Author Archives: marybunka
The Twelve Things You Wouldn’t Think to Bring to University (But You’re Gonna Need)
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1. Hot Water Bottle
Whether you’re sick, all cramped up, or just cold at night, a hot water bottle is one of the most comforting things you can have. Make sure to add a bit of cold water as well as hot so that it doesn’t burst. Seriously, these are the best on rainy days when you don’t want to crank the heat. (Better for the environment too!)
2. Kettle / Multi- Pot
I have a multi-pot. When I was in residence, this was a life saver. I could boil water, make soup and pasta, and also make tea right inside it without needing a teapot. (Less to wash, yay!) This is an absolute must for anyone that will be drinking tea, coffee, hot chocolate, etc or will be eating ramen or whatever. Also good to heat water for your hot water bottle.
3. Strainer / Veggie Steamer
Use with the multi-pot. Enough said. Getting a veggie steamer allows you to, well, steam veggies in your multi-pot but can also be (carefully) used as a strainer when you make pasta. A veggie steamer is better than a normal strainer because it folds up like a spaceship (awesome!) so it’s easy to store.
4. First-Aid Kit
I used a little box with a lid to put band-aids, cold medication, anti-nauseants, cough drops, kleenex, hand sanitizer, tylenol, aspirin… anything you might need when you’re sick and/or have a bad paper cut goes in this box in case of emergencies. There’s nothing worse than having to get out of bed and go to the store to buy medicine when you’re feeling sick–this way, you’re prepared before it happens and can spend your time sleeping / watching Netflix.
5. Hand Weights
Lazy? Me too. That’s why I keep little five pound hand weights in my room. While I’m reading something for class or taking a break from writing essays, I can lift them up and put them back down again. It all adds up! They take up almost no room and are seriously handy for what would otherwise be a lazy day.
6. Febreeze / Air Freshener
When I moved into residence and into my basement suite, I noticed the smell right away. It wasn’t bad, it was just… different. Having an air freshener made it smell more like home and helped me settle in. It’s also just nice for a little ambiance.
7. Recycling Bin
Please please please don’t throw your paper, plastics, water bottles etc into the trash just because it’s right beside your desk and super convenient. I brought my own recycling bin to put beside my desk in residence and I ended up almost never using the trash can– most of what would otherwise be thrown away can be recycled. If you’re environmentally conscious, having a small bin right in your room is the way to go.
8. Yoga Mat
Obviously you can use it for yoga, push ups, etc. But it’s also handy if you’re short on space and have an unexpected guest for the night–maybe a friend is crashing after a party. It’s better than the floor.
9. Clipboard
If you’re like me and you take notes by hand, you probably get sick of carrying around all of your class notebooks all the time. I use a clipboard and looseleaf paper instead and put my notes into class binders when I get home. That way I only carry one day’s worth of notes at a time and save my back a lot of stress. It’s also really helpful for lecture halls with tiny desks– this way you always have a surface to write on.
10. Tupperware / Ziplocks
For storing leftovers, bringing a study snack along, or even to use as bowls. You can also use tupperware as a super cheap desk organizer, earring keeper… the list goes on. Having a couple of containers or baggies is sure to come in useful.
11. 3 Hole Punch
If you’re using binders to keep your classwork together, then you’re definitely going to need one of these. They’re super cheap don’t take up much space. Also can be used to make cheap confetti for birthday parties. You’re welcome.
12. Stapler
If you hand in any papers that are more than one page, save your profs and TAs the aggravation of looking for your second page or having to ask the whole lecture hall if anyone brought a stapler with them. When you’re printing assignments at home, a stapler is an absolute must. (And if you’re wondering, yes, so is the printer. Saves so much time, but for price and space reasons isn’t for everyone.)
Taking the Bus: A Guide for Idiots
This has been done and redone and over done, I know that. But it would seem that some of us aren’t getting the message. So I thought, after another immensely frustrating commute, I would help spread the word about this wonderful thing we like to call etiquette. Specifically, transit etiquette.
