The fall semester has officially started. I just came back from the Chemistry 1A lecture. It was my first college class ever!
Just as I expected, the class was very large. There were around 300 to 400 people in Pimentel Hall. This was also a new experience for me. I should mention that Prof. Nitsche is hilarious. He certainly knows how to make freshmen feel welcome.
Of note is that courses are normally split into lectures and discussions. Unlike the lectures, the discussion sections are usually smaller. Speaking of classes, the Math 1A lecture is starting soon. I should probably head out in a few minutes. Peace. :-)
Currently reading: Calculus: Early Transcendentals by James Stewart
Monday, August 30, 2004
Saturday, August 28, 2004
report of my first college dance
I just got back from the Dance & Casino Night at Pauley Ballroom. This was my first college dance and certainly a new experience. As its name suggests, the event featured casino games like blackjack and roulette. This was a nice touch even though they're not my cup of tea.
Of note is that the DJ didn't play any slow songs at all. I had never been to a dance with no slow songs. That was a little weird and didn't make much sense.
The dance ended 45 minutes early when everyone started leaving and the DJ stopped the music. It wasn't her fault that people decided to leave, but she should have kept the music going until the end. Just my two cents. Shortcomings aside, the Dance & Casino Night was pretty enjoyable. Feel free to read my review for more details.
In other news...
There was also a game night at the residential computing center. I got to play Doom 3 for the first time. It was kind of scary but also pretty fun!
Currently playing: Doom 3
Of note is that the DJ didn't play any slow songs at all. I had never been to a dance with no slow songs. That was a little weird and didn't make much sense.
The dance ended 45 minutes early when everyone started leaving and the DJ stopped the music. It wasn't her fault that people decided to leave, but she should have kept the music going until the end. Just my two cents. Shortcomings aside, the Dance & Casino Night was pretty enjoyable. Feel free to read my review for more details.
In other news...
There was also a game night at the residential computing center. I got to play Doom 3 for the first time. It was kind of scary but also pretty fun!
Currently playing: Doom 3
Sunday, August 22, 2004
first day of college!
The big day has arrived. I moved into the dorms at Berkeley this afternoon, and so begins a new chapter in my life.
One thing for sure is that college is very different from high school. I was nervous at first but am adjusting pretty well. I've met my roommate Scott - he's a cool guy from Southern California. The other six people in our suite are really nice too. Oh yeah, and hot chicks are everywhere. ^_^
Classes don't actually start until the 30th, but new students are encouraged to attend Welcome Week to get a feel of the school. The schedule is filled with activities, including a dance on the 27th. I'm pretty excited.
In other news...
Summer ended on a good note as the Lu family invited us to dinner at HomeTown Buffet on the 20th. Everything was delicious. I had a great time hanging out with Thomas, Connie and Jenny at their house afterwards. Of note is that the Lus agreed to meet on Friday instead of Saturday because I wanted more time to prepare for the move. I truly appreciate their consideration.
Currently playing: The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
Historical note: Pictures from Move-In Day are available here.
One thing for sure is that college is very different from high school. I was nervous at first but am adjusting pretty well. I've met my roommate Scott - he's a cool guy from Southern California. The other six people in our suite are really nice too. Oh yeah, and hot chicks are everywhere. ^_^
Classes don't actually start until the 30th, but new students are encouraged to attend Welcome Week to get a feel of the school. The schedule is filled with activities, including a dance on the 27th. I'm pretty excited.
In other news...
Summer ended on a good note as the Lu family invited us to dinner at HomeTown Buffet on the 20th. Everything was delicious. I had a great time hanging out with Thomas, Connie and Jenny at their house afterwards. Of note is that the Lus agreed to meet on Friday instead of Saturday because I wanted more time to prepare for the move. I truly appreciate their consideration.
Currently playing: The Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions
Historical note: Pictures from Move-In Day are available here.
Monday, August 16, 2004
the anxiety is killing me...
