Let's look on the BRIGHTSIDE.

If it were up to me, I could bitch and moan about chemistry for quite a while.

Perhaps the most succinctly my sentiments have ever been put manifests in the words of the anonymous veterans of organic chemistry lab, as they remain etched for eternity on a lab table:"I hate chemistry." "i know. this is 4 smart people." "FUCK you."

And truly, I think I'm just a complainer. I just whine. It's something I find reaaaaallly annoying about myself.

But instead: I shall think happy thoughts -- these will probably revolve around food.

1) I had a shawarma today. I love shawarmas. I love Basha's.

2) I bought clementines (SEEDLESS) at Provigo yesterday.

3) Provigo now sells Wheetabix.

4) How I Met Your Mother is hilarious.

5) I am alive.

6) My laptop still works (I had a brief laptop-Darjeeling tea water damage scare, from which my wonderful machine recovered unscathed).

7) The cashier at DeSerres not only didn't judge my love of Legos but bought the exact helicopter model I wanted the day before.

8) I'm American. This is not a statement about Canadians or other nationalities. It's just that I've never experienced for myself that stigma that can come with being American outside of the America. Identifying myself as "American" has so many different meanings. I was born and raised in America. And despite my predisposition for complaining, I've really had a great 18 years of life so far, with few real actual hardships and many white whines. I am not embarrassed to say I'm American. And right now, I am basking happily in the notoriety of being American. America represent, yo.

9) I'm in FREAKING Montreal.

10) I don't have to wear pants in my dorm room.

11) I'm in my dorm room.

12) I can read and write.

13) You can read 12) and take a moment to realize the profundity of that statement.

14) Or not.

15) Brandon Flowers was born.

This is what organic chemistry does to me.

So down in the dumps that I'm ready to become rather intoxicated and wail Beatles songs at a bar on Open Mic night until I'm pulled off the stage.

i'm sad

i need to be comforted

let's get drunk

listen to the Beatles for anything

why listen when i can sing?

but i need an audience.

chemistryyyyyyy.

you treat me like a toy

i put so much effort into making this work

and you just laugh at me

you're just too complicated

too fucked up inside

you need to see someone

a shrink. God. a Beatles concert.

Causation: Pen Ink...Pages Used...Notes Taken.

Midterms are finally...over! So...onto my first college paper (!) and DUNDUNDUN *finals*

But after having had to handwrite so many notes for orgo while studying and having to type so many psych lectures (for $$), I'm tired, so I'll just show you pictures of this awesome specialty paper/pen store on Parc. I love this place...though it's too pricy for me, once in a while I'll splurge. Good place for gifts too.

Look at the timestamp. This was so long ago. Those pens are long-out-of-ink. So are my second batch which were Pilot Precise V7s. Right now I'm using a Pilot Hi-Tecpoint V5. It's so great.

I pretty much know I'm being a bore. This blog is kind of crappy IMO. But I don't feel like writing about all the drama llamas and every little thing that happens because 1) I'm lazy, 2) I'm so afraid of being judged by people who I have to deal with on a daily basis, 3) I'm lazy.

Alleviating Stress: the PSYC 100 Way

First -- HAPPY HALLOWEEN Weekend! I would usually party it up...but...I don't feel like it this year. And I have some hardcore studying to do. I think I give off the impression on my blog that I study a lot more than I do in real life. Besides, I had my fun on Thursday night when I saws Far East Movement -- will post some concert stuff later. (HEART)

I want to make a jack-o-lantern! D:

October is (was?) a very stressful month for me.

What does psychology say about relieving stress (1)?

1) Social support and social network -- how am I supposed to have time for social interaction when I'm at the library force-feeding lectures into my ears --> inner ear --> cochlear --> cilia --> thalamus --> auditory cortex (2)?

2) Leading a meaningful life -- HAHHHHHHHHHH.

3) Exercise -- No time because of studying/busy-ness.

4) Writing/expressing feelings -- No time because of studying/busy-ness.

Super vicious cycle, non? But I will go back to that good vibes cycle I had going on in September. It's all a matter of time management and efficient learning (positive reinforcement, elaborative learning, etc.) (3).

