Friday, July 6, 2007 - First Week

I've been here for almost a week, not quite, although the week of class isn't over yet. I still have to go to Physics and Electronics today. Everything is pretty easy so far, including Conceptual Mathmatics and "The Cog". Cognitive Tutor for all of you out of the know. SAT Prep is so dreadfully SLOOOWWW. I wonder if real college students really have to carry around SO many big heavy books at one time? My bookbag was insanely heavy today, good thing Jansports are forever!

I came up here during lunch to drop off my books and possibly do some work, but um...yeah pulling out my computer was a bad idea. I have plenty of time though. No procrastination yet...well, not much. I guess I should leave tor Physics now...

Electronics is getting a little cooler, though still a bit fuzzy.

this

should soon look like

this

edit: awesome, originally posted at 1:08!

Thursday, July 5, 2007 - A Soggy Day in Pitt

view from my window today

It was very foggy and odd outside when I woke up this morning. I woke up with the worse sinus headache ever, but it went away within an hour. Everyone from away seems to wake up really uncomfortable around here. The birds are REALLY noisy in the morning, and there is construction going on at the surrounding residence halls, so my alarm clock is almost unnecessary now.

I got up and went to breakfast later today, as I arrived way to early to class the previous day. No plain bagels. I tried a wheat bagel instead AND used the bagel slicer. Now either they have a shitty bagel slicer, or I am just stupid. It came out better than yesterday, but it still wasn't sliced to perfection. The wheat bagel wasn't too bad, except for the pieces of random wheat stuff I guess that I could distinctly separate from the bready part.

It was 8:50 when I left the Cafe, with 10 minutes left to get to Baker, almost clear across campus. I walked fast, as did everyone else, with most of the classes start at 9. I made it there in about 5 minutes, but there were a few others that came in after. I remember Mr. Baker saying at the first class don't bother to come in early, as it doesn't matter because he won't be there, so I'll try to arrive right on time. Maybe I'll leave at 8:15 to go to breakfast instead of 8:30.

Conceptual Math was great today. I wasn't expecting to like the course at all, but the Cognitive Tutor CD is great. WHY couldn't I have had this in Pre-Calc last semester?! I would have had an A. When Mr. Baker ended the class, no one wanted to stop. Those moving green and finally gold bars were addictive! The program caters to your individual reactions to problems, so if you miss a specific aspect of a problem, such as finding h in a translation like me, you will most likely get the same problem over and over with different numbers. The concepts are really beat into you.

Master Student was again boring interesting. We did a Learning Style Inventory and a Discovery Wheel chart. It basically identified your strengths and weaknesses in reference to common study, school/work, social related habits. I thought I would like this class a lot, but I really don't like group work and this class is really group-oriented. Something else to just deal with, as I've already gotten used to it. Dr. Tinsley seems like a cool instructor, she makes everything understandable, but I've done a lot of things in the book before on my own. We did some goal setting activity today, with prioritizing and such, if only I had my blue notebook from last semester where I did all of this extensively one day. I'll play along with a positive outlook. For some reason, this class has a negative connotation because it reminds me of FLVS Health SO much.

Lunch is almost the same every day, they just alternate between some sort of noodly or cheesy or seafood dish in addition to everything else. I had a hotdog and fries, but again with the ketchup tragedy, the hot dog was cold by the time I could properly adorn it, but the fries were okay. There was cantaloupe! And it was mighty delicious. I went back up to my room after eating lunch in less than 30 minutes. It started to drizzle on my way up, but it was tolerable "Like a midget spitting on your shoulder" as Damian mentioned yesterday before leaving for Kennywood. I read a few things for various classes and sorted my notebook and desk again as the rain increased. It was pour, and then slow down, and then pour, and then slow down, and then the duct tape fell off the sky and let it all out. See, that is Noelle's Storm Cloud Theory. The atmosphere is similar to a large, almost plastic-like, movable bag. Some holes in the atmosphere has been patched with duct tape, which is why it looks dark when it is about to storm. The water presses on the bag, forcing it down into visible sight on the earth. When it rains, the duct tape gives slowly, with a few drops leaking out, and then finally the whole thing falling off. The rest is difficult to explain with other weather phenomenons. Ask me some other day if you are interested.

