Ruckus

Taxes?

2011-03-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well, lookie-here! After living in Canada for two years on a student visa, and not having to pay taxes for whatever reason, within a year of living in America I receive an email from the amazing people over in the International Department at my college, informing me that it is Tax time and would I be so kind as to fill out and turn in my forms...

I WAS SO CONFUSED.

wardgossip.blogspot.com

Call me young, but I've never had to fill out any such forms and too be honest, I was a little confused that I had to.. after all, I've only been studying here for eight months. Never-the-less, I toughened up and headed into the office to fill out those daunting forms. Luckily, the department looking after the international kids at my college is stellar, and they made it a walk in the park. However! I do have one qualm on others behalf.. Had my advisor not emailed me, I would be currently walking around with not a clue that it was tax time. So, my advice for you international students is to create a bond with your international adviser if you have one! Or at least bring up the talk of taxes to any other international kids you may have befriended. 

Good luck duckies!

thecoolestanimals.com

Online Vs. Campus Courses

2011-03-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

So you really want to go to a certain school and study this super cool program but you just can't seem to pull yourself away from home! Sound familiar? Well certain schools have been hearing your cries and Online Courses has sprung into action. This new fad probably sounds familiar to a lot of people but I only recently got to experience it myself.


directorblue.blogspot.com

The arrival of the internet has pretty much taken over my generation. Luckily for me I was about 15 when I truly discovered it and by then I'd have a pretty decent (read - awesome) childhood. Still, when it came to picking up and moving to Canada to complete high school, an online course wasn't an option. I'm a firm believer in the fact that the experiences a child or a young adult gains from school opens eyes to the World and the people in it. My school years have played a huge role in who I am and what I believe in today... Had I completed those years online, I would most likely be an entirely different person. That being said, online courses can play a major role in the life of a working adult or a university student. A major role that is both helpful and beneficiary in many ways.

The University I am currently attending has a relatively small body of 13,000 students with 7,000 of those studying online. However, given the nature of the courses offered (Music Production, Sports Marketing & Media, Game Art, etc.) it becomes quite easy to see why half of the student body choose to study in the comfort of their homes or work spaces. In fact! I can tell you honestly that the majority of these students are not only older than the typical University student, but they also are occupied with jobs, families and other joys of adulthood.

chipchick.com

When deciding between studying online versus campus, you'll need to take some things into consideration:
1. Online degrees require as much commitment as campus. There is a common misconception that online degrees are somehow 'less work'. I can assure you that is not the case.

2. Are you willing to give up the experience of learning in an environment surrounded by people that may share common interests.

3. Is the nature of your degree more hands-on (Show Production), or does it entail memorization and recall more than anything else (Music Business).

4. Cost. Moving from home does require you to find a new place to live, gas to get to class, and of course food.

5. Can you work a computer? Perhaps the most important. Taking an online class may require you to use iChat or Skype for face-to-face discussions and more personal experiences with your teacher; e-mail will become your life; and of course the actual course itself is more or less all on a computer screen. If you do not mind sitting in front of a computer for the majority of your day then an online class may be for you.

6. Classmates. If you thrive on the energy of people surrounding you, online may be a bit tough. Of course you will get to interact with your classmates when it comes to group projects and there will be discussions you can post on and the such.. but the actual intermingling will be rather absent.

I've toyed with the idea of moving back home and doing my course online, however the degree I am studying requires the use of a lot of equipment that back home.. simply can not offer. Yes you will probably miss your family and friends a whole ton, but the time you spend away strengthens you as a person and it does fly by rather fast. Just fill your days up, stay busy and keep your mind on the prize!

utne.com

It's A Beautiful Day For Beautiful Spaces!