------------------------------------

Just let me eat cake. (4)

My friend's friend's cousin owns this great bakery place called Arhoma where I bought the delicious choco dessert above. It sells truffles, beautifully constructed pastries, amazing breads, an assortment of cheeses, etc. I think it's quite apparent that I will be back.

P.S. One of my friends thinks I take unnecessary photos. But she's obviously wrong. And jealous of my amazing photography skills and ability to document my experiences. Duh.

Footnotes/Citations! HAHA

(1)I was studying for psych 100 and reading the chapter about biopsychosocial model of health or something, Chapter 10

(2) Chapter 5 Perception and Sensation

(3) Chapter 6 Learning, Chapter 7 Attention and Memory

(4) Chapter 10...Emotional Eating section

Things that kind of suck

1) Pandora.com doesn't work in Canada.

2) Lack of human interaction in my 600+ classes. I really am just another student ID number.

3) Not having time to update my blog, or read, or learn things outside of class, or keep up with all my classes for that matter.

4) Having to resort to coffee, Powerade, and various energy drinks (Red Rain, ftw, it's the cheapest) in order to stay up and get work done -- I guess that's just a part of college life that I ought to get used to.

Caption: Late night coffee run. You see that guy posing? I don't know why he was posing, but I figured it was photo-worthy. If you stand like that, you're asking to be photographed.

Teeheeeeeeeeeeeeee. Energy...Epic photo-editing, right, right, right?! Okay, not really, but the background was the inside of my lampshade.

5) Realizing that being in college means I am totally not seen as a kid anymore (oh yeah, I guess turning 18 also has that effect -- in a legally binding sort of way). I remember the first time I ate a watermelon seed. I was absolutely terrified. I was certain that a watermelon plant was going to start growing in my stomach, because plants grow in moist conditions with lots of nutrients, right? Every time I pooped, I checked to see if the seed had left my body too. I'm pretty sure my parents didn't do anything to ease my terror...they were totally enjoying my anxiety, "oh yeah, of course watermelons will grow in your stomach." I want some of that childishness to remain - the creativity and freedom a kid has when unhindered by "facts." Gah. Note to self: buy Legos asap.

But let's end on a non-sucky note. Look what I made while studying for bio!

Tick Tock

Wake up in the morning feeling like I need coffee

Grab my glasses out the door, gonna hit up the library

Before I leave, brush my teeth, load up the backpack.

‘Cause when I leave for the books, I ain’t coming back...

Why are there no White Castles in Montreal?

Juss' wondering.

Memo: Microchip Request

So uh, hey. It'd be nice if someone could just, uhm, do me a favor and invent a brain-installable micro(nano, if it's not too much trouble)chip with organic chemistry info.

No big -- I don't even need all the complex info yet, just up to stereochemistry, I would say? That seems doable, yeah? That'd be good.

Oh-- and make sure it's all applicable stuff, you know. I don't want it to only work with memory, but not with critical thinking.

Thanks, need it before 7:00PM tomorrow.

Regards,

J. McGillee

This is not a food blog. I just eat a lot.

Midterms this week = I am dying.

...but not of starvation.

I'll show you my day:

1) Write rough draft of lab report on recrystallization.

2) Go shopping at Provigo -- yogurt dip, flax seed, roasted red pepper dip

3) Eat at Cora's with a friend. I've heard that this place is a Montreal breakfast place. I guess the American equivalent is IHoP -- except this place is way better.

Top: What I had (omelette) Bottom: What my friend had (eggs benedict)

4) Study for seven to eight hours at Schulich Library of Science and Engineering!

a) listen to 4-5 lectures --- about 3 to 4 hours.

b) take 3-hr biol 200 death quiz --- about 1 and a half hour.

c) research and write Journalism for Human Rights article about Iranian Adultery case -- all remaining time - 15 minutes.

d) start to edit friend's report before deciding to be hungry -- 15 minutes

5) Eat at Guido Angelina's with friends.

Bottom: One of my friends had this for dessert...of course I taste-tested it!

6) Psychoanalyze people through what they have on their Facebook profiles.

