Well...it's the last day of the long first week of college. Only two more classes to go, and then it will technically be my first college weekend! I think we all know that that means...sleep (who am I kidding...really)! There is a blues festival in town this weekend, so I think Thuli, Kadie and I will be checking that out tonight. That is, after our convocation...God knows what that means...and a dinner with our individual seminars (for those who aren't familiar with the lingo (honestly, like me) that is a class that usually lines up with the major that we want to pursue that brings people of the same interest in the same class together...got it? I know I just confused myself...).
I made a very interesting and quite disturbing observation yesterday...all of the citizens of Lugano hate us. I am not even exaggerating. I mean, we get stared at, honked at...WHY AM I HERE!?! I guess they all haven't met me! Haha...just kidding! Although, I am so lovable, not to mention such a great poster child for America...well...I won't take it that far. Anywho, I guess they all are like "wow, those rich American kids invading our town and getting in our way." I guess loans and grants sort of fly right over their heads. Whatever...it's pretty, I am getting an education, I will put up with the stares and honks. Lindsay Lohan does it all the time, why can't I!?!
Also, another observation, but this one I am kinda embarrassed to admit...there is a lot of reading in college. Whose bright idea was that?!? And for all of those that know me (which should be all of you reading this, cuz otherwise that would be kinda creepy...), reading really isn't my cup of tea. Why spend time couped up somewhere reading someone else's story when you can go and experience your own...all I'm saying. Anywho, I am impressing myself - I actually have done all of my readings for this week. I think it does help that I only know a few people here, cuz my ADD (allegedly) + other people + a city that I need to get familiarized with = recipe for disaster.
My lessons learned for week 1:
-Attempting to understand history from a German professor at 8:30am MWF...useless.
-Ikea is like a heaven on earth (why haven't I ever been there...I call that bad parenting?! just kidding! love ya both!!!)
-Our school's food is pretty fantastic...especially for a college! Homemade deliciousness everyday! Yesterday, some kinda of chicken with pasta and veggies...today I can only imagine the possibilities!
Time for Econ!
Ciao!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Orientation Week Review...
Day 1:
So we arrived to Switzerland Tuesday, August 21st after sadly leaving New York and the family on Monday the 20th. When we arrived, baggage of course was a hassle, but only like 3 people lost things (I was not one of those...thanks to the big man upstairs...thats Jesus for you uncool people...) one of which was one of my new closest friends Kadie, from Wauwatosa. Other new friends from the flight include Thuli from Chicago and Liz from Cali, as well as Jeff who knows Caroline from elementary school (if you are lost with that...don't fret, just continue reading).
It was like 10am-ish when they picked us up, and the Orientation Leaders (upper classmen that gave up a week out of their busy schedules to lead us around like blind sheep...also referred to as OLs) were waaaay too perky for us. Anywho, they offered us some local fare, and we were on out way. The like 3 hour bus ride was beautiful, but grulling...if anyone tried to sleep, you were yelled at via microphone...I think I was one of those, but alas, did not wake from it. Also, and I cannot fail to mention this...it was pouring out...miserably (I didn't go to Seattle for this!?!).
We got to campus, and get some sandwiches at the Grotto (dining option #1)...the local specialty I assume - they force feed you them all of the time. Then, off to checkin with our Orientation Families. Our leader was Paul...the overzealous Texan who I apparently stole his room and he was (kindly) kicked off campus. Sorry Paul!
I was taken to my room...in the rain...and we kept walking....and walking.....and walking. For those of you who do not know...I live 15 minutes from the closest campus...downhill. The hill is horrible...but silver lining...I will have excellently toned legs by Christmas! Oh, and to add insult to injury, my room cleverly named 201, is actually one floor underground, or -1 according to the elevator...lame. AND! it's only supposed to be a single...enter roommate! Ryam Button from Seattle, Washington area. He and I, unfortunatly, are polar opposites. We both enjoy hanging out with people...but definitely not the same people. There are some hang ups, including the lack of commnication...conversations...no.....awkward silence...oh yea. Will we stay roommates? We will see...
My room is soooo small compared to others on campus. One desk, one armoir for us to share (and three small drawers inside to divy up), two childs beds, and a kitchenette and bathroom. You may think that's awesome that I have that stuff, but does anyone here know Windex or Clorox in Italian? Didn't think so...
After gruelling orientation in the smallest college auditorium known to any college we ate dinner...pasta...fathom that! And then there was a gellato social in the Falcon's Nest (kinda awkward "lounge" that kinda reminds me of someone's livingroom, where you are kinda afraid of the couched cuz you dont wanna catch anything...with me?). I was beat, so a few of us made the trek back down the mountain, unpacked some more, and then when my roomie had some ladies over, I finished unpacking what I could into my half of the big metal cabinet. Followed by the worst night of sleep ever...woot woot.
