Study in the USA - Student Blog

I confess I love writing(!), especially about my college experience. It is easy first of all because I am the primary source [ yet I still do some research if needed] and I really enjoy doing so!

I am back to studies again! This is going to be my last semester at SUNY Ulster. I love this place a lot! Someday I will be back to work here!!! I like this supportive environment!

Now about my winter break which was somehow full of events that I did not notice how it passed so quickly. So I applied to CU last year (sounds like year ago, but it was November 2011), and got home test which were 6 creative problems to be solved and a questionnaire with 12 interview questions to be answered. It looks not that much, but in reality that was a lot of work!  I could not start neither test nor writing earlier, because I had to finish my semester properly, so that week I spent working on my final projects. The next week I started sketching and brainstorming process, but still did not get to assignments because it was holiday time! Yet, I think I started my writing gradually, because I knew that it might take longer than I expected. Anyway, I was stressed out; it’s still a big pressure and responsibility! I had asked several instructors to write recommendation letters and so on. I took a break from my work, so I could spend time on my projects. Actually, it worked out pretty well, because the time that I took off I spent on non-stop creative problem solving day and night! Goodness, that was very taught times! I enjoyed the projects however. I tried to look at them from different angles, sketched out various solutions, and then I tried to give to my solutions conceptual twist, and create some awareness. I hope it will work. Finding the precise box to mail the projects was another story! FedEx was very helpful with that. I did not know that the box for the shipping is free, but that particular size is only for the overnight shipping. In a nutshell I mailed everything 2 days before the deadline, and the box arrived on time. Now, I am waiting for the early decision to arrive on February 1^st, or 2^nd. Waiting is painful, I never liked it. These days I am so busy again that I didn’t even notice how the first week of classes passed already! So much projects to do, whoa! I am excited!

Anyway, after the home test, I still had one week of ‘winter break’ but I had to go back to work, especially during the registration time it’s really busy, so presence of everyone in the office is valuable and much appreciated! Despite the work, I rested in that week so well! It’s because after those intense days of hard thinking process, my work seemed like a vacation! I can’t believe I am saying this, but everything is relative! I am actually happy that I looked at my work from that perspective, thus I felt mentally rested and ready to do MORE at my last semester at SUNY Ulster!! Grand Finale that’s what I want! and then hopefully move to NYC and work on my BFA!

Well, finally I have some free time before classes start so I am gonna summarize a little about FALL 2011. I shall say it was the most intense semester I have ever had at SUNY Ulster. If to visualize in mathematical terms then this semester will look like this: FALL 2011 = GULNAR + CUPS OF COFFEE – SLEEP ! I usually prefer sleeping less, but this semester went beyond my sleep limitations. Well the good news : I SURVIVED as you see, even after a long tough brainwork I am here, and updating my blog. Goodness, I really missed writing on my blogs a lot! I had like tons of papers, statements, essays to write so I did not get time to sit and type something to post!

So what I have done last semester ? Hm… I worked hard first of all the outcome was pretty good indeed! Got my 4.0 for the semester, and of course I have learned a lot and gained new experience.

My Internship at the Graphics & Printings went very well. I am happy with it and ready to continue one more semester!! Yay! Good part, I get to do non-credit internship which means no extra paperwork, just excellent graphic design practice on campus! And its valuable resume builder!

I felt bombarded with projects by the end of the semester! It was really mind-blowing! Literally! My brain get to change the topic, and jump from one project to another shortly! Wow, I am impressed how it manages all that non-stop work! I <3 MY BRAIN! I am going to stencil that on a helmet ©2012 Gulnar Babayeva

Graphic Design Class was another busy class. The final Poster Project was my favorite for the semester! I have spent some time designing various ideas; I really enjoyed working on that project in comparison to the Sheriff car’s wrap design project. I shall say the latter wasn’t quite what I expected. I had fun when I made artsy designs, the ones that I knew they were not going to be chosen. The rest of the project I just wanted to finish my design and let it go. The only feasible outcome is the new technique in Photoshop that I learned.

