One more class for me and my first year is pretty much over.  Except the exams and summer session.  That part has yet to really begin.  But to feel all dramatic, the first year is over… almost.

Thoughts on my first year…

Best part: I learned a lot about myself this year.  There were some things I thought I knew how to do, like study, which it turns out I really didn’t.  Things I thought I couldn’t do, like talking to strangers, which I couldn’t but I wasn’t as bad as I thought I would be.  I learned that I have a lot to learn.

Second best part: new experience.  Just the fact that 1st year was something new made it fun.

Worst part: The fact that there are times where I have no life outside of commuting, studying and working/homeworking. Seriously, >80% of my waking hours.

My favorite class: English 112: Strategies for University Writing.  Strange right?  There’s something about English classes that have always drawn me in. Even if it’s a course like ENGL 112 that most students probably wouldn’t take if it weren’t required.

Most important (non academic) lesson: People are inspiring, and at UBC there are opportunities to come across so many different people.  Take time and soak in their stories.  Don’t underestimate what they may have to say.

If I could go back… I would tell myself to remember to read the syllabuses, study earlier, and because I would know to study earlier, go take part in more things.  I would also tell myself where the computer lounges are and to stop eating so much of those delicious Blue Chip Cookies.

Am I happy? I guess.  Not as solid of an answer as I’d like.  Grades? Not so happy.  Growing up?  Happy.

Notes to self:
– EXERCISE MORE
– Learn how to learn again not for the sake of a grade
– Make time for friends, for finding passions.
– EXERCISE MORE!!
– Find a way so that sacrifices in grades don’t have to be made for “having a life.”

@ Japanese oral exam, the teacher asked me

バンクーバのしちょうになったら、何にしますか？　(more or less)

“If you become the mayor of vancouver, what will you do? (about the things in town)”

After a minute of “i have no idea what you just said”…

スキーをしまうす。

“I’ll go skiing”

I was hoping しちょう was something else instead of “mayor” which didn’t even cross my mind.

The school year is already ending, and I still can’t remember that my english class is at 3 and not 4.  Which resulted in me scheduling my oral exam at the same time as my class.

What I’ve learned in university: having too many breaks make me confused about time.

Note to self: for next year, avoid putting only a single class between two breaks.

“Knoll”

aka the hill, the lump, the grassy thing with the tree on the top outside of the SUB.

It’s beautiful.  It was one of the first things that caught my attention when I went on campus for the first time.

It is the location for the new SUB building.  You can go vote for your favorite architect to design the building, examples of their work are on display in the SUB right now. *End plug.*

I’m all for a shiny new building (not that I’ll still be around when it’s done… or will I be?)  but just out of curiosity, how much of the student population hangs out in the SUB?  I used to be there like it was my second home during the 1st semester, but this semester it is just too out of the way.

Back to the Knoll, I have grown an attachment to it though I’ve only sat on it maybe a max 5 times and used it as a meet up/distance gauger of where my friends are maybe about 10 times.

“Hey where are you?  …Ok, I have no idea where that is.  How far is it from the hill thing?”

I think I will be sad to see it go.  One of the architects are offering options of what to do with the Knoll.  Build around it, build over it, build under it, move it up (I hope you can imagine that…).  There are detailed diagrams of this in the SUB.  Sorry I forgot to take a picture of it.

But here is the “suggestion box”

I agree.

Some stats:

There is one more week of school. I can’t believe how incredibly challenging this year has been…

Summer is 4 months long.  That is one third of a year. Am I the only one suprised and already wondering what I’m going to do so I don’t rot this summer?

I went to Me Inc. this Tuesday down at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Their mission: “to inspire students to pursue a career they are truly passionate about”

It is a conference designed for Sauder students to listen to a bunch of different speakers and talk to professionals about what they do and what we can do to get there.  It was hyped up like crazy with all the plugs that went to the COMM classes to get it out there.

My motivation for going: my COMM 299 class was cancelled just so everyone could go, I really have no idea what I want to do with my degree, try something new, participate in something.

