Julio

I’m homesick. This time it’s bad, worse than the first time. After a week-long hiatus from anything academic, spending the night back in my dorm is anything but exciting. I say this bitterly after spending the week perusing through books, laughing with friends and family, and being affectionate with my cats.

Isn’t he splendid?

While I was home I had the best time. Thanksgiving was spent with loved ones, so on the right is a cheesy selfie of me and my girlfriend.

🙂

The food was terrific, and all in all it made me realize how much I was homesick, and how much I have to go and make Iowa my new home. I traveled a whole state over, and it’s really hard getting used to it.

I couldn’t forget about black Friday! I went really early (9 a.m) to Half Price Books and got a tote bag and a lot of books for 30% off! On the left is The Fountainhead,  Tender is the Night, and a collection of John Steinbeck short stories. I got that for $15 dollars! I love saving money, I’m like a 40 year old mom when it comes to coupons and savings! 

I wouldn’t say that I’m not excited to be back here in Iowa, it’s more or less that I’m ready to go back to my warm cooked meals and rest up. For months teachers warmed me that college would be difficult, and they weren’t lying. I guess it just takes some time to adjust. It does suck that it’s almost December and I’m still adjusting. Just counting down the days until I can wear my ugly sweater, and still in search of home sweet home.

I’m sorry that it’s been a month since I published a blog. October is the busiest month of my whole schedule, I worked over 70 hours and explored Iowa. I also went home for the first time to see what’s wrong with my computer and whatnot. It was a really busy month.

My trip home was great! I got to see friends and family that I haven’t seen in months, it felt like longer. It was my mother’s birthday so I hope she had a good time! I traveled by bus, and it wasn’t that bad. If it was a straight shot to Milwaukee, that would’ve been a little better, but I had to detour through Chicago. This was also in time for the World Series so the whole city was buzzing with excitement. 108 years is a pretty long time. The total time it took to get home was seven hours. One of the hours was just waiting at the terminal. For saying they have free WiFi, it’s pretty horrendous. I ended up bringing The Catcher in the Rye and finished it by the time I got to Milwaukee. Space wasn’t an issue, there was enough. On the way to Milwaukee they caught someone who tried to sneak on the bus. It was the coolest thing I saw. He sat right in front of me, so the driver pointed in my vicinity and said “YOU” in a thunderous voice. I was scared to be honest, but it ended up being the person in front of me. All in all it was something I needed. Being away really killed me, and I get to see them again in 4 days so that should be fun, I love Thanksgiving!

Since then it was all just crunch time for my classes. I do an abundance of studying and it’s paying off for me. The only real slipping point for me was the election. Man, what can I say? I’m not conservative or a Republican, but I’m trying my hardest to keep an open mind. The University has handled the election well, and though I feel there is a divide between political views, I feel it’s heightened for me since I am Hispanic. I was the subject of the attacks by our President-elect, and though there is a tremendous presence of his supporters here on campus, I genuinely feel safe. When it comes to rural Iowa I understand that views might be a little different, but I hope that we do not protest each other, but instead educate and move forward to unite one another. The election brought great division, and no matter how many lashes of hateful words get thrown at me and my people, I hope that we stand united and don’t crumble to the standards they think of us.

Since then however everything in college has been going smoothly. Things I find fun now are a bit strange. For example, I had to run to CVS to pick up some deodorant and I stood there for 5 minutes trying to figure out what product was the most bang for my buck. I also went into Prairie Lights for the first time and was not disappointed, easily the best bookstore I’ve ever seen. I picked up Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (fellow Wisconsinite) and got a good deal on the book. It was an interesting time for me, and college is so far everything it was promised to be. I just hope that everything at the end will turn out the way I visioned it in my head.

One of my favorite things about the past month were my jobs. I am a baker for the bakery down in Burge, and I also Usher at Hancher Theatre. I know some of my friends are scared to get a job, or they don’t want to because they have money, but the experience is really worth it. Not only are the wages really high compared to an off-campus job, the people that work there are amazing. Not only that, most jobs come with perks to them as well.

I think working has made me more responsible (I haven’t been late yet (jinx)) and the pay helps so much. I won’t disclose how much, but for the hours I work, I enjoy it. Plus, everyone is usually new and on the same boat as you, so they’re friendly and willing to help. I met some cool people at Hancher, and even better people at the bakery. Along with that, working at a place like a bakery means you usually know who you’re working with, so you make friends easier. Along with that, I feel like I have an advantage because when it comes to submitting resumes, I have work experience while other people don’t.

My suggestion: just try working. It’s worth it in more ways than one, such as: friends, money, responsibilities, the chance to work at Hancher (or other fancy buildings around campus), and flexible hours. It’s hard to reject. Do work.

