My refelctions of Millersville this year

I have dropped out twice and everytime it has been different coming back. Everytime I do come back Millersville for me has been different. The first time, I was too idealistic in both my relationship with a friend and in school. Now on the otherhand, I feel that I'm more mature, I know what I want, and I know the resources. For Millersville this time coming back, I'm kind of annoyed. Maybe its because of the classes that I'm taking are repeats, the professors, or it's my classmates. So here is a reflection of Millersville half way through the year:

1. Classes

I don't like going to class like the rest of you, but its important. But I especially don't like going to class and there are people and PROFESSORS coming in on average 15 minutes late. Five minutes, OK ten minutes, maybe. But when you have a class that is 45 minutes long,15 minutes late is the quarter of the class. You are wasting my money and time. For the people who come in 15 minutes late you shouldn't come to class at all. First of all when you come to class late, you have to come in the class all quick but ever so "quiet" which means that your standing putting your jacket on the desk and bookbag on the floor which is pilled with books, as it hits the ground it makes a  "BANG". Its distracting because the professor has to stop speaking and glare at you as you sit down.

Speaking of distractions, cell phones are another issue. I'm going to yell this out right now, "YOU ARE IN A LECTURE. SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE, HEADSET AND COMPUTER." This is common curtesey. I had a guy in my Recent Political Thought class that he would talk on his headset while the professor was lecturing. One time when my mother was proctoring his exam he even went to the extent of asking "Do I really have to give you my headset?" I'm going to also yell this out right now too, "THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO HAVE A HEADSET UNLESS YOU'RE DRIVING OR WORKING IN TELEMARKETING."  It makes said person douche, making them appear as if they are talking to themself. And finally, what are you doing with your hands when walking somewhere that it's hard to get the handheld out?

Finally, the issue of note taking. Millersville University employs note takers for students for disabilities I'm pretty sure that they have no problem giving them out to people who don't show up for class. I don't mind this because I have access to a free "Kinkos" (Fulton House), but when I offer a notebook I would like it at a specific time so I could study. Oh and don't ask me to copy chapters for you. Thats BULL SHIT!

2. Food

Despite living at home, my "roomates" are like cats. I don't see them at all but I leave a little food out for them and clean after them. So I eat college food which is unhealthy. Millersville went through rennovations of both the SMC and Gordineir. When the SMC was being rennovated The Anchor was a godsend. I don't believe in God but I guess thats what it means if a miricle like this happend. This year I went through a revolution of trying new foods especially foods that are Middle Eastern and Sushi. So when the Anchor offered the same food from the SMC and sushi, salads with Ikea like plates, wraps and food that you can get at the grocery store I did the Carolton. Then when I ate there everyday with a friend and she would get custom sushi rolls, 18 I might add in a box,  I burst out in a song in a Glee like fashion.Since the new SMC has been open the Anchor is only open for the lunch and dinner rush. Enter booing audience right now. Also, there are too many windows in the SMC building. I'm all for saving electricity and having windows on whatever side the sun rises to save on your heating bill, but as I'm eating a burger at the Anchor I don't want to see people accross the way exercising, it makes me feel guilty.

FRISCO, BABY

 I attended the 2011 Amnesty International Annual General Meeting in San Francisco last week and it was AMAZING! If you have never been to San Francisco you should add it to your bucket list, because there would be a number of things you would want to do before you die. First, the sea food is delicious. I don't like sea food because when it comes to living in southeastern Pennsylvania you have Red Lobster, gross, and Chesapeak Crab. I don't eat crab at all so that just narrows it down not eating sea food at all. But San Francisco has the best fish and chips in the world. I would show you a picture, but thanks to Erika Stewart she only allowed me to take a memory card that can only take 26 pictures. On Sunday of our trip we ate down at Fisherman's Warf where when I went to throw away my food AND ALMOST GOT ATTACKED BY A BIRD. If you ever want sushi, try Sushi Toni. Despite being a novus sushi eater, this resturant will give you the best salmon roll of your life where there is a balance of fish, nori, and rice. Also, the sushi chiefs are great and make good conversations. Also in addition to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, visit Golden Gate Park. Its relaxing, especially when your waiting for an update at the hospital. And where some sneakers because I was the idiot who wore flip flops because my jeans didn't match my sneakers. Needless to say I wore the same outfit with sneakers and it was fine. Also, there were other idiots who were wearing high heels walking around the park. It must of been a first date place because that should be the only reason to wear high heels because walking around a huge park like that must be a killer on your feet. DON'T GO TO HAIGHT AND ASHBURY, especially if you been in a certain situation with a lady named Mary Jane cause it would trip you out. San Francisco is flooded with homeless people which is cool because they don't bother you. But when you go to Haight and Ashbury I guess the crazy people just naturally flock there. I tried to take that picutre of both street signs and a homeless man was yelling at me saying "Fuck you" and "Your a tourist, stop taking pictures of me." I was scared. I told my friends we have to go to the otherside of the street. I liked how each district is distinct. Like when we were walking towards the Castro (I saved the best for last don't worry girl) from Haight and Ashbury it was like a whole nother world. It was like there were a huge wall that was keeping all of the hippies, homeless, and grafitti within that wall.

