College Life So Far

I think three weeks is enough to get the hang of college life, yeah?

So RECWEEK started... for the non-Ateneans who read my blog.. nobody reads my blog but whatever hahaha.. RecWeek is when the orgs start recruiting freshies, or I think not only freshies, to join the different organizations. There are 49 accredited orgs, meaning there are a bunch of other orgs (probably) but are mostly for hobbies or sports. The 49 orgs are grouped into 9 'clusters' I do not remember the names, just one: the Business Cluster, obviously because the ME home org, MEA, is under that cluster...

So I decided I wouldn't join MEA until Friday or Thursday afternoon, since I'd like to know how my first long test goes before I sign up for MEA. They do say that "once a MEAn, always a MEAn" but come on, there's no denying it's EMBARRASSING as hell to join MEA, then not be an ME student in the new few weeks.

What else is there to say about college...

Well, the classes are going well. It is indeed true that the Ateneo only hires the best teachers for us. A lot of them are PhD's or whatever, so they do have the right to be called 'professors'. Oh, but my teacher in Chem 1, I think, is still studying.

The campus is, I've said this before, BEAUTIFUL. I knew the moment I entered that I was in the right place. Hard to believe, but the first time I entered the Ateneo campus was actually... when I was confirming haha. I have never stepped foot inside the campus before that day.

I particularly like the fact that we WALK haha. Some students, like my friend Alex, probably hate that. But you're walking, you see things... it's like a mini-adventure between class. But the sad thing is that about... 60% of my walkings are done alone haha.

The food... JSEC is a given. The food there is great, but an entire lunch costs P100 (P130 - P30, haha because of the return thing). The food at Gonzaga... well I only ate there twice--and ordered the same thing on both occasions. So it's not very good. But it's cheaper than JSEC food. There are other cafeterias (like Manang's) that are cheaper and have good food, but they're out of the way, so I don't get to eat there.

I'll talk about college more some other time. I really doubt anyone reads this anyway. The purpose of this is to just record my college life, so when I'm older, I can look back at these events.

Just a Quick Tuesday Post

My first class for today was the dreaded Fil 11 with the famous Michael Coroza. Luckily (or unluckily), he never arrived so we got a free cut for that class. We waited for thirty minutes just in case he would suddenly arrive because word on the street was that there would be a Diagnostic Test.

With PE being my immediate next class, I found myself with about an hour of free time. I joined my blockmates (shocking) to Gonzaga Hall where we played a bunch of games like Judge-Victim-Spy-Killer (only the Spy was called 'Police' and there was a Healer), and spin the bottle.

I left for the Table Tennis area, where I met up with Cha, twenty minutes before the class. I found out one of my blockmates was also taking Table Tennis, Patty Gaw (the one who looks like Cam Ang, wait, how would you know, I never told you that). I was glad that Cha was there with me, because somehow it made meeting new people easier.

So our teacher was really cool, he was funny, and understanding. He told us that there would be no class this coming Thursday, so that's nice... His number one rule was that we should not take our friends to the Table Tennis area, only until the class is about to finish. He's not strict, he just doesn't like getting distracted.

So after PE, I went to check both the rooms on my Ma 18a/b schedule. On TTH, our classroom would be at CTC 307, so I sat at the SEC walk benches for a while, then the stairs at the CTC building, where I listened as my blockmates talked about famous Ateneans from their respective High schools.

So Math didn't go so badly, I read the book (like four times, seriously, over and over) the night before, so I pretty much understood the lesson. But understanding isn't even half of it, our topic is proving, so it requires a different kind of thinking.

So, basically, today was a very positive day. But the best part comes AFTER Math.

My totally awesome beyond all reason BEST FRIEND, Paolo, who studies (for now) at UP-M was having some sort of orientation at UP-D and was planning on visiting us at ADMU to get his transfer application--yes, I just made that public, Paolo is TRANSFERRING.

I finished class at 12h00, and had a lot of time, so I decided to go to Kodak to have my 1X1 pictures taken but the line was very long. If I had known what would happen later today, I'd have just waited for the line. Paolo poked me on my left shoulder and there he was in all his jacket-y glory. On the way to Ateneo, I told him to remove his jacket because (1) it was really hot, and (2) people would look at him funny.

He refused, of course, and so we walked to the Loyola Bookstore first, where I showed him the cheaper Harry Potter hardbounds. Then we went to the OAA but found out they were on their lunch break and would be back at 13h00. So we walked around some more and I gave him a brief description of some buildings.