7) Blog

a) Make a list of some of the topics I have written down for later:

i) My Promise Signed by Muhammad Yunus

ii) Canadian Collegiate Football

iii) Being a Spelling Nazi in a Different Country

iv) Awkward Occurrences

v) People Who Don't Remember Your Name

vi) Getting Rid of People

vii) Funny Things My Professors Say*

viii) Frosh? Because I've never really addressed it.

ix) Cultural Differences

x) Merely for the sake of ending on an x.

*This will be a recurring post, I think.

Insider Scoop: Rain Custom of the Natives of Montreal

In a land where precipitation occurs trop souvent, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 PM when I must trek up a hill to get to my class in the Stewart Biology Building (not exaggerating), I have observed that natives use a protective shade on a stick that they fondly call "paraplouie," or "umbrella" to block the rain. It seems that there is an assortment of these umbrellas which range in size, shape, color, and design. From my observations, I have determined that these natives have attributed great cultural significance to their rain attire and umbrellas. I believe they act as status symbols. An umbrella with rows of "CCCCCCCCCCCC" seems to indicate wealth -- or at least, American obnoxiousness.

Whoever you are, I hope you don't mind that I took a picture of you with your adorable umbrella.

Social Psychology: Dealing with Bad Breath

If you are talking to someone with bad breath:

So freaking valuable...oh, and my TI-89.

1) Exit the conversation. (Yeah, I can write another whole post on the "how-tos" of exiting.)

2) Ask if he/she would like a piece of gum...insist by exaggerating the positive side effects of the gum. "No, thank you." "Oh, please, it'll make your boobs grow bigger/muscles jack up."

3) Create a radius of 5ft distance. Excuse? You have a highly contagious disease. (Good excuse for exiting conversations as well)

4) If of the opposite sex, you can always leave for the washroom and just stay there for a while...or escape through another door/window if that desperate.

Tired...pho' real.

I've been swamped. I made a beautiful time sheet that is filled with blocks of study time and eating time and shower time and more eating time and sleeping time and you know, an occasional class.

In the meanwhile, you can look at this beautiful picture of pho that I had for the first time in Chinatown on Saturday! It's so delish.

ALL I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY IS MORE FOLLOWERS.

To whom it may concern:

Today is my 18^th birthday – which means I can legally drink alcohol at school events, though not in my hometown.

Caption: What I can legally buy from Provigo...

But more importantly, it means I can use Google Adsense.

…I know ads are unattractive. No one more than I is aware of the blemish that I am willing to smash across the face of my blog (say what?). But I have to tell you that…in all honesty, this was one of my original intentions.

One day in late July, as I watched TV and drooled on a couch while dying of sweat from the disgusting climate of northern New Jersey in the summer, I thought to myself that I should really try to make money to pay for school and that the “easiest” way to do so was to start a blog since I like to write and I like talking about myself. Fat chance I was going to get a short-term job (no one replies to me, tear tear) and I knew wouldn’t be able to work (off-campus) in Canada without studying here for at least 6 months first.

Tuition as an international student is significantly greater than that of a Canadian, and even greater in comparison to the tuition of a lucky Quebecois, though still considerably less than the tuition of a private liberal arts college in the U.S. But it’s easier to get financial aid from a private LAC in the US.

And it’s not a particularly good time to burden my family with college bills. The whole situation, I’ll leave unsaid. Despite what seems to be my lack of self-sacrifice for my family, I…may…actually…ahem, care give a damn about them. My pride or something-or-other gets in the way of that a lot. There are times when I’ll feel like washing the dishes just to unburden my parents of one chore (ooh big deal, shut up, it is), but I will never volunteer myself without first having been solicited. And if I do the dishes, I’ll do them when my parents aren’t looking. It’s weird. I don’t want them to know or something. Anyway, I want to lift the burden a little by having income.

Yeah, I’m a dreamer, but I do hope I will make more than a few cents with this blog. If I can cover any part of my tuition, hey meal plan, that’s a shitload of money that can go towards increasing their standard of living, and of my sisters’. …Or more realistically, if I can cover a daily cup of coffee or some dress I want to buy, then it’s a cup of coffee or dress or whatever that doesn’t go on the family credit card. Okay…fine, if I can buy a can of soup a month…that’s a can of soup that my parents didn’t pay for…

But for that to happen, I really need you. And that’s why, for my birthday, I’m asking for followers, and I’m asking for an audience. I’m sorry that I have to violate this space with advertisements, but I’ll try to make them unobtrusive. And in all honesty, who really notices them anyway?

