I-L-L!! I-N-I!!

For those of you who don’t know that is the chant for the Illinois sports teams. There called the Fighting Illini. I figured that title fit since Saturday was our first home game of the football season. I am glad to report that we won by a healthy margin. Since we won I’ll be wearing my orange overalls to class on Monday. I promise to post pictures.  As I expected their was much partying going on in town and around campus after the game. I don’t event want to think about what kind of hangover my neighbors across the hall have right now. I could be a jerk and go wake them up but I won’t because I’m a nice human being. Plus, they gave us a big box of skittles.

Well, things are starting to fall into their own routine up here in Illinois. I’ve got my first exam coming up this week. It’s my Calculus II class. I can say that I am at least slightly prepared. Next week is my Chemistry exam. I can say I’m not at all ready for that one.  Their is enough homework to keep any free time at bay but I manage to make some room. I can say that I am using my Calendar software to the fullest.  After I post this I’m going to go get some lunch then start to chisel away at this mountain of homework I am literally staring at. In case you were wondering, the food isn’t half bad. It isn’t five star but not too bad.

Well that’s it for now. Next post will come when I get an idea and the time to sit down and write it. Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll on the blog. It still has a week left so keep voting. Oh, and while you are online go check out my new website. It’s my new pet project. Links to everything will be below. Until next time.

Blog: http://www.colleeg lifeuiuc.blogspot.com

Website: http://www.cyberspace.exofire.net

Writer's Block

Hello again everyone. I’m writing this quick post to ask everyone for their help. As you may have seen already I like to be able to update the blog fairly regularly. While this has been easy so far new ideas have been coming to me less frequently. That’s why I’ve added a new poll to the blog. I want your guy’s help with new topics. Just vote for the stuff you want me to write about. Have an idea that isn’t listed? Just let me know and I’ll add it to the poll. If you have any other ideas to make the blog interesting just let me know and I’ll see about adding them. For those of you who still haven’t actually visited the blog yet the address is http://www.collegelifeuiuc.blogspot.com/. Have a look around and let me know what you guys think. That’s it for now.

One Week Down…

Well, I FINALLY have enough time to sit down and write here. I’ve been a College student for a week now and, well, it is different. My first class was a lecture in Calculus II. This is for people who have experience in Calculus. I got a 4 on the Calculus AP Exam. I think I’ve learned more in one week than I learned all last year.  No offense Mrs. Herr.  After that is my Geology lecture. I was going to take a music class but It wouldn't fit when I changed for Calculus I to Calculus II. I needed the general education credit so I figured, why not.  The professor is cool and it’s interesting to me.  After that is my Chemistry lecture.  Nothing I can really say about that.

After that is my Electrical and Computer Engineering lecture. I love that class. I know that sounds REALLY nerdy but it’s true. I mean, that class is why I’m here in the first place. The professor is cool. Now that I think about it, everyone I’ve met has been really cool. I figure this means I’m going to have a good year this year. Let’s hope this is true.

Last but not least, well, ya I guess it is the least. I have a class called Engineering 100. This is taught by a senior who has our major who basically introduces us to college life. The guy is a pretty average college student.  Everyone in the class all have the same major, or in my case, either Electrical or Computer Engineering. 

Most of these classes have a “Discussion” or quiz section with the lecture sprinkled in during the week. Half of them have already started and the others start in the next few weeks. This upcoming Tuesday is the start of my ECE discussion. At 8:00 am, it’s the only class that starts before noon. That is not going to be fun.

I can honestly say that I am under a moderate load of stress with all of these classes. Nothing too bad yet. I’ll let you guys know when I start staying up late at night just to do homework. That is when I truly start classes.

Well, what weird stuff have I seen? Well, for one, I’ve seen “ROTC Discriminates Against Gays.” written in chalk on the sidewalks all over campus.I’ve also seen stuff about the Chancellor in chalk too. I’m not too sure why. If I figure why I’ll let you guys know. I also saw a mini-rally on campus for equality for gays. Someone wanted to fill a bus with people to go to Washington for a march or something. I didn’t really pay too much attention to it.

Another thing I’ve seen was just the other night. We got our first big thunderstorm last night. I’m laying in bed trying to get to sleep when I start to hear people outside yelling. Then more people start going outside. Apparently it’s a big hall tradition to go mud sliding out in the courtyard during every big rain and the first one is always the biggest one.  For those who are wondering, no I did not go.

Well, that’s it for now. I know these things always start a thread on facebook, but don’t forget to visit the actual blog. I’ve got it pretty customized and want some feed back on it. Let me know what you guys think about it. I don’t have my next post planned out yet so I guess I’ll see you guys next time.

