University Studies

If you enroll at the school of General Studies and have a scholarship or came from another college, there's a chance you'll get placed in University Studies. Now, the name is a bit confusing and the description even more so. It's a one hour per week class where you learn study skills, test-taking skills, and coping strategies for your time at Columbia.

"But wait," you may think, "I already know this stuff." I felt the same way and yet, the class has been invaluable. It is NOT a remedial or "special" class, it's just a nice way to get support your first semester at GS.

One of the things the class covers is time management and schedules. I found it really interesting that so many people only post their classes in their schedules: it's not realistic. A good schedule, as we learned in class, takes all sorts of things into consideration: commute, meals, studying, work, social life, family life, hygiene, and so on.

My own schedule went through tons of stages.

This is the first one:

This is the final one:

I admit I don't stick to it as much as I'd like, but the whole point is that having it makes you flexible. We'll see how that goes.

A Short Update

I just had another awesome day. We had a pizza party that got way too big so we moved it outside. Then we had a speed meeting where I met the coolest guy. Same major, also a NYCer, just awesome stuff in common. We’re totally going to be study buddies. Then thirty of us went out drinking and I discovered the local hangout bar is a block away from me. Duuuuuuude.

So, great day. Totally awesome. Too tired to write more.

And now it's official...

ORIENTATION. WAS. AWESOME.

I…I don’t even know what to say. I mean, I am EXHAUSTED. Like seriously. I didn't sleep last night because I was too anxious so I went on 2 hours of sleep and just got back home almost thirteen hours later. I’m pretty sure my feet are going to be in incredible amounts of pain tomorrow, but still…AWESOME.

So I walked into the place to applause which made me want to run back out but I guess they applaud for everyone when they walk in. The good thing was I already knew, like, five orientation leaders personally, so I gave them all hugs and my gay husband and I were all, “ZOMG!!!” and squeed. Then we got an into to all the staff and people along with a breakdown of school policies and yadda yadda yadda. Then we had a group meeting with out advisors, and my advisor is the fucking best advisor ever. No, really, everyone loves her. She’s awesome. And she knew my name and who I was without me having to introduce myself. She had all her students speak and tell them what they got out of advisement. It was really interesting, actually, because the Columbia advisors seems WAY more hands-on than any other ones I've had. Then we had a financial aid thing and different breakout sessions.

The cool thing was that I socialized. Like, really, I socialized. I must’ve introduced myself to 45 people and exchanged numbers and got business cards (note to self: I need to make moo cards with my info). I met some people I really believe will be friends for a while. It was so cool. And I already have a repuation as a jokester. Me? Jokester? Never. clears throat

They had a welcoming dinner for us at a local Cuban restaurant…tasty! The party ended at 6pm but the group of people I was talking to didn’t leave until 7:30. The poor waitstaff wanted to kill us. :P

Tomorrow is another party and I’m totally going. Eeeeeeeee. :D

Well Now...

I just used the toilet in the apartment for the first time. It has buttons. Lots of buttons. And a massage setting. I feel like I need a manual or a PhD to properly utilize it.

Fred Loves You

I'm Here...and I Suck At Packing

You know that saying, "You never know what you're missing 'til it's gone?" Is that the phrase? Well, either way, you never know what's important until you don't have any.

Like towels.

Or pillows.

Ooops.

I know I can just buy those things here, but by the time I remembered about the pillows it was 1am and by the time I remembered about the towels, I was already in desperate need of a shower. Thank goodness I packed enough cotton clothing to do a decent time of drying. I should probably get a robe though. I'm pretty sure one of my apartment-mates saw more of my bottom than she wanted to. Double ooops.

So fair warning to anyone moving: pack a towel.

Now that that's out of the way...

I'M IN NEW YORK CITY!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I'm probably not as excited or overwhelmed as most, seeing as I was born and raised in NYC, but I'm sill so happy to be back. I'm getting certain pangs of homesickness, but that's normal and I suspect it will pass.

I did receive my first shock though.

Grocery Shopping In Morningside Heights

Holy crap. I was told the dining around here was expensive, but I had no idea HOW expensive. What really bothers me is that the new people don't realize they're being hosed. If yo go just a few blocks up to Harlem or even further up to Washington Heights, the food prices are drastically lower. Still, I was hungry and needed grub, so I hit up my nearest market, The Apple Tree Deli, to get some snack food. I went in there without a plan ad wound up bringing back the most random assortment of food ever. Here's what I got:

1lb Polly-O Mozzarella, $6.89

Six large eggs, $1.40

Two Stonyfield Farms 6oz yogurts, $1.19 each

Two plums, $1.32

Two packs of Winterfresh gum, $0.70

Four bananas, $1.15

One pear, $0.66

All for a grand total of $14.50. I wanted other things, like juice, but my usual brand was $6 for half a gallon. I pay around $2.80 for it back at home and just couldn't bring myself to pay more for it without feeling bitter so I left it. 

So am I really willing to trek up to Washington Heights every week for groceries? Will I have time to do that? I think I found a good alternative. Fresh Direct delivers to this area! It will probably come out just as expensive once you factor in shipping, but will save money once you factor in time. I do use a cane, after all, so hobbling around a store after already running around the school is something to avoid if possible. I placed my first order last night and expect delivery on Saturday. I'll report back on that.

Thoughts on Subletting

1) Got a place two blocks from campus. WINNING.

2) I may just be the most annoying subtenant ever.

3) The student I am subleasing from is a saint.

4) Did I mention how close I was from campus? DOUBLE WINNING.