Category: International

Club Craze

As Max and I were walking to AMS Club Days I was wondering if I would join any clubs at all. Last year I joined both Improv and the Food Society, but wasn’t all that great of a member, with little club involvement. Imagine my surprise when I walked out of the SUB, just over half an hour later, having signed up for seven clubs. Yes, seven clubs. They are (in order of joining):

The UBC Debate Club – I joined this because I did some debate in high school and liked it, also Max was really into it, and I thought we could go to meetings together.
Yanks Anonymous (an American Politics Club) – I joined first off because I am an American, I love American Politics, they were registering people to vote, and selling Obama t-shirts. (Which I now own one of)
The English Students’ Society – I am an English Student, they publish “Uprooted” towards the end of the year, which is the closest to a literary magazine I’ve seen on campus.
The Philosophy Student’s Society – As I am now taking Existentialism and pondering the world with Max, I felt this was a natural step, plus I got a cute little pin that reads, “While you are reading this pin, I am pondering your existence.”
The NDP (Canada’s Social Democrat Party) – This one was mostly to support Max and the party. I can’t personally vote, but I like the NDP, and I like what they stand for.
The Freethinkers of UBC – Again, this was mostly to support Max. I don’t know too much about the club, but the guy we were talking to about it seemed really passionate about the club and Max was totally sold.
The Film Society – namely for the discount, and the ability to be a projectionist, something I’ve always wanted to do.

I know I won’t make it to every meeting of every club, but I am excited for this year. Most of the people we talked to at the fair seemed really passionate about their clubs, and I think I could use that sort of passion in my life.

Money Matters

In the past month my family has come upon hard times concerning money and my UBC education. See, it costs a lot to go to UBC as an international student. Just this coming year is going to set me back just under $20,000 dollars, and that is without the cost of living. Last year was just about the same, but I had two separate loans which covered it, and life was good. Only recently have we discovered that those loans do not renew, and we have to reapply for them. Now, if we do and they come through, life is again good, but if they do not, well, I’m looking at a world of difficulty to try and fund my education. This could all result in having to pack up my things and return to the States to attend college where it is more affordable. It is my truest hope that this does not occur, that the loans come through and I can join everyone back on campus once again, but I have to be aware of the possibilities, and I want to tell as many people as I can to do the same.

When it comes to funding your education, at UBC or anywhere else, make sure you put a lot of though into how much money you will need and where that money is coming from. Don’t forget the cost of housing, on campus or off, of food, books, and anything else you may need. If you receive a loan make sure you know the parameters of the loan, whether it depends on credits or grades, if it renews or not. Know how you will pay for everything.

And don’t make the mistake I made. Don’t take your parents or their money for granted, appreciate the opportunity they are giving you, and do all you can to make sure that that opportunity is not in vain. Study hard, don’t give in to too many parties, and work if you can.

It is my dearest hope that things come through for me and for my life at UBC, this has been my dream for quite awhile now, and the last thing I want is for it to disappear. But, if it does, I will be forever thankful for the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met. I can recover from this. Better people than I have experienced the same situation and moved on to a different life, but a good life nonetheless.

I have hope for the future, and I’ll update about it.

Academic International Wellness

Yankee Go Home

Well, my nineteenth birthday has come and gone, I am now an adult, as well as a registered second year (though technically first year until I earn 3 credits) UBC student. Here are my classes:

First Semester:
Creative Writing
Anthropology: Culture, Health, and Illness
Art History: Art and the Visual Environment in the Modern and Post-Modern Periods
English: Poetry
English: Prose Fiction

Second Semester:
Introduction to Cognitive Systems
Introduction to Physical Geography: Climate and Vegetation
Introduction to Physical Geography: Water and Landscapes
Philosophy: Contemporary Moral Issues
English: Literature in the United States

Yep, I got my second year english problems sorted out thanks to the awesome Judy Brown, who made me realize that it wasn’t anything to freak out about, and that UBC is on my side. This is a very nice thing to know. I am more excited for my first semester than my second, though Max and I are taking everything but my lit class the same second semester. We are hoping this will make attendance easier to accomplish, since both of us will have to go to the same class.

On Monday we leave Toronto for Washington DC, we are taking the train there to see my mother, and, on our return trip, we are stopping over in New York City! I am so excited. Seriously.

