, and the confidence we get to gain… So, yeah, I just wanted to share some of my “midnight wisdom” :) And before I head back to homework (trust me, the night is young:| ), I want to share something else –you’ll get a kick out of these: A couple of weeks ago (or maybe more?) UNE hosted that “Passport to Culture Week” that I’ve mentioned to you, guys, in a previous blog. I had a spotlight that week (thanks to everyone who came and put up with me:) ) and I took part in the International Fashion Show as well (both on the same day and spiced with a Chemistry exam in between, plus an excess of homework:) ) Anyway, here are some pics… Enjoy – I know we did;) Take care, all, and whenever you have a moment available for slacking, think of those less fortunate who cannot afford such luxuries (NB: I warned you, I’m “sleep-typing”) And these are from my spotlight:

My two week long birthday

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:19:59 -0500

So, you might be thinking: “Ok, this is a student blog on the University’s Admissions web page – why on earth is she talking about her birthday?”... Well, I’m supposed to share some of my college experiences with you, guys. And the things I’ve had happen to me in the past couple of weeks are just that – one of the many kinds of experiences that college is all about. Let me get to the point. Last Sunday was my 20th birthday (yes, I’m old, I know). And, while I’m not a big fan of birthdays, especially my own, it turned out to be a great chance to see how much people care. The “celebration” began earlier in that week, during Spring break, when my family sent me this huge (emphasis the word “huge” :<) package with all sorts of things, from stuff they knew I needed to symbolic gifts or fun presents. It’s more than just the gifts, though – there’s this sense of “reconnecting” – once you’ve left home, things change, relationships change, and for the most part, the previous “bad things” seem to fade away. I feel that, emotionally, I’m closer to my family now than I was when I still lived at home, simply because I’m aware of it now. Unfortunately, the routine created when living with others, sharing your space, time, and availability with other people, including family, makes you take things for granted and not think of them. Distance, I’ve come to learn, helps invigorate relationships and appreciate people in new ways. At the same time, leaving home means literally starting a new life – or rather, building a new life for yourself. And as hard as it may get at times, one of the great things about it is that you get to discover new people, establish new relationships, and learn so many things about yourself and human interaction in the process… …Last Friday (2 days before my birthday) I was in the lab and my bio teacher showed up with a small cake and candles – he was in the process of writing me a recommendation letter and he noticed the date of birth in my resume:) On Sunday, several co-workers and one of my supervisors from the library surprised me with presents and warm wishes. For me the real surprise in these examples was the new kind of human interaction I had come across here. Then on Monday I got this very mysterious phone call from Student Affairs, telling me that I should find some time to stop by, because there was something for me there. So I went down there and found this big bouquet of beautiful lilies. I was totally confused. Luckily, there was a card attached – picture this: it was from my “old gang” at home (2 of them are in the UK now, one is back home, in the capital); who knows how they did it or how much trouble they went through, but it threw me off. I sort of started crying right there, in the office. And that’s another thing I learned here – it’s ok to show emotion and to share it. And, as I earlier mentioned, distance, temporal and spatial, can really refresh friendships:) On the same note, a bunch of friends here remembered me, in one way or the other. And tonight, while I was doing some homework, a dozen girls or so from my dorm suddenly opened the door and started singing “Happy Birthday!” while holding a cake they had just baked – apparently one of my roommates was the “mastermind” behind all this. I was totally speechless, I really didn’t expect it. The curious thing is that my roommate and I only started communicating a few weeks ago and it had been the most random, sudden thing – we just started talking one night. My point is that college is about more than academics (and this is coming from someone who studies 2/3 of the day:) ) - college is about human interaction and self discovery. And in the American system it’s all the more great as the formal barriers imposed by hierarchy in other parts of the world tend to fade here, leaving room for a greater, deeper sense of normality and self-value. All of you going off to college in the near future – look forward for it; if you genuinely want to, you can make it a worth-while experience and feel great about it. Enough “parental guidance” for now:) I need to get back to the ever-increasing amount of things I need to do – not only are we 5 weeks before the end of the school year, but registration is upon us. That, too, is a wonderful college experience, just wait and see=)). What still amazes me is how many people are willing and eager to offer advice and help, from an academic point of view, as well as a personal one. Anyway, for those of you celebrating Easter this weekend, “Happy Holidays!” If not, then just have a really nice weekend! Take care! -Anda-

Prospective Freshmen - you might want to read this;)