Ok bitches, I got what you came for, CASTRO. These men are the most finest mothers in the world. I was taking pictures because I knew it was going to be down hill from here. and I felt my inner Harvey Milk and I  wanted to gather some of them and protest. Protest about what I just don't know, but I wanted to protest. Too bad I had the munchies during that time because I wanted to walk around with my hag and just be fabulous.

So there are a few things you shouldn't do when your in San Francisco. First, you should take at least $200 with you. Not realizing that its California, its hella expensive with a sales tax at 10%. I asked the sales person at H&M whats the sales tax and I nearly blew a gasket. she replied with saying, "Your in San Francisco." Bitch. Anywho, you should plan your days out in terms of what you want to do especially when your with a group of 10. Also, I wanted to travel to Oakland home to the hyphy movement, Keek the Sneak, and Turf Dancing. I wanted to rent a car from the airport just to ghost ride the whip. I wanted to go to Berkley and check out their political science program. Oh well there will be a next time. Also I was an idiot, but don't go up those mountains they call "Hills." they are frodic. If your hotel is downtown and you got off a flight, take the BART system and not the Supershuttle these people will rip you off.

Spring time=Break Time

     Like most college students during midterm weeks of cramming, papering, and being socially missing in action I couldn't wait until spring break came. Unfortunately, I live in Lancaster City and next to Park City and my friends Millersville University has become the solution to my boredom in this characterless city, so I couldn't wait for break to be over. Sadly, I couldn't rob a bank and spend money on a vacation (hopefully next year). To satisfy my boredom I made a list of what I wanted to do during spring break:

1. Midterms are over, so the mess on the desk of notes, notebook paper, index cards and books need to be CLEANED off of your desk. Matter of fact clean your whole room. 

2. Research for your paper 

3.DO and FINISH your paper

4. Exercise-summer is coming up

5. Keep yourself busy

Because of procrastination, I never got anything done on my list so everything turned out to be Youtube, Pandora, Grey's Anatomy Hulu Videos, and among a few things. About.com gave me a few good ideas that I could have done during my spring break at home so next year you should do because I promised myself a vacation to my homeland, Hawaii, next year.

Reflections of a Hangover-Model Arab League

Courtesty of Christopher Lederhouse

This weekend I went to Miami University at Oxford's 2011 Model Arab League Conference. Every year I go it's always the same thing. You study the night before, have a sixteen hour trip-sleep and study for confernce-plenary, a day of comittee, party after nine hours of commitee, closing summitt, awards, and go home. I have done models for six years now-two years of model UN and four years of model AL- but next to Cornell University's 2006 model UN, I think I have gained a lot of learning experience about myself, the model, and the Middle East.

Courtesy of Christopher Lederhouse

What I learned about myself was that I need to improve on a few things. First, cooperating with others. I'm not naming any particular delegations-Egypt- but a few were a bit annoying to the point of almost showing how my bslap is way strong. Despite being the nicest group of people that a person doing a model can ask for, sometimes a few delegations thought that the position of vice chair was actually "the chair" practically being out of order all the time. And at times, their version of parliamentary proceedure was really confusing, even at times I didn't know and saying, "what the hell is going on." What I learned about myself in this situation was that I needed to let this go. I was very open about my irratations, to the point of being unprofessional and undiplomatic. My tone in my speeches sometimes really showed that I was vert pissed off even yelling at delegates to get my point across in certain resolutions that I was trying to pass. And that wasn't fair either, because the Arab Republic of Lebanon-who I was representing- was not the author of said resolution. Secondly, people like to hear themselves speak and when they do this, let them. These said people-Egypt- would present a question to a respected professor in a field, that has nothing to do with the lecture, or their field. Sometimes, its a question that anyone who is not understanding the protest in the Middle East can answer. In addition to this, what I also learned was that I need to fine ways to control a room. Derek, gave me a few pointers of how to do it. First, always be the last person in a room because you own the room. secondly, agree to disagree to appease said person. say that this person is right. it makes them feel good.

