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 ;)