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:41:04 -0500

Hi, everyone! So, I guess it’s pretty predictable how this blog will begin – with me saying ”sorry” for slacking on the job:| If you think about it, though, we’ve developed a sort of “tradition” – I post a mile long entry, then disappear for several weeks…and then the cycles starts over:) Yeah, that was meant to be funny and failed miserably, I know... Right, enough of my rambling. I received an e-mail today, asking me to approve a comment on one of my posts – it was from an old friend from back home. And that reminded me of everyone I haven’t kept in touch with, which includes you, my trusty readers;) Who knew it was almost mid-March? It’s crazy how time passes. This time last year I was submitting my Honors application materials. And this year… Well, a short announcement for all you in-coming freshmen next year: Beware, for some of you might have to put up with me for your entire freshman year – I’m going to be an RA! Yeeey! I just found out on Wednesday. I don’t know what dorm I’ll be in yet, there are still a few steps and conditions that need to be met, but unless I really, truly mess something up between now and April… Other than that, my schedule is basically somewhat like this: I’m in class from 9 MA to 2 PM each day (except on Tuesdays, when I’m in class from 8 AM to 6 PM). After class I go directly to the lab I work in and I usually end up staying there till 8-9 PM. I’ve been in there, working on small projects and experiments, during most weekends, too. And I’m having a blast – it’s all so exciting for me, as nerdy and geeky as it may sound… Oh, yeah, and in between these things I still work at the library (where I catch up on homework – don’t tell my employers I said that;) ). Now spring break is here, which means some time away from classes. I’ll be staying on campus. However, I’ll be in a different dorm. I mentioned before how only Avila, East Hall, and South Hall remain open during breaks… Well, since I live in Assisi, I have to change dorms during breaks. Which is pretty nice (you guys should see the suits in East!), except for the fact that I enjoy packing and unpacking like I enjoy having teeth removed, or any other equally pleasurable activity:| They’re changing this as of next year, though. The only dorm that will be open during breaks will be East Hall, and everyone who needs break housing but does not live in East will be assigned a room there during breaks. Speaking of housing, for all non-freshmen students housing selection started a while ago. There’s going to be an entire Sunday at the beginning of April dedicated to that. If you’re interested in learning more about the process, you should check out the link on the university’s page; it’s good to know this stuff in advance: http://www.une.edu/studentlife/housing/university.asp. I’m not going to take part in the selection process because I’ll be an RA and after they assign me a specific floor in one of the freshmen dorms, that’s where I’ll live. Right now I’m waiting to find out the details for summer housing. I’ll be staying here during summer break, working in the lab – I can’t wait! What I do know so far is that, this year, summer housing will be provided in Featherman Hall, the new i-pod style dorm that was opened last fall. During this break I’ll be joggling between the lab and the library – my two “homes away from home.” I’ll also be working on the spotlight presentation that I mentioned previously (this is your cue to go back and read the other entries;) ). And I also have a stack of homework that’s crying out my name – I now realize that after school starts again, we have like 6 or 7 weeks of classes left. And then – Final Exams. The final exams’ week starts on a Thursday… Don’t ask, I have no clue why. The last day of exams is on the following Wednesday, i.e. May 7th. I have 4 or 5 finals this semester (I think) and they’re all between Monday and Wednesday. And expect to hear more of my packing-related whining then, when I have to relocate all of my belongings from Assisi to Featherman:( I’ll let you know more about all the details regarding this stuff when I find them out myself. I’ve also had a tentative conversation with the Multicultural Affairs Department about how I might potentially work with them in some sort of orientation activities for international students. It’s in the project phase, but I would really like to do that. But this goes for anyone: feel free to ask whatever questions you might have. Just post a comment on the blogs and we can communicate by e-mail afterwards, if you guys are more comfortable with that. For those of you who are going off on Spring Break as well, have fun and relax. For those who are less lucky, hang in there, better days will come:)) And for all those who celebrate Woman’s Day tomorrow (i.e. March 8th), Happy Woman’s Day! Actually, Happy Woman’s Day to all the ladies out there, and, of course, a special thought for my mom and sis! Take care, everyone! -Anda-

