Week #23 (09/30/2013 - 10/06/2013)

On Monday I went to Chemistry and this guy with british accent asks if he can sit next to me, he starts talking to me and I BARELY understand, he name is Sam. We ended up doing the group assignment together with Armando and another guy named Adam. After Calculus me and Courtney had planned going to the "Engineers Without Borders" meeting, since we have to go to two meetings for our Foundations of Engineering Lab class. We had some dinner before going to the meeting and we had a great time, when we got to the building where the meeting was going to take place nobody was there.. we waited like 10 minutes and nobody was there. We gave up and went back home, I said that we stayed for nothing and Courtney said that it wasn't nothing, because she got to have dinner with a friend, how cute? So when I got back I skyped with Rod and the funniest thing happened, his Dad walked into Momo's room in nothing but his underpants XD I just covered my eyes and laughed haha.

I like Tuesdays because I have two really easy classes, and I did absolutely nothing in them. In Foundations of Engineering though I did got a little nervous, because I've been kind of avoiding Ahmad, I know it's the wrong thing to do since he has done nothing wrong but I feel awkward with him. So I was really nervous because we have that class together, I think he came late though because he didn't sit next to me. I did heard his voice a couple of rows behind me and from then I didn't turn me head anymore. I also texted me and I was kind of cold with him, and at the end I stayed a little bit longer so I didn't bumped into him. After that class I went to the CSL Orientation (Certified Student Leadership Program). So for this program I need a coach to kind of mentor me, and I'm very introvert when it comes to new people so I asked Justin Fitzgerald, hi is the coordinator of the Civic Engagement program and he said he was honored :) After that I met with David to start the poster for our Chemistry Lab presentation, Victoria and Ricardo were not there. Ricardo it makes sense because he has to work but why didn't Victoria show up? Well, I worked with David. Strangely he was kind of pleasant today, it may be because he forgot to take his ADHD pill and was all hyper and stuff. I ended up doing most of the work but that's okay, I kind of wanted to be in charge. He also told me the clases for Spring 2014 were just scheduled so at 10:30 I began doing my new schedule, it ended up pretty well, I have no classes on Thursdays and just one class on Tuesdays. I'm just taking four classes next semester (Calculus II, Physics I, Physics Lab I and Economics for Engineers), which is good because next on the summer I'll be taking a couple more in Florence (maybe).

I now love french toast, I don't know if I have never had french toast but I just love having them for breakfast. Every morning if there are no bananas or apples I eat a french toast. Anyway, today was a boring day, the only exciting part was that I donated blood! I saw the bus and went straight into it, they pinched my finger and measured I don't know what. It hurt a little and I felt kind of clumsy and tired afterwards but I was wearing my bandage with pride. They gave me two t-shirts and a $10 gift card from IKEA. I really want to do it again but not in the near future because it really drained me. At night I met with David and Victoria to do the poster, it didn't come out as I wanted but what kind I do? They are not Alex or Ambar or Zhanzhy... I also had to go to a American Studies screening about a very boring movie. These movies of the 50s, today I saw "The Manchrian Candidate". The thing about these movies are that they are related to their background history because at that time the study of the mind was very popular.

On Thursday I delivered my Chemistry lab speech, I was really REALLY nervous and that gave me stomach ache, and it really hurt because I had eggs and milk for breakfast. The milk really had that factor that made me sick, still, I said my speech all right and I didn't forget a thing. After lab I went to the bookstore because they had a flash sale today on all hoodies and sweatpants so I bought myself a sweatshirt and I bought Jose David a hoodie because he had asked for one. I lunched some pasta with meatballs and that worsen my stomach ache to the extend it still hurt when I was sitting down. Despite the pain I had to get on the bus and go to the Metropolitan Ministry to do my first volunteering session. The first half of the ride I felt really really bad, the second half was a little bit better though. When I got there and got assigned my tasks the pain went away. I met really nice people, Juan and Daniel, both from Venezuela. I chop onions and peppers, fixed over a hundred sandwiches, and cleaned the fridge. Yeah, those storage freezers that you an get trap into if you close the door haha. Juan offered me some dinner from the buffet and I enjoyed some nuggets and fries, I also had a juice with a very particular (in the good way) flavor, it was strawberry-kiwi-banana :) The ride back was really tiring, I felt asleep a couple of times. Back here I watched x-factor and chilled for a while, after that I hung out with Peyton, Chelsi and Kaitlyn.

On Friday I had some breakfast, and they have not had french toasts for two days now :( they had bacon though, but it was kind of thick and greasy and yucky! Armando wants me to go to this dancing thing at the MSC tonight haha, if only he knew I'm so not a dancer. On Chemistry I forgot my clicker and I loose a couple of points :( I've been waiting for this weekend for a long time, a weekend where I don't have to wake up early or do anything other than a couple of school related work. After American Studies I went to Armando's because I was having trouble with my chemistry homework and we finished it, I had a good time :) I ended the night watching Grey's Anatomy, X Factor, and finishing up "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling and I give it 4.7 stars.

