China Soon

I have slowly swung into the lull of summer with a repetitive, yet blissfully productive, schedule rotation: wake up, read, gym (sometimes--still working on this!), make lunch, eat, read, computer, make dinner, eat, clean entire kitchen, clarinet, read, sleep. There's not much else to do.

I'm pretty nervous about that clarinet audition.... *bites nails*

And, I'm not really looking forward to going to China anytime soon (next Monday! boo..).

I'm trying to read more books and a variety of them.

That's really it for now.

P.S.--- everyone, check out the blog "My Milk Toof"--I have linked it down on the right hand corner of my blog; it is sooo cute, and unsurprisingly, it is written by an Asian girl. =P

Inspiration... From My Dad?

Before orientation, I promised myself that I would start practicing for my audition and getting organized for my China trip and for college the week after orientation. Here I am... with no progress on anything (heh heh!). Yes, most of you will say, "yeah Emily. Cut it out! It's your summer before college..relax." And yes, I will relax, but I will still do productive stuff like go to the gym, practice, and read.

My dad recently took an online self-taught programming class on this medical computer program. He's been working almost 24/7 for two weeks, and he took his 2 certificates this week. He was always on the computer dedicated to that program and learning it so he can get a better job in this awful economy... and he did it! (no job yet..) He aced both of his tests! And it takes most people 6 months to finish the course--let alone even pass the test.

So, I know he went really hard core. But I need that motivation... and that dedication for the rest of my life. No, I don't need to be a workaholic. But I must be passionate and crazy about what I am doing.... and stop wasting time being dumb.

Although relaxation is always necessary.

Orientation

Orientation was pretty uneventful. We learned how to "call the dawgs" (something I've already covered at drum major camp for 3 years in a row... never expected that I would actually be needing that skill!), got lectured on alcohol and the like, and watched our OLs, aka orientation leaders--haha, make fools of themselves (hee hee! they were awesome). I guess after listing these factors, I can not really say it was "uneventful." The Arch Sessions were a snooze though.

I am taking 6 (what the crap?) classes this fall. I always thought that college meant more free time and less classes; I guess not. These are my classes:

Chem1411 and lab-- it's like advanced modern Chemistry I
Math2004h-- honors differential calculus with theory (indepth calc 1 first semester)
Pols1005h-- honors american government (yuck yuck yuck! but we need this to graduate. poopy.)
Engl1050h-- honors lit (I'll be taking this unless I get a 5 on the lit exam... which will then further screw up my schedule)
Freshman Seminar on Chemistry (don't ask. :D)
Honors Seminar

In total, that is 16 hours--1 more than the recommended 15. Whatever. It's just that one honors seminar that is the extra hour, so I don't think it really is a big deal. Plus, Hope is taking 17 hours =P. What a freak! (Jk)

I can't wait to start college! Not the school/learning part (which is so lame of me, but you know. it's still June!!!), but the college life part. I definitely won't be drinking and such, but living in a dorm with Hope and going through new experiences will be fun!

Insomnia

What is wrong with me??! This whole weekend I have gone to bed tired as a dog around midnight with no luck falling asleep, getting out of bed to get on the computer or read to pass time, and then going back to my room around 2:30am. This is, as Sumi would say, redonkulus.

So, let me try to unwind by going through my day.

My mom and I shopped for 6 hours today! We had to buy gifts for my family back in China so that I can take them back to everyone in July. We ended up getting 2 paris of tennis shoes... So our efficiency? 3 hours for 1 pair of shoes. How lame. We still have to go out tomorrow to get more stuff since my aunt sent a new email asking for make up and more shoes. Don't I love visiting my family in China. (=P Haha, I really, really do!)

After wasting 3 hours at Kohl's and 3 more at the mall, I went home and fixed dinner. That... was interesting. My parents have never really trusted me to fix a whole dinner by myself (more like, I've been too lazy). But, miraculously, it turned out well. I made three dishes: eggs&tomatoes (a Chinese cuisine classic =P, ask Anqi/Alice), bok choy <-- Korean?? Vietnamese?? (what the heck is the English word for this crap?!), and pork&peppers. The eggs and tomatoes were too salty, but other than that, it was pretty good. =) Maybe my cooking will improve this summer.

College = Confusing

You know how with some things, the more you read/study, the more you understand? Physics, for example: if I read my Physics notes 3 times over, everything makes perfect sense (and the question often times is, why didn't I just do that for EVERY test?!?!?!). But getting ready for college?--- The more I read, the more confused I get! You see, at first, you think it is all very simple: go to orientation, take test, meet people, go home. But, alas, I should have known. Life is not so easy. There are millions of forms, confusing websites that do not work(*ahem*UGA*ahem*), and unhelpful phone people.

I hope I get into the swing of things soon!... There's so much I want to do in college; being confused had better not keep me from going for it!

A blogging... Phenomenon?!

I have always had this idea of how to stay connected when all of our friends go off to college: the internet. (Wow, how original Emily.. seriously?) Well, specifically, I am talking about blogging-- connecting to old friends through writing. (I know, some of you science nerds out there are thinking, "ew??") A few of them have actually started blogs (EVEN HAN!!! what the efff?? :P), though! You can check out their stuff under "friends" to the way right. ^.^

All I have to say is, hooray, good luck, and keep it up! I can't wait to hear about what is going on with you and your lives.

Frustrated (Unreasonably.)

--warning: approaching severe rant!--

I haven't been able to get online as much this summer (which, for one, is probably a really good thing!) because my dad has been on our only PC 24/7 for the past month. Why? He is trying to find a new job and learn a new program at the same time, another really awesome thing. But why do I feel so much... pent up frustration? It definitely isn't due to the lack of computer time for me (I hope =/). I've just been so ticked off because he is always on the computer... like he has so much to do and I am just sitting there bored to tears. Why am I so self-centered? My mom always said that I should do as much as I can to help my dad through this period of job hunting just like the way he helped me with my 10 college applications. Sure, I have on many occasions helped him edit a few pages of writing, but what else can I do?

I guess I am just really frustrated at coming home with everything a mess (dishes, living room, etc.) while my dad just sits there rotting in front of a computer. I don't even make sense anymore. What is wrong with me??? I can't even put how I feel into words.

Feels like I am about to implode.

=(

2 Evils of Summer

Two big evils of summertime?
Shopping and eating.

That's right. Do you ever find yourself munching on a bag of Goldfish or maybe even buying a bag of gummy bears in the middle of the day when you are bored to tears? Or even buying other useless things that you don't really need but just thought was interesting to own?

Still, this boredom is much better than going to school.

Unexpected Happiness

I remember always hearing stories about recent graduates who waste away their summer lying in bed battling those post-high school, post-crazy goal oriented life, and pre-college blues feeling depressed. I always stuck my nose up (hee hee) at these stories thinking hmph! I will never be like that!!! Well. Here we are. Those post-high school summer days. And I must admit, I have been there... lying in bed waking up at 10am and going back to sleep at 1pm, doing absolutely nothing even though I should be practicing for my band audition or at least going out with friends.

Anyways, these days are over. This afternoon, I finally faxed my med forms over to the University of Georgia Health Center, worked out at the gym with Hope, and cleaned the kitchen and living room. So much for being a summer slob!

I think being productive on your own will is a happiness in itself. Sure, we had to be productive during school finishing projects and slaving over endless webassigns due in the next 10 minutes. But that was forced. It's much better to just do something, knowing that even though you don't HAVE to (I didn't have to clean the kitchen), you still want to.

Maybe senioritis is fixable after all. =)