So here's what spring 2010 will look like academically, more or less.

M/W
9:10am - 10:25am: Simulation
11:00am - 12:15pm: East Asian Civilization: China
1:10pm - 2:15pm: Law and Economics*
4:10pm - 6:00pm: Seminar in Human Factors Design

T/R
9:10am - 10:25am: Production Planning
2:15pm - 6:00pm: Advanced Computer Modeling

* = The seniors got precedence for the 45 spots, but I'm going to see if I can weasel my way in. Out of all the econ electives they offered this semester, it's the one that's Really Freaking Relevant to my major. And the one that I'd actually want to take on a voluntary basis. Oy. Fingers crossed!

Anyway, academic self-assessment time. For the past 2-3 weeks, I was down in the dregs of midterms with harsh bell curves and never-ending problem sets. I just finished my last midterm for the semester, and now my brain feels like a fried egg, sunny side up.

The bright side is that I have a couple plans for this weekend, next weekend, and winter break. This semester has been absolutely dull. I haven't had an actual weekend in the city since September? I feel like I've been missing out.

-----

Alright, alright. Second-to-last photo spam from Egypt/Turkey -- cross my heart! After this, all of my photos will be posted in a more er, timely manner. Timely as in not three months behind. Real time, what is that!

egypt and turkey: day viii

( Turkish viagra, Turkish delight, and one Hagia Sophia )

If you haven't already, fill this poll out! Oh, and if you have holiday wishlists/card posts or a subtle gifting hint to drop, hit me up.

egypt and turkey: day vii


ZOMG PYRAMID!!!!JK!@#J!@!!!



(Back in early August, I went on a 9/10-day trip through Egypt and Turkey. Just like London and the road trip, I'll be posting photos divided by day. Photos from the trip will be updated at my Flickr as well!)

(8/14): Woke up. Packed my bags. Visited some pyramid. Saw a sphinx. Flew to Istanbul. The end.*

* = Er, right. That was the Sparknotes version. Or the Cindy-is-sleep-deprived-that-she-can't-be-arsed-to-write-something-more-substantial version. Anyway. I did wake up and pack my bags for the flight later that night. And then I went to Giza, with the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, which speak for themselves. Ah, the pinnacle of manmade architecture! The pyramids themselves are unbelievably imposing, but the history increases their presence tenfold.

That afternoon, I flew from Cairo to Istanbul and arrived in the late afternoon. After checking in the hotel, I took a walk around the city and bought lots of figs and Turkish delight for my omnomming. I then reached shoreside just in time to catch the sunset. I loved Istanbul -- the weather was so lovely and breezy and it was nice just strolling around as opposed to rushing from point A to point B.

And then I went back to the hotel. I went to the bathroom to pee, but er, I couldn't find the flusher. I spent a good five minutes trying to find anything with a remote semblance to a lever, and found a small lever near the pipe. A-ha! I tugged the lever backwards. No luck. Tugged it to the right. Nope. The left. Natch. I pulled the lever towards me, and I was promptly sprayed full-on-the-face by a jet stream of water from the toilet bowl. Turns out it was the bidet.¹ The bathroom floor and door -- and I -- were completely soaked with bidet water. And that, ladies and gents, was my introduction to Turkish toilets. Cheers.²

-----------
footnotes:
¹: A bidet is colloquially known as the "vag/butt-crack cleaner." Make of that what you will.
²: That night, I also managed to unhinge the shower door because I pushed it the wrong way. I'm an engineer, and I managed to destruct an entire bathroom in one night. For shame.


( sup figgy (literally) )

Alright, an impending Accounting and Finance midterm is calling my name. More (real-time) updates when I'm less frazzled.

ROAD TRIP photos on Flickr!

6/26: New York, NY ► Long Island
6/27: Long Island ► Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA
6/28: Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA ► Raleigh, NC
6/29: Raleigh, NC ► Charleston, SC
6/30: Charleston, SC
7/1: Charleston, SC ► Asheville, NC
7/2: Asheville, NC ► Washington, DC
7/3: Washington, DC
7/4: Washington, DC
7/5: Washington, DC ► New York, NY

roadtrip: days viii-ix (7/4-7/5)

agenda:
⇔ Noodles for lunch at Chinatown!
⇔ Strolled through the Natural History Museum and the Museum of American History
⇔ Met up with a bunch of friends at the National Mall
⇔ Fireworks near the Washington Monument
⇔ Long, long, long drive back up to New York

I can positively say that this was one of my favourite roadtrips! Lots of laughs and new inside jokes and bad music and photo ops and Southern food were had by all. Sometimes I do miss driving. And I miss travelling. Speaking of, this journal's going to get a major whammy of photo posts from my Egypt/Turkey trip along with a couple Shanghai photos.





