debbie
September 28, 2005
New Situation
I moved out of my dorm room on Monday. It was an unhealthy situation that I found myself in and I had to leave, as it was adversely affecting my schoolwork. I was lucky enough to find a room in the same hall, just a different floor. It made moving easy, and I had Ariel to help me. I am disappointed that it didn’t work out, I was willing to do whatever it took. I guess it’s just one of those things, I can’t read too much into it. I am still good friends with Ariel, so I am glad there was some good that came out of the situation.
My new roommate, Sarah, is awesome. The room’s atmosphere is so relaxed that I can actually work on my homework. It’s too relaxed at times, ‘cause all I want to do is take a nap. :o) Sarah and I get along really well, I will try and get a picture of her as soon as I can. It’s also really nice, because I am in the actual hallway of the floor. The last room was at the very end, across from the bathroom and we couldn’t have the door open [fire hazard?]. It’s pretty cool how social my floor is. Some of the most interesting conversations go on, when people forget that you can hear them with your door open.
Let’s see. Teachers are piling on the work. I have two huge tests tomorrow, in Chinese History and Intro to Japanese. I don’t feel prepared for either one. The thing that stinks about it is, same teacher and only 10 minutes in between classes. So no real break to do any extra studying - and no break for a breather. I know as soon as I get out of my Japanese class, I am going to go back to my room and collapse on my bed, with my brain matter a pile of goo. My mind is already starting to melt from the overload.
So many Japanese characters to know, so little time!
I am just grateful I have a study group I can go to tonight for my Japanese. It will help studying with other people who can give me hints. One of the girls in the group, Kate, is a whiz at language. I can have her to defer to with questions.
I am going home next weekend, for Columbus day. I am SO excited. To be able to sleep in my own bed again, without having to worry about waking someone up is luxury indeed! More about that later.
Well, I have to eat and finish studying. No more procrastination!
~Debbie
Posted by debbie13 at 04:31 PM
September 24, 2005
Making up Title's are always my favorite part of online Journals.
It’s amazing how much fun I have been having with Crew. It absorbs most of my free time, but in a good way. I am certainly working harder to get through my homework so I can enjoy [relatively] guilt-free. On Thursday I found out that the Varsity team lost their Coxswain’s, so the Coaches approached me to Cox Varsity. Naturally I said yes, wouldn’t you? I also found out that I will be able to race in the Head of the Charles, equivalent to the Super-bowl in the rowing world. They say it’s a Coxs race, because of all the twists and turns. I guess that’s me.
The really cool thing is - ever since I found out that Simmons had a Crew team, I have wanted to join. When I was told that they race in the Head of the Charles, I thought: I could never do that. I wanted to race in it, but you had to be a member of the Varsity team. I would never had done it this year if I continued as a rower, just because I would only be a novice. But then I backed myself into a corner by becoming Coxswain - there was no guarantee that I would cox the #1 boat [the one that would race]. Next year I would be a Senior, it was either one of these two years or never.
So to be asked to cox Varsity means I pretty much have a lock in racing in it this year. The only disadvantage to being on Varsity, is that, I have to be up at 4:30 every morning. Like a told a good friend of mine; watching the sun rise on the Boston Skyline makes it totally worth it. I will try to get a picture of it sometime. I am just too busy at that point in time running through drills to stop.
Two of my roommates left for the weekend, one’s in New Hampshire on a boat/camping trip with her boyfriend and mom. The other is hanging out with her boyfriend. Ariel and I have the room ALL to ourselves, which is really nice. We stayed up late last night watching “Napoleon Dynamite” on the big screen TV in the basement, and talked about - you know - girl stuff.
I did catch her the other day working really hard on her schoolwork:
I also discovered the power of Netflix. A college student’s best friend and savior. Since I didn’t bring a TV with me, my only form of entertainment are my DVD’s. The problem is, you can only watch “The Breakfast Club” so many times, before you start to despise Claire and Bender. That’s where I got “Napoleon Dynamite”. I also rented “Born into Brothels” and “Garden State”. I am thinking I will watch “Born into Brothels” tonight after I get some homework done.
But anyways. I wanted to get a quick entry in for this week. Be sure to tune in next time! ~Deb
Posted by debbie13 at 06:14 PM
September 14, 2005
Second week...and I'm still alive
I am well within my second week at Simmons. A LOT has been going on, that it’s hard to keep up with everything. I will try.
I joined Crew last Thursday [9/8/05], just to see what it was like. When I found out at the June orientation over the summer that they had a Crew team, I thought, ‘hey! Maybe this is something I can do.’ I never did sports in high school, and I will be honest. The girls there intimidated me. I had known them since grade school, and they had already formed their own cliques and whatnot. I always had a competitive streak, so I found other ways to use it. I went the more academic route in high school, joining parliamentary procedure and speech competitions in my FFA chapter. Those were a lot of fun, a team sport in some form. In my community college I joined the student senate, eventually to become President.
Well, now? Now is the time to try the athletic stuff. Hence I joined Crew. Actually it’s the Novice Crew, but who cares? I’m having fun.
