Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
i hate driving... so i walk everywhere
So I went to this thing called Refuge tonight. It was the college group for a church called Chapel on the Campus. I went in not know anybody, a situation I am totally used to by now, and made a bunch of new friends.
Refuge itself was great. Awesome worship and an incredible message. There is nothing like singing with 300 college students. You are all in the same boat, together for the same reason, praising the same God. It's incredible. No matter what church you go to, get involved in their college ministry, it's cool to see your generation come together like that.
Anyway, Refuge is over, and I'm starving. Luckily, at most Christian gatherings of college students, food is provided. It's almost always free or dirt cheap. Hooray for cold Dominoe's pizza! So eating and mingling is the plan. By the way, you will almost always eat your free food standing up. You didn't pay. Don't complain.
I know like five people here. More than I thought I would. Except that I really only know four. There is a girl who came up and hugged me. She knew my name and everything. I still can't place her. Oh well. I have a new old friend named Kimberly. Someday I will find out how we met.
By the way, I walked to Refuge. Now it's over and it's dark. What is the number one rule of college, girls?
Don't walk alone at night!
I'm talking to one of my Fantastic Five. He goes by Grant. Mostly because that's his name. Grant is 6'3" with a head full of curly hair. Basically, he stands out. He's also pretty outgoing. Anyway, I discreetly tell him that I am looking for someone to walk home with me. Without hesiatation he yells above the crowd, "Anybody here live in East Laville?"
While I'm turning bright red, a girl yells back, "I live in ECA, I can drive you!"
I'm mostly embarrassed but sort of grateful. A little while goes by of me being mad at Grant and him justifying his actions. Now it's time for me to go. In a car. With a total stranger. Great.
She turns out to be great. She's driving home two other girls, one who knows one of my best friends from high school. Connection! If you haven't played that game, you will before your college orientation is over.
Tips for 2010:
Don't walk at night alone!
Make friends with tall guys who can easily embarrass you. They turn out to be pretty nice. And even kind of helpful.
You're not really friends until you've been added on Facebook. That's how you know your name has been remembered.
Refuge itself was great. Awesome worship and an incredible message. There is nothing like singing with 300 college students. You are all in the same boat, together for the same reason, praising the same God. It's incredible. No matter what church you go to, get involved in their college ministry, it's cool to see your generation come together like that.
Anyway, Refuge is over, and I'm starving. Luckily, at most Christian gatherings of college students, food is provided. It's almost always free or dirt cheap. Hooray for cold Dominoe's pizza! So eating and mingling is the plan. By the way, you will almost always eat your free food standing up. You didn't pay. Don't complain.
I know like five people here. More than I thought I would. Except that I really only know four. There is a girl who came up and hugged me. She knew my name and everything. I still can't place her. Oh well. I have a new old friend named Kimberly. Someday I will find out how we met.
By the way, I walked to Refuge. Now it's over and it's dark. What is the number one rule of college, girls?
Don't walk alone at night!
I'm talking to one of my Fantastic Five. He goes by Grant. Mostly because that's his name. Grant is 6'3" with a head full of curly hair. Basically, he stands out. He's also pretty outgoing. Anyway, I discreetly tell him that I am looking for someone to walk home with me. Without hesiatation he yells above the crowd, "Anybody here live in East Laville?"
While I'm turning bright red, a girl yells back, "I live in ECA, I can drive you!"
I'm mostly embarrassed but sort of grateful. A little while goes by of me being mad at Grant and him justifying his actions. Now it's time for me to go. In a car. With a total stranger. Great.
She turns out to be great. She's driving home two other girls, one who knows one of my best friends from high school. Connection! If you haven't played that game, you will before your college orientation is over.
Tips for 2010:
Don't walk at night alone!
Make friends with tall guys who can easily embarrass you. They turn out to be pretty nice. And even kind of helpful.
You're not really friends until you've been added on Facebook. That's how you know your name has been remembered.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
The Great Post It War of 2009
Ok, so for all of you people thinking about living off-campus, stop. Now. I thought about it too. Somehow I got roped into a scholarship that pays for me to live on campus for four years. I was pretty upset at first. As of tonight, I LOVE IT!