So are we were walking along the red brick road, in front of Faura Hall, we met Macy (OB friend) who was on her way to her PE class. We accompanied her to Manang's where we sat down and I had a C2 Apple. At 13h00 we left Macy to head over to the OAA.

We filled out the forms, paid at Cashier 8, and received his brown envelope. After that, we communicated with Cha and Alex about having lunch together. They said they already ate with their blockmates so Paolo and I were headed to Leong Hall to leave for KFC when they texted us and said they were at the bookstore, which is near Leong Hall. So we went to them and ended up having lunch with all our OB friends haha.

So, annoying Kodak place... after our long late lunch, Paolo left and a few minutes later we left, too. Cha and I went to Kodak to get 1x1 ID pics before we went to KFC, and we just checked. They said come back at 18h00 so I went home, started reading my Lit papers, then Cha called me up to tell me she was at 7-11 so I went down and we both went to Kodak but our pictures weren't there yet. We stood there for like, thirty minutes. Our numbers were 1814 and 1816, and they were only at 1750's but lucky for us, the lady sensed I was in a hurry so she hurried ours up haha. We got ours at 18h30 and I brisk-walked back to the flat because I still had to finish 10 more pages.

I finished them awhile ago, around 8-something. It wasn't really hard, I'm just nervous about what our teacher expects us to do. I read it, understood lots of it, and I have a four hour break tomorrow to refresh my memory. So far, so good.

Hopefully the following days will go just as good, and the workload won't pile up too high. I don't have a planner so that could be a problem haha. Oh, I'll ask my brother to get me a Nestle one...

FIRST DAY

There's not much to say about the events in between classes so this blog will be centered around my new professors. No, sorry, I can't say "new", can I? I've never had professors before.

I'll be adding some anecdotes unrelated to my professors, just so this wont be boring (not like that will help... but still).

I woke up at 05h00 because I had to leave the flat at precisely 06h45. I took a shower at 06h00, and don't ask me what I did for an hour because, frankly, I don't remember... I know I went online, but I don't know what took me one hour... I think I read Yahoo, or that could've been last night...

So anyway, I chatted briefly with Alex and then left at 06h45. I crossed the overpass footbridge (I don't think that's the correct term, but I'll use it anyway) and got to Faura Hall through JSEC and more walking.

I sat in front of the classroom, F-115, and waited for 07h30 (this is really tiring, Paolo). My blockmates who chose Chem showed up, and so did those who chose Physics since their classroom was just beside ours, I think.

The teacher was nearly late, but it was worth it to have met him. His name was Leo Yambot, he's currently taking his masters in Chem at UPD, I think, and he has been teaching part-time at the Ateneo for a year, this is his second, I think. He was a nice teacher, the kind who isn't strict, you know, just chill-chill. He said our Chem would be A-able if we studied, but the regular grade would be B-B+. That doesn't sound so bad. He's 27 years old, still plays PSP (which makes him ten times cooler, AND he's currently playing Dissidia), doesn't like sports games, and has difficulty hearing.

My grade: A (if the Ateneo had A+, then he would be A+)

He dismissed us quite early, so our block walked together to ADSA for some of us to get our ID's but then they told us we should get them at Co.. something Hall, so we went there but there was no ID validation anywhere. So the others just helped those who chose Physics with their quiz/homework (lucky me, I almost chose Physics to get a good PE, dodged that bullet).

I got my ID and next we had Chem lab at Schmitt. Stephen and I were the first to get to the classroom but we found out that we conflicted with another Chem lab class so our classroom was transferred one floor up. We met our Chem lab teacher, Eunice Biteng.

"She's new." That's what's written on the notes I took down. She graduated Biochemistry from UST, is taking up her masters at UPD, I'm not sure, and is planning to take get her PhD at the Ateneo (I didn't know they had one). She was nice, strict about following proper procedure and protocol. She seems nice, but I'm sensing mood swings in the future. But I'm not psychic, so this probably isn't true.

My grade: B+

So after Chem the block opted to have lunch, first at the JSEC, and then at Gonzaga Hall, but both times were unsuccessful; they were both full. Stephen suggested we eat at McDo outside. Knowing that Math with "terror prof/ME-killer" Garces was next, I decided to just stay inside the campus. So I walked around all alone and made one of the biggest mistakes I'd made this day. I bought a Chocolate Freeze and a Turkey sandwich from Bo's Coffee. I ended up flushing 30% of the Chocolate Freeze down the toilet. I know it's a bad thing, and I'm not saying Bo's Coffee's Chocolate Freeze wasn't delicious, it was just a mistake. I hate blended drinks and everything that has anything to do with Coffee, so from the start I knew I should not have bought that drink. But don't let that discourage you from buying from there, if you do enjoy coffee or blended drinks... or whatever.