Commercial Photography project was really FUN, despite the fact that because of the computers I had to present my work like 20 minutes later from the original deadline, and I have learned my lesson from that. Never trust any equipment; they can let you down before you notice it.

ENG102 went well! For the exam I requested to use my laptop, but received a rejection due to the fact that I having English as a foreign language isn’t a disability so I can’t use my laptop. I just figured that I have easily conveyed my thoughts in typing rather in handwriting. Oh, well it all done now. I passed my exam, thank goodness.

Hunger series #1

Life Drawing I… I hope I improved a little, as I don’t see it. This is the only class where my misery is never-ending. I love figure drawing, but I get easily frustrated when I can’t draw what I want. I say I think too much with left brain, instead of letting my right brain do what it wants.. OK right brain I am gonna listen to you more, because I love you. Yet, I really loved the project that I was working on. It was about the hunger, again tried to use irony a little in some of my final drawings.

My 20th Century Design History Online class final was a little time consuming, but fun. I got to go with two of my classmates to Hudson, NY to collect some materials for the final , and write about it. I made a photo essay. I think I am gonna go back to Hudson, those store/galleries were really great places for the inspiration, and it felt like I was walking through the history. Seeing objects from like 1960 -70 was really a strange trip. But the funny part of it, I grew up in settings where some of those objects actually excised in my surroundings. Overall, I had fun, even though I complained time to time !

LIB111 or Information Literacy  That I finished at first 5 weeks of the semester was really painful class. My suggestion take it at first semester!! Time consuming, yet very userful class.

I promised to write about this trip, but never got a chance due to the end of semester business. Well, now I got time I can share some images from the trip. First of all the trip date was postponed, due some circumstances, so we traveled to MA on Dec 2nd, 2011. I have been in Massachusetts several times with my host family, but this time it was a college filed trip to see art! I must say I expected more, but it was still OK.

The only thing is THE CLARK was under the construction so we get to see really small amount of artwork, but our life drawing class went to see the ORIGINAL DRAWINGS from the masters. That was pretty intense I must say, seeing all those precious drawings, studies, gosh… so breathtaking! We had to sketch from them, which was a class assignment. I must say I felt really uncomfortable doing so… I shall overcome this feeling ASAP, but I have weird feelings when I try to sketch when people are around me.. I know, but the STUDIO classes are different.. Anyway, the only way to overcome it is just to sketch more in public places.

I really enjoyed Mass MoCA. I have found an interesting connection with the contemporary art. I don’t know why, I just like most of them, especially I enjoyed the Sol Le Witt: A wall drawing retrospective exhibition! It was spread in three levels!  All in all that was fun exhibition and trip where

I took a lot of photographs  for myself and to share at our fine art page on facebook. Well enjoy!

Last week went to the couple of different destinations. 

I am with my "Psycho"

Albany, NY. First of all, on Monday I went to the Fall 2011 SUNY Student show at SUNY Plaza Gallery in Albany, NY (NOV 7, 2011). Got a piece in the show, could not miss the reception!! I was a bit anxious before the trip. It’s awkward, but I kept checking my email like for several days what if the ride will be canceled! Before I planned to go with my host parent at the beginning, but then plans changed. So, I really did not want to lose my second chance getting to the Albany. Oh, I know… So my friend and I got a ride from our instructor who was going to the show as well. The ride was, I think, the best part of the trip We brainstormed some ideas for the Visual Arts Club’s activities before the holidays with my adviser, and some more artsy-shmartsy conversation all the way there and back. So in a nutshell, it was FUN.