I repacked my bag and changed into sneakers because of the rain for Junior Assembly, which was in a small auditorium in the basement of Baker. I walked under the canopy near Hamerschlag, wagering to wait if the rain would let up. It didn't, so I ended up walking out in the rain, getting soaked almost instantly. I walked as fast as I can, but it was tricky going down a slippery incline. Squeaking down the large sloping hall and down 2 flights of stairs, I arrived to the freezing cold room soaked, followed by more dripping-wet people. I don't know why everyone [the staff] thought it was so funny, being perfectly dry with their large umbrellas! The assembly is hosted by the CMARC staff to review whatever and anything for the first part, and also to bring in guest speakers from around CMU and wherever to talk about leadership, college, planning, management and all of that good stuff. A guy from CMU Student Services came to talk about leadership, just what I needed. I don't know why everyone in my group thought that my answers were brilliant, I honestly thought that it was obvious.

It was all clear, yet still foggy/cloudy outside after Junior Assembly ended a little late. Electronics was right across the patch of grass in Doherty Hall, so it was a short walk, not enough time to soak in the sun, or lack thereof. This is the coldest classroom ever, yet there is some concept of turning on another fan to allow warm air in? The instructor presented a brief introduction to 555 chips as the TA passes out some reading material. I understood the schematics better today, and was able to get mine working, although smoking 3 LEDs in the process. I thought that it was my fault, but when Kevin came over to check, he noticed that the chip was bad. Mocking the Mac thing "It's not my fault." I had everything right. My fingers smelled like burnt electronics for a while after though. The only good point of being in this freezing classroom was that I finally dried off, although still freezing.

Dinner was the same as lunch, except that I had a Sierra Mist and salad too. I wanted more cantaloupe, and there was plenty, but it looked like it had been sitting there since lunch. After lunch I went back to my room, but ended up falling asleep instead of doing whatever I planned to do. A nap never hurts. Internet surfing and blogging does. That's my cue. Um.. there is a hall meeting in an hour, so I'll head down there in a few and "hit the books" until then. Gah, I hate that term. ::SMACK:: to you SAT Prep!

OMG I just exploded my Coke! At least it's still cold after 3.5 hours.

Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 - The 4th @ Kennywood

I woke up late today, as the buses didn't leave until 11am. Kennywood was a short drive away, no more than 30 minutes. The park is kind of like Six Flags, as they promote traditionalism. I think they are ranked for several different things. The rides and coasters were all pretty great. I went on all of them, except the water rides and Exterminator, which I didn't come across. I went on Phantom, their biggest and only steel coaster, twice. It doesn't beat the Hulk.

I also had a funnel cake, I don't even recall how many years ago I had one, maybe at Lake Lanier that summer? I still can't eat a whole one, regardless of how delicious it was. I also didn't know that LifeSavers made slushees. Delicious, but unfortunately not carbonated.

I took some more pictures of the room and such, but I really need to read these 60 pages of chapter 1 for Master Student and finish up the physics stuff.

Presents!

Pics from the Past Few Days

The Room

My Cave
My Desk
The Closet

Tuesday, July 3, 2007 - Quite Eventful

What a day!

Started off the morning as usual. Left Hamerschlag around 8:15am and ate my regular bagel in the Cafe as usual, toasted exactly to my liking today, as they were self serve. Too bad I mutilated my bagel, only to find out that there was a bagel slicer on the other side when I got to the toaster.

Conceptual Math was in the computer cluster in Baker Hall for the lab. Of course, there was an issue with everyone's login information and passwords, as the numbers printed on the sheets were ALL incorrect. We tried every combination. Finally giving up, he sent us all over to the Tech Help Desk in Cyert Hall, where there was another batch of students looking to get their passwords corrected. They knew the issue right a way and could change it within a matter of seconds. Getting back to Baker in like 5 or so minutes, there was only 15 minutes of class left, so he quickly gave us the Cognative Tutor CDs and walked through the first problem and how the program works.

