Month: January 2009

Semester of the Mind

I don’t know how this happened exactly, but somehow every single one of my classes are tying into each other this semester. And not in vague “oh this kind of relates to an idea that was brought up in a tangent discussion the other day in my __ class”, I’m talking we’re discussing the same ideas in all of my classes. Let me explain.

I start off my week by going to Intro to World Archaeology, where we’re basically learning about human origins, and why various early human species died out (specifically, perhaps it was due to integration between other human species nearby, or maybe it was an inability to adapt to new environments, social turmoil, etc etc). My second class of the week is philo (Intro to Moral Theory), where we’re discussing (duh) moral theories; are there any ethical truths, are there any universally accepted beliefs or laws, are things “good” or “bad” because society says it or because God says it? etc etc. Next is Intro to Cultural Anthropology; right now we’re reading a book (mentioned this before) about culture clashes, and learning about different cases where Western influence isn’t necessarily a good thing in some indigenous societies. Fourth I have English (British Literature to the 17th century…I think), where we keep running into the theme of how women were treated and represented in literature in the ‘olden’ days, and we discuss how (or if) this relates to modern days. Lastly I have history (Contemporary Global Issues in Historical Perspective), where we’re talking about climate change and how it’s affecting smaller societies (such as the Inuit), specifically how our actions contribute to the demise of their home lands, while they’re contributing practically nothing to the global climate change.

Do you see how these are all connecting? BAHAHAHHAAA I feel like I’m taking one giant class talking about human relations, truth, and the consequences of our actions. Hence I’m calling this my Semester of the Mind, which I guess every semester is supposed to be, but whatever.

Anywhoodles. I whole heartedly recommend that you take my exact semester right now (except maybe you could drop archeology, it relates the least). So yeah, get on planning this into your timetables for next year. 🙂

God Save My Laptop

I feel like I’ve dropped off the face of the Earth for the past few days. Why, you may ask?

RIP LAPTOP

Backstory: My roommate and I bunked our beds, she on top and I on bottom. I may have blogged about this before.

What happened Wednesday night: My roommate came in from a night out, while my friend and I sat on the floor leaning against my bed watching The Princess Bride on my laptop (Inconceivable!). Anyway so she got into bed, fell asleep, la la la, then out of nowhere she fell out of bed and landed on us (and the laptop). Computers are pretty sturdy things, mind you, but she must have landed like RIGHT on the spot where the internal hard drive is, because the computer froze and didn’t even respond to Ctrl+Alt+Delete (which brings up the task manager). So I decided to just shut it off completely and turn it back on, but EPIC FAIL, this black screen came up and said that it couldn’t detect an internal hard drive. I couldn’t recall removing an internal hard drive, so my worst fears were confirmed: my roommate had killed my laptop.

I’ve since opened it up and looked around, and nothing seems to be wrong with the actual computer. Although when I opened the slot to where the hard drive was, a random little screw fell out..hm. Upon reflection I never figured out where it went, but I was able to find another place where it fit so I didn’t really care. Oops.

ANYWAY it’s now been about three days and I still don’t have a laptop. I’m using my roommate’s right now, as she is out eating sushi and going to Best Buy to see if she can buy me a new hard drive, because I’m assuming that’s the only problem. Today I found out that my laptop is under warranty (yay, right?), BUT since I’m in Canada right now I’d have to pay to get an International Warranty before Dell could send me a new hard drive. And their offices are only open Monday to Friday, so I’d have to wait another two days, call, then wait like a week while they’d ship it to me. Does the universe not understand that I am in college, and have two papers due this week, as well as three other large research projects that I need to work on! Not to mention two of my classes have required readings and discussions online!

Bah. But I digress. My point is that I would like all of us to pray that my laptop gets fixed SOON, and if it doesn’t, that God grants me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and the freaking patience to wait until things do change. Oh and that my friends don’t mind me using their laptops whenever I see that they’re not using it. “You’re going to the bathroom? Can I use your laptop kay thanks!”

Oh and I suppose I should include words of wisdom or whatever. If you’re an international student and worry about the future of your electronics, make sure you get all warranty-things sorted out BEFORE you switch countries of residence. -.-

Wellness

Sunshine (Sometimes) + Sick!