The show was really nice, except some little ‘flaw’. My friend’s piece was placed on the floor, which I thought is slightly changes the perception of the piece. I still think that it must be on the stand; however, what I have learned from the instructor is that the show is up for like month already, so I just have to accept the situation, and live with it… I really don’t like that idea, but it wasn’t my piece so I did not go beyond the “expectations” and I said “OKeeeeeey”

I did not spend too much time looking for my artwork because it was at the beginning of the show. I was happy with the placement too! And the piece was FRAMED [thanks to my instructor!] I guess everything in a frame looks better than it is! *Imagining myself in a frame, hahah how cool I look!* That evening was one of the most gratifying moments that I’ve experienced in a while.

my adviser, me and my friend

My useless point&shoot one more time betrayed me. I did not have my DSLR camera with me, luckily the instructor had one! He was taking our photos with the Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. So guess what?! Later, I was like an obsessed photo-maniac kept asking him to take photos from different angles and to frame differently…Going back to the camera looking at the image quality.. oh well I guess I was really annoying, and he was too nice to say NO MORE PHOTOS!   Well, my urge of making memories ended up having our images at the college’s Online News and Facebook pages. I have mixed feelings about it, but mostly positive  So all in all, I am going to apply for the Spring 2012 SUNY Student Show, because my adviser said we should do it again!  This is such a wonderful experience for me as a student! Plus, these kind of shows builds my exhibition resume!   The show is up until Feb 3, 2012. If you are at Albany, go and check it out!

My friend & I at Port Authority

New York, NY. The next stop was NYC on Friday.  OMG, NYC  is too cool and polluted for me. Every street is a smoke cloud. [Smokers you should quit smoking, before I die from the secondhand smoke.] Oh it’s so hard to breath oxygen… felt like there is none.. almost… but anyway it’s where I really want to go currently because of the college. I ‘traveled’ with  my friend. Mission was to find the CU Building and attend the Open House/portfolio review day. Funny part my American friend’s knowledge of the city was just like mine, meaning 0.01 out of 1-10 scale! So anyway, good thing we left for city early in the morning: took a bus trip there, then caught a cab, but because of the traffic, the cab was not moving at all! and guess what?! We were charged around $10 for not moving! How annoying was that! Personally, I don’t trust cabs, especially in the city, at all. Because they are the tricksters! They are there just to trick tourists and anybody who has no idea how the city is structured, they make intentional detours to charge more. I dislike that so much! Why we human beings are so cheap like this? I have no answer yet.. Need to grow to understand it, I guess…Anyway, another silly move was like we made a tour around the CU Building, before we found it That was ridicules when we came back to the point where we started and found the building right in front of us! Yes, I need a map next time I go to city, or an Iphone! [I feel like I have to somehow save and get one, because internet turned to be a necessity, just like food!]

I am in the Great Hall at CU

A little about CU. That school is astonishing! I have never seen studios and workshops like those in reality! The event took place in one building, a Foundation Building. I was in the Great Hall, where guess who gave a speech? Before being elected Abraham Lincoln!!!! [and many other American presidents! ] But, Lincoln is my favorite American President, from the day I read about him at my American History class! Abraham Lincoln: Self made-man! Is that a coincidence? Oh, no there is no such thing as coincidence! Anyway, it was another fact that makes me like that school more! One more detail which I respect a lot is founder Peter Cooper demanded “only a willingness to learn and a commitment to excellence” I really feel pleased, because it is too close to my credo on the Earth.   What’s the point of doing something if you are not trying to give 100% of possible?! I guess here comes my obsessive mind… which is a new topic for another blog post.

The portfolio review though happened in other modern/new CU building across the road! I like the enigmatic appearance of the CU buildings, you see outside and never know what is going on inside. I love that mysterious tactic that I think is one of the CU’s distinguishable features! So I went to the portfolio review with the first group, we had cards with numbers, and of course my numbers sum up to 7.. as usually! Well, I kind of missed the Q&A part  at the Great Hall, where the rest of the group were waiting for the review, but I emailed Admissions already with Qs because of my transcript situation.. Have too much or too less to submit.. I don’t know yet!

