Great Semester

My first semester at SJSU has been a memorable one...I couldn't ask for any better. I met so many new people and had so many new experiences. I learned in class and outside of class everyday. I definitly like college wayyyy better than high school. I am so glad I chose to attend a college far from home because it forced me to become independent in many ways. I am so grateful for the chance I have been given and I can't wait til next semester!

Christmas in the Park

I had an awesome pre-finals week, especially knowing that none of my finals involved too much studying so I just chilled all week. Starting Tuesday night, my friends and I all went to Christmas in the Park. Downtown San Jose is like a mini-carnival. The park is sprawling with decorated Christmas trees from all different local organizations. There's food and rides too. And every 2 minutes, the light posts drop "snow" (after catching one on my tongue, I confirmed that it was not in fact snow, but soap bubbles). We went around taking pictures and laughing, just having a good time. Then we went on the rides. After the Ferris wheel, I dropped my only remaining ticket so the nice operators gave me 5 free tickets which I shared with all my friends who didnt get the unlimited ride wristband. We passed by the game booths where the workers shouted at us "You are guaranteed to win!" and stuff like that. After going on a weird swing ride and rollercoaster, we headed back past the same game booth guy who shouted "You guys back again? Come play!" I said "Only if its completely free!". He didn't hear me initailly so we kept walking but Abby, who was just a few paces behind heard him say "Sure! If you take me home with you!".  She ran up to me and the rest and told us what he said. We all laughed our heads off and when I turned around, he was waving at us...CREEEEPYYY! I didn't go back to that side of the carnival for the rest of the night. It did provide for some good laughs later on though. After Christmas in the Park, we went back to the campus and to the DC for some hot food since it was freeeezing cold. Then six of us went back to my room where we played Catch Phrase til 3am. It was a fun night!

Things are getting better

My roommate Elaine and I haven't really gotten very close this semester. Its not that we have disagreements or fight, we are just different people who probably wouldn't be friends in any other situation. Things have been getting better recently. She and her boyfriend watch Ellen with me sometimes in the afternoons. She liked the decorations we put up in our room...I texted her making sure it was Ok before I did it but she didn't know what to expect before getting to our room. I saw that the lights we put in the window had fallen down because the tape became loose so she helped me put them up. The night I got back from Thanksgiving break, she came in around 1am when I wasn't expecting her and I was laying in bed watching Jerry Springer cuz nothing else was on. We talked for a bit about our weekends, her ventures in Black Friday shopping and other stuff...and get this! she slept in her bed overnight for the second time this semester. It was nice having her there although I do enjoy my privacy when she's away. I feel like our small conversations have become more frequent even if its just "hey hows your day going?" or offering eachother snacks we are eating. I know we will never be best friends but its nice to know that we're getting more friendly and open with eachother.

