hey hot stuff!

Great job on your finals!! Im really happy that you got fantastic grades. I was sure you�d do well, we just don�t have that much of confidence on ourselves. Well, I don�t know my grades yet. I think a copy will be sent to my mailbox at school and one copy to home at nigeria. I really don�t know how I�ve done, I took my finals so quickly it could have gone either way. I expect a treat for the grades when I get back, jus kidding (hmm..maybe not..). Ready to tackle a new semester, eh?

My family left for home last night. It was good that there were no tears at this farewell for 6 months. Mum usually cries at these situations. I think she is getting used to the idea of her kids being away from home. Atleast my brother gone home for a month. He has a 2-month winter break from school. Next semester will be his last, hez a senior in high school. After the wedding, my father and brother have been working non stop to finish applications to american and canadian universities. Hez applied to some pretty good schools. I hope he has enough to get into them with substantial financial aid. Its been really foggy in Delhi ever since I�ve been here. My parent�s flight was delayed by about an hour, they were lucky, flights and trains are being cancelled due to the weather conditions. Im praying for fair weather when I travel.

After my parents left, I accompanied my cousin�s family to a wedding reception. There was a young couple of our age group dancing well, incorporating swing moves into slow rock music. It was fun to watch that. I really missed you when there were couples dancing hand in hand. And I had the first bit of alcohol at india ever last night at the reception, just a glass of red wine. It warmed me up in the cold weather. My cousin has vodka and lime cordial (I think its sort of a juice concentrate). I had a sip of that, its pretty good, sweet. And they had a couple of Russian Belle dancers perform at the reception. That�s extremely progressive for india, mind you.

Apart from that, I am going to my father� brother�s place again tomorrow. I just have to pack tonight. Some stuff in hyderabad has fallen through. Bhavya doesn�t have Jan 2 and 3 off and she can�t take them off too plus her car might not be ready to pick me up from the airport. Although, I have finally established contact with some of my school friends, so I should be seeing them at some point. Everyone here has a cell phone! Which is good for me because I can contact them by text messaging. I will be living with my uncle for the most part. I just heard that his business is doing really well. He just got a new car, office and apartment! I just have to buy something for my cousin brother before I get there.

Are you getting on at AIM at all nowadays? And oh, I definetly have to start working out to lose all the weight I�ve gained here! I think I might start running with you when I get there. It�s a good thing that I have pictures here. I see the photos atleast once in a couple of days, smile while doing that. By the way, my family and cousins think you are postively gorgeous! The cousin who just got married is very jealous apparently, she wants me to send her a dress like that you were wearing at homecoming. I don�t know how everyone here knows because I certainly didn�t tell them. I have been teased incessantly about you. And I just saw the pictures in which my female cousins were wearing the tops I sent them. They are looking fabulous in them! I remember them telling me that they liked them, at that time I thought they were just being nice, I realize now they actually did like them. They wear them at parties.

I can�t wait to get back and see you. I reaaaalllllyyyy miss you!

Tonnes of you know what!

Joy

PS: got another haircut. i look saner. cost: $0.80! lol!

Hi sweetie!

it was good to talk to you on christmas. im sorry i called so early (i can't apologize enough), i didnt want to miss you again like a few days back. it was good to hear that you finished most of your christmas shopping before christmas. its fun shopping with other people especially when you ask them for their input of whatever you are buying. i did go shopping with my cousin but didnt buy much before my parents told me that they would pay for my clothes shopping and thats what i had gone to do. so far, i have bought another one of my graphic tees and mum has bought a couple of short sleeve shirts. I also got a long sleeve shirts from my aunt as a gift. people here buy their nephews and nieces stuff when they go to their homes. just like i had to buy stuff for my cousins.

after i called you, i left immediately for my relative's place. the naming system here is a bit more complicated when it comes to family. people on my mom's and dad's side are called by different names. except me and my brother, no one else in the family is called by their real name. talking about real names, i dont know the real names of some of my cousins! its weird i know. we reached there and spontaeously decided to go watch a movie. we packed 6 people again into a small car to get there! when we reached the theatre, we found out that the movie that we had wanted to see was sold out. so we switched to another movie that we had heard was funny. i have never had a greater urge to leave the movie half way before. the movie was truly pathetic and lame, what a royal waste of time! worst part was that the theatre is the most expensive in the city. unfortunately that was the closest to us. atleast the dinner was good, had subway before the movie for $1! food here is soo cheap, its unbelievable! anyway, we got back home at 3 in the morning and had our proper dinner then.

the next day, woke up at noon as usual and lazed about most of the afternoon. we went handicrafts shopping in the evening and bought some stuff there. i bought a few things that i will be getting back to coe. i havent bought your saree and cds yet but i will be doign that very soon. i will try to get silk but if i dont, i'll get somethign that you will be comfortable in. my cousins told me of a different material that the girls here wear. i might get that. we need to go to a special shop since normal sarees would be too short for you. i told mum that you were a tall girl, a couple of inches taller than my tallest sister. tall by indian standards atleast..

my parents and brother leave for home tomorrow night (sunday). i will be here by myself for a couple of days before i leave for hyderabad. i wil be in hyderabad for about a week. Most of my time there is sorta planned and hope everything there goes well. I havent seen my friends in a long time and there are some friendships I hope I can repair. I don�t care either way though, its been too long to affect me anymore. I don�t know if I told you that I lost my best friend in 10th grade due to dumb petty stuff. Somehow I don�t think I�ll see her though. I will be doing significant shopping there since I have so much of time there. I am spending $250 on airfare instead of $40 on train fare because I couldn�t get a ticket! I should have asked my cousin to book my ticket along with hers, that was a mistake. Instead, she going to reach hyderabad in 30 hours and me in 1.5 hours! Family time there should be good too. Im looking forward to hyderabad if you havent figured that out yet.

Anyway, I think this has been a long enough email for you to read. I hope you had fun doing presents on christmas. I know I would have!

I can�t wait to see you again! Geez, I miss you so much, atleast thinking about you relaxes me.

Lots of flying kisses and real ones plus a tickle,

Joy

My precious,

Sounds like you are having a fabulous time there and thats wonderful! Isnt it uplifting to be around family? Parties are always fun especially if you know everyone in it. Atleast all your finals went off fine. i heard frm komal and she told me that you guys studied together, for humanities i presume.

i wanted to tell you before you left to pick my college mail up..i went to the dad's eldest brother's home with the family for a couple of days. i met my cousin who will be commissioned in the Indian armed forces in 6 months. he has been in a military school for the last 3 years. i heard about the rigors of that school..i wouldnt have survived that! he also told me a few things that he hasnt told his parents. apparently he has started smoking which is really sad and he has a girl friend now. his parents will kill him if they find out about either of the two and he knows it. funny the way things work around here. my cousin at home also had one for about 3 years and had to hide it from his parents becuase his parents wouldnyt approve. the funniest part is that the wedding i attended here, she didnt tell her parents that she had been dating this guy for about 2 years. they dropped a bombshell when they finally told them that they wanted to get engaged! guess what, my brother has a girlfriend too, and he hasnt told my parents yet!

and talking about good food, dont be shocked if you see me a bit plumper. i hope to god to recognize me at the airport (just kdding). i ate so much the last few days that i puked twice in the night because my stomach finally gave out. i have been eatin lesser since then because i dont want to puke again and dont wnat mum screaming at me again. its hard to resist all the home cooked food at home, i do try you know. but you know my fetish for sweet stuff, its as strng as your chocolate fetish, maybe not that strong.

i have also been making plans to go down to my hometown and visit some family and the friends i have back there. i will be flying to hyderabad on dec 31 and spending the evening with bhavya and her friends and possibly my cousin sis too. i stil have to figure out the sleeping arrangement for 31st. my main base should be my uncle's home but he lives quite far away from the main city. so my main plans are to spend a couple of days with bhavya and some friends, who ever has time and my relatives. i have a 15 year old cousin brother and 12 year old cousin sis i havent seen in a year and a half. I should do some part of the shopping there i think, need to start making a dent at the shopping list i have. it will be good since i have a lot of catching up to do there with everyone..