We ended up being just on time to the Master Student class, which was in Margret Morrison. We started off with a non-verbal communication activity, which involved sorting everyone by birthday month and date without speaking. Amazing how flawless some were, and others - clueless. After analyzing and reviewing, there we were split into 6 permanent groups. From there, it was like kindergarten again, we got to draw our names and pictures on a name plate to introduce ourselves. Actually, we were introduced by someone else after they asked a set of designated questions. Then reviewing what everyone had in common, she went into what the course would be about blah blah blah...it's an okay class, no sweat, nothing much to think/worry about. It should get interesting.

Lunch was pretty good today. Well, everything except for the Nachos. They looked a little better today, but the cheese was just so weird. It's indescribable. I had fries and a salad otherwise, which there was no problem with. Well, except for the fact that they ran out of ketchup as soon as I got up there. Tragic. I just went back about 5 minutes later and got some when it was refilled. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, there is an hour and a half lunch, so I had a ton of time to enjoy the Internet and catch up again.

Physics was cool again today as Frankie warmed up to the class, and we warmed up to him. It didn't move quite as fast as yesterday, but fast enough not to get bored, yet still keep you on your toes. Chris came in and mentioned that he would have the rulers and such for the activities from 6-8, and that today would be a good day to go, so most of us agreed to go.

Electronics was pretty much the same as usual, but I kind of did something more understandable today, measuring the frequency and amplitude of a circuit with a resistor and capacitor. Still a little lost, like everyone else.

Dinner was also pretty good today too. I had a hot dog and fries, along with a cookie that I should have gotten more than one of. After dinner I went to my room, interneted a little while, and then went in search of Schaife Hall for the review session.

I found it rather quickly, although it takes FOREVER to get there, and it really does look like a potato chip. It took me more time than it should have to find the elevator/stairs, but I eventually did, thinking that it was a restroom at first. Schaife Hall is actually the MechE building, but it just seemed so small. There were about 7 people already in the classroom when I arrived around 6:30, and they had already measured the distance across the room for one of the activities. I reviewed some of the material quickly to see if there was anything that I had a question about, but it was pretty clear. I recorded the measurements and times for someone else, and they did the same for me. After gathering all of my info, I listened to the TA finish reviewing some more formulas, wrote them down, and left, as I could probably work faster at my desk, not in a cold classroom with a 12"x8"desk.

Jessika walked back with me, but we ended up getting somewhat lost going back. We thought that we could cut across somewhere, yet there was construction, so a lot of the pass-throughs were closed. We found the back on Wean Hall, got on an elevator, but it turns out that there really aren't any exits accessible from that elevator. So, hiking back up the windy incline, we see the back of Hamerschlag Hall. Entering the building, there is no apparent way out. I decide to turn back around and walk all the way through Porter and Baker, as I know those ways will at least lead my back the right way, and I didn't feel like getting lost again. Jessika goes the other way. She ended up beating me by like 2 minutes, but I still wouldn't have wanted to take the risk of getting lost.

When I get back I go back to more computing, still catching up on what I've missed in the world, with no TV or Internet for 3 days. At 8:30 there was a staff talent show, The 43rd Annual Staff (NO) Talent Show. The Spice Girls reunited first on our stage, with Shorty Spice replacing Sporty Spice. Then there was Bangra (sp?) dancing, a very odd monologue, The Pre-College Counselor band, composed of a guy with a guitar and a guy with drums made with garbage cans, a collapsible shopping cart, a footstool covered in foil, and a few other odds and ends, which was actually didn't sound too bad, except for the song that seemed like it was made up on the spot. Two of the SAMS RAs sang "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" to Jessica, very dramatically, but entertaining. Then came the Backstreet Boys, also singing to two of the other Pre-College RAs, performing their hits "Larger Than Life" and "I Want It That Way". The host made a ton of jokes about the mentalist guy from the first night. Probably the funniest part.

