Zihan

Have you experienced the most embarrassing thing in your life? What is it? I bet everybody’s answer is different. Whenever I was asked to tell what was my most awkward thing, I found it so hard to say. That means I was either intimidated to say it out-loud, or I didn’t even have my best answer in mind. But now I have had one, and it just happened earlier today.

After my Korean friend showed me his favorite study place–the law library, I decided to explore this library since visiting different libraries is on my to-do list. It was extremely large to me – with multiple levels, thousands of documents and numerous study spots. I think the word “enormous” is best used to describe it for it was several times larger than my current favorite one, the Engineering library. As a carrel lover, I couldn’t help looking to find an open seat while I was wandering between lines of the study carrels. I thought they were public carrels open for every kind of students to use, just like the ones in the basement of the Engineering library.  As I walked through line by line and found out that almost every spot had some books or something on the shelves. That was really weird. Why do people leave their belongings like books and documents at the public carrels? Aren’t they worried about those thing being stolen? Because it was Sunday, that level was almost empty. How would it be different sitting there to study? Driven by a strong sense of curiosity, I sat down quietly on one of the spots which was totally empty.

A boy stood right by me when I was pulling my chair out.

I looked at him. And he looked at me.

I realized there was a strange deadly sense of silence.

Finally he said, “This is my spot.”

“Oh I am so sorry. I didn’t know that they were assigned.” My cheeks flushed. I could never tell him how embarrassed I was. I realized that it was not right to sit down at a study carrel when I didn’t know they are for personal study use.

“It’s alright. I didn’t put a sign saying this my spot. So I don’t blame you.”

Thankful for his understanding, I grabbed my backpack and quickly walked out. This is the most embarrassing moment of the day. “Never make the same mistake again,” I told myself. “Not every library has the same rules. You are not a law student.”

But anyway, at least I saw the inside of the law library. That was interesting! But it is just a place to visit, not a place to stay. On the way back to the Seamans Center, I am lucky to say that Engineering library is where I feel I belong.

“We need to feed our brains with fresh oxygen so please take a deep breath…then breath that out… calm and quiet… and now you may begin.” This is the gentlest way I have experienced to start an exam. It came from my chemistry professor right before my first, and one of the biggest exams. I didn’t even feel I was getting a bad grade or anything like that. It was just like doing my daily mastering chemistry homework. I worked through the problems step by step, then I finished.

Walking out of that big auditorium, I felt so glad that this chemistry exam was over. It started at night – that is the one thing I have never tried before. I never ever had a really important exam that ends at 10:20p.m. Although I thought it was kind of crazy, and I didn’t know if this was a good time to take it, this night exam sounded more exciting and new to me rather than stressful. Because I can see if it is a better time for me, a night owl, to find something refreshing.

Luckily enough, I recognized that my favorite chemistry professor was right in the front row when I was walking into the room. I felt more excited. I love his class a lot. His lecture is well-constructed every time; we know what to expect in Chemistry and he always works through hard problems in class, and more importantly, he has the precious patience for everyone, which I admire most.

He was with us throughout the whole exam period. I was surprised to see him standing there checking people’s scantrons when there were only few people left (including me). He is the professor that we meet every other day for a 50-min lecture; he is the professor who works with students during his office hours; he is the hard-worker who deserves a good night for tomorrow’s lecture… but he was right there with us until the last second. That totally surprised me.

At that moment, I thought about my goals for a second. I made a quick decision to let chemistry become a part of my life!

“This is your birthday surprise!” Emily took out a toy puppy to me. “I know we ‘re sneaky!” Elly said and looked at my astonished face while I was holding my birthday cupcake.  I got a bed animal (Don’t laugh at me if that sounds childish) from my Roommates Elly and Emily!! Because they found out I didn’t have a bed animal as accompany when I arrived here. Yes It was because I didn’t have enough room to put my little bear in my suitcase. I did not even pay any attention to this topic while talking, but it later became a birthday surprise.

It was yesterday, a sunny but little bit chilly Saturday, when Iowa football team was fighting against Iowa State. The whole town was filled with great excitement and a sense of madness—–Everybody was super into the football game and they cheered and cheered again. So we our three roommates decided earlier in the day to explore the downtown area to watch the game and give me my birthday surprise. I totally forgot the birthday surprise thing after a couple of hours into the game. The only thing that I have been thinking of is that we finally got a roommate hang-out day! Gathering together is such a great way to spend more time with our extended “family” (roommates) on a relaxing weekend. Although I have lived in the Stanley for a month, I have not had a truly fun day with my buddies until this time because of all kinds of homework and study. How special today would be!