Days 2, 3, 4, 5...: Not as much as day 1...I can't remember everything...
Breakfasts of delicous pastries and other things that I didn't eat. I was just tired... We got introduced to the school a bit more, both as a large group and into our smaller families. Intros of all of the faculty took like 20 minutes...then some of the staff and important students. We got tours of both campuses (down the road like 7 minutes from eachother, about 15 and 20 minutes from my cave), the downtown area of Lugano (about 10 minutes in the opposite direction...I'm closer to it...visualize it. (in a line (kinda) from Lake Lugano - downtown, my residence Florida, Kaletsch Campus, North Campus).
We were shown the best grocery stores, restaurants, and bars - haha...me? I tested my skills at the store myself and bought some cookies (best EVER), gellato sandwiches (a luxury that I will probably never have again...im a poor college student now), bread that like never expires (seriously...September 19 for packages bread....really!?!), a wedge of cheese (when in Rome, right?), turkey (I was going to buy ham/beef, but I didn't know what was cooked), pinapple juice, bottles of water, pretzels, dishwashing soap, black garbage bags (law...I guess if it's white, it's a bomb...), butter and jam. Yummo! In all, I have had one too many grilled turkey and (unnamed) cheese sandwiches.
Thursday was "let's fake...i mean take....these placement tests!" day. There was an essay on the book "that we all read" and then a math placement test that we all had to take. The next day was filled with appointments with advisors to set up our schedules. I found out there that because of AP Stats (4...thanks V!) and the placement test, I had tested out of all maths. I am on the fence about that one...I kinda miss math...I am a nerd. Also, over the next X amount of years here, I will only have to take one English class, and 2 spanish classes. The 'X amount' is because I think I will be able to graduate in like 3 years...but I am not holding my breath. My schedule is as follows:
MWF - 8:30 - 9:20am World History with a German professor that I can't always understand, and Kadie
- 10:50 - 11:40am Macroeconomics with Ruthi, Thuli's rommie
- 12 - 12:50pm Spanish 200
TTH - 10:05 - 11:20am Writing in the Humanities - only english class
- 4:25 - 5:40pm First Year Seminar - Business Ethics: Scaldals in the Business World
Also, I found out that I'll be traveling to Northern Italy for my Academic travel in October. We have 4 meetings prior to the trip, where we discuss an certain topic about the place, and go over what we will be tested on when we get back...we will have a few readings, but nothing much. Our topic will be covering Italy's industries, culture, and government. The woman, who is also my advisor, is incredibly nice, and very excited, so after being down on the fact that out destination is like a 10 minute walk due south, I was happy with her and the trip. (check back for my itinerary soon!)
On Saturday night, OL groups combined and the leaders made dinner. While some made local fare - pasta, homemade calzones, pastries - we got breakfast burritos, fruit salad, and for dessert, french toast and fruit. It was fun, and I'm not complaining - the food was delicious, but I was expecting something a little more....dinner-ish. Then afterward, we went Cosmic Bowling. Woot Woot Good Ol' Times! It was super fun, super hot, and super confusing cuz people still didnt know people, but all was good. There was an instance, however, that resulted in the Italian man (not from our group) violently throwing a bowling ball into the drop ceiling, and part of it did just that, ad dropped. It was insane, and our group just stopped, and watched. Awkward!
Oh, Saturday, in the morning, we got the option of either going to the beach, the capital of this canton (state), trekking to this fishing village, or climbing up a giant mountain. As if I don't get this enough daily, I was an idiot and chose to climb Mount San Salvatore with Kadie. It started pretty good...and then we actually got to the mountain (they made us was the mile or so to the base as well as climbing to the top). It took about 2 and a half or 2 hours...but I think it was worth the work...and oh was it work. That thing was steep, rocky, hot, and at some parts like sheer drop offs. And we had to carry these bagged lunches with us that had a greasy piece of pizza in it...good planning Franklin Kitchen! Oh, and at one point, there was a split in the trail - one which for sure looked flatter but swinging around like the whole mountain, and the other that was like a staircase. A lot decided to head up the steep one, but I stayed back with the 2nd leader, and took the flatter one. And thank God...the other one - that warned people "if you are not a skilled hiker, quit" - led to a sheer rock face that you would need equiptment to climb! They literally had to climb back down the mountain like 45 minutes, and then loop around to our trail, and start the trek nearly over. Many were all "umm....no" and left. When we got to the top, we were surprised not to find them all up there, and thought that they had actually were up already and were on the way back down. Someone, tho, found us from their group, and told us their story...ouch. We were all sad and angry to see that there was in fact a funicular that takes people to the top from the base...but, as I said, all of the work was worth it, and the veiws were incredible. We saw snow capped Alps in the background, and all of the surrounding cities.