Fondly,

J. McGillee

P.S. I'm extremely proud of the fact that my birthday is the Autumn Equinox and this year, it falls the day after the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival/Moon Festival--yay for mooncake--as well.

Caption: downtown Montreal from campus...Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Look at the moon!

P.P. S. As you've noticed, I have delusions of grandeur...but what writer (or blogger) would continue writing without such delusions?

Science of Lecture Hall Seating

Sorry for late post. I have to pretend I have a life by not updating consistently. Updating consistently obviously demonstrates that I have nothing better to do than to write blog posts and doesn't demonstrate that I am a responsible and well-organized person.

From my short time here at McGill that is actually spent in class -- spent mostly in the impersonal confines of Leacock 132, I have learned much from...what the prof is saying (of course...) and from having the freedom of choosing where to sit.

It's the small things like choosing where to sit in lecture halls that people never tell you about college. And it's the small things about cultures that give them distinct personalities. I think that's why it's so difficult to learn culture from history books and much easier to learn from cultural fiction or from anecdotal history...but that's a little off-track.

Anyway, I've decided to share with y'all what I've learned so far about seating choice:

1. Sit behind people with Macbooks because the time is conveniently displayed in the top-right corner.

2. Don't sit behind someone playing a game or watching videos...you will start watching.

3. Do sit next to the attractive, potential future "study" buddy -- and get his (or her) number.

4. Look down to make sure no one left a carton of open chocolate milk beneath the seat.

5. Also check that there is a writing desk. Some of the Leacock 132 seats don't have writing desks just because they were broken and never replaced. And if you're a lefty, like me, get the aisle seat.

6. You have to know how to maximize the comfort of choosing an aisle seat. If you get to class early and choose an aisle seat before the row is filled, you are going to get up five-million times while everyone else fills the row. If you come too late, the aisle seats will be taken. Good luck with your timing. I'm sure it's a function of preference of aisle seats/total number in class, number of minutes it takes to get to seats, etc., etc.

7. Come much earlier for better seat selection (if seat selection is that important to you) if you know there's no class before your class. If there is a class before your class, you'll have to wait outside the room with the other 30-750 students in your class. 30's not so bad. 750 is.

Self-diagnosis: I like to sit in the side-seats of the center rows of the center section for 1) easy exit access and 2) central view of PPT and professor. I seem to select for older students because I've met a disproportionate number of U3 students -- which makes me sad because those are the people I like and they're all graduating. Yes, I admit, most of the ones I talk to are guys because girls are scary and I have lower expectations of guys. Ageist and sexist, eh? (<-- Hah! See what I did there for all you Americans...)

Bathrooms 101

Uh. I have lots to say, but I'm not in the mood to write it all out, so I'll just write a quick post on public toilets...which I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about later on.

1. Public restrooms are known as "washrooms."

2. Leacock & Stewart Bio & Brown Student Center bathrooms have weak automatic hand dryers. It'll take an eternity to dry your hands. I'll let you know about the other buildings if I ever "go" in them.

3. Did you know that 59% of people check email from the bathroom? Yeah, seriously, check it out.

4. There's a bathroom stall that I will take a picture of and {PLACE HERE} -- when I remember to.

Let's Address the Word "Uncensored"

1. Knowing that people I know and that McGillians read my blog makes me very self-conscious, and thus, self-censored. If I say something like I think I have a thing for Egyptians, then I'll scare away every single Egyptian I've met. Strangers are dangerous, not scary. And so, I like the anonymity that comes in a relationship between a blog writer and a reader not acquainted with the writer.

2. "Uncensored" makes my blog sound very dangerous and I have a very non-scandalous, and yes, dare I say, boring life.

3. I don't want to be honest to the point which jeopardizes my relationship with others or causes trouble because 1) I'm a pansy and scared shitless of not being "good" 2) I like leaving a bit of myself to those who I can truly be intimate with (in a close friend sort of way). I'm not going to bitch and moan about other people except in the privacy of my own journal. See here -- fired bloggers.