I live in the Honor's dorm which probably doesn't sound so exciting to you. Trust me, I was not thrilled about it either. There are a few downfalls, trust me.
-I recently was informed that the previous inhabitant of MY ROOM peed in the sink. All the time.
-The floor is chronically dusty.
-Doors slam all day and all night.
-I share a bathroom with an entire floor of girls.
-Getting from outside into my room is the equivalent of getting into a CIA building. (swipe my id to get in the building, swipe my id to get into the stairwell, use my key to get onto my floor, use my key to get into my room)
But I am having so much fun! First of all, there is a room down the hall that conduct a weekly "Would you rather...?" survey. In chalk. On their wall. It's great. They wrote on our door "Come to room 237 ASAP!" So we went. Two instant friends.
Every day someone writes a note on our board outside. It ranges from "I Want You" to pictures of stars and flowers. It's usually from the boys that visit our across the hall neighbor.
Speaking of those boys. Tonight they inspired me to write this blog. While watching movies, the roomie, the suvery taker, and I heard someone knock on our door. We opened it to find the word "Yumm" on our board. Nobody to be seen. The surveyer is concerned and I explain to her that it's the boys across the hall.
So starts the war. Surveyer sits by the door for the rest of the night, listening for any signs of life. We look through the peep hole and they have covered it with a post it. We move it to their peep hole. They move it back. Surveyer opens the door because she hears someone. We catch two boys frozen in front of our door. They non-chalantly turn around and go back inside.
Funny thing. I know the girl across the hall. We go to the BCM together. She's great. At some point in all this, she sticks her head out the door and asks us if people are knocking on our door TOO. Implying someone is doing the same to her. We're thrown off for like, ten seconds until I see a boy sitting in her room. Caught.
We decide the best defense is a good offense. We make a huge smiley face out of post its on their door. And cover their peep hole. This is the signal to them that we are messing with them again. We know they are periodically checking. They come out and we watch them through the peep hole rearrange our smiley face into an innappropriate picture. Oh, boys.
The fighting ceases for a little while. Surveyer has to go. When she leaves we notice that a phone number is written on our board. It says call me. We call. The person has no idea what we are talking about. Or is a very good actor.
So that's my night. That's why you should live in the dorms. At least once. How often do you get to do things like this? Nights in are not always as bad as they seem. Funny movies and great neighbors always spice things up a bit.
Tips:
Live on campus! Do it!
Go to your floor meetings and meet your neighbors!
Get a Blockbuster account. It will help keep you busy after football season.
I live in the Honor's dorm which probably doesn't sound so exciting to you. Trust me, I was not thrilled about it either. There are a few downfalls, trust me.
-I recently was informed that the previous inhabitant of MY ROOM peed in the sink. All the time.
-The floor is chronically dusty.
-Doors slam all day and all night.
-I share a bathroom with an entire floor of girls.
-Getting from outside into my room is the equivalent of getting into a CIA building. (swipe my id to get in the building, swipe my id to get into the stairwell, use my key to get onto my floor, use my key to get into my room)
But I am having so much fun! First of all, there is a room down the hall that conduct a weekly "Would you rather...?" survey. In chalk. On their wall. It's great. They wrote on our door "Come to room 237 ASAP!" So we went. Two instant friends.
Every day someone writes a note on our board outside. It ranges from "I Want You" to pictures of stars and flowers. It's usually from the boys that visit our across the hall neighbor.
Speaking of those boys. Tonight they inspired me to write this blog. While watching movies, the roomie, the suvery taker, and I heard someone knock on our door. We opened it to find the word "Yumm" on our board. Nobody to be seen. The surveyer is concerned and I explain to her that it's the boys across the hall.
So starts the war. Surveyer sits by the door for the rest of the night, listening for any signs of life. We look through the peep hole and they have covered it with a post it. We move it to their peep hole. They move it back. Surveyer opens the door because she hears someone. We catch two boys frozen in front of our door. They non-chalantly turn around and go back inside.