Despite studying for this model like a class and being in character 85% of the whole conference (I really messed up towards the end during the crisis, which I said fuck it, its the end.) I didn't win anything. Last year I did understand because it was during the earthquakes that hit Chile and Hati and there was a potential tsunami hitting Hawaii so I didn't do much because I was worried. But this year however, I still didn't win a reward. And I'm not pissed which is the funny thing about it. My professor, said that its not about winning anything, but its about what you have learned about the Middle East and the conference which counts.I have found throughout going to this conference in particular is that you have to be way off your policy to win. I'm not saying any particular delegations-egypt- but I just want to remind the students of Belemain University that Egypt is under a military regime and that you didn't solve your political in 18 days. Although, I found it particularly funny when I kept saying to Sudan and Jordan, who I loved by the way thanks guys, that if Egypt solved their political power in 18 days I'm pretty sure Sudan's situation along with  Lybia and Bahrain could as well.

Courtesy of Alyssa Anderson 

Finally, what my favorite part about the conference is the twelve hour drive. You have interesting conversations about girlfriends, canada, culture, love, music, and who would you sleep with. What I found interesting about the ride was the culture that the midwest has compared to the east coast. For one thing, is the amount of religion vs the amount of sin meaning, the amount of anything religous whether it be a sign, a church or a truck; to pornography ie. porn shops or nude bars. I found that every single time we passed by a porn shop we, the boys in the back, would talk about it. Hilarious. And another thing, to the citizens of Cincinati putting chili on everything is disgusting, especially speghetti.

Alright, so I want to say thnaks to our professor that made it possible to go, Dr. Craig Ilgenfritz.Hopefully, we could get a model working at our campus real soon. The Middle Eastern Studies Organization at Millersville University, Student Senate and the Financial Comittee. Everyone who went to the conference Derek Smith, King A'Dartangnon, Curtis Martin, Crystal Manafi, Alyssa Anderson and Barney Cannon.Also, thanks to Alyssa Anderson and Dart for your pictures.

Stupid Students, Taught by Stupid Teachers

(Link at bottom of the page):

Every morning I watch the Today Show with Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera, live from studio 1A in Rockefeller
Plaza, and although they never report actual news they had an interesting story about a teacher commented on how students are in terms of education in the 21st century. Natalie Munroe an English teacher from Pennsylvania posted on her blog titled "Where are we going, and why are we in this handbasket?", described her students as
"utterly loathsome" suggesting that her students should work in a trash company and describing them as "rude, disengaged, lazy whiners." In one blog post she said, "There is no other way to say this: I hate your kid."  

Because of her blog, she has gotten suspended from school with pay. Which is what I don't understand? I agree with her 100 percent when she said that students are "rude, disengaged, lazy whiners," because they have no manners and they simply just don't care about anything and they have no manners. I don't blame her for saying this, because it starts at home. One of my mother's friends works for a school and she has says that it is the PARENTS that call the school up, asking if Mrs Laplasky can talk to her child about taking the garbage out, and how important responsibilities are.
When it comes to education, you ask a high school student what a book is and they respond with, "Spark Notes?". Students care more about who is getting herps this week on the Jersey Shore; who we have to stalk and threaten to kill because Justin Beiber dated this celebrity; or when Stephanie Meyer is coming out with the same book only from Edward's perspective.(future post) I just want to put it out there that when she said that her students should work for public works, I was a little offended.

But what I don't about her is why would she not post it to an e-mail or author her blog under a pen name like Mark Twain; especially if the blog was meant for her husband and a few friends. And instead of shutting the hell up for a few days, she decides to continue blogging about the controversy. Its obvious that she doesn't care whether or not it matters if she is terminated. finally, the funny thing about this story is that if they terminate her she has the perfect opportunity to file a lawsuit. Some people just don't know when to SHUT THE HELL UP!


How One Teacher's Angry Blog Sparked a Viral Classroom Debate