4. I'm too lazy to actually dig up content that makes this blog exciting. This blog is about my life, and it's here for me to vent in. I'm not going to become some undercover journalist who exposes the corruptions and scandals in bureaucracy and life at McGill. It sounds exciting in theory, but like I said, pansy, scared shitless, and lazy.

5. I just like ending in 5 points. Oh, and, at least I'm being honest about my lack of transparency instead of pretending to increase transparency...AHEM COUGH. I'm not political.

Where should I begin?

I've tried very hard to start several posts this week, but I have so much to say, and so little ability to organize it all into coherent, well-thought out blog posts.

But since, the longer I wait before posting, the more overwhelmed I am with new experiences, I figure I should pause somewhere and get some of it out in my random incoherent bits.

Classes began on Wednesday September 1st-- so the first week of school is essentially three days. To further pad my transition to university, Labor Day is Monday -- so next school week is four days. I was pretty happy with my classes and when they were. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, my first class is at 2:35. I figured I would like this schedule because I had always woken up past respectable hours when I had been at home...but ever since arriving to Montreal, I've been able to wake up (without an alarm!) between 7:50AM and 8:30AM.

I love the mornings here because the streets are never empty. People are already rushing around, walking briskly, holding the paper and their morning coffees in their hands. Cars are already lined up at stoplights where people anxiously wait to cross.

And nights don't end until 3AM either. If I choose to do so, I could be at any number of lounges or clubs or bars or restaurants.

This is such an amazing city...and it has so much more to share. I haven't explored very much of it yet, but having tasted it, I want more. It's kind of like entering your favorite restaurant with an empty stomach. You take in the aroma and the general atmosphere, and you can't stop yourself from drooling at the thought of that dish -- the one that convinces you we live to eat, not eat to live -- in front you.

This seems to be a post on the blander/more serious side, but I think it's because I am still in a state of shock and hit by a stun gun of *NEW* and my personality has not truly rooted here yet. I am still numb and overwhelmed from information overload and just having learned so much (socially) and changed so much within a week -- a week that feels much longer than it was. I know because I check the mail all the time, assuming that I will receive something, but then realizing that it was probably only sent out a few days ago. A few days? Every single day has been brand new.

Anyway, I should probably head down to class...I will update more consistently as soon as I learn how to be efficient (wait a couple hundred years).

Cavewoman

Apparently, I've lived in a cave all my life (according to one of my Frosh leaders -- Frosh being the big school-wide bonding event that takes place the week before classes begin).

And it's so true. One of my high school friends says that I've "leveled up from level 0 to level 15" in a matter of days.

I've learned so much about alcohol -- and I still don't know very much -- there's a steep learning curve for me.

This week -- Frosh Week -- is the week of letting loose and partying and drinking -- kind of to get it out of your system before school starts and whatnot. But for someone who's exhausted just from talking to someone unless it's some really outgoing and approachable person, this week is hard for me.

I wish I could just let loose and try out different personalities -- like my Frosh leader advised, but I still feel so inhibited. Haven't drunk enough yet, I suppose.

And besides, it sucks being a minor during Frosh Week. It seems as if every other 17-year old has a fake ID except for me. Luckily, I got into one of the nicest clubs (Club 737) on Wednesday, but I wasn't so lucky yesterday. I just want to dance~!

Short Post -- Some Things I've Learned

Sorry. Long time no write. Overwhelmed and lazy are not a good combination.

In the meanwhile, let me leave you with 5 pieces of information that I've learned (I'll leave you to guess which are learned from personal experience and which are things I've picked up):

1. Don't sleep with anyone in your residence/dorm because you'll see them for the rest of the year.

2. Tim Horton's is the shit to Canadians.

3. But booze is even more the shit to Canadians.

4. If a guy buys you a drink, yeah, he wants some action in return.

5. McGill is a party school.

FREAKING OUT.

Tomorrow.

5AM -- Begin driving to Montreal.

Apply for study permit at the border!

Arrive at Carrefour Sherbrooke & unload.

Officially change Facebook city status to Montreal!!!!

This is unbelievably weird and nerve-wracking.

I packed for pretty much the whole week.

Tomorrow's the big scary day~~~~~~~~

Updates are coming.

WHY McGILL?