( the penultimate fourth of july post, three months overdue )

where I talk about random things:
It's October and I finally moved all of my stuff out of summer storage. My room looks like it just got decimated. Speaking of, I was digging through my boxes and I found the journal with a bunch of entries that I had meant to post in kitsche ages ago but didn't. I'll get to that soon. I really need to update that poor thing. :(

Guys guys guys guys, I love Jim and Pam. Two words: WEDDING. EPISODE.

A couple things I want/have been meaning to see: Whip It (the soundtrack has a lot going for it!), New York, I Love You (it'd be an utter TRAVESTY if I didn't get to see this one). Nine (I love, love 8½. Love love love love.), Coco Avant Chanel (my friend said it wasn't that great but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't insanely curious), A Streetcar Named Desire (the play starring Cate Blanchett -- jaskdfl!), Rudo y Cursi (GAEL! DIEGO!), Hamlet (with JUDE LAW, need I say more.), etc. That's only part of it.

What are you guys looking forward to? I need to start watching more films and reading more books -- feel free to recommend me anything!

♥ ♥

Okay. So er, it's been a while, but this entry right here? Last week, I got this one email from LJ...

Hi there,

I just wanted to let you know officially that your kitsche entry made it into the LiveJournal anniversary anthology. We just received a proof copy of the book in our office and we're so happy with it — the book is beautiful and your post looks great. Right now the book is slated to come out in October, so be on the lookout.

ASASKFL8VLskjsdfkg'asDFXLASKL!!!! YOU GUYS! jaskflfjadsklfjl!!! I'M GETTING PUBLISHED IN THE LJ ANTHOLOGY BOOK!!! My stomach did a couple back flips, and I flailed over that email like a madwoman. /incoherency

ANYWAY. Back to your regularly scheduled progamming.

6/26: New York, NY ► Long Island
6/27: Long Island ► Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA
6/28: Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA ► Raleigh, NC
6/29: Raleigh, NC ► Charleston, SC
6/30: Charleston, SC
7/1: Charleston, SC ► Asheville, NC
7/2: Asheville, NC ► Washington, DC
7/3: Washington, DC
7/4: Washington, DC
7/5: Washington, DC ► New York, NY

roadtrip: days v, vi (7/1-2)

agenda:
☼ Left Charleston, headed back north for Asheville, NC
☼ Ate even more Southern food at Cracker Barrel on the way over
☼ Walked around the town and did a bit window-shopping
☼ INTENSE trivia night (and awesomely good pizza) at Mellow Mushroom. I'm totally not lying when I say that it was intense!
☼ Drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway
☼ Had a tremendous freakout session when the engine overheated on the mountains
☼ Ate at Sonic for the 23849th time
☼ Took the loooong drive up to Washington DC, arrived in the late night



( almost done! )

Hey, all. LiveJournal isn't blocked in China anymore -- shocker! I got back from a trip to Egypt and Turkey not too long ago, so once I'm done with these way overdue photos, I'll talk about things like my experience with Turkish toilets and getting lost in the Sahara and all the stories that I happen to remember. Sorry for my disappearing acts. There's a lot on my proverbial and literal plate.

Anyway, first things first.

6/26: New York, NY ► Long Island
6/27: Long Island ► Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA
6/28: Virginia Beach/Norfolk, VA ► Raleigh, NC
6/29: Raleigh, NC ► Charleston, SC
6/30: Charleston, SC
7/1: Charleston, SC ► Asheville, NC
7/2: Asheville, NC ► Washington, DC
7/3: Washington, DC
7/4: Washington, DC
7/5: Washington, DC ► New York, NY

roadtrip: day iv (6/30)

agenda:
ϟ Went to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
ϟ Relaxed on the sand at Folly Beach
ϟ Wandered about Rainbow Row (rows of colorful, beautiful houses)
ϟ Walked around the Harbor
ϟ Ate even more Southern food at Jestine's Kitchen



( pretty houses and plants and omnoms )



Pot roast, mac and cheese, and green beans at Jestine's Kitchen! I could use some Southern food right about now. :3