its late now so i need to go home and eat. more later. miss you!

lots of kisses and a poke,

joy

Hi sweetie!

it was really good to hear your voice today. im sorry i called so late, i miscalculated the time, you think i would get that right being a math major and all..(lol). its good to hear that your german went well. was your jury the italian song that you sang for me? try to send me a pic of the flowers that you got coz i havent seen it.. its nice to hear from the other nutty two,got the daddy one and britta message too. how are they doing?

i guess you should be packing for home. i think you will probably see this email at home. im really sorry that i havent mailed so far, things at home have been kinda hectic although it has slowed down now. i dont like the keyboard of the cyber cafe nearby and home's computer internet doesnt work straight.

anyway, the wedding went off really well. i was just disoriented because the sequence of the wedding stuff was inverted since it was fusion of the north indian and bengali wedding. i have a shit load of pictures that i will be getting back. most of them were from my parent's digital camera and i have a roll of my film too. there are a lot of pictures of me and my cousins too. i dont remember if i told you that most of the family cries at the end of the wedding when the bride goes away to her husband's place. all our mums and her dad cried as she went away. i felt sad too coz when i come back here, she wont be at home but somewhere else and i wont be able to see her as much. i hardly saw her this time too..

atleast i saw the rest of my cousins and i had a wonderful time. my cousin's brother is also in the same age group as me, so its interesting to see the college life of youth in India. We talked a lot and i turned into a confidant and secret keeper yet again! all us cousins went to watch intolerable cruelty with catherine zeta jones and george clooney. we travelled 6 packed in a car sized like a geo that can hold 4 people comfortably! and when we got out, it was pouring and we hadnt eaten yet. so we grabbed some food on the way and stopped at a shopping arcade that was closed and ate like homeless people do! it was quite an experience!

anyway, it seems like we will be going to my father's eldest brother's home for a couple of days and i think they have a better internet connection there, i hope to god!

i will go shopping soon and i will search for your 'saree'. i hope i can find a good one. and you still have to send me tina's address for the lagaan cd.

i hope your finals week went on well without much disturbance. I know its weird without the usual people in the room but i hope others kept you company went you needed it.

i think about you a lot and miss your touch. i hope you are having a good time. your emails cheer me up, keep em' coming! I'll try calling too.


Joy

Hi Bhav!

Its been a long time since we last chatted. My internet here in college has been kinda screwy with plenty of viruses and worms. The blaster virus really ticked us all off..and the problem hasnt still be completely rectified. So, my net keeps going up and down all the time. I have never been so cut off from the rest of the world till now. The only people that I had contact with were my parents, through the phone. Anyway, I tried calling you but the call never goes through!

School has started in full blast and this semester seems like it will kick ass. My easiest class is Topics of Scientific Inquiry where I am studying environmental chemistry, to be more specific toxicology of various chemicals in our surroundings. And then I have Calculus 3, where I am doing vector calculus currently..so far so good. Computer Sciennce 1 should be also interesting, learning how to program for the first time in pascal. And then finally the tougher of the physics courses, modern physics. So far, it seems like I should be able to handle this course but I dont know about later. And the course which will truly kick my ass is Mechanical Formulations where we study physics on a truly advanced math level with vector calculus and gradient stuff and matrices! I might actually drop this class but still sit in the classes to learn stuff. I just dont want to be tested on this stuff..Now thats acads..

And then comes everythign else. Now that I am this year's I-Club president, I have to do so much of plannign and stuff for all the events coming up. For example the canoe trip this weekend. Man, logistics is tough business! I hope this one goes without a hitch. And then the bigger one is the Minneapolis trip during Oct 11-13, should be plenty of fun..I am going to do some shopping there..saving up now for that! And so many wonderful people have come in this year. I am getting to know the korean, european and american freshmen really well and I am happy about that..I am not all that bored here anymore like last year and they dont have to go through all that I had to go through. I try to help them out as much as possible to make their stay here nice because the german girls leave in december.

I am still coming to India. I just havent been able to book my ticket yet. If I dont get the free ticket with my father's miles, then we have to pay $1500 atleast for a new ticket! If that happens I'd be so pissed off! And I am seriously considerig coming back to the US quickly if I dont get to see any friends in Hyd..I will come to Hyd surely, just dont know how long I'd want to stay because everyone will be busy even you..I know you will take some time off for me, and I am counting on that, by the way.

Anyway, I plan to get a cell phone sometime really soon to be more accessible to people. You can call me if you want to, I dont know how much it costs thats all. I would love to talk to you on the phone but I never get through.

Where are the rest of your pictures? I should have some brand new ones soon, and I'l put them up on the web when I find time.

I wish we could chat or do something, but I don't know when you will be free enough for that. Email me if you see me online. Atleast we still have this means of communications.

I really miss you and can't wait to see you in December.

Love

joy

A week of school and I am already so busy. There are so many things going on simultaneously, sometimes its maddening. For one, homework and reading from my five classes. and then, organizing stuff for the I-club. and i have made so many new friends. about friends, i seem to lose my really good ones after 6 months of knowing them. this really freaks me out. my first semester friendship that changed was komal, but i made new ones which helped me get over this. and then i got really close to mary and kristin. and now, mary's no longer at coe, and i can't figure out kristin now, i dont know why. she's my best friend here now and i cant seem to get time with her. i do know she is busy but i dun know...

the bunch of international students that came in seem like a interesting group. we have so many students this year, my i-club's full and that makes me happy. it also means new people to know, and i have to remember their names! i have already made some really good friends from this bunch. I got to know Clem and Inga pretty well in the time they have been here. and then there is this korean group that seems like a lot of fun. and then some americans who are interested in the i-club. i hang out with all of them at some point of the day. atleast it keeps my mind off depressing stuff. man, i miss mary a lot. and miho, rieko, namee and aqui. and bhav. havent heard from her in a loooong time. i wish i can resolve my issues with kristin soon, although i dont know what issues they are.

the college network being down, my communication with the rest of the world has been effectively cut off. no chatting, no emailing from my own computer. and i am too lazy to come to the lab everyday. these viruses have really ticked me off! but anyhow, i like being in my room in greene now, its cool and clean now that i set my stuff up. i like living with tyler, its bound to be a eventful year............

I always wonder if there are some things I do or say that drive girls away or turn them off. I kept thinking about Lara and why she hasn't replied to my emails or returned any calls. I can't seem to think of a reason that would have caused this kind of reaction. And then there is Sarah, I wonder if I am paying too much attention to her by asking her if she needs help setting up her floor or whether she wants to watch a movie with me. I thought that offers like this was sign of being friendly. Apparently not I guess. I just wish I am not stifling Kristin. She is the last person I would want to lose. She has been the only one apart from Mary from whom I've heard at least once a week. And I didn't even have to initiate this. I am glad I got to know Kristin because I like being around her. I have had some of the longest and most unique conversations with her. singing at lengths, musicals often. The only precedent to this was my phone chats with Bhavya...

Hi Bhav!

Thought I would write an email since it's tougher for you to get online now. I hope you are holding up to all that travel to reach school. How have you been the past few weeks? Is your mom doing better?

Since we last chatted, I seemed to have full days. Now that the summer is nearing an end, things have become more hectic. Last week itself is an example.

I spent the weekend on Kit's (my summer roomie) farm. It was my first time on a real farm. And I got to meet his parents and his sister. I like this girl, she's very sweet. Helped me out by cleaning my room with me and driving me around when she was at Coe for a week on a camp. I had some good ol' American food. I took a tour of his farm, equipment and the fields. I helped them move the greenhouse they were making. I drove an ATV four wheeler, that was fun! They also have a pond with a paddle boat and a canoe. Its a nice place there and their parents were very friendly. I really had a good time there.

Sunday ended with a raging storm in Cedar Rapids with tornados, 3 of them. It was crazy here, all of us took shelter in the basement of my dorm, ie our floor. Quite a few big trees got uprooted, and some of them broke a few feet above the ground. I saw the mess when I was getting to work. The funny sight was our college President standing out in the quad looking at his precious broken trees sadly. And we also had a fabulous steak dinner thrown to the research students and faculty. I had a huge steak, it was so big that I simply couldnt finish it. Food flows too freely here, dangit! Doesn't help me with loosing weight..lol..