Oh damnit. Sorry about the late post. Planner was just a filler post because I didn't finish writing this one as quickly as I thought I would. Here's a picture of that planner, by the way, from the Barnes and Noble Website*:

I’m still trying to decide on how many posts I want to put up in a week. But I’ve decided that instead of worrying about this, I’ll worry about writing the darned things first.

Plus, I’m currently applying for a Study Permit from Canada which I wanted to do after I got my CAQ (don’t worry if you have no idea what this means – I’ll bitch about it in a later post about international paperwork). It’s a pain in the ass.

And to make things even worse, because my life is obviously so terrible (Joke, let’s keep things relative. I’m not that bad-off), the first draft of this blog post was somehow lost in the sweep when I was trying to kill my laptop’s first viruses ever. I woke up, opened the laptop and had a million pop-ups and weird advertisements about Trojan viruses. “I’m a new virus scanner that you never installed but I found a bunch of Trojans and you need to pay me to get rid of them.” Yeah, okay, virus, you can’t fool me. I’ve had tons before from my older desktop, but I never thought my Toshiba laptop baby would ever have to deal with this crap.

But I’ve been totally off-topic for the first few paragraphs. Let’s rewind.

One of the main differences between applying to an American school and McGill University (I wanted to generalize and say Canadian school, but I only applied to McGill), is that McGill doesn’t require a writing sample, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and all those warm and fuzzy things that make you, the applicant,special, just the way you are. McGill asks for your AP scores, your GPA, your school transcripts, and all the statistics that make you, the applicant, qualified, just the way you are.

And so, perhaps because I feel an emptiness, that something is lacking from such a numbers application, or perhaps because I have discovered a slow-burning, everlasting fondness for my school (eh, well, maybe), I need to compensate (or share my affection) by describing why I chose to apply to McGill – especially since I had so painstakingly explained why Penn, why Yale, why Georgetown, why Swarthmore, why Stanford, why Columbia, why Brown, and why Haverford were all my best fit(s) and first choice(s). Princeton, Harvard, and Dartmouth didn’t give a shit/ask some version of this question because they know why everyone wants to go there (multiple theres). The other Ivies have lower self-esteem.

I wish I had some sort of explanation for why I chose to apply to McGill that would show me off as a person of rational judgment and wise decision-making. But maybe you think I do. Who am I to judge whether my own actions reflected that of a teenager who acts on impulse just because I’m 17 and I know me? All those pleasant explanations for why a person chooses to apply to school – I used them to justify why I chose to attend McGill after I was accepted, when I finally decided to do a little research.

Honestly, I’d never heard of McGill before my first high school varsity debate. This was in September or October of last year, and happened to be hosted at my school. I was a judge, so I basically sat around until I had to attend a debate match and write bullshit comments about each team. Seriously, the debate league in my county has some serious issues to work out – inconsistency of judging ballots from judge to judge, organization, handling of appeals, and letting me judge. Gads. That’s another story for later when I have nothing left to write about McGill and when I have successfully made you all fall in love with me and want to know more about me.

So…at this debate, one of the top debaters from my school (I love this kid, he’s so talented&charismatic&funny) was talking to a pair of debaters (one of whom looks as if he’s had a total makeover after cutting his hair and looks pretty delish now) from a vocational school in my area. The conversation of course, between first semester high school seniors, ranged from how are yous to college to college and to COLLEGE. Before you think I’m some creepy girl standing in the corner staring at them, I wasn’t eavesdropping on their conversation – they just happened to be talking in the doorway through which all the participants of the debate walk . Talk about obnoxious, but JK, I love them. So one of the pair mentions McGill and because it happened to be international (Canada counts as international! I’ll tackle whether it fits study abroad later), which sounds romantic (international = romantic, America = America) and exciting and all that jazz, I decided to look it up.

The application was so easy to fill out, and since I saw that McGill ranked in the top 20 universities in the world on multiple ranking sites/was known as “Harvard of Canada” (don’t worry, I’m slightly less shallow now), I decided to give it a go.

I was outright rejected by Swarthmore, Brown, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. I was rejected by Yale after being deferred from early action. I was rejected by Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgetown, and Penn after being waitlisted. I rejected Haverford’s waitlist. I was accepted to McGill, Middlebury, and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Yeah, I was, and still am, pretty crushed by the rejection. It kind of bruised my ego – so don’t bring it up if you meet me in person. I may cry – or rip your hair out.