A Sign From Your Prodigal Blogger

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:23:02 -0500

Hello, everyone! So, I guess I haven’t written in a while, have I? :D Oh, well, better later than never, right? Plus, if I keep this pace going, it’ll be “never�?:) I haven’t posted anything in a while because I have literally not had the time – if my daily routine had a name, it would be “madness�? – but what can be more thrilling and worth-while than that? :) So, I love the classes I’m in right now: Chem is a class that I look forward to going just to be there; Chem Lab is increasingly exciting (I broke a 500 ml beaker filled with boiling water today – don’t ask :|; luckily, there were no casualties; by the way, thanks to my very patient instructor, peers, and lab partner!); Calc II is easy, Environmental Issues as well, Lyrics is interesting (and my high school background helps a lot in all these courses) and then Honors Bio is great! It’s also called “Introduction to Research Methods�? and the ultimate goal for this semester is for us to develop a Research Thesis Proposal – a sort of “rehearsal�? for what we will be doing in our Junior and Senior years. You can learn more about the Honors Program on UNE’s website: http://www.une.edu/cas/biological/honors.asp (Also, here's a link to the page where you can find all sorts of information about various faculty members from different departments, about all the programs at UNE, course offerings, research opportunities, etc. It's quite a helpful link: http://www.une.edu/faculty/department.asp ) There are 9 of us in this course, divided in 2 groups, and among other things, this course entails that we do two 3 week lab rotations per group, under the supervision of designated faculty members, which is a great opportunity for us to get to see and do some real biology investigation, get a better picture of what it’s all about, develop skills, become acquainted with various professors that perform research on campus, and learn about potential research opportunities in their labs. Today my group and I (4 lucky souls) had our first rotation in Dr. Frederich’s lab. You can learn more about the things going on in there by following the link: http://faculty.une.edu/cas/mfrederich/index.html Just to give you a little heads up – he works with crabs:| And today we got to measure their heart rates at various temperatures, which implied actually applying sensors to the crabs, where their heart is – words cannot describe what it felt like to handle a live and kicking crab for the first time ever – and I do mean “kicking.�? Basically, anything with more than four legs gives me chills – crabs have 10:| I think you catch my drift. Oh, but I haven’t told you the best part yet: as part of today’s “show and tell,�? our instructor introduced us to the wonders of crab anatomy by dissecting one… I will spare you the gory details, but just so you get an idea – do you know what crabs do after you crush their brains, take out their heart, etc (i.e. kill them)? I didn’t. So I found out…the hard way – they still move…a lot… Ok, I think that’s enough on that topic, huh? All in all, it was fun and very interesting – I love this course. Our next rotation (in March) will be in Dr. Ganter’s lab: http://faculty.une.edu/cas/gganter/GIwebFrontpage_files/slide0001.htm He works with fruit-flies, and I’m saying this from experience: fruit-flies are nothing like crabs (thank God!). And this brings me to the best thing about all I have going on this semester: I’m working in that lab now, as an undergraduate assistant, doing actual research, and I love it – I’m doing and learning about what I love. And the environment is simply awesome:) The greatest thing is that I’ll be here this summer, and I’ll be able to fully dedicate my time and energy to the research we’ll be doing. Even now, when I’m not in class, and if I’m not at work (I’m still working at the library), I’m up in the lab. So, college is turning out to be simply great for me. I’m doing my best to get the most out of all the opportunities I get. Oh, yeah, speaking of that – I’m also applying to be an RA as of next year – the number of applications is quite large and, who knows? But it’s worth the shot, so keep your fingers crossed for me (I had my interview yesterday – and afterwards, of course, I went straight to the lab (I just can’t keep away from that place) – you should have seen me, all dressed up, with make-up on and all that, scooping fruit-fly larvae and pupae, one by one…=)) And I’ll also be doing a spot-light on Romania during the annual Passport to Culture International Festival Week, in March, aaaand – hold on for this one – a “grand appearance�? in the International Fashion and Cultural Heritage Show, wearing a traditional Transylvanian costume (NB: I’m from Transylvania, which, in case you didn’t know this, is a region in Romania). So, that should be a lot of fun, especially for the audience:) Ok, I’ll stop here, because I need to get back to all the reading I have to do. I just wanted to touch base with you readers out there. Feel free to nudge me when I sink into idleness for too long – just leave a comment or something, make me write:) Take care and keep in touch. -Anda-

MLK Day Events

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:42:34 -0500

Hi, everyone! I just thought I’d drop a line while I have the chance – until things get too crazy around here. First of all, it is FREAZING outside. It wouldn’t be that cold if it weren’t for the annoyingly strong and icy wind. Of course, you guys probably don’t care about that or my wining, but I got back from Portland a few hours ago and I’m still trying to recover some sensation in my toes, so bare with me…:) Moving on to something actually relevant and of interest – what was I doing in Portland? Well, in case you don’t know this already, today is MLK Day, a holiday in honor of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. In light of the holiday, there are no classes today, but rather a number of events and activities around the country. Among them is the function I attended in Portland this morning, namely the 27th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Celebration, organized by the NAACP Portland Branch at the Holiday Inn By the Bay.

You’ve all probably at least heard about Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a civil right’s supporter; a believer in equality between individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, gender, background, etc.; an activist in the movement for freedom and nondiscrimination…

The title of the speech he gave during the March on Washington, in 1963, “I had a dream,�? is familiar to everyone today…

