Quarter #1 is over

Posted on Thursday, 11 December 2014, 13:03 by Alexandra

This post used to contain pictures, but due to new storage limitations from WordPress, I had to fix the problem and decided to create a new blog that works as an archive for all the posts from my two years in California. This full post can be found here.

I just finished my third final and I feel so free! I love this feeling. The test today went okay, I think it is a pass. I know that I’ve had a lot of difficulties with the Byzantine time period, when Christianity became big in the world and all the churches and basilicas and whatever were built, so I probably messed up on all of those questions. I just can’t see the difference of those churches. But except for that I felt that I had studied a lagom amount of time and recognized everything on the test. The Asian names where difficult tho and I mixed them all up.

The test last night went okay too I guess. I didn’t really try since I already had passed the class, this test would just lower my A to a C worst case scenario. But I answered a lot of questions, skipped a lot. But I think if I get a C on this test, then I will still get an A in the rest of the class.

I am still waiting for my result for the extra credit assignment, but I am not worried about that class anymore. And I don’t have to worry about classes next quarter either. Today I got an email telling me that I got one of the classes I was waitlisted for (Introduction to Urban Planning). Yay! I am not dropping Introduction to Environmental Engineering until I know for sure if I can take Public Transportation (which has Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering as a prerequisite). I guess I could take 16 units (4 classes) next quarter, and take another environmental engineering class in the spring quarter, but I don’t know if it is worth it.

Why am I writing about this? I don’t wanna think of school at all right now, and for the next three weeks. (except for reviewing some German to be prepared for next quarter)

After my final last night (which by the way, was the Sustainable Environments) my roommates picked me up and we went to Olive Garden to have one last dinner together. I have to admit that the food I got wasn’t that good. Or maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for eating that late. But it was a nice dinner nonetheless.

When we came home we had a little Christmas and opened gifts. I got suitcase tags from Rachel, a Jamba Juice giftcard from Lauren and a photoframe from Kelsey. In there are four different pictures of us, and when I saw it I started crying. I think I realized at that point that Kelsey is actually leaving. She also wrote me a super sweet card. I am gonna miss her so much!!

After that I walked around in the building handing out Christmas cards and they were all very appreciated. We hung out in our apartment for a while and I started studying at 1:30am. Fell asleep at 3 am, got up at 6 to sit through three hours of presentations in Transportation Engineering. It wasn’t too bad, I studied for the final and listened to the most fun ones. Some of the videos made were very funny!

Now I am planning on doing nothing until 2:30pm when Matt is picking me up :).

And at 8:35pm tonight the plane takes off and I will be on my way to Dominican Republic!! I can’t wait!!! I am planning on updating my blog as often as I can. I won’t have too much to do during the evenings, so if I have access to Internet then maybe even every day. So excited I can’t even!

This color will look great in the sand tomorrow :). It’s stupid how much prettier a manicure and pedicure can make you feel.I survived the two hell weeks! Kelsey and I at the basketball game last weekend.

Studying and more studying

Posted on Wednesday, 10 December 2014, 1:09 by Alexandra

Ugh, I am getting tired of this, can’t this week be over already? It’s not too long left now though. My first final tomorrow evening, and the next one the morning after, and after that I will be on my way. One more day of studying and I am done!

The test tomorrow will not be too bad. If I get more than 75% on the test I will still get an A as a final grade. But it is still stressful to go to a classroom and now that there will be a test waiting for me. So that’s what I’ve been doing today, I studied for that test, I also finished my Architecture History summary and finished the extra credit assignment for Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering. It felt so good to submit it and after that was crossed off my list I now only have two things left, yay!

I should probably go to bed now and read in my new book. I finished Revenge of Seven last night and started reading The Maze Runner. Goodnight!

Kelsey got her Christmas gift from the British boys today, a golden egret and a pair of British socks.The egret is placed on our counter now and just looks glorious!

Four days left

Posted on Monday, 8 December 2014, 2:33 by Alexandra

I just packed everything, except for my underwear (I only have 24 pair of panties, so I will need to do laundry right before I leave) and it feels a little bit more real now. Still very much surreal though. I think I think too much about school right now to realize where I will be in five days. One of the things I look most forward to is to just chill at the beach and read. I am gonna read sooo much! I’m hoping I will finish at least three, four or maybe even five books in those three weeks. Can’t wait!