I have attended practice everyday, and just on Monday we got onto the Charles River to row. They needed someone to be the Coxswain when the team went out on the water. Little aside: Whenever people ask for volunteers, my hand automatically shoots up. So, what do you think happened? I shot my hand up. So basically I get to sit on the end of the boat and shout out commands to everyone. Whenever I tell people that I am getting to Cox the Crew team, their eyes widen and say ‘Isn’t that where you get to yell at people? And not really have to do anything?’ I nod. ‘I could do something like that! I love to yell at people!’ I just laugh and think: If they only knew how much work is involved. But I am up to the challenge.
I don’t have any pictures of Crew just yet - but I am hoping I can get some soon.
SPEAKING of pictures…
Here’s one of the roommates. This was our second night at Simmons - we went up to the North End for some Italian food.
From Left to Right: Ariel, Vanessa and Courtney.
Ariel and I went out earlier in the day, and while we were on the T, some woman fell asleep on Ariel’s arm. She woke up just before I took the picture and moved her head, but I still took the picture anyways. Ha ha!
I don’t remember who this was, I think it’s Clement - who was pitching in last Thursday’s game. It’s one of the only nice pictures Chris was able to get.
Chris on the common. I love this picture of him. :o)
Well, story time is over kiddies! I have school work to do. Then it’s off to Crew!
~Debbie
Posted by debbie13 at 09:35 AM
September 07, 2005
And so it is...
I finally made it to Simmons. It took me about a year to do it too. Around this time last year I first heard of the place, from one of the professors at my old college. She suggested it when she found out that I was looking into all-women’s colleges. The bait? “It’s in Boston” she would say.
A nice catch if you asked me. But then again - you didn’t.
Anyways - who cares about the in between stuff. All that really matters is that I made it. And I made it official last Sunday when I moved in. That was interesting. It took two cars, filled with totes [and still not everything that I needed!] and a good map to make it here. I was lucky enough to have my younger cousin Mark to help me. Mister Slipknot metal head. He thought that he was scaring all the girls on campus. I thought he looked adorable. But don’t tell him I said that. I think that would ruin his rep.
The room is nice, though not at all what my roommates and I expected. We were hoping to have two rooms [ two girls to each room]. That’s what the floor plan says. It was a surprise. Albeit, unexpected. Naturally, as humans are expected to do - we adapted. I was able to get my own little corner, and just enough storage space for all my stuff. Some things will be making their way home tomorrow with Chris. I don’t want to clutter [and I am also thinking of the move back home…less stuff to bring].
My Betta fish, Jake and Glen, were lucky enough to make the trip. They have a place of honor on my desk where they crack the whip when it comes to homework. I haven’t had any yet, but they are ready for me. They bring a little bit of Zen to my part of the room. Especially Jake. Jakes an angry little fish. He makes me laugh when he’s angry. Stress is relieved.
My only complaint is this: my dorm is facing the street, so it gets a bit noisy at times. There are several hospital’s in the area, so the Ambulance traffic is heavy. I don’t notice it that much at night, mainly because I am passed out. I have been a busy little bee these past few days. I have been running around, trying to get everything together before my classes start. I don’t feel at all ready. Tomorrow is my first day of classes - and it’s a full schedule too.
Especially tomorrow. I start classes at 9:30, don’t get done from a straight shot of classes [10 minute breaks in between] until 1:30. I have Crew practice at 3 t0 4:30. Another class at 5 and a Red Sox game [go Clement!] at 7:05. Not to mention Chris is visiting me too. Which, I am very much looking forward to. He’s going to be dropping off some stuff that I needed from home and we will go to the game together. He’s staying overnight, and we will tour the city on Friday before he heads home.
I won’t be looking forward to his leaving. I wish I could keep him under my bed. Shh. Don’t tell anyone - but Simmons has a new student. Her name is…Christina! Ha. I’m tired, so I am getting slightly goofy now. I think I should go to bed. I am getting up early in the morning to work out in the fitness center. Gotta get in shape if I am going to do Crew!
~Deb
Posted by debbie13 at 10:00 PM
September 02, 2005
Katrina
Words cannot express the heartache, sadness, anger and frustration I am feeling right now. I had been holding back the tears for the past three days now, tears for the plight of the people caught in the hurricane torn South. The tears finally flowed, only because I cannot hold them any longer.
There is so much that I want to do for the people of the South. I heard on the radio the other day that the Red Cross in my area is training volunteers today and tomorrow with what they need to know to go down and help. They would be leaving sometime next week. It would be for a two week stint in New Orleans and Biloxi [among other area’s]. I was actually lamenting the fact that I had to go to school in a few days. I wish that I could work something out so I could go down to help and not be penalized [by the school] for it.
I feel so helpless, so remote from the whole situation. I have donated some water, but for me - that’s not enough. I want to organize something on campus - either a food/water drive, or just monetary donations. Then send it down for the refugees.
Something inside of me has been stirred. I never really was sure what I wanted to do with my life once I am done with school. I always toyed with becoming a Public Servant, a Lobbyist, SOMETHING that has to do with helping those in need. Now I know that is what I will do. I might become a Lobbyist to help get better emergency procedures or money for charities. Or work for FEMA, or the Red Cross. Become a Senator and push for better Emergency relief laws.
Something that will help others.
I didn’t want to say anything regarding the situation - I wanted to keep positive. After all, I am going away to school in 2 days, a time in my life that should be kept happy. But something inside has been crying out to say ANYTHING regarding the situation.
Please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks for reading.
~Debbie
Posted by debbie13 at 06:40 PM