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By Surmayee T., on April 4th, 2011 Hey there, Golden Bears!
It has been a crazy two weeks at Berkeley! The weather has been absolutely fantastic (it was raining all of Spring Break -_-) but the sun has been shining non stop ever since and I couldn’t be happier! I’m definitely a summer girl and well, there are numerous patches of grass scattered all around Berkeley (I personally prefer the Foothill Octagon… it’s too much of a walk elsewhere for this lazy girl!) namely Memorial Glade and whether its studying, playing frisbee or just chilling in the sun, you are bound to have a great time.
But what I’m really here to blog about is my recent experience with one of the annual campus events. Now Berkeley is rich in opportunities of every kind, be it creative, active, service oriented or academic. I had the fortune of witnessing the coming together of over a 1000 Berkeley students to raise funds for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation. If you haven’t heard of Dance Marathon, the nation wide philanthropic event for the Foundation, give it a quick google search. The results will astound you. This year alone, UC Berkeley students raised over $50,000! These were some really incredible results!
Now, I got talked into participating in this event by one of my friends, with whom I shared a mutual love for dance and all things associated with it. I pledged as a Dance Marathon VIP to dance for 12 hours and raise a minimum of $50. I found out a couple of weeks ago that the marathon was going to be from 8PM – 8AM on a Friday night, and I’ll admit, I was terrified. I thought it was disrupt so much of my life and take up so much effort, but I had pledged and I was going to follow through. Let me tell you this, Golden Bears, those 12 hours of my life were indescribable.
It was just one giant dance party, complete with finger foods, killer DJs, a bouncy castle, arcade games, astounding performances, inspiring speeches, and a Nintendo Wii with Just Dance 2 and Rockband next to arts and crafts tables. The best part? You didn’t have to be crazy like me and stay for all 12 hours (although I can’t explain the feeling of watching the sunrise from Pauley Ballroom knowing that we made it through 12 hours of dance). You can stay for as little time or as much time as you want! Your experience of Dance Marathon is totally up to you.
I encourage you to participate next year if you didn’t this year. It’s just one of the MANY opportunities here at Berkeley to do some good and have fun doing it (and make a ton of new friends!) It was definitely one of my most epic nights so far here at Berkeley!
Go Bears!
Surmayee
By Surmayee T., on January 31st, 2011 Hey guys!
So here we are, two weeks into Spring 2011, and I still can’t believe I’m here. I only have a few more months until my first year here is done! This time, last year, I had sent off all my applications and was anxiously waiting on the results. I have to say, the anticipation was killer, so for all you applicants out there, sitting nervously and waiting out for that envelope, try to relax. Its hard, but you still have a couple of months of high school left, so you should definitely try and enjoy them because you’re never going to get these months back.
Meanwhile, I cannot stop thinking about how gorgeous this place is. It’s not unusual to see me walking around campus randomly stopping mid walk, whipping out my phone and taking a picture. I live up in Foothill (it’s not that bad a walk, I promise!) and we have cherry blossoms just springing up here and it looks perfect! Pretty as a postcard! All my friends in the UK are super jealous (they get cold, grey, dark, rainy etc etc) and we get beautiful weather. Yeah, they’re definitely jealous.
Sadly though, nothing can detract from the stress of the semester. I mean, I know that it was definitely going to come back, it just didn’t take as long this time. Last semester, it was that new, fresh feeling that had us smiling while walking to and from classes, asking smart questions in class and just enjoying the atmosphere at Cal. Then we hit midterm season and the real stresses began. This semester, the new, fresh feeling lasted a whole two days and then we were back to nose to the grindstone. BUT of course, it’s not all bad! (when is it ever, right?) I started this semester with a giant smile on my face because I was seeing all my friends again. And it has been amazing so far. While the work load came back much quicker this time, so did the amazing feeling of being with my friends and suitemates. It was so easy to slip back into this routine, and I did it without any qualms at all.
Now that I’m used to the level of work expected here, I find myself able to think about getting involved with various different groups on campus. Just this weekend, I auditioned for two dance groups on campus, and regardless of whether or not I get the spot, I’m so happy I did it. The experience was well worth it. The rest of this week is also filled with general meetings, committee applications and various infosessions, so I am more than excited to kick off this semester right. Personally, I think you all should go out there and just see what there is to do! I don’t have a single doubt that you’ll find something just right for you.
Hope the rest of you are enjoying this lovely, picturesque weather just as much as I am!