The theme of this year’s breakfast event was “Building on a Legacy: The Construction of Social and Economic Justice.�? The event was intended to also mark what would have been MLK, Jr.’s 79th birthday and, at the same time, 40 years since his assassination. The function room was packed with people, there were a lot of guests, important figures, and, of course, the head table – the speakers and special guests. Among them were: the president of NAACP – Rachel Talbot Ross, the Mayor of Portland – Ed Suslovic, Governor John Baldacci, Congressman Tom Allen, and, last but not least, the keynote speaker – Dr. Susan Rice. They all spoke on the topic at hand – the theme of the celebration. Dr. Rice gave a long and interesting speech, in which she portrayed an “America of the future,�? one that, according to her, would have matched MLK’s “vision,�? his “dream.�? She touched on current social, political, healthcare-related, cultural, economic, legal, commercial, military, educational, and other aspects that concern US citizens, in a national as well as in an international context. She spoke not only for or about people of African-American descent, but for and about all people, around the world. A touching moment was when, after ending her almost one hour long speech, Dr. Rice was handed a special surprise – a framed high-school photograph of her mother, in the company of her grandmother, that the Portland Press Herald managed to “dig up.�? The gift was handed by President Rachel Talbot Ross, who spoke in the beginning, talking about MLK’s Freedom Movement, about the dynamics of the term itself and how because it implies “motion,�? a Movement is not something that ends at a given date. It was also interesting how she began her speech: “I woke up this mornin’ and my mind was stayed on freedom�? – paraphrasing the lyrics of a song a well-known song. I was able to attend the event as part of a UNE initiative, made possible through the Office of Multicultural Affairs. There were 12 of us there, I believe. Also as part of a UNE initiative are the activities that will go on this week here, on campus. Check out the university link for the details: http://www.une.edu/studentlife/multi/multicultural/mlk.asp Coming from Eastern Europe, from a part of the world confronted with a very different social and cultural context than the US and where the presence of individuals of African descent narrows down to a few doziness, maybe hundreds, across the entire country, I wanted to participate in the event in order to get a better idea and understanding of issues that are specific to the US society and culture. On a different note, as you all know, classes started last Wednesday. I haven’t had all of them yet, but so far I’m really excited about the courses and the teachers, and about everything else that’s going on around here. But I’ll write more about this probably at the end of the week. Till then, I hope to get the chance to talk to some of you (as many as possible) on Wednesday’s chat, at 6.30 PM. In the meanwhile, take care, everyone! -Anda-

(Involuntarily) Part 2 of the Previous Entry

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:45:37 -0500

Ok, so if you've seen my previous entry, you should know that there's something missing from it. I uploaded some photos from the Museum of Science, in Boston, but I wanted to make a sort of image slide template that scrolled on the screen... However, the software had a different opinion; guess who won... Anyway, this means that you get a bonus entry from me:) One exclusively dedicated to some of the pictures I took that day. And this time I'm not going to try anything fancy, I promise. So, here goes nothing: My first glimpse of Boston: And this is the museum's entrance: Talk about hanging decorations, huh? A few images from the section called "Mathematica" (Caryn and I were both crazy about it):

This one is really neat - look at it closely: to the left you'll see me and to the right you'll see Caryn (or part of us, anyway): Check these out:

There's no connection, I just felt like uploading them:)) Also, I was telling you how you can weigh yourself on the Moon or on Jupiter:

These two show a model of a hypothesis describing how the pyramids were most likely built:

Now, you can picture this sequence as sort of following the "evolution" of transportation:

And then, an alternative :)) What you don't see in the picture is that in front of this handsome lad was another bike that the visitors could hop on; as they peddled, so did the skeleton. Neat, huh? My "muse:" From the astronomy section:

And these are from the really loud, really "sparkly" lightning show:

And since it was around the holidays: Doesn't he look festive? Before putting an end to this entry, let me introduce you to my newest friend: This computer had a palm recognition device in its proximity and if you placed your hand inside and typed in your name, it "talked" to you, offering information about the museum and things like that. Also, it is programmed to "remember" you through this palm-scanning mechanism. So, as it "told" me, I now have a friend in Boston:) That's about it where photos are concerned... Today everyone returned on campus and classes start tomorrow. It's been a really hectic day but now that everyone is back it actually feels like there wasn't an entire month in which we weren't here... Ok, take care, everyone! Keep in touch! -Anda-

First Thoughts For 2008

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:56:47 -0500

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a great time during the holidays – I know I did. In my last entry I mentioned that I was staying with one of my friends and her family for the first two weeks of break, while the campus was closed. Well, I’ve been back on campus since it reopened on Jan 2nd and I’ve been working full-time at the library. After almost a month of break I have my batteries fully recharged, I’m anxious for school to start, and ready to fill you in on the last two weeks of 2007! So, I left campus after my last exam during the last week of school. The drill is that each student has to check out of his or her room before 8 PM on the day of his or her last scheduled exam. The first two weeks of winter break are the only ones when the campus is entirely closed and no one can remain here. So, since traveling back home to Romania wasn’t exactly an option on such short notice and for only a couple of weeks, I went home with Caryn, a friend who lives in Milford, New Hampshire (about an hour and a half away from UNE). We were in the same bio and philosophy classes and since we did such a great job growing mustard plants in the bio lab together and all that, it seemed like a good choice:)) I have to mention that a number of other people offered to take me in during that period, which felt really nice. So, thanks to all of them. I got luckier than I could have hoped with Caryn’s family. They received me as if I were a member of the family, including me in all the holiday traditions and activities. I had never stayed with a family other than mine even back home, not to mention in another country, so I didn’t really know what to expect. But I ended up having a great time, so this experience is another one on my list of rewarding “firsts.�? Among other things, we went to Caryn’s younger brother’s basketball games and if you recall my entry on the USM international event, you’ll remember that I declared to be parallel with any and all sports. Well, this holiday it was down to either growing insane with boredom during the games or actually paying attention and trying to figure out what was going on; I opted for the second choice. And now I can proudly say that I no longer gaze in wonder at a basketball game, steeped in ignorance. So that’s one sport crossed off of my “to-do list.�? And if you count the “highly professional�? ping-pong “tournaments�? we had in the family garage, that makes for two sports in one break! (If the holiday spirit hasn’t yet left you altogether, please pretend you share my joy and enthusiasm:) ).