2011-02-19T11:09:00.000-08:00

Black Swan Banned In Barbados

2011-02-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

olympustheatres.com

 I can't believe that this is actually true.. but the island of Barbados has banned the movie Black Swan. I've seen the film and in my opinion it is one of the best movies I've had the pleasure to watch in a very long time. It's sad that such oppression still exists in our World today. Just when it seems like we are making strides forward in terms of equality and freedom, things like this just take us back to the 1940's and 50's! Needless to say the group that banned the movie in Barbados, the local Film Censorship Board, is in some hot water at the moment. This story has gained momentum not only in the island itself with talks of a March happening, but CNN has also run a story. I doubt this is the type of media coverage the island hoped for, or maybe they will just ban this too? Here's hoping something changes... soon.

To join the protest please visit this website and sign the petition for an appeal on the Boards decision.

**UPDATE**

The movie is now being shown in the local theatre with a R-rating. Seems the islanders cries have been heard!

Housing, Apartments, and Dorms Part II

2011-02-18T17:27:00.000-08:00

Seems like a bunch of you latched onto the earlier post I did on Apartment and Dorms in the States, so I decided to do a post numero dos and cover some more things I skipped over earlier.


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Safety was one of the first things on my parents minds. We really wanted a gated community and the area around the University only had three places that had the feature, so it was pretty easy to make a decision when all of a sudden our options were cut down from fifteen to three. Talking to some of my classmates I had no idea how much a small gate card was increasing my security. My next door neighbors were having break-ins and police posted in their driveways, something I can never imagine taking place around our apartment, and which to a year later.. still hasn't and probably won't. Positioning too can be very helpful! If you can, request a second floor apartment further away from the entrance. We are on the second floor, about half a mile back from the entrance with a grassy tree-filled area on one side which puts us in a pretty quiet, peaceful area. Having a little oasis of safety makes such a difference.

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Paying rent is an issue some people have. My and my roommate have it set up so at the end of one month I'd pay the full rent along with water, and at the end of the next month she'd pay the whole rent along with water. The energy and cable are split every month. Around graduation time we'll tally it all up and make sure it's 50:50. She and I both trust each other and are dependable when it comes to rent, so this works for us. This goes without saying that saving your bills is super important! For the most part your cable/internet and rent are fixed numbers, but water and energy will be different so make sure those bills are filed away for the future. *Side note* I have a little filing cabinet in my desk and it is crazy helpful. The bills, receipts, important documents, and all other such items are filed away and it makes such a difference when it comes to finding things. Definitely a must!

styleunveiled.com

Over at boarding school in Vancouver, rules were super important to having a healthy bond with your roommate. I shared a room with another girl who has become like a sister to me, which definitely would not have been possible if we didn't set the boundaries and follow the house-cleaning rules the houseparents set for us at the beginning of the year. Even though it may be awkward because you've only just met your roommate, you have to sit down and lay out what's good and what's not. Neither of us are huge partiers, but if either one of us is having people over we let each other know before-hand. There's definitely been a few times when one of us would forget or people would drop by last minute, and when you don't know someone's in the house it sucks to walk in on a stranger. Same goes for sleeping over. You learn as you go along! We always have our place spick and span, having a clean area is a must. It makes such a difference to have a clean, nice smelling apartment! Don't take it for granted, make it happen! 

bayareabrideguide.com

Because A College Student Reads Books. Occasionally.

2011-02-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Hello Hello!

Glad to see you made it through Valentines Day in one piece and not a big pile of mush!

xmission.com

I put off buying these Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series for quite a while. I mean everyone was reading it, and for a while although it never got as bad as the Twilight epidemic, it was crazy the attention these books were getting. So I thought I'd be cool and not read them. Jesus I'm an ass. THEY ARE AMAZING. And I mean that. Target was selling them for like $6 so I just decided on the fly to grab the first two, and it was the best decision I've made in recent times. So worth it. They are captivating, new, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, can't-put-down kind of books. They are based on an extraordinary girl, heroine if you will, that although is the opposite of every heroine we've had in recent times, you can't help but root for her the whole way. Amazing writing, very brisk and to the point, but still very detailed and meticulous. I recommend!