Go Bears!!
By Surmayee T., on November 3rd, 2010 Hey guys!
So if you’re like me and are a naive little freshman, tentatively taking steps forward in college life, then you’ll know that midterms in your mind mean exactly that: mid – terms. Unfortunately, I learned a slightly unpleasant lesson here rather quickly: midterms come around every month or so… not every term. Of course, I had a giant panic attack, I’m not used to being under such stressful conditions for extended periods of time but honestly, you look back and realize that it’s not as bad as you think.
Ok, I lie. It’s exactly as bad as you think it is at the time. But at the same time I learnt this incredible thing: I am not alone. Everyone has midterm stress! So if what it takes to “chillax” is having a study party in a friend’s dorm for hours on end, go for it! Believe it or not, working in that kind of environment really helps me since we all just motivate each other to work. And every once in a while, when the mood gets super tense and serious, we’ll do something stupid. Chuck a pillow at each other. Watch a funny video. Even go down to the Cub Market just for a break, and maybe some late night! I can honestly say, after two rounds of midterms, I would not have been able to get through without my friends.
This brings me to my second point for today. I didn’t realize exactly how terrifying being here by myself, miles away from home, was going to be. Sure, the beginning was awesome and super exciting, but every so often I miss my friends and family! And this is to be expected! But thankfully, I have some amazing suitemates and friends around the campus who get me through my period of homesickness. It was incredible how quickly I bonded with these people, be it over dryers that didn’t work or over how horrible yesterday’s lab was. So don’t be scared of what’s ahead, friends. The support system here is astounding, and the time you build it in is unbelievable. I got so incredibly lucky to have such reliable and wonderful friends, and you will be as lucky as me too!
I can’t believe how close it already is to the end of the semester! Just over a month and I’ll be boarding a plane for a 14 hour plane ride home. I almost don’t want to think about it, I absolutely adore walkingthrough campus and staring at the gorgeous Campanile and I’ll miss that, even for a month! My friend mentioned how it was impossible to take a bad picture of the Campanile and it is SO TRUE. Here’s the most recent one I’ve taken for your viewing pleasure.
I apologize for the awful quality, it was taken off my phone. Isn’t she a beaut?
But yes, I cannot believe semester’s almost over. Where did the time go?!
That’s all from me today, enjoy the lovely weather (despite it’s moodiness) and don’t let midterms stress you out too much!
GO BEARS!
Surmayee
PS: I have a ridiculous number of pictures of squirrels on my phone too. They’re adorable!
PPS: Also went to my first football game this semester. In-cre-di-ble. Cannot wait for the Big Game!
By Surmayee T., on August 30th, 2010 Hey guys,
So if you couldn’t tell by my title, I am FINALLY at Cal!! Woot, woot, go Bears!!
It’s been a pretty exciting two weeks. For an international student like me, orientation was pretty informative (Berklish 101, anyone?) and I also got to meet a whole bunch of people who, just like me, had dived into American culture head first. This is my first trip to the States, and I am loving it!
Can I just mention how much I’m loving Cal too? I’ve been here for just over a week, and already walking through campus I feel like I belong here and I just cant help but smile! It’s crazy, but Lower Sproul, Sather Gate, the Campanile… all things I’d heard about so much but never, ever seen and now they’re right here! There’s something in hearing the bells of the Campanile throughout the day that instills a sense of euphoria in me. (Ask me again in two weeks, when all the bells will remind me of is that I have class and homework due, and I may have a different reaction  )
I managed to do my laundry and not make my clothes pink, which was definitely an achievement. Motivation is no issue either, I’m surrounded by people exactly like me, we work hard but we make time to play a hand of cards in the common room every so often. Being on my own is definitely a pretty liberating feeling. Being completely in charge of my own time, even my own clothes, for the first time is terrifying, but we have some pretty awesome “parties” down in the laundry room if I do say so myself. You’d be surprised at the number of bumbling students just like me who’ve never reaaaaally had to do their laundry before!
So here I am, Cal, just about as ready as I can be.
From my own short experience, I can tell you, if you’re new here, like me, go get lost on campus. It’s probably the best thing that could happen to you right now 
You see, I’m so excited to be here that even my thoughts seem slightly disconnected!
I can’t wait to explore some more, but for now, I should head back to my desk. All that reading to do!!
Hope you’re all enjoying yourself,
Go Bears!
Surmayee
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