Of course, we did all sorts of other things, like shopping, going out for dinner or a movie. One night we all went to dinner at a place called Giorgio’s. It’s quaint and cozy, with a really pleasant atmosphere – try it if you never have. A really fun day for me was the one we spent “slaving�? in the kitchen, baking and cooking (we’ll stick to these terms, even though they gained new meanings at some points). We made sugar cookies, ginger-bread… figures, muffin cakes… The whole thing led to an “obsession�? for detail, so we ended up picking out each individual sprinkle out of the jars in order to design specific patterns on the frosted cookies… hours of hard labor and “intellectual effort,�? of struggling to come up with new and ingenious designs and ideas… all so that a small number of people could eat the cookies in only a few short minutes the next day:)

Anyway, after all that display of artistic and culinary skill, we still had to come up with dinner and clean the kitchen. And we wanted to make it to a movie that evening, so we ended up eating what we had “cooked�? for dinner in the car:)) Don’t worry, everyone survived and there were no casualties. A very exciting day was when we went to Boston (an hour’s drive from Milford) to the Museum of Science. I’m very keen on anything and everything science-related, so I was in my element. There are so many things to see, so many departments, exhibits, and even live presentations. We were there from 9 AM till 7 PM - it was a marathon and by the time we left, we were worn out. The great part is that many of the activities and presentations are interactive - there are all sorts of "gadgets" that the visitors can test out or "play" with. For example, you can weigh yourself on the Moon or on Jupiter; or you can measure your blood pressure; or during the live presentations, the person holding the lecture can select volunteers from the crowd; and many, many other things. A really amazing part of the museum is represented by the so-called OMNI theaters: basically enormous dome-like rooms, where the screen is the actual dome-shaped sealing. The sensation is incredible; you feel immersed in the motion picture. And the lightning show is quite an experience, as well (it can do “wonders�? for your hearing:)) ) It’s simply a place you need to fully experience, pictures and words can’t describe it the way it deserves. Here’s the link to the museum’s website, if you want to check it out. I think it’s worth it.

http://www.mos.org

Anyway, one of the best moments of the holiday was the interval between Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning. The tradition in their family is that on Christmas Eve everyone gets brand-new pajamas that they have to wear to “look good in the next morning’s pictures.�? I got a set of warm, fluffy pajamas, too – a warm gesture, don’t you think? So, after freezing to the point where we thought we’d never recover sensation in our toes downtown at a caroling concert,

we went back to the house to open up the first set of presents. Here I am with my X-mas outfit:

The next morning, on X-mas day, we all got up bright and early for what would be a two hour “present opening ceremony.�? Four days of rapping, all amounting to this:

That day I received several presents. But my list of gifts began before that and I don’t think it’s ended yet… You might recall how some friends from my dorm went out of their way to bake me a traditional cake:

We ate the cake, but I’ll always remember the gesture... And then, I got the chance to catch up with my family and some of my friends from back home. Given my hectic schedule this semester and the 7 hours time difference, keeping in touch was a bit tricky… I usually talk to my family through YM, by calling their computer, so we actually speak to each other. And the best part of it was on New Year’s. I got to celebrate it twice because Romania shifted to 2008 at 5 PM here. So I called my parents, they activated their webcam, we did the countdown together, and we basically had what my parents later called a “virtual New Year’s celebration.�? And then, 7 hours later, as we passed into 2008 here, they called me (it was 7 AM over there). All these essentially describe the same thing: caring and love. That’s perhaps the best gift: the feeling of being wanted, appreciated, and loved and doing the same thing for those around you. That’s been one of the lessons my time here has offered me. And now I’m ready for new lessons, new experiences… I have a lot of plans and goals for this year that I’ll let you in on one at a time, as I come to them. In the meanwhile, I’ll keep you posted on how the first days of classes unfold next week. Take care, everyone, and, once again, Happy New Year! Hopefully I’ll get to meat some of you during 2008;) Oh, and since today is the first Orientation Day for new students coming in for the Spring Semester, I just want to welcome everyone. I hope you’ll all be as lucky as I am! Best wishes, Anda.

A few thoughts for the road...