So, did I figure out what I want to do? No, not at all.  However, after talking to one, I know for sure now I do not want to be a tax auditor. (Not anything personal, it just didn’t sound like very much fun)

Cost: $30, Experience: priceless… I guess…

Part of Me Inc.’s convincing tactics involved the intrigue of a mystery bag of free swag.  For those who didn’t go, here is what was actually in it:

Info brochures, PWC notebook, CMA pencils, Deliotte pen, 6 packets of mini eggs (I ate one), CA branded gum, CGA lanyard, Ernst & Young tote baggy thing, Halls Refresh, and my favorite, CGA stain remover.

The opening keynote was Sean Aiken, man who worked 52 jobs, each for a week for one year, asked us who knew what they wanted to be.  When only that handful of people put up their hand, I felt so relieved.  I really don’t know, and I’m not ok with it but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one.

The closing keynote, David Bentall was very inspiring.  Actually, all the speakers were if not inspiring then very informative.  Even though 4 days later I still don’t really know exactly what I got out of the conference, I am still shifting through the stuff I learned and really feel like there is something important I’ve discovered but I haven’t found the exact words yet.

Sidenote: David Bentall’s family is responsible for the Bentall Towers.  Those are the white towers above Burrard Station.  I was there yesterday and I went to use the washroom and they have these awesome solar powered taps.  Go green yay.

The most unique part of the day I would have to say was the lunch.  The food was probably equal to the price of the ticket, but who eats $30 lunches (well it’s the Four Seasons, what do you expect?) Salad, chicken entree thing, cheese cake.  Yum.

Ok it wasn’t just the food.  The best part was this “networking” lunch thing.  It was this networking part that actually made me hesitant to go.  I mean, what do I say?  It seems so intimidating.  I gathered an “oh well, just try it” attitude and made myself go.  I only really connected with the person who I sat next to first, but it was a very valuable experience.  I only feel a little bit better about “networking” but at least now I know what it is.

The speakers all said “it’s about who you know.”  I really wonder how true that is to the so called real world.  Is that what it takes to be successful and happy “out there?”

To be honest, it feels extremely cheap to talk to people with the primary purpose being to gain contacts and not to just… share.  So I don’t think I’m going to do that.

What do you think?  Is it really about who you know?

[edit] Re-reading what I wrote now seems like I’m totally putting down networking. Honestly though, the conversation that I had with the person I connected with was awesome. It’s really fun just being able to talk with strangers about stuff that matters to you and I learned a lot from the other person. Though there is still the dark side of networking.

When life gives you wisdom teeth, and a doctor then takes them away before you get to see them… you are trapped inside while everyone is partying up the olympic break.

I learned something over the past 3 days that I made me realize: my parents were right, I wouldn’t survive if I moved out.

Soup burns.

Did you know that?  Like that tomato or cream of mushroom stuff from the cans.  It’s not as simple as putting it in the pot, adding water/milk and turning on the heat.

However, due to the misadventure, I did perfect the “fan the smoke away from the smoke detector to shut it up waving pillow motion.”

I sound like a total airhead don’t I?  19 years of age and can’t even make soup.  Tsk.

Actually, when I seriously evaluate whether or not I would survive if I moved out, other than the big factor of my source of income, I think I would do ok.  Not at the beginning, but I think I could adapt.

Cooking
Laundry
Pay the bills

Is there anything else new I need to learn?  I know it is a harsh world “out there”,  but  I’ve been more or less in the world since I’ve been born right?  My guess… is that it would take approximately 3 months 90% adapt to living on my own.

In some ways, I wish my parents did kick me out just to see if I would survive for real.

Two weeks, no school.  SWEET!

My life has been extremely hectic the past two weeks.  Filled with handshakes.  I learned through this sudden meeting of many people that the only way I am going to master it is through practice.

Onto the olympics…

What did everyone think of the opening ceremonies?

My favorite part: Gretzky carrying the torch to Waterfront at the end with everyone running along side him. What spirit.

I was downtown this afternoon till around 7 just taking it in.  When I was in the crowds, whether I be looking at the sights or the people or the protesters, I felt so excited.

Even though the air felt like something was going on, when I watched the woman in the red dress sing O Canada through the window of a little Mexican restaurant on a wet Friday night in Yaletown, it felt so unreal that the huge event I was looking at was actually just down the street.