Moving on, I had to choose between these three schools. On why I chose McGill from these three schools, I think my answer on Formspring.com to the question Why McGill explained it nicely enough -- though it was a censored version (censored to be more pleasant and slightly less judgmental) from four months ago (I was still on the waitlist for several schools):

My 3 choices were TCNJ, Middlebury, and McGill. Now, before I go any further, I just want to say that they are all great schools, and I mean no disrespect with my judgments of them. I mean, I liked them enough to apply – but when forced to choose, a variety of reasons led me to McGill.

I immediately decided that I would not attend TCNJ because it was my safety school. Solid academics, yes, but a little too close to home. When I visited on a Saturday, I can't say the campus was bustling with activity. And lastly, I don't like the name of the school. The College of New Jersey? Can you get any blander? "What school do you attend?" "The College of New Jersey" ...Sorry TCNJ-ers, it's not my thing. Besides, one of the main buildings is named Paul Loser Hall. I've been informed it's pronounced "low-ser" not "loo-ser."

Next, Middlebury -- or Midd-le-of-Nowhere? Amazing academic program. I was extremely impressed by the small class sizes and the student-reported experience in academics. However, my personal experience was not so impressive. I attended an awesome lit theory class but a HORRIBLE calc I class.

To my parents, the campus was gorgeous. And to my mom, the white marble everywhere was absolutely stunning. To me, it was nice to look at...for a week, maybe. But what was I supposed to do outside of school? And the dorms were not so pretty, btw... I need my college experience to be less all-American, tradish & preppy, and more worldly. Yes, Middlebury would be very nurturing, but I wasn't really interested in such a small school. Additionally, it's a private liberal arts college. LACs are extremely costly and [Middlebury] wasn't generous enough with financial aid.

Of course, if I get off the waitlist (highly unlikely) for any of the 4 schools I decided to remain on the waitlist for--Dartmouth, Georgetown, UPenn, and Columbia--then I will have some more decision-making to do -- depending greatly on money and convenience. Columbia would be so convenient for me (fingers-crossed) at my current situation. UPenn was/is still a dream. Georgetown is in DC (which I heart).

I go on to describe Why not McGill, which I don't want to go into, because I'm sure I will have a lengthier list later. Don't get me wrong, I have a long list of Why McGill reasons that aren't even posted here. But I can't think of any right now because they're screwing me over with dorming and that's majorly pissing me off at the moment. I'm sure I will recover once I get to Montreal (on Saturday, can you believe it?!), but right now, things aren't going exactly the way I want them too, and my mild obsessive-compulsive personality (self-diagnosed) is forcing my eye to take on a permanent twitch.

But ANYHOW, though a lot more eventually did go into the choice, that's the basic historyof why I chose McGill.

Tata,

J. McGillee

*10. Add pictures to blog posts.

Planner Devotion

August 10, 2010

Once I receive the planner I ordered, all will be right with the world because then I can write down every single event that's taking place in the two weeks before school starts (Sept. 1) and figure out which ones I want to go to and which ones I want to skip out on.

Planners are kind of amazing.

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August 11, 2010

Planner received. You can't imagine my excitement. I can sing, I can dance, I can listen to the Mike Posner CD that I pre-ordered which also just arrived today and may be mistaken as the real source of my excitement (psh...he's just some music artist....nothing compared to this glorious lavender-colored life-saver).

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August 12, 2010

Lovin' this beautiful Quo Vadis Lilac (not lavender officially) Daily Academic Planner. Especially since I bought mine 20% off original price last year, but 30% off original price this year.

Obviously, it has nothing to do with Barnes and Noble not stocking my planner anymore.

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August 13, 2010

It's so not blank anymore. McGill has so many freaking activities, especially in the week before school starts. Rezfest, SUS Frosh, SSMU Frosh, Academic Expectations Day, International Students Events, etc., etc. (Later post explanation) I'm trying to put down everything I have to attend in my planner -- which was why I was so excited to receive it.

...I can tell I'm going to hate this planner for what it reminds me to do for the ten months or so.

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August 14, 2010

Not fond of wasted paper.

The planner starts August 1st, but I received it after August 1st.