Funny thing. I know the girl across the hall. We go to the BCM together. She's great. At some point in all this, she sticks her head out the door and asks us if people are knocking on our door TOO. Implying someone is doing the same to her. We're thrown off for like, ten seconds until I see a boy sitting in her room. Caught.
We decide the best defense is a good offense. We make a huge smiley face out of post its on their door. And cover their peep hole. This is the signal to them that we are messing with them again. We know they are periodically checking. They come out and we watch them through the peep hole rearrange our smiley face into an innappropriate picture. Oh, boys.
The fighting ceases for a little while. Surveyer has to go. When she leaves we notice that a phone number is written on our board. It says call me. We call. The person has no idea what we are talking about. Or is a very good actor.
So that's my night. That's why you should live in the dorms. At least once. How often do you get to do things like this? Nights in are not always as bad as they seem. Funny movies and great neighbors always spice things up a bit.
Tips:
Live on campus! Do it!
Go to your floor meetings and meet your neighbors!
Get a Blockbuster account. It will help keep you busy after football season.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
she left the suds in the bucket...
So remember how my alarm clock used to be my early rising roomie? Well, I was okay with that. Now, instead of the considerate girl that I live with, it's the not-so-thoughtful construction workers outside that do the job. They begin every morning, promptly at six. I spend the next hour listening to machinery outside my window.
Good morning Baton Rouge!
Today is laundry day. The roomie and I got all our dirty clothes together to trek down to the basement for this adventure. I was amazed as to how many clothes I have worn this week. My bag was fuller than full. I don't even remember changing clothes that many times. Oh, college.
We make our way down the stairs while I'm trying to convince Roomie that she needs a laundry bag. She is not going to want to tote the plastic hamper she has more than once. It's not a difficult argument after two flights of stairs.
My particular choice of laundry bag fits in my hamper. Just pull it out when I need it. Very functional. And it's pink and cute :)
We get downstairs and have to explore a little bit to find the laundry room. Did you know that I have a pool table in my basement? Me neither! Find the laundry room. Turns out, I have only brought liquid fabric softener. No detergent whatsoever. Also turns out, Roomie's Tiger Card won't scan. So I trade her one free load of laundry for one free cup of detergent. Deal. We look like... Dumb Freshmen! Surprise! I couldn't help but notice an upper classman laughing at us from behind his Sociology book. Come on dude, you were here once too.
Tip for 2010:
-Check what you buy! Fabric softener will make your clothes smell great and feel very cozy. But they will not get clean!
-Don't forget about your clothes. They will mildew if they sit in there too long. Plus, there only like five washers and dryers.
Only one class tomorrow. At 4:30 PM it's the weekend!
Good morning Baton Rouge!
Today is laundry day. The roomie and I got all our dirty clothes together to trek down to the basement for this adventure. I was amazed as to how many clothes I have worn this week. My bag was fuller than full. I don't even remember changing clothes that many times. Oh, college.
We make our way down the stairs while I'm trying to convince Roomie that she needs a laundry bag. She is not going to want to tote the plastic hamper she has more than once. It's not a difficult argument after two flights of stairs.
My particular choice of laundry bag fits in my hamper. Just pull it out when I need it. Very functional. And it's pink and cute :)
We get downstairs and have to explore a little bit to find the laundry room. Did you know that I have a pool table in my basement? Me neither! Find the laundry room. Turns out, I have only brought liquid fabric softener. No detergent whatsoever. Also turns out, Roomie's Tiger Card won't scan. So I trade her one free load of laundry for one free cup of detergent. Deal. We look like... Dumb Freshmen! Surprise! I couldn't help but notice an upper classman laughing at us from behind his Sociology book. Come on dude, you were here once too.
Tip for 2010:
-Check what you buy! Fabric softener will make your clothes smell great and feel very cozy. But they will not get clean!
-Don't forget about your clothes. They will mildew if they sit in there too long. Plus, there only like five washers and dryers.
