côtes contraires.

● ●

Monday, 5 December 2011

Letter to Learn From @ 09:17

To whom it may concern:

Upon coming to college, your feet may be getting cold. You wonder if your mystery roommates will be nice, if you will get lost on campus and be late to class, if you have enough meal plans and whether or not you have made the right choice in anything thus far. The last thing that should be on your mind is worry; however, there are some points to consider for the things mentioned above. Get to know your roommates, or anyone you meet here on out, before you judge because they may be your newest friends. Use your time wisely for the first week or so to determine how long it takes you to get ready for class and how long it takes to get there. You’ll be surprised on how often you do not use your meal plans. Some people have a hard enough time using up ten per week since there are restaurants, convenient stores and a grocery store nearby. Finally, you have made the right choice in going to college. If you feel that a particular campus or major is not right for you, there is no shame in transferring or changing majors; people do this all the time. Having a high education will be extremely beneficial for you in the near and far future and you will never regret it.

College life is fun, especially if you get involved in extracurricular activities. Do not shy away from clubs, organizations and sports that you personally are intrigued by and want to join. This is a time to create a new, maybe better, you. Where you can express yourself in ways you might not have seen possible before. You will meet people whom have the same ideals and opinions as you, though they may not arise that first day, month or semester even. Give it time and you will find your place in this new community. Avoid worrying about what others think of you; this is not high school where there are clicks and trends. Everyone at college will be what they are and everyone else accepts and acknowledges that.

Within the city or town that your college is placed, be sure to branch out. Go to local museums, parks, theaters, shops and eateries to experience your new surroundings as a whole. Then, when you find a place you supremely enjoy, make your parents take you there when they visit. Personally, I have enjoyed the Ritz Theater and shopping stores in Philadelphia. You can never go wrong with having no tax on clothes. Adventuring through a city is also a great way to get closer to others. Gather a group of some new people you’ve met at college and plan an outing. Suggest that they also bring some new friends that way more people can meet more new people. Cheesy, but works.

On a more serious note: schoolwork and social life. Some people will have a hard time adjusting to the workload and social life of college. If you are worried this will happen to you then listen carefully. Manage your time, procrastination worked in high school and it may for a little while through college, but it will not endure forever. If you have multiple assignments, essays and/or projects due on the same day, plan out when you will complete each so that you do not end up doing them all the night before. It is not difficult to do even if it means having to stay in one night during the weekend. If you have trouble writing essays, mathematics, etc. then use the resources that your college offers such as writing seminars and tutors. Do not worry about being judged for needing help. We all will go to help for one thing or another in college. As for exams, study, study, study. They are not like your high school exams that you can start studying for between hours. Study in groups, study in a study lounge, even study via flashcards if it helps. You do not need to spend every waking hour studying, but again, manage your time.

A healthy social life also needs time management. You need to get out of the dorm. Staying in a horrid colored room with poor lighting and dry air is not healthy for anyone on a mental and physical level. Interaction with other human beings is vital, so be sure to do that. If you are having trouble meeting new people and/or going out, become involved with clubs, organizations or sports. These are good ways of meeting people quickly. Do not be afraid to invite newly met people to have lunch or see a movie. If you hear of, or are invited to, parties then try it out. You never know whom you will meet. Be careful; however, since some people will end up partying too much and this may reflect on their schoolwork. As mentioned countless times, manage your time. There will be that next weekend to go out if you happen to miss one due to schoolwork. No one should judge you for neglecting a party to finish a project; we all do that some time.

College is an experience; experience it. Be mindful, respectful and dutiful when going through this part of your life. Some will say college is the best years of your life while others say it is meh. Take this letter as something to learn from, nothing is set in stone when it comes to college advice, but take this into consideration. College is what you make of it, so be yourself and do not forget to call your parents; they will be thinking of, and missing, you everyday.

Sincerely,

A college student

Labels: Letter

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Snacks @ 15:38

In the past few years I feel like food has become a pretty big deal in my life. In that I think about it more, talk about it more, generally appreciate it more. I've been an on-and-off vegetarian since 7th grade--my latest streak beginning about two years ago. That said, I'm not an animal rights activist. I take no issue with people who eat meat. I just personally don't enjoy the taste and feel that I am healthier without it.

Food is particularly important when you move to a foreign environment. Have I mentioned I'm in a foreign environment? I am currently studying at a university in London for the autumn semester. But even during my first summer alone in Los Angeles, food was... challenging. No meal plan or dining hall for me to pick and choose from.