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:28:33 -0500

Hello, everyone! So, school’s over… :| Honestly, I have no idea how the semester went by so quickly. For me it’s been all about classes, studying, work, and that sort of stuff from the moment I got up till I went to bed. And I loved it! So after I had my last final and realized I had nothing to do that evening I was kind of … confused, I guess. Believe it or not, I miss school already and I’m really excited about next semester. Some of you might find that a bit insane, so let me try and give you somewhat of an idea of why I feel the way I do (and note that I’m not the only one). There’s a fun little saying that goes something like “there’s a time and a place for everything, and it’s called ‘college’.�? That’s true, no matter what your stance on it is. Whether you’re going off to college knowing exactly what you want to do and study, or, on the contrary, trying to figure out what it is that you like and are good at; whether you want to get over the high-school period as soon as possible and start over, or, on the contrary, be with some of your friends further on; if you want to have an active social life, or, on the contrary, just be yourself and be left alone; etc; etc; etc… no matter what you want to get out of your college experience, I think you can get there, if you put some effort into it. But it’s important to keep your options open, too – you might be surprised to discover how much you like doing something you’ve never thought you would. One of the greatest things about this place at least (although I assume it’s about this college system, in general) is that you’re free to be yourself, without being labeled or judged; as long as you respect others’ individuality, they’ll respect yours. If you have a particular interest (social, professional, academic, religious, scientific, cultural, athletic etc.) there almost certainly is a club, or an organization, or a department, or a group, or faculty and staff pertaining to the university that share that interest; and by the end of your first semester, you will have probably found it/them. The only catch is to be patient and not to give up when things get tough. Trust me, it’s not all easy and peachy. A few weeks after school starts, you’ll probably get really homesick. I know I did. It was weird and new, because I had never missed home before; I had missed my “house�? and certain people, but not “home.�? It’s particularly difficult when you come to feel overwhelmed by assignments, or all the activities you’re involved in, or your living situation, and so on and so forth. But - even if it sounds like a cliché - it’s all part of the learning experience. Learning isn’t all about the courses you have. No, when talking about this college system, learning is about you. You get to know yourself, what your strengths and weaknesses are, and you do that not only by observing yourself, but by seeing how a number of perfect strangers perceive you. I eventually realized that my feeling of missing home was all about missing the life I used to have. I realized that I had to steadily build a new one here, and that I had begun doing that from the first day. It’s a scary thought. But at the same time it makes every accomplishment, as small as it may be, all the more rewarding. Whether it’s getting a good grade or a word of praise from a teacher, or overcoming a bad moment, you’re the one who’s doing it, all on your own. If you’re having a rotten time and you have people you’ve met here there for you, that only adds to you’re growing individuality – in most cases the way people who have never met you before perceive and accept you says something about your character and, hence, about what type of a person you are. If you can get perfect strangers to care enough so that they are there for you after only a few weeks, it means you’re probably getting this whole “college experience�? right, even though you may not know it – you’re growing up. Don’t give up and pack your toys if and when you get tired, disappointed, sad, homesick… Challenge yourself to stick through it just so you can see what the outcome will be. And, if nothing else, you’ll get just that out if it: having challenged yourself. This “exercise�? entails qualities you’ll always need. Trust me – in other parts of the world, universities simply don’t care about any aspect having to do with you as an individual, or even a student… Where I’m concerned, I know exactly why I’m here, I’ve known what I want to do for over eight years. My focus is on the academic aspect of it all; that’s what I work for, that’s what charges my batteries. And, now, at the end of the semester, I find it has been intellectually rewarding. I loved my classes and it was great having the teachers I did. But I’ve also learned that other aspects of college can be rewarding as well, and that they count a lot toward my bettering as a person. I love my job at the library – it’s my first job ever, so I never imagined how much I’d love having one; and, actually, I love that place, my “home away from home�? – I’m practically always there – when I’m not doing a shift, I’m studying. And when I’m not in class or at the library, I’m with the friends I’ve made here. It’s incredible how they received me, coming from another society and all. They’ve been so genuinely open to learning about me and my culture. They accepted me without trying to change me; on the contrary, they tried to understand me and make me feel at home. And, funny as it may seem, this type of attitude actually made me want to change, it made me want to be a better person. Just so you get an idea of what I’m talking about: a few nights ago when I got back to my room, some of the friends from my floor said they had a Christmas present for me – it was a traditional Romanian cake, cozonac, that they had looked up on the internet and had spent two days trying to bake. Instead of focusing on their finals, they put their hearts into doing that for me (not to mention that they went shopping for the ingredients through the blizzard). It was just amazing:) On the same note, right now I’ writing from my friend Caryn’s house. She and her family “adopted�? me for the holidays, while the campus is closed. They just took me in and made me feel at home:) I have a full college experience and I feel it. At the end of my first semester here I feel a more accomplished individual. A good way to greet the holidays, don’t you think? This is what I got out of my UNE experience so far. Maybe it’s something each of you can get; maybe not. If you have second thoughts, if you decide to switch majors, or dorms, or even universities - that’s ok, it’s ok to change your mind as long as you tried. Give yourself a shot, it’s worth it. It’s all about attitude and how you choose to see things and to embrace what comes your way. I’m not writing poetry, I’m telling you this because it’s what I do and it’s worked for me. I don’t know if I’ll be posting anything during what’s left of this year, so I’ll just go ahead and wish everyone Happy Holidays! Thinking back, I can’t remember what my New Year’s Resolution was for 2007, but I know that for 2008 I want to build further on this state of inner balance. What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Take care, everyone! Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year! Anda. PS: In my future entries, I’ll tell you all about my “first American Christmas“ :)) See you soon!