Tuesday, me and Scott had to go to Iowa State University to run some Raman IR tests on some of the glasses that we had made. These glasses absorb water like hell, so we can't work with these in air. We had to work in a Helium glove box preparing pans for the Raman for 3 freaking hours straight! Anyway, the test took only about an hour for 9 samples. Well, although the results that we saw weren't great, we figured that it was a first step towards improving our samples. And then before coming back, we both spent $25 in a Pizzeria! lol..thats about 4 times the normal amount, although the pizza that we ate was huge and very good and this went on Doc's tab because he told us that he would pay for our lunch there! Food yet again, its a change from microwaveble food and peanut butter- jelly sandwiches atleast. And I did drive about 60 miles on the way back from the University. Scott let me drive his car without a licence on the highway, I was so excited to drive a car for the first time here!

Wednesday was the lunch day and we had Thai and Chinese food since the talk was about Anna and the King of Siam. We learnt some very interesting things about this story. First, most of the stuff in the movie didn't happen the way it was potrayed. Secondly, Anna was a liar. And contrary to popular belief, she was not born in England but in India and was the child of a mixed marriage, Indian woman and a British army man apparently. In the evening, me, Sara, Kit, Darbie and some of her friends went to drive-in movies in a town about 75 mins from school. We saw Legally Blonde 2 and T3 for just $6, it was awesome. Just one minor problem was that it got deadly cold by 11 and the movies went up to 1 in the morning on a school night (ok..work night).

Thursday was not a good day in research. Our nitrogen tanks ran out and we hadn't ordered new ones which made Doc mad because it wasted the entire morning. Well, there was only the morning to work today because we were going to a lake nearby to unwind. We splashed about in the water for a while playing frisbee. And then went for a boat ride and played sand volleyball. Its sad that the only thing I can do is serve, I wish I could do the rest of the stuff. I got back quick because my parents wanted to call me since I haven't got to chat with them a lot because the time difference is a bit annoying. And then one on my closest friends called me and told me that she won't be coming back to Coe. Man, that was so depressing because we hung out a lot along with Kristin. Atleast Kristin's coming back and I talk to her often, so I dont miss them a lot. Thank god for email and free phone calls.

But this weekend has been rather slow, apart from talking to Kristin, I did nothing else. I wish you would have come online but I know you are pretty busy, so I understand.

By the way, if this was too much detail, just tell me. I just wanted you to know how my week went. Tell me whats going on there..

Sending you lots of love

Joy

Now that the summer is nearing an end, things have become more hectic. Last week itself is an example.

I spent the weekend on Kit's (my summer roomie) farm. It was my first time on a real farm. And I got to meet his parents and his sister. I like this girl, she's very sweet. Helped me out by cleaning my room with me and driving me around when she was at Coe for a week on a camp. I had some good ol' American food. I took a tour of his farm, equipment and the fields. I helped them move the greenhouse they were making. I drove an ATV four wheeler, that was fun! They also have a pond with a paddle boat and a canoe. Its a nice place there and their parents were very friendly. I really had a good time there.

Sunday ended with a raging storm in Cedar Rapids with tornados, 3 of them. It was crazy here, all of us took shelter in the basement of my dorm, ie our floor. Quite a few big trees got uprooted, and some of them broke a few feet above the ground. I saw the mess when I was getting to work. The funny sight was our college President standing out in the quad looking at his precious broken trees sadly. And we also had a fabulous steak dinner thrown to the research students and faculty. I had a huge steak, it was so big that I simply couldnt finish it. Food flows too freely here, dangit! Doesn't help me with loosing weight..lol..

Tuesday, me and Scott had to go to Iowa State University to run some Raman IR tests on some of the glasses that we had made. These glasses absorb water like hell, so we can't work with these in air. We had to work in a Helium glove box preparing pans for the Raman for 3 freaking hours straight! Anyway, the test took only about an hour for 9 samples. Well, although the results that we saw weren't great, we figured that it was a first step towards improving our samples. And then before coming back, we both spent $25 in a Pizzeria! lol..thats about 4 times the normal amount, although the pizza that we ate was huge and very good and this went on Doc's tab because he told us that he would pay for our lunch there! Food yet again, its a change from microwaveble food and peanut butter- jelly sandwiches atleast. And I did drive about 60 miles on the way back from the University. Scott let me drive his car without a licence on the highway, I was so excited to drive a car for the first time here!

Wednesday was the lunch day and we had Thai and Chinese food since the talk was about Anna and the King of Siam. We learnt some very interesting things about this story. First, most of the stuff in the movie didn't happen the way it was potrayed. Secondly, Anna was a liar. And contrary to popular belief, she was not born in England but in India and was the child of a mixed marriage, Indian woman and a British army man apparently. In the evening, me, Sara, Kit, Darbie and some of her friends went to drive-in movies in a town about 75 mins from school. We saw Legally Blonde 2 and T3 for just $6, it was awesome. Just one minor problem was that it got deadly cold by 11 and the movies went up to 1 in the morning on a school night (ok..work night).

Thursday was not a good day in research. Our nitrogen tanks ran out and we hadn't ordered new ones which made Doc mad because it wasted the entire morning. Well, there was only the morning to work today because we were going to a lake nearby to unwind. We splashed about in the water for a while playing frisbee. And then went for a boat ride and played sand volleyball. Its sad that the only thing I can do is serve, I wish I could do the rest of the stuff. I got back quick because my parents wanted to call me since I haven't got to chat with them a lot because the time difference is a bit annoying. And then one on my closest friends called me and told me that she won't be coming back to Coe. Man, that was so depressing because we hung out a lot along with Kristin. Atleast Kristin's coming back and I talk to her often, so I dont miss them a lot. Thank god for email and free phone calls. And I think I set a personal record on the phone, 3 hours with Kristin!

Another night in Dad's office scanning photos and also wondering as to the method of transfering the pictures from this computer to anything else. To give you a picture of the computer I am using, its a PII machine with 128 MB RAM. All this has is a floppy drive which is practically useless in this case because I have to do about 80 MB of transfer atleast. I then decided that the internet was my best option. So I tried Yahoo!'s Briefcase but it seems too slow and it won't accept most of the filenames because they are too long. So, that venture was a failure. And then experimented by sending these pictures two at a time using my father's office mail which was fortunately open. So, far its working. *crossing fingers and praying*.

Right now, I am sitting in my father's office scanning photos of my childhood. I plan to get some of these printed and most of them will be going online in my photo album too.

*The damn firewall in the office blocks all messengers! Even at home, it blocks AIM while it lets the rest of them to work, I dont know what's up with that. I thought I'd chat as well and scan. Doesnt seem like it now. I simply can't figure out why it doesnt work even with the proxy input. I give up!*

This time the trip home has certainly not been a cakewalk. Got to the airport and then found out that Air France and Delta had different baggage policies. I had to pay 110 bucks to carry the cycle along with me, I was soo pissed. They are both members of the Skyteam, some team members. I really dont feel like flying Air France anymore, I have seriously had enough, over priced tickets and sub par services. Anyway, flight to Paris was 8 and a half hours long because the plane had to circle and land in the airport from the other side due to cross winds. That ate 30 minutes of my 2 hour transit here. And then after landing it took the bus 45 minutes to pick us up. ie 15 minutes left for me to get to board which included taking a bus and passing security checks. I barely made it to the flight only to find out that the flight would be 1.5 hours late due to a cargo door part malfunction. What luck! But I was glad that I got to Lagos at last and with all my baggage! Thank God that Papa also arrived the same evening, thats the only reason that I was picked up too, because they had me slated in to come tomorrow. Got to the guesthouse and set out for home at 5.30 in the morning. great! to top off the armed robberies,we now have a fuel strike. This country is going to the dogs, wait, its already gone to the dogs...

Today was a good day. Although, all we did were
four solutions, rest of the things in the day were good.  I finally got the
much awaited camera that was a royal pain in the ass
to order. Took a short break from work to fetch it from the mailroom after I saw
that it had arrived using the tracking number. Its a wonderful camera, half my
palm.. its a teeny tiny camera perfect for mom! I am going to try it out before
I take it home for sure, maybe take some pictures in Peterson.