1. MOVE TO THE BACK OF THE BUS
If the seats are all gone and there’s a huge crowd of people waiting to get on, don’t be the ass that steps only as far at the back door and stops. We know you want to get off of the bus. We all do. But you’re just holding it up and making life miserable for the people who would like to get on and move on with their lives instead of waiting for the next bus. So be a dear, get over yourself, and move to the back.
2. YOU’RE NOT A HERO
On the subject of crowding, for the love of all that is good, don’t stand awkwardly in the aisle if there are free seats. Yes, you might have to sit beside somebody (gasp!) But standing up doesn’t make you a hero–it makes the bus look fuller than it actually is, presents more of a hazard if the bus comes to a sudden stop, and is super annoying for the other people who are standing between you and the driver who would like you to get the hell out of the way so that they can sit down. No one is looking at you thinking: “wow, what a macho man/woman. What strength! What physique! What wonderful biceps and forearms he/she must have to hold on to the bar like that!”
3. BACKPACKS AREN’T PEOPLE
Take it off the seat beside you. This is pretty much the rudest you can be, except for…
4. GET OUT OF THE PRIORITY SEATING
You know what was the saddest thing I ever saw? I got onto the bus at Wesbrook village with my arms completely full of shopping bags. All the seats were taken and two elderly people were standing. One was sitting. The rest were full of university students. The senior that was sitting down offered me his seat so I could put the bags down. No one else blinked an eye. I wept for humanity.
Or the time that I gave up my seat for a man who looked like he would appreciate it, and some university guy actually sits in it before he can. Yeah, that seat wasn’t for you, buddy.
TL;DR: If you are under the age of 65, don’t have a stroller, don’t have crutches or an injury, or otherwise actually need the seat (“I had to walk from Totem to the bus loop today” isn’t valid) Then give the seat to the person who needs it. Exception to this rule, obviously, is if no one needs the seat and the bus is crowded. Then, as previously stated, don’t be a hero.
5. I LIKE, TOTALLY DON’T CARE WHAT MIKE SAID LAST NIGHT
And I’m pretty sure the rest of the bus doesn’t want to hear your phone conversation. I can’t speak for the person on the other end of the line, but I have to imagine the background noise of the bus would be pretty infuriating too.
Look, the point is: Don’t be an ass while on transit. Most likely no one really wants to be there and everyone would like to get to where they’re going as quickly and comfortably as possible. Be nice to people on the bus, cause karma. And also you never know when the person you didn’t give up your seat for or didn’t move to the back for turns out to be your next TA, employer, or landlord. Just saying.
Dealing with Midterms
I wish I knew how.
Any exam season is going to be stressful. But it seems that everything always gets lumped into one or two weeks every term. Take this week for example:
Monday: Mini-Exam (217)
Tuesday: Creative Writing Assignment Due
Wednesday: 30% Midterm in PSYC 307; Research Participation in HSP (online dating study lol)
Thursday: Work (I’m at the Totem Caf again this year!)
Friday: ENGL 223 Paper Due; get on a plane for Kelowna for the International Conference that I am chairing.
PLUS there’s normal course readings, meals to eat, approximately one hour lost every day in transit, facebook to surf, and all the other random things that happen and take up time, like figuring out which roommate owes who food money.
So how to deal?
I guess there’s no one way. What works for me is to make lists and schedules: from 5-7pm I’ll study for Psychology, from 7-8 I’ll eat dinner and take a break, from 9-10 I’ll work on speech writing, from 10-11pm I’ll write my essay… blah blah blah. It helps me to visualize what my day/week/evening will look like and reassures me that if I am diligent, I will have enough time to get it all done.