Santa at UNE!

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 12:29:13 -0500

Hi, everyone! So, this past week or so has been just hectic! The general theme – final exams and final papers… tons of them! Almost everybody seems to be on a caffeine + study diet and by the time we go to bed, it’s almost time to get up:) Believe it or not, I love it this way, as tiring as it may be. Actually, I’m thinking about posting a more detailed entry about this at the end of the semester (which is …pfuu…next week!). Right now, I’m just dropping a few lines so you don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. By the way, I heard that about 11,000 postcards with your beloved bloggers were sent out yesterday… So, if you’re a prospective student or anything, make sure you check that mailbox regularly! And if you’re not but you really want a postcard of us, apply now and you might even get an autograph (did that sound like home shopping or what?) =)) I’m kidding. There’s a lot of exciting stuff going on around here, in class as well as outside. I’m pretty excited about the academic part, but the recreational activities are always welcome. The big event this weekend was Santa’s coming over! Yup, you heard me. The university organized an event called “Breakfast with Santa�? on Saturday morning. It was meant for staff/faculty members and their children and it was really enjoyable. There were student volunteers who did arts and crafts with the kiddies, there were goodies available, but the party really hit of when Santa and his trusty helper showed up:)

The kids were really excited, more so when they got the chance to go for a ride in his sled :) It was a chance for us to unwind a bit and take a break form studying, too. All that smiling with and for the kids charged our batteries. Speaking of which, I should get ready for class. Have a great week, everybody! Take care. -Anda-

Winter time!!

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:54:51 -0500

Hi, everyone! Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything, I've been a bad blogger :( - sorry about that, it's just been kind of crazy around here, with finals coming up and everything. And the next couple of weeks are going to be even more so. Which is why the day off we had today was quite welcome - the university was closed because of weather conditions. Yes, that's right, we had our first true snowfall this winter. Check it out:

Actually, it's still snowing now, as I'm writing this, and I have to say, it's beautiful. I wish you could see how nice it is right now, like in a fairy-tail. But as much as I respect you readers out there, it's just too windy for my taste (we live right by the Ocean, remember? ). I tried to take a picture from my window, but as you may guess, all I managed to capture was a picture of my camera's flash, and I don't think anyone would find that too interesting... Apparently it's kind of bad up north, though, and since many of the professors and staff members live in that area they decided to cancel classes today. So we enjoyed this first "legitimate" day of winter. Many students went sledding or snowboarding, and there were quite a few snow fights. For the people who are used to snow, the view outside reminds us of home; for those who aren't, it's all part of the "college experience," I guess:) Anyway, speaking about being reminded of home and winter and all that, Christmas preparations are the head of the list these days (since Thanksgiving, actually). Many students have decorated their rooms and in the lounge in my dorm they've actually posted a board that reads "Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year" in every language spoken by the people in the dorm. I don't know yet whose idea it was, or where they got the greetings from, but I thought it was really sweet. Look, here's what it looks like:

Biddeford looks really nice at night, too, with all the lights and everything. Also, the houses on the main road from Biddeford to the university are all lit up and festive. I'm used to tall apartment buildings, and, of course, no one decorates those with Christmas lights or things like that, so the view around here is new to me. Given that this was kind of the last weekend before all the hassle with final exams and papers starts, some of my friends and I went to Maine Mall, outside of Portland, just to get off campus for a while, spend some time together, do some Christmas shopping, that sort of stuff. I'm not exactly a fan of shopping, but the atmosphere down there was great, it can really get you into the "holiday spirit."

Back home, kids go caroling on Christmas Eave - even in the city, though it doesn't compare with the country side, the tradition is maintained. Usually, we just gather and go to our parents' houses, or our teachers', we torture them with personal adaptations of a few carols, and they give us all sorts of treats. This year, however, I'll get to see what an American Christmas is like because I'm going home with a friend for the holidays. So, it's going to be another new experience on my list. Ok, everyone, I'll stop here, for now. Until next time, take care! Best wishes, Anda.