Now, the part that brightened my day was that Bhav
finally sent me some of the pictures that I had been bugging her for the last
8 months!! Pictures from her childhood, ie baby size and then probably 5
year old pictures. And then there were some more recent photos, from school and
junior college.. some with friends and some without. The picture I liked the
best was the one with the lovely smile during her 17th
birthday, youthful exuberance in her grin... Where did those days go :-(?
days I would talk to her everyday, talk to someone I had met just once or twice
but yet best friends....

I talked to Kristin and chatted with Mary for quite sometime. It feels good to talk to good friends, it brightened the rest of my evening for sure. I introduced Kristin to the new messenger and we had loads of fun exploring the options. We went all out on emoticons, finding new and strange emoticons was awesome. She is being kept busy, but going a bit insane with 13-14 year old kids. She needs a few days off.

This week zipped by! I am at Peterson for 8 hours and sometime more..Work feels good but sometimes there is nothign for me to do, well, maybe there is but paper reading is boring.. Now that we are making hygroscopic glasses, this needs work in the nitrogen environment glove box. Its a pain to use and only one person can work on it at a time. I have been reading books there as well. I finished one complete book in 3 days, just imagine the time I don't do anything there. But there was a welcome distraction during this week. Kit's sister came to a cross country camp at Coe. It was fun having her around most of the time. And she cooks very well, before she left, she made a cake for me! Noone's ever done that. And this girl knows how to flirt, perpetual i'd say. Even Xae noticed it. The flirting was a load of fun, she flirting with me and me flirting back, whole lot of harmless fun. She was also my DD for most of the trips, like to the Driver's License office, shopping..It was a fun week even in the evenings. I have been invited to their house, I should be going there sometime.. Anyway, I also want to talk to sunshine sometime, it's been a while since we actually talked, IM sometimes doesnt feel complete. I wil be calling Kristin sometime today as well, and try to get hold of Lara for the umpteenth time. Maybe I should simply give up on her, its been 3 months since I've last talked to her. Part of the reason I dont want to give up because she is the only friend I have made outside Coe, my only other friend apart from the ones at Coe.

For the first time, online shopping was a pain in the ass. Shopping for the camera turned out to be a bigger challenge than what I thought would be. I hope I get it quick. Plus, i need to get a laptop for dad's office, i hope I can buy it before I leave, there is only one left at Bestbuy and I need to get to that before anyone else does. Plus, I hope I can travel back home because I was told I didnt need a French transit visa but now Im not that sure. KEeping my fingers crossed for all of this.

Its been a while since I've blogged, but then it probably is because nothing exciting has happened this past week. I have been in Peterson from 9 to 5 everyday. But that doesnt mean that I have been doing much because I have been reading up on this method more than actually doing something. I know there is no use being restless about this because Doc knows what he is doing, but I don't know how he woudl gauge if I am ready if I am not doing much. Until he thinks I am ready, I won't be paid! Its been 40 hours of free work already, and I would really like to start earning money that I can spend during the summer here. While doing research, I am getting to know a lot of people working there as well. Scott (Im his gopher) told me a bit about himself, he has a totally different life than me for sure, he has a daughter.. I am also getting to know Sara and Beth much better now. And the evenings after research have been passing really quickly. and days have been ending rather quickly around 11.30 because Kit needs absolute silence while sleeping, so no chatting once he gets into the bed. But it is fine I think, I get more rest this way. This weekend was fine. Kit left for home after research and I went to a party in the evening. It was a good release for the week. Six pack of Smirnoff was enough to get me a little buzz, and I talked to some people here (this was a sit-drink-talk-play party, not the dance involved ones I normally go to). During this, me and Sara went out for some fresh air, she told me a bit more about herself and I opened up more (probably due to the buzzing) talking about past experiences at Coe. She is a great girl, Marty's real lucky I'd say, intelligent, perky and ambitious..I also met Katie, one of the Upper Bound counselors from UNI, it nice to meet new people from outside Coe. I know just one person outside Coe and I have been trying to talk to her forever, I don't know what the deal is. And after the party when I got back to my room, I was real happy I could get on my loft to sleep, helluva lot better than sleeping on the floor..

Sunday, me and Ben went for a ride around the city first to search for a place to eat and then garage sale hopping, it was definitely fun. And then we ended up watching another movie in the night. The night before I watched 3 movies including one with Jenna. I wish we had more time to hang out but oh well.. So overall, a good weekend I'd say..

I also talked to Mary in the night. It been a week since I have seen her. The last 2 months were spent mostly with them. I got to know them well, and they didnt mind having me around. I spent some nights getting to know Mary better before she left because there was a distinct possibility that she wouldn't be coming back. She is truly one of a kind, I met her in the beginning of the year at a church and tried to get talking but she simply wouldn't. I guessed she was introverted and I guessed right. This guess was further consolidated when Kristin did talk to me and Becky when we were there and I tried my best trying to engage Mary in any sustained conversation. Thats the first and last time that I saw them together for about 6 months. I saw Mary again in another 2 months when she moved down to Calc 1 from 2. I thought she was familiar when I saw her in the class but couldn't place her. It took me a day to realize that she was the same girl I had met couple of months back at the makeshift church. I tried yet again to engage her in conversation but failed yet again. I didnt know if it was me or she just didnt want to talk, I simply couldnt figure it out. I didnt approach her anymore during the rest of the semester. The next time I saw her and Kristin was during 24/7 when I actually talked to her and got some laughs out of them. Slowly but surely she became more free around me, took about a month. And since then, she has been a wonderful friends, someone who I liked being around and she liked being around me. Henceforth my 2nd home in Murray. I spent most of my free time there. I think I was there later than I was at any one else's room ever, apart from the times that I had to take care of a puking buddy. And she is the only one I call sunshine, among all my friends. Also, she is probably the only person I know who is thinking of transfering because she is unhappy here. I really do wish she comes back here, life would certainly be different without her here. I also think she has a very refreshing style of dressing, something I haven't seen a long time. A great friend once she becomes comfortable around someone, a ray of sunshine.. I hope she is having fun dancing!!

I also talked to my parents, something that is going on everyday now. They are in sync with everythign that is going on here. I am so happy that there is nothing I hide from them, they know about my friends, my inclination towards wine and other expensive drinks which keeps me away from drinking, my plans for the summer, my grades, my plans for the winter.... We are buying a digital camera and they are deciding on one to buy and I am helping in the process in means of suggestion. We have been researching for a camera for mom that she can carry around and still be a good digital camera for home. We should be making the decision soon I think. I also have to send in the application for Nigerian Visa. I have to spend 200 freaking dollars on a stupid and digusting third world country's visa! Although the job dad has there is paying for my education. I don't even like to call it home there, all that I go for are my parents. I don't even have friends there. Many facilites but no one to share it with, play with, talk with...I wish some of my friends would come home with me one break, I'll show them the beauty of the campus and I'll realize the fun I can have if I have close friends around. My bro is always there.... Thats the only relief, Robi is someone I talk to sometimes, watch movies with, play with... I really do miss him, I think about things he is doing with his new friends in Woodstock, if he is happy there and playing everything safe. I will be seeing my parents and brother in a month if all goes well. My ticket is booked just my visa needs to be done. I have to get a passport size photo and a $200 DD to accompany the application.

The only things that were out of ordinary in the last two days were the chats (internet and phone) I had.

My day started out with Bhavya finally coming online after 3 painfully long weeks. I would wait every weekend in the morning to get her online but it never happened. Then I realized she must have been nursing her mom once she got out of the hospital. She is one of the most responsible people I know. There have been many friends I thought were responsible and "good". Well, I'll never see them in the same light anymore, I still like them exactly as before, maybe a bit more but I will see them as normal people with temptations and the inability to conquer it, no more super women. With every chat, I get to know her better. I just wish I could hear her voice with all the inflections and nuances in the tone to catch her train of thought. eChat simply is not enough, even though I have audio-video chat capabilites, she doesnt. Its just not the same.