Going to a grocery store in another country is so exciting for me. I get worked up over different packaging. The bread is from a local bakery--about a 20 minute walk from where I live. I'd munch on it with cheese and tomato throughout the week. The Strawberry Bonbons I purchased because they reminded me of Haribo candy that I became obsessed with a couple summers ago in France. These were a bit of a letdown. Far too hard and then so sticky chewy that I feared I may lose some teeth during the consumption process. Once was enough.

I have been a repeat offender with Percy Pigs. They were first suggested to me by my friend Kayley, and even though I'm not so serious a vegetarian as to swear off gelatin, I've only had the vegetarian variety of these. Needless to say, I've been known to scarf down a pack in under 36 hours.

What are some of the things you've been noming on lately?

Labels: Noms

Sunday, 23 October 2011

Julia. @ 18:59

I'm a really terrible friend. Terrible in that I'm writing this after the deadline that I set for the both of us. Terrible in that I should be giving this much more thought and not typing this in my student accommodation kitchen at two in the morning. And with that mindset I feel that I have forgotten absolutely everything I know about the girl I'm sharing this blog with.

Whenever I hang out with Julia, I constantly reprimand myself for not hanging out with her more. Our personalities jive in an unbelievable way. We met through French class when I mentioned wanting to go to Sundance Film Festival. You know how people will just go along with a conversation without any actual intention of going through with things they suggest? Well, the thing about Julia--when I suggested and she accepted, she actually went through with it. That is the kind of person she is.

Julia was born in... She lived in New York for a time when she was young! [This is getting pretty embarrassing for me] She loves to travel. I think this stems from her fantastically insane mother: like wake-her-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and-tell-her-she's-flying-out-to-Dubai,-does-Julia-want-to-come-along insane. I've always admired Julia for her eye for fashion as well. This I learned through following her on tumblr. Wildfox is one of her favorites. She is far better versed in film than I am. I've always known her to lean towards classics though--I'm talking Bogart-era here naturally. We have had many a sleepover in her living room eating crappy food and watching movies until 4 in the morning. Which really was not too difficult seeing as she has insomnia.

Appropriately enough she is in her first year studying film at university in Pennsylvania. Screenwriting is where she is headed. We've gone to Sundance together for the past two years thus Julia has been involved in possibly the most cherished experience of my life. Her fantastic taste extends to coffee, cats, and Coco Chanel.

Now if you don't mind, I'm going to take a night bus to central London to drop my Dutch friend at the airport shuttle stop. And I'm going to read what Julia wrote about me and beat myself up on how much better my own post could have been.

Friday, 21 October 2011

Marion. @ 21:50

I knew her as that girl who was very accomplished in the French language. She had an absorbing mannerism that anticipated she was collected and serene. It was not until universities were discussed that I found out she was interested in film. One would say it was on impulse, but we shall think of it as no-nonsense when I invited her to undertake in some film festivities. A few months later, having just known each other’s names and faces, we were on a flight. I remember seeing her snow boots for the first time and thinking that an adolescent with sensible attire is nothing short of intriguing. Why I focused on the boots is still a mystery though at the same time, it is quite marvelous. The trip was fantastic; the evidence of a lasting friendship was subtle. We confirmed ourselves as film festival allies and planned for the following year. It was the time between each festival that we became better acquainted. Firstly in the obvious common interests then secondly in inspirations and personalities. If you were to see us sway our ways through Park City streets you would think us friends. We are; however, we are also counterpart results of similar yesteryear's. Our childhoods were indulged in comparable lifestyles yet we survived differently. I found it enticing when I came to this conclusion, whether she feels the same way is of her own opinion, but this is what makes her of the essence to myself.

On first meeting, her disposition will be contradictory to what you thought it would be and will she not seem sane when you first speak with her via typed words. Her sense of humor and honesty is rare so approach it cautiously and with delight. She will not force herself to emit her life story to you at this first meeting nor will she disrespect you if you do, but she will have the highest regard of your voice and ears. As she feels more content with you, she will deliver a narrative of her past, present and/or future, and I can guarantee you will find something priceless in the content and form. That collected and serene manner of hers will not be set in black and white for anyone to easily find, but for those who will value it. With time, this only gets better. As evidence, two years later and at an obscene hour, I declared us future roommates and she, without delay, sent me apartment do-it-yourself blogs, location ideas and cat names.

On a side note, our story and stories will be tragedies of two comical beings, in a respectable sense, and it will be wonderful.