Today I was at the library most hours of the day. I tried to do the extra credit assignment for Transportation Engineering. I kinda understood what I was supposed to do, but it would take hella long time to sort all the data. Everything was given in the same column and I don’t think that was the point. I will go to office hours tomorrow and ask the teacher about it. I will also ask him to calculate my grade because I have no idea how to do that with a curve. I realized today that if I fail this class, that means I am one class back when it comes to transferred credits. So I will either have to switch German step 3 in spring quarter for an engineering class, or just take an extra class that quarter. Or take it when I get back home, but that means I won’t get my degree in June, which I really want. And I am so glad I enrolled in a class too much this quarter so I have a backup plan in case I can’t take Public Transportation. Everything will work out in the end! 🙂

After giving up on the extra credit assignment for the day I studied Architecture History all day until 9:30 when I biked home. Ate dinner, wrote 20 Christmas cards, wrapped some gifts, and packed. A productive day, but now the clock tells me it is 2:30am. Time for bed and another long and hopefully productive day tomorrow!

I have heard that wild mustangs roam these areas so I am guessing these are them? The fence is to keep wild animals (like mustangs and deer) off the street. Pretty cool!I think I could have managed with a backpack and a carry-on, but this will be so much more comfortable. The suitcase is like half full, and the stuff on the side will go in a backpack. Excited to thousand!

Busy busy busy

Posted on Sunday, 7 December 2014, 2:03 by Alexandra

And now it’s been three days since the last update again. I seriously can’t wait to leave this all behind. I am not too overwhelmed, but I always have school on my mind and it is really exhausting. One of the midterms I could probably skip and still pass the class, but I will of course study for it anyway, because it would be fun with one good grade this quarter. The other final is a bit harder, but it isn’t until Thursday morning so I still have time. I will start focusing on that one tomorrow.

My biggest priority right now though is to nail the extra credit assignment for Transportation Engineering so I can take Public Transportation next quarter. I will start on that tomorrow.

So, the last two days. Thursday was my final in the lab class. It felt awesome when I did it, but the day after when I got the grade, it turned out to be a C-. It is still a pass so I am not complaining and my final grade will probably be a B since everything else is A’s. I also found out yesterday that I totally failed my Transportation Engineering midterm (that’s why I need to do the extra credit assignment). In the evening on Thursday I actually went out on a date to the Grad where the line dancing thing is. It was a very nice evening and I had 100% more fun this time than last time (probably because I was sick that time). We had a couple of drinks, talked a lot, and danced. Line dancing is fun.

Yesterday, hmm. I guess I was at home and studied? Oh yes, and in the evening we were a bunch of people going to the Christmas Parade in downtown SLO. It was nice, but mostly because of the company. Back home there was a surprise party for Toby, since he is leaving. I only stayed for like an hour and then went home and to bed. I slept for 11 hours, woke up at 9am. I actually went to the library today to study. I was there with the guy from Thursday and I got some done, not too much. I don’t have any motivation to study… I try but it only gives me C’s. I miss Chalmers! We had a late lunch together and then I went home and didn’t get anything more done until after midnight.

At 7pm we were a bunch of people (everyone is procrastinating!!) who went to see the basketball game between Cal Poly and Menlo. Cal Poly owned the other team. Final score 72-35. It was my first basketball game every, and it was cool. Two of my neighbors are on the team, but redshirts, which apparently means that they are on the team but they aren’t allowed to play any games until next year because they are transfer students. No idea why, but that’s just the way it is, so I am just gonna accept it.

After that a lot of people came over to our place, we ordered pizza, and talked for hours and hours. It was a fun night but I feel bad for not studying… I did some, but now I see double, so I will go to bed and try to find more motivation tomorrow morning. Goodnight!

Wednesday

Posted on Thursday, 4 December 2014, 0:33 by Alexandra

Today was a normal day, I got out of bed at 11:30am, chilled for a bit, took a shower, and then studied for my final tomorrow. It feels good, I wrote the summary a few days ago and felt that I knew most of it, and today I did the engineering economics problem (12 in total) and felt that I knew all of them. I am not worried about this final at all. Probably mostly because it is only 20% of the grade and I have an A up until now in this class. I think I can get an F and still pass the class. Great feeling!

The Sustainable Environments class tonight was just a long review of the whole class. The teacher basically told us the questions which were coming on the test. I am not complaining and I don’t feel too stressed out about it. It is the same situation there as it is with the lab class. I have an A so far and the final is 35% of the grade, so I will do well in the end no matter what happens on the test.

I am more concerned about the Architecture History final. The week before Thanksgiving the teacher told us 90% of the test would be on the last 6 lectures and the rest 10% would be on the first 12. But yesterday he told us it would be 20 questions out of 80 which is 20%. That is gonna require a lo of studying… I have a C+ in that class right now, and I can’t get worse than that on this test. It’s a week away, so I have time to study.