Only one class tomorrow. At 4:30 PM it's the weekend!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Home Alone
So my roommate is pretty great. No major psychological problems. No obsessions with Hello Kitty paraphanelia. I did pretty well considering it was the luck of the draw.
However, it is interesting to be alone in the room for awhile. There's no real danger of offending or annoying your roommate. Today I had a crazy amount of time by myself in my room. My roommate has a job that she went to after classes today. I, on the other hand, got done with classes early. Crazy!
So, what have I been doing with all this glorious space and time? NOTHING! Isn't it a shame that when I finally get this wonderful piece of real estate to myself, I can't think of anything to do with it?
Best I could come up with: listen to music, without headphones! My roommate and I don't have quite the same taste in music, so much of our time is spent with headphones in. Not today my friend! Today I allowed the beachy-smooth sounds of Kenny Chesney into my entire room! Don't tell Casey :)
Other things accomplished in alone time: watched Make it or Break it (again, headphoneless), and read a ton for classes tomorrow.
Also, in case you are curious, people cook in this dorm! There's a mini-kitchen next to our room so we get all the "pleasant" aromas. I'm not talking like, Easy Mac (my late night snack of choice). I mean, there are girls with fridges full of ground meat and vegetables that are making actual food. Who has time for all that? Surely not yours truely!
Counting down the days until the end of Political Science!
However, it is interesting to be alone in the room for awhile. There's no real danger of offending or annoying your roommate. Today I had a crazy amount of time by myself in my room. My roommate has a job that she went to after classes today. I, on the other hand, got done with classes early. Crazy!
So, what have I been doing with all this glorious space and time? NOTHING! Isn't it a shame that when I finally get this wonderful piece of real estate to myself, I can't think of anything to do with it?
Best I could come up with: listen to music, without headphones! My roommate and I don't have quite the same taste in music, so much of our time is spent with headphones in. Not today my friend! Today I allowed the beachy-smooth sounds of Kenny Chesney into my entire room! Don't tell Casey :)
Other things accomplished in alone time: watched Make it or Break it (again, headphoneless), and read a ton for classes tomorrow.
Also, in case you are curious, people cook in this dorm! There's a mini-kitchen next to our room so we get all the "pleasant" aromas. I'm not talking like, Easy Mac (my late night snack of choice). I mean, there are girls with fridges full of ground meat and vegetables that are making actual food. Who has time for all that? Surely not yours truely!
Counting down the days until the end of Political Science!
I got friends...
Laundry went well. I have clean clothes :)
So when I came to LSU I was very prepared to know like ten people. I had accepted the fact that I would have to make a ton of new friends and maybe spend a good bit of time alone. I've moved around before. I'm used to this.
One thing I have never liked (nobody does) is eating out alone. It always made me nervous and self-conscious. But after a few tips from Harry Connick Jr. (if you've never seen Hope Floats, watch it. now.) I was ready for this part of college. I figured it would be okay and pretty temporary.
Funny thing, I've been here for a week and have not eaten alone yet. About a handful of people are here from my town, nothing compared to the massive student body of 30,000. But they always seem to be around when no one else is.
Usually, it's pretty easy to text someone and meet for lunch. But on two occasions, I have just run into what I call my lunch buddies. I am about to sit down, content to eat alone in the crowded Union, and I hear someone say my name. Mind you, a lot of people in this world are named Ashley. It's pretty ridiculous. So I've gotten used to turning around very non-chalant. I sneak a glance back and who do I see? Tyler Ginn. Hallie Evans. Katie Green. My lunch buddies!
So basically, I'm loving it here. It's a great mix of the new and the old. Old friends to keep me sane. New friends to make life interesting. I'm going on a Fresman Retreat with the BCM tonight, and I'm so excited to get to know some fellow '13ers.
Tips for 2010:
If you notice a bunch of people with popcicles, go to them! Chances are some club or "free" credit card service is giving them away in the Free Speech Plaza. They know you probably won't sign up. They didn't pay for the popcicles. They don't care! So when it's a hundred degrees out and everyone around you has Rainbow Pops, find them! It's worth it.