I'm moving to Berkeley in six days. The transition to college is no doubt one of the biggest changes in my life. This is really exciting but also scary at the same time. I'm definitely a little nervous. I'll have to admit - the past few days were so stressful that I had an anxiety attack just after returning from Alaska on the 10th. :\
All that having been said, I'm sure everything will be fine. After all, almost everyone goes to college!
In other news...
1. I finally got to try the chocolates I bought in Alaska. They were delicious and worth the price.
2. Because I'll be away from home, my parents recently got me my own cell phone. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Currently playing: Hoyle Puzzle Games (2003 edition)
All that having been said, I'm sure everything will be fine. After all, almost everyone goes to college!
In other news...
1. I finally got to try the chocolates I bought in Alaska. They were delicious and worth the price.
2. Because I'll be away from home, my parents recently got me my own cell phone. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
Currently playing: Hoyle Puzzle Games (2003 edition)
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Alaska trip report
Summer has been great as my family just came back from Alaska. I know it seems crazy to go on another trip so soon, but Dad had some miles that were about to expire. Although we just went to the Pacific Northwest last month, this trip was pretty fun.
Day 1
It was a somber morning as we had to bury my grandmother Pi-Tan at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. The service began at 10 a.m. and lasted around an hour. Following the service, the three of us had lunch with our family friends before heading home to pack up.
The first leg of the trip was an afternoon flight to Anchorage. There was a problem as we checked into the hotel: our room smelled like cigarettes despite being a non-smoking room. How unpleasant. Finding the right person took a while, but management got another room for us. It was almost midnight when we were ready for bed.
Day 2
Our first real stop was Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The route took us through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Because it has only one lane, traffic is limited to one direction and alternates at regular intervals. That was a cool experience.
At over 13 million acres, Wrangell–St. Elias is the largest national park in the United States. This was a nice place, although there wasn't much to do besides enjoy the views. The other downside is that mosquitoes were everywhere. I was bitten several times after just a few minutes. Blah.
We arrived in Valdez a few hours later. One of the most important ports in Alaska, Valdez was our destination for the next two nights. There weren't many attractions, although we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant after checking into the hotel. The food was delicious!
Day 3
Valdez marks the southern end of the Alaska pipeline, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state. Part of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the 800-mile pipeline carries oil from Prudhoe Bay to the Valdez Marine Terminal. This engineering marvel made for some neat pictures.
Dad took us to Worthington Glacier in the late afternoon. The glacier looked small from a distance, but we were surprised by its size as we approached. The nice thing is that it wasn't too cold here. On the way back to the car, I noticed one of the doors was open. Oh crap. To our relief, everything was accounted for. That was a close call.
Day 4
Our next destination was Fairbanks. Due to the distance, most of the day was spent on the road. On the other hand, the scenery along the route was amazing and made the drive very worthwhile.
About 15 miles south of Fairbanks was North Pole. The town isn't related to the real North Pole but has a strong Christmas theme. The whimsical street names like Santa Claus Lane and Kris Kringle Drive made for memorable photos. The funny thing is that we came across this place by chance. Sometimes the best things are unplanned.
Day 5
One thing I was looking forward to was crossing the Arctic Circle. Because most rental agencies don't allow their vehicles on unpaved roads - such as the Dalton Highway - we decided to book a tour. Our guide Tank was an outdoor enthusiast who knew everything about Alaska. Of note is that we were the only ones who signed up. That meant we got to take the extra food. Talk about VIP treatment. :-)
The four of us arrived at the Arctic Circle after a four-hour drive. The only feature was a large wooden sign, but stopping here was a unique experience. Tank took some pictures with us before driving us back to Fairbanks. On the whole, the tour was my favorite part of the trip.
We said goodbye to Tank and headed to downtown Fairbanks for groceries. I took the opportunity to buy a box of chocolates from Alaska Wild Berry Products at Fred Meyer. The unusual flavors like fireweed and gooseberry had caught my eye. I can't wait to try them as they sound really good.