Every person has that one hard day throughout the week. For me, it’s hump day. I have 2 classes and a lecture, alongside the flip of catching clubs and working. Not only that, today Iowa City threw me a nice curve-ball with the weather (I probably should’ve checked) but I got drenched. Thankfully for me the CAMBUS saved the day.

to make matters even worse, I forgot to close my backpack so all my books got wet.

BTW if you get the chance, “We People Here” is an amazing story of an Aztec point of view during the Spanish conquest.

So yes, when it rains, it does pour. Just have to keep on keepin’ on. And don’t forget your umbrella!

After the two weeks that I’ve spent here, there’s a few things I’ve learned. One is don’t go to the dining hall at noon for lunch on a weekday, and the other is that there are a few things that you can’t leave your room without. without further ado, here is a list of things you need to survive your first week.

1.  Water Bottle
   So in college you move a significant amount. By significant I mean more than you did in high school. Staying hydrated is crucial especially during the summer when you’re moving building to building for class. We’re 50%-65% water, make sure you put back in what you expel out. Plus water is good for the brain. If you go too long without it, you get a migraine. Just keep one attached to your backpack in its sleeve, you never know when you might need it.
2. Pen and Notebook
   No matter where you go carry a pen and something to write on. I’m sure you don’t, but if you think the only place you can learn is in the classroom, then you have another thing coming. In the two weeks here, just listening to people conversate I’ve learned more than I have in the classroom. So whether you’re a journalist major or a physics major, take a pen and paper everywhere you go. The people on campus are some of the brightest minds the world has to offer, so take notes when someone says something interesting to you.
3. Bongo
   Iowa has the best bus system in the world. That may be a hyperbole, but it’s sooo good. People get intimidated by the app, however once you become a wizard with it, you never have to walk anywhere again. The buses take you everywhere on campus and they’re very frequent when they come. Not only that, if you want to work for them they offer the best wage for a university job. I also heard you make your own hours, must be nice *sighs*. http://ebongo.org/
4. Time Management Help
   Me, I have an agenda, and use the app called Pocketlife. Both have helped me beyond belief. I put everything in there (literally everything). But with all this free time it can get hard to remember what you have to do, especially getting your feet wet in college life. So spend the $7 for an agenda, or a calendar, or download google calendar. Don’t be afraid to do things that benefit you.
5. A piece of Home
   This mainly goes to the people living in a dorm. Moving on your own is something that is sobering and maybe eye opening. I’d be lying if I said you’d never get homesick, because you do. Sometimes I miss Milwaukee like crazy. Even if you do live in Iowa City, living on your own can be very hard. So bring something that reminds you of home to your dorm. For me, I have pictures and art that my friends and family gave to me. Try not to go home so often, bring home to you. When you feel like you miss your family, just look at the pictures and know they’re probably rooting for you.

Sitting here in the lounge of my dorm made me realize how far away from home I am. I’m from Milwaukee, and when I arrived it felt as if I was an alien on campus compared to the others I’ve met that all hail from the state of Iowa. However I was wrong, it’s staggering how many people come to Iowa from different places. I read a statistic somewhere that the population of campus is over 32,000 and that about 55% of that are Iowan residents. Since I’m such a math wiz, I can use advanced calculations to find out that 45% of the population come from out of state. I come out of state myself, and didn’t know that there were about 14,000 people like me.

I know an abundance of the 14,000 come from Illinois, but in spite of that I met individuals that came from all over the country. During my Iowa Edge program (Which I’ll discuss in the next paragraph) I met someone from HAWAII. Other states that people derived from: Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Montana, South Dakota, California, New York, and Texas. The academics are sensational here at Iowa and attract individuals throughout the States. Not only that, but the campus itself makes you feel welcomed. There’s a certain buzz in Iowa City that you really can’t experience anywhere else.

Now I was lucky enough to be chosen to partake in the Iowa Edge program. It’s a program designed to help minority and first generation student’s with the transition to campus. They teach you class etiquette, where to go for classes, and held panels of professors and students discussing what to do in class, and how to succeed here at Iowa. Along with that, they pay the expense for you to move in early. If you get chosen for this, I highly recommend it. I moved in on the 14th, and didn’t know where to go for anything. Luckily for me, my mentor Lilian (if you’re reading this Lilian you were amazing and that you so much) taught me the in’s and out’s of the campus. You truly do get an edge and feel something that is bigger than yourself. I digress.

Being away from home is something that is extremely frightening, but don’t fret. I was so anxious to move in and live on my own; now two weeks later, here I am alive and well. Now I know there’s some of you longing to be on your own, well this is the time for you. A bit of advise, learn to manage your money (there’s so many things to buy here it’s crazy), and learn to pace yourself. Also, don’t be scared if you’re coming from out of state. Though you may not know much of Des Moines or Iowa City, you’re welcomed here either way. So take the welcome, and enjoy the ride. You may never know what you might miss, or who you might meet. Chances are, there is someone just like you here.