So when I came to LSU I was very prepared to know like ten people. I had accepted the fact that I would have to make a ton of new friends and maybe spend a good bit of time alone. I've moved around before. I'm used to this.
One thing I have never liked (nobody does) is eating out alone. It always made me nervous and self-conscious. But after a few tips from Harry Connick Jr. (if you've never seen Hope Floats, watch it. now.) I was ready for this part of college. I figured it would be okay and pretty temporary.
Funny thing, I've been here for a week and have not eaten alone yet. About a handful of people are here from my town, nothing compared to the massive student body of 30,000. But they always seem to be around when no one else is.
Usually, it's pretty easy to text someone and meet for lunch. But on two occasions, I have just run into what I call my lunch buddies. I am about to sit down, content to eat alone in the crowded Union, and I hear someone say my name. Mind you, a lot of people in this world are named Ashley. It's pretty ridiculous. So I've gotten used to turning around very non-chalant. I sneak a glance back and who do I see? Tyler Ginn. Hallie Evans. Katie Green. My lunch buddies!
So basically, I'm loving it here. It's a great mix of the new and the old. Old friends to keep me sane. New friends to make life interesting. I'm going on a Fresman Retreat with the BCM tonight, and I'm so excited to get to know some fellow '13ers.
Tips for 2010:
If you notice a bunch of people with popcicles, go to them! Chances are some club or "free" credit card service is giving them away in the Free Speech Plaza. They know you probably won't sign up. They didn't pay for the popcicles. They don't care! So when it's a hundred degrees out and everyone around you has Rainbow Pops, find them! It's worth it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
ABC
Read! Read! Read!
It is starting to look like that is all I will be doing for the next four years. All of my teachers have given me a reading assignment due... whenever. That's my favorite part. There isn't acually a due date. However, there is a day when you realize "I should have read that last night."
Don't get me wrong. I love to read. I just would rather read romantic mystery novels in the place of The Orestai (that's a greek tragedy for all those not taking POLI 1001). Who knows? Maybe this is when it finally clicks between myself and classic literature. I don't have too much of a choice these days.
Tips for incoming freshmen:
Read a lot!
Read more than one thing at a time.
Start reading the newspaper.
Buy a dictionary (the thick kind!).
When they mention free food, always go.
It is starting to look like that is all I will be doing for the next four years. All of my teachers have given me a reading assignment due... whenever. That's my favorite part. There isn't acually a due date. However, there is a day when you realize "I should have read that last night."
Don't get me wrong. I love to read. I just would rather read romantic mystery novels in the place of The Orestai (that's a greek tragedy for all those not taking POLI 1001). Who knows? Maybe this is when it finally clicks between myself and classic literature. I don't have too much of a choice these days.
Tips for incoming freshmen:
Read a lot!
Read more than one thing at a time.
Start reading the newspaper.
Buy a dictionary (the thick kind!).
When they mention free food, always go.
Monday, August 24, 2009
a day of firsts... and lasts
I have dreaded it.
I have avoided it.
But I could not stop it from coming.
The first day of classes.
It's Monday and around 7:30 my alarm goes off. Not the little noise-maker next to my bed. my roommate. She is always awake a full half hour before I plan to be. No biggie though. It makes the shriek of my actual alarm less of a surprise.
After a quick shower, some coffee (made by yours truly - I'm becoming a pro), and a deep breath, I am off to Political Science 1001 - The Fundamental Issues of Politics. What a buzz kill. After an hour, I realize that this is not the class I hoped it would be. Instead of learning about politics today, we will be discussing how politics have evolved over the years. Ugh.
Now lunch in the Union. GOOD GRIEF! I feel like all 30,000 students at LSU are in this building. A coincidental run in with some high school friends keeps me from eating alone.
Next, Kinesiology 2503 - Basic Athletic Training. I used to want to be an athletic trainer. I spent two years in high school studying sports medicine. I changed my mind. Now I'm stuck in this class. Oh well. It has the reputation of an easy A. Oh, did I mention it's me and 35 junior boys? The only other girl is the proff.