*I still remember when I talked to her after almost a year when I was in Toronto, Canada during Spring Break. The 30 minutes of talk time was enough to quench my thirst that had been building up all this while. She has a lot on her mind, I want to be there for her all the time and I think she knows that she has one friend here who loves her the way she is. She changed my life since I've met her, I see things differently. I think one of the saddest days in my life was when we met for the last time before I left for Nigeria. The lunch at Pizza Hut (our first lunch date), the shopping at Lifestyle for my watch (I spent a major chunk of my pocket money on this, my parents were really pissed about it, oops), she then bought me a book (Abduction by Robin Cook) and I ended the shopping by buying a shirt for her. She didnt want me to, but I told her that I wanted to buy her something before I left, because I wouldn't see her for a long time. I took her home to meet my parents because they hadn't met her for the 3 years I'd known her. For that, I had seen her only thrice in all the time I knew her. For the first time with a bunch of my friends around. Adu got her, and we saw each other for the first time then. Adu was a sweetie and still is if I can get to talk to her. Bhavya and me were very shy around each other even though we had talked on the phone for the last year. I guess it was strange to meet your a voice you hear on the phone in real life, in person.*

Oh my! I went off on a tangent there. Coming back to the topic of me talking to her yesterday. She wasn't home for three weeks, she was at her grampa's. No wonder she couldn't come online. Even yesterday, she made a point to get out and get me online. Thats so sweet of her, that meant a lot to me even if she didn't notice. She did something like this last year as well. She woke up at 2 AM just to talk to me. My, this would something I would normally do. I wake up early for my parents all the time especially when they call me because thats one time they can actually get a hold of for sure. Anyway, she was telling me how she had to be with her mom most of the time to massage her to prevent DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) because the hip implant was replaced. She really needs to take some time off and relax for a few days, let her sis and dad handle it for a few hours so that she can go out for a breath. I am really worried about her health too. I also discovered one thing about her that she "forgot" to mention in all our chats before, she beat the shit out of a girl in her grade 11 residential hall. Oh my! She is a firecracker! I didn't think she had such a short fuse! The story was action packed! I wish I was there to see this catfight as she put it. But whats a cat fight with pulling each other's hair or scratching faces! We talked for a loooong time. It felt so good. Brought a smile to my rather damp week, a ray of sunshine, something that wasnt there for a long time. The only other people who bring sunshine to my life are Mary and Kristin....

I got my grades today. It was exactly what I expected, A's in gen 2, calc 2, and hons comp and a B in chem. My first B came in this subject which I was supposed to be good at:-(. I don't know what went wrong. My quizzes and lab got my score down, i just wish he took the best of the answers, that would have improve my score dramatically. But there is no point thinking about this. I was unwilling to go get my scores, rather live without knowing how I did, but I know its stupid to think like that. And seems like my lunch has made my tummy grumble, Ramen, you suck! but maybe it wasnt cooked the right way....
I wonder how my friends are doing now. Mary should be on her way to Seattle, i dont know how long that drive is. Kristin is swim coaching, and painting houses. Jeshica, Rishav and Komal are working. Jessi is working at a hardware store, I don't know for sure what Tara is doing, Michelle's at a frat house for the summer. Jenna will be going to a christian camp as a counselor I think but before that she's coming back to Coe for an Alumni event next weekend. I will be spending time with her then as far as I know.

I went up to Deanna to find out how the bookings for various events were going on and if I got the summer RA job for the japanese students during the month of august. I did get the job and now I must see what the responsibilities are.. That should be really interesting experience..And the money although little should help, I really wanna start spending my own money instead of dad's. I think his money should be used for necessities only not luxuries. My lunch and dinner turned out to be the leftovers from yesterday's pizza. I spent most of the afternoon perusing the web for alternate accomadations for the fall break Chicago trip. I just realized that the amount of the money we had for the lodging is not adequate. This absolutely sucks! I need to go in and talk to Joanna and get suggestions. I need the help in this matter and there is no one here for it. Katie and Lisa's sky high wall impossible to get over, so aloof! And Carla, I just don't know sometimes. All of them have authority issues. Anyway, on a brighter note I did talk to my parents for a long time. We have discussing shopping again, seems like we are getting some big things now, dvd player, digital camera, camcorder (maybe), and a notebook for office but I guess for personal use as well. And I got Lara's email, seems like I just have been unlucky in getting a hold of her.. Saadia stayed over in my room because she didnt want to stay in the ghetto apartment with Tapi. Apparently she doesnt mind sleeping on the carpet, poor thing, she slept amidst the mess in my room..

Today's moving day into summer dorm housing. I jus went to the res life office but they won't let us move in till 4 today. Yesterday I went to a resturaunt called Metro Buffet, they have good food and a lot of it for just ten bucks.. just imagine how boring this day was.. The night was better, i talked to Kristin for a long time, feels good to talk to friends, this is as good as it will get over these months. I also discovered Mary's gift later in the evening. I was soo happy to get it, sunshine brightened my day up! I must call to talk to her today sometime. I called Lara again and the call got disconnected again. I really dont know what is going on........

Sunday, the day when the last of my friends left for home, especially my two best friends, Mary and Kristin. I gave big hugs because I wouldn't be seeing them for more than 3 months....I am sorely going to miss them, already am and it hasn't even been a day. Feels like I am addicted to them but in a good sort of a way, they have been an integral part of my freshman year during this last semester.. I am so glad I got to know them this semester. I also saw Michelle, Kari, Tara, Jenna and Liz leave as well. Although Jenna will be back on 6th to stay here for a couple of days. Post 4 PM, the entire campus went dead.. I think there are around 40 people left maybe from the original 1000.. NOrmally when I had free time, I would be spending it with Mary and Kristin, but now they are not there and I can't think of anything fun to do..

And two days later, my life as a freshman is over. By 2.30, I was done with my physics final and got out to smell the air of freedom for 10 days before research starts. Day of sadness for all most of my friends left..and more leaving Sunday..Im yet to think about ways to spend the week before research. Day started off fine..prepared my cheat sheet for the physics final and then went on to lunch. I finally shaved and tamed my hair, and dressed better for once..I was there at lunch for an hour and a half because I wouldnt be seeing some of the people before I was done. I gave her a hug wishing her a great summer.. Its the last time I saw her before she would be back in August. I didnt see Jeshica before she left nor did I see Rieko before she left. Then gave my final test and I was done!! Kit and me went to Best Buy and bought a DVD player for the summer. I saw the Matrix Reloaded as well, that is one kick ass movie (quite literally)!! And that was the day..

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday went in a blur. I studied most of the time in my room except Monday evening. I think everyone who know Japanese people well are realizing that they will be gone from their lives. Its finally beginning to set in that they might never see each other again. Among my friends, they are going to miss HIromi and Nobu the most, while I am going to miss Miho, Rieko and Aqui the most. Another person who might not be coming back is Mary, she's become a very good friend over the last 2 months and having been spending time hanging out with her.. I am goign to sorely miss that. I studied all tuesday and finally finished around 10. I went over to voorhees thinking that I would be there for 10 mins to see how they were doing. I ended up getting back at 1! I had to help Tara and Jenna study for a while, and accompany Jenna to the Sip because her friends were going to sing karoake. Bhavya hasnt come online during the weekend, but I think she is busy taking care of her mom..
Now, I am waiting to take 2 finals today, chem and calc..I hope they go good..