Sometimes that’s not enough, and I still find myself feeling completely overwhelmed. A couple of very wise people have taught me that when this happens, the best thing to do is to STOP. This doesn’t mean stop stressing, it just means that it’s time to take a step back. I often use this time to clean up my room (studies show that you will be more concentrated if your room is clean) or to put a load of laundry in or watch an episode of How I Met Your Mother (so good!) Sometimes you have to “waste time to save time.” Once I’ve taken some time away from the studying, I am waaay more productive.
Sometimes. Sometimes I’m really really not. And I have wasted hours on the internet logging in and out of facebook. (Literally logging out, refreshing, then logging back in to see if anyone’s done anything interesting.) Obviously not a good use of time.
It’s embarrassing, but I ended up having to install StayFocusd, a Chrome app that lets you set timers or block pages for a certain amount of time. It’s super helpful! I only use it during exam season and it really does help keep me on track. It’s also free, which is always good.
Anyway, just thought I’d share some tips. Hopefully the odds are in your favor this midterm season!
Classes I’m In and What I Think
In case you are curious…
Psychology 217 with Rebecca Todd: I love her! The class is a requirement for the Psychology Major and focuses on research methods. I thought that I would hate it but have to admit that I am truly enjoying it. Prof. Todd is really engaging and funny and comes up with really great examples to ground the mostly theoretical stuff that she talks about. If you have to take 217, definitely consider taking it with her.
Psychology 305 with Sunaina Assanand: Personality Psychology is really interesting, but this is a theoretical course that examines different theorists and theories for examining personality. So, as Dr. Assanand said on the first day: “If you don’t like theory, this class isn’t for you.” Luckily, I decided to stick with it. Dr. Assanand is an amazing lecturer and provides so many opportunities to come in for more help, as well as hosting study sessions and the like.
Yes! I was nervous about taking a 300 level course but am finding it to be completely manageable.
Psychology 307 with Jason Martens: I love Dr. Martens’ lectures, and cultural psychology is really really interesting. I’ve had more “Ah ha” moments in one month of this class than I have in years of high school and intro psychology. It’s a super-fun course and I love absolutely everything about it except that the lectures are very similar to the textbook content, which can make it seem a little repetitive (but, as I said, it’s engaging enough that I hardly notice the overlap.)
English 223 with Mandy Catron: I am really enjoying this introduction to non-fiction American literature and Dr. Catron makes sure that the classes move beyond lecture format and really emphasize group participation. It’s nice to get a number of views on a piece. Her feedback is very valuable and she really cares about the class.
Creative Writing 203 with Maggie de Vries: I. LOVE. THIS. COURSE. (Though I’d probably say that about any CRWR course.) I am really enjoying reading excerpts from YA and children’s books and the lectures and workshops have resulted in me feeling more motivated to write. I’ve also noticed that I feel more comfortable sharing what I’ve written. (Maybe that’s the reason for all the posts lately.) Dr. de Vries is a really great lecturer and stresses class participation, which is awesome. She’s really passionate about what she teaches, and it really shows.
The bottom line: I am really enjoying everything that I am taking this term. I’ve found that putting my passions first has resulted in me feeling way better about school. I actually look forward to class and feel happier overall because I feel like I’m (finally) in the right place. Here’s hoping it lasts!
Your Rights as a Renter
I’m new to the renting scene and have my mother to thank for a lot of what I know about renting. When you’re off-campus, the quality of rental units varies a lot—and it’s nice to know what you are entitled to ask for, both before and after you move in. Some of these are based in my experience, some in my friends… but these are all true stories, and I hope that in sharing them, you can make sure that none of these things happens to you.
I probably also have to state that this isn’t official legal advice and you should really look at The Residential Tenancies Act for set-in-stone facts and to make 100% sure that you are asking for something that you are entitled to. The Act may have changed since I last read it in full, and although I’ve done my best to make sure the information is accurate, I can’t promise! This is just supposed to be my take on my living situation thus far and some helpful tips that people might find useful.
The State of the Unit
How clean is not clean enough?
You are entitled to clean carpets (shampooed between tenants!) My carpets weren’t clean and it’s been a lot of work trying to get them to a liveable state.