I think I will go to bed now, I have a presentation in Transportation Engineering tomorrow morning and then I have to prepare for the final at 3pm. And at 8pm I will celebrate that I survived dead week at the Grad with some linedancing and maybe a drink or two. I am excited!

December already!?

Posted on Tuesday, 2 December 2014, 23:45 by Alexandra

Yes, dead week is almost killing me. But the worst is definitely over (for this week). The midterm this morning went real bad. But I think everyone had trouble with it and since the teacher is using a curve when he is grading I might be fine. But you never know. I am just glad that it is over. There is still the presentation on Thursday, but that will be a piece of cake. What I have to focus on now is the final I have on Thursday in the lab class. I don’t understand why we have to have a final when we’ve worked our butts off for all the lab assignments. But I have an A in that class so far, and this test is only 20% of the grade, so I don’t think I have to study too hard. The last two nights I’ve stayed up really late and today I was planning on going to bed early, but I still haven’t done much because I enjoy talking to our neighbors too much. And I can sleep-in tomorrow. I will solve some engineering economics problems now and then to bed.

Oh, right, I got two packages today. One from mom, and one from Amazon. Mom’s package was missent to Canada, but it got here today and it made me so happy. It was a lot of Swedish Christmas candy to share with roommates and friends, and four chocolate calendars for me and my three roommates. She is the absolute sweetest. I also got two packages of Swedish lasagna, and a tiny Christmas cat. She knows I miss the cats, and now I have a little bit of Christmas in my room. I love her!

In the package from Amazon was most of the gifts I bought for people, but also my Bluetooth speaker that works gloriously. Those two packages made me forget about the awful midterm. The lab in the afternoon wasn’t too bad. It was our last assignment and we were supposed to walk downtown and learn about some things there. But since it’s been raining this whole day we did it virtually with google maps. Worked that too. And I actually got done with the writing before class was done so I don’t have to worry about it, yay!

Now I will focus on the lab final!

Hello “dead week”

Posted on Monday, 1 December 2014, 1:52 by Alexandra

I realized tonight that I have more due this week. My list is so long now! Monday: Transportation group project meeting at 9am, Transportation homework due at noon, Sustainable Environments group project meeting sometime in the afternoon. Tuesday: Transportation midterm (based on the homework I still haven’t done and don’t understand at all). Wednesday: Sustainable Environments project is due. Thursday: Transportation project due + presentation, Transportation lab FINAL and 2 page paper due (we get the assignment on Tuesday evening). Finals week will be nothing compared to “dead week”. Thursday evening couldn’t come sooner…

Today I gave the homework a real shot, but I seriously couldn’t solve a single problem. I am screwed. If I mess this homework and midterm up I will have to ace the extra credit assignment (which is pretty much Greek as well). No one’s been home this week so I couldn’t ask anyone either. Sucky situation. If I don’t get a C in this class I won’t be able to take Public Transportation next quarter and I really want to take that one. I’m sure it will work out the way it is supposed. If I don’t get that class I will probably have to take more Environmental Engineering classes which won’t be too bad either I guess. And even if I am on the wait list to Urban Planning I’ve heard that it’s not too hard getting into it when classes start. Nope, not worth worrying about now.

I started my study guide for the final in the lab I have on Thursday. That was the most productive thing I did today. I really hope I can get some help from Eric and Johann with the homework a after we put together our presentation. I am a bit worried for the first time in a long time to be honest.

Now I really need to go to bed! Hello no-life for a week…

A boring day

Posted on Saturday, 29 November 2014, 22:56 by Alexandra

I had looked forward to this weekend for quite a while, my alone time. But now when it is here I can’t wait for my roommates to get back here. I’ve been so very bored today I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was gonna study, but I only did one of the many things I should have done. Well, when I think about it, it isn’t too bad since I don’t care about the grades. But now anyway, my two projects are more or less done. I didn’t start to look at the homework, but I will do that all day tomorrow.

I started to pack today and I also did a little research on weather and such, apparently it will be awesome weather all the time (80F in the air, 77F in the water), maybe some rain on Puerto Rico, but December is a very nice time to go there according to the Internet. Even if I ordered a new suitcase today, I decided to try the challenge of living in a carry-on suitcase and a backpack for 23 days. I think it will work. But all the hostels have laundry facilities so I might just pack lighter and use the washing machines there. I don’t wanna pack too much, I wanna be able to bring home stuff I buy too. I have gotten really excited again and actually a bit nervous. I am doing this all by myself! It is a long trip, more than three weeks, all on my own. I feel that this should give me some grownup points. And I am pretty sure that I will find people to hang out with while I am there.

Oh, by the way, I think they shut of the heat in the apartments this week. I’ve been freezing my toes off all day!