Next, a mad dash to Honors 1007 - Natural Science. The least sciency class I have ever taken. I can deal. The run, on the other hand, will not happen again. Biking is the way to go in this case.
Observations Made on First Day of Classes
My first professor was wearing a microphone.
My first class was at least 3 times the size of my graduating class.
I could see the proff's wrinkles magnified when he wrote on the overhead.
Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody who you should know.
Foreign accents are not uncommon on a college campus, especially in the Grad School (did I mention I work there?).
Cigarettes are a fashionable accessory.
Many people will make you nervous because they have a "definite" major and "know" what they want to be. BS.
Dressing for success does not apply for the next four years.
Just because a class has the word "Basic" in the title, does not mean it is a freshman class.
It is okay to look like a lost freshman. You blend in with all the other lost freshmen.
You never know which professor just came back from the cadaver labs. yeah. Dead bodies.
Be nice to strangers. They might be the only friends you have.
Labs are not optional.
Go to the bathroom before class!!!
All this in one day! Only 69 more to go!
I have avoided it.
But I could not stop it from coming.
The first day of classes.
It's Monday and around 7:30 my alarm goes off. Not the little noise-maker next to my bed. my roommate. She is always awake a full half hour before I plan to be. No biggie though. It makes the shriek of my actual alarm less of a surprise.
After a quick shower, some coffee (made by yours truly - I'm becoming a pro), and a deep breath, I am off to Political Science 1001 - The Fundamental Issues of Politics. What a buzz kill. After an hour, I realize that this is not the class I hoped it would be. Instead of learning about politics today, we will be discussing how politics have evolved over the years. Ugh.
Now lunch in the Union. GOOD GRIEF! I feel like all 30,000 students at LSU are in this building. A coincidental run in with some high school friends keeps me from eating alone.
Next, Kinesiology 2503 - Basic Athletic Training. I used to want to be an athletic trainer. I spent two years in high school studying sports medicine. I changed my mind. Now I'm stuck in this class. Oh well. It has the reputation of an easy A. Oh, did I mention it's me and 35 junior boys? The only other girl is the proff.
Next, a mad dash to Honors 1007 - Natural Science. The least sciency class I have ever taken. I can deal. The run, on the other hand, will not happen again. Biking is the way to go in this case.
Observations Made on First Day of Classes
My first professor was wearing a microphone.
My first class was at least 3 times the size of my graduating class.
I could see the proff's wrinkles magnified when he wrote on the overhead.
Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody who you should know.
Foreign accents are not uncommon on a college campus, especially in the Grad School (did I mention I work there?).
Cigarettes are a fashionable accessory.
Many people will make you nervous because they have a "definite" major and "know" what they want to be. BS.
Dressing for success does not apply for the next four years.
Just because a class has the word "Basic" in the title, does not mean it is a freshman class.
It is okay to look like a lost freshman. You blend in with all the other lost freshmen.
You never know which professor just came back from the cadaver labs. yeah. Dead bodies.
Be nice to strangers. They might be the only friends you have.
Labs are not optional.
Go to the bathroom before class!!!
All this in one day! Only 69 more to go!
I thought it was 15...
This blog is for me and you. I would have loved to read about a real person's experience their first semester of college before I embarked on this crazy year. That's why it's for you. I am not quite sure why I need it. Maybe an outlet. Between Political Science and Kinesiology classes, that's very possible.
Why the Freshman 70? That's how many days of class I have this semester. That's how many days I will wake up to the smiling faces of my professors. Hopefully it will be 70. I hear swine flu is going around the dorms these days. Whatever the case, I want to share my journey with you. Hopefully it matters.
Why the Freshman 70? That's how many days of class I have this semester. That's how many days I will wake up to the smiling faces of my professors. Hopefully it will be 70. I hear swine flu is going around the dorms these days. Whatever the case, I want to share my journey with you. Hopefully it matters.
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