First week of school

First week of school here in Mizzou, and I am already stressing out. Whoever said that American students are slack must be slackers themselves. Because it is simply not true. Well at least for the classes that I am taking here. So far, I've had to read about 50 pages of readings and have three papers due next week and one test next week and have to fight to participate during class discussions because if you don't then eveyone else will (it's 20%-30% of the entire semester grade so I have to...). And lecture really means lecture here. There are so many ideas and opinions flowing around during the lecture that you really have to pay attention in order to follow them. It's like Cherian George's journalism class back in CS, but 3 times more intensive because almost everyone is talking one after the other. Hopefully I will get used to all these. And for my International Journalism we get spot quizzes every week on current international news so I have to read all these:

Clockwise from top left: The New York Times (for international news), USA Today (for the nation's domestic news), Columbia Missourian (for local news), and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (for regional, state news). Thank God they are FREE! But I pity the cleaning lady who clears the dustbin outside everyday.

The professor of this class visit and lectured at WKWSCI 5 or 6 years ago and it was amusing to hear him refer to the dean of WKWSCI "Peng Hwa". He's a cool, albeit old, professor.

The best thing about being in the Journalism School in Missouri is that although it may be situated in a small town, the world of journalism comes right to the doorstep. We have alot of exciting events lined up, including the Pictures of the Year Award (which is the world's first photojournalism award), and you are sure to know that Heath Ledger died (omg) like one hour after it happened. So Columbia is freaking ulu, but important enough in the journalism world.

And if you haven't read Eveline's blog, books here are really expensive. So far I've spent SGD200 just on books alone. And that is only because I didn't have to buy some other books that are really really expensive. Like SGD100 per book. Imagine if I have to buy all of them. I think I will spent at least SGD500 just on books alone if I have to. So I'm counting my lucky stars.

I've just bought my ticket to a basketball match of the Mizzou Tigers against Nebraska next Wednesday. I plan to watch all the American sporting events in Mizzou at least once each. Too bad the American football season is over, but the baseball season is starting in Spring.

Some random pictures for you all, but nothing fantastic since it's still freaking cold here (it was -13 degrees C this morning).

My roomie's current love: she just bought it two days ago. For USD1200.

What I had for breakfast. Balance is the key.

Ciao Bella.