No, I think I will go to bed now and hope for a more productive day tomorrow. Goodnight!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Posted on Friday, 28 November 2014, 23:19 by Alexandra

I am home again after a fun few days in Glendora. I have to say that the five hours on the train home went by very quickly. I had a big comfortable seat, a lot of space in front of me so I could have my legs straight out, the seat was adjustable, and the view of the ocean was stunning. I read the whole time and actually finished half a book. But as soon as the water was close I just couldn’t read. I just sat there, watching the glittery water, the surfers, and the dolphins. It made me realize that I wanna end up in California one day. This is where I am at my happiest, where I love myself the most, where I am the best version of me. I have no idea how it will happen, it will probably take time, but one day I wanna make California my real home. The ocean is a great therapist.

Mondos Beach where we surfed the other week.The view was like this a big part of the way and it was incredible! Sometimes the train was so close to the shore that you just saw water down below.

So, yesterday was Thanksgiving, my favorite American holiday. I love food! We went to one of Lori’s friends and spent a few hours there. It wasn’t the close family and then us, but different groups of people so we all fit in which was great. The food was amazing! And one of their cats loved me and he was beautiful and I just wanted to take him home with me. But I don’t think anyone would believe that I am depressed or anything else and need a cat for medical reasons…

After we were done eating my stomach hurt a lot so we just sat in the backyard talking for a while in the amazing warmth of Los Angeles winter. It was 90F yesterday, crazy, haha.

Today we had to leave the house early so I could make it to the Union Station and go home. 5.5 hours later I was back in SLO, and it was really warm here too. I waited in the sun for the bus for 45 minutes and read. Revenge of Seven is really good, but it is the second to last book in the Lorien Legacies series which is sad. It is a very good story. I came home, unpacked, and started Black Friday (online) shop. Today was the day to buy stuff from everywhere so now I have all my Christmas gifts figured out and I also spoiled myself with some clothes from Hollister and Abercrombie. I need more tops because I use the same all the time. And it was 50%, even 70% on some things, so I don’t feel bad. I kinda feel that I wanna buy a new suitcase as well. I am starting to have second thoughts when it comes to my challenge of packing 23 days in a carry-on bag and a backpack. I won’t need much clothes, so it might work. But Kohl’s as this crazy-ass sale on Samsonite luggage this time of year and I know for sure that I will need another suitcase when I leave, so I might as well buy it now, when it is $160 instead of $320. And if I buy it online it will be an extra 20% off. It might be worth it! I will think about it and consult with my mom first, she is smart and always gives me good advice.

I was planning on going to bed early, but that is always easier said than done. I will now though, and then continue to read. I so look forward to Winter Break when I will be able to read as much as I possibly can. Can’t wait! 13 days left. How did that happen? Where did the days go?? Am I really going to paradise for more than three weeks, in less than two? UNREAL!

On my way home to my village. I live very far away from campus (1mile), but it is still on campus. This view is ahead of me every day when I am walking to my classes. Bishop’s Peak. I am gonna hike that one day!Poly Canyon Village (PCV); home sweet home!

Thanksgiving break in LA

Posted on Wednesday, 26 November 2014, 22:36 by Alexandra

I am safe and sound in LA after a long drive from SLO yesterday. Kelsey and I left right after her class ended, and after packing the car, bying roadtrip coffee, and so on, we were on our way at 4pm. We didnt arrive until 8:30. So you could say that we were pretty hungry.

Before going to Glendora, where her aunt lives, we stopped in Beverly Hills to meet up with Axel from my high school class. I haven’t seen him since graduation so that was a fun little reunion. We had dinner at Cheesecake Factory and I had my favorite, Chicken farfalle with roasted garlic. So freaking good!! I got half of it with me home in a box and I will save it for Friday dinner. For dessert we had a cheesecake each. I had the ultimate red velvet and it was delicious as I remembered it!

At 11pm we parted ways and we had 45min to Glendora. Her aunt greeted us and we stayed up for two hours talking. She is really nice.

Today we woke up at 8, that’s what happens when a two-year old lives in the house. He is super cute and today was his birthday. We chilled for a while after eating breakfast at a mexican place nearby and then at 3pm we threw a little party for him at his preschool, with cupcakes and juice and funny hats. Our next stop was at a fruit and juice place called La Tropicana where we ate bionico, a fruit salad pretty much with a creamy sweet sauce on top. It was really good.

Then back to the house where we chilled some more. I think I took one or two accidental naps. I don’t know why i am so tired… Ate a little cheesecake, talked and went to bed at ten. Super awesome time to go to bed!

Tomorrow’s Thanksgiving and I am very excited. I love Thanksgiving! We are going to a friend of Kelsey’s aunt.