kariannalysis.com

Another lovely one to spend the evening with is Water For Elephants. A little PG-13, parents decide, but it is another amazing hard-to-put-down story. Centered on the circus, an elderly man in a nursing home tells his 'life story' if you will, through his day dreams. It captures a circus traveling through America in the time of the Depression, which you can imagine, is a little harsh at times, but still managing somehow to maintain that 'dream' some of us have of running away to join the circus.

goodreads.com

Right now I'm currently reading a memoir of a young girl seeking asylum in America after being forced to marry a man nearly twenty years her senior, the same man who requested she be circumcised before she enter his house. I'm about halfway through and it's been a real eye-opener so far. I had no idea about the "female genetic mutilation" as they call it in America, and never really thought about the idea of asylum either. The book is called Do They Hear You When You Cry, and if you would like some more insight on the detention centers in America, along with life in Africa as a young woman this memoir is for you.

paperbackswap.com

Banana Ice-Cream

2011-02-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

As a college student.. your going to eat ice cream at one point yeah? Well I've got an excellent recipe that you can try out with just 2 bananas and a blender.

First of all this goes without saying that it's pretty darn healthy. What your going to do is choose out some 2 medium sized bananas (or three depending how big your craving is) and your going to cut them up sort of in 'coin-sized' pieces. Pop those in a container of sorts and leave them in the freezer till they are frozen solid, I think around 2 hours should be good. Then just pile them into your blender and chop them up! You might need to pause at some points to stir it around, make sure it is thoroughly blended. You can put them back in the freezer after, as they might have sort of lost their 'frozen-ness'. 

So there you are! It's pretty nice and cooling when the day is hot :)

ourbestbites.com

El Supermarketo

2011-01-31T18:36:00.000-08:00

That's probably not the right spelling is it, oh well, it's MASTERPIECE MONDAYS GUYS!

Hah I just made that up.  

Alrightey let us get crack-a-lackin'. I went to the supermarket yesterday, not really a big hippity-do because I go every Sunday.. and sometimes Saturday too, but! Normally Sunday's are reserved for my supermarketing. I'm touching on this oh so interesting subject not just because organics may be polluted as we speak by GMO's but because the supermarket isn't normally the first thought on a person's mind when they are moving to a new college. Well it wasn't on mine... Not sure about you crazy kids.

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Anyway, it was on my mum's however, so she made sure I was situated right next door to one. Guys.. it's necessary. Not just to be close, but to go once a week. I know so many kids, well pretty much 97% of my classmates go maybe once a month, the rest of their cash is spent on the numerous fast food places on campus. And you know hey! Maybe that's works for you, but it definitely wouldn't work for me. First of all because I detest fast food like no other, but also because preparing dishes at home has kind of turned into a routine for me that I couldn't live without anymore. There is so much freedom! It's fun.

ubersuper.com

So, this isn't just a PSA for international students, but just college kids in general! I can guarantee you that shopping at the supermarket not only puts you in a position of a 'healthier' diet, but also you kinda save money guys... I know, crazy thinking! Hope you can handle it :)

Housing, Apartments, and Dorms

2011-01-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

When planning for Canada, I knew I would be sharing a room. The school was nice enough to provide a bed, nightstand, desk, and cupboard space for each of the kids they accepted. Each room also had their own bathroom... Fairly sweet set-up when compared to the University next to us that had to share a bathroom between about 20 people!

Oh goodness.

Well that left us with having to buy very little by all means furniture wise. So my only crisis was picking out a bedspread, which at the time I didn't even care about. I was just worried about my parents leaving me in this strange place filled with moose. (I've actually never did see one, shame eh.)

Life.com

Anyways, so as you can see we were all flying high in Canada. Now fast forward two years and I've stepped onto American soil and a completely new ballgame. As I've mentioned before, my new University does not provide dorms of any sort, rather they help us find an apartment around the area. They provided pretty precise booklets that listed price, size, distance.. pretty much anything relevant. That booklet completely saved my life, as did YouTube. No joke. Guys YouTube is also good for finding little videos on apartment complexes, who knew.


