September 2011
So in England at universities, they have the entire month of January for final exams from Semester 1
And since I have to be home to start classes at UCSD at the beginning of January, this isn’t possible for me. Obviously they know this is the case for most study abroad students so we have to sign the alternative assessment forms and set up separate exams/papers with our professors. I spoke to one professor who was super cool and told me that instead of taking the exam that’s 50% of our grade, I’ll have to double the length of the paper in the class that’s the other 50% (meaning write a 3000 word paper instead of a 1500 word paper and take a 1hr exam). Easy enough.
For another class, all forms of assessment for it are due in December so no worries there.
In my third class today, she’s explaining it all and there’s an article review, a group presentation, and then a 3000 word essay due in January. I go to speak to her after class and she asked me what my other professors said. I tell her, and then she says to just turn in the 3000 word paper before I leave. …. REALLY?! Like, I’ll have to make myself do it, I have no other choice, and I wasn’t expecting her to let me off easy, but REALLY?! I know people who’ve come here previously and they’ve been able to just mail their essays in but still have the entire month to write them. I get a whole month less than everyone else to write this freaking paper. On top of that, classes here are harder, and we’ve already been told the highest people really get in their classes is about a 70% (which is why when our grades transfer over they’re weighted differently).
Just add to my stress levels about being here…..
ETA: Since this class is Borders, Immigrants, Citizenship and one of the possible final q’s we can pick is specifically on US-Mex and I could probably do that in my sleep, it is highly possible I will pick that essay now. I didn’t want to but when she said to turn it in early…
Top Collegians and Pros Come to The Home Depot Center for Unique U-23 WNT Training Camp →
ussoccer.com
CHICAGO (Sept. 26, 2011) – Twenty-four players have been named to the roster for the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team training camp being held from Oct. 2-7 that will be overseen by U.S. Soccer Women’s Development Director Jill Ellis, U.S. Soccer Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs and U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Pia Sundhage.
Sundhage will be at the camp to evaluate this group of top college players and young professionals for possible call-ups to U.S. Women’s National Team camps heading into the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Vancouver, Canada in January and if all goes well there, the run to the 2012 Olympics in London. Bringing some of the nation’s top young talent together for six days will give Sundhage the chance to evaluate, coach, and identify players who may be able to make an impact at the next level. (click the link for the rest of the article)
Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Bledsoe (Wake Forest; Cincinnati, Ohio), Jane Campbell (Concorde Fire South; Kennesaw, Ga.), Emily Oliver (Stanford; Flossmoor, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (4): Morgan Andrews (FC Stars of Mass.; Milford, N.H.), Amy Barczuk (Colorado; Centennial, Colo.), Camille Levin (Stanford; Newport Coast, Calif.), Mollie Pathman (Duke; Durham, N.C.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Morgan Brian (Virginia; St. Simmons Island, Ga.), Amber Brooks (North Carolina; New Hope, Pa.), Meghan Klingenberg (magicJack; Gibsonia, Pa.), Kristie Mewis (Boston College; Hanson, Mass.), Christine Nairn (Penn State; Arnold, Md.), Ingrid Wells (Georgetown; Upper Montclair, N.J.), Keelin Winters (Boston Breakers; Englewood, Colo.), Kylie Wright (Atlanta Beat; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
FORWARDS (9): Crystal Dunn (UNC; Rockville Center, N.Y.), Sarah Hagen (Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Appleton, Wis.), Melissa Henderson (Notre Dame; Garland, Texas), Sydney Leroux (UCLA; Phoenix, Ariz.), Nikki Marshall (Boston Breakers; Mead, Colo.), Christen Press (magicJack; Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.), Katie Stengel (Wake Forest; Melbourne, Fla.), Lindsay Taylor (Stanford; Redwood City, Calif.), Nikki Washington (Boston Breakers; Mesquite, Texas)
I want to make a Christen Press joke but I’m kinda lost right now on how to do so. Also, I’m sad Megan Jesolva isn’t on here
“
You wanna add another candidate? It’s like the Republican primary is like a season of American Idol in reverse, where every week, you just add another idiot. …First you guys wanted (Michele) Bachmann, then (Rick) Perry — now (Chris) Christie? You know what, Republican base? Meet me at camera three!
