26 April 2010
East Bay Vivarium!

This poor guy was trying to go under that huge branch...or maybe he was trying to lift it. Anyways, in both cases, he failed. Twice. Yes, he went around the branch, then doubled back and tried again. Talk about perseverance.
Continue reading "East Bay Vivarium! " »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:54 | Permalink
09 April 2010
A Breath of Fresh Air
Anyways, wasn't the weather amazing today? The sun was shining and squirrels were scampering everywhere. My dad and my little brother came up to visit us today since it's my brother's spring break. We went out to dinner on Northside and then to Safeway to buy some groceries. It's amazing how much stuff you can buy when you have access to a car. Normally, we only buy as much food as we can carry. So today, my sister and I pretty much stocked up on everything nonperishable. Our plan is to not have to go grocery shopping until after finals, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. Let's see how long we last.
Continue reading "A Breath of Fresh Air" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:02 | Permalink
07 March 2010
Take a Break!
Anyways, take a break from all that studying, if only for an hour or two! Trust me, it'll help. :)
Continue reading "Take a Break!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 5:36 | Permalink
26 February 2010
Inspiration
Anyways, for the past month or so, I've been feeling less motivated than usual. It seems like everyone around me has so many plans and is so well prepared for the future. All I could think about was everything I should be doing, resulting in nothing being done. I wish I had a guardian angel who encouraged me and kept me on my toes. I'm sorry to admit that I've been pushing away my depressing thoughts by baking batches upon batches of cookies...and eating them all. I've officially become the Cookie Monster.
Continue reading "Inspiration" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:50 | Permalink
07 February 2010
Back to Simplicity
This semester I'm taking General Microbiology (PMB C112), General Microbiology Lab, and Bioethics and Society (ESPM 162). I'm also a UGSI for Prep Lab and I'm still in my research lab. So far, classes have been pretty good. I'm really happy that I'm finally taking the class that defines my major, microbiology. Now I can finally tell people what I think of my major.
Continue reading "Back to Simplicity" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:27 | Permalink
19 January 2010
Chicago Trip
Continue reading "Chicago Trip" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:54 | Permalink
12 December 2009
Tips to Help you Focus
1) Listen to music
I know a lot of people already do this, but listening to upbeat music that keeps you awake doesn't necessarily help you focus on your studying. I like listening to instrumental music, so there are no lyrics to distract me. Instrumental music also has a great calming effect.
2) Drink something, but don't eat anything
I always try to convince myself that eating M&Ms while studying will help me focus. It doesn't. I wind up being more interested in eating the chocolate than trying to understand the physics problem. When you eat, you actually read more slowly, which makes your studying less effective. Drinking coffee, tea, or even hot water, however, helps me to focus. My logic is: drink more fluids --> body functions better --> you'll feel better --> you'll be able to concentrate on whatever you're studying!
Continue reading "Tips to Help you Focus" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:41 | Permalink
26 November 2009
Mendocino Fieldtrip
So this past weekend, I went to Mendocino with my California Mushrooms class. The cabins were infinitely better than the ones at the Redwood Forest, but the mushroom hunting was much more exciting at Redwood Forest.
Continue reading "Mendocino Fieldtrip" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 1:18 | Permalink
15 November 2009
Redwood Forest

The cabins were ice-cold! I actually spent Saturday night sleeping in a chair in the dining hall because it was warmer in there.
Continue reading "Redwood Forest" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:15 | Permalink
26 October 2009
Final Decision
Continue reading "Final Decision" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:15 | Permalink
18 October 2009
Decisions, Part II
Anyways, I've been trying to plan out my schedule for my remaining semesters. I still have to take PMB C112/L (General Microbiology), MCB 104 (Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Bio), MCB C148 (Microbial Genetics and Genomics), and 2 electives. For my electives, I really want to take Biology of Fungi and Biology of Algae, but neither one is offered next spring, so I might take Soil Microbiology, instead. I'm currently in a research lab that's 4 units a semester, so that more than 12 hours/ week. Starting from next semester, I'm probably going to be a UGSI for the Prep Lab class, which is either 1 or 2 units. So I'm down for at least 5 units a semester already. I work at least 10 hours a week. I'm also premed, so I have to think about allocating time to do med school apps next fall semester. I'd love some advice on any of these classes! Please and thank you!