My non-academic week was even better

   On Monday, I had lunch with Abby and then we watched Steve Wilkos(basically Dr. Phil meets Jerry Springer) in my room until class, complete with the chants "Steve, Steve, Steve!" as the audience does similar to the Jerry Springer show. I went to dinner with Alli and grabbed a delicious Tully's peppermint hot chocolate before heading to CVC and joining Grace to watch 2 1/2 Men and The Big Bang Theory. Reyna finally got back to campus after flying back from LA so we had a late dinner and then we went to my room and spent a good hour putting up Christmas decor. We put on my Holiday playlist, hung up lights and tinsel in my Window and on my door. We decorated my mini Christmas tree with lights, ornaments, and bells. Now everytime someone walks in my room, they get in the Christmas spirit. And my roommate Elaine was amazed with all the decor and wanted me to turn on the lights in broad daylight so she could see...eventhough it didn't give the whole effect.
   On Tuesday night, in the place of girl's bible study, we all went to Lily and Dave's house and decorated holiday cookies. It was funny because they had just arrived back from San Diego on Monday night so while they were gone, a few Crusaders decorated their small condo in Christmas decor, including a real tree with lights, ornaments, candy canes, and topped with an upside down red plastic party cup with a wite-out star on it. The whole house smelled Christmassy and got us, close to 20 freshmen girls, in the mood to decorate cookies. After decorating the cookies and drinking hot chocolate, we all watched Elf and the kitty Chase came up and layed on my lap and purred the whole time. I would have never left but Reyna, Alison, and Krista were anxious to get to Target before it closed at11pm.
   On Wednesday, Reyna and I had an early dinner at 5pm and went to my room to chill out until 2nd dinner with Alli at 8 and finally, Glee at 9pm. Altogether, it was me, Alli, Grace, Emily, Reyna, Krista, and Jezeca. I didn't have any homework so I went with Reyna to Lauren and Alisons room where we hung out until midnight.
  On Thursday, me, Reyna, Alison, and Lauren chilled in their room while watching som shows, taking pictures, and goofing around, as usual.
  On Friday, I got my swine-flu shot at the student health center on campus. That night, Reyna, Alli, Grace, Emily, and I had dinner and then went to join some other Crusade peeps to watch A Goofy Movie in CVB.
  On Saturday, after I woke up from my nap in the afternoon, my friends and I went to the Subway in CV and then we watched the RHA's Wild N Out show outside Hoover. It was semi-funny and unorganized and freakin cold so it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been. A nice warm shower changed that. We all headed to the Crusade house at 8pm for A Charlie Brown Christmas CDP (Crusade Dance Party). They hired a DJ from within the Crusade family so we all danced for hours. I learned the Cupid Shuffle and some other dances, we all did the Macarena, and at one point, we were all dancing in a circle, arm-in-arm, doing some sort of can-can to folk/square-dancy music...oh fun times :)  After I got back, Abby, Krista, and I all drove to Denny's for some breakfast at 3am.
 And now its Sunday, 3pm and I'm still in my PJ's...Waitin for our last Nightlife of the semester and then Pizza My Heart...Reyna's buying me pizza cuz I won a bet :)

My school week was a good one

I had a really fun week so I decided to write about it. On Monday, I was still tired from our car ride back to San Jose. In my English class we were assigned to do an in-class essay based on a prompt from last fall's final which, according to my prof, was really difficult. It was something about how government shouldn't place regulations on businessmen and companies because then we'd turn into a communist nation. My first reaction was Holy Crap, what am I supposed to talk about? My prof then discussed how he would respond and I took notes...and when it came time to write it out, I just took his arguments and added my own thoughts. Apparently he liked it because he said he vividly remembered mine out of the 40 other ones and I got the best grade in the class. On Tuesday, I gave my persuasive speech about child labor and my prof commented saying it was my best one yet. On Thursday, my Linguistics prof decided to make our lesson fun by looking at the differences between men and women in conversations so we got seperated in groups of girls and guys and discussed our views and then integrated to see what the other sex had come up with. It was really interesting. On Saturday morning, I had to wake up at 7am for an 8am English final (deadly for me since I don't wake up before 9am, if that). I think the prompt was easy to respond to so hopefully my grade reflects that. As soon as I got done, I went back to my dorm and slept til the afternoon.

Thanksgiving

Last Tuesday, I went home, back to San Diego, after being away for 3 months straight...It was nice to see my family, friends, and my pets. I had a lot of fun with my friends on Wednesday. We went to Nickel City and Olive Garden then went back to my friends house and watched Up! On Thanksgiving, I spent time with my family, including my grandma and grandpa. On Friday, I got my hair cut by my mom and then we went ice skating with family friends. On Saturday, it was raining all day so we stayed inside, watched a few shows, and I packed up my stuff to leave on Sunday.

The DC

The place I spend all my meals, where I chat with friends, where I watch awesome movies, and where I attend fun events....It's the DC (Dining Commons).
The food here is good...although usually heavy with grease or sugar. My favorites: the pizza, cheeseburgers, and the infamous DC Orange Chicken (the only food item that people are willing to stand in line for for upwards of 10 mins because they only have it on Mondays). I also like Tully's which is included in the meal plan. The atmosphere is very nice, usually clean, and the staff is friendly (I have about 5 friends who work there). I usually have a certain area I sit in to based on what time of day it is and who I'm sitting with. For breakfast, I watch the TV usually playing the View or cartoons (Tom& Jerry, Pink Panther). For lunch and dinner, I like to watch the movies and depending on how good of a movie it is, I often stay and watch it through if I dont have class, like when they played Slumdog Millionaire the other day. On the other sides they play sports and the travel channel.  The DC food may be getting old but I try and get new choices each day and the people I am with make every visit fun.