So, I was in a line waiting for my turn. Interesting fact about CU portfolio review is that FACULTY actually does review student works! Not the admissions counselors, but the artists who are actually teaching the classes. I think that is way better, at least I know that it’s an experienced art instructor, not an admissions representatives who are, as far as I understood, usually art appreciators, not the real artists. Anyway, my portfolio reviewer was a sculpture instructor! What a ‘coincidence!’ So he ended up telling me to include my 3DD projects in my portfolio when I’ll be submitting my Home TEST. He said I should make more conceptual work, [ no wonder] and he looked at my drawings, and said “yes I see you can draw.” Well, it wasn’t craziest portfolio review at all… It was more like a conversation to see who I am , where I am  coming from, and what  I am interested in. Also, he said I should take off some of my pieces from the portfolio.. ANOHTER “COINSIDENCE?” well, anyway now I know what to do. When I asked what they want to see in the supplementary portfolio, he said more out of class work… Guess what?! I have no time for it ( BUT, I WILL MAKE MORE AFTER THIS POINT!  Moreover, he said they want to see what I am doing and who I am… It’s really philosophical.. Anyway, the selection is solely will be based on the HOME TEST, that I am hopefully going to receive in early December. I am excited, nervous, and want to do it! Currently working on my application, need to see transfer counselor very soon at SUNY Ulster. I wrote a little essay too, for the application.

Education & Culture

I have to say this: I feel like I can get into any art school if I am going to pay huge amount of money, and do what they want to see in the portfolio. YET, CU is a big challenge, because it’s free and the selection is based on abilities, skills, talent whatever you want to call it. I think this is what makes that school very attractive to me! The CALL that I hear as “If you think you can do it, or you worth it, why don’t you try and see ?”  It’s an invitation to challenge myself, and get out of my comfort zone! I really want to see what I can do & how far I can go. The competition is one of the highest I ever seen: 65 students per year are accepted, and only 15 transfers.. and I am a transfer! This is what I think is a real test!! I will have almost one month to solve creative problems that they are going to send [6 or more]. Evaluation will be done by the FACULTY, and they will be rating the works from 1 to 10 scale, if I am not mistaken! So all I have to do is just be creative, focus and get the work done on time, and then wait!

GOOD LUCK TO ME! My advisor said “‘luck is a combination of opportunity & preparation’ – and it helps to cross your fingers and wear your lucky hat! “  I have to find a lucky hat now!  Oh, wait…I might already have one.. that green thing..

Well, this week was fun and intensively busy, next week I am going to Massachusetts with ART DEPARTMENT! Trip to THE CLARK and MASS MoCA I’ll write about that soon!

Gulnar B.

Finally, I found some free time to write my new post. It’s been a long “break” between my first and second posts. Last two weeks were midterms; I was busy with my midterm projects & papers. I am currently taking 19 credit classes = 7 classes – > done with one, the rest will be done by the end of the semester. It’s been REALLY BUSY; still it is with all the class work, homework projects and extracurricular activities.

As I mentioned in my first post I am currently majoring in Fine Arts ( & Graphic Design). Good news is my art work ( and several other students’) was chosen to represent my college SUNY Ulster in a SUNY-wide Student Art Exhibition FALL 2011 SUNY Student Exhibition at Plaza Gallery, SUNY Albany, Albany NY, from 10/12/11 to 2/3/12. It’s very cool. On Monday, I am going to attend the opening reception with my friends & instructor. I am very excited! The show actually will last almost 4 month! I guess this is MY FIRST long lasting show!

I think being an art student is literally a painful ‘duty’ besides sleepless nights, anxiety, stress, pressure, you name it! I went to the portfolio review day two days ago and all my body still hurts! I had a huge portfolio with my art work, and I was carrying it like around 3.5 hours and waiting in long lines, just to get my portfolio reviewed by art school counselors for my 4 year college transfer. The good part you can always get good constructive criticism, but the downside is every school has different portfolio requirements! Which means that, before applying to any college it’s always good to know what they want to see in art student’s portfolio. I am actually going to visit the Open House of the college where I am applying on Friday. It’s in the NYC! Unfortunately, I have to miss 2 classes that day, but the school’s all 4 Open House dates  are on Fridays and I have to attend one and obtain information about the requirements, and what they want me to submit as a portfolio, besides the home test that they send to applicants before the applications evaluation. I am very excited and a bit stressed about it.