After the (UN)Talent Show, the after party was held in he lounge of Hamerschlag for both SAMS and Pre-College. It was pretty cool, I stayed for the whole thing. I don't feel like as much out of the loop anymore, as I knew most of the songs and dances to go along (although I couldn't do them). Gemma is a great DJ. I REALLY need to learn how to dance...like now. A few guys were like "Noelle, you better be at the next one...on the floor! Or else I'll drag you out there!" Yeah right. Maybe? No. Eh...we'll see. I'm not pop locking and dropping it, that's for sure! I'm content with people watching and listening to the music, but dancing might be fun?

I paid for my Kennywood ticket at some point during the night while signing in. Then back to people watching. The Pre-College kids left to go back to Morewood to make their curfew, but the party still went on! It ended with some Reggaeton, and then finally a few old school songs (candy girl and some 80's rap) before it was all over around 12ish.

Kennywood tomorrow!

Monday, July 2, 2007 - It's Like The First Day of School Again

Started the day to the sound of “Speedy Way”, or for those of you that aren’t LG C3100 owners, my cell phone alarm, which was shortly followed by my regular alarm clock. Record bed-jumping out of time. I really can’t stand the sound of that as an alarm, so it always makes me get up. Showering in a stall was an, um…unique experience. I could barely move, and my bathrobe almost got wet trying to take it off. I thought that there would be some form of competition to get to the shower, but I guess they are all lazy goats that don’t care to wake up early since there was no one there when I got there. About an hour later I am walking to breakfast, not too bad today. If they have bagels everyday, I’ll be happy.

Off to the first class, Conceptual Mathematics, or Integrated Math III. I barely remembered anything from the tour, but I assumed that it was on the second level since the number started with a 2. All of the schedules stated “2258”, yet the classroom was 225B. Even the teacher, Mr. Baker, was confused at first. He plops down two boxes and a book on top. The book looks to be the teacher’s edition of something, but it was actually the students’. That book is almost like 3 inches across the spine. There really wasn’t any math or anything academic today, but just general/introduction review instead. He is a pretty down to earth guy. Labs are every Tuesday and Thursday, which means that we don’t have to lug around those huge books every day. We are supposed to be receiving some sort of interactive CD to go along with the Cognitive Tutor course. He ended up letting us out really early, as there was nothing left to discuss.

SAT Prep was in Porter Hall, C18A. Somehow we landed in A22, thinking that it was the right place. There was a whole number mixup before anyway. We were there early, so it didn’t really matter, as several others also realized that we were in the wrong room. She was nice and helped us find the instructor of the other class, and from there she lead us to the room. We received two Princeton Review SAT books. The Manual for the SAY and 11 Practice Tests for the SAT & PSAT. The instructor told us that the test scores from yesterday would arrive some time during the class, and from there we could review. She talked a bit about the actual test and introducing some basic SAT, non-knowledge required information. Then, someone walked in with a large envelope…our scores. People started clapping and cheering, although I don’t know why. I don’t think anyone had thrilling scores. She called everyone up one by one to pick up their score reports, and congratulated me on my essay score, although I don’t consider a 9 that impressive, especially being that I didn’t finish the essay. I had a 1535 total, which isn’t much, but I can only work harder and study more to improve my score. I want over 2100, but I will be content with 1950 or higher, I guess. There was commentary on my essay, things that I already knew like, work faster, end paragraphs better, and to stress the topic more. Yeah, I didn’t finish, they can stop rubbing it in. We went over some of their patented techniques, such a POE (Process of Elimination), POOD (Personal Order of Difficulty), Ballparking, and another one. There was also the tale of Joe Bloggs, the average student that falls into all of ETS’ traps. The whole story has a sarcastic overtone. It’s somewhat of a lighten-upper. I can think of better ways to spend 2 hours a day, or even self studying faster with these books now, but if what they promise, at least a 200 point increase in all levels, is true, then it would be worth it.