You must be provided with doors that lock. If the locks haven’t been changed since the last tenants moved out, you can ask your landlord to change them, which he/she must do.
Your landlord needs to keep your unit in a state that is “reasonably comfortable to live in” (hot water, etc should be provided, windows should open and close…) You are responsible for keeping the unit clean.
Your landlord also needs to make sure that there is a working, functional smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm in the unit. We weren’t sure if ours worked at first, and after living there a week we were finally able to get ahold of our landlord, who informed us that no, the smoke detector didn’t work. Great. He reimbursed me for one that I purchased (sometimes it’s easiest to just go out and get things done yourself, but make sure you are reimbursed when the situation warrants it). I went to install the new smoke detector, taking the old one down in the process. As I took the old one down, I uncovered the battery that was still in it. The battery from 1997. A 17-year-old smoke detector isn’t going to do much good. Yay for checking.
Seeing Your Landlord
No you may not come in it’s late at night and I want to watch Netflix in my jammies and procrastinate and not do homework.
When is it okay for your landlord to be in your unit? I had a friend whose landlord would come and go as he pleased, sometimes appearing in their kitchen as someone was getting out of the shower! Unfortunately, they didn’t know their rights in this situation. The landlord owns the building, right? So they can come and go as they please? Wrong.
A landlord is required to give 24 hours notice, in writing, of the date, time, and reason for the entry. The landlord may, however, enter any common spaces whenever he/she wants. Of course, in an emergency, your landlord can come in to your unit to save people or property.
Party Time?
When it’s quiet time…
You’re allowed to have people over. Our landlord tried to charge us $10/overnight guest, with a maximum of three overnights allowed per month. We told him that he couldn’t do that and were able to come to an agreement. But things didn’t look so good for a while there. You do have to remember though that the Residential Tenancies Act only specifies that you can use the place for your “quiet enjoyment.” Your new rental unit may not be the best place to party, especially if your landlord lives in the same building and will be disturbed by the noise.
Basically, a rental can work out great if you weren’t able to get into on-campus housing or just want a little more independence. But it can be a nightmare if you don’t know what you are entitled to or don’t ask the right questions. Like “is the internet reliable?” Because right now I am sitting in the library on a Sunday afternoon, trying to prepare for three midterms, because my internet doesn’t work at home. Don’t let this be you—it’s really hard to read Blog Squad posts that way!
How a Vacuum Saved This Blog
(IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SKIP THE LONG INTRO/EXPLANATION OF WHY I’VE BEEN GONE SO LONG, SCROLL DOWN.)
You may have noticed that I haven’t posted since, well, March. More likely than not, you haven’t noticed and would like me to make the proper re-introductions.
Can do.
I’m Mary. I’m in second year here at UBC and have just declared a Psychology Major in the Faculty of Arts. I like chocolate and music and debate. Because I’m cool.
Why have I been gone so long?
(KEEP SCROLLING)
Well, I had a difficult second term after losing my Uncle to cancer over the Christmas holidays and then I had a very big, very long, summer job that required me to sit at a computer all day. Suffice to say I wasn’t really in a creative sphere. I apologize for this– especially to the other members of the Blog Squad. I do feel as if I’ve let you down and I am so sorry about that. I promise, there is a whole file on my computer of posts I’ve never posted. I did write over the summer, sometimes, but nothing found it’s way here. Call it writer’s block, call it being busy, call it lack of confidence in my writing… all are true.
(START HERE IF YOU WANTED TO SKIP THE MELANCHOLY INTRO)
But today, in my little basement suite in Dunbar, something has changed. And it’s all because of the stupid vacuum cleaner.
I’m living off-campus now and while parts of it are really exciting, parts really are not. It’s been a bit of a journey trying to figure out my rights as a renter and trying to assert those rights to a very busy landlord.
Pay attention kids: one of your rights is that the carpets should be cleaned (not just vacuumed, but actually shampooed) between tenants. Ours were not. (I’ll tell the full story some other time.)
