Category: Academics

Summer

Post author By kiely
Post date March 28, 2012
1 Comment on Summer

As summer quickly approaches it is becoming evident that there is so much more to do during summer in university than there was in highschool. So far I have summer class, work, a short vacation, and getting back into a healthy mindset lined up.

I’m taking 2 summer classes, 1 during the first summer term (6 weeks) and a distance education class that spans the entire summer. I’m going to be living back at home so this will actually be my first time commuting to class. I’m wondering if the buses to UBC during the summer are decent? Or are they like the buses on the weekend – unpredictable and infrequent. There is the chance that I might just drive. Twice a week means I can get away with a per use parking pass (11 uses, $80) and I’ll just bus once or find free parking on campus.

Work is going to be busy over the summer. The restaurant I cook at is located in a tourist destination and the crowds will come with warmer summery days and longer nights. The patio will be opening adding 25 seats that will need attention. With the size of the kitchen a full restaurant is already quite the handful. As I’m learning my way in the kitchen I know I’m getting faster and hopefully by the summer I’ll be ready enough to contribute and make the kitchen run well.

With my friends turning 19 its easier to get away and rent hotels on our own. I’m going to go to Harrison hot springs for 4 days in June and that’ll be a nice break (granted time off work). After a year of living at UBC I’ve le so much of the healthy habits I used to practice go. This summer I’ll be able to get back into them. Eating right, exercising, and generally feeling better.

Academics Careers/Work

Got the job!

Post author By kiely
Post date March 5, 2012
1 Comment on Got the job!

In reference to my last post where I had a working interview – I got the job! So now I’m a line cook at a restaurant in Richmond. I’ll post about my learning experiences because all of this is new to me and I’m being trained as I work.

I’m also going to be applying for Tourism Richmond’s 365 days of dining (http://365daysofdining.com/)! Its the opportunity of a lifetime and I think almost everyone who has ever even considered a food blog is looking at the job description and deciding to fill an application. So thats something else for me to do on my breaks in the aquatic centre (which is loud and full of kids today because of the teacher strike).

Oh and midterms, I need to study for those. I have 2 this week, 2 the next week, and 1 the week after.

Academics Careers/Work Commuting Residence Life Wellness

My posts are somewhat limited

Post author By kiely
Post date March 2, 2012
No Comments on My posts are somewhat limited

This semester I have an extra hour break (class, break, class, break, class) three days a week. I thought that would mean I would find more time to sit down and write some posts. Guess not. Having a 9:30 am lab every other day has forced my sleeping schedule to become regulated, no more 4am-11am sleeps for me. I’ve also developed the habit of having very long Tuesdays and Thursdays. Out the door at 8:30 am to grab breakfast and I won’t be back into my room until 11:00pm because I stay out to study. I’m really benefiting from the results of these very productive days.

I’m deep into my second round of midterms and I think I’m doing better this term than I did last term. We’ll have to see how my marks end up though.

I’ve began to plan for the summer and next year. Ideally I’ll get registered for two 200 level courses in the summer in order to lighten my workload. I find there really isn’t much offered in the second summer semester but my elective is there so I’m really lucky about that! Moving back home for the summer so I’m going to need to pick up a parking pass. I actually figured out if I buy the per-use parking passes, and take the bus 3 times this summer, I save around $80! I’m currently searching for a summer job, hopefully something where I cook, and I have an interview tomorrow. Its a work interview and it involves going into a kitchen and working under a chef for four hours (unpaid, I think) to prove that I’m capable and will work well with them. The process sounds kind of scary actually. I have one shot to make it in this restaurant and I don’t even know what I’m going to be doing. I’ve heard two different things about what I should do in the kitchen tomorrow – ask a lot of questions to show I want to learn or shut up and go about working as hard as I can. I’ll even blog to tell everyone how it goes. I didn’t get through the residence lottery so I need to figure out if I’m driving or taking the bus next year. Luckily I’m a local, so the lack of a place for me on campus isn’t a huge concern.