However, being an art student at the same time can be fun, if you know how to create your very own fun:D ! One of the extracurricular events that I am involved at the college is Visual Arts Club. The good part about participating in such activities is that while planning our own activities and producing art, we learn from each other, we communicate, we decide, we suggest new ideas etc! It’s incredibly fun once a week activity for not only art & design students, but also any student who enjoys Visual Arts! Last project that our club organized was about designing tote-bags with Halloween and seasonal designs. We had sold most of the bags, which were around 50 or so… $5 each! The project was a fundraiser for the club. Club has a budged, so we students use that budget to buy supplies, or any other activities that we would like to do, which must be related to Visual Arts such as workshops with local artist, gallery visits, travel to NYC museums, club member’s exhibition and many more!. For instance, now we are planning to spend some amount from the budget on good quality supplies, so when we start our next workshop we will be able to use them and make some art for the upcoming “Affordable Art Sale” project that my instructor/advisor came up with. Well, we sold the tote bags, so we are hoping that around the holidays we can sell student artwork, which can be a nice holiday present for friends and family etc…I know people at the college who are actually interested in student art! So hopefully, some of them will buy!

OMG the upcoming week is full of traveling, studying, writing, & creating … oh well, now I am going to write another post for my college blog post. BUSY MODE ON! C U SOON!

Gülnar B.

GulnarB

My name is Gulnar and I am a new blogger for InternationalStudent.com! I start blogging officially for my college in 2010 up to date. In addition, this year I decided to blog for a special audience, International Students specifically, because I am a part of this community and I would love to share my experience with you. My blogging “career” started as an online journal keeping which had been continuing for years. Then I started official blog of my art and it kept continuing. So here I am blogging again in ENGLISH! Even thought I am challenged every single day by English, I love this language so much, thus nothing can stop me, even those tiny articles & prepositions, and perfect tense forms! I am especially fascinated by idioms and expressions every time I hear a new one! Indescribable experience!

I would like to introduce myself ‘officially’. So once more my full name is Gulnar Babayeva. I am from Azerbaijan Republic, the country in the crossroads between Europe and Asia, in South Caucasus [Mountains] on the shore of Caspian Sea. I know, such a long description…Just Google it! Currently, I am an international student at SUNY Ulster. It “is a two-year college of the State University of New York, located in the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains—regions famous in art and literature for their natural beauty and historical significance. Nearby are the City of Kingston, New York’s first capital, the artists’ communities of Woodstock and New Paltz, and the New York City metropolitan region.” (Check out SUNY Ulster). I am at my 4th semester, in other terms a sophomore, double majoring in Fine Art: Visual Arts & in Advertising Design and Graphic Technologies programs. Because of my majors, I have very loaded schedule from my first day at the college [it’s my choice, not a complaint ]; therefore, I will need one extra semester to graduate from the second major. So far everything is under control, thank goodness! The plan is Master’s Degree, so I will keep working on my dream, as I do every single day.

FYI Two year college degrees in the United States are called Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS). It gives you an opportunity to complete first two years of college with a degree to get a job. The credits you earn are transferable usually, unless it says opposite. So if you are willing to have a Bachelor’s Degree in the area you have studied in two year college, those credits will work towards the degree in four year college, which means you will be studying junior and senior years at four year college. Many friends of mine are doing so, because foundation years are similar in every college, why pay more if you can pay less and get the same knowledge?! It’s pragmatic approach, but the Bachelor’s degree will be from your dream college, what matters at the end.
So much to share! Yet have to do homework!

I will keep posting my adventurous life as an international student in the United States of America regularly. There are so much mysterious and magical things are happening that sometimes blows my mind & “I’m loving it!”  We have such a wonderful and sunny day over here, in the Hudson Valley & I am enjoying the day off , as it’s  Columbus Day in the States!