Didn’t want to be there when everyone left BC Place so I went home to watch the rest.

I’ve organized a list of the free concerts I want to see (well I want to see them all but these ones just stood out more to me):

13:
Richmond OZone:
Hey Ocean! @ 8

14:
Richmond OZone:
F.I.R. @ 9:30

18:
Richmond OZone:
Arkells @ 8:30
Our Lady Peace @ 9:45
LiveCity Yaletown:
Marianas Trench @ 9:30

19:
Holland Park:
We are the City @ 5:00
Sam Roberts @ 9:00

20:
Richmond OZone:
Marianas Trench @ 9:30
Holland Park:
Hey Ocean! @ 8:30
LiveCity Yaletown:
Arkells @ 6:30
Sam Roberts @ 9:30

25:
Richmond OZone:
Two Hours Traffic @ 8:00

26:
Richmond OZone:
This Means Nothing in Mexico @ 4:45
Tokyo Police Club @ 9:45
Holland Park:
Two Hours Traffic @ 7:00
Marianas Trench @ 9:00

27:
Holland Park:
You Say Party! We Say Die! @ 7:00
Tokyo Police Club @ 8:00

http://www.surrey2010.com/lineup.html
http://www.richmondozone.com/programming/element/main-stage/
http://livecityvancouver.ca/downloads/LiveCity%20Vancouver%20Performers.pdf

Voting, last day tomorrow.  Yup.  Got it?  Ok.

I picked up an Ubyssey and it actually explains most of the voting matters, candidates etc quite well.  So if you’re interested or confused, go check it out.

Note: I am actually voting as I type this with the Ubyssey infront of me as my guide.  So feel free to use this as your guide as well.

Some other things: 1. You can save and continue later.  2. You don’t have to answer everything.

I am up to the 3rd choice

Vice-President finance…
who is The Invisible Man?

Seriously.  Is this a joke?  Is it some sort of political term I don’t understand?  It can’t be a joke though right… because if AMS wants students to take this seriously… they wouldn’t do that right?  Imagine being Elin Tayyer, the actual human that is running for the position.  What if he loses?  For the casual voter… how tempting is it to choose The Invisible Man?

I might actually do it.

But it would probably burden me morally to choose the potentially non existent candidate over the one with an actual picture.

I’ve hit the Senate section and I realize I’m starting to get bored and am ready to vote based on a combination of who has the most interesting last names and interesting combos based only on their faculty and past experiences.  But I will try not to.

Onto the Legal Fund Society section part and the Ubyssey is now not enough.

And apparently neither is the election website because I still have no idea what they are talking about.   I’ll leave you to figure this out on your own.   Click. 6 choices, 8 candidates, 6 writes ups.  Kinda narrows it down.

Voter funded media: waaah?  Next!

Referendums: Finally!  Things where I will actually be able to tell if my vote made a difference or not!

Note: If you check both the yes and no box you’ll get a pop up!

Ok.  You can take it from here.  Onto the next ballot clicking… CUS.

Oh god.  Not more of this.  Did your head say that just now?  That’s how I’ve been feeling these days.

But I got an e-mail from this club I’m in, CVC, about voting and it was very helpful so I think I should share.

> This is where you go to vote <

> This is where you go to find the information on the questions asked and the candidates <

After taking a look at those two pages I can see why only 15% of the student population bothered to vote last year.

There is just too much going on and not enough care in my body to bother to read all those pages about candidates and so on.

Too many terms I don’t understand.

Too many things I never knew existed.

Too little time to care.

Why am I even bothering then?

I read in the Ubyssey  about this “referendum” that wants students to pay $5 at the beginning of the year and you can get it back when you vote.  And you can vote against (or for) it.

So really my only motivation to vote is that I want to keep my damn $5.

(I don’t even know what “referendum” really means but they seem to be rules or policies the AMS wants to change?)

Do you really know where your fees are going?  For people who miss out on voting and if this $5 thing passes I doubt most people would even realize that there is a $5 charge in our fees somewhere that we can get back through voting.  Sure, it would be these individuals’ own faults for not staying updated but seems like a cheap tactic to me.

If only 15% voted last year… that 85% multiplied by $5 is a lot of money…

I will talk about my other confusions of voting another day.

