Saturday, June 14, 2003
DOING THE TALK AND WALK
The Damage Report - Year 2 - Ending Week #01
Background Music: "Feel Good Time" by Pink
This entry includes Digicam Samples.
NOTE: This is a weekly blog entry that summarizes a series of events of a finished week in and around La Salle.
THE first week of my 2nd Year has ended and I end it trying to catch my breath. I found myself surprised with my sudden urge to go out there and meet new people. My first week as an upperclassman, and I'm glad I'm didn't turn out into this cynical person by keeping things to myself. I met a few first years, I met some faces from last year that I'm not quite close to but we somehow know each other, and of course I met with my classmates once again.
SUNDAY NIGHT - A New Cast at the Dormitory
I moved in Sunday night, a whole day earlier than the actual night before my classes begin. Alex had moved in already, he's my room mate this year. While Kyle moved in on Monday morning.
I moved into the same spot I was in last year. Same bed, same corner of the room. But I had different plans this time around. It was hard to adjust to the sudden surge of "freshmeat" or freshmen all around. So many new faces, so many new rooms, and so little time.
My best friend Lance moved next door to F4 with a new english speaking guy named Alan, who is from Maryland. Former room mate Jan won't be dorming. He is now a 3rd Year Business Management student. Majority of the pioneer batch have gone their ways now. Those that remain are Joam, Paulo, and D.R. together in F9 this year. Joseph and my other best friend Joel are in F11. Pipo is in F1 still. Mark was misplaced to B7, a different building on the other side altogether. Brian is with Basil, and Basil is joined by his brother Fahad to complete themselves into B4. Karl is with his brother Kelvin and some new freshman named Raymond into B3. Argent is joined by his brother and they will pay for the third bed, so they have F8 all to themselves. Aldrich is joined by his best friend Mik and a new guy named Sherwin.
Woah. That's alot. And that's not it. I miss Kurt, twins Davies and Paul, Ben, and the guys of old F4 (Anthony, Alvin, and Randolf). I miss the simplicity of the men's dorm last year. One building. One hallway. Eleven rooms only. Everyone knew each other. The dramas, the comedies, the good old days. Now all dissolved as we are only the minority among the largely freshmen population now.
MONDAY - "All Around Before my Classes begin"
Monday, I have no classes. But I got suited up into my uniform still. My other room mate is new to the place, his name is Kyle and he arrived for the first time in the morning. He's from Kuwait and he underwent eye surgery according to his legal guardians who told the Matron who in-turn informed my friend and new room mate Alex. He's into rock, very cool, but I'm starting to notice I feel like he has low self-confidence when he isn't with his friends of his past. One time "Spira" was written as his destination from the log-book. Spira? From Final Fantasy X?
Kyle is a first year Computer Science student. And by the end of Monday, the room was re-arranged (i kept my corner, but Alex and Kyle made new arrangements) to accompany Kyle's study desk which would come on Wednesday.
I spent Monday doing paperwork at the Heraldo Filipino. I was also walking back and forth Lake Avenue talking to anyone I saw familiar. From my friends in VPAPU, where I resigned from, to the student with the highest position in the entire student body, Kuya Romel dela Cruz. The USC president this year. I had an article on one of the USC plans this year "Anti-passivity" and he passed by and stopped for a seven-minute interview with me at the kubos.
It was fun and by Monday night I was gearing up for classes the following day. I met the three guys from F7 who all happened to be CLA students. That's like a blue moon or a perfect solar eclipse right there. Jason of AB Psychology, Joseph's brother Julius of AB Political Science, and the first AB Communication guy that dorms- Tony. Tony, will also be the first dorm mate that I can talk to and relate things with since we're under the same department. Just a year apart though.
TUESDAY - First day of 2nd Year Classes
The first day of our new schedule. Tuesdays and Thursdays with five classes and only one break. And then Wednesday with two classes that start in the afternoon and Friday with PE late-morning and two classes in the late afternoon. It's an abnormal schedule and I don't see much time to spend with classmates, which is a sad thing. Anything after dismissal is a rush home to watch Meteor Garden. An instant curfew that ABS-CBN has implemented across our nation.
The first class of the entire year was Speech and Oral Communications up in JFH 301. An air-conditioned speech laboratory, with carpets. I didn't see anyone outside but a whole bunch of unfamiliar faces. But I was sure this was my classroom even if the doors where closed. I saw some shoes in the cabinets there. I double checked. Yep, this must be us. I only see one pair of men's leather shoes there among the dozen of woman's leather shoes, must be my block. Must be.
