First week at University

I have survived my first 7 days as a student!!! :) I must confess, it seems to be more work than I'd expected, but it is really interesting and my first impression of my fellow students has so far been confirmed: most of them are extremely nice! Not that I already know them that well yet, but I feel comfortable and I guess that's all that counts at the moment, isn't it?
Having passed the Fresher's Test, I don't have to take any additional classes, which is quite a relief - after all, I am determined not to make the same mistake again and life only for school...

Hmm.. it's weird- right now, I don't know what to write! There were so many new impressions and I got to know so many new things, but somehow I can't put it into words - not to mention that most of it would not be interesting to anyone who doesn't know these people or is not at our university...

Just one more thing: I know I've promised some more pictures of America, but at the moment (or for the last few weeks...) it is not working and I've gotten kicked out of the internet several times when trying to upload some images - so, sorry about that, you won't get to see anything in the near future - hope you'll survive! ;)

The end of an exciting year...

Here I am now, looking back on 13 months that have passed so fast but still seem like an eternity - I can hardly believe how much has happened ever since I finished high school!
My first trip to the United States all by myself which was a big adventure and gave me the opportunity to really get to know this part of my family; the job at UBS which was anything else than fun but taught me to appreciate the freedom I actually have and is something I can put on my CV...; then of course Cambridge which was the time of my life!!! I can't put it into other words because that's how I feel about these 3 months - now it's like a dream, something unreal, because I don't see all these people anymore (at least not daily) and I know that I won't ever be able to go back there and feel the same again - so I just have to save all the memories of every great moment...; and ever since I got back in June, my life has changed in many ways - I've met new people, worked on projects, enjoyed life in general (not mentioning all the money I've spent...;)) - to put it short, I have had experiences I'll never forget that have made me cry, laugh, scream, think and I guess also made me grow up a lot! It is amazing how many different people have walked in and out of my life and as the saying goes, some of them have left footprints in my heart - some of them in Zurich, some of them in America, a lot of them in Cambridge...

I think the biggest change in my life was that I've learnt to overcome my insecurity and shyness (believe it or not!!) and be more open towards new things. In a song I like a lot they sing "I never felt this way before, I'm scared but still want more..." and this is exactly what has happened to me several times! Instead of running away (as I would have done before...) I really wanted to get to know the unknown and this has opened the door to a completely new world... sounds stupid now, sorry! but it leads me to where this blog started, the song that has given it its title: The road ahead... "The road ahead is empty;It's paved, with miles of the unknown; Whatever seems to be your destination - Take life the way it comes, take life the way it is"

Yesterday evening, I was invited to a friend's house for dinner together with 7 other people who used to be in my year at high school. I've known them all for quite some time and like them all a lot, but in a way I was always aware of the fact that they were all in the same class and I was not and therefore I felt comfortable in their company but also only accepted - until yesterday! During this past year, each of us has done different things, had different experiences, become more of an individual and now, two days before we all start off into a new part of life at different departments of our university, I got the impression that we were one group, I was part of this group just as anyone else and I realized how much these people mean to me. Somehow this struck me as important because it gives me the security that whatever happens in the near future, there are some people I can count on a hundred percent and it puts me under less pressure to get to know new people at university... I mean, I still find it positive that I can start new tomorrow without anybody knowing me and everything, but now I don't absolutely have to find good and close friends there...

Don't ask me why I'm suddenly writing this very personal text (I hope I won't regret publishing it... :)), I just felt as if I had to mark the end of this very special year! Because, hey! tomorrow, university starts and with it, a new and hopefully exciting stage of my life... I'll tell you all about it if you want to read on... :)

University, here I come!

Wow, today was another big day in my life! I was not really aware of how much it meant until yesterday evening when I suddenly started to get nervous...
Anyway, I'm talking about the "Freshers' day", an information day for all those who are new to our department (so called Freshers - like me). After quite a lot of difficulties with the booking of my modules during the last few weeks (the University of Zurich now uses the new Bologna system with Bachelor and Master stages - but since we are the first year to follow this programme, they don't even know how everything should work themselves...), I was extremely curious to hear about my studies directly and not only over the internet. And of course I couldn't wait to get to know my future study colleagues... The moment I entered the lecture room this morning, I felt rather insecure, not knowing anybody and not being familiar with this new environment. But immediately, all my fears changed into some kind of positive curiosity and all the people I looked at seemed so nice! Most of them were women (all in all we saw 4 male students today...!!!) and everybody was talking to each other, helping others although we were all new and alone - I got the impression that my studies will take place in a very down-to-earth kind of environment, where no one has to pretend to be something they aren't and most people are friendly, natural, respectful without keeping this superficial distance... don't know how to explain it, I just felt so comfortable and almost at home!!! :)

However, in terms of my subsidiary subject (which I originally planned to be comparative studies of Roman languages) I'm back to square one: I found out (one week before studies start!!!) that they require students to know 6 (!!!) Roman languages in order to choose this subject... Come ON! Do I have to say anything more to that? I'll have to go to the student advisor of the Roman language department next week to ask her how serious this all is, otherwise I'll have to look for a different subject...

But hey! I'll just start on Monday and see what happens! If there's anything I've learnt during this last year, it is that I don't have to be afraid of what life has in store for me - there are so many adventures to live, so many lessons to learn and I want to experience it all...

Finally!! First Picture of our USA-trip!

Ladies and gentlemen, here they are:

Crrrrispus Bulfinch and the one and only Fiona!!!








Check back for more pix soon!

Lovebugs

After weeks of problems with the internet, I'm finally back and able to post something- though no pictures! :( Somehow it's not working... well, promised, you'll get to see pictures of our USA-trip as soon as possible!
But let me tell you something else instead: one week ago, Corinna (I'm not going to call her Fiona anymore, we're back in Switzerland... ;)) and I went to a concert by the Swiss band Lovebugs. It was in a club in Zürich, the Kaufleuten (Olga, does this remind you of something?;)), and therefore in a more personal atmosphere. I had never seen them live and I must say, it was great! Although I didn't know all the songs they played (which I normally can't stand when I go to a concert...), I enjoyed every second of it - a confirmation that Switzerland has artists that can easily compete with international superstars! :)
Before the band came on stage, a guy announced them as "the band who has already played in front of many thousands of people (at the Rolling Stones concert a few months ago) but now plays just for you - Zürich, put your hands up for Basel!!"... and for once in my life, I did just that... :)
It was interesting to see that there were all kinds of different people at this concert, screaming teenage girls, groups of people of about our age, couples, entire families - apparently, this band appeals not only to a stereotypical kind of person, which in my opinion is a real good thing!

I am realising once again how hard it is to describe what a concert was like - no one who was not there will ever really understand what I'm talking about and the goosebumps I got when they played "Avalon" will only make sense to one person... so that's it for today! I'll try again soon with the pix! :)