Post author By Jennifer Ayala
Post date January 19, 2009
1 Comment on Sunshine (Sometimes) + Sick!

I couldn’t be happier about the sunshine starting to cut through the fog the past couple of days. Yesterday was just a sun-filled day, and today as I was walking to the SUB I swear there was light for about two minutes.

*and there was much rejoicing*

Although I must say the random change in temperature yesterday directly contributed to me getting sick again. That’s right, I’m ill again. Lately I’ve been sicklier than a..really sick person, and it’s quite annoying. Last night it manifested itself in the form of a fever, which I was actually able to take down to merely “lukewarm” after a couple of hours of obsessive water-drinking and cold compress application to my face. Oh and I took like three Vitamin C chewable tablets..which upon reflection might not have been a good idea, but whatever it worked! muah! Now I just have an awkward cough and nose problems. Will this ever end!

Academic Careers / Work Involvement / Leadership

Papers, Printers, and Procrastinating

Post author By Jennifer Ayala
Post date January 13, 2009
3 Comments on Papers, Printers, and Procrastinating

I have OFFICIALLY been to all of my classes for the new semester (excluding tutorials and discussions), and I must say I’m genuinely excited about each and every one of them. I think I have a small addiction to taking upperish level courses; last semester I took a 200 course, and this semester I’m taking two. Maybe next year I’ll up it and take a 400 level? 😉

Anyway I feel like talking about the classes I’m in, so here I go. If you have any classes with me don’t hesitate to comment on our intertwined destinies.

Introduction to World Archaeology (ANTH 103)
I’m excited for this class mainly because of the research paper.
Did I just say that? Did I honestly just say that the prospect of a research paper is causing me excitement?
…..

Introduction to Moral Theory (PHIL 230A)
After my first class I was hooked. I’ve never taken a philosophy class before, but after two lectures I’m seriously considering majoring in this. Also (le sigh) there’s a paper due in a couple of weeks that I’m anxiously awaiting to start. I’m such a freak.

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 100)
I don’t think I’m excited about any papers in this class..phew! Right now we’re reading this book though, called “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman, and it’s REALLY good. It doesn’t read like an extra-long anthropological article (which I guess it technically is), so I highly recommend it!

Literature in English to the 18th Century (ENGL 220)
No clue why, but genius here decided to work backwards. Last term I took English 221 (Literature in Britain: the 18th Century to the Present), and now I’m in 220. I haven’t figured out if this switcheroo will help me out in the course. Oh but on to the actual class. So far the readings have been excellent, and the prof is literally a genius at starting class discussions and drawing ideas out of us. Good stuff.

Contemporary Global Issues in Historical Perspective (HIST 105)
I just signed up for this class and have therefore only been to one lecture (today in fact), but today’s class was so epic that I’m sure I’ll like it. The concentration this term is on global and local environments, which has me kinda nervous because hello, not a science person, but I think it will be fine.

Yessir, there is my courseload for the next few months. I must say that I’ve noticed a significant increase in the amount of reading I have to do; but then again the classes I took last semester were kind of light on reading and more dependent on exercises and online assignments. Baha!

In other news, I FINALLY BOUGHT A PRINTER. I’m almost positive I never mentioned my lack of a printer before so this news probably sounds trivial or lame, but I am SO EXCITED! I keep looking at it affectionately when I think no one is watching, even though it’s kind of an ugly shape and color. It’s grown on me though, so of course now I think it’s the greatest looking printer in the world. But I digress. This baby is a printer, scanner, copier, AND a fax machine! Not that I have any use whatsoever for a fax machine, but ya know, the option is there.

Now that it’s a new semester, I’m thinking of getting more involved in the UBC community. Last semester I took it kind of slow; I joined a sorority and acted in the Totem Park One Act Festival. I’m thinking I’ll try to join something to do with writing, start volunteering, and maybe even get a job (if anyone will hire me..I have a bad history with applying for jobs). I’ve even been toying with the idea of starting an online literary magazine or something..hmm.

Enough procrastinating, time to start the reading for my history class. (I fail. It’s barely the second week and I’m already procrasting on stuff!) Ah well. Adios!