Little by little, more and more work is done and more and more work is coming. It is kind of sad being a country that do not have the time that you wish to do everything what you want... besides, I do not have the money... in any case, I'm sure that I do not money, what I need for sure is time! I have good friends here, but we can find enough time to travel,play, get together and hang out. Sometimes I do it at night, and then I realized, O oh! It's 3 a.m again... and I have to wake up at 7 if I want to have breakfast, which I usually skip because I want to sleep more than sleep, and then when I'm in classes my stomach makes some weird noises... it is embarrassing but I have to be in classes...
I hope that In the near future I can enjoy more my time without just being in my room doing homework
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Relaxing on Weekend
Despite of all the homework that I had for these weekend, for some reason I didn't spend my time doing them. I actually relax on this last weekend, which is great 'cause I most of the time spend my time in my room and it makes me feel stressful...
On Friday night, I went to do some shopping, but mainly because I wanted to get out of campus... being here all the time is not healthy for your spirit. I spent more money that I was thinking of, but I actually enjoying what I bought. Then , in spite that I was tired I went to party with some friends. I actually enjoyed it a lot because it was a different place and a nice environment. Later, I went to my friend's room and we had a nice talk.
On Saturday, I went shopping again; but this time I save my money :P Although, I was tented to buy some furniture. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon of that day. Getting there was a great adventure; with a borrow and a crappy car ... people learning how to drive... stop signs on the way. At night, we went to ISA party and actually wore my Costa Rica traditional dress. I was kindda amazed that people were so surprised with my dress. I always thought that it was so common and ordinary, but now I changed my mind. Since most of the international students here in MSU Mankato are from Europe, Asia, or Africa I guess that they have seen the kind of traditional dresses from their continent, so seeing mine that was so different from them was maybe kind of stand out. Later during that day, I spent the rest of the night at my room having some nice time with myself and talking with my family and boyfriend.
On Sunday, I was kind of worry because I woke up late and I couldn't attend church. Despite I could go to the nest workship I had to go to the Pow Wow, so there was not enough time to go to that mass. Unfortunately, we could not get to the Pow Wow... but at least I had more time to do some homework. Then, I went to bowling and to the observatory (which was closed). Then, I bought my first delivery pizza and watched some movies.
It was a nice weekend
On Friday night, I went to do some shopping, but mainly because I wanted to get out of campus... being here all the time is not healthy for your spirit. I spent more money that I was thinking of, but I actually enjoying what I bought. Then , in spite that I was tired I went to party with some friends. I actually enjoyed it a lot because it was a different place and a nice environment. Later, I went to my friend's room and we had a nice talk.
On Saturday, I went shopping again; but this time I save my money :P Although, I was tented to buy some furniture. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon of that day. Getting there was a great adventure; with a borrow and a crappy car ... people learning how to drive... stop signs on the way. At night, we went to ISA party and actually wore my Costa Rica traditional dress. I was kindda amazed that people were so surprised with my dress. I always thought that it was so common and ordinary, but now I changed my mind. Since most of the international students here in MSU Mankato are from Europe, Asia, or Africa I guess that they have seen the kind of traditional dresses from their continent, so seeing mine that was so different from them was maybe kind of stand out. Later during that day, I spent the rest of the night at my room having some nice time with myself and talking with my family and boyfriend.
On Sunday, I was kind of worry because I woke up late and I couldn't attend church. Despite I could go to the nest workship I had to go to the Pow Wow, so there was not enough time to go to that mass. Unfortunately, we could not get to the Pow Wow... but at least I had more time to do some homework. Then, I went to bowling and to the observatory (which was closed). Then, I bought my first delivery pizza and watched some movies.
It was a nice weekend
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Classes' Anxiety
I guess that everyone that is in schooling will experience some kind of anxiety, especially when reflexion papers, quizzes, discussions, and the huge amount of reading must be done. Back in my country, everyone knows me as a busy person. I'm always enrolled in everything... band, associations, clubs, performances... It is not that I like to show me or be kid of famous (which sounds ridiculous). I think that in some way I like to live as much as I can, so I've done a lot of stuff so far. Maybe I just like to live under pressure LOL. I don't know. I like to do different things. Live is not a matter of just staying in one place and waiting for things to come. I like to go out and look for them, that is why life is so great!
On the other hand, living in a new place with new rules is different. I have experiences a lot of anxiety recently. I'm kindda scared to not be able to keep up with all the work. I'm always reading, reading, reading, and reading. I guess that since it is not my native language I spend more time doing it than I'm used to. It is not that the work is overwhelming, because it is not, it is that is so much that I can not focus as much as I would like to. Besides, I'm not involved in any extracurricular activity, which I think is causing some stress 'cause I'm just working in papers! I'm really lucky to have so good friends with the ones I hang out, but I wish to have more time during the day to do more things.
Hopefully, I will get better in my reading and I will save that time!!! I know it is a matter of being patience, but sometimes it is hard to wait for it! I'm usually active... but well... and learning to be patience now...
On the other hand, living in a new place with new rules is different. I have experiences a lot of anxiety recently. I'm kindda scared to not be able to keep up with all the work. I'm always reading, reading, reading, and reading. I guess that since it is not my native language I spend more time doing it than I'm used to. It is not that the work is overwhelming, because it is not, it is that is so much that I can not focus as much as I would like to. Besides, I'm not involved in any extracurricular activity, which I think is causing some stress 'cause I'm just working in papers! I'm really lucky to have so good friends with the ones I hang out, but I wish to have more time during the day to do more things.
