September 2009 Archives

                To all of you following my blogs, I’m sorry but I don’t have any exciting adventures this week.  Unfortunately, I didn’t go out and get a turtle or go to any yard sales. 

                I can’t believe it is late September and it’s 70 degrees outside!  I was able to go out for a run in shorts and a t-shirt.  Maybe this fall will make up for the awful summer we had.  (Remember June?)  I do like the cool weather of fall, but I’m still enjoying the spring like warmth too.  I just hope it lasts and I won’t jinx it.  Even though some of you may not like it, fall and winter is coming, and a sign of that is that the days are getting shorter.  Our ultimate frisbee practices are now starting earlier in the day because it is getting dark too early.  Also, the leaves are changing color and are beginning to fall.  Fall and winter isn’t all bad though.  We still get football and hockey.  And I know a lot of people love to ski and snowboard, although I’m not a big fan of the two.  I hope you are all enjoying the warm start to fall like I am. 

                Well, that’s all I have to say for now.  Go outside and enjoy the weather!

                Hello again!

                This past weekend, me and my friends walked around Lowell again.  It was really fun and we are definitely going to do it again soon.  We probably walked around for over three hours.  There is always something to do here, whether it is walking around, going into the small shops, restaurants, etc.  Or even just going to the recreation center to work out, going to a Spinners game, going to the various sporting events on campus, or joining the 80+ clubs on campus.  Let’s just say that I’m never bored while I’m on campus.  I’m actually almost disappointed when I have to go home!

                And Sunday might have been my most interesting day on campus so far and probably will be for awhile.  On Sunday morning at breakfast, one of my friends said randomly that he wanted a turtle.  One of the RA’s in my dorm mentioned that he had a turtle at his house and that he would let us borrow it for the year.  (This is just an example of how nice and friendly the RAs are.  This particular RA sometimes even hangs out with us) So like six of us travelled to Tewksbury to pick up a turtle.  Then the house next door was having a yard sale so we checked it out.  Combined, we got a coffee table, small speakers, an ice bucket, and an old laptop from like the 1980s or something for 12 dollars.  (They threw the laptop in for free)  In one day we all got a turtle, a coffee table, an ice bucket, and speakers, plus an extremely old-fashioned laptop that might even be worth something because it’s vintage.  Out of all of us, 4 have a quad so they got the coffee table and we decided to put the turtle in their room too.  I did miss the Pats game, but from what I’ve heard about it, I’m kind of glad I missed it.  Now that’s a Sunday afternoon! 

                I’m having a lot of fun and loving college life.  Well, that’s all for now.  Now you all just have to wait to see what’s going to happen to me this week!

Today is Monday and this is the first full week of classes!  Like I mentioned in an earlier post, all the teachers are really nice and are eager to help you learn the material.  UMass Lowell does offer tutors in various buildings on all the campuses.  I have a Calculus exam next Monday and a Biology exam next Friday.  Now I'll get to see what college academics are really like.  Wish me luck!  I had my first labs last week too.  They were mostly about laboratory safety, but I can’t wait until we start doing actual labs!  Summer is officially over!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I joined the Ultimate Frisbee club.  I had two practices last week and it was really fun.  We threw the Frisbee around and scrimmaged.  There were about 30-35 players total.  We play different college teams and attend many tournaments, but freshman usually do not play since the upperclassmen are more experienced.  My friends and I are considering making an intramural softball team, but we’ll see how that goes because we are running out of time since rosters are due in a couple days.  I highly advise getting involved in different clubs and activities.  I already met so many people and made new friends!

Well I’m going to go grab something to eat and get ready for the Pats game at 7.  GO PATS!  Talk to you later!

                Hello again!

            I survived my first week of classes! Although it was only three days, I got a feel for what a full week of classes will be like.  Classes went well, although I do have a decent amount of homework, which is rather disappointing.  All my teachers are really nice and I don’t see having any problems with any of them.  Labs don’t start until next week so we’ll have to wait and see how those go!