Continue reading "Decisions, Part II" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 5:31 | Permalink
15 October 2009
Thank heavens it rained!
Yesterday, I was just walking to class and I spotted these gorgeous marshmallow-looking mushrooms! They were white with a dark brown center and covered in small brown fibrils. I wish I took a picture of them, but they're in the lab drying now and by the time I get them back, they'll look quite different from when they were fresh. I can't remember the name of those off the top of my head, so I'll just leave you guys to wonder.
Continue reading "Thank heavens it rained!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:39 | Permalink
13 October 2009
Decisions, Decisions...
So I met with my advisor, Trey, this past Friday. After looking over my DARS report, he told me that I only had 5 more courses to take in order to graduate! The only problem is that I can't decide whether I should graduate early or spread out those 5 classes over the next 3 semesters. Most of the people I've asked said they wouldn't graduate a semester early.
Continue reading "Decisions, Decisions..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:36 | Permalink
20 September 2009
Mushroom Hunting
Some type of Agaricus, I think...
Continue reading "Mushroom Hunting" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:40 | Permalink
12 September 2009
Berkeley Farmers' Market
http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/
So the one that my sister and I went to today is located about a block down Center from the Downtown Berkeley Bart Station. We went around 10 am, but there were already quite a few people there. There were a variety of vendors, offering fresh produce, fruit, fresh baked bread, and even beeswax candles! We wandered through the entire farmers' market once to see everything and then turned around to make some purchases. Since most of the fruit and vegetables are certified organic and locally grown, they were a bit on the expensive side. Even thought the produce is extremely fresh, I wasn't sure I'd be able to taste the difference between a $2.00/lb tomato and a $0.67/lb tomato. So instead of buying all our groceries there, we tried to buy stuff that we wouldn't be able to find at Safeway.
Continue reading "Berkeley Farmers' Market" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:45 | Permalink
05 September 2009
Edible Fungi
On another note, I also detest eating mushrooms. Luckily, we don't have to eat mushrooms in this class. Anyways, I'm always raving about how amazing Cheeseboard Pizza is, so I asked my sister when she wanted to go. She chose yesterday to go to Cheeseboard because they were serving Cremini Mushroom Pizza. Unlike me, my sister loves mushrooms and usually takes all the mushrooms I don't want. I was going to be brave and trust that everything at Cheeseboard is good, including mushroom pizza, but in the end, I opted to eat a load of Kudos bars, instead. Oops.
Continue reading "Edible Fungi" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 5:39 | Permalink
23 August 2009
Back in Berkeley!
I've been meaning to post pictures from the last time I was in Berkeley for my sister's CalSO. My mom and I stayed at the Berkeley Marina DoubleTree Hotel. The scenery was beautiful! We were only about ten steps from the water!
Continue reading "Back in Berkeley!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:54 | Permalink
21 August 2009
THE MCAT
The only good thing I can say is that at least it's over. I'll get the results in about 1 month, so from now til then, I'll just try to forget it. I'm probably going to take it, again...perhaps over winter break. Maybe my reading comprehension will magically go up a few points from reading Biochem...one can only hope.
Today's my last day in SoCal...well, technically, tomorrow is since we're leaving for Berkeley at 4 am. Anyways, enjoy the last few days of summer!!!
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:37 | Permalink
14 August 2009
Panic!!!
Although medical schools tend to look at your highest MCAT score, people generally take it twice, at most. Scores are good for up to three years. I just really want to score well on my first time and have this over with. I know the medical schools look at other stuff besides the MCAT score, but it still plays a very significant part in your admission. I actually ran into a retired UCLA medical school admissions officer at the library the other day. I didn't get to ask her anything, though, since we were in the restroom and it would've been kind of awkward to detain her with my questions.
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:23 | Permalink
08 August 2009
Productive Boredom
I was supposed to be studying yesterday, but I spent about an hour or so playing on this website, instead. On the bright side, because of my boredom, over 3000 grains of rice are going to be donated to help end hunger! Plus, I learned a bunch of cool new words! My new favorite word is footle, which means 'to waste time.' "I footled so much today." "Stop footling!" I just think it's a hilarious word.
So next time you're bored, go on this website, learn some new vocab, and help end hunger! Tip: if the word looks weird, it's most likely an animal. Gerenuk=gazelle. Who knew? I certainly didn't.
