Friday, October 19, 2007

As I said...like horses....my comment

I agree with Eli. I definitely think that we are gonna miss this system and life in the USA. We are getting more than we think we are - new perspectives, new friendships, new experiences. For me it is a totally different life. At this point there are massive teacher strikes in BG. There is a huge inflation. I am glad I am here during this stressful period for my country. I feel good here. I am not saying I hate my country....right the contrary, but I would not feel depressed because people complain that my country is falling apart. Here, I can just observe and realize how patriotic I actually am. I suppose I would not have been like that if I was in BG.

The thing is that life and education in the USA is totally different from these in our countries. Maybe that's why it is really hard for us sometimes. It is hard for me, too, although I have had previous experience with the system.

It is natural to feel that way. C'mon, we are 10,000 miles away from home.

I believe that education in the USA is beneficial. The very fact that it is intensive makes you learn more. Imagine if it was like that in our systems - I do not think we would have learned a lot. Here, you have the stimulus to learn - all the time, while in our countries students have the stimulus to learn only once - at the end of the semester. Here, you can still have fun, as long as you are managing your time the right way. I am sure most of the UEPs are having fun - not only studying. I get the impression from the facebook photos. Try to thinkn how many new friends you have in facebook or how many times you got drunk with people, whom you never thought you would know. It is just the attitude you have - if you are open and understanding to the new, you can feel great and enjoy it being here.

Let's enjoy our stay here!!!
Sorry for any grammatical errors, but it is 2am, and I really wanted to respond to the posting:)
And also sorry if I did not post it in the right section.

Posted by Lilly at 02:04:17 | Permanent Link | Comments (41) |

Thursday, October 18, 2007

As I said...like horses

Actually, I was the first who wanted this American system - that is why I am here after all!
When I was in Croatia, I had my free time, maybe too much free time...sometimes I thought why am I studying if I have so much free time. Now, here in the States, prepared to what was coming (but can you ever fully prepared for something new?)I, I am panting. Now, this can be perceived as a complaint, or I can argue that I am just mentioning it, offhandedly...I want my free time baaaaaaaaack!
Dunja, if you're reading this, you'll think me pretty inconsistent, but what can I do, I am just like that? I will just cling to the all-catch phrase: We always want what we don't have. It is as simple as that.

But, I don't intend to claim this without explaining myself. All internationals are complaining about this system, obviously Europe and Asia are not used to this as well...at least they tell me that.

I don't know about your free time, or how you spend your weeks, but mine are constant work;incessant, perpetual work. My country functions like this: you have one essay per semestar, one to two exams. you manage on your own. you do what you want. When the time comes, everyone walks around crazy, worried and we are all together in this frenzy of exams, everyone studies, we drink litres and litres of coffee...
Here:constant work. literally an essay today, an assignment tomorrow, a research for the same day, in two days an exam. Breathe in, breathe out. Stop.
In a way, I like this. Always running, here and there, always studying. But never coffees downtown, three hours conversations, or if I have them, they are just stolen moments...
Movies, cultural events...if you want to have this GPA that we need, I sincerely doubt it.
Of course, this system has its benefits, and lots of them, but it has its flaws. Benefits: I am writing constantly, and working hard, thinking a lot (response papers, essays...). I can see that it is helping me, it's obvious.
But, would I want to live here, and study here...for four years? I don't know what I'll think in six months, but for now - no!
I have no time for friends, except for weekends, when there's a bit leisure time. Mostly we get drunk. Which is not surprising considering the circumstances. we have good time.

If I didn't have fall break next week,I would probably snap. Of course I am exaggerating, but my days are all the same, they are monotonous (except for weekends). Thank god it's fall break.

Now that I'm whining so much, I want to warn you that this is maybe due to the fact that I had to give in an essay today, but at the same time read for today's  class for which I had to do a research as well.Everything would be fine (it's nearly weekend,  no?) if I didn't have an assignment plus an exam on Monday. That's what I'm talking about. So, sorry, this frustration is not abslutely realistic.

Ča san skuhala, to ću i pojisti. (sorry for this)

Cheers
Posted by Marta at 18:52:56 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Thursday, October 11, 2007

BIBLE BELT

this is what I came across today, not directly seeing it, but I saw like a picture on the wall of the Comparative Lit departement, and on the picture there was like a notification for Sunday mass or sermon or something (probably a sermon, cause it's baptist) and this is what it looked like:

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (a picture of cross)         and then  next  to it:             Staying in bed screaming oh God
                                                                                                                          does not constitute going to church

Can you imagine this????


Hello, America! This is absolutely crazy!
Posted by Marta at 21:54:37 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Sunday, October 07, 2007

How good could you be at Spanish?

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/223/popup/index.php?cl=4041882

Posted by Elitsa at 17:36:53 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Bus Driver

Hey, everybody! I did not participate in the creation of this blog, but I support the cause....it would be nice to share our experiences.

I will start with a story about the most devoted bus driver in the world. Every Tue and Thur, when going to school, I happen to get on the bus that this black, middle-aged guy is driving. And the greatest thing about this ride is that no matter how hard it is for you topen your eyes at 9 am, you have the chance of being woken up in a few minutes...as soon as this bus driver stops only to start playing his favorite R&B CD. Then he plays it at the max volume, so no matter how desperate for sleep you are, in a minute you are awake and ready for feats:P....and this is just because of the sounds of singers you can hardly recognize; mellifluous sounds like YO-YO-YO and UH-UH-UH. Sweet!!!

If by some chance, you are still not awake before the first bus stop...you have a second chance to do it:) Hurray! At the bus stop there are about 100 students and about 50 of them get on the bus. Then the bus becomes so crowded that the driver gets inspired by the students and starts talking authoritatively: "Ok, guys, the doors are closing....and the ride begins." He says the same thing every time he is at this bus stop, as if he adheres to a movie script. Good Actor!

And after the great performance, if you are unfortunate enough to be still asleep, you have a third chance to wake up...hardly anybody would give you a third chance ever:) The ride really begins....he drives so fast that you get the impression you are not in a cute bus (I love the A/C in the buses here), but in a spacerocket....yup, this is a very quick ride....

In less than 2 minutes, you are at your bus stop, and right at the moment, when you are about to get off, you hear the inspiring voice of the 'spacerocket' driver: "There you are, guys, you have to get off. Thank you for your cooperation today and have a good one!" Isn't that exciting? Then you really wake up...not because of what the driver says, but because he simply says something like that!!! Don't know about your countries, but in Bulgaria, nothing like that is gonna happen...ever.

That's why, when getting off the bus, I bursted in laughter...i was awake:)

Funny, huh? But think about it...a funny driver. No hard feelings, just an enjoyable experience:D

Posted by Lilly at 00:26:33 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Who says that in the US everything is giant?

The plane that we flew with in the US was so remarkable!

 

We felt as if it was just for us, so special, it was so tiny, especially compared to the plane we were for 10 hours in. For some unknown reason the AC wasn’t working properly but we are definitely not pretentious… Still, the funniest thing was when we started “driving” for 20 minutes around the airport; we were actually thinking that we will be driving to Athens or something. The pilot did explain more than once where the emergency exits are… And after repeating that important information, we figured out we should listen carefully, as probably we may need to use them?

 

 

 
Posted by Elitsa at 16:36:38 | Permanent Link | Comments (3) |