Anyway, onto packing!

International Personal

Winter Adventures

Walking back into Totem I realized how much I missed it. It really has become my home, and a wicked sweet home at that. I mean, where else can you live SO CLOSE to all your friends? Well, I suppose in ANY dormitory, Totem just has all of mine. :)

Anyway, I wanted to use this entry to write about my oh-so-eventful winter break, which I spent all over the place, beginning in Orange County, CA, (where I visited my best friends), then on to Washington D.C. (for a week with my mom) and then, finally, ending in Toronto, where I spent about 9 days with Max and his family. That’s right, I met my boyfriend’s family.

First off, Orange County. Max saw me off at the airport the afternoon after my last test. I cried most of the time I was in the airport. It was so scary, to cry as he saw me off. I’ve been flying alone since age 6, bouncing between parents 3 or 4 times a year, and I stopped crying at those goodbyes ten years ago. Now, all of a sudden, he’s saying goodbye and my chin is doing that involuntary wrinkle thing and I can’t call him while I am waiting at the gate because the sound of his voice will just make me cry more. It was awful. Actually, that whole trip was awful. My flights were delayed, I thought I lost my passport, I just felt entirely alone. Well once I gained some composure I managed to bury myself in a Chuck Palahniuk novel, Invisible Monsters. (I am a serious fan of Palahniuk, like, don’t even get me started on how awesome he is.) Once I arrived in LA I joined 3 of my very close friends and we went off to have IHOP, which was awesome. The rest of my stay in Orange County was spent shopping for Christmas presents, baking cookies, visiting friends, and knitting a scarf (one of my gifts to Max).

Next was Washington DC, I left the LA airport right around sunset, so as we took off I watched the sun sink low on the horizon and as we came around I could see the full moon reflected in the ocean just outside of LA. It was rather beautiful. Because of delays I ended up missing my second plane, so I got to sit in the Las Vegas airport for six hours, talking to Max, knitting, and basically just killing time. My second flight, across the United States, left at 11pm, we flew through the night. It was a horrible flight. I couldn’t get comfortable, my reading light was broken, and I was exhausted but I couldn’t sleep. I mostly just stared out the window into the dark, trying to recognize the cities below. As we came to land in Baltimore, VA the sun was rising, and I could see the same full moon glimmering in the waters of the bay. It was as though my evening had come full-circle. Mom picked me up at the airport and we drove in to DC. Once we got back to her house I fell asleep, actually I spent most of my first three days there sleeping. Once I was rested we went out and explored Washington, visiting the monuments, going to the museums, shopping a little here and there. I really love Washington DC, it’s a place that fits my mom extremely well.

Next came Toronto, and that whole flight was a blur. I mostly just listened to music and tried to keep from getting too nervous. This would be my first time meeting Max’s family. As soon as I cleared myself through customs I marched out into the airport and caught eye of Max and his mom. I threw myself into his arms, and introduced myself to his mom. She was as delightful as he had said she was. The rest of the Toronto trip was eventful. We went to all of Max’s favorite restaurants (and he has quite a few), saw a couple movies, met Max’s dad and his girlfriend Sera, went shopping, and basically just explored Toronto. But my favorite adventure was when we went up in the CN Tower…

Okay, so I have a fear of heights, as does Max, but I really wanted to see the CN Tower because I had never been to Toronto before, and Max was awesome enough to take me. It took us a little while to get there, but I got to have a Toronto hot dog from a cart on the street, which was really good. Anyway, after buying tickets we proceeded through security and up into the elevator. That dropped us off at the lookout floor. This was rather high up, but the view was fantastic. We could also go down some stairs to the glass floor…which is, literally, a glass floor. So you can walk on air. I was extremely nervous, but I managed to stand out on it for a little bit. Max refused. We then had a nice little snack as the sun set before heading up to the Sky Pod, which is another 50 stories higher than the lookout level. It was really amazing, to be so high up. It really did look like the world was at your feet. I walked around it once while Max waited near the elevator, the Sky Pod was too narrow for him. We headed down to the glass floor level again, ready to leave, when Max decided that he wanted to walk on the glass floor. We held hands and walked out on it before he leaned in and kissed me! We both felt rather proud of ourselves for conquering our fear. I think that was my favorite part of the whole trip.

