Xatal

Well, I’m back from Yosemite. As usual, it was beautiful, and definitely a great way to end my summer.

Now, I’m finally getting packed up. Tomorrow is my last full day at home, and I’ll be spending most of the day frantically hunting around to make sure that I have everything that I need.

This will probably be my last post until I get fully situated, so in the meantime, take care!

So now that I’m done working, it’s time to take my only real vacation of the summer.

I’m heading off to Yosemite National Park with three close friends today, and barring any sort of a disaster, it should be a great trip, filled with beautiful surroundings, fun hikes, and simple relaxation.

Going in the middle of the week in September may seem a bit weird, but it was the best choice for us — none of us were too busy in the middle of the week, and since weekends fill up fast, it made sense to go when it’d (hopefully) be less crowded.

I’ve got a four hour drive ahead of me here, but luckily I enjoy driving.

I’ll try to take some pictures and post them when I get back!

After working six mornings a week for the last two months, I’m ready for a break. I worked at this job for about two and a half years in high school, and now I came back after my freshman year to work my fourth summer there.

The work has never been bad (I clean pools), and my boss has been an awesome guy, but let’s face it — I like to sleep in. Getting up at 6:30 every morning just isn’t me, and I’m glad I can finally sleep in. Ironically, I’ll get far more sleep at school than I get at home — my earliest class this quarter is at 11 AM.

I made a decent amount of money this year, and considering that many of my friends didn’t have jobs at all due to the recession, I’m not complaining at all. I’m still undecided about if I’ll get a job this year at school or not, but we’ll see.

For now, it’s time to enjoy my last week at home!

The president of the UC system, Mark Yudof, is proposing an additional increase in the cost of attending a UC — as much as 30% more by next year, in fact.

Fees to attend a UC have already gone up in the last year due to the budget situation in California, and it looks like we could be due for another one.

The UC system has long been known for being affordable, but lately costs of skyrocketed, to the point where it now costs around $27,000 each year.

This is ridiculous, and it just makes college less affordable and possible. Education is crucial, yet if costs keep rising, it becomes less and less feasible. Plus, on top of all this, I constantly hear word that the UC administrators are paid exorbitant salaries, yet they continue to suggest cutting spending and increasing fees.

What do you think?

If you’re a shy person who needs your own space and time to wind down, dorm life will definitely take its toll on you. With all of the people coming and going, anyone who’s introverted will inevitably feel the need for some alone time to relax and wind down.

Depending on how many roommates you have and how they act, this can be easy or it can be tough. Some roommates can live together, each doing their own thing, and be perfectly happy. Others feel a constant need to interact with each other or with other people, keeping you from the down time that you need.

The best place to go when you really need some time is the library. Keep reading »

So I’ve put off my own dorm shopping for next year a litttttle bit too long, but now it’s time to finally get everything together.

Luckily, I have most of my supplies from last year that I can still use — I’m fine on hangers and towels, and I have enough fabric softener sheets to last me until I graduate. However, I am low on quite a few supplies, and now that I’m in an apartment, there are a few other things I’ll be needing to pick up as well.

Last year, I ended up forgetting a lot of key supplies because I never kept track of what I needed, but this year I’ve decided to get smart and have been keeping an ongoing list of what I need.

Here’s my “To Get List” so far:

1. Bathroom supplies — toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, and so forth. Gotta have all of these!
2. Batteries. Last year when I needed a pair of AA batteries, no one on my floor had any. This year, I’m going to be ready.
3. Shower Curtain. I’m looking for a dinosaur one.
4. TV Cable. A TV’s no good if you can’t watch anything on it
5. A bottle opener. For sparkling cider! I swear!
6. Protein. I’ve been good about working out this summer, and I’m hoping some expensive protein will encourage me to keep the habit going through the school year.
7. Diced foam and new bedsheets. Last year, my bed sucked. This year, I’m going to make my dorm bed as comfortable as I can.
8. Laundry detergent and quarters. I go through probably $50 in quarters a year to do my laundry. I’m always running out.
9. Umbrella. I was always fine in high school without one, so I assumed I’d be okay in college too, but in reality I was pretty miserable. This year, I’m going to be prepared.

So sometime in the next several days, I’m going to be going shopping and picking up what I need. None of the items are too expensive, but it does add up, so I’m prepared to spend about $150. Oh well, college isn’t known for being cheap.

Also, it’s 9/9/9!

For some people, college clicks right away and they never turn back. For others, the college life takes some getting used to, and they end up thinking longingly of going back home for the first several months. When you first arrive at college, you definitely have to step back and let yourself get used to it before the homesickness will go away.

That can take a while, though, so here are a few ways to help feel less homesick:

#1: Give your family & friends a call.

Your family will definitely be pleased to hear from you, and your friends will love to hear how you’re doing. You can talk about how things are back home, or you can talk about how you’re doing. You’ll probably feel a bit better if you talk more about yourself, since talking about home might make you miss it more. Instead of talking about the past, talk about the future — talk about what will happen the next time you come back.

Other ways to keep in touch will help as well — text messaging, Facebook, instant messaging, and so forth. Keep reading »

Highlights of August 2009: Keep reading »