Translation: dropping out at registration counter. Seen at the university library.

What one can discover while waiting for the subway… ;)

(translation: Ada and Eve, if you don’t behave, I’ll give one of you a thing between the legs!!)

After weeks of studying, much sweat and being nervous, I did it: I passed my mid-studies oral exam with a B+ on Friday, 28 May 2010. The questions went into a different direction I thought they would, but I was successful. I am relieved that it went so well and was so happy, since some of my closest friends were waiting for me in the hall at University. We went out for a nice lunch afterwards and followed it up with a chill & drink evening at my place. And yesterday I caught up on the missed sleep from the last weeks.

With this exam, half of my studies are officially over now. If everything goes well, I will be finished with university in two years after 8 semesters – which is the regular study time. A weird feeling that I still have to get used to…

Yes, I am still one of those, who are studying to the traditional German degree called ‘Magistra Artium’. That means: 4 semesters basic studies and 4 semesters main studies. After the basic studies, you have to do an oral mid-term-studies exam on one of your seminar papers from your major – in my case: American Studies. The oral exam is minimum 15 Minutes, maximum 30 minutes long.

Since I am planning a longer stay abroad in the US and my professor, who I want to hold the mid-term-studies exam will not be at University starting August, my exam will be preferred. I was expecting a date around June / July.

On last Thursday, the date was set. In almost exactly one month, on May 28th at 11a.m. I will have to deal with ”The Influence of the First Ladies on the American Women in the 20th Century”.

In almost exactly one month, on May 28th at 11:31a.m., I will (hopefully!) be greeted by friends and we will spend a wonderful, relaxed afternoon in the park.

On the way to university today I saw this in a driveway near a construction area, which made me smile:

Finally – the lecture period of winter term 09/10 is over! Officially, the semester lasts until March 31st, but since Friday no more lectures take place. But this doesn’t mean that I have off completely: I still have to write a long essay for my last American Studies course by March 1st and an essay for my Sociology course by the end of March. Throughout my time off, I will also work occasionally and do an internship (more to that at the beginning of next week). So not really much changes, right? Well, at least I don’t have to get up at go to university – one small but nice advantage. Meaning that my private life is slowly getting me back ;)

It is now exactly one week ago, when I tried to escape my duties at home for university and travelled into the so called ‘Ruhrpott’ to Dortmund (located close to Cologne). With this visit I continued visiting friends who turned their back on their hometown and moved some where else to study.

DO-Travel-Insight No.1: I desperately need a navigation system.

Continue reading “Off to ‘Ruhrpott’!”

We have new cups at university, which I think are awesome!

The first line says:
I brought you this ____ (fill in the blank, for me preferably ‘Café Latte’), because…

(and then check one, several or all):

❒ I wanted to treat you to this!
❒ your mood is annoying!
❒ I have a guilty conscience!
❒ you only talk crap!
❒ I want to make it up to you!

Finally a very useful design for cups. Without many words and with a friendly gesture, you can say that what you have been wanting to for a long time.

My third student discovery: Time. Or better: No time. Last week it was very quiet here on my blog, in my university life therefore it has been much busier. My last two weeks of the semester have started and with that together the stress before exams, deadlines, tutorials (…). I could continue the list endlessly – as many other students would agree with me. Meanwhile, I only run between Home – University, Home – Job, University – Library, Library – Work and vice versa. And everywhere it is work, study, work, study. And when you come home, you just crash half dead on the couch in front of television and think it is an effort to even switch the channel. Or you fall directly into a deep sleep. Two more weeks and then my semester break begins. Until then it will be work, study, work, study. With these words I also offer my apologies for future dry spells here on the blog. Sorry, I was looking for my time out.

“13 Semester” was not on my January Filmlist, but since it plays at a University very close by and a few of my friends even study there, we decided to go and see it.

Continue reading “Film Review: 13 Semester”