The fun ended when Dad got pulled over for speeding - in Alaska of all places. It just happened that he was going very fast because of the downhill slope. This was rather unexpected, especially considering that we rarely saw police. The fine wasn't too steep but still put a damper on our mood. :-(
Our lodging for the night was a cabin in Cantwell. According to the sign, Cantwell has a population of only about 200 people. It was one of the most desolate places I've ever been. Despite the remoteness, the cabin wasn't too bad.
Day 6
I'm glad we bought our groceries the day before because room service was insanely expensive. For example, the full breakfast was around $16 according to the menu. Yikes!
After checking out of the cabin, my family headed to Denali National Park and Preserve for another tour. We saw all kinds of animals, such as bears, elk and moose. Denali was definitely another highlight of the trip. Like the Arctic Circle tour, this one also lasted about eight hours. All of us were completely exhausted when the tour ended.
Back in Anchorage, the three of us had dinner at a Japanese restaurant before returning to the hotel. It was nice to finally get some well-deserved rest.
Day 7
Our flight home was in the afternoon. We spent the morning exploring the downtown and browsing the shops. I wanted to visit the Alaska Wild Berry Products store, but there wasn't enough time. This was unfortunate because I wanted to check out the factory tour and free samples. Oh well. :-(
The flight to San Francisco was uneventful. Our family friend Karen picked us up and gave us a ride home. I was totally exhausted at this point and went to bed shortly afterwards.
Conclusions
This was easily one of our best vacations ever. I enjoyed every moment of the trip, but the Arctic Circle tour was my favorite part by far. Not many people can say they've crossed the Arctic Circle. Denali was also fun as we saw all kinds of wildlife. The memories from this trip will last years.
Alaska is one of the few unspoiled places in the world. Of course, the downside is that it gets extremely cold in the winter. It's certainly not a place I'd want to live. That said, I wouldn't mind a vacation there every so often. :-)
Currently playing: Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 4
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.
Day 1
It was a somber morning as we had to bury my grandmother Pi-Tan at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. The service began at 10 a.m. and lasted around an hour. Following the service, the three of us had lunch with our family friends before heading home to pack up.
The first leg of the trip was an afternoon flight to Anchorage. There was a problem as we checked into the hotel: our room smelled like cigarettes despite being a non-smoking room. How unpleasant. Finding the right person took a while, but management got another room for us. It was almost midnight when we were ready for bed.
Day 2
Our first real stop was Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The route took us through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Because it has only one lane, traffic is limited to one direction and alternates at regular intervals. That was a cool experience.
At over 13 million acres, Wrangell–St. Elias is the largest national park in the United States. This was a nice place, although there wasn't much to do besides enjoy the views. The other downside is that mosquitoes were everywhere. I was bitten several times after just a few minutes. Blah.
We arrived in Valdez a few hours later. One of the most important ports in Alaska, Valdez was our destination for the next two nights. There weren't many attractions, although we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant after checking into the hotel. The food was delicious!
Day 3
Valdez marks the southern end of the Alaska pipeline, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the state. Part of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the 800-mile pipeline carries oil from Prudhoe Bay to the Valdez Marine Terminal. This engineering marvel made for some neat pictures.
Dad took us to Worthington Glacier in the late afternoon. The glacier looked small from a distance, but we were surprised by its size as we approached. The nice thing is that it wasn't too cold here. On the way back to the car, I noticed one of the doors was open. Oh crap. To our relief, everything was accounted for. That was a close call.
Day 4
Our next destination was Fairbanks. Due to the distance, most of the day was spent on the road. On the other hand, the scenery along the route was amazing and made the drive very worthwhile.
About 15 miles south of Fairbanks was North Pole. The town isn't related to the real North Pole but has a strong Christmas theme. The whimsical street names like Santa Claus Lane and Kris Kringle Drive made for memorable photos. The funny thing is that we came across this place by chance. Sometimes the best things are unplanned.