Blog.oddcast.com

So! After finding a perfect apartment, I also found a great roommate and I was set! Moving to the States was pretty easy, I just packed basically every article of clothing I owned into three very large suitcases (maybe not every article) and hopped on a plane with my family. Arriving at the completely bare apartment was a breath of fresh air, I could for the first time in my life decide every last bit of detail in my room and kitchen and dining area. It was crazy.

IKEA became my best friend. Not going to lie. Target had some pretty sweet deals on desks at the time too. But IKEA is like crazy amazing. I think that was my first time in that store, and it blew me away. I wish they had a better online shopping thing going on, but oh well, it's probably for the better hey.

My tips for moving into an apartment? Make sure you have a good means of transportation for moving everything in. I mean IKEA is pretty sweet making a bed fit in a tiny little box, but you can't always count on that. And buy some tools! You'll find a few things around the house might need fixing up. Make a list, and if your apartment's management is as amazing as ours they'll send someone over to deal with it. And at the end of your term you won't have to pay for things you didn't break! Win win right? Above all! Plan out and keep track of all the things you've bought. Especially if you were like me and moving into a brand new empty space, new University and all that jazz.. your going to be buying a ton of stuff. Make sure it all fits! Put love in the space yeah :)


kategale.wordpress.com

Because A College Student Watches Youtube Videos Part II

2011-01-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

With the end of 2010 behind us and the beginning of 2011 along its way, most of you music lovers must have seen all the "Best Albums/Artists/Songs" of 2010 plastered all over the interweb. Amirite?

Well! I've gone through some of the mainstream charts and while there are definitely a few crazy good songs making it on there.. I myself prefer the indie scene.

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One such chart in said 'indie scene' is on Stereogum. Now most of you chaps probably recognize this site, it's a great reference point for anything related to the Indie music scene, news, mp3's.. basically a crazy cool site. Check it out! 

Another favourite of mine that isn't so much along the lines of indie but rather a whole mass of people just loving music is Hype Machine. This site is crazy popular but the reason I bring them up here is that their end of year chart is off the hook. They've featured some remixes that they say "are the most popular" of that year on their amazing site, but too be honest who cares even if they weren't?! These songs are a great sense of the music industry these days, a part of this huge media monster that doesn't get to shine as much as the multi-million artists we worship these days. So check that site out too!


tristateindie.com

Guys want to know a crazy music fact? The guy that just created/produced the beat for Brit's new "Hold It Against Me" track also is behind Ke$ha and Katy Perry AND he is super known in the dubstep community. That same community is crazy amazing and talented and I can guarantee you that we'll be seeing a lot more of that style, especially now with Brit's single doing so well.

That's all for now! Have a great Thursday-day-before-Friday day fellas!

The Return!

2011-01-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome back!

I have been away for a long time and have finally made the long trek back to the US of A. My vacation was amazing.. So amazing in fact I didn't want to leave but I just keep reminding myself I'm this much closer to Graduation!

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Well, down to the nitty gritty. This will be a rather personal post folkies. See the past couple of days I've been thinking a lot about my future. And like any normal young adult.. I've been panicking. See I've got this crazy decision to make.. After graduating I have the option to live in the States for an additional year, working in the field of my degree and basically gaining a ton of experience and creating a nice foundation for my career. Now here's the problem..

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I have lived away from home since the age of 16. The first two years were spent in the beautiful British Columbia of Canada, and now at the age of 18, almost a full year in the States. I love my parents unconditionally for giving me these amazing opportunities, studying in three different continents and countries by the age of 18 is an experience many would give a lot for, but it has gotten to the point where I just want to go home.

I know, I know.. how could I?! How could I possibly even dream of giving up the chance for living in the states an extra year to do what I love?! I would be crazy to give up this opportunity and when it comes to this time next year maybe I won't; but at the moment I'd be hard to convince that it is the right choice.

See I believe I should hurry straight back home after grad. Not just because I miss my family like crazy but because I think why not start investing my time in a place where I believe I will spend the rest of my life? I love my home, I love my island, I love my country. I would like to do what I love and make money for it with my family nearby. These days the closest I get to them is a computer screen and a microphone.. and that's just not enough sometimes.

