THE GOOD KIND: August 2006

My Academic Advisor

Sweetest lady ever...SO understanding in e-mail and in person. Here is the most recent e-mail she has sent me regarding transferring.

Hi Justine,

Welcome back to CMU. I'm sorry to hear that you're homesick and are
considering transferring, but I do understand that you want to look into
this option. I would love to talk with you about this in person sometime
soon. The process of transferring to another university is one which is not
governed by us at all. You'll need to look into the deadlines for the
schools to which you are going to apply, and then follow their procedures.
I can help you understand those procedures if possible, but really, I'm just
here to help you think through your options, etc. I want what is best for
you, so I won't try to sway you if you think it's in your best interest to
transfer elsewhere.

I'm more than willing to help with anything I can. Please call Janice
Trygar at the front desk to schedule an appointment with me that is
convenient for you. But beware, that I only have mini-appts. Next week and
the end of this week is nuts with freshman orientation activities. If you
need to get in to see me next week, email me a time that will work for you
between the hours of 8:30-12 and 1:30-4:30 and I can fit you in ( I normally
don't do that during the first week of classes, but would be willing to do
that for you).

Take care, and I'll look forward to seeing you soon.

Best,
Emily

Anyway, I will probably not transfer since it will probably mean an extra year or semester in undergrad. but I'm keeping my options open. I still miss home and more often than not I dislike this place. My bed is sweet though. And I am so good at cooking ground beef. Also, that's all.

Best,
Justine

Nothing beats home

being

homesick

sucks

especially when home is in California..but after allowing myself one day to completely sulk be a baby cry my eyes to swelling redness and my nose to that silly stuffiness...and maybe, now, after writing this post, i will be done with it?

And the thing is...also...I hate a lot of people here. I judge. It's hard not to. I feel bad for the freshmen, but I bet a good portion of them are tools and just as easy to hate as everyone else.

Steve might have said something earth-moving yesterday..."It all comes down to people. There are good Christians and there are bad Christians. There are good Atheists and there are bad ones."

I would like to find some more good people here at CMU this year...that's my goal.

but I just want to be home...

My parents came to America from Taiwan to study *my mom the first of her family to do so*...as young, scared, unknowing, barely english-speaking individuals. No real friends yet. Not understanding anything about America except what they were exposed to of the culture they got on television, in the news, through stories... My mom said the first time she heard someone say "Thank God It's Friday." she was very confused because in Taiwan the work and school weeks go until Saturday. Now, she knows. So, I will get over this.

Some images of what I miss the most...