mind-blogging » Student nature

Student Discoveries – Episode 7

Chrissara — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:57:30 +0000

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

Student Discoveries, Episode 6

Chrissara — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:40:17 +0000

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!!)

Half-time!

Chrissara — Sun, 30 May 2010 10:32:01 +0000

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…

Aaaaah! Mid-Term-Studies Exam!

Chrissara — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 10:14:12 +0000

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.

Student Discoveries, Episode 5

Chrissara — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:41:54 +0000

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

End of lecture period

Chrissara — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:58:19 +0000

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 ;)

Off to ‘Ruhrpott’!

Chrissara — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:32:23 +0000

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.

After some worried words, I borrowed a navigation system from a friend. It told me the way so easy and awesome that I did not manage to get lost once. The times are over, where I glued a map to the steering wheel. One thing for sure – it is safer!

Friday afternoon I arrived there and after all the friendly greetings we strolled around the area.

There we stumbled over a gigantic Asian supermarket that sold every kind of Asian food and ingredient you can think of. Rice and glass noodles in three pound packages, wasabi nuts and chili sauces in small, big and even bigger containers. Luckily, this store is not around the corner from where I live, otherwise I would be broke within a month. Lasagne was our dinner, to strengthen us for our evening plans. We went to semester end concert at the University – with a very unusual conductor. No matter how I would attempt to describe him, they would all not reflect his craziness.

Saturday then complete confusion: I woke up thinking it was 8:30am – but it actually was 11am! Has been a long time since that happened. At first had breakfast and a cappuccino, then did the obligatory hours of studying. DO-Travel-Insight No.2: Your conscientiousness follows you everywhere! Afterwards we walked downtown – Reinoldi church (supposedly THE meeting point in Dortmund), shopping area, opera house (which reminded me a little of Sydney’s) and the main train station. Unfortunately all in drizzling rain. To warm up again we had homemade hot chocolate and chocolate mousse, while bedging out with three movies.

And then, on Sunday, it was the big day: German Bundesliga soccer game Dortmund against Frankfurt! After a short disorientation in the stadium, we found our seats in the South-West part in section 38 – right by the Dortmund fans.

DO-Travel-Insight No.3: I’m a mascott for my home team, while being in the other teams section. Because after a thrilling game, Frankfurt won 3:2!! Yeah! The stadium itself is amazing – the atmosphere and coulisse with 70.400 fans (and that was not even sold out!). Directly after the game I headed back home through icky weather – a mixture of snow and rain – since university was calling for me right the next day.

All in all, Dortmund is a cute little town – alone the stadium is worth a visit!

Student Discoveries, Episode 4

Chrissara — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:20:30 +0000

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.

Student Discoveries, Episode 3

Chrissara — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:54:47 +0000

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.

Film Review: 13 Semester

Chrissara — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:10:26 +0000

“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.

Plot/General thoughts
The story is told quickly: Two men from the boonies, Moritz and Dirk, move to the city of Darmstadt, Germany to study Business Mathematics at the Technical University. The film reports about their experiences in and outside the university grounds. Mainly the focus is set on Moritz.
The plot is well structured, especially because there is always a sequence showing in which semester they are now. What I thought was pretty well done was the camera work – the views were individual and artsy.

Cast
For me the cast was all unknown. All in all, the actors each brought an individuality into the movie, but still had a great harmony with each other. They all seemed like people, who you could imagine really meeting at university, which made the movie authentic. Each of them represented one of the “typical” student stereotypes; who represented whom I will not tell here ;)

Upshot
I really liked this production. Surely, there are many movies on the student life, but this one actually showed the life of students at German Universities. Every (German) student can find him/herself in some situations, happenings or moments throughout the movie. Therefore it is a funny movie and you have many good laughs. A highlight was also the soundtrack – some very great songs! With no doubt I recommend this movie to those, who are students or who were and want to remember their experiences they had.

My Rating
9/10