It's been a while

So, if you haven't gathered by now, I'm in college.

And it is nothing short of amazing.

The workload is insane. Only here do we cover the entirety of AP chem (if by "cover" it means the homework set is on things that they expect us to know) in one week and then start quantum mechanics immediately after. And it's no even an honors course. Besides, Techers on average take at least twice the number of units as regular people. But there is also a huge emphasis on collaboration. I'm used to doing things on my own, but stuff gets done faster (and is also incredibly more fun) when you're in an underground basement room with your friends (surrounded by whiteboards intended for problem solving but used for doodling).

But that doesn't mean we don't know how to party =]. There's been dance parties, and on weekends when we are forced to forage for sustenance off-campus, there have been some amazing times in nearby stores and restaurants.

Still, I have to admit that I am extremely stressed, what with problem sets due every two days and midterms and essays interspersed. It's a struggle finding time to do other things, but there have been games of interhouse dodgeball and the occasional ultimate practice. There is also a widespread tradition of getting people wet, whether by forcibly dragging them into the showers or dumping pitchers of ice-cold water on them during dinner--also, during dinner, we can chuck bread at people. At first I was appalled by the waste, but then I realized that it was also inedible otherwise.

Anyway, in all seriousness, as amazing as independence is, I have to admit that the process of learning is something completely new. In high school, you have teachers that go over sample problems that are in the homework but with different numbers...in college, your professors talk about optical fibers and give you homework about torque.

So, high school kiddies, enjoy being taught when you can, since I'm pretty sure you're going to miss it.

College, and the people you meet therein

This week marks the one-month anniversary of Quail's landing on the gnarly branch named College, located somewhere on the tree of life.

Originally, there was going to be a post about stereotypes and human nature, and an assortment of philosophical and sociological odds 'n ends, but it ended up sounding rather bitter and cynical.

So here's a post celebrating my brother's birthday!

Happy early birthday, Bison2! You're getting so old (and yet, you're still as childish as ever). It was great seeing you this weekend, even if we were both felt under the weather the whole time.

In other news: I made squid mittens!?
I'm also really excited to be playing the carillon.

Which leads me in to another point. Somehow, along the way, I managed to develop a philosophy that weird = cool.

I can't say something is cool without wondering if it really is cool, or if it's actually lame and I think it's cool because it's a novelty.

I like novelties. They make life MUCH more interesting.

Forever and a Day

Three weeks into college, and it alternately feels like forever and no time at all. Honestly, what with age-related time distortion and a less-than-stellar sense of reality, I'm going to be living in permanent fast-forward for the next four years.

Of course, this doesn't excuse my lack of postage (I don't even have stamps!), but I'm settling in nicely. College is certainly a change in pace. I spend about the same amount of time lounging around in the common room, but solitude is sorely lacking (both an good and bad thing).

So far, I have:

• Played Poker Face nearly 20 times a day
• Stayed up until 7:30 AM doing Computer Science problems
• Become stressed out
  
• laughed uproariously with roommates
• had a miniature party in suite, with I'm on a Boat blaring out of my speakers
• jumped in puddles with new rain boots
• learned how to text
• tried (and failed) to organize my life
• drilled holes in the wall
• grown chives
• become dehydrated (or was that low blood sugar in the morning?)
• done nothing for an entire day
  
• talked to old friends every day of the week
• IMed my brother more than I ever have at home
• Fallen asleep on the futon
• taken apart my computer
• assembled Ikea furniture
• ....and a host of other things.

All and all, I'd say it's a pretty good experience so far. More reports to come when I get some sleep in my system.

A very happy anniversary with Life to you, my dear friend

Let's all wish Awkward Hawk a very happy birthday, eh?

She's all grown up! *sniff*


This comes in the midst of frantic packing, as Quail prepares to embark on a journey of a lifetime to parts unknown.
But really, she just feels like the whole thing is blown out of proportion.

Current impression of the future: About as much forethought as a goldfish might have.

Quail out.

Celebratory hoopla

Oh birthdays.

I'm too young to think of them as "just another year gone by"! What ever happened to parties! Piñatas! Sleepovers!

...Right, AP tests.
I place all the blame of the death of my childhood upon standardized testing. Fie on you, devilish multiple choice + guessing penalty! Curse your FRQs and DBQs and 'short' essays and other sundry torture devices!

Oh standardized testing, how I wish to be done with you. Soon the only tests we have to worry about are mid terms and finals! Oh frabjous day!

Speaking of standardized testing, are they all really that standardized? For the AP, perhaps, the curve takes care of making sure the grade distribution is equal, though I really do question the system when 86% of the people who take AP Chinese receive a 5.

For the SAT, there are clearly some groups that suffer and do poorly on the test not because of some flaw in their reasoning capabilities, but because they may not speak English well enough to discern the correct grammar of the sentence used above. Heck, it's difficult for native English speakers to do so as well (not alleviated at all by the fact that public schools are receiving less and less funding, and laying off more and more teachers).