The Struggle

At the beginning of 2013 I was in FSU doing some courses in advance to being in USF, because I think FSU is easier due to the nationality of the professors (Panamanian) and the expectance of their students (who are also Panamanian). Hence, I was used to an easy life in FSU doing homework once or twice a week and studying for each test for 15 or 30 minutes. 

Now here at USF, where it is also harder; I took 7 courses compared to the 4 and 3 courses I took at FSU. I haven't felt this pressured and stressed since high school. Plus the responsibility of going out to eat, doing laundry (big time consumer), cleaning my room, exercising, and participating in organizations and other activities that may enhance my curriculum, I'm really feeling The Struggle. 

This last week I've heard "the struggle" like 10 times from 10 different people, it's not just me who is taking this transition a little overwhelming. The only difference is that those I've heard it from are taking 4 to 5 courses, while I'm here taking 7. 

I didn't just took 7 courses because I wanted to challenge myself, but my scholarship requires me to have 30 credits per year (15 per semester) and since I'm taking a couple of courses that only give you 1 credit (the labs), and a mandatory course which gives you none, I'm stuck with 7 courses. 

This weekend I got really stressed out due to the amount of school work I have for this week, but I took a moment and analyzed. I got to the conclusion that I was getting overly stressed, because I wanted to finish all my school work for the week in one weekend, which may be possible but a hell of a weekend. 

Right now I'm just taking one day at a time, and counting the days until my Christmas break (88 days for December 13th). 

"The Struggle" can be prevented with good time management and prioritizing. 

Stand Up Paddling

Today I did Stand Up Paddle for the second time in the Riverfront Park lake, where USF students can rent the board for just $5 the two hours. This time though I got tire faster, and the sun was hotter. I really enjoyed the first time but this time was kind of a bummer. First I rode my 3.1 miles to get there on my bike and when I get there I realize I don't have my wallet with me, so I have to make an international call to get my grandpa's credit card number. Then they gave me a shorter paddle than last time and this one was too short to paddle standing up and if I paddled sitting down for too long my knees hurt. The sun was also very strong, and maybe that was my fault because last time I got there a little bit later in the afternoon (note to self: don't go at noon). However, the perk of the trip was that this time I had my iPhone with me so I took pictures and clips. I really hope this experience does not sour my like for SUP (Stand Up Paddle).

4:25 AM

On 4:25 AM of Sunday 18th I woke up. I have prepared for this day years ago (and when I say years I mean more than 5). I was feeling excited but not as much as I would feel for a leisure travel, I was very nervous. I got washed and was ready. On our way to the airport it was really foggy, and drizzling. At the airport I said my good byes to my dad and went in side to get in line. While in line Alejandra calls asking where I was, she told me a couple of days before that she'd come to visit me. I never thought she would actually go before 6 AM to an airport just to say goodbye, but she and Zhanzhy came to say good bye. The plane ride was really empty and there were no screaming children compared to my February flight to Orlando. We even had the spot in the middle empty, so it was Max's seat. I slept and read the whole flight. I arrived and we went directly to Panda Express (my favorite restaurant in the US). I ordered my usual: Noodles and double portion of broccoli beaf. After lunch we went to Bed Bath and Beyond to buy my bed sheets but they were out of the ones I wanted so we went to Tampa. A two hour drive. There were 3 traffic jams due to 3 car crashes. One was off the road in the woods up side down! I finally arrived at 5:30 PM and we bought the bed sheets. I went to USF. My first time in USF. And I checked in. There's no lift in Delta so I had to carry my bags one floor. First day in Tampa: Success. Rest of the days I'll be here in Tampa: Beyond Success.

Week #8 (06/17/2013 - 06/23/2013)

August is coming, and I'll be leaving Panama. At first I was, and still am, so excited. But when I think about my mom and dad, and my family; I will miss them so much. That's kind of taking the edge of my excitement. On Monday I woke up at 12:30 in the afternoon. I spent almost the whole night finishing "Ten Tiny Breaths" by K. A. Tucker which I absolutely loved. The end was so shocking. I kind of new something was up, but never imagined that would've happened. I give it 5 stars, because I really loved it. When I finish a book I suffer a reading hangover (when you are still into the previous book and can't move on to another one). I love these love stories so much, I fall in love with every guy, every story and their past. What I like most about reading is getting into the part when everybody spills out their past. Moving on, I have spent three hours watching series (Keeping up with the Kardashians and Necessary Roughness), and YouTube videos. Last weekend I was trying to convince my mom of buying a Wii U, it was a huge mistake when I bought the PS3 because I really don't like those kind of games. What I love are the fun and silly games Nintendo releases. However, my mom denied my proposal. If I still want it by Thanksgiving I'll buy it on Black Friday. Right now I'm in Season 2, episode 5; and I'm falling in love with Matt and Dani's relationship. I decided to miss MMA, I'm kind of not in the mood and I haven't finished (neither started) my precalculus homework. I'm sick of being so flaky when it comes to discipline, but I guess that's just who I am. Turned out the Sensei didn't make it on time, so I guess I saved what would've been a waste of time :) It's not the first time that I get something out of laziness.