Quad Day

Ok, I know I posted  just yesterday but I can’t believe what I saw today. Today was “Quad Day” on campus. This is where all the student organizations set up a booth on the Main Quad and try to get people to join. Well, I just spent about three hours walking around and taking all of them in. There were a TON of them and they represented practically every activity under the sun. I’m going to list the ones I can remember here just so you guys can see what I’m talking about.

• Practically every sorority and fraternity.
• Every major student resource on campus. (Housing, Library, Law Services, Financial Aid, Campus Police, etc.)
• Every major ethnicity.
• Tons of countries.
• Skydiving
• role-playing
• Magic: The Gathering
• LARPing
• Grilling
• Anti-war
• Anti-War on Drugs
• Every conceivable political party.
• Tai-Kwan-Do
• Tons of performance groups. (Drama, Dancing, Singing, etc.)
• The city bus system.

Well, that’s all the ones I can think of now. If I a can think of any more I’ll add them to the list. Well, I start classes tomorrow so I guess I should go and figure out which bus to catch to get to them.

 

09/05/09

P.S.- One group I found the other day was the local chapter of the IEEE. If you don’t know who they are this article will give a good idea of the national organization's background.  The local group  holds workshops and dose social stuff as well. I’ve added their Google Calendar to the bottom of the main page if your interested on what they have planned. I’ll let you guys know more about them as I become more involved.

The second reason I added a P.S. to this post was to test how my “system” would handle amending a post. I haven’t tried it yet and I wanted to see how the various parts would handle it.

Settling In

Well, do I have a long post for you guys.  This one might even max out the length of a note in facebook so I don’t know how importing it will work. You guys may have to actually visit the blog. Before I get back on topic, how many people actually visit the blog and how many people just read it on facebook.  Let me know so I can do a few updates.

Anyway, back on topic. We managed to get to Illinois no problem. Move in day went very well. We only had 20 min but there were people helping with carts so that made it go quicker. One of my roommates moved in a day early. He’s in NROTC and enjoys music. He is majoring in Aerospace Engineering so we both have that in common. My other roommate….well, we don’t see him very much. They’re both nice and we all get along .

My floor is cool too. As soon as I say I’m from South Carolina they all assume I'm in engineering. I guess that dose make sense. They all know me, but i don’t many of their name. I seem to be able to get along like that though so we’ll see where that goes.

I’ve been going to all the opening week stuff but I’m staying i tonight. I was biking all day so I’m kind of tired. The speech today at Convocation was…well, it was awesome. I thought I was watching it on YouTube but then I realized I was actually there. That was probably the most emotional I've been in four years. Just being here means more then the world to me.

I had to drastically change my schedule in order to get everything I wanted. I had to go into a higher Math class because I actually got a better grade on the AP Calculus exam then I thought. I did worse then expected in English and German. I did good in Physics but not high enough to get any credit. I had to drop my Music class. I replaced it with a Geology.  It gave me some General Education credits and sounded interesting.

Well, classes start on Monday. We’ll see if that emotion still holds true. Until then I have the block party at the Activities and Recreation Center across the street. Oh, something really cool and ironic. There is a pool  in the A.R.C. I had a pool at home that I had to constantly maintain. Now I can enjoy one without the work. Sunday is the main event Quad Day is when all the student organizations set up shop on the main quad for everyone to see.  

 

Well, that’s it for now. My next post will probably be next weekend. Hope everyone who’ s already been to class is having fun.  Until next time.

-Josh

Packing

Well, it’s almost time for me to move up to Illinois and I haven’t posted in a while so I figured I’d give another post. Most everyone I know has moved in to there dorms now. Everyone who stayed local have an advantage to me. If they leave something they can drop by and get it. That’s not an option with me being 11 hours from home.

Anyway, back on topic. I’m petty much finished packing. I’m bringing most of my unread books. Not really sure why considering I’m less than a mile from a huge library. Bringing My clarinet and and all the music I have for it. I’m hoping to get it “serviced” somewhere up there. Other then little stuff that’s about it.

Oh, I’m bringing my bike too. The campus actually has two way bike lanes that are separate from the main road. I’m leaving the truck in Kai’s capable hands. I’ll be happy if it makes it to Christmas.

Well, that’s about it. If you guys can think of anything I’m for getting please let me know. Tuesday is my last day at home until December. My next post will probably be from my dorm. Until next time.

Australian Vacation

Hi everyone. Just writing a quick note to let you guys know what I'm up to. I'm about half way through my visit. I've been visiting family and seeing the sights. I've got plenty of photos to upload when I get back. Videos too. I've been freaking out over Illinois as well. I've only got three weeks between when I get back and move in day. Until then I just have to relax.


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