(To camera three.) Have you ever considered the possibility that maybe your candidates aren’t the problem — maybe it’s you? You’re hard to please or figure out! You’re unrealistic! I mean, you’re pro-life, yet — (rolls tape of GOP members applauding Texas’s death penalty) — what was that? You’re afraid of ‘death panels,’ yet for uninsured coma patients — (rolls tape of GOP members shouting ‘YEAH!!!’ when Ron Paul was asked if a patient without health insurance should be allowed to die) — that’s the crowd: ‘YEAH!!!’ You guys ‘support the troops’ — well except for Captain Creatine over here (rolls tape of gay U.S. Army soldier who asked GOP candidates if they’d repeal DADT — and was booed by GOP debate crowd).
It’s like the Republican base is at war with its own talking points: ‘I want someone who’s gonna cut taxes — and balance the budget! Someone who’s a skilled orator — that doesn’t talk all fancy! The child of poor immigrants — who will build a fence to keep them out of this country! Someone who’s strong enough for a man — but Ph-balanced for a woman!
…It’s like your ideal candidate is a rare, super-heavy element that can only exist in a particular particle accelerator. And even then, only for a fraction of a second. Before you all remember how much you hate science.
You guys need to take a long, hard look in the mirror, and not come away thinking ‘Hey, there’s something wrong with this mirror.’
” —JON STEWART, on media-fed rumors that New Jersey governor Chris Christie may enter the GOP presidential race — as well as the hypocritical sentiments of the Republican party — on The Daily Show. (via valjeans)
Ibrahim Afellay: Ibrahim Afellay injured, will undergo surgery on Friday. →
fuckyeahafellay.tumblr.com
Spanish daily El Periodico has reported that Ibrahim Afellay injured himself during training on Thursday afternoon. The injury is quite serious and he will undergo an operation on Friday.
According to the medical report of the FC Barcelona medicos, the Dutchman severely damaged ”the anterior…
;_________________________________; huge freaking tears.
Oh also
- About half of the people on this trip are soccer fans which is great! All kinds too, so it’s good to have a variety. There are, of course, the American soccer haters. However, there are also those who defend it the way I do which is nice to see. Always good to have the balance. Hopefully I’ll get to a match or two. They are quite expensive. There is one girl though who LOVES to go see random league 4 teams because she says it’s such a better experience, not only with the team but with the fans. She’s done it before in other countries. Sounds like a plan to me!
Finally in Manchester!
- Got here yesterday after a really crappy bus ride. It was meant to be 4 hours, ended up being about 6 because of our horrible bus drived. Important thing is that we made it here!
- So far, I absolutely LOVE it here. It’s wonderful being in a city!! I’ll take some pictures tomorrow, hopefully. We will be walking around more tomorrow to take in everything and have another orientation. It started raining today, as well, so I couldn’t really do much there.
- The weather right now feels like SD does in the winter, which is ok. I really like it, but I know I’ll probably hate it come December (good thing I leave then, right?)
- I took the advice some of you left me re: iPod. I guess when you lose things like this you have to contact the airport you landed in, not the airline. Thank goodness Heathrow has this really cool database of lost stuff. I found that one iPod (black, like mine!) was found on the day I landed so hopefully it is mine. I put the report in, and then told them how much stuff was on it so hopefully that is enough. I don’t know the serial number, as it is on the back of the damn thing.
- One of my flatmates is Spanish! If you know me at all, you know this is a wonderful thing hehe. I don’t think any of the rest have moved in (I think there will be 8 of us total?) so yea.
- I need to stop drinking coffee. Grounds/beans are really expensive here. I bought a jar of instant coffee at the 1 Pound store earlier today which was cool, we’ll see how that tastes. I could also try to find a cheap coffee shop but so far everything is in the range of 1.30-1.90 pounds per cup of small coffee :(
Got to London yesterday
- I kinda overpacked, so it was a bitch taking the tube to my uncle’s house. It will be a further bitch getting to orientation today.
- I left my iPod on the plane. I thought I put it in my backpack as I was getting off but I guess I didn’t. I must’ve left it on the seat. I didn’t realize it, either, until I was basically at customs. I did bring my iPhone, which is cool I guess. I can put stuff on there but I had a special relationship with my iPod ok.
- I have a bit of a sore throat which I hope does not get worse.
- I’m debating whether or not to set up a separate tumblr just to update about studying abroad. Opinions?