Anyway, Max and I flew back to Vancouver together, and that’s where I’ve been the past few days. My break was awesome, but it really does feel nice to be home. :)

International Wellness

MSP – Making Sam Poor

So you know that sore throat I mention in my last entry? It was the flu, and I found this out ONE DAY after my iMed insurance expired. I also mentioned in an earlier post how I had JUST sent in my forms for MSP…well I am now uninsured for an unclear period of time.

Let’s deal with the immediate situation first, as I had to last Friday when I made my appointment with the student health centre and found out that my visit would be costing me 60 bucks. I called my mom and she said that the cost didn’t matter, that I should just pay the money and get better. Well, those 60 dollars confirmed that it was the flu. I went out, bought some medicine, and spent most of the weekend asleep.

Now, for the bigger problem. I, currently, do not have health insurance. I was lead to believe that the “3 month waiting period for MSP” started from my arrival in BC, meaning I would be eligible for coverage now (I arrived in August). Well, the woman I spoke to on the phone from MSP as well as the receptionist at the Student Health Centre told me that the “3 month waiting period” is for processing my application. Meaning, I won’t be insured until February. This is terrifying! I was not aware that that simple little form was so pressing, and as I shared my news with other international students, they didn’t seem to know, either! I now have two American friends who still haven’t sent in their MSP forms, who are freaking out about getting anywhere near anyone who is sick, while I am wondering how much this is going to wind up costing me in the long run.

UBC needs to do something to show the gravity of the MSP form to International Students. I went to GALA, and it* did cover MSP, but I didn’t know it was so important. And what about all the international students who couldn’t make it to GALA? I wonder how many people are in the same boat as I am right now.

Well here’s your warning, international students. APPLY FOR MSP IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY! It’s a simple process, and extremely worth it.

To UBC, make it a requirement to apply for MSP. I am not completely sure how to do this, but it is a big deal, one that international students should not have to face as flu season rolls in. Someone needs to recognize this issue and make it known.

* The fire alarm in my res went off at this point in writing this entry. Oh, to live in residence.

Academic AMS International Personal ResidenceLife Wellness

Appreciating Adulthood.

So, it’s official. Sam is now an adult.

Yes, my 18th birthday was 134 days ago, so technically I was an official adult then, but I never really felt like one until this past week. Why? A few reasons…

First off, Max and I went down to Orange County this last weekend, and I was in charge of the travel plans. I made sure we caught our buses and planes so we got in on time. I’ve been flying alone for nearly 13 years now, but never once have I been in charge of getting myself to the bus stop, to the station, across the border, to the plane. Really, it came natural, I didn’t realize the gravity of my independence until we were on the plane, flying to Sacramento to make our connection to LAX. I looked to my left and saw Max, absorbed in an episode of South Park we were watching on my lap top, and I realized that I was 18, I was in University, and I was taking my university boyfriend to meet some of the most important people in my life. Everything felt so real, all of a sudden.

Second of all, yesterday was my rather productive day. I finally mailed in my form for MSP. (If you are an international student and you haven’t already DO IT NOW!) It’s extremely important, especially with flu season coming up. I also paid my (overdue!) phone bills at the bank, and deposited a check that had been burning a hole in my wallet for awhile now. Max and I went to dinner at Suga Sushi (we eat there so often that we are now becoming regulars) and I felt so happy and in charge that I realized…I am now an adult.

When I first got to UBC everything was to new and exciting, I was making so many friends and doing so many things that the most important things (like MSP and studying) almost fell at the wayside. Now that I have finally gotten into the groove of my week, all those important things are fitting into the fun things. I am studying harder, cleaning more often, but still taking time to watch movies with friends.

Take this afternoon. As soon as I finish this entry I am going to meet up with Max and a friend and we are going to go to the SUB to mail some things to our parents, then we are going to go comic book shopping, have dinner, and head to the Improv show. (GO SEE UBC IMPROV!) I am working on mixing in the responsibility with the fun, and I think I almost have the balance down.

So yes, Sam is now officially an adult, and I am rather enjoying it! :D

(oh and things in Orange County, with Max meeting my Mom and best friends, went smashingly :) )

Academic International ResidenceLife

Hectic Rhetoric

Oh blog.