Day 5
One thing I was looking forward to was crossing the Arctic Circle. Because most rental agencies don't allow their vehicles on unpaved roads - such as the Dalton Highway - we decided to book a tour. Our guide Tank was an outdoor enthusiast who knew everything about Alaska. Of note is that we were the only ones who signed up. That meant we got to take the extra food. Talk about VIP treatment. :-)
The four of us arrived at the Arctic Circle after a four-hour drive. The only feature was a large wooden sign, but stopping here was a unique experience. Tank took some pictures with us before driving us back to Fairbanks. On the whole, the tour was my favorite part of the trip.
We said goodbye to Tank and headed to downtown Fairbanks for groceries. I took the opportunity to buy a box of chocolates from Alaska Wild Berry Products at Fred Meyer. The unusual flavors like fireweed and gooseberry had caught my eye. I can't wait to try them as they sound really good.
The fun ended when Dad got pulled over for speeding - in Alaska of all places. It just happened that he was going very fast because of the downhill slope. This was rather unexpected, especially considering that we rarely saw police. The fine wasn't too steep but still put a damper on our mood. :-(
Our lodging for the night was a cabin in Cantwell. According to the sign, Cantwell has a population of only about 200 people. It was one of the most desolate places I've ever been. Despite the remoteness, the cabin wasn't too bad.
Day 6
I'm glad we bought our groceries the day before because room service was insanely expensive. For example, the full breakfast was around $16 according to the menu. Yikes!
After checking out of the cabin, my family headed to Denali National Park and Preserve for another tour. We saw all kinds of animals, such as bears, elk and moose. Denali was definitely another highlight of the trip. Like the Arctic Circle tour, this one also lasted about eight hours. All of us were completely exhausted when the tour ended.
Back in Anchorage, the three of us had dinner at a Japanese restaurant before returning to the hotel. It was nice to finally get some well-deserved rest.
Day 7
Our flight home was in the afternoon. We spent the morning exploring the downtown and browsing the shops. I wanted to visit the Alaska Wild Berry Products store, but there wasn't enough time. This was unfortunate because I wanted to check out the factory tour and free samples. Oh well. :-(
The flight to San Francisco was uneventful. Our family friend Karen picked us up and gave us a ride home. I was totally exhausted at this point and went to bed shortly afterwards.
Conclusions
This was easily one of our best vacations ever. I enjoyed every moment of the trip, but the Arctic Circle tour was my favorite part by far. Not many people can say they've crossed the Arctic Circle. Denali was also fun as we saw all kinds of wildlife. The memories from this trip will last years.
Alaska is one of the few unspoiled places in the world. Of course, the downside is that it gets extremely cold in the winter. It's certainly not a place I'd want to live. That said, I wouldn't mind a vacation there every so often. :-)
Currently playing: Field & Stream: Trophy Bass 4
Historical note: Pictures from the trip are available here.
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
buried my grandmother today
It was an emotional day as we laid my maternal grandmother Pi-Tan to rest at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. You may recall that she passed away two and a half months ago. Her funeral was held in Taiwan, but we asked my aunt Jill to bring her ashes back because she loved America.
The service at was a fairly small affair. The only attendees were Jill, the Shiehs and two close family friends. The ceremony was about an hour long and a sobering experience. As we left the cemetery and headed out to lunch, I suddenly realized just how precious life really is. I'm going to miss Grandma for sure. :-(
In other news...
On a happier note, my family is leaving for Alaska in the afternoon. This will be our second summer trip!
Currently watching: The War of the Worlds
The service at was a fairly small affair. The only attendees were Jill, the Shiehs and two close family friends. The ceremony was about an hour long and a sobering experience. As we left the cemetery and headed out to lunch, I suddenly realized just how precious life really is. I'm going to miss Grandma for sure. :-(
In other news...
On a happier note, my family is leaving for Alaska in the afternoon. This will be our second summer trip!
Currently watching: The War of the Worlds
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