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Basically I'm making the decision that I may live to regret for the rest of my life in a year. Or.. I could be making the decision that I live to love for the rest of my life. Either way, I just hope for a happy ending.

Christmas Break!

2010-12-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Does anyone love exams?

Via earlycollegeofalaska.org

Didn't think so.

Personally I would like to thank, yes I said thank, whom-so-ever created these delightful things because not only does it give me an excuse to stay up past my bedtime, but it adds to my junk cupboard. Anyone noticed how staying up late only increases that urge for everything bad for us?

Via crazyvish.wordpress.com

And I mean everything.

Via Myspace.com

So it is exam time. In Canada the streets would be empty around now, all the students locked in their room with only a lone Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich to keep them company. A wolf howls in the distance, you can hear the crickets chirping..

No but seriously those kids like to study.

Now University is a different ballgame. You've got the kids who know everything already, the kids who pretend they know everything already, and the kids who just know nothing. Somewhere between there are the average folks. The folks who study enough to move onto the next month. The folks who you can count on.

I don't have to many of those folks in my class it seems.

Facebook is littered with invitations to parties, splashed across my homepage are pictures of these parties, and don't even get me started on the drunk comments.

Needless to say I am one of the few 'nerds'. For the second time in my life I'm really giving it my all, studying for 6-8 hours at a time and it's working! But I am still a normal person. And to be honest, I can not WAIT to go home.

T-minus 3 days and 10 hours people.

Via exploreislandsnow.com

How 'bout That Healthcare!?

2010-12-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

I've heard such crazy debate on the health care situation in America.
So I was a little nervous when it came to my situation as an international student with the flu.
Well we drove for a couple of hours. Got turned away a couple of times. Weren't even given options a couple of more times. But eventually we stopped at a nearby clinic with an amazing nurse who made some calls for us and got us on our way.
Oh gosh were my parents relieved.
And me too! Seeing as it is my health and all.
It wasn't just that no-one even recognized my health insurance card, but some receptionists didn't even look up before they muttered a heavy "no". If it wasn't for that one nurse who cared, even though there was a full waiting room behind me, we would probably still be searching six months later!
So yes! We got turned down a million and one times, but we found what we were looking for thanks to just one person! It made the journey so much more worthwhile.

Long Time No Sleep

2010-12-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

Sooo I haven't posted in a while.

Yeap.
My student life has gone from somewhat sociable, to downright hermit. This month we have been swamped with an illegal amount of work and my stress level which is normally a low 0, has hyped up to at least a mid 90. Basically, I'm fried.

I understand that we are taking an advanced course, thereby cutting down a four year degree into two, and yes that is an awesome deal. But seven days a week of school from 9 in the morning to 9 at night?! Come on!

Regrettably, I'm no superwoman. Not even close. And these classes are by golly tough enough. Then again.. it is Christmas everybody!

Via 365-days-of-christmas.blogspot.com

Can you believe that is a 7up ad! It looks so joyful.

P.s.
Picture of the Day!

Via worth1000.com

..That's what I thought.
Happy 1st of December!

Because A College Student Watches Youtube Videos

2010-11-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

Meg and Dia

Via chaarmmaander.tumblr.com

A line-up at a local hot spot for bands had these girls featured and it wasn't till I got home that I remembered why the name was so familiar.

Stumbling a couple of weeks ago I ran across this video that I absolutely fell in love with, like head over heels first puppy kinda love. No joke.

I'm sure your all wondering who they are.. and I've got you covered no worries!

Here's the video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z42QJ1i3e4

And if you really do like them (told ya!) here's their web page!

http://www.meganddia.com/

Be sure to check them out if they play in a town near you!

Thanksgiving!

2010-11-26T10:33:00.000-08:00

While I was busy doing my regular nothing, thousands of college students were traveling cross country to make it home in time for the annual "eat until you pop" holiday. Known to Americans and Canadians as Thanksgiving, I simply thought of it as turkey season. Seeing as I have no family within a billion miles, I decided to celebrate the only way I know how.. Eat!