Dorm fun

I have loved living on campus this year with people from all over the U.S. and world, from different backgrounds...yet all of us are similar in many ways. Almost everyday, they make me smile. A lot of time, it comes from the group of 6 or 7 guys who live nextdoor and a few doors over towards the end of the hallway. Just the other day, they were singing A Whole New World from Aladdin, complete with male and female harmonies. Other popular song choices: Single Ladies, Numa Numa, techno, and Lion King. They also get together to watch Jerry Springer in the early afternoon between classes and chant "Jerry! Jerry!" with the audience. In the dorms, there are quiet hours that start at 10pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends but my RA doesnt enforce it. Friends and I have sat in the hallway into the wee hours of the morning. My RA, Roy, is really chill and even goes to play Halo or watch sports with the guys in the hallway. The other day, my friends and I were laughing and talking loud while playing Catch Phrase and he came to the door. We expected him to tell us to be quiet but instead he just came to say hi and see what was up.  The only not so fun part: The girls bathroom is soooo far away!

My dad came to visit :)

On Nov 5th, my dad flew up from San Diego to spend the day with me at SJSU and downtown. I picked him up at the light rail station downtown at 9 am. We walked all over campus and I showed him the coolest places: the library, the student union & bookstore, and my dorm. He got to meet my roommate Elaine, too. We went out for lunch at Johhny Rocket's downtown and then headed back to campus. He gave me some advice on what classes to take and what will get me where I want to go, as soon as I figure that out. I had a midterm in my linguistics classs so he stayed in my room and rested from all the walking he wasn't used to. Turns out my midterm only took 15 minutes so I was back with him in no time and we decided to go bowling at the student union. We both weren't too great at it but it was still fun. We went back to my room and watched some TV...the only stuff on: Korean soap operas, Steve Wilkos, and Judge Judy so we watched Ellen when she came on. My friend stopped by my room and I introduced her to my dad. For dinner, we went to Pizza My Heart and stayed there talking for like an hour before he had to catch the lightrail and his plane around 9pm. It was a great day and I was so happy to see my dad who I hadn't seen since August. I can't wait to see everyone else when I go back for Thanksgiving.

Suuuper Fuuunny Prankkk Videooo

Sick One

Last Thursday, while watching Up, I began to feel a sickness coming on. I wasn't too shocked because everyone here has been getting in, from people in classes, the dorms, the Dining Commons...the possibilities are endless. At first it was just a cough and headache, which was eased with some medicine and cough drops. By the time Sunday rolled around, it was pretty well gone and I was back to full energy. And then, a day or so later, it was back, except this time it's congestion, not a cough. I was the most miserable on Thursday when I went to my morning class and my teacher noticed I wasn't feeling good. I went back to my room and slept until my friend got off class. A sick girl has gotta eat...so I went, looking like crap and not caring one bit. I made the decision to skip my afternoon class and sleep. When I woke up around dinnertime, I was completely out of energy and still tired as all heck. After dinner, we went back to my room, watched Survivor, and listened to music, mostly from my iPod but at random intervals, the guys next door would break into a harmony of "Halo" by Beyonce. Around 11pm, I was feeling a bit less groggy and more awake so Abby and I ventured over to the DC for the "Halloween Carnival Festival Fall Ball Costume Gala Shindig Party Get-together Autumn Affair Function Soiree Social EXTRAVAGANZA" (yes, that's what it was called). We got to paint and decorate small pumpkins, frost cookies, make crafts, vote on the costumes, and other fun stuff. Rather than calling it a night around 1am, Abby, Krista, Katherine, and I decided to sit in the dorm hallway. It was after Quiet Hours (at which point you are supposed to be in a room, not in the hallways, and as quiet as possible) but Roy(my RA) didn't care too much. There were several guys being equally loud playing Halo (the video game this time), running around in the hallway, and other stuff. We ended up sitting there for 2 hours. Needless to say, I didn't sleep til close to 5am. Even when I'm sick, I manage to have some fun :)

UP! the movie

On Thursday, October 15th, the movie Up played in the quad. As I was not able to go to the Campus Moviefest the Friday before, I decided to attend this as a replacement. I saw the movie once while it was in theatres and it was amazing so I was excited when I heard it was going to be played for free on a huge screen in the quad. The Pixar animated movie is full of life, laughter, adventure, and quirky unexpected moments. Unlike most movies shown these days, this movie had a different plot than had ever been seen before. I went with Katherine and Abby pretty early so we got front row seats. The only downside was the moms behind us who kept talking about unrelated stuff and their kids who kept bumping my chair but it was bearable since the movie was loud.