Saturday started at 10 in the morning because I had to do laundry. Laundry is too protacted, too much of waiting around, and then there is folding of the clothes to prevent creases. Weather is truly funny here, rains and then gets sunny in the same day..I spent time in Jessi's room today for a while after sometime. First time in sometime I found all of them free and not busy simultaneously. I also talked to Tapi for a long time, I see now why people can talk to her so easily. She actually listens without cutting you off, rareity nowaday. Jessi went home to drop stuff off. I went to Best Buy because she had to get her computer serviced since its was going bonkers. She somehow controlled herself yesterday, she was ready to put a bullet hole through it. After Best Buy, went shopping for her bro's gift for his communion which in turn inculded some of her own shopping too. 2 and a half hours later, we headed back stopping to eat at Big Mikes. They have excellent subs there, better than Subway! I think this is the first time I got to spend time with Jessi for so long. It felt kinda nice because she was my first friend in Voorhees, first american to accept me the way I was. I am glad that Mary was having a good time with her friend who was visiting her from home. At 10, when I get to hickok, people there had a sudden urge for ice cream. so 10 of us head to Hy-vee to buy ice cream and then eat them together. I went over to Mary's to meet her friend. I got back to my room at 3 to see a party going on in the room. Girls were half drunk already, there were around 9 people in that small room falling over each other. Girls are so loose when drunk, they behave differently under influence. some smoke, some touch, some become way too horny! I can't help but worry about them but since they dont like that, i try really hard not to care..sadly, it doesnt happen..4.30 they begin heading back. Some with company and some without. Some got their asses for the night. Im happy for them, atleast I think I should be..or maybe..

Friday, last day of classes for this semester. After freshening up, I gave finishing touches to my essay for Paul's anthology. Then went to the chem class which was adjourned quickly since we didn't have anything to discuss in class. I moved around on first Peterson for 45 mins to kill time. and then we had the physics class, 60 full minutes to give us the taste of modern physics to entice more people to take the class, like it would actually work?!? one full class of intereference, photoelectric effect, sub atomic particles. I am really interested in the nano and sub atomic world.. After lunch, I went back to my room. I took my papers and went to the writing center. Got both mine and Des's paper reviewed for grammatical errors. Everytime I take these papers in here, they invoke atleast an hour of discussion. Writing center has a great group of students who are extremely well informed and intelligent and who are willing to participate in discussion about different topics such as college life or faith. I then left the writing center and gave the papers to Doc for comments. I went to Jon so that I could make up the quiz that I had missed when I was at Nashville. but Jon said that he didnt want me to rush the quiz and take it after the class. So, I sat through the entire review class or rather a class where students decided what they wanted in the final.. I dont know why Jon gives us so much of choice! They didn't want some of the most simple integration types on the quiz, somethings that could be useful during Calc 3. I dont understand why people are so intimidated by intellectually stimulating questions, whats the point of having an easy mundane class. I blogged for thursday during this class occasionally looking up to see if anythign important was being said like what wouldn't be on the test and so I didnot have to read up on that before the test. As usual, all of us walked over to Peterson for the weekly physics ice cream social. Yummm, the ice cream that we have there are simply toooo good. and then I and Des had a dicussion about our papers. I had to wait for about 45 mins because Doc and Mario were busy with a student's Oral exam which is required for the major. When I reached my room, I got Jessi's panicked message that her computer was going bonkers. So, I rushed there because I knew that she would start crying soon. When I reached their room, sure enough she was on the verge of tears. Her computer didnt save her work for the last three days ie all her papers and honr comp work as well! I tried fixing it but it was far too sluggish to do any diagnostics. I spent the rest of the evening with Mary. I really enjoyed the evening and I think I got to know her better and open up more. All in all, this day was as good as it could get.

Thursday: I have to wake up at 7.15 because physics lab had to be made up. So, I took my daily 30 min shower and made it to class right on time. We did the last experiment, Diffraction and microscope. It was a pretty short lab and I was out pretty early. I got to honors comp early and the class was adjourned quickly too since we didn't have much to do. My anthology is due by monday by the latest. When I got back to my room, I found Bhavya waiting online for me. I was really happy because I could finally chat with her. But when she told me that I shouldn't have sent the bracelet. From that point on, my happiness level for that day was bad enough with the chem lab quiz, it just slipped down many more levels.
*She has been the only permanent feature among my friends for the last 4 years. I really care a lot about her and don't know what my life would be like without her. I sent the charmed bracelet because I wanted to, I know it was not needed. It was meant to serve as a kind of friendship bracelet. I thought it would perk her up more seeing the bracelet along with the card. I don't think it served its purpose though and that made me sad.*
This has been one of the two only chats with her that has brought me down so much, the first one in October. Rest of the day I was downcast and lethargic. Some of my friends did notice my behavior but didnt say anything about it. I then had my lab quiz at 1 PM. Got checked out and finished my lab quiz. I dont know how this quiz went, I already know that one of them is not right:(. After that I just wanted to relax and get my mind offa things. So, I went searching for friends who were free to do something after 2. But there was no one, girls in voorhees were sleeping, others were studying. So, I went back to my room and borrowed the Matrix to psyche myself up for the sequel. I talked to my parents and they sent me the final editted paper. and then Mary came online and I told her to get me if she didn't find her roomie. At 5.10, she came and then we went off for dinner. We then got back to her room and downloaded Bend it like Beckham from my computer. It turned out to be quite some work to get the movie runnning ranging from updating media player and downloading codecs. 30 minutes later, we got the movie running but in the first 20 mins, it froze twice. how irritating! So, we watched Grosse Point Blanke instead, pretty funny..And then Mary had to leave for a meeting. So, I left the room with her. I went over to Dows later and got some stuff printed off there. I also saw the panicked three people who were making the DVD for the class the next day. Vonni is the most perpetually hyper person I have EVER seen. True optimist, smiles even when things are down. I headed back to the room and then chatted for a while before declaring myself too tired to keep my eyes open. So ended pretty well I think.

Wednesday was one of the busiest days! I woke up by myself before the alarm went off. Cause: my apprehension before the chemistry test, my nemesis. But luckily this test was mostly standarized and it didnt seem that difficult.*sigh of relief* It took me just 30 mins to finish it. Doc's class went quick too, he seems to want to speed through everything and Ben and Kit really hate that statement Doc uses "I am dying to get to the next topic." I can't help but smile when I see their expression and rolling of eyes when we make eye contact. Our constant barrage of questions on lenses prevented Doc to finish his intended quota of teaching. Headed over to lunch and ate with Jeshica staying silent most of the time.
*Apparently I had come up in the talk these girls had and she was told that she was far too rude to me and she hurt me whenever she said something mean. The gist of the chat was that she was mean and abrasive to people she knew very well. And since I didn't like it, she would have to think before she spoke and that would prevent her to opening up to me. ie we cannot be good friends because she has to talk to me the way she talks to everyone else. I don't understand this because I am especially nice to people i know very well because they are such good friends. I would never want to say something abrasive that would turn them off. Abrasive behavior and meaness absolutely turns me off, the thing that goes through my brain is that if I can help it, i'd avoid this person. This is exactly how I feel about Stoyan and Abir, their first impression skills are so poor. Abir's first words to me were, " Get up, you faggot." and Stoyan is the most sore loser I have ever seen, I really pity that guy, says wrong stuff at the wrong time and never learns. freaking moron! I wonder why it is so hard for Jeshica to be nice to people she knows so well. I don't know if she has ever seen the look on Rishav's and Kevin's face when she uses an abrasive tone of speech.*
We then had the last new topic in calculus: Logistic eqns. While listening to him, I was also chatting with my parents regarding my essays. They are giving me feedback on how to improve my essays in my anthology. They have already sent me an editted copy of my clash of titans essay. After class, I had the Coe Diplomat meeting at 3.30. I then headed over to Tara to help her use Powerpoint for her presentation. But it didnt happen then because some people came in and started talking. I saw Jessi so stressed, I wish she gets through this fine..After dinner, I went to the lounge to watch some TV and then went back to my room. On the way, Rishi called me in his room and wanted me to have one glass of wine that was left over. So, I sat down there for a while drinking wine while watching some TV while in the background my mind kepy saying, "Go to the room and prep your lab book for the lab quiz!" and so after 10 mins, I got my books to Rishi's room and preped the book while I was there. Later, I got back to my room and while writing in the book, I realized that I needed the lab folder. I searched and searched but couldn't find it. Panic set in because this folder was very important.. I ran over to Anthony's room to see if he was there and he wasn't. Then I went to Mindy's room, thankfully she was there! I took some of the handouts to copy. Thank god for Mindy! She has saved my ass several times in chem lab because she is the only person I can run to for help and she gives it without a thought. Worked on the lab thing till 9.30. And then went to see the soccer game final between the Lambda Chi and I Club team. We lost! And then went back to Tara and then finally showed her how to use Powerpoint. She was bouncing like a kid when I told her all the stuff she could on it, lot of kid in her too.. Came back to my room and was too tired to do much. My eyes have been watery from too much of computer i think..I need to stay away from it for a while I think, summer maybe. Midnight and I crawl into bed into a world of dreams.zzzzzz

