On a happier and much much lighter note, I get to go home next weekend. My best friend from Santa Barbara is finally back in the good ol' Virginia. I can't wait to reunite and just talk and catch up all over again. Slumber parties will never be the same anymore, but hey. We can try right? Right.

This time of year is so stressful, I swear. I am never going to do anything last minute again. Just when you want something to work, it doesn't. Because of course USC is going to make you re-register your student ID just when you had wanted to check your e-mail for your pictures for U101 right?

I hate modern technology sometimes. It's just a huge pain. And I don't have a printer, so of course when I wanted to e-mail something to myself so I can print it out on my roommates, it didn't work. I'm so frustrated!

Major

I realized that a lot more people come to college thinking that they are sure with what they want to do with the rest of their lives...but really they aren't sure. My roommate came in with the intent to become a biology major. She didn't know exactly what she wanted to do with the rest of her life, but she liked science, she liked chemistry..but the other day she was contemplating engineering, fashion design and elementary school education. My mom went to the rescue, and talked to her ( for what seemed like hours ) advising her on what she should do for her major. She teaches kindergarten and absolutely loves it. Summer camp, and many other ideas helped her decide that she really did want to do elementary school education. So, if i decide i'm not set out to be a business major, no big deal. It happens to a lot of people. But I'm pretty sure that's what I want to do.

So now that we're almost done with the first semester of college, everything begs the question " what now? " Finals. That's what. It's all I can think about, and honestly...it's making me sick. I regret every class that I have missed in Calculus and Psychology, because now it is about to turn around and bite me in the butt ( pardon my french.) I have so many things to do, in so little time -- it's crazy. I can't believe that in 12 days, I will be done with everything and ready to start traveling home for an entire month. That's the longest winter break I have ever had, and I plan on taking full advantage of every minute. Well, maybe every hour or so. The next answer to " what now " is who you are going to room with for the next year coming up. It scares me that people have already started signing leases for apartments, and I hope to god I get a spot in one of the quad residential areas. It seems like off campus housing is such a hassle, even though so many people live there. People have come up to me suggesting living plans for next year, but how do you tell someone that you cannot live with them? It must be one of the hardest things to do. I know, however, that no matter how much I am looking forward to winter break and seeing all of my beloved friends again, I am going to be dying to come back come January. The freedom here is no where equal to the freedom at my house. I have no one to report to, and I love that. I don't have anyone keeping tabs on me, and I wish my parents could just learn to let go....but easier said than done - right? Oh well, they love me. What can else can I do? Study for exams....

I was sitting here thinking about what to write about, and my roommate said to talk about her and how depressed she is going to be when I leave her. Okay, that's fine. I'll do that for a little bit.

I honestly didn't expect us to get along as well as we do now. It's weird. I somehow end up getting her to laugh so much, ,and it makes me really happy when she does! I feel funny, haha..such a self-confidence booster. I think everyone needs someone that they feel good around. We respect each other's space, but it's really going to be weird not having her around to consult all the time! I'm gonna miss my roommate a lottttt :o(
What sucks even more is that she lives in South Carolina, whereas I live in Virginia. So clearly, it's not convenient. And this girl got a speeding ticket in North Carolina in August and she isn't even allowed to drive in the state anymore! Hahaha!

This week is going to be amazzzinggggg :) I cannot wait for it. First seeing all my friends from back home, and the ones who are coming home for break too! Also, My family in Baltimore, MD which I am going to go visit...and my cousin who I love so much. We get along so well, it's nice to have a little escape. He's 24 and just got out of college ( UMD ) to become a high school history teacher. Anyway, he's really cool. Also, I'm going to my boyfriends river house at the Rappahannock River in VA from Friday morning to Saturday evening...which should be exciting.

Can't wait for today to be over, I'm going to be in NOVA at 7:37 AM TOMORROW!
YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Last weekend

Ah! Last weekend ( not the Florida game weekend, the one before ) was soo good for me. I drove up with my friend Morgan on Friday afternoon to Old Dominion University ( ODU), she dropped me off on her way to Virginia Beach. She was going there to meet up with her boyfriend from home for the weekend, and I was going to visit one of my best best friends, Lauren. ( That's her in the top picture, obviously.)