Wow! I just found out that you can select between a variety of subjects, so not just vocab! They have art, geography, and even language learning!! How awesome is that? I think I'll go try out the Italian one now. I want to go to Italy someday.
Continue reading "Productive Boredom" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:10 | Permalink
30 July 2009
Prep for Cal!
1. get a credit card
I know a lot of us out there have credit cards that our parents gave us, but it's really important to have your own credit card issued from your own bank account in order to build credit. I remember trying to apply for a credit card after my senior year of high school, but I kept getting rejected because I had no credit. I finally had to walk into the bank, sit down, and talk to someone to set up a student checking account. This is much easier than trying to do it online or anything, because chances are, you won't be able to.
2. Visit the Tang Center
The Tang Center is the university's health services building. It's located on Bancroft, about 2 blocks down from Telegraph. I'm not sure if it's on the checklist of things you guys have to do, but it's really important to give them a copy of your health and immunization record. You'll also be issued a "gold card" if you paid for SHIP. I'm not sure if you get one if you're not on SHIP. I know SHIP costs a lot, but my mom's logic is that if anything happens to me in Berkeley, it's much more convenient and accessible to depend on the Tang Center and pay the SHIP fees, instead of dealing with a whole mess of equivalent insurance later on. I would also recommend getting a meningitis shot.
Continue reading "Prep for Cal!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:22 | Permalink
24 June 2009
MCAT classes
-Physical Sciences
-Verbal
-Writing (2 essays)
-Biological Sciences
The four sections basically cover all the premed reqs. The test takes about 5 hours to complete, with 10 minute breaks between each section. Notice that half the test isn't even science! You get 30 minutes to write each essay. I think that's where I have the most trouble on. I've always despised in-class essays because I can never come up with the correct word or how to phrase it the way I want in that short period of time. In college, when I write papers, I take at least a week to organize everything and write a million drafts.
Continue reading "MCAT classes" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:16 | Permalink
27 May 2009
Motivation for Summer
I just started reviewing today. I was supposed to start yesterday, but I got lazy. I bow down to those who are taking summer school. I really admire how they can still plow on with courses after the semester just ended. I've only skimmed a couple of chapters from Chem 1A and I fell asleep. I feel like the information's pretty easy, but at the same time, I'm afraid that I'm overconfident and I really don't want to find out that I'm incompetent on the actual MCAT.
Continue reading "Motivation for Summer" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:57 | Permalink
22 May 2009
Home, Once Again
Anyways, I'm going to go back up to Berkeley with my sister for her CalSO. As I mentioned before, she's a business major, intended Haas. I'm not really clear on the requirements to get into Haas, so I can't really help her plan out her first semester at Cal. For freshman science majors out there, here are some courses I would suggest for your first semester:
Chemistry 1A - I think every freshman takes this class first, probably because it's a prereq for everything else.
Math 16A/1A, depending on how much you love math. The Math 16 series satisfies most of the CNR requirements. MCB majors over in L& S have to take the Math 1 series.
Breadth requirement
Continue reading "Home, Once Again" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:21 | Permalink
14 May 2009
The Final Stretch
I just took my Bio 1A final this morning and got my Bio 1AL Exam 2 back...that was utterly depressing. I'm sort of just praying that some miracle will happen and make the curve extremely generous. I still have my Physics 8A final on Monday night...and then I'm free!!!
Continue reading "The Final Stretch" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 1:18 | Permalink
06 May 2009
Study Tips
1) Play classical music
Music is supposed to stimulate the mind, but I find that music with lyrics (no pun intended) can get stuck in my mind, which can get pretty frustrating.
2) Get ear plugs
They work pretty well, but don't wear them for too long. They make you feel kind of funny, like you've been trapped inside your own head...or maybe that's just me.
3) Re-energize with food!
Just something that will give you an energy boost, like a few slices of toast with a glass of milk. Junk food will make you feel lethargic and you'll probably end up watching tv, instead of studying.
Continue reading "Study Tips" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:22 | Permalink
03 May 2009
Almost There!
I just spent this past weekend in a cocoon of blankets on my bed, with my laptop as my source of warmth. My heater has like a one foot radius of warmth, so it's pretty much useless to turn it on. It's actually a pretty comfortable way to study, except I can't really sit up straight in my bunk bed.