I helped out in the lounge cleanup. Yet again my lounge coordinator nowhere in sight, but I don't know if she knew about it. It was an hour ordeal, but now its spanking clean. Found a lot of stuff that can be sold and added to I Club slush. A lot of stuff got scavenged and a lot more was trashed. And then Kevin, me and Deanna had a chat with Greg about our office. I told him that someone on the senate told us that the office was not yet reserved. However he said that our office has been reserved and they can't take it away from us. I am really happy about that and we get our keys in a week! yay! Got back and studied a bit more. And then took a study break and headed over to the library. Komal filled me in on the happenings in her life. I think our talk helped a bit because they talked to each other in the night. They have sorted it out I guess, I need to talk to her and find out what went on during the talk and how far relations have been repaired. And then witness to the TKE streak from Greene to Voorhees, me and Nobu were stuck at the library because the rain was coming down hard. They walked across the path with girls banked on both the sides with camera flashing like lightning. Talk about Boys Gone Wild and this is a tradition or so I am told. The moment I got to bed, Rishav and Derrick bought alcohol and started drinking while watching a movie. I wonder why on a Tuesday being a school night? Anyway, 10 minutes in the bed and I was out.

I woke at 6.30 thinking it was 8.30 and after seeing the clock, I went back to sleep, light sleep I thought. And then I wake up at 8.30 only to realize that the alarm never went off at 7.15! I missed my physics lab! And then realized it wasnt that big a deal because Doc would let me make it up on Thursday. So, while showering, I thought about how the rest of my day would play out. I had a long and tiring day ahead of me for sure. Got to the honors comp and we workshoped some essays including Des's essay in my anthology. I got my essays back from the first review. My first essay and Des's essay were okay, just need some fine tuning. But my God-Alien essay was littered with marks for correction or clarification. *sigh* I have to put in quite some work to make this better I guess. But this is one of the essays in which I have given my personal viewpoint on something that had been nagging in the back of my mind. Yeah, what if the Almighty God is an E.T? I ate my lunch with Kristin and Mary. I am so glad they are my friends, they are one of the few people who are actually happy when I am around them, who have genuine smiles:).. And then headed back to my room and studied for the test a bit more. And then went over to Des's room to ask her to mend the essay Gordon wanted it. I feel really bad disturbing her so close to the final, but I really need it done. And sometimes I feel there is something in the tone of voice Heather and Becky talk to me in, like I have done or said something wrong. I still can't figure that out. I wonder why they withdrew so quickly since the start of the year.. While heading to Gage to check my mail, I saw Komal and Tapi talking in Stomping Grounds and Tapi was consoling her. And then it hit me, Jeshica must have said something again on the table in public. Got through the door and moment Komal saw me, she burst into tears. I hugged her and tried consoling her. I really need to talk to her and Jeshica and straighten things out. This is childish, stupid and not required before the finals! I had a long talk with Tapi and she kind of filled me into what happened. When I got back to my room, I read a bit more of chem and then Rishi some company while he was watching a movie. Then headed to the chem help session. I think it was useful, cleared up some of my doubts.But I still don't know how I'd do on the test though. Got back from the help session and now writing this blog right before I head out for dinner.

I was just at the library searching for Jessi because I had to read her paper, couldn't find her there though. I had a nice chat with Tara when I called their room from the library. These are some people I have really grown to like.. When I got to the library, I saw Stoyan and Komal talking and Komal didnt look very happy. I talked to her for a while before coming back to my room. She tells me that Jeshica said some very nasty stuff about her at the lunch table in front of everybody else (While Komal was in tears). That was plain stupid and uncalled for I think. I have never seen her this implusively stupid. She is a clam, keeps everything inside her or tells it to her guy in Nepal. And when she explodes, she can't control herself. I have seen that happen and it isn't pretty. There hostilities were underground at first and now, its all in the open. freaking moronic for this to happen at the end of the year! I am probably the happiest person apart from themselves to see that they have different roomies next year.
Tomorrow, I have a lab at 8 to look forward to, apart from preparing for my chem test on wednesday, lounge cleanup and the meeting I called for in the night. I don't know if I am looking forward to the meeting or not because I am not the person who enjoys giving a piece of my mind face to face. There are going to be uncomfortable situations but I can't handle it anymore, it definitely needs to be done.

Monday: Start of the week, another 6 days to the weekend. Thats the way most of my friends look at monday. What a pessimistic view for the rest of the week, seems like alcohol and partying is the only thing on their mind. I woke up several times in between 7 and 8.45. All showered in the next 30 mins, I performed my routine of checking mails and news. Headed out for class at ten till 10, and surveyed the damage caused by yesterday's gales. One of the trees lost its biggest branch but that was it apart from the sleep it stole from students in Murray. It almost blew me away atleast. We learnt about Crystal Field theory in transition elements. Some of the concepts that we covered, I should have remembered that but it seems like I don't remember some stuff from high school chemistry. That feeling is really horrible, the feeling of it being on the tip but unable to get the entire answer.. Then came the test answers I most dreaded, physics. I saw my paper and then saw I scored a 85. I then saw inside to see my mistakes. I felt like shooting myself or atleast breaking something. I made some of the stupidest mistakes in it! I wrote the Gauss's Law instead of Ampere's Law, that was moronic and careless. And I didnt read one of the questions completely and so lost 7 points on that alone. Knew the answer but didnt write it! That brought me down a complete level and then I also had to get my calculus test back. I let my thoughts wander while sitting out in the sun with Komal talking to her about her issues in life. She really has a complex life here or atleast she makes it tough although not consciously. Another person who I can think of isnt happy here is Mary. I wish I knew her before the winter break, come to think of it I did try to talk to her only to get a brick wall. I realized that she would probably be one of the most introverted people I have met so far. I am sad that she will be leaving Coe to study in Seattle. If she does leave, I will miss her a lot. Come calculus, got a 93 and saw that I did lose points where I thought I would. But then there were two other questions, one of them I realizd was not complete but the other one was right, atleast I thought so. It require an answer to prove that something was wrong. I gave that answer by proving that it was wrong and it gave an answer other than what he had said and henceforth didnt allow for his reasoning. A convergent series cannot be divergent! Anyway, I couldn't satisfy him and decided to drop it because it wasnt worth it. Got out of class and then to Deanna. I had to discuss the upcoming stuff in the I Club. We got a email from Greg telling us that we had done a less than adequate job of cleaning the PUB. Yikes! And we have to send an apology to Sandy who runs the PUB. We also contemplated the idea of introducing new exec members, another reason for this was that since we were loosing the Lounge, we don't need a Lounge Coordinator anymore, we needed a Publicity coordinator and a Webmaster for the I Club website. I need to talk to Katie about this. Anyway, I have called for a meeting this tuesday to give them a piece of my mind over the things that had to be done and weren't done. Im slowing getting sick of this. Now: I am chatting with my parents and will be heading for dinner anytime. Also, its been a wonderful day outside, sunny and bright and relatively pleasant!