There is never a time when I miss home the most than when I look outside and I see feet of snow on the ground. I don’t think I will actually get used to the weather in the USA. I always seem to forget to bring heavy coats and buy myself thick useful boots. I do have come to really enjoy the snow. Who would have said that about me just two years ago? No one! For me, and a I bet for many mexicans, living through this cold is just not something in our plans. My mother-in-law did get me one of the greates gifts. She got me a snow suit and I was able to go outside and play with my dog for about an hour. I have come to accept and appreciate the snow, of course while staying home. Has anybody had any bad experiences with this weather?

About 6 months ago now, I got married to an amazing man, who is everything I ever wished for. He is American and we are a perfect match. We met when he studied abroad in Mexico and was polishing his Spanish. Now, 5 years later, we got married and I could not be happier. Just one more story of how being an international student can change your life.

Just recently, something amazing happened. After years of pursuing my undergraduate degree and working hard, I finally graduated about a month ago. I graduated Magna cum Laude; with Honors in several areas but the best part of it all was my family feeling proud of me. During the middle of the graduation ceremony, the President of the University stood up and called my name, at first I was not sure he had said my name because this was all so surprising, but then I realized he did and I stood up immediately. Then, he continued by asking my family to stand up from amongst the people in the auditorium, and my dad, mom, brother and hubby stood up and the President started commenting how much he wanted to congratulate me for doing such an outstanding job while an undergraduate student and how everybody should give me and my family a round of applause. He talked for about 5 minutes but I was so nervous I can barely remember what he said. I was so excited and the entire moment felt so great, all of my hard work had paid off! I have now reached my next goal and I am very excited about it! ‘

I just got accepted into a program for Psychology that includes a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology… my perfect match! I will start classes in September and this is one of my last steps toward my final goal of becoming a Licensed Psychologist. For now, I am trying to find some scholarships I can apply to that could help pay for my graduate education and this will make the entire experience flow more smoothly. But for now, what I can say is that working hard pays off and that if you are an international student, keep working hard because you not only represent those in your country, but you also represent your family, and this makes a difference anywhere you go!

There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.

Napoleon Hill

No, I am not, sadly.

I cannot believe—even at this moment of typing—that I really am home. Sigh.

It has almost been a month since my arrival here in the Philippines. I still remember the excited faces of my family when they saw me in the airport (although they had to wait for another two hours because my flight was delayed). Anyhow, I had my celebrity moment. My paparazzi-like siblings were taking pictures of me while I was having a hard time maneuvering the gigantic cart that carries my two overstuffed luggage. We made a scene… seriously.

Hugs and kisses… hugs and kisses… non-stop hugs and kisses. I guess they really missed me a lot. I did too. I love my family!

The world you live in moves on even without you. Yes, it is true, however you realized that nothing much has really changed… except for yourself. There are so many things I have learned from my US experience. So many that even words cannot describe how much I have improved as an individual. I do not even know how to continue this entry because I am at a loss for words.

My six months of sojourn in the US has really ended. Sigh. I am in my denial stage, undeniably. Even so, I will say this loud and proud:

THANK YOU US of A. Till we meet again! <3

PS
My original flight was cancelled. The airline had to rebook me for the following day.
It was unfortunate, but it was okay. They upgraded it to business class. Lucky!

Somehow we were treated like babies… except that our strollers can’t be pushed! lol

Lindo Lindo- say it twice!

MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO InternationalStudent.Com YOU GUYS ROCK!

I know that summer is coming, nevertheless I just want to express how fascinating the season of spring has been.The change of season was really overwhelming. From a gloomy winter, trees blossom vividly; people are unexpectedly out walking the streets; even squirrels and bunnies enjoy the sunny weather; and, not to mention the colorful tulips! It has really become warmer and brighter… all of a sudden! Springtime = funtime.

A picture paints a thousand words. And so, instead of describing the magnificent spring, let these pictures tell you the story: (CLICK below)

SPRING!

FLOWERS, TREES and… a SQUIRREL

The bunny hopped away right after I saw it, y’know?

Got to love spring,

Lindo Lindo– say it twice!