I opened the door and saw a number of my classmates had already seated themselves on the audience carpeted flooring.
The professor was alright and afterwards we had our first major subject ever, Intro to Communication Theory (Comm101) down in JFH 202. The professor was the one I was hoping for, Ms. Mhasa Sigari. She is honest and tough. Strict but the terror kind. She's also a professor I seem to trust when it comes to teaching us about Communication. She was our prof in Career Pathing in the 2nd Sem of 1st Year. She's a faculty member under the Communication Arts Department (CAD).
We then had Retorika and the professor is Ms. Ambion. I would later find out, she is one of the top professors of the Filipino half of the Languages Department. Cool.
Our first and only break of the day followed and we all ate at Brejanah Cafe like old times. Jhen, Cindy (she's back), Wilda, and I exchanged jokes. Literally, the jokes themselves. Eric and them where seated at another table which was crowded already.
After the break we surfed at ERS where I made the upgrade of the Brodcst Msktir theme from Summer to "La Sallian" and then we went to our Philippine Government and New Constitution class. The professor could've been Mr. Atienza, who I've heard from my PolSci friends as a complete "terror teacher" (but the kind that is really really good in the field he or she would be teaching). A guy that matched the characteristics I heard that described Atienza entered the classroom. But it was someone else. His name is Mr. R.J. Estrada. He looks and sounds strict, at the same time he is extremely good at what he teaches. How do we know that? He knows the constitution by heart almost. We haven't even started to discuss yet, but when someone asks a question... he would relate it to a certain Article 5 under section 7 blah blah blah. I like that kind of professor. An eye-opener. Consti could play out as the Social Science of college. I love History and the Social Sciences.
Next would be Basic Computer Operations. JOU2-1, yes, we're now 2-1, shuffled themselves down the hall towards the brand new JFH expansion (our building has doubled, maybe almost tripled, in size with it's gigantic expansion) and then later ended up filing ourselves into an MAH (one of three identical old buildings from the 1970s) room later on since there wearn't computers yet in JFH 208. Damn. It would've been nice to have our class in JFH.
The professor gave the direct impression that she will teach and do that only. However, she told jokes but didn't laugh at them. She's that kind. Weird. The topics I read in the Syllabus where "Microsoft Word", "Powerpoint", and "How to operate them". I hope I get a Quatro in this subject!! Not that I am saying I know everything, but I believe a lot of us have the advantage of stock knowledge already to boost our grades up.
After class I met with Judy, and we inquired about our Retorika class and if there's an english-language alternate of it. We approached Mr. Ballena of the LAD, he's the chairperson there. We can't enrol in an english-language Retorika, and I was convinced I should join my classmates. (1) Basil, Aldrich, and the rest of the english-speaking guys don't have any Filipino subject this sem or ever again. (2) My classmates in JOU2-1 have Ms. Ambion as prof, one of LAD's best. --AND-- (3) I think the whole english-language alternate for Filipino is out of my league now, it's time for me to test out my tagalog-filipino skills.
I also met with Teenah and Ate Angge to see if we can add LOGIC to our load this semester. They were allowed, but I wasn't. I was disappointed at the reactions of the CAD Chair, Ms. R. Recreo-Sarile and my own adviser, Mr. H. Palad. Their reactions wearn't welcoming. They could of said "I am sorry George...", but that wasn't the impression. I overheard the chairperson saying "23 units... sobra-sobra na 'yun!". 23 units happens to be what core JOU2-1 is taking up. Sobra-sobra? She could keep that to herself or something. But she said it aloud. And then when Sir was returning my add/drop form, he was walking towards me like he was pushing me out of the office.
So, I couldn't advance a subject and I couldn't take up an english-speaking class for Retorika. But, I wouldn't be all defeated and all. I take it as a challenge. I'm also sure now, that I will advance next summer. I should have advanced a subject last summer like what Kate Quisumbing and them did. Oh well.
WEDNESDAY - The Wash "Half"-Day
I hate our schedule at the same time I love it. I hate it because it isn't balanced. Tuesday and Thursday are non-stop while Wednesday it all starts in the afternoon. This is the first time this has happened.