I feel like dying every Tuesday morning, I literally just want to drop this semester and do nothing until Fall. My bf came to my house and we played Monopoly, watched TV, and kind of just chill out. I have nothing to tell from Tuesday ha ha, it's been very boring.

I don't know why I keep trying to wake up early on my free days when I know it's not going to happen. Wednesday I set up my alarm at 8:30 AM and ended up waking at 12 in the afternoon. Although I woke up pretty late, I got to finish both my precalculus and my trigonometry homework before 2 PM. I just discovered that University of South Florida has granted me an in-state tuition fee, instead of an out-of-state because I received an International Student Scholarship. That's awesome! Now instead of paying $15000, it's $5000! That's so crazy. I thought about exchanging to a more recognizable university, but at this price I don't see that coming. I was very insecure with my choice to go to Tampa. I mean, it's not a well known institution, but it's taken me months of confidence speeches to myself to be comfortable with my choice. I know I'm judged by grown ups every time I tell them where I'm going, but it's not like I'm rich to go where ever I want. I started a new book, giving up on my reading hangover of the last book. I'm now reading: "Falling Into You" by Josinda Wilder. So far it's been a little bit boring, but the start is always a slow process. At 5 PM I went for a run on the rooftop, gosh! I'm so out of shape! I only ran less than 3 KM. I feel so bad about myself. I always leave my English homework for the end of the day, because I know I'm capable of doing it quick enough to go to sleep and if I get stuck I can make up something random and leave it like that. But this homework has turned out very difficult and it's for the next day. I'm really worried, even my friends are confused. So far I hate ENC 1102. I dislike everything that has to do with reading comprehension and reasoning and blah blah blah. 6 and a half weeks more and Summer Term is finally over! Off to college (real college, not like a community college)! I really am excited and stressed at the same time, because for me to get there I have to accomplish what I've started.

Although I had a bizillion stuff to do for Thursday, it was a more relaxing day than Tuesday. I had one test, one midterm, one quiz and two homeworks  I did great on my examinations, and stayed up late finishing my English homework. I did my trigonometry homework at school two hours before it's due, because I didn't know we had one assigned. At lunch I went to my car and tried to get some sleep, I even brought a pillow. Yes, that's me: forever alone. On my way back home I bought a fro-yo (banana and strawberry) and stopped by the bank to deposit my refund from the course I dropped ($693.00). I also pumped some gas because I was running low, and had to pay with cash because I wasn't sure how much money I had on my visa. Thursday was a REALLY productive day, and it wasn't even 3 o clock! A few days ago a started playing Hay Day again on my iPad. IT IS SO FREAKING ADDICTIVE. I can't stop playing. And my mom, my aunt, my uncle, my cousins, even my grandma plays it. Thursday and Wednesday have been so frustrating because I don't know what's the matter with my internet but I can't load Necessary Roughness' next episode, I'm right at the middle of Season 2 and the curiosity is killing me! Also some YouTube videos get stuck in the middle, and from the anger I just close them. I hope this issue gets fixed soon. At night my bf came over and we just hung out, chilling and talking about life.

Finally Friday! A day to relax and prepare for the weekend :) Just finished catching up with Necessary Roughness and finally got to the episodes where John Stamos appears! From now on, I won't be addicted to watch episode after episode. I'm back to my regular weekly scheduled series. It was also revealed that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's daughter is named North West, are you serious? That sounds like an airline or something. From so many names that rhyme with West, they go with North... Also, my best friend Alex came over (not really, I had to pick her up at church) we hung out and talk, and watched YouTube videos. I love that girl, I will miss her when I go :)

On Saturday me and my mom went to lunch as always at Leños y Carbon, Multicentro. We ran into my grandma's club friends, Linda and Casey. At lunch I told my grandparents about the grand savings I'll get from the scholarship and they were shocked! I haven't told my dad yet because he's not here. He just entered this new schedule of two weeks in the outskirts of town and for free days in the city, I am so excited to tell him. Around 2:30, mom went to a new hotel at Albrook Mall that was hiring people. The hotel was hiring minimum wage staff, but mom went to see if she could get something higher. When my mom came back she said that the manager asked her to come back on Monday so that the event's manager could take a look at her! I'm so excited for her, because she left her job to raise me, and she's done hell of a job.