There's only a few days where I can recall that everything just fell into place perfectly, days that you couldn't make better if you had even tried. Those, I would say, are the best days--everything falling into place, turning out better than you could have imagined.

what comes to mind:

Vermont Ski Trip, Winter of 2009

What started out as a plan to skip three days of school was assuaged by the abundance of snow days that  forced Charter to essentially begin winter break a week earlier than expected, therefore allowing the ski trip to continue without missing any days of school, and at the same time, leaving before the massive "snowmageddon" hit. Then the trip itself was simply ethereal.

Wake up in a cozy attic, shower, stroll downstairs to a bustling household and make myself a simple breakfast. Gear up and head out for skiing. Come back late afternoon, gear down, and watch movies and play board games with hilarious guys. At night, chat with friends back home, and go to sleep in preparation for another day. Repeat x7.

Six Flags Trip, June 2010

Frustrated the night before on how this trip would go down, we sat in JFei's kitchen defeated. It was suppose to rain the next day, the day we had planned, so we wanted to cancel the trip and postpone. However, if we postponed, then other people couldn't come and whole slew of other problems, so after a few hours of deciding, we decided to go on with it. We scavenged around for 6 flags coke cans only to be disappointed by  FIFA replacing the Six Flags Coke cans, disabling us from getting BOGO tickets.

In the end, there was just enough people who came to fit in Billy's car, so we crammed and settled in. Jia went early to her workplace and grabbed old cans that had the 6 flags coupon on them, so we were set in that aspect. We were ready to be disappointed because of the weather calling for rain.

In 8th grade, I went to Hershey Park 2 times in one week (once for our 8th grade trip, and once for orchestra) and both times it rained, and both times I had horrible experiences. I was afraid that this time would follow suit like the others.

However, what happened was everyone else read the forecast too, and NJ kids were still in school. Therefore, no one was in the park the next day because of the supposed rainy weather. But surprise--it never rained one drop. So, there were no rides the entire day to the park, and we just walked onto rides like it was our own. I've never been to an amusement park where I needed a break from rollercoasters because my head was throbbing from too much excitement and exhilaration....until that day. What a great day. I normally never buy the rollercoaster photos, but I think I bought two that day.

Also, many of us had never been on a ferris wheel, so we all went on just before the park closed, and the guy running the wheel allowed us to stay on for an extra 4 times around, right around when the sun was going down. We were so impressed with that guy's playful attitude that I decided we should write him a recommendation. We walked into a random place that seemed semi-official (meaning not a carnival stand type place) and I asked for a recommendation form. It happened to be the lost-and-found center, and Carolyn decided to ask them if they had seen her phone (that Carolyn blames me for losing because I made them run around in the morning). None of us expected any result, but the guy comes out with her phone....but there's no battery, and she needs to somehow prove that it's her phone. Luckily...this was a few weeks before I had my phone switched, so I had the same battery as her, and we proved it was her phone, and wallah! What a day..

What sparks this entry?

Today (Yesterday), 29 Dec 2010

What started as a casual day at the park...ended in great laughter and friendship. It's late, good night.

I have three days until I leave. Break is too short. Too many people to see, too many people to catch up with.

I guess I'm very lucky to have days like these, to have friends to see.

sincerity

tbc

finished temporarily

I don't think I've ever studied more in my life. Whoever said college is easier than high school is a huge liar.

Well...false. The classes that you take should interest you more, which I guess does make a difference. For instance, I'm pretty much taking two math classes, an econ class, and a public speaking class (requirement). So, I'm basically taking classes that I usually enjoy, and I did thoroughly enjoy them, but having only exams makes your studying that much crazier.

Of course many people get stuck with intro classes (chem 101..), and start doing really badly.

Sidenote: If you come to Northwestern, make sure you get a 5 on that AP Chem because CHEM101 here is intentionally used as a weeder class. People who took AP Chem do poorly in that class.

I'm so glad first quarter is done though. I was talking to my roommate last night, and we both agreed (unspokenly) that college would not have been as fun if we had been roommates with any other guy on our floor. If I didn't have an awesome roommate, I think my opinion of college would be very different. I wonder if I go home, I'll miss having a roommate, haha.

But yeah, any other guy on our floor.....I don't know.

Anyway, this quarter has been an incredible challenge. I think this quarter is really reflected my "best ability."

This post is really roundabout, but I don't feel like going back and editting it. I can't believe I'm going to have finals week 3 times a year....>_>

When I walk out of my dorm,

The smell of cold Evanston air reminds me of skiing so, so much.

There's this crisp, fresh, and cold aroma of air that makes me want to hit the slopes sooo bad.

First snowfall of many to come this year..

There's just something about Northwestern that I can say "I belong here." Maybe that's what everyone says once they get acclimated to college, maybe not. I know, I complain a lot about college being busy and hard, and it is, but Northwestern somehow fits me.

The fact that it's a good school, but not Harvard, Princeton, or Yale (etc,etc) brings down the academic a notch to give it a real life vibe, where the students are really just normal people, not your "smarter than thou" kids (at least not the majority), at the same time, many people are smarter than you think. 

Is the campus how I imagined it? Yes and no. I didn't imagine I'd be walking  up and down Sheridan Rd (pictured above) for half of my day, but at the same time, Sheridan Rd brings the students together. It's not your UCLA-picturesque school, but it's not Rutgers either, where the campus is really just buildings next to bus stops. 

There's some walking (enough to get you complaining), but not enough to force you to take buses. There's a nearby downtown, and a nearby city.

I guess my real answer is no, it's not exactly how I envisioned college campus. The college campus in my mind is more like...my memory of Berkeley. Which is not the actual Berkeley campus, of course, because my 4th grade memory does not serve me well.

But even though it's not how I envisioned it, I don't mind. College campus beauty is nice...but after staying over Thanksgiving break, I realize that's its definitely not the landscaping that makes a campus alive...

Classes? I don't really like college classes in general; I feel like people learn better in a high school classroom environment. Straight-up lectures and exams don't beat the style of highschool teaching, but I suppose lectures are more efficient in getting more material across, quicker. (But it's unbelievable to me how I used to wake up at 6:40 and take 7 classes.)

Food? Is delicious. Although I've never had a problem with dining hall food anywhere I've been (Rutgers, UD, Hofstra, Etown, UCLA...), and there are people who are getting tired of the food, so I don't know. 

NEVERTHELESS, I miss home--Delaware. Words cannot express how excited I am to be done with finals, and on the airplane home. Numbers can though--on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is most excited and 1 is least...my excitement level is 9001.

Good night. 

been in a bad mood lately

not really doing well academically, socially, and spiritually.

7 day countdown.

finals

Even though it's not the most material that I've had to be tested on (AP weeks probably beats it by far), it's very different. For AP, as long as you understand it well, you'll get a 4 or 5, more or less like a Pass/No Pass test.

For college finals, it's like the AP test! And sure, a 70% might be curved to an A-, but it also may stay at a C- (that's a 1.7, not a 2.0).

I really don't know how this quarter is going to play out, but I feel like I have the slim chance of earning all A's, which will probably be a rarity in the future.

before college, i probably drank coffee less times than i can count on my finger.

since i've started college, i started to drink a bit of coffee...at first with milk and sugar, but then black because i wanted to make it last a long time (span of 3 hours to stay awake during class), and the bitter taste was something i could only sip, therefore making it last long.

after one quarter, for the first time today, i'm sitting in the library with my cooled black coffee...and i never thought i'd ever say this but...

black coffee tastes good :D