Hopefully, I will get better in my reading and I will save that time!!! I know it is a matter of being patience, but sometimes it is hard to wait for it! I'm usually active... but well... and learning to be patience now...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Cultural Shocking
Before coming to the US, I knew that I would face some cultural difficulties... being a Latina in this country can be a big issue. I knew that it would not be easy, especially since they have a different conception about my country. Some people think that the US is so great and that they have the best country in the entire planet! I cannot say that it does not have advantages, because it has ... but it has many disadvantages too.
Some days ago, I was sitting in my chair doing some reading and suddenly my roommate (Japanese) came into the room and started talking to me. She came from one of her classes. They were talking about the best technologies ever. Her teacher said, "the atomic bomb" is one of the best ones. She told me how that comment made her feel so offended since it was something really bad and sad that occurred in Japan. I could understand what she meant. I have seen how Yankees just open the mouth without being aware of what they are saying. They just do not care that much.
Something similar happened to me one day when I was at the cafeteria. I was waiting for an omelet. The guy that was cooking it asked me where I was from... I told him that I was from Costa Rica, so he immediately said, "oh! that's a really poor country, doesn't it?". I just laugh of the impression. I could not believe how rude and ignorant this guy was.
I have heard and seen how people are kind of scare of living this country because they believe that everything is great here. I'm really amazed that they are not as open minded as I thought they would be. I cannot blame them... that just happens when you stay in that "safe area" of your life and you cannot accept that outside "your vision of the world" there are some others living a great and peaceful life. Maybe not with all the technologies, cars, and money, but still really good life. I have noticed that people here just like to have a lot of stuff... they buy and buy... but it is something cultural here... so when they go out of the country they might think that if you do not buy as much as they do ... you might be poor... (I'm guessing)...
I know that some people will not understand what I'm saying... some others will... I will not try to change what is going on here with me... I just can sit and explain to those a little bit about the reality outside this country... hopefully, they would open their minds :)
Some days ago, I was sitting in my chair doing some reading and suddenly my roommate (Japanese) came into the room and started talking to me. She came from one of her classes. They were talking about the best technologies ever. Her teacher said, "the atomic bomb" is one of the best ones. She told me how that comment made her feel so offended since it was something really bad and sad that occurred in Japan. I could understand what she meant. I have seen how Yankees just open the mouth without being aware of what they are saying. They just do not care that much.
Something similar happened to me one day when I was at the cafeteria. I was waiting for an omelet. The guy that was cooking it asked me where I was from... I told him that I was from Costa Rica, so he immediately said, "oh! that's a really poor country, doesn't it?". I just laugh of the impression. I could not believe how rude and ignorant this guy was.
I have heard and seen how people are kind of scare of living this country because they believe that everything is great here. I'm really amazed that they are not as open minded as I thought they would be. I cannot blame them... that just happens when you stay in that "safe area" of your life and you cannot accept that outside "your vision of the world" there are some others living a great and peaceful life. Maybe not with all the technologies, cars, and money, but still really good life. I have noticed that people here just like to have a lot of stuff... they buy and buy... but it is something cultural here... so when they go out of the country they might think that if you do not buy as much as they do ... you might be poor... (I'm guessing)...
I know that some people will not understand what I'm saying... some others will... I will not try to change what is going on here with me... I just can sit and explain to those a little bit about the reality outside this country... hopefully, they would open their minds :)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Living away of home
Hi everyone!
I guess that anyone that has lived far away from home have experienced the difficulties of leaving behind your family, especially your girlfriend and/or boyfriend. Despite that I'm studying abroad just for one year, me and my boyfriend have been living some struggling. Everything was doing pretty well 'til this week. After being the weekend with my new friend, he has struggled with some "bad feelings" or "thoughts" about me and my new friend. I know it is hard for us since we cannot see each other, so jealousy might come into our mind. I cannot do a thing for helping him. I just can talk in the distance, telling him that everything is going to be OK. I know that it does not matter how much I can say, it all depends of what him wants to think about. I am trying to do everything as good as I can. I know that I still have a long way ahead, but I will be honest and real with myself. I know that people that is studying abroad will change in one way to another, but we cannot allow the enviroment or the context to change everything in what we believe.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Getting Yankees' friends
After being a while in Mankato, I started to feel that I wanted to go out of the place. Labor day was coming, which meant a long weekend, especially for me because I do not have classes on Friday!!! So, I was making my mind in doing something. Lucky me, I started to be friend from one of my classmates. He asked me to go with him to his parent's home during the weekend. Despite that I wasn't sure because I just was getting to know him, I took the chance.
My experience was much better than I thought at first. Jimmy (my yankee friend) took me to a lot of different places. During the first day, his showed me the room where I would stay for the weekend. Such a beautiful room!!! The same day later, Jimmy took me to the skate park, the river and Lake Rebecca. Everything was so nice and natural :D At night I enjoyed of the best dinner ever!!! I was amazed of such a great and tasty food. Then, Jimmy and me hanged out in town and we got to know better each other.
The second day we went to Minneapolis to know the city and Mall of America. There we visited the Museum of Arts in UM where was the exposition "Somali Diaspora" was being showed. I learned about their immigration and stories. Then, we walked in the city and finally in the Mall. That Mall of America is huge!!! We had a lot of fun there, especially in the "mirror amazed park" (if that is the name of the place :P)
The third day we went into the woods to look for some old cars and later to the beach. I learned a lot about yankee's family. They are really nice and warm, although they spend a lot of money that can be save... I saw how bombard they are because of advertisements, and some weird night commercials. Also, I learned which was the influence of TV and movies in their lives... it is really interesting that these things have influence that much in teenager lives.
I hope to have more aventures like this to learn more about US
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