Soggy Day

So yesterday I woke up and it was raining outside. I heard there was going to be heavy rains and potential floods in the Bay Area the night before but I didn't know what to expect. I put on a jacket and vest, wrapped a scarf around my neck, put on my fuzzy gloves, and opened my umbrella once outside. Within a few hours, my vest and jacket were soaked and my feet were cold and wet so I decided to take a trip to Walmart for some snacks, rainboots, and a new umbrella since my cheap one kept blowing inside out and ripping. I asked Alison if she wanted to go and she agreed. On the VTA, when we were supposed to get off, the bell didnt ring when I pulled the cord so we had to get off on the next stop and walk in the pouring rain to get back to the correct bus stop. At Walmart, we bought rain boots, dry socks, snack foods, and then went walking around the store, avoiding going back out to the rain.  We got back a few hours later and changed into warm, dry clothes. I stayed inside for the most of the rest of the night, except when I went to dinner at the DC 3 times with 4 different people. I still haven't got my cell phone in the mail :(

Homecoming Weekend

On Thursday, I had dinner with Abby and her friend Jonathan. Abby and I went to the Fire on the Fountain event (free food, crafts, spirit activities, fire dancers, and music). It was a bunch of fun but we left early so we could say bye to Katherine before she left. On Friday, I got up late so I took a shower, did stuff in my room, then went to dinner with Emily. We ended up sitting with my friend Alli and her friends and Jezeca and her friend joined us all. Katherine, Nate, and I were planning on going to the 2nd chance prom for freshmen. It took us longer to get ready than we were actually there since no one showed up. Instead we just went back to our rooms and watched Star Wars. On Saturday, Abby came to my room and we chilled with Katherine til the Homecoming game against the Idaho Vandals. They gave us free ThunderStix which pumped up the crowd and we had a fun time. Abby and I were hungry and cold so we left 10 mins before the end of the game when the Spartans were ahead. Turns out, as expected, we lost the game, by 4 dang points so at least we left on a good note. We decided to go to Pizza My Heart for dinner which was yummy (and I got a new T-shirt). Fiona and I went to VM after we got back and got some ice cream and watched a much-needed chick flick called Hope Floats and the SNL when Abby came down to my room. Today is Sunday and I woke up at 3:30pm :) So far, I've showered, done laundry, eating a hot pocket, watched Planet Earth, and now I am typing this. Later I am going to Nightlife and maybe Philz coffee afterwards then I need to type a paper. And thats my weekend!

Overview of our Video

Members= Alyssa, Maya, Ben, Monica, Jezeca
Concept: Random Moments at SJSU


· Scooter/Skateboard Race

· Squirrel Fighting

· Random Educational Puppet Scene

· Don’t fight me, Fight a Stuffed Bear!

· Love triangle with a tree

· Guys singing “Single Ladies”

Questions (to ask students on campus)

1. When was the last time you took a shower?

2. Does your mother know you are out tonight?

3. Do you sing in the shower?

4. What are you going to be for Halloween?

5. What’s your stand on beavers?

6. Pepsi or Coca-cola?

Summary: Overall are video is just about goofy things people will do or say when they find themselves in awkwardly random moments. We should be filming on campus. Are locations: Joe West, Bricks, Around campus.

