Roomie Nights

I love my room. My roomies rock. The place looks great and we have the best times. We went out for dinner last week at the Village Squire. This week it will be at home. DVD addicts, late night pot-sticker (Yeah, that is what they call gyoza here. A direct translation from the Chinese name of the food) pig outs, doing homework till wee-hours of the morning...

Presenting to you, one of a kind, Room 307.

Water Level on the Rise

The temperature took an almost 10-15 degree Celsius drop today. Okay, to be fair, it started to get a little nippy yesterday. The remains of what was Hurricane Gustav was over us and rain was pouring non-stop all day. Plant operations had to bring out the water pump to syphon rainwater out of the pond to prevent possible flooding.

Observation for the day: Umbrellas are not common over here. Students are all in their hoodies which puzzled me for they are of sweatshirt material. Doesn't it absorb more water? Students strut into class wet... Am I the only one or everyone else is comfortable in that? I had to change my socks twice... Well, personal preference.

I guess with more people around me I am starting to feel the pressure of cultural differences come crashing upon me since classes begin. I am in the same spot all over again and it is difficult not to let it get to me. Why do I put myself through all this? Why do I step out of familiarity and take on something I have to start from scratch? I am whining, just a little. I am not ungrateful about it, it is just that I guess I do get a little tired sometimes. "Do or Die" ... no, wait. The better expression I was taught this week "sink or swim." Yeah, that is very much me. Just keep swimming. Yes. That is me.

caffeine-weak-bunny

busy semester + loads of homework + tonnes of reading assignment = need for longer days

I found out that I have a weak tolerance for caffeine. It does it purpose in keeping me awake; however, to be exact, it mainly keeps the eyes open. The brain might be functioning at times, but no guarantees. If you wanted a fun-highly-wired bunny, give me a energy drink that is high in caffeine and nicotine. At any case, the after effects are similar to those who are on sugar-high or hyped up after a few drinks. IF you give me caffeine loaded drinks when not needed, you have to be responsible for it...

The kryptonite levels are as follow: (Ranking done according to the effects it has on my sleep)

1. Matcha (Japanese ceremonial tea)
2. Chinese tea
3. Coffee
4. English tea
5. Diet Coke
6. Japanese tea

Coke was added to the list just last night. Although my body was tired and I was sleepy, my eyes were like headlights at 2am! Hmm, I wonder should I get a caffeine fix this morning as I started my day at 7:30 and I hope to end it somewhere before midnight...

Protein Breakfast

It is just the 1st week of the semester and I am totally beat!

Coursework and reading assignments are already piling up and I need to organize my pile of work in order to start working on them. My nights are stretching and starting the day early is not as easy as I intended it to be. Where is the focus of my drive right now? Studies, work, and money seem to overlap so much these days.

I don't normally have breakfast, unless I have company or that I am certain that I will be working hard and long, or that I will not be eating for the next 5-8 hours. This morning, I was too tired to clock in early at work and decided to spent some time on breakfast instead. Since I got up late, breakfast in the room was the only option. After the usual wash up, I waddled into the kitchen and started throwing stuff on the frying pan. When I was just about to dig in, "My! Protein overload!" I had bacon, bratwurst, and eggs staring at me. Thank goodness Colleen gave me a pancake for that side of carbohidrates.

Well, I am still rather stuffed but I am no more awake than when I left bed. Trying to limit myself to only a dose of coffee a day, I will save that for after dinner. It will be a long night to complete more reading and some assignments.

Man! I should seriously start a better eating routine. I think a belly is showing itself soon.
(-_ -#)

Labor Day

Labor Day. I will definitely have more of these on a regular basis.

First week of school. One whole week and I survived, by taking in serious gasp of air. Am I getting to old for this? Am I putting too much on my plate? 16 credit hours of classes per week, at least 35 hours of practicum as teaching aid, assistant teaching in the Japanese lesson on campus, trying to clock in 20 hours of work weekly, out of class studying and homework... As time goes on, my schedule would be better defined. I hope I am able to pull through this.

Monday Tutor Japanese at 9. Walk 10 minutes to assistant teach at the Japanese class at noon. A close to 1km dash to the other end of campus for a 3 hour class right after that and hopefully manage to clock an hour in for work before dinner and another 3 hour class at 6:30.
*I am not a traditional student and am not required to be there. However, I have been there for every chapel for a week now.

Tuesday Hopefully a full day's work at Financial Aid. That will be 9 hours if possible.

Wednesday 3.75 hours at work (?) 10 minutes walk to Japanese class, but this time I have close to an hours break to make the distance to the other end of campus and hopefully grab lunch on the way. 3 hour class from 2, but a crazy schedule will start at the end of the month.

Thursday Hopefully another full day's work. 3 hour class from 6:30.

Friday Work. Japanese. Work. Possibly have a life.

Thank goodness I have the weekend for myself. There are late nights for studying and homework and I will not be idle during weekends. Don't worry, the schedule will pan out. I will know the details to my practicum within a week or two. My help in the Japanese class is for writing and after completing hiragana and katakana, I would only be there maybe once a week. I would be busy with other class requirements... With the amount I consume at meals, I guess it would be sufficient to fuel my mode of transportation. Things will work out... somehow.

It is a lot and I am exhausted. It is just the 1st week. I will get a rhythm soon. With your prayers, support, and encouragement, I WILL MAKE IT. It is my choice.

Only Fools Catch Colds in Summer

The familiar chain of sneezes hit me on Sunday. Strange. I haven't had this for a long time now. My eyes were smarting a little and my neck started to itch. Hmm, maybe I am allergic to something. A day after, a rash started to form below my chin. Yep, I must be allergic to something.

My days were nothing but crazy since Monday. My sneezes continued for the next few days but the numbers escalated yesterday. The sensitivity of my nose to smell has also increased. My throat started to feel weird since morning and I found it difficult to concentrate during my afternoon class. Thank goodness my evening class was cancelled as I was starting to feel woozy during dinner. I felt feverish and instead of doing some studying in the evening, I slept from 7:30pm till 9am this morning. Without a doubt, I am sick.

The change in weather and the drop in temperature could signify the end of summer, but hey, as the Japanese saying goes "only fools don't catch a cold" (or is it the other way round?). The title comes from a Taiwanese drama I used to watch, so where would the truth to the statement lie? I need rest and my body is telling me that. Since I did not pack any medicine neither am I familiar with the local drugs, I guess sleep would be best with heavy dosages of warm honey water and chamomile tea.

BLISS

Bed and a bath is what I need right now. I am a little famished but my appetite seems not to agree. Time is a limiting factor; thus, candy is the best option available at this moment.

Last weekend was a HUGE treat for me in the many aspects that pull the strings of this simple being.

I am so tired, but am perfectly happy and content. Although reckless and a little irresponsible, I feel almost invincible and ready to take on whatever madness that will be thrown at me.

Somehow every little thing snowballed into nothing but a sweet experience. Taking things at face value, although it might be silly for me to think that way, but it sure feels like there is something there.

Smiling right from the bottom of my heart, I am glad that things worked out the way they did and my weekend will be cherished for a lifetime.

(*^_^*)