Working with numbers and elements all day, we actually went out of this mad world and had something special and fun! We cried out “Go Hawks!” when football players were doing well; we chatted, we laughed, and also we got fully relaxed from the overwhelming coursework. Elly even got a tiny hawkeye shirt for her puppy coming to see her next weekend.

But suddenly I was led by the girls to “Molly’s” to get my birthday cupcake! My birthday was September 10^th but because of so much work to do for everybody, I didn’t talk really much about it. Inside I really wish this birthday will be different for I have been away from my home for two years and hardly can imagine what a real birthday will be like. I planted my wish secretly in my deep heart but my roommates digged it out.

“This is your birthday and you are going to enjoy it!” Emily said,

“Because we know you couldn’t bring your one from home so we got you the bed animal!”

Oh I really wished time could ever stop at that moment. How lucky I was to meet those girls who really care about others and focus on details. I was overjoyed not because the birthday gift itself but because of those two kind and thoughtful hearts behind it! I can’t believe how I was blessed.

But in fact, time flies. Everything happening in this moment will be gone when it is the time to go. So maybe start today to care about those folks that really care about you because love is sweet.

In the middle of this long weekend, maybe there is a place that you wish the time can stop for a second, and you can read every piece of it——that is the Museum of Natural History located in Macbride Hall.

Yes, Macbride Hall has three different exhibits which are: “Diversity of Life,” “Iowa Hall,” and “Mammal Hall” on the ground floor, first floor and third floor separately!  My first time visiting there was by accident. I wouldn’t visit Macbride Hall if I didn’t have my lecture there.

After my lecture, in the early afternoon, I wondered, “What is Iowa Hall?”,  but had no one else there to ask when standing in front of the door by myself. Because of a strong sense of curiosity, I went into the Exhibit room after knocking the door (that was a side door actually). I was astonished by what was in front of my eyes. They have a museum here!!! How come I never knew it until now?! It is a totally different world from the door outside. I suddenly felt like I ran back to 500 million years ago. As if I was walking in the jungle with lots of plants and animals that I have literally never seen. Although they are behind the windows, I almost started to yell when I saw that ancient Indian looking towards me! I think, “they can’t be more real!” I felt the time stop and start to go backwards.  I also found out the answer to my previous question during a visit in February: “Why does outside of Macbride Hall have some sculptures of animals below the windows?” The answer is that they represent the species exhibited inside.

Do you want to meet the Giant Sloth in the Ice Age (which is almost four times lager than a normal person, from my assumption)? Do you want to see what the world was like millions of years ago? Hope the Natural History Museum is the next stop on your campus tour list!

Here is a link you can check out: http://mnh.uiowa.edu

Now it’s a great time to discover the campus with your buddies. Have some free time to spend on weekends but have no idea where to go? Let’s try the Campus Recreation and Wellness center! Here is a photo of the swimming pool section. The Leisure Swimming Pool is a great place for fun, which has zero depth entry, a vortex, a current channel (also as known as the lazy river), a 25-person spa, and water sports sections such as water basketball and volleyball. It also features a rock-climbing wall and a video board!! (recserv.uiowa.edu)  Imagine how enjoyable it can be to wash off the anxiety of the whole week and just relax? Don’t miss the chance to make awesome friends and stay in shape! Go Hawks!

Can’t believe that the life safari at the University of Iowa is just at the corner. Experiencing a totally different lifestyle from my home country China, there are lots of fun events to be aware of and to enjoy. Moving to my new LLC-WISE family in Stanley couldn’t have been more exciting. Because it is a great way to meet new people – your new RA, your new roommates and friends. I can’t tell you how happy I am now to get started. Also, good luck to our international students’ orientations – attending meetings, seeing your academic advisors, going for your Iowa spirit, meeting, meeting new people and more!! The most fun thing that I have to mention is the Iowa Spirit Night, which was so wonderful and energizing! We created our own T-shirts and flags for the On Iowa! football game. To be black and gold!! Go Hawkeyes!!