midterm crisis

I know that many of you guys out there think that studying abroad is all about having the time of your life in a foreign country, and yes that's part of it, but it's still called studying abroad not celebrating abroad. I do study, a lot actually. The workload at uni here is awfully big, I'd even say that it's 'worse' than Australia, which wasn't a piece of cake either. Besides the weekly readings and essays, like blogposts or short writing assignments, there are midterms, projects, group works and last but not least FINALS! So not to worry, I won't be sitting around not knowing what to do in Allendale, there's always a reading that needs to be done...

For those of you who are not familiar with the term midterms, those are exams or assignments which need to be completed during 1-2 weeks in the middle of the semester, thus: MIDterms. Normally students have a midterm in every subject they enrolled in, it depends on the course though, I only had two exams. However, I had to work on two projects, two short writing assignemnts and a quiz during those same weeks, so it wasn't any easier for me unfortunately. Plus the readings that need to be done. Oh well I don't want to complain too much as I know that every student knows that problem and I don't want to bore you or be a cry-baby about my life in the States. Because after all I'm still very glad I did this whole study abroad experience, it may be hard at times but who says that study-wise it wouldn't be just as hard being at Kingston for my second year. So I really made the rights decision going abroad, discovering different uni systems but most of all getting to know new cultures and people.

I got one exam back already and I got 45 out of 50 which is really good and I'm so happy about it because I recently got back a quiz for another course which wasn't too good, so this really encouraged me that not all is lost and that I can get there when I get my lazy ass to the library more often. And there it is again, my favourite spot has returned to the surface: the library! At the end of every semester I'm so fed up seeing the library even from the outside because I basically move in there once readings, assignments and projects start to pile up, not to mention during exam times. So when midterms began I started once again going to the library more often. Before that Andrea and I always studied at the fireplace in Murray (one of the student accomodations) or in the meeting rooms, however with nobody watching us we tended to get distracted very quickly and started chatting about anything and everything to keep us from our books. The risk of falling asleep at the fireplace was also quite big as I always sat in one of those comfy chairs in front of the fire reading, which is fatal for such a sleepy person. So the decision was made, our new study place would be the library, where people would shush you once you started talking, where you couldn't just fall asleep and where everybody was determined to study. NOT! I don't know if all Americans are like this or if those people just always happened to be around us two, but American students do not know that you are supposed to be quiet when studying, writing or reading at the library. There's this unwritten rule that on the higher level you are, the quieter you should be. Level 1 and 2 are supposed to be study places but most people wouldn't mind somebody talking or whispering, whereas on level 3 and higher the concentration level is on the maximum and so people's reason to be there should be studying and nothing else. I mean, if people want to procrastinate on level 4 I don't mind, happens to me all the time that I end up playing around on my phone instead of concentrating on my readings but talking out loud or even singing is a NO-GO! Unfortunately, this happened more than once when I was there. It was okay for the midterms as I had to do quite a lot of writing and noise doesn't bother me when I'm writing as I just ignore everything around me once I get started, but when it comes to the finals I think I have to find a new quiet home to actually study.

Oh one more thing about the library, it's very modern and new and the best if I would have to compare it to the other universities' libraries I visited so far. Not only does it have different levels, comfortable chairs, couches (on which you can fall asleep pretty easily) computers, a fireplace, televisions, outside areas (which we cannot use right now as it is still freezing) and an organic tea/coffe shop, the printing is FREE! And I guess all students can relate to me saying how awesome it is not having to think about what material you can afford to print and what you'll leave out and just read online. Thanks GVSU!

What kept me alive through those weeks of hard work, was the though of me and Andrea going to the Bahamas during Sprink Break! YES you heard me bahamas it is!!! We were asked to go to Cancun first but with all that stress going on we needed some time to just relax. I love Cancun and it would have been lots of fun for the first days but I know that it wouldn't have been a vacation and that after a few days I would have cursed all those half naked 18 years old drunk Americans behaving like they own that beautiful place. They would have ruined the image I have of Cancun from when I was there a few years ago and I didn't want to spend money on a trip I wasn't sure I would enjoy. And after all this stress and the finals which are yet to come, we needed a good break from cold michigan. Be prepared next post will be about the wonderful time we had in the bahamas, if you don't want to be jealous, don't read it, but I promise it's gonna be worth hating me ;)

xxx