Skipped lunch at the Café today and looked to see if Pepperazi, the pizza place in the University Center was open. It wasn’t and only Taste of India was. But downstairs Si Senor was open. I was going to get the chicken fingers + fries, but something told me to try the tacos. They were cheaper too. The way that they were arranged looked tasty, but it really wasn’t. We went to sit outside, since it was such a beautiful day. When I open up the container, there is a mote of greasy stuff surrounding my tacos. The first bite in and my fingers are orange with more greasiness. It was okay, I’m sure better than whatever they were serving for lunch today, but still not satisfying. I have yet to eat something that has been more than just okay since I’ve been here. Their tacos are weird too. A ton of cheese goes in first, followed by a little lettuce, and then a ton of low grade beef. I chose to opt-out on the sauces. When I was finished, the bottom of the container was completely covered with like a .25 inch layer of that stuff. I think I’ll get the chicken fingers next time. I stopped at Entropy to buy a soda because it was 11 cents cheaper than buying it from Si Senor or from a vending machine.

Off to Doherty Hall for Physics. It took a while to find A200, but when we did, it was nothing like expected. First, I thought it smelled a little smoky, and the hallway was very dusty, but it turns out that there was construction being done, and there was a small fire. Very close to, maybe even in, the hallway. Therefore, this meant that we could not go to class until they finished blowing all of the smoke/dust out and cleaned up. We waited in front of the door in the dusty hallway for like 10 minutes until a TA told us to go to the other Physics class for a few minutes until they could clean up everything. The class moved pretty quickly when we got to it, starting off with vectors, velocity, speed, and acceleration. Mr. Frankie Li, still don’t know exactly what to call him, had to leave, so the TA, Chris, took over and assigned a few fairly simple review problems.

Electronics was in A200 also, as I could already see with the oscilloscopes, multimeters, protoboards, and signal generators already set up. He started off with an odd, brief introduction, and then drew a circuit on the board, explained it a little bit, and told us to create it on the protoboard. Most, probably all, people didn’t have a clue what they were doing, including me. The teacher and TA (I forgot their names) go around and help everyone individually, but it is still a really awkward learning environment. I figured it out somewhat with the help of the Lab Sheet, which could have practically been in Japanese, but the class finally ended.

I didn’t feel like going to dinner and eating soggy food, so I ventured out into the city looking for something. Found a pizza place, Maximum Flavor, but the flavor definitely wasn’t maximum. It was okay, and I’ll probably be returning, because it is cheap, and they have a pretty good selection of everything.

I return, read a few chapters of Physics and SAT Prep, do a few things on my computer, and then retire for the night early. 11:30. I haven’t been to bed that early in like forever.

Sunday, July 7, 2007 - What's Next?

I woke up before my alarm sounded this morning. Very uncomfortable sleep, I don’t know how I’ll make it through the next 6 weeks waking up like that every morning. I was still as tired, maybe even more, than I was when I went to sleep. There isn’t anything scheduled for Juniors today until the SAT Diagnostic at 2. I don’t think that there is much additional studying that I can do besides reading a dictionary or something. The seniors had a math diagnostic today to place them into either pre-calculus or calculus. It was pretty quiet around here after 9:40. Around 10:15 I decided to take a stroll to the bookstore, not realizing that it didn’t open until 11am today. So I had to walk all the way back to the dorm, passing by at least 100 or so other Pre-College kids. CMU has been taken over. On my way out of Hamerschlag, a parent was leaving the dorm and asked me if I could wait and open the door for her because she forgot something in her car. Sure, just because I’m that nice of a person. On my way back up the stairs, I misjudged the distance between the step and my foot, thus slamming my first two toes on my right foot into a nice slab of concrete. This hurts more than the fall yesterday. I’ve stumped my toes on the chairs in the room at least 4 times since I’ve been here. At this rate, I won’t have any feet by the time I get back.

Arriving back to the dorm empty handed, I stop in the lounge instead of going straight up to my room to watch some guys play pool. Someone picked up a table tennis paddle, so I made my way over there, securing next. It was a pretty good game, especially with the guy saying that he never played before…suuuure. I got tired of playing, and still dead tired from the day before, so I went back up to my room to rest for a few and ended up taking an hour nap. I actually slept well and it made up for the lack of sleep in the last 72 hours.