Food! I have to talk about food in every post, its my thing. Lately I’ve found the Totem dining hall fairly uninspired. I’ve been getting the vegetarian entree almost every day just for something different. They love to make vegetarian lasagna out of everything; polenta, sweet potatos, actual pasta, anything! And the Tim Hortons on campus are playing Roll Up The Rim to Win! RTR is a Canadian tradition where every cup at Tim Horton’s has a chance of winning 1 in a few million prizes. The prizes range from free drinks and donuts to TVs and cars. I love the idea but I never ever win. I’m currently 0/15 this year. Last year I went 3/32.

I’ll post tomorrow about how the interview goes! Also check out my Twitter! Its my main form of social media now (@kielylandrian)

Academics

Gateman’s Econ 101

During the process of choosing my classes and professors I learned about Prof. Gateman. He is likely the most infamous professor in the Faculty of Arts. I will admit that his class was tough, his midterms tougher, and I can’t even imagine what his final will be like, but I consider him a great professor. By the end of the term I learned that he is just tough on us because he is confident we are the brightest young minds in the country and that we can handle almost anything. He ended his last lecture with this, saying that he will be happy if this is all we take away from his class:

“You attend the best school in the best city in the best country in the world. Be confident in your ability but approach everything with a heavy sense of humility because everyone here is just as intelligent as you. Assume nothing.” – R. Gateman

Academics Faculty Sustainability

Sustainability at UBC

As a first year LFS (Land and Food Systems) student most of my required courses are first year science courses (minus Physics). In three of my classes Dr. Gary Bradfield has made appearances to advertise a new first year sustainability class. It seems like a terribly interesting class that focuses on linking knowledge gained in first year Biology and Chemistry to issues regarding sustainability focusing on the UBC campus, ocean acidification, and fuels. I can’t fit this course in my schedules, but I hope some of you join the class. I can see this class doing well and becoming popular in the years to come, so hopefully prospective first year Science/LFS students reading this will look into it for next year 😀

New Sustainability Science Course

Academics Commuting Involvement/Leadership Uncategorized Wellness

Its been too long!

Whoops, seems like I’ve been neglecting my responsibility to post once a week. So this is what I’ve been up to (in list form):

Academics

First midterm!

“Wait, so you have midterms coming up already?”
“Yeah. It’s kind of scary.”
“Your first midterms will be like that. Its like through highschool you were climbing this tall hill, with university at the top. Sad thing is – once you get to the top of that hill and start university its like you’re pushed off that hill and left to roll down it. Midterms come as bumps you hit on that hill and then finals are like a tree you hit at the bottom to stop.”
“That’s horrible!”
“Oh no I didn’t mean it like that! Wait..yes I did..”

Advice from a friend I have in 2nd year at Sauder. I know she means the best but she couldn’t have really chosen a scarier way to describe the adventure I just started. I have my first midterm next this Friday! (Sept 23rd) and I feel like I’ve barely gotten started. Oh my.

Oh and here’s an animation related to her description that will keep you all entertained, hopefully. 🙂

Academics Involvement/Leadership Residence Life

First (and nearly second) week done!

Post author By kiely
Post date September 14, 2011
2 Comments on First (and nearly second) week done!

Hey!

So I’ve been at UBC for nearly 2 weeks now. Here are some things I have learned thus far:

Be outgoing and meet new people (but try and be meaningful and genuine in your conversation – a lot of people you’ll meet in the first bit you’ll never talk to again. Unfortunate, eh?)
Try new things. I for one and working my way through the Ubyssey’s list.
As soon as you start class, you’re already a month behind. Work hard!

One night I was sitting on the knoll and was offered to take a turn riding down it on a block of ice. I was happy, and maybe overly excited, to take the chance! Thanks to whoever it was that provided the ice block, I don’t think I ever got your name. 😀

Oh and being a pseudo food blog (actual review posts to come, promise!) I should mention something food-y. Tomorrow I’m going to training at Sprouts cafe in the basement of the sub. I’m super excited to be cooking for an establishment that sees a good amount of traffic from students. Also – I get to learn to cook as a vegetarian! I’m not sure if that will actually take much learning (I’m assuming I’ll mostly be baking, and I don’t think its vegan) but it will be a good experience.

And I’m getting used to the food here! I like that the meals at Totem are always varied and if I avoid the fries and such from the Grill it is decently healthy. Given up on trying to eat low carb but I’m still going to win my Freshma 15 bet.

Freshman 15 Bet (week 1): -1 lbs