A lot of people went home for the long weekend, but I stayed on campus because I honestly just don’t want to go home.  It’s not that I don’t like my home because I love my home, but I also love UMass Lowell.  I also think I don’t want to go home because I can go home whenever I want to since I live only 10-15 minutes away.  This was one of the reasons why I chose this university.  I can live away at school, but can still go home whenever I wanted to.  I have some friends who went to college in Arizona.  The only time they will come home is Christmas break.  I love how I can go home if I ever want a home cooked meal for a change! (Although, the food here has been pretty good, so if anyone was worried about that, don’t be!)

Well that’s all I have to say for now.  And just a reminder, if any of you have any questions about the university, whether it’s housing, classes, student life, food, etc. don’t be afraid to ask in the comments section!  You can ask about anything!  If you want me to talk about certain things about the university or student life, just mention it and I’ll do my best!  Talk to you all soon!

Opening week has been amazing! 

Move-in for freshman was on Saturday August 29 and if you all remember, it was pouring!  The entire day went by very smoothly and move-in was very organized.  UMass Lowell had tons of volunteers ready to help unload cars and bring stuff to the dorm rooms.  I was all settled and unpacked in under an hour.  Other activities on the 29^th included an inspirational speaker named Ed Gerety and a Casino Night.

            On Sunday, upperclassmen moved onto campus.  A couple of friends I made over the weekend and I took a drive to the mall and Nashua, but somehow ended up getting lost in Dracut. (I have no idea how we pulled that one off!) But somehow we reached Nashua and got some stuff for our rooms.  I bought a Ferris Bueller poster, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.  Also on Sunday, another new friends and I explored downtown Lowell and even went in some of the art museums.  I’m usually not that interested in art, but I thought it was pretty cool.  I would add some pictures, but unfortunately, I left my camera in my room.  Sunday was a great day.

            On Monday, the same new friends and I drove to Kimball’s Ice Cream in Westford, Massachusetts.  One of my friends bragged about it so we decided to take a road trip.  I had Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and it was amazing!  If anyone wants to take a ride, I highly advise you to go to Kimball’s.

            On Tuesday (Today), we had our convocation.  It is literally the complete opposite of Commencement.  The university and faculty welcomed us, the Class of 2013!  There many speakers, but the keynote speaker was Reverend Dr. Jamie Washington.  The marching band played the usual commencement tune (I don’t know the name of it, but everyone has heard it at graduations) and the faculty even wore their commencement robes.  Immediately following convocation, there was a BBQ and a club fair.  This was where incoming freshman could see/join the 80 clubs the university has to offer. Like I mentioned in an earlier blog, I did join the Ultimate Frisbee club.  In the afternoon, there was an event called “Riverhawks on the Roof”.  It was a BBQ on the roof of the parking garage on East Campus overlooking LeLacheur Park, home of the Lowell Spinners.  The park is literally on East Campus, right across from the Recreation Center.  Later, my friends and I went to the Spinners game.  It was awesome!  We had like 30 of us and we were easily the loudest section in the whole park.  (Section 100!)  We never stopped chanting for 3 hours and half of us even lost our voices.  I just got back from a great night, but unfortunately, classes start tomorrow, although you wouldn’t have known that fact as we kept chanting even after we left the stadium and while we walked across campus.

            If anyone is nervous about making friends, don’t be!  I’ve already made so many great friends and it’s only been 4 days!  And remember, everyone is in the same boat as you.  You are all at a new school and do not know many people.  Just be yourself, keep your room door open and people will walk into your room and introduce themselves.  And don’t be afraid to walk into other open doorways and introduce yourself!  Now, I’m back in my room, writing this blog and preparing for classes tomorrow.  Even though it’s been a short time, I already feel like UMass Lowell is my home.  Although the last couple days were a blast and a great way to start college, I’m looking forward to starting class and beginning a new chapter in my life.  Wish me luck!

For a full schedule of opening week events, look here: http://www.uml.edu/openingweek/schedule.html