Just Another Weekend @ SJSU

EVERYONE WENT HOME THIS WEEKEND...or at least it seems like it. On Thursday, I chilled in my room with Abby and Katherine til I went to CCC Afterparty (Weird Al-themed). Alison and I only stayed for an hour or so. We ended up going to chill with Reyna, Arnie, and Lena in Arnie's room in Joe West. We watched TV, talked, and took crazy pics. On Friday, we had lunch at the DC and hung out all day until Krista offered to take us to In 'N Out. I hadn't been in a car or to In 'N Out in more than a month so it was fun and we jammed to some hip hop all the way. We went to Lucky's after eating but we had like 3 minutes to shop before it closed so we felt like we were on Supermarket Sweep. It was an adventure in itself having to carry back my groceries and a 24 case of water down from the parking garage and into my room. On Saturday, we wanted to see a movie but Camera 12 had really bad showtimes and we didn't want to go all the way to Oakridge just to see the movie. Instead, Abby and I went to Hoagie Steak Out, to 7/11, and to Reyna's room to annoy the heck out of her since she "wasn't feeling good". On the way down from the 10th floor, I decided to press all the buttons so we'd stop at every floor, thinking that no one would get on. Of course, on the 9th floor, a group of guys got on a were like "Is this for real?" and "Which one of you did this?" I laughed the whole way, especially when one chick got on and blamed the guy standing next to the button panel. He was like "Is it cuz I'm Mexican" lol. At the end, I said "Thanks yal, it's been a fun ride. We should do it again next time" and they just laughed. Abby and Krista then came to my room where we watched SNL, played 20Q, and laughed wayyy too much for quiet hours.  On Sunday, Krista and Abby and I went downtown to Starbucks and Johnny Rocket's then I had to clean up my room and then went to CCC Nightlife. Fun times :)

Classtime in MCOM

On Monday, Professor Dan was absent due to an illness so our Peer Mentor Cindy led the class. We gave her feedback on the class and then played this fun ice-breaker game where you shoot the people around you (we ain't in high school anymore). On Wednesday, we learned about HTML and other stuff for our midterm and then we were assigned a video project. My group consists of me, Jezeca, Ben, Monica, and Maya. Our ideas so far include dressing up in costumes and going to do funny pranks around campus. I even recruited a few friends from outside of class to join in on the fun.

Fun Weekend

Yeah, it was freakin hot here in San Jose but I managed to have an amazing weekend nonetheless.  My weekend started on Thursday after my 1st class ended at 11:45am. My 2nd class had a furlough day. I met up with my friend and orientation roommate Alona and her friend for a bit. After getting a few things done back at my dorm, I had dinner with a few friends. Then we went and saw Transformers 2 playing on the inflateable screen in CV quad. The fight scene at the end started getting dragged out so one guy decided to streak in front of the whole audience which was funny. Then he did it again after he heard the crowd's cheers. We even met a nice girl who we ended up eating with at the DC after the movie. On Friday, my neighbor across the hall, Katherine, and I went to the mall via VTA for a few hours then I went to a friend's 20th birthday party in her dorm that night. On Saturday, my friend and I went downtown to get a bite to eat then headed to the football game. It was so freakin hot in the Spartan Squad section so we ended up leaving after Cal Poly's touchdown within the first 5 minutes of the game. Then we all wanted to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs which was hilariously awesome (Go see it!) and I thought the movie theater was weird. Afterwards, we were hungry so we ventured into downtown only to get caught in the whole clubbing scene and drunk homeless people wandering around. We ended up going to McDonalds right next to campus. Back in our dorms, we were all hyper so we sat in the hallway, talking and trying to be quiet so we wouldn't get in trouble. On Sunday, I just stayed in my room, cleaned it up, did laundry, took a shower, vacuumed, did homework, and watched some local news until I went to Nightlife with Crusade. To end the weekend, I chatted with my parents on the phone.

MUSE MCOM class activity

Undo Writer’s Block

- take a break for 10-15 minutes
- write about your writer’s block and then your thoughts become more clear
- ask for a conference with your professor( who can give ideas, insight, or even past papers turned in by students
- use creativity-generating program such as IdeaFisher

Plagiarism

- def: presenting someone else’s words as your own
- lack of effort to do research or to cite sources
- laziness, lack of time management, procrastination
- changing one or two small words in a sentence is still plagiarism
- ESL students have a hard time with it because they rely heavily on written source to further develop English skills
- unaware of it vs. doing it on purpose (same punishment)
- avoid it by citing your sources and using quotes from authors to enhance paper
-be prepared to defend yourself if it is accidental and understand where your professor is coming from if you are falsely accused

A Scholarly Approach

Introduction:  I am going to start off with a quote about how technology has changed over the years and left some of our nation's elders confused and resisitant to change. I agree with this because _________(blah blah blah)_____. In my direct family, we have 3 living generations (gparents, parents, kids). On one side, my gparents have accepted technology and changes and use them daily. My paternal gma however has not. She just recently got her 1st cell phone at 73. Technology is a divider between generations that might have not been apparent a few decades ago.