Life has been rather hectic in a non-hectic way this week. I turned in my second Arts One paper (I got a 69%, 1% better than last time!) I had a psychology “midterm” today. (Why do they call it a midterm? It’s just one of six tests we will receive this year, there wasn’t anything different about it.) Actually, I was the first person in my rather large class to finish, which was a little awkward because I looked up as I handed in my test and EVERYBODY was staring. I always go so fast on exams. I have started reading the Mahabharata which is this really cool, really old, Indian text I am reading for Arts One, so all in all, school is in check.

With that said, UPS is currently stalking me. Seriously. I was gone for two hours this afternoon and they left me five messages. It seems my mom did not pay the customs fees for a package so they are demanding I somehow pull a $45 cashier’s check out of my knickers (cause, you know, I have the time and the resources to do that). Also I have 4 or 5 boxes that got stopped at customs so I now have to make a copy of my passport and student visa, as well as come up with a list of everything in those boxes and fax it to UPS. They seem to be under the impression that I have ESP. I have a feeling this is going to become a much bigger headache than it already is.

Other than that, and the large number of dishes and trash I have piling up beside my door, my life is sort of working itself out. Canadian Thankgiving is this weekend, which I plan to spend sleeping, reading, and maybe volunteering at a soup kitchen. I’ve been feeling a bit blue lately and I think volunteering is just the sort of thing to bring me out of that. So here’s to things getting easier.

PS. Max and I got a fish. He is a beta and his full name is Archduke Malificus Franz Ferdinand the Magnificent. But we just refer to him as Ferdinand.

Here is a haiku I wrote about him, just now:

Oh my Ferdinand
please don’t hover at the top
no upside-down fish.

I really need to change his water…

Academic AMS International Recreation ResidenceLife

It’s Raining Men (whee hee!)

Post author By Samantha Horton
Post date September 21, 2007
1 Comment on It’s Raining Men (whee hee!)

Ah the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, place where I spend most of my study time on the computers or sitting in the amazing Ridington Room. It seems this is the second entry I’ve written here. I just find the atmosphere so…blog-worthy.

Anywho, it’s raining. Hard. I don’t think I could begin to describe how much I love the rain. I love it so much that I walked about in it this afternoon without a raincoat, umbrella, or hat. I look like a drowned rat. Seriously, you should see me in all my sopping glory, you’d laugh. I wish more people shared my love of the rain. Live in California for a year and you’ll miss it. It rarely rains there. Here it’s so refreshing.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, through the channels of Blog Squad or all that hot campus gossip (I sincerely doubt the latter) but I now have a boyfriend. His name is Max. Yes, it’s true that Blog Squad has somehow managed to not only bring a group of ten amazingly articulate and interesting students together, but it has also made a couple of two of its members. Everyone seems to find this to be rather cute. I, well we, beg to differ. I don’t know what we are, but it’s not cute. Anyway, yes. Sam and Max. In a relationship.

So I am currently taking all of two classes. This is because I am in Arts One. I don’t know how familiar you are with Arts One, but basically we read a book, discuss it at great lengths, then go off and write an essay about said book. That essay is then handed out amongst our professor and three of our peers so we can go into a tutorial session and have our work critiqued. I went through that dance last Tuesday, when I sat staring straight ahead as my essay on Genesis was picked apart by those around me, admitting to my faults and answering tough questions on my thesis and writing style until my time was up and I was handed back my essay with a grade, 68%. (Looking into the UBC numerical grading system this is a B-, and who am I to complain about a B-, but it was still a shock.) The whole thing sounds a whole lot scarier than it was. There were some low blows, but nothing I can’t improve upon. Although it still makes me nervous about my next essay.

Besides that I am taking PSYCH 100, which is interesting, but nothing to really write home about.

What else? Clubs Week! I am now a proud member of the UBC Improv Club and the UBC Food Society, though I am a bit concerned about the latter, seeing as I tend to be a bit of a picky eater, oh well, what a way to bring me out of my shell.

Oh! Longboat! Me and 8 of my closest friends, including Max and Cory (both from Blog Squad) are all going to be participating in Day of the Longboat, under the team name The Wicked Wavers! I get to be the navigator, as I have a rather loud voice and like to yell at people. We have training tomorrow, and I am super psyched. I am also going to see Across the Universe on Sunday, so there is a lot to look forward to this weekend.

