Study in the USA - Student Blog

If you are studying in a university or college that is trimester-based, you have got to unleash the Superman in you. You have to be faster than a speeding bullet! A 10-week term seems so short, but the list of school work may compare to a long file of die-hard fans for a sold out U2 concert in Chicago. So many things to accomplished! Students better keep it up with the humongous amount of workload constricted to fit a in a 3 1/2 months(similar to a canister of sardines). That being so, avoiding procrastination and planning your activities should bring your student life on the fast track.

Remember those sheets of paper distributed by the professors on the first day of classes? The syllabus, defined as a summary outline of a discourse, treatise, or course of study or of examination requirements (Merriam-Webster.com), serves as a contract between students and the professor. The US, being an individualist leaning society tends to become explicit on this. Every class meeting is detailed. It is as if the course was a premeditated crime—the professors are the perpetrators and students become the victim. The chapters of the required texts for discussion, the dates of group presentations, the dates of events to attend, the dates of exams, the deadline of submission of papers and more are altogether indicated in the covenantal syllabus. The schedule has to be abode by, or else it may be a cause of the class’ failure. This is one characteristic though that I admire most among Americans that if other people would follow— should bring them to a more organized life.

To wrap this entry up, let me reiterate the importance of planning ahead, avoiding procrastination, and complying with the syllabus (Have a firm grasp of this paper; put keen attention into it). Religiously practice these and you will be a man of steel and sure to survive the kryptonic effects of the hectic student life. So don your tight-fitting blue suit with those red undies and cape, and fly up, up and away!

It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman? … No… It is you meeting your deadlines!

Hey, don’t resort to literally flying your way through your professor’s office just to hand over those papers.

Lindo Lindo

Yes, I am here. I have been walking on American soil over the past two weeks.  But as transitory my stay is going to be, a bond with the environment continues to grow, and every second seems more precious…

I am inhaling Naperville’s winter air;

I hear it whistle at night.

I see the divine bits of white flakes falling on my hands;

As it melts, I feel the beauty and grace of Above.

I step on cloudlike layers of ice crystals—shoeprints in the snow!

And I should not forget every angel I meet to school;

Smiling and greeting a sweet, “Hello?”, “How are you doing, buddy?”

And of course, “What’s up?”

What an outgrowth of happenstance, how sweet the encounter!

As I exhale, I communed with Nature…

North Central College is a heavenly haven for international students!

Well, let us talk about a few important things:

Bundle up, Bundle up!

The cold temperature was really the toughest thing to deal with at first.  For a student who came from a tropical country like the Philippines, it was like locking yourself inside a freezer! But hey, it doesn’t hurt to put one’s self in an Eskimo’s shoes?  Welcome to the cold, baby!

What the weather can do to your body is unimaginable. It comes to a point of not feeling your face, hands and other body parts. You do not even notice yourself having a runny nose! My fellow international students— make sure to prepare the necessary clothes for bundling-up when you plan to study in a Winter Wonderland country such as the US!(Well, some states aren’t)  But still, check the current weather of the place and have the necessary preparations. You can buy coats, gloves and hats at discount stores. I was just lucky to come at a time when post-holiday sales are on a rise. Whether we like it or not, we just have to weather the cold weather!(talk about playing with words )

Food Food Food Food Food Food Food Flood (Did you just say “Flewed?”)

Every meal equates to large servings. There is really a BIG difference in the amount of food that is served compared to what I used to eat in my country. One meal could take an hour or two for me to finish. “Food flooding!”

However, I just could not complain. Even though I could not finish the food and felt like throwing up some times, I would still push myself to consume everything to the last piece.  I would feel guilty because majority of the population in my country do not get to eat three times a day. If only I could preserve it, bring it back home and share it with my fellow countrymen…

Lindo Lindo

(I wanted to write more, but blog is about brevity.)