The last two days were so sloooow..Saturday began at 10.45 with being gloomy due to the overcast conditions. Took a shower and somehow got my ass to eat, I was feeling really lethargic. And then I got back, and spent 4 hours in front of computer chatting and then eventually watching a movie. I tried calling Lara but yet again she wasn't there. I am getting the feeling that she doesn't want to talk to me although I don't know why or why she doesn't tell me outright to stop trying to contact her. It was Karishma's birthday as well and I tried calling but the call never went through. Then I slumped back to dinner at the caf and ate the unspecatular food and then hung out with Kristin for the rest of the evening. I watched Amelie with her (techically she fell asleep at 11 and the movie went on till 1). Although she did wake up a few times in the middle. I went back to my room and collapsed on my bed after a day of laziness. So, saturday served as my Sabbath.
Come Sunday, I am still sleeping at 11! Wake up to take a shower and lo behold! there they are at it again! Head exploding with unconstituitional words, I wait for 45 minutes before I get to the shower finally. Brunch was more like breakfast like usual. Got back to my room and worked on my chem lab writeup. I am sooo happy that this was the last lab and the only thing left is a lab quiz that I take on thursday! 4 hours past, finally finished it. And then, talked to my parents for a while. I hope dad is getting the info I need from the travel agent to book my ticket home. Talked to Manu and Doll, they are leaving for Australia first week of June. I feel really sad about this because I won't see them the next time I am in Hyderabad. They were my across the balcony buddies for 10 years, buddies for life. When time came to eat dinner, I couldn't find any of my friends I could have had my dinner with. So, I went ahead and ordered a pizza from Papa John's. I got it after two hours. Reason: I had turned the ringer volume on my phone all the way down by mistake. They had called me 10 times and came to the door four times and I didnt know! Anyway, when I finally did get it, I watched The Planet of the Apes. While eating, I thought that this was one of the worst movies I have seen and I was going to watch this in the theatre. What a waste that would have been! I studied for the chem test this week. The night passed with nothing else substantial happening. One thing did happen earlier that evening. While I was waiting for the pizza, Komal came in like a raging loony cursing Jeshica for locking her out of the room. These girls have had a history since school and haven't been able to work though them at all. I wonder why they stayed in the same room for a whole year. They hate each other to the core. I feel sad that people from the same country can't get along. One thing to point out is that both of them are stubborn and with short fuses. They were my first friends and now both of them have kind of distanced, Jeshica more than Komal. That night ended at 12 thinking about my performance on the tests on friday since they would surely be handed out on Monday.

I was far too busy on Thursday and Friday to write a blog. freaking 3 hour chem lab and 4 hours of studying in the night....
My dream yesterday morning was a bad one, I had to travel back home and I forgot my ticket and passport. Woke up right when the helplessness and restlessness started becoming unbearable, it felt so freaking real! I hope to God this doesnt happen in real life. I always seem to have nightmares before tough or multiple tests...And if I read up right before the test, I feel unprepared... I hate that feeling. I couldn' pay much attention in chemistry due to the two tests looming over my head. Physics and Calc tests took some time to finish, especially calc because one of them was a question I spent 30 freaking minutes on and still couldn't figure it out! Anyway, I dont know how I've done because I am pretty poor at judging my performance in tests. I went over to Mary's room, she went home for the weekend. I am so jealous about that, they can go home whenever they want...Spent the next 4 hours organizing the I Club Party, I sometimes feel that I got a bunch of inept and incompetent exec ever. I never saw half of my exec when we were setting up the PUB. They tick me off so bad that I get the urge to break something. I must hand it to Kevin because he is by far the most hard working person in the exec, even I can't compare to him. Most of the girls don't have the dedication required for the job, I don't know why they do it when they don't have time for it. Music and every thing else got done in time thankfully. The party went very well, music was great! I danced a LOT, about 3 hours I'd say. I wonder if Mary would have had fun at this party if she were there for it. I realized parties are a good way to see who good friends are...After that I felt so alone, none of the people I had asked to come turned up. The number of real friends I have are so small, even though I know so many people. I realized most of them are superficial, they would never hang out with me on their own. Its times like this I miss Bhav so much that it is unbearable, leaves me on the verge of tears sometimes...The amount of care I had for some people has decreased so much, its sad. It isnt my fault though because they have distanced themselves from me. I watched High Crimes by myself last night after I got back, slept at 4! I can't believe that Jeshica slacked as well at the party preparations as well, she was hardly there for anything. Now, I don't know what to do. Kristin's busy, Jessi is going to the Sigma Nu formal and none else around.......

Yesterday after dinner, we had the I Club meeting. I know I am going to have a tough time with my exec specially those three. I need to get power in the exec back to normal. Saadia was way off her rocker, it took quite some will power not to retort back and shut her up because that would be unpleasant. That left me bubbling under the calm exterior during dinner and some part of the evening. Rest of my evening was spent in front of my computer typing a paper for chem lab. I hate the amount of work this lab needs! 3 freaking hours for a 2 page scientifiv review! My eyes took quite some hit, they were red and watery by the time i was done. Then I took my pictures over to voorhees and showed Tara and Jenna the pictures from the Presidential Ball through Flunk Day. There were some awesome ones there. Crystal pointed out that I was pimping at Pres Ball (what ever that meant!). I spent the rest of the night at Mary and Kristen's room. I hope I am not intruding upon their privacy.. Ate pizza at 12! and then noticed it started raining cats and dogs, Iowa's weather is strange. It was 70 degrees all through with not a cloud in sky and then rains like hell.
Slept like a log through 8.15 today, but due to the snooze I ended up getting off my bed at 9. Got to the shower only to realize that the couple was in there again! Man, they have no common sense, girl, go to your freaking dorm and shower, not at an all-guys hall! I finally shaved, it feels so much better now without the stubble! Chem and physics passed without anything exciting happening. Now this might sound nerdy or geeky but I realized today in class that we radiate the entire spectrum from radio to gamma ray frequencies! To me that was stupendous. I had my lunch with Becky. She is still mad after reading my essay, I must have really ticked her off in my paper. She tells me that it is very offensive towards Christianity! I need to talk to her about this and make the essay better. I went over to Jessi's to see how she was doing. She apparently played "mud slide" in the quad yesterday in the rain! She had a lot of bruises from that. I wonder why people do such silly things at times, must be a lot of kid involved:-). Talked to pi for a while while doing calc, she seems to have a lot going on in her life and hope she gets through it fine. I wonder if Bhav got my package yet, it should have reached her last week! And she had chicken pox now! I feel so sorry for her, I wish I was there for her then. Lets see how the rest of the evenign goes. I need to study for calc today and give finishing touches to chem and write up the last chem lab of the year! wooo-hooo! And get my hon comp anthology in order with fine tuning help from Becky tonight..

Hi Blogger world! This will be my very first blog. Few of my friends here write blogs daily religiously and I decided to give it a spin.
Today started the same way it it does every other day. I wonder sometimes if the Snooze option is a boon or a bane? But, it seems to work well with me. I seemed to have slacked towards reaching my morning classes on time. I can't figure out why and when it became to be a bit tardy. Most of the time, I am a strickler to time, I always get to places either early or right in the the do. I was so glad that my morning lab in physics was easy. I hate long labs plus I seem to do well on theory but lose my touch in practical applications:(. Got to my other class only to see that it was cancelled. I think we needed the class today because we have a 3 essay anthology due next tuesday and I needed to workshop my essays. When I was heading towards Voorhees to show the girls my pictures when I noticed a group of girls in the far side of my eye, and I paused when one of them recognized me and waved. I headed over there to see most of my Honors Composition class sitting on the walkway discussing their papers and why the class today was crucial. Anyway, I sat down and listen to them ramble on, they were panicking although they are all excellent writers. Jessi feels like an outsider in this group she said because she can't connect to a lot of the students there. She thinks she isnt a very good writer, but I think otherwise. I have seen a very good introduction in everyone of her essays. Thats a skill I wish I had while writing my essays. I got back and then gave finishing touches to my chem paper due tomorrow. Lunch was nothing exciting, chicken wraps! Ineed some variation in my diet! I sat outside talking to Komal..I wish I would see her more often. I miss the kind of friendship we had in the beginning of the year.... But since then, I am happy that I have met some great people, people who are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Scene at calc was the same, Jon teaching and me on the computer using the net, perking my head up everytime he talks about something new. And then head back down when he is repeating himself. How much ever bored I get in his class, I would never trade him for another math prof in a million years. I finally got all my scanned pix on the yahoo and fototime! Now when I got back to my room, I realized that I had some free time and tried so see if any of my friends were free but alas! didnt find anyone!! I called Lara because I haven't talked to her for ages and she wasn't in either (damn!). I then contemplated going over to Mary's room but she had to write a paper for class and I didn't want to disturb her, so I am now stuck in my room for a while. I have no clue where my friends dissappear sometimes. I hate the feeling I get then of being alone. I miss Bhavya soo much. I miss her voice, laugh and "What else?".