I spent the morning taking my time. I had all the sleep I could get, even If I could sleep late. I took my time. Until I was starving since I didn't have breakfast. I convinced Joel to join me and eat at Fiat. After Fiat, I rushed towards a meeting at HF. It didn't start yet, and I seemed to make it just in time. After the meeting, Maycee, Eric, and I where late for our first class of the day at 1430 hours. It's Church: The Community of Faith or REED103. The professor has this smile on his face all the time. His name is Mr. Aido something... Maycee said he's a nice guy when we walked into the classroom.
After REED103 it was Art Appreciation and the guy who entered was just a substitute. He spoke taglish, just like me. And it made me wonder if that's the way I sound. "Are there any kulang?" he asked, when he distributed the Syllabus throughout the classroom. He said he was deprived of watching Filipino movies and TV shows... and we all felt sorry for him somewhat... but suddenly he mentions "but I'm proud of it..." and it confused me. He's into film festivals. I'm interested in those things but I've never been to any of them. He's the artsy kind of guy. Our real professor will see us next week.
The evening I invited Kyle to join me and Lance and Joel to join the first meeting of NC14 or Abztropz at Waltermart. Marianne of the room opposite ours last year in A3, joined us. She's now a 3rd Year student. We ate at KFC and Marianne treated Lance and myself... and it was embarassing but we couldn't do anything about it but thank her.
After eating at Waltermart, we returned to the dorms.
THURSDAY - A Quick First Week
I woke up at 6:59am and in my head when I read those words, I heard trouble. "I HATE LATECOMERS!!" I heard echo in my head. It was my prof in my first class for that day in Speech and Oral Communication. Damn. I surrendered and didn't bother to try and get to class. It would be embarassing to show up late. So I decided, although extremely disappointed, to be ABSENT for the class. My first absence of the new school year is in the first week. Damn damn DAMN!!!!
I blame it on my evenings spent chatting endlessly with neighbors inside the dorms. And I blame it on my lack of an alarm clock. I seemed to have trusted my Nokia 3210 (yuck) to wake me up. It's battery, at two bars, doesn't last till morning George! Damn.
I barely made it to Intro to Comm Theory on-time. And when I did, I forgot to make my filler notebook. My assignment was in my Planner notebook. Great. I missed the chance to have a nice normal start in my first major subject. Damn, Damn, DAMN!!!
I also lost my good seat in class from the first two days. Arrrrg. ARRRRG.
It wasn't good at that time. I was disappointed in so many areas. That self-psychiatrist activated while I was in class. I was trying to comfort myself for these sudden shots into my plans of dramatically improving my academic status in class.
In Retorika, I tried to understand things. Actually, I did. Ate Jo, William, and Charmagne made "kwento" to the class. Ate Jo about the incident at Jollybee with the guy who collapsed. William about Bianca's father who can forcee events and the past. And Charmagne's love life last year. Ang saya-saya...
The break was at this new food place that opened outside La Salle. Leah would be singing there so most of the class that knew about it went there. Cindy went with me to get my digital camera at the dorms and then I took pictures at the place. The place left the worst first impression ever. The service was terrible!! It took 40 minutes for our pizza to be ready. The others who made their order had to wait half an hour. Ahhhh!!! I think they're still fixing the place up. But they shouldn't have had a soft-opening in the first place. I don't want to return there ever again... or until a time I can trust their service.
We were barely late for Consti. The strict but smart professor from the PolSci department. In our rush to get to class (it was 1:00pm flat when we left Micky's Diner) we entered through the JFH extention. It was funny when we rushed into the staircase area, I went up the stairs and when I looked back at Cindy, Jhen, and Wilda... they were about to open the closed double-door at the landing. Huh? Where are they going? Guys, it's upstairs. Are they trying to get into the new theater they built here?
They laughed at the same time we hurried up the stairs. I thought we'd be on the 2nd floor... but when we where there it was the third floor. Huh?!! What the hell?! We swiftly walked (not rushed) down the hall and down the stairs into familiar territory to land ourselves into JFH 202. The professor was running late. Wheeew.
And then in Basic Computer Operations, we had a quiz already.
In the evening I fixed up things in the HF Office (my articles with Eric) and fixed up my room before I was picked up.
***
That was my first week. I don't like how it ended but heck, it's just the first week. There are over 30 weeks ahead of us on this new sequel to this journey of mine. I just hope next week I discipline myself more. To control my social life. The past week I've been talking, talking, and talking so much. I can't stop talking to people. I need to calm down.
And I also need to apply the plans I have for improving my academic status. The "crash back into La Salle" is over now. Next week, it must all change for the better.
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