So I met up with Alex and Cha thirty minutes before my class with Garces. They sat with me on the benches at SEC walk until I saw my block again and went with them to the classroom.

Garces was terrifying. The first time I saw him, I couldn't help but think of the bad guy in Agent Cody Banks 2 haha, the bald one. I searched, he was played by Keith Allen, you can search him if you like.

I can't explain what was going on with my body the entire time he was talking. It was like, my heart had stopped beating and felt so heavy. My legs felt like jelly, even though I was sitting down. I felt sleepy, too, but not the Mr. Lumboy-class sleepy, more like... my energy was being drained.

He handed out a notice to our parents about what would happen if we were to get less than 50% on our first two Long Tests. It means immediate removal from the program. I guess I should warn my parents about that soon.

He told us that what most people found hard in the long tests was the last question. The last question was always--ALWAYS--proving. He gave us an example: x^2 + 1 > 0. He told us that writing an example is NOT proof. So we couldn't say if x = 1 then x^2 + 1 > 0 => 2 > 0 because it is illogical to assume that all things would be true by just proving one... or something like that.

So we got to writing if-then statements like: If n is an even integer, then n^2 is also even. We started off by saying that n = 2a and so n^2 = (2a)^2 or 4a^2... but whatever, you're not looking for a math lesson, are you?

I don't know what grade to give him, partly because I'm still hoping he's not as hard as they all say, but also because I believe he's a great teacher. I read a lot of comments about his being a good teacher. It's just that he gives hard Long Tests. Hopefully, I pass the first two and continue my life as an ME student.

So after class, I left the room inwardly shaking from head to toe. I headed straight to the farthest building, Belarmine for my EN 11 class. I stopped by the satellite store and bought a bottle of Coca Cola. I then sat on the bench beside a couple talking about Hey! Arnold, and read my brother's old pre-calculus book back when he was still studying.

For EN 11, our professor was Roy Agustin. He didn't say much about himself, but asked about us. I found out his dad was from San Fernando, but he doesn't speak Kapampangan. He will teach us how to write on the university level. We will be submitting papers, having class debates and little activities. He does not allow cellphones in class, either. He seems fun. He sits on the table, and makes jokes.

My grade: A

For LIT 13, we got Ms. Rachelle Torreon. She's quite strict, but has a 3-chance rule thingy. She seems very passionate about her work, and I hope to learn a lot from her. I usually like reading fiction... majority of the books I have read ARE fiction haha. But I only read popular books, not literary winners, so I may feel out of place in that class. I hope the readings she will give us aren't, you know, something I find boring. I want to be interested in them, for both the sake of my grade, and my personal... feelings..?

My grade: B+ (only because I'm a little scared that she doesn't like me, even though she hasn't yet shown any signs of that hahaha)

Tomorrow I will be meeting the famous Michael Coroza (he's not famous to me, but on the long shot that he is to you, well... congrats) who will be teaching me my most painful subject, Filipino. I really hope, I really really really really hope, that ME allows the basic Filipino track, but that is only if we will be given a diagnostic test, which, I heard, is unlikely.

Also I will be having my first PE immediately after Filipino, so I must run. It will just be orientation, and I am glad I will be with Cha.

The last class of the day will be Math for 1 and a half hours. We will be starting our lecture, hopefully I will not be completely lost.

Please, pray for me that I may graduate four years from now still in ME. :)

Oh, and in return, I will be giving you lots of money, once I become rich ;)

Three Days of OrSem in One Post

If you haven't yet sensed from the title, obviously I didn't think the OrSem was that fun. They built it up through all the hype and everything, but maybe it just wasn't my scene.

But I'll be fair, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as the Prep Course. That's kinda unfair to those whose courses didn't have a Prep Course but (as that Dutch girl Margha said in Friends) 'that is my truth,' sorry.

One of the things from the OrSem that were better than the Prep Course was the food. Seriously, the food during the Prep Course... well, it felt like eating bits of clothing.

The preparations and planning were similar on both events. I liked how the TnT's (Talks & Tours, like our TLC's in Prep Course) were so full of energy. They were always dancing (and sweating) and always hyped up.