Waking up refreshed, I headed back out to the bookstore, since it was now around 12. I trekked back over there, and once I got inside, I was completely lost. A lot of nice stuff, but nothing that I needed at the moment. I’ll go back over there later this summer and buy a t-shirt or something. I figured out that the books must be downstairs, since there was only clothing and school pride-ish stuff upstairs, so I went down there, and sure enough…books! I found the Conceptual Physics book right away, and had to ask for help to find the Master Student book. $141.71 - $100 in PlaidCa$h. I stopped by Entropy, like a convenience store, on the way back and bought a Mountain Dew and Fritos. That has to be the best Mountain Dew that I’ve ever had. I think I am addicted to carbonation, and not really the flavor…I don’t really know, just that sodas have brought be much pleasure in the last 2 days.

I think I’ll head downstairs now, as something should be starting soon…ahh Lunch

1:50am:

There is something that I would like to introduce as the CMU Diet. Now this has nothing to do with actual exercising or restricted eating, but simply the environment here at CarNAYgee Melin. I know that the school is old and whatnot, but they’re supposed to be on the cutting edge of technology…weren’t elevator installations big in the mid-20^th century? I haven’t seen a single one yet. I guess the hilly terrain is partially to blame, but there are stairs everywhere! So trekking across campus each day, up and down many sets and flights of stairs, combined with the gagalicious food from the Carnegie Mellon Café, I should lose at least 5-10 pounds within the next 6 weeks. I can’t even begin to explain how bad the food is there, but I can’t complain…because it’s free. For brunch I had mushy, soggy, cold potatoes that were beyond disgusting and weirdly seasoned, which I soaked in ketchup to make it palatable, and then cold, soggy/stale waffles that even the most syrup couldn’t help. I ate some to just eat something and not have it go to waste, but there was no way that I could finish any of it. They have Pepsi fountains (eww), so I guess I’ll be drinking Mountain Dew or Wild Cherry, if they have it, all summer.

The SAT practice test was long. The test experts are right when they say that most of the test is not knowledge, but the ability to concentrate for like 4 hours of monotonous examinations. I didn’t get to finish my essay, I had like two sentences left, but I hope that it won’t affect my score too badly. I was a bit uncomfortable with the topic…darn those lofty-worded SAT-style questions, but I came up with something and managed to use a few metaphors, quotes, and real life examples. I wrote almost a page about how the common saying “the early bird gets the worm” is symbolic of how people create barriers for themselves because of competition. Math was the first section after writing, and it was really the first time that I’ve had to think since exams in May. I was a bit slow and rusty on the first part, and didn’t finish, but I finished, to the best of my ability, almost every section after once I got into the swing of things. I got really freaked out after the first part because there were 40 multiple choice spots, but I only got 16 done. But then when I went back and looked at the test, I realized that there were only 20 questions in that section. A bit of relief. The writing/grammar section was fun. With each question I could hear Theiss’ voice or Gustavo correcting someone as if they had the answer wrong, in the background, and then followed by a reason. Something like “You have to use a comma twice because it’s a parenthetical expression!” for Theiss and “It’s has, not have BITCH!” for Gustavo. I giggled a few times, but I’m pretty sure about most of my answers in that section. Reading parts were boring as usual, but I got through it. Some were a bit tricky, but they’re supposed to be, right? I know most of the material, but I just have to work on pacing and speed. During the last sections, 9 & 10, this music started blasting from outside all of the sudden. First some reggae, and then something that sounded like hip hop. It was the type of annoying sound that is similar to a car going by that is blasting music, but you are curious of what it really is. I’ll explain this later.

A few more flights of stairs and a 5 minute walk later accompanied by O Fortuna and the Sesame Street theme song coming from somewhere out of the blue, and I am in line at the Café. I made conversation with a few girls from the 1^st floor, and I actually wasn’t being anti-social or reclusive or everything that people think that I am. There is a long line for dinner, a little out of the door, but it moved pretty quickly. We made it to the front, grabbed a tray, fork, knife, napkins, straw, set my SAT book and calculator on the tray only to find that it was wet. Well, not anymore. Another long line, passing the untouched Nachos, Sandwich Bar, stale pizza, and untouched looks-in-the-process-of-changing-form toppings. There was a fresh pizza square as soon as we got up to the line, so luckily I got the first piece. The main courses were pasta and some other pasta-ish casserole thing, along with hot dogs and hamburgers as usual. The meat looked funny in the pasta with meat sauce, so I just got the watery marinara instead. I saw that there was a nice chocolate cake in the desserts section and grabbed a piece, and topping it all off with the usual Dew. Next time, I’ll get a piece of fruit or something from the bin in the middle.