Part of me hopes the rain keeps up just for the sounds, smells, and sights. But I know I am almost alone in that opinion so, for the sake of everyone else, I hope it dries up!

Academic International Recreation ResidenceLife

Lost and Found

I am sitting on the grass, beneath the trees outside of the SUB. I have the sneaking suspicion that there is something crawling up my leg, but I am going to ignore that for the sake of my own sanity. I sat down here with full intention to do some reading, as I am already behind in both my classes (Arts One and Psych 100) but instead my mind wandered to my blog…this little window into my life that I keep forgetting to prop open.

It’s hard to imagine that I’ve only been in class a week, as it feels like so much more. Already I’ve had more meals in the Vanier cafeteria than I can count. (The Totem cafeteria is currently a tent with food that isn’t awful, but isn’t all that great, either). I’ve walked all over campus to the point that it actually seems to be shrinking in size. I’ve done laundry twice, dishes once, and cleaned my room, just to have it filthy the next day. I’ve made friends with countless (well, according to Facebook, 55) people. I’ve procrastinated, I’ve wandered about Vancouver, I’ve listened to Canadian friends talk about Canadian (as well as American) politics, I’ve laughed for no reason and danced into the night on the grass (all thanks to Laughter Yoga). To say the least, I’ve experienced more in this past week than I had this past summer.

I am still lost when it comes to how I am supposed to read all this before my essay is due, on how, exactly, Canadian politics work, or the proper drying time for my clothes so I don’t walk around smelling like mildew, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am at UBC for an education, not just one in philosophy and history, but one in life. If I wasn’t so lost now, how could I be any help to those who will be lost tomorrow?

I have learned to approach every experience as one to learn from, and as corny as that sounds, I know I’ll be better for it.

AMS International ResidenceLife

Observations of University

Post author By Samantha Horton
Post date September 5, 2007
3 Comments on Observations of University

I am currently sitting in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre…which has an astounding reading room on the third floor, if anyone is interested. I’ve just had my first day of classes (which was really just one class, seeing as I only take one per day, lucky me) Anyway, I am going to try and just basically, quickly, go over the past couple of days (which should not be easy at all) to give you the jist of my first real experiences of UBC life. Actually…I think I would rather make another list of things I’ve learned thus far.

1. Dorm showers take about 20 minutes more than the ones at home did. First of all, there are those bothersome floors, which your feet can’t really (or shouldn’t really) touch, so you’ve got to go about washing them while wearing flip-flops. I made the mistake of not fully rinsing them following soaping and nearly had a breakfast of dorm shower tile. Secondly, there is the whole process of gathering everything you need to take a shower and carrying all the way there…heaven forbid you have to run back to your room. And that whole, not being naked in the hallway thing doesn’t help, either.

2. Campus life never really shuts down. There aren’t true quiet hours. There are always people to meet, places to go, things just to do that it is rather hard to be bored, this I like.

3. Professors, in general, and this is a big general, are pretty cool people. Well, they are pretty smart, in the least. Already my brain has ached from new knowledge, I’ve laughed at one of those lame first day jokes, and basically wanted to know who is teaching me. School is different here than it is in the states…though the true details are subtle ones. I enjoy this learning environment more.

4. Making friends is easy. Not much else need to be said about that.

5. The AMS and all those other student-run societies are just that, student run, and basically everyone in them is nice and helpful enough to listen to any questions or thoughts you have. Oh, and all the people that used to intimidate you back in highschool, the teachers and the older kids, they become your friends.

6. There is a lot more, but I think I will close with one final observation…you can fall asleep practically anywhere and not worried about someone messing with or stealing your stuff, but you can lock your bike up with a $100 lock and not trust it enough to go more than a few buildings away. This worries me, as I rather like my bicycle. [EDIT: From the opinion of a very astute older friend, ALWAYS watch your valuables, even in the library they are never really safe unless they are strapped to something very hard to steal or you are in complete control of them.]

So far I have only been impressed with UBC. It’s all rather romantic in it’s complexity. I look forward to getting to know every secret, every little detail, by the end of my time here.