More than me being excited to get there, it was so good to hear how excited she was as well :) I guess we just needed some time to get away from the people we always hang out with at our schools, and just be us for a change. We always know how to have fun together, no matter what we're doing. My ex-boyfriend and I have been talking since we broke up, and it's hard to let go of these things in the first place...but he told me that he wanted to come down and visit me since it was so soon after my birthday & he wanted to take me out etc etc. He lives in Richmond, VA so thats about 2 hours away - each way. He came down on Saturday, after a very longgg night for me on Friday. He told me that his mom had wanted to come say hi to me too, so they drove down together...it was good seeing him. It really was, but in a way i think that...actually. It doesn't even matter. it was good. I don't actually feel comfortable saying details in this, especially since it is a blog for my University 101 class, and if i don't stop myself -- I do have a tendency to go on and on about it. You're not my best friend or anything, just a little outlet.

Great weekend. It's really hard to par up to that now, but I'm going to have to lower my standards for the time being until I get to see both of them again :o) That means Thanksgiving break! Cannot WAIT to go home again. I mean, don't get me wrong. College is great...but home is where the heart is.

parents weekend

my mom was planning on suprising me! except her doctor said that she couldn't travel for more than an hour at a time, meaning she would have to pull over a lot and it really would be such a hassle.

My parents had already booked the hotel rooms ( at the Hilton off of Senate st ) and it would've been such a good surprise, seeing as everyone else's parents were there... :(

Vanderbilt...what happened?

I'm pretty sure we got too confident, with our ' winning streak,' that some of us didn't take vanderbilt seriously as a team. I cannot believe we allowed ourselves to lose 6-17, not even scoring one touchdown?! Pathetic, i think.
The state fair was free for people who had game tickets that day - so went in and took a random picture of a horse statue as proof for my u101 class for a cultural event.

fall break

The closest thing to heaven.

Even though i didn't spend as much time with everyone that I had initially planned to, It worked out for the best. I arrived on Wednesday evening - in order to maximize my time of stay, of course. Spent the night at GMU with my best friend, Jacqui...but most of the other nights were spent at home in my own bed. It's nice to experience life at another college though. It shows you where things are really different. GMU is more of a casual atmosphere - no one dresses up nearly as much as they do here. I guess that can be good in a way. Friday, i ended up spending a majority of my time with my friends the dorm at or live around GMU as well, but I went home that night so Saturday I could drive to UVA to visit one of my best friends. I got there around 11am, after a 2 hour drive there...and tailgated before a UVA football game....also very different from South Carolina, but still fun. After that, a series of eventful things led to an unpleasant night. My car was towed after a UVA police officer said I was allowed to park there, so that was a huge fine - along with spending my extra money for my stay there. I drove home Saturday night, things were just too complicated to stay, too much information to say in this blog. Sunday, I stayed home basically all day - except for when my best friends mom cooked me a home cooked lunch at her house. Flight was delayed that night, so I ended up having to come back here Monday evening, but everything turned out alright.

Home!

On a more optimistic note...I get to go home in 9 days.
Not that I love living at home and I'm terribly homesick...
it's just nice to make a trip every now and then.

And....hopefully be able to bring my car back down!

I hope i'm speaking for more people than myself when I write this....
But there are way too many cops in Columbia. Not only do we have SCPD, but Columbia Police, and State Police. Every weekend I hear of someone else getting a drinking ticket...so many of my friends have one, that it seems inevitable. Make sure you have $465 to spare, because if you decide to drink while going out..this will probably happen.
College is supposed to be more relaxed, doesn't the whole world know that college students ( speaking very generally ) are more inclined to drink? So many cops are the biggest hypocrites i have ever encountered. The other weekend, when my friend was in line ( along with 110 other people ) she asked one of them " Don't you think this is unfair? For having two drinks, I have to pay such a large amount of money...While there are people around the other areas of campus that are taking it to an extreme and can't even walk straight? " He nodded in agreeance and said.. I can't do anything about that now, I'm not the person to talk to. Looking at the newspapers, I am finding out that Columbia is top in the violence rate lists...there are more problems than previously imagined, yet cops still surround house parties...that they know are bound to happen.