And my carpet absolutely stinks. I have tried everything: baking soda, soap and water, special carpet cleaning solutions, etc etc. And now after everything, I’m finally starting to make headway. Through it all, I’ve been doing a lot of vacuuming. And I guess the last tenants did too.
Because today, I had to empty the vacuum bag.
As I am standing outside pulling dust, hair, a surprising amount of feathers, and what ever the hell else was in there out, I thought to myself: “I have hit a new low.”
That’s when I pulled out the thong.
“Now I have hit a new low.”
Something inside me just snapped. I am a good person. I worked for a charity all summer, I keep my grades up, I do my laundry and cook dinners and eat my vegetables. What had I done to deserve this?
I guess nothing. That’s the way things go sometimes. Sometimes the carpet smells or you’re to exhausted to write or you don’t get the grades you wanted. And yeah, sometimes you’re stuck pulling some stranger’s underpants out of a vacuum bag and then sanitizing everything.
But sometimes, when you write about it, and just stop focusing on what others will think, sometimes you get to see it in a different light. A hilarious, “well it can’t get any worse” light.
Here’s to the year going up from here!
(STOP SCROLLING. YOU’VE MISSED IT. YOU’VE MISSED THE WHOLE THING)
Hipster Ariel
I went to a debate party. It was super awesome and fun. I drank pineapple juice and no one even laughed at me!
Anyway, my super talented friend started drawing portraits of everyone (unfortunately they were caught in a bit of a spill, otherwise I’d upload them here.) And it was decided that I looked like hipster Ariel. (It was a hipster party. I wore a beanie/toque thing. Ironically, of course.) So I thought it would be funny to actually come to debate in an Ariel wig (if anyone has one, I’d love to borrow it! I’ll give you a hug!). And then I found this:
Ah yes. The traditional Chinese Ariel Wig. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ariel Wigs were created for young women’s synchronized swimming clubs. As the eBay seller states, each wig—each individual hair, in fact—is hand-carved (later making it craved by consumers). An authentic Tang Dynasty Wig can be found in UBC’s Museum of Anthropology.
Except not. I’m really not sure what the motivation behind this product description was… maybe I’m overanalysing (that’s NEVER happened before) but I actually found this hysterical. Like there was actual laughter going on.
Back to the point… wait. I didn’t have one.
Here’s a cat. Have a good week!
Things I Wish I’d Known One Year Ago
So according to my sources, and my really freaking amazing memory (hah.) it’s the time of year when acceptance letters start coming in. And that made me think about getting my letter from UBC and ultimately saying no to three other universities in order to make the trek to Vancouver to study. There’s a ton of stuff that I wish I had known about universities in general and about UBC specifically that I thought I’d share to maybe help others who are struggling to make a decision like I was. I’m not saying that I regret my choice to come to UBC. I’m having the time of my life. But there are definitely things that I didn’t know about that I really wish that I did.
Commence the list.
Universities in General:
1. Distance Matters.
If you’re moving away for university, chances are you are going to feel homesick. Prepare yourself: give your mailing address to your family and close friends so they can send you real letters throughout the year. It’s a nice surprise to have and is often more personal than an email. Plus, they can draw you little pictures!
2. Money Matters Too.
But making a budget (or keeping track of your spending, even on an excel spreadsheet) can help you avoid overspending. Alternatively, have no social life and never go out ever and the money will stay put. (But you won’t have much fun.) I ended up getting a part-time job at my residence’s cafeteria to help out, and it’s made a world of difference. I work eight hours a week which doesn’t interfere with studying time or even social time. I highly recommend a flexible part-time job if you can manage it.
3. Rankings Don’t Matter
(If you can make a gif for this one, please share it. I’ve got nothing)
Your choice of a university shouldn’t depend on its numerical position on what is a frankly arbitrary list published by people who are experts on stuff. Pick the university that you feel most matches your personality, is in a town you like, offers courses and programs that are interesting, and that makes you feel most excited for your next year. And remember that transferring is always an option if you really really hate it.