Guess where my dorm packing list is??? That's right, August 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th if I need it.

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August 15, 2010

OBNOXIOUS (WHAT'S A BETTER WORD FOR OBNOXIOUS, THESAURUS.COM WON'T TELL ME, MAYBE I SHOULD START USING FOOTNOTES*) GIGGLE.

I just wrote "Happy Birthday" on my birthday page, but I didn't use my handwriting, so now it looks like I have friends who write in my planner which instantly brings my cool meter up 500%.

* 9. Note to self: use footnotes from now on...or soon.

EIGHT IS A LUCKY NUMBER IN CHINA.

Well. Hello there, Internet. It’s kind of unfortunate that this is my first post because I think what I’m going to say here is important (in the realm of my blog, let’s keep things relative) – and no one’s going to see it because no one knows McGill Uncensored exists yet.

I can introduce myself along the way, but for now, you should just know that I am (here comes my rehearsed introduction for talking on the phone with advisors ~drum roll please) a newly-admitted U1 international student in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. I originally planned to have a joint honours major in econ and psych but…I changed my program several times – it’s complicated and enough material for another blog post.

But the reason why I am here is to tell the world exactly what I’m going through as I transition into college. Why? Because: 1) I want to remember this and I’m bad at remembering to write things down about McGill in my journal. I guess I’m too preoccupied with other things in life. And my hand usually starts hurting after 10 minutes. 2) I want to share my experiences with anyone who’s going to go to college, or in college – especially a fellow McGillee. What are McGill students called anyway? I’m going to call them (us, me) McGillees because it’s endearing. 3) I’m an introvert. This is my safe method of venting. A defense mechanism against trapped rage and frustration – which I know will come up often because of my own personality and because of the “bureaucratic nature,” as people like to say, of the school.

There are several things I want to mention right off the bat – in order of thought process (otherwise: no specific order).

1.      I will be honest and blunt. No, I’m not being repetitive. I will try my best to tell you exactly what I’m thinking and I will put it down in a manner that might not always be tactful or subtle. I’m writing down this point here more for me than for you. People tend to accomplish the things that they tell other people they will do, and I’m afraid that I won’t be honest with myself and therefore, not with you. I want to detail my experience with as unedited precision as possible with regard to my own feelings, my own experiences, my own perceptions.

2.      But there are lines I will not cross. There are some topics that are off-limits. I can’t think of them right now, but I know they surely exist.

3.      I will not insult fellow peers by name and I will not bash professors by name. I am willing to believe that everyone, myself included, will learn the right life lessons in time, and so, I am forgiving. I am not willing to defame anyone in particular. If I talk about a person’s characteristics, it will be to paint a picture representative of any arbitrary human being – myself included.

4.      With the above in mind: “If we shadows have offended, think but this; and all is mended that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear and this weak and idle theme no more yielding but a dream. Gentles--do not reprehend if you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck if we have unearned luck. Now to scape the serpents tongue. We will make amends ere long else the Puck a liar call. So--goodnight unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends. And Robin shall restore amends.”  ~ Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

5.      I will write about what I want to write about. I will be a McGill student for the next three years. Any topic I feel like writing about will be related to McGill in that I am a McGill student. This will range from course selection to Montreal to what I got for my birthday to love to dorming to my best friend at Rutgers to Cary Grant to my high school teachers to my economics professor to Minerva to Dorothy Parker…and so on. You catch my drift.

6.      Don’t be too mean to me. In the spirit of the blog name, I would like the comments section to remain as uncensored as possible. I will always appreciate thoughts, personal anecdotes about McGill, criticism, and beyond, but I will not appreciate baseless insults (insults with a reason are acceptable, though I may cry, alone, in my temporary room at RVC), spam, comments of an overtly sexual or violent tone (innuendos are acceptable), etc. Grammar nazis are welcome here, especially when I use an idiom or expression incorrectly.

7.      I’m longwinded. In fact, you’re really lucky that this blog post is only this long because I could’ve included a lot more.

8.      I was going to title this blog post “The Ten Commandments” but I have since realized that I don’t have ten points, and I’m not really commanding you to do anything.

Much love,

J. McGillee (I haven’t decided if I should use my name yet. Though you probably all know it or can find it within 10 minutes.)