Big Event in Portland

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:12:56 -0500

Hi, everyone! I’m back… So, as I said last time, I am, as of now, going to slowly but surely introduce you to my UNE experience. In this post, I’m going to tell you all about a very recent event I attended, namely the “International, Multicultural and Exchange Student Reception,�? organized by USM (University of Southern Maine), in Portland (at its 18th edition, in fact); the whole idea was to get high-school and college international, exchange, or visiting students from all over Maine together, to share impressions, get to know one another, have fun, eat, and win prizes:) Yup, there was a door prize drawing, among other things. And I even won something – a gift certificate consisting in 4 free season passes to USM sport events… which is awesome…except…I hate sports (no offence to anyone) and I am totally clueless to anything and everything sports-related. Well, not everything, I guess; I mean, I do know that soccer involves a ball, hockey involves ice, and other really sophisticated stuff like that :-D Anyway, it’s still winning something:) And another girl, Hannah, won 2 passes for…something…to do with…skiing…I think….anyhow, the idea is that there are a lot of winners at UNE!

this is the certificate

guess: which one am I? :)

Here’s the link, if you want to learn more about the event: http://www.wacmaine.org/

Other than that, the whole thing was fun, from the start. We were about ten students from UNE and Mrs. Donna Gaspar, from Student Affairs, took us in one of the school’s vans (Portland is about 20 minutes away). It was kind of funny that she had us fill out emergency contact forms and then told us it was her first time driving a van…hahaha…Seriously now, she’s great and we’re glad she took us (she had to postpone a flight to NY for that, too). When we got there, we had to sign up and write our names on post-its, then tag them to our countries, on the corresponding maps (you can see that in the pictures). It was nice that under each country there was a small sticker with a few general guidelines regarding that particular state.

My post-it is at the bottom right corner

. It was really nice and educative to just go up and talk to people, learn where they were from, how they got there, hear different languages… For instance, talking to a guy from Peru I learnt that his boss was Romanian – I had no idea there were other Romanians in the Portland-Biddeford area! Or, there was and exchange student from Germany, who, with the occasion of this event, found out that Lithuania was in Europe=)) See, it was a useful experience for everybody there :)) We also talked with the teachers there, and some of the host families for the exchange students…Remember how I said that, if anything, the people here are incredibly friendly? Well, I was talking to a lady – a host for one of the high-school students – and, after roughly 10 minutes of conversation, she just invited me to Thanksgiving dinner…just like that… Coming from Eastern Europe, that’s just… so unexpected…I’m pretty sure that constantly coming across attitudes like that around here is going to slowly shape me in positive ways… And that’s part of what this college system is about, right? Ok, that's all for today... But I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so there will probably be more "blog-material" soon enough. Till then, take care, everyone! Anda.

My First Blog :)

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:25:59 -0500

Hello, everyone! If you're reading this, that means you clicked on the "Meet Alexandra" button, so let's do just that: meet me :) First of all, my name is Alexandra, but I go by Anda, which is short for Alexandra - everybody calls me that, so feel free to do the same. I don't want to bore you with a lot of details, so I’m not going to provide a full biography + a CV, spiced with a list of goals and achievements:) I'm just going to offer a short introduction of myself. I am a freshman here at UNE, I'm majoring in Medical Biology and minoring in Philosophy (as of last week); also, I'm in the Honors Program that UNE offers and I work at the campus library. Oh, and as you may have figured out, I’m an international student – I was born and raised in Romania (if it makes things easier, I’m from Transylvania, which I’m sure most of you have heard about, and that is actually a region in Romania); I graduated from high school there in June and, shortly after that, I came here, to attend college. Actually, I’ve been here for a bit over 2 months and, honestly, I love it. Now, from personal experience, I’m ready to bet that you’re wondering “How did she get all the way to Maine?�?… at least that’s what most people around here have asked me (speaking of which, I’ve never met nicer people, honestly – if anything, this is a really friendly environment). Well, anyway, when they do ask me that, I usually say “By googling�?… Yes, surfing the internet; a lot! I decided that I’d try applying abroad last September – little did I know what I was embarking on. When you’re a high school student in a small town of a country that’s not exactly well-known, no one’s going to prepare you to go off and study 7,000 miles away. So, I just started by searching words related to what I wanted to study (i.e., I want to be a geneticist some day) and, step by step, I got more and more familiar with the whole “college application process�? and more and more involved; I took all my exams, wrote all my essays, put all the paper work together (that was a big amount of paper), mailed all my materials, and, in January, I received my acceptance reply from UNE; does it sound simple? Well… it’s not:) And that’s one of the reasons I wanted to become a blogger: thinking back, I remember how difficult it sometimes was and how I would have wanted to find more information from and about international students. So, look at this as a sort of “mission statement�? of mine as an ambassador blogger (catchy title, huh? ;) ): I hope to be able to help prospective students, whether international or not, to get an accurate idea of how college life is and what it takes to get (and stay) here. I’m simply going to offer glimpses of what we’re up to around here and try to answer some of the questions that you, as prospective students or as parents of the latter, may have. Wow, that sounded so “official�? – it’s not going to be like that, I promise, that’s what you have handbooks for; in my defense, it’s almost midnight and I’ve been studying for an exam :-D So, before I prolong this post so much that we all end up falling asleep (me typing and you reading), I’m going to call it a night:) And next time I post I’ll start letting you in on my experiences here, at UNE. Take care, everyone! Anda.