In terms of activities, the OrSem was better at, you know, the bonding stuff. But that's pretty much a requirement since we were with our blockmates; during the Prep Course, we were divided into teams irrelevant in our next four academic years. In the Prep Course there was only one 'getting-to-know' activity, while in the OrSem there were many games to help us get to know each other better.

The OrSem and Prep Course were also different because the OrSem was about Ateneo, and the Prep Course was just about ME. So another thing I liked about the OrSem was the tour of the campus. Now my friends and I won't get lost on the first week.

The SOM night part of the OrSem was the closest activity to the Prep Course that we had. They did the same things, like show us statistics of how many students actually get into the program, what career opportunities lie ahead, etc.

OH, the OrSem was a lot easier on the legs than the Prep Course was haha. The OrSem running parts were organized better than the Prep Course's since the stations were NEARER to each other haha. AND the weather was better, it only rained on the first day, compared to three days of full-on rain during the Prep Course.

The OrSem night was boring. Maybe because I wasn't really interested in Filipino bands... but we won 2nd place (again) in the T-shirt making contest, so I won a free shirt and a bunch of small notebooks.

Being the antisocial person that I am, I usually didn't talk to anyone. But I think I liked the Prep Course better because we were, like, thirteen. Now we are thirty-one. Right now I'm having a hard time seeing the future and how we will end up as close as (if not closer or less) than my high school friends. I had had many years getting to know my high school friends and now I only have four... what? Anyway, that doesn't matter, I'm sure something will come around.

So yeah, there will be no pictures because frankly, I didn't like the OrSem that much... and this post is, well, useless. So you shouldn't have bothered reading it. You wasted _____ minutes (depending on how quickly you read) reading this useless post.

So before I end this... useless post... I would like to inform you that tantantaaaaan Block T4 Hardcore got Garces as their Math professor. I can't say anything about him, I've never met him. But hopefully all that terror prof talk is not true. I just have to study and work hard, I can't blame the prof if ever I get a low grade.

PICTURES

Okay, so I added Ateneo Mea just to snag some of the pics of the Prep Course.

Credits to the photographers of the MEA Documentations Team.

(The pictures are not in chronological order)

This was the scoreboard during the Hollywood Squares game.

Team Star Wars' is the first one (upper leftmost). This was

created using a program that is familiar to us all: Visual Basic.

It was quite simple, even Candice could do it haha. The blue

button adds points, the red deducts. There's an input box on

top if you can see, where you input the value to be added or

subtracted. In the game, you could get a different number of

points depending on your answer. (For example, if the TLC

who answered the question gave a false answer and we wrote

on our board 'Disagree' but our answer was wrong, we only

get one point. If our answer was right, we'd get two points.)

This was the first challenge, as you can see, our ankles were tied

together to make it harder for us to walk.

It's sort of like the kadang-kadang in OB Intrams.

Our team was at the very last waaaay back there.

This was the challenge when we had to stand up without

lifting ourselves up using our hands.

The tall one was Miranda Priestly and her assistant's the

one with sunglasses. The following pictures are the people

stationed around campus; the backdrop is just where they

modeled for the pictures.

Hannah Montana and the little Lily.

The super fun ballet dancers.

Brad and Angelina minus the kids.

Lady Gaga. I wonder where

Katy Perry is? She was with LG

when they bought our shirts...

Paris Hilton and her bodyguard. The

first people we went to. Her stuffed

dog doesn't seem to be with her here.

Troy and Gabriella. Troy is Micx's older brother.

They didn't buy a single one of our shirts.

Our beloved TLC's Aldrich and Bea.

Behind them are (girl with sunglasses)

Megan Fox, and two Avatar... creatures.

I didn't know we were going to have

TLC's at the beginning so I wasn't

paying attention to their performance.

TLC's for Team First Love.

Here's the redheaded Charlie's Angel again.

(L-R) Rommel, Tim, Micx, and Enrique. They were

doing the Poker Face head-bob here.

The guys after Micx finished the challenge where he

ate the raw egg-yolk.

Next... the EPIC WIN pic.

Hahahaha! This was the disgusting orange challenge.

I love how the photographer got this pic hahaha!

Their hair was wet because it was raining hard

despite the sunny background. It really gives

a nice effect, doesn't it? =))

BTW, these people weren't in my group.

Aaaaand this is Team Star Wars, our TLCs, and the hosts.

I blurred my face because I'm planning on remaining

anonymous in my blogs.

We won 1st runner-up in this pic.