I'm not saying that I drink everyday, or get "tanked," but it would be nice to feel as if I'm not watched 24/7, and to enjoy the other aspect of college life. We've all done it. Relax a little...Even the people coming in to talk to us about drinking don't mandate the ' no - drinking ' poiicy, just how to be safe while drinking, and how to take care of yourself. These steps are sometimes even more important, because if we feel suppressed, people are more likely to rebel.

Nevertheless, I like it here. Even though all i've done so far is complain...

changes

Nadya!



Simone!



Joslyn!

Miss my friends....soooo much, yet...



College life is, in a way, surreal. There are few limitations, which sometimes I think are necessary...so that the vast majority doesn't spin out of control. Some of them however, are unfortunate. In Patterson Hall, guys must exit the building at 2am on all days...and it's not that I want to have guys sleeping over all the time, I just like the company of other people. I think guys in general are a lot easier to get along with than girls. Less drama, more fun. Back home, I was basically allowed to do whatever I wanted and whenever I chose to do it...but here I love having no one to report back to. Mom and Dad don't nag me at 3AM anymore asking where I am...because there would be no way for them to regulate that. Since their culture is so different than that of American lifestyle, it might be unthinkable what I could be doing at that time..but in reality, I do think I can do anything at night than I could during the day...just personal preference. I really miss home, as much as I wanted to get away from it in the first place. I'm so sick of getting wraps at Russell House, or maybe another salad at Pandini's. It was great for the first two weeks, because I was under the mind-set that I got to go out for dinner every night with my friends, but after you've tasted one wrap and chicken caesar salad , you've tasted them all. My mom's cooking is unlike any other mom's. It's delicious...ethnic Indian food that I have grown up eating. Rice...some vegetables in aromatic spices and some type of supplemental "curry," which is so generic...but I can't even begin to explain it. October 10th...I'm indulging!

It's funny, I didn't think my friends would miss her food as much as I have been. Since my house has been the communal hangout, our fridge has been the communal kitchen. My friends at state schools and community colleges ( George Mason, UVA, VCCS, VCU etc ) have expressed their impatience for me to come home so they can come over too. School...is okay. Classes suck. Honestly, I just hate doing work...unless i'm not prompted. I have to be in " that mood, " which unfortunately, I haven't been in. I guess I really have been in denial about being homesick. My best friend, Joslyn, even cries to me on the phone...which tears me up. I know college is where you make your true friends, but I think I did a good job of finding them in elementary/middle and high school. More later...

Fresh Start

For a lot of people, coming here wasn't that big of a change. Maybe they lived about 2 hours away from home...or even less than that. Some even with cars to make frequent trips back to catch up with their loved ones...but for the ones here without a sanctuary to escape to...I'm here with you too. Leaving my best friends was probably the hardest thing I had to do. I'm so used to having everyone over at my house at all times of the day ( and night ) and just being around the people I loved. Being an only child, it is really important to me to be around people...for some reason just the presence makes me feel more comfortable and more at home. It's not that I crave attention in any way, I just crave comfort...and being able to laugh and make jokes. So when faced with leaving everything and everyone I was comforted by...it's kind of hard. As for my parents, I'm not exactly sure how they felt about the whole thing. Unless I had people over, I was never actually home. I guess the absence of their daughter all summer eased them into saying goodbye for the school year. It's sad to say I was never actually close to my parents, most likely because they didn't relate to anything I was going through. Growing up and living in India, it's a huge change for them to get accustomed to as well. Coming here, it was like my fresh new start away from home...somewhat like a test of my own independence. Even though I somewhat leaned back on the few friends from my high school that came down here as well, I learned to love my new surroundings and the friendly South Carolina atmosphere. Tailgating and the game was such a good experience, just walking around and socializing...what I do best. Hopefully many more memorable experiences to come!