(like what does “indexing fees” mean anyway!?)

For now, sleep.

Because I seriously wished that someone told me before I spent 30 minutes trying to figure it out… I asked around and no one could help me either.

Step 1: The copy card.
It is a little-longer-than-usual-rectangle piece of plastic used for the print stations and photocopiers at the school.  There is a machine in Koerner and David Lam Library, maybe Irving but I don’t know.  In Koerner it is behind the main stairwell on the 1st floor when you walk in.  In David Lam it is in that little room left of the front desk.

Step 2: Purchasing and filling the copy card.
There are instructions on the machine.  I find that they do a very good job so I’ll just say BRING LOONIES AND TOONIES.  There are change machines but they won’t convert quarters and you don’t want $20 in coins.

Step 3 (maybe this should be step 1): Finding the photocopy machine.
I’m completely new to this so I only know 2 places.
1. Koerner: Go in, turn left where it says REFERENCE, it has it’s own gate thing.  Go straight, it’s in the back.
2. In the village next to the stairs that go to Discount Textbooks.

Let’s start with the most simple copying method…

Photocopying a book or manually scanning pages:
1. open the top
2. note where it tells you to put the pages so you don’t put it in the wrong corner and scan the wrong thing
3. open to page you want to scan and put it on top, close cover
4. press the start/copy button (the biggest one… typically green)

Onto the part I desperately needed help with!

Photocopying many pages of double sided papers:

There are 2 types of photocopiers that I know of.  If you want to do it the manual way, choose the one on the left.  If you’d like the machine to do all the work, pick the one on the left.

1. Loading the “originals” (what you want to copy): you would think it’s one of those 2 slots that stick out the side is the place to go right? You would just pick the one with an arrow -> pointing towards the machine <- rather than out of it right?  No.  You put it on the top.  The arrows are liars.  So if your machine doesn’t have that extra top thing and you put the paper somewhere else, you’ll just get a photocopy of dust and little stringy things.

(Load it on the slanted/on the right of the two top boxes)

1.5. Beware of the direction you load the paper, as in landscape or portrait.

2. Press 2->2 to photocopy double sidedly.  What does it mean?  I don’t know.  I would guess it is somewhere along the lines of you have 2 sides and you want it to become 2 sides on one paper.  That’s kind of confusing because there is also 1->2…

***note***:  Just believe in the power of 2->2.  I clicked 2->2 on a machine and it only copied one side and told me to stick the paper back in, so I tried 2->1 and the same thing happened.  Switched machines and it was fine.  I blame that machine.

3. Press the big copy/start button.  Sit back as the paper feeds through the machine on it’s own =).  Now all I need to know is how to photocopy double sided with single sided originals… maybe that’s what the 1->2 is for.

Troubleshooting:

Clear and cancel are not the same buttons.  Cancel is the C button.

When photocopying double sided the dreaded paper jam may occur.  It may also occur of you click stop.  Your first instinct will be to pull your paper out, see how much of it actually photocopied and count if the copier ate any pages.  You may find all the pages are there and proceed to attempt to photocopy the ones you still need to photocopy.

Back at the main menu it tells you a paper jam occurred.  Please open the top, remove the original and close the top.

Here is where I spent 5 minutes frustrated, cursing and asking what the copier wanted from me as I attempted to open and close the top at different speeds and to varying degrees.

By “top” the copier means the left box of the 2 boxes at the top (next to where you loaded the paper) and not the “top” of which you open to reveal the glass part.

Okay maybe I’m just stupid or had a bad day.  I used to believe I’m better than the average person with technology but now I’m not so sure.  Hope this helps save someone from the pain of photocopiers.

Final Note:

Where does the paper come out? Note the large chasm in the middle of the machine under the touch screen menu.  That is where it comes out.  So what are those trays on the side for?  I really don’ t know.  I guess out of experience though that they do not take paper in.

Nobody likes paper jams =(

(Office Space is a good movie btw.)

Stop, duck and cover.

Exactly where do we hide if an earthquake hits while we’re on campus?

Especially if we’re in a Buchanan D class room, or MATH 100 or WOOD [insert #]?

Really… I don’t know what I would do other than book it for the door but so would most other people right?