Starting off with the pizza, I figured that it couldn’t be that bad, and nothing worse than Royal Caribbean’s pizza. It wasn’t. Definitely not the best I’ve had…but it’s near the bottom. The pasta was watery and tasteless just as I expected, with a weird spicy, sour kick occasionally. And the cake was okay, it just tasted like chocolate pudding for some reason lol.

A few of the Pre-College counselors stood up on tables and announced that everyone must come to Playfair immediately following dinner or else they will die and regret the opportunity, so unaware of what was to come, we headed back to the dorm and changed into comfortable, movable clothes. We headed back to the lounge and waited until everyone was ready to go and headed out to the College of Fine Arts lawn in a huge SAMS group, as usual. When we arrived, music was blasting (that’s where it was coming from before) and most of the other Pre-College students were already there, some still trickling in. All of the RAs got together and started cheering and dancing a lot for no apparent reason and started this huddle tunnel thing. Basically it was a long line where everyone had to run through, high-fiving and screaming with everyone that you pass, and then standing at the end being on the opposite end of the high five. The line/tunnel started to get really long by the time we got to the “entrance” and we had to stop a few times because of the congestion. About 500-600 students made quite a huge line to get through. When everyone made their way through, we were asked to join hands…tightly. From the end with the RA’s, they ran inside the circle, everyone else following through. It’s really hard to explain, but it was crazy keeping up. It somehow ended with the main chain clashing into another end, even though there really wasn’t an end any longer.

There were a few ice breaker type games, most about finding people with common interests and such. I met a few people from Facebook and someone from Team 25. The highlights included the standing ovation, the chair circle, various chains, and the backwards dance thing. The standing ovation is some sort of CMU tradition where if you are anywhere on campus, and anytime, and you are feeling down, or you need to be recognized or feel special, you can yell out “I WANT A STANDING OVATION” and everyone around you, regardless of what they are doing, stands up and claps for you, along with the 5 nearest people around you hoisting you up in the air on their shoulders. This should be interesting at random moments. The circle chair involved getting into a group with all of the people from your birthday month, and forming some type of interlocking circle where you sat on the person behind you, somewhat squatting, and the person in front of you sat on you. It actually worked. Because it is a circle, the weight it supposed to be distributed equally. We did it in both directions, but it was…well weird…how often does some complete stranger sit on your lap? Cool nonetheless. Finally, the backwards dance was when you found a partner through having something random in common, and then standing back to back, joined locked at the elbow/arms. Then, music came on and you would have to dance. It was really awkward and weird, especially when there is a 6ftsomething tall guy standing behind you with their butt protruding into your back, but it was still kind of fun. Every so often they would yell out switch, and you would find a new partner, never being “alone” and untangled. Therefore it took 4 people to switch.

There was an ice cream social afterwards, but all of the SAMS students went on an academic building tour first. We were split into two groups, Juniors and Seniors, and one group was almost exponentially, well not quite exponentially, but quite a bit larger than the other. 33 to 69. Since our group was small, we got to know each other fairly quickly. The buildings were, well just buildings and classrooms. A lot of the hallways are sloped and interestingly designed. Very cool architecture. We were showed where all of our classrooms were, but after Porter Hall ( only the second one lol) I could barely keep track of the different classes and such. Then, after numerous other building and running around, I could barely keep track of where we were. SO MANY STAIRS! It eventually ended and we went to the Underground, under Morewood for ice cream. A few of us just ate and headed back, as it had already been quite a long day, although it is 2:14am and I’m not exactly sleeping, as I should be. There is a full day of classes tomorrow though, so I guess I should…

Ugh, I have to climb all the way up to my bed. I suppose that’s another unintentional part of the CMU Diet Plan. It’s going to be a fun summer after all! Hope has been restored.