Sunday was a final hooray - a bus trip to the "Bond DAM" (this was spelled...inappropriatly for like weeks...you people need to warn me!...great, now I have to change my rating to PG...) - in the beginning of Golden Eye, I believe, he bungees a damn, and that was this exact one - as well as various stops at waterfalls, and glacial water pools where people actually jumped in off of these tall rocks and bridges...Thuli and I were smart, however, and sat in the shade with ice cream...were rebels...
We finished out the day with an all school barbaque...kinda lame, but free food - I'm in!
Thats our orientation week in review. Any questions thus far? If I remember any fun and important things, I'll post those soon! Keep check back - I'll do this at least twice a week! Ciao for now!
So we arrived to Switzerland Tuesday, August 21st after sadly leaving New York and the family on Monday the 20th. When we arrived, baggage of course was a hassle, but only like 3 people lost things (I was not one of those...thanks to the big man upstairs...thats Jesus for you uncool people...) one of which was one of my new closest friends Kadie, from Wauwatosa. Other new friends from the flight include Thuli from Chicago and Liz from Cali, as well as Jeff who knows Caroline from elementary school (if you are lost with that...don't fret, just continue reading).
It was like 10am-ish when they picked us up, and the Orientation Leaders (upper classmen that gave up a week out of their busy schedules to lead us around like blind sheep...also referred to as OLs) were waaaay too perky for us. Anywho, they offered us some local fare, and we were on out way. The like 3 hour bus ride was beautiful, but grulling...if anyone tried to sleep, you were yelled at via microphone...I think I was one of those, but alas, did not wake from it. Also, and I cannot fail to mention this...it was pouring out...miserably (I didn't go to Seattle for this!?!).
We got to campus, and get some sandwiches at the Grotto (dining option #1)...the local specialty I assume - they force feed you them all of the time. Then, off to checkin with our Orientation Families. Our leader was Paul...the overzealous Texan who I apparently stole his room and he was (kindly) kicked off campus. Sorry Paul!
I was taken to my room...in the rain...and we kept walking....and walking.....and walking. For those of you who do not know...I live 15 minutes from the closest campus...downhill. The hill is horrible...but silver lining...I will have excellently toned legs by Christmas! Oh, and to add insult to injury, my room cleverly named 201, is actually one floor underground, or -1 according to the elevator...lame. AND! it's only supposed to be a single...enter roommate! Ryam Button from Seattle, Washington area. He and I, unfortunatly, are polar opposites. We both enjoy hanging out with people...but definitely not the same people. There are some hang ups, including the lack of commnication...conversations...no.....awkward silence...oh yea. Will we stay roommates? We will see...
My room is soooo small compared to others on campus. One desk, one armoir for us to share (and three small drawers inside to divy up), two childs beds, and a kitchenette and bathroom. You may think that's awesome that I have that stuff, but does anyone here know Windex or Clorox in Italian? Didn't think so...
After gruelling orientation in the smallest college auditorium known to any college we ate dinner...pasta...fathom that! And then there was a gellato social in the Falcon's Nest (kinda awkward "lounge" that kinda reminds me of someone's livingroom, where you are kinda afraid of the couched cuz you dont wanna catch anything...with me?). I was beat, so a few of us made the trek back down the mountain, unpacked some more, and then when my roomie had some ladies over, I finished unpacking what I could into my half of the big metal cabinet. Followed by the worst night of sleep ever...woot woot.
Days 2, 3, 4, 5...: Not as much as day 1...I can't remember everything...
Breakfasts of delicous pastries and other things that I didn't eat. I was just tired... We got introduced to the school a bit more, both as a large group and into our smaller families. Intros of all of the faculty took like 20 minutes...then some of the staff and important students. We got tours of both campuses (down the road like 7 minutes from eachother, about 15 and 20 minutes from my cave), the downtown area of Lugano (about 10 minutes in the opposite direction...I'm closer to it...visualize it. (in a line (kinda) from Lake Lugano - downtown, my residence Florida, Kaletsch Campus, North Campus).
We were shown the best grocery stores, restaurants, and bars - haha...me? I tested my skills at the store myself and bought some cookies (best EVER), gellato sandwiches (a luxury that I will probably never have again...im a poor college student now), bread that like never expires (seriously...September 19 for packages bread....really!?!), a wedge of cheese (when in Rome, right?), turkey (I was going to buy ham/beef, but I didn't know what was cooked), pinapple juice, bottles of water, pretzels, dishwashing soap, black garbage bags (law...I guess if it's white, it's a bomb...), butter and jam. Yummo! In all, I have had one too many grilled turkey and (unnamed) cheese sandwiches.