There are some who would argue that this bias is by no means the fault of the test, and that the test does give an accurate score in regards to capabilities, since one won't be getting far without English.

At any rate, the rest of this discussion should be directed towards changing the system in a way that will be reflected in the test. It should also be written later.

Tata!


Also, Flailing Quail is about to become a bulldog. Ruff Ruff.

Mailed.

I shall be a beaver. A dorky beaver. A warm, dorky beaver basking under the waving palm trees.

And the 8 AP tests I am set to take over the next three weeks are now completely worthless.

.

Decisions, decisions.

Eye of the Hurricane

So I am happy to say that I survived my terrible weekend. I went from all-day Science Bowl to last-minute piano panicking on Saturday, then on Sunday I had my piano evaluation and Quiz Kids competition. Having to keep my adrenaline up to stay on edge and alert for questions and somehow relax to make Chopin sound nice, I wished more than once I was bipolar. 

At least this week was a little calmer, with only one tournament.

I am also happy to say that I will be going to college next year, having gotten into a few schools. However, exactly what they are will remain undisclosed. The magnitude of the decision I will have to make in a few weeks has recently whacked me in the face, as I will have to decide between rubbing shoulders with brilliant but strange kids or a fun school. Additionally, small fish in a big pond, big fish in a small pond? Good weather or a change from my spoiled California life? I've determined that I want to get far, far away from home. 

With the piano test being over, I can finally relax and enjoy what I'm playing. Finally picking up new pieces, I've decided to give Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata a try. Unfortunately, I am barely capable of reaching an octave at times, and not only is the score devastatingly fraught with them, but there are also a few ninths. And accidentals. Lots and lots of accidentals. But hey, who ever said enjoyment came easy?

Congratulations to Quest Crew :D. The Best Hair Crew and America's Best Dance Crew. If t-shirts ever fall below $15, I will definitely buy one. I love bboys.

AP tests are in 8 weeks, leaving one me one week to prepare for each test. But in the meantime, I've got to keep my grades up as second semester classes mercilessly bear down on us second-semester seniors. I've received a letter from a college reminding me that my matriculation is contingent upon my second semester performance. Way to create a downer on an otherwise ecstatic moment. 

I also need to get my license sometime.  ._.;

Next week is the Regional Science Olympiad, and Quail and I are rather excited to defend our title as reigning NorCal Write It, Do It Champs. May the Force be with us. 

This is a cat that does college apps

AKA: Flailing Quail's brother approves of her college essay and she sent in her app.

HOORAY :D



...does anyone else find the above picture hilarious? Because I certainly do. Bison2 sure is hilarious.

Happy Turkeys

You know it's Thanksgiving when Christmas commercials start airing.

Happy Turkey Day, my chickadees :).

I wish I had something incredible for you guys to read, but my few days of break have not been too exciting.

I stayed up until 1 AM last night trying to tweak a few words on my UC essay...and I've finally sent it in. Happy Happy.

To celebrate, I spent today fatting in front of the TV, eating thinly sliced apples and flipping between trashy television and "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream."

I look forward to dinner's hot pot, though. Here's a tip for you hot pot eaters out there: mix some Asian barbecue sauce with a raw egg yolk and dip your veggies in it. It tastes better than it sounds.

You have _1_ unheard message. First unheard message:

Pwn indeed, Hawky dear.

After writing a beautifully figurative personal statement about answering machines, I realized that:
A) I am not an answering machine
B) I don't have split personalities, as my essay would suggest
and C) Prompts are meant to be answered, but when have I ever done what was requested of me on things like this?

Back to the drawing board.


Or rather, the typing board (keyboard?) because I need to draw some other things on the drawing board.

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app sent in :D

Hyacinths?

No, hiatus.


I will be away for a week as I deconstruct myself into my component molecules and thoughts, smear them on paper, then reconstruct myself in time to submit my application.

Farewell, good bye, see you in the next life.

But hopefully that last part won't be for a while yet....

Mood Swings

I have quite a bit to write about a fascinating Joel Stein article on how success in the Olympics ought to be judged.




However, I can't wrap my mind around the disappointing baton drops by BOTH the U.S. 4x100 relay teams.

The shame.

I also hate the college application process. Not that I have foraged siginificantly far enough to legitimately claim that I have in fact "started."


On a completely different note, I have now defined "wargle" to mean the action of a wombat eating watermelon. Why "wargle"? Well, lately I've determined that eating watermelon gives me a stomachache. Maybe I eat too fast. And "wargle" seems to be onomatopoeia for pain. And if the great hawk is in pain, so ought to be the insignificant (delicious) wombat. (Do hawks eat wombats?)


Expect a more content-filled post later. Maybe it will be a little more unidirectional than this one.

..but maybe not.