Body #1: My maternal gparents use of technology: Facebook, photo-sharing, cell phones, ipods, DVR
My paternal gma: cell phone just for emergency purposes, got a DVR (mainly so she doesnt miss a single episode of her beloved Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune).  (Interviews all 3 on knowlegdge, usage, or lack thereof)

Body #2: My parents=becoming tech-savvy....Facebook, craigslist, photo-sharing, photoshop, DVR, ipods, quick texters  (Interviews parents about knowlegde and usage)

Body #3: My brothers and I...Facebook/Myspace, know MS Office, gaming, ipods, fast at texting, comp drives, digital cameras, etc

Conclusion:  3 levels of technology efficiency demonstrated by 3 generations...Why is it so important? Why not?  How will it look like in our children?

My thoughts on Ch. 9

So I read Chapter 9 in our MUSE textbook and it was about learning to express yourself verbally and on paper. There were some helpful tips about how to speak in front of audiences and make sure the papers you write have some of your flavor mixed in.  If you are giving a formal speech, you might encounter a few obstacles and it is your challenge to overcome them and come out on top. Most people don't like public speaking so you're likely going to be nervous like most. You may lose track of what you are saying, stutter, shake, and avoid eye contact. To eliminate these, write key points on index cards, take a deep breath if you feel a sense of anxiety, and pause for a few moments to smile at your audience. Those are the tricks I use.

What am I doing on Furlough Day?

Well, you see, because of all the budget cuts in California, CSU schools are forced to have these furlough days. We pay more tuition, we get less schooling. So today, almost all classes are closed...kinda like a snow day but not.
Knowing I had no classes today, I stayed out til 3am. That destroyed my sleep schedule so I slept til 1pm. Then went to the DC, ate pizza, watched Hitch, then came back to my dorm where I am now. Sounds kinda boring I bet. I do have homework to do, or at least that I should be doing. Then tonight, my friend and I are pulling a prank on my friend.
You see, one of my friends is a Dodgers fan, the other is a die-hard Giants fan. (When questioned, she said she would never marry a Dodgers fan, even if he was super hot, the "one", or if her life depended on it). She's gone in SF til Wednesday so me and my Dodgers fan friend are going to cover her dorm door in Dodger memorabilia, articles of them beating the Giants, and pictures of her celeb crush Taylor Lautner, who is a Dodgers fan. I wish I could be there to see her face when she gets back and sees it. I'll update on how things went and her reaction.

SeLf pOrTrAiT PoEm

Alyssa
Caring , creative, fun-loving, friendly
Related to my dad, mom, and my 2 brothers
Care deeply for my family, my friends, the world
Feels independent, anxious, excited
Needs to get better cable channels, some mail, a hug
Gives love, baked goods, a smile
Fears being alone in life, creepers, being trapped
Would like to see a movie at the theater, my kitty, my friends back home
San Diego, Jane Street
Toshach

Manage Your Time Effectively

I like to think that I can manage my time between academics, social time, and "me" time.  I do this because it is important to me to have a balanced schedule that doesn't make my life too stressed out. By using these simple methods, I keep from [completely] procrastinating on assignments but allowing myself to have fun, as well.
1)  Write down everything in one planner! As referred to in my Tips & Tricks sections, it's a great idea to write down your deadlines for assignments as soon as a teacher mentions it. Pencil works best because not all teachers stick to the deadlines. Also keep track of social events, doctor appointments, work, friends' birthdays, etc.
2)  Don't wait til 11pm to write a paper if its due the next day. Contrary to the "Quiet Hours" in the dorms, people tend to get louder around 10pm-midnight (playing Nerf wars in mine). There are other distractions so just help yourself out and type up your paper before then.
3) Save time for sleep. No one likes to be around you when you are grumpy.
4) Save trips to the mall, to a local restaurant, or other places off campus for the weekend.
5) Make sure to schedule some time for yourself. Sit down with a good book, watch late night TV, or catch up wth family on the phone or Skype.

Combatting Loneliness

College is a big place with lots of people. This might make you feel all alone. It's time to make friends. Here's some of my suggestions:
- Leave your dorm room door open when you're inside. People will stop and say hi if they see someone in there and you will meet new people on your floor.
- Sit next to people in the dining commons. Or at least sit nearby and ask them what movie is playing and start the conversation there.
- Meet people in your classes.
- Join a club, group, or dare I say, go greek.
- Carry on with your daily activities. I've met one of my closest friends here in the laundry room.
- Be yourself! Everywhere you go and everything you do...It will draw people in.