Over at the grocery store, the scene resembled a natural disaster; but I quite enjoyed shuffling around the frantic looking families strung out over the size of the turkey and the size of their oven, or little Johnny pulling down boxes of peas while his dad is busy grumbling over his wife's handwriting and how shopping for pie crusts really isn't a mans job.

Via chanel4.com

Well I made it safely back to our apartment and after settling my purchases on the counter, I sat down to gather my thoughts. I really really wanted to participate in the Americans version of Thanksgiving, but my taste buds were seriously achin' for some grilled shrimp.

So I veered off course a little.

Two hours later of searching up recipes online, I decided to go at it alone. My thinking was if the Indians could do it, I might be able to. Half an hour later I had some chopped potatoes boiling, biscuits in the oven, vegetables washed and the shrimp garnished. There even was a little carrot cake waiting nearby! I couldn't believe it. So I snapped some pictures and voila! With my feast assembled I laid the table, turned on some Michael Bublé and had an amazing night.

Too be honest I was a little down having to celebrate a holiday known for its merriment by myself. But when I thought about it.. I was taking part in one of THE most traditional holidays in America. Millions of other families were doing exactly what I was doing at that moment, and I couldn't help but feel just a little patriotic. Even though I'm not from America, doesn't mean I can't feel America.

It's something I won't forget for some time.

$ Movie

2010-11-23T18:40:00.000-08:00

Every college student seems to develop an uncanny sense for the cheapest ways to have fun. Tonight that will be put to the test.

We will be paying a visit to the local dollar movie theatre! First timer here, so looking forward to the unexpected. And the hobos. Always the hobos.

*Update*

So the ticket was legit $1. Which I guess is how much their audio system cost. Harsh, but I'm an audio snob fresh outta rehab. Wouldn't recommend it as a date place! Rather go buy some bread and feed the ducks in a nearby park. Much cuter and nicer smelling.

Via elizabethannedesigns.com

A Preface..

2010-11-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

You should understand that I am not your typical college student, legal alien or not. I will graduate with a Bachelors of Science in two years, and I have yet to live in a college dorm splurging on garnished Ramon noodles and fighting off sleep by indulging in Red Bulls at 3 o'clock in the morning while my roommate is making out with her boyfriend/girlfriend in the bed five feet away.

Via iPhoneo.info

Tragic I know.

And my knowledge of University is really only based 90% from boarding school in Vancouver Island, Canada, and 10% from Hollywood blockbusters (obvs HW blockbusters are the more legit choice here).

None the less, you picked up this story for a reason. A reason I do respect, though do not fully comprehend, so please feel free to share in the comments if you will.

I moved to Vancouver at the ripe ol' age of sixteen, met people from around the world whom I hope to never forget. More importantly, I developed an accent that I am quite proud of. (Needless to say I do draw out my eh, at any chance I can if you please). Canadians were a wonderful bunch and have quite convinced me to find a home in the shadows of my old school when I am settled and not in debt.

All this is a preface to my beginnings as a college student in America...

I promise.

Living as a legal alien has its flaws. Only one of which I've run across in that it is seriously hard to find a sweepstakes in which I fit the rules. Sigh.

Via cardiganempire.com

But truthfully, it is hard.

Going through the process of intense education while still trying to convince yourself that you really did make the right decision in moving to a new country, college, home.. is never a tasty blend. No strawberries and whip cream for me, more apples and mayonnaise.

This blog will be an endless tirade of learning. My trials at being an A+ student are on a stand for the world to see. Not a very tall stand, at the moment I have a big fat Easter egg reader, and he doesn't seem very entranced.

Forgive me I have dawdled.

I hope through this blog I can provide insights to you, your mum, a sister, brother, once-removed parrot.. anything and anyone that has enough time on their hands to read this I feel blessed and thank you for being so lenient with me.

Via ask.metafilter.com