UBC:
1. Standard Timetables for First Years
(ditto. no gif. sorry)
Coming into first year Arts or Sciences in Vancouver? Check out Arts One and CAP for Arts and Sciences One and CSP for Sciences. I’m in CAP Global Citizens (one of the “themes” of the CAP program) and really enjoyed having major assignments coordinated (no overlapping deadlines between courses) and that my courses were related thematically. It’s a big help for first year and I definitely recommend checking out the links above for more info. I wasn’t told about these programs until two days before course registration (which is when you sign up for them!) so this is definitely something I would have loved to know earlier.
2. Living in Res
Is loud. And sometimes a little squishy. But definitely worth it for first year if only because it forces you to meet people. And that’s very, very important. For UBC first-years, your choices are Totem Park and Place Vanier. PV is closer to where most of your classes will be, on the North End of campus, and has a beautiful cafeteria/commonsblock setup. It’s also right beside one of the trails to Wreck Beach, which is a blessing (so close!) and a curse (so loud on weekends) according to residents. Totem Park is a bit further away, but offers two newer buildings and is closer to the grocery store and to some really awesome running trails.
A meal plan is mandatory for all first-years living in res. They offer three sizes: small, regular, and Varsity. (Small, Medium, Large.) I had the regular and it looks like I will have money left over. BUT I never eat breakfast in the cafeteria (I buy my own yogurt etc) and am often off-campus for weekends. It’s your call. Remember you can always add funds if you run out. So basically I wish I’d known not to stress over this.
3. (Campus) Size Matters
It’s a huge campus with a lot of people studying, working, playing, and commuting on/through it. It’s like a city. I have a bike and it has made a world of difference in getting around the campus. Definitely bring or buy one and invest in a secure way to store it. (The newer rooms in Totem have bike hooks in them). Bicycle = my best friend ever, and I almost didn’t even bring it.
Also, in regards to size, I wish I’d understood more about how the campus is laid out. I’ll try to describe it, but it’s really helpful to look up a map. Main Mall is a huge walking path that runs from North to South. Basically, everything stems off of that in some way. If you can find Main Mall, you’re golden. (Yes, you can cycle on it; no, you cannot run down slow pedestrians.) The fountain in the middle of Main Mall is basically the center point. From here you can get to the buses and bookstore quite easily. My point (what I wish I’d known) is that walking from one end of Main Mall to another (or from Totem to, say, Buchanan or the Anthropology building) can take up to 25 minutes, more if you are lost! (Another argument for the bike). Plan accordingly.
Finally, the most important thing:
Be excited! This is going to be different and scary and new and a lot of fun. Don’t get bogged down in the details. Enjoy the experience!
There you have it. Good luck making your decision and I hope this helped in some small way.
State of the Union
TO THE STUDENTS OF UBC:
Today marks my first State of the Union address to you, a blogging duty that may be as old as blogging itself, but probably isn’t.
In any event, I haven’t written a post in a while and so I thought I should give an account as to what I’ve been doing (other than neglecting you).
In brief:
- I got a job working at the Totem Cafeteria. I’m the one with the name tag with my name on it. Be nice and say hello because I make your food.
- I am in five classes (three that have continued from last term: SOCI 100, ASTU 100A, and PHIL 100, and two that are new: POLI 110 and GEOG 122). Ask me questions about them if you want.
- I am still participating in UBC debate (ask me about that too if you want) and love it.
- I delivered a speech in Calgary this month (they paid for my flight! They love me, they really love me!)
- I’m close to thinking about picking a major. (Psychology.)
It’s been a really weird term so far with a lot of ups and downs and I think maybe part of the reason why is that I know what to expect this term and everything isn’t all shiny and new like it was in September. It feels too soon to be jaded but that’s the closest thing I can think of to describe how I’m feeling at the moment.
Things can only go up, right?