Library Resources

Last Wednesday, my MUSE class met in the library to learn about the available resources that we can use in all of our classes on papers. We were taught how to effectively use the library catalog to find books, articles, and media. He also taught us how the article databases are sorted by subject and told us to make sure to document our resources to make the bibliography easier later. I asked how to place a hold on a book that is currently unavailable and he told us that we can also have a book shipped from another university library. I learned a lot from the lecture and now I know what resources I can use to make my papers complete.

Scavenger Hunt Reflection

Last week, my partner Maya and I were assigned to do a campus wide scavenger hunt.  We answered most of the 72 questions online but a few questions we needed to go around campus to find the answer for. The funniest one asked where people 21+ could obtain an alcoholic drink on campus. We asked people who were walking by or sitting on benches but no one seemed to know. Finally we asked the information desk in the Student Union and they directed us to the Market Cafe. Sure enough, it's a cafe and a pub. We had fun doing it and learned new things about San Jose State that we may have not ever known without doing the scavenger hunt.

3 Songs Stuck in my Head this Week

"La Camisa Negra"
by Juanes


"I Would Understand"
by Third Eye Blind


"Heartbreak World"
by Matt Nathanson

Similar Differences (Me & Elaine)

My roommate, Elaine, and I moved into our Hoover dorm 2 weeks ago.  Previously, we talked mostly on AIM about our personalities, music, classes, what to bring, and our excitement. She and I seemed to get along so I was looking forward to meeting her. I wouldn't say that we have sparked an amazing friendship and that we'll keep in touch afterwards, but we get along well.  We share my fridge and TV and her printer and microwave. I've met her friends that come to visit and she's met mine.

Our differences, you ask? 
- She lives in SF so she goes back home from Thursday night to Monday morning. I'm here til Christmas.
- Her side of the room is simple, not too much decor. Mine consists of my colorful scrapbook paper on the corkboard, my giraffe collection, and pictures from home.
- She likes to eat out with friends around town. I stick with eating food at the DC (after all, I am paying for it even if I don't go) but with my friends too.


Similarities?
- We have pretty much the same sleep and class schedule.
- We like the same music.
- We're both "hella" chill about our room...we keep our stuff on our own sides, keep it reasonable picked up, and try to be considerate when the other is studying


So we might not end up as best friends but I am glad she's my roommate. We can coexist in a semi-small place and share our new experiences.

Dorm Life

Walking back from my shower, I encountered one group of people standing in one hallway trying to figure out the huge Sudoku and in my hallway, there was a group of guys playing Frisbee from one side to the other. This is what it's like dorming in SJSU's Bricks (Hoover, in partcular)...and I wouldn't have it any other way :)

3 Songs Stuck in my Head this Week

"Everything is Alright"

by Motion City Soundtrack

 

"When Did Your Heart Go Missing"

by Rooney

"The Fear You Won't Fall"

by Joshua Radin

**Check 'em out on Youtube and tell me what you think, especially if you get it stuck in your head too!

Bored? Need A Laugh? Check out these websites!

http://www.fmylife.com/  [short, comical, but true FML stories...and for those addicts like me, there are new posts every day]

http://www.postsecret.com/ [anonymous secrets sent in on postcards]

http://www.notalwaysright.com/  [true stories of bad customer behavior/stupidity by employees that served them]

http://www.manbabies.com/ [photoshopped pictures of men and children, with switched heads]

http://www.foundmagazine.com/ [people's discards of romance letters, doodles, lists, etc. that all tell their own story]

http://www.addictinggames.com/ [full of crazy games of all types...my faves: Bubble Spinner, Parking Lot, Paxcon]

http://www.pandora.com/  [make your own radio station with artists you already like and Pandora will suggest new artists similar to them]

http://www.improveverywhere.com/ [strangers gather to create weird situations that baffle the public]

http://www.onesentence.com/ [true, witty stories from peoples' lives told in one sentence]

http://www.failblog.org/ [the ultimate in FAIL...pictures and videos]

First Week Experiences at SJSU

I still can't believe I have finished my first week of college. It's been a whirlwind of new people, locations, and adventures. I rode public transportation for the first time which was a bit of a creepy experience. The weather, bugs, and slang (ie: "Hella") are different from what I'm used to in San Diego.