Thursday was "let's fake...i mean take....these placement tests!" day. There was an essay on the book "that we all read" and then a math placement test that we all had to take. The next day was filled with appointments with advisors to set up our schedules. I found out there that because of AP Stats (4...thanks V!) and the placement test, I had tested out of all maths. I am on the fence about that one...I kinda miss math...I am a nerd. Also, over the next X amount of years here, I will only have to take one English class, and 2 spanish classes. The 'X amount' is because I think I will be able to graduate in like 3 years...but I am not holding my breath. My schedule is as follows:
MWF - 8:30 - 9:20am World History with a German professor that I can't always understand, and Kadie
- 10:50 - 11:40am Macroeconomics with Ruthi, Thuli's rommie
- 12 - 12:50pm Spanish 200
TTH - 10:05 - 11:20am Writing in the Humanities - only english class
- 4:25 - 5:40pm First Year Seminar - Business Ethics: Scaldals in the Business World
Also, I found out that I'll be traveling to Northern Italy for my Academic travel in October. We have 4 meetings prior to the trip, where we discuss an certain topic about the place, and go over what we will be tested on when we get back...we will have a few readings, but nothing much. Our topic will be covering Italy's industries, culture, and government. The woman, who is also my advisor, is incredibly nice, and very excited, so after being down on the fact that out destination is like a 10 minute walk due south, I was happy with her and the trip. (check back for my itinerary soon!)
On Saturday night, OL groups combined and the leaders made dinner. While some made local fare - pasta, homemade calzones, pastries - we got breakfast burritos, fruit salad, and for dessert, french toast and fruit. It was fun, and I'm not complaining - the food was delicious, but I was expecting something a little more....dinner-ish. Then afterward, we went Cosmic Bowling. Woot Woot Good Ol' Times! It was super fun, super hot, and super confusing cuz people still didnt know people, but all was good. There was an instance, however, that resulted in the Italian man (not from our group) violently throwing a bowling ball into the drop ceiling, and part of it did just that, ad dropped. It was insane, and our group just stopped, and watched. Awkward!
Oh, Saturday, in the morning, we got the option of either going to the beach, the capital of this canton (state), trekking to this fishing village, or climbing up a giant mountain. As if I don't get this enough daily, I was an idiot and chose to climb Mount San Salvatore with Kadie. It started pretty good...and then we actually got to the mountain (they made us was the mile or so to the base as well as climbing to the top). It took about 2 and a half or 2 hours...but I think it was worth the work...and oh was it work. That thing was steep, rocky, hot, and at some parts like sheer drop offs. And we had to carry these bagged lunches with us that had a greasy piece of pizza in it...good planning Franklin Kitchen! Oh, and at one point, there was a split in the trail - one which for sure looked flatter but swinging around like the whole mountain, and the other that was like a staircase. A lot decided to head up the steep one, but I stayed back with the 2nd leader, and took the flatter one. And thank God...the other one - that warned people "if you are not a skilled hiker, quit" - led to a sheer rock face that you would need equiptment to climb! They literally had to climb back down the mountain like 45 minutes, and then loop around to our trail, and start the trek nearly over. Many were all "umm....no" and left. When we got to the top, we were surprised not to find them all up there, and thought that they had actually were up already and were on the way back down. Someone, tho, found us from their group, and told us their story...ouch. We were all sad and angry to see that there was in fact a funicular that takes people to the top from the base...but, as I said, all of the work was worth it, and the veiws were incredible. We saw snow capped Alps in the background, and all of the surrounding cities.
Sunday was a final hooray - a bus trip to the "Bond DAM" (this was spelled...inappropriatly for like weeks...you people need to warn me!...great, now I have to change my rating to PG...) - in the beginning of Golden Eye, I believe, he bungees a damn, and that was this exact one - as well as various stops at waterfalls, and glacial water pools where people actually jumped in off of these tall rocks and bridges...Thuli and I were smart, however, and sat in the shade with ice cream...were rebels...
We finished out the day with an all school barbaque...kinda lame, but free food - I'm in!
Thats our orientation week in review. Any questions thus far? If I remember any fun and important things, I'll post those soon! Keep check back - I'll do this at least twice a week! Ciao for now!
Finally getting this started!
Greetings from Switzerland! It's been about a week and a half since arriving, and already so much to say! I have met some pretty great people, some not so great, but overall quite an experience thus far. I will try to keep this this updated daily, so if you see I'm slacking, someone kindly remind me!
*** Side note to any sticklers for grammar and spelling....you are in the wrong place! Don't hate...just read! ***
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