Continue reading "Almost There!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 1:30 | Permalink
22 April 2009
My Future?
1) Do I plan on going into medicine after graduation?
Yes, I do. I'm probably going to go straight to medical school, unless I don't get in. *knocks on wood* I want to study pediatrics and later maybe specialize in neonatal pediatrics.
2) Is CNR suitable for someone pursuing medicine?
I think so. All of the science majors have the same lower division requirements, which are the same ones needed for medical school. The generic major for premeds is MCB in L&S, but everyone's MCB. Microbial Biology (my major) is pretty similar to MCB. A lot of my upper division requirements and electives are MCB courses. Besides these courses, however, CNR offers a lot of interesting classes that you won't get in MCB, like Light MIcroscopy and California Mushrooms. Also, remember that your CNR advisor will always be there for you without the long line.
Continue reading "My Future?" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:44 | Permalink
14 April 2009
Time to Plan!
Anyways, this summer I'm going to go home to SoCal, again. We're actually moving this summer! Still SoCal, though. Since my sister is coming to Cal, my mom and my brother don't need that much space, so they're going to get a smaller place. Besides moving, I'm considering taking an MCAT prep course, but I keep switching back and forth on that decision. If you guys have any helpful advice, I'd love to hear your comments. If I do take the MCAT course, it'll be at night, so I'll be free the rest of the day. I'm hoping to get into a research lab, but if that doesn't happen, I'll just get a job.
Continue reading "Time to Plan!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:37 | Permalink
03 April 2009
The Decision
1. Remember that it is your choice
Wherever you choose to go, you're basically going to be there for 4 years. You're going to be away from your family, most of your friends, and the comforts of home. That said, choose somewhere you want to go. While your parents may have your best interests in mind, you don't want to be totally unhappy attending a college that you were forced to go to.
2. Check out the programs
I'm pretty sure most high school seniors have already checked out the programs each college has to offer. If you want to be a science major, attend to a college that has a strong science department, not one that's known for law.
Continue reading "The Decision" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:19 | Permalink
26 March 2009
Awesomeness!!!
I think I've gotten closer to my sister ever since I went off to college. I call her everyday just to chat about how our day went and what we should do next time I'm back in SoCal. I already have a whole list of things and places to take my sister to when she finally gets here. Here are my random musings:
Continue reading "Awesomeness!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:53 | Permalink
05 March 2009
Saved by CNR!
So after the midterm, I had to go home and finish a paper due today at 9:30 am in class. My printer had just run out of ink on Monday, so I ordered ink with next day shipping. They tried delivering it yesterday at 6 pm, but I was taking my physics midterm. My roommate said she would print it out for me today, but then that printer ran out of ink. I sprinted to CNR around 9 am and finally managed to print my paper! Thank heavens for the CNR computer lab!
By the way, there's a CNR movie night tonight! Free movie and pizza! Could it get any better?
Continue reading "Saved by CNR!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:08 | Permalink
22 February 2009
Essentials for Berkeley
So, here's a list of things that I think every Cal student needs to survive...literally:
1) umbrella (looks like rain for another 10 days straight...)
2) rain boots
-I don't have rain boots, but I really need them! My right shoe has this hole in it that lets all the water in. I actually ventured out into the rain today in search of rain boots, but I couldn't find a pair in my size. I went to Walgreens (didn't have any), Bancroft Clothing ($40 for boots a size too big? no, thanks), and Wet Seal (none). I'm considering ordering some on Amazon, but I think you really have to try shoes on before you buy them.
3) Brita filter
-Unless you want to spend a load of money on bottled water.
Continue reading "Essentials for Berkeley" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:08 | Permalink
26 January 2009
Happy Chinese New Year!
I wish I could've spent Chinese New Year with my family. I can't wait to go home for spring break. Only one and a half months away! I've also decided not to stay in Berkeley this summer and go back to Socal and take an MCAT prep class, instead.
Anyways, happy Chinese New Year!
Continue reading "Happy Chinese New Year!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 1:29 | Permalink
05 January 2009
Chameleon
Whenever I go back home, I'm usually extremely happy to cook and bake a bunch of stuff for my family. It's pretty funny since I'm so lazy in my studio at Berkeley. I usually pig out on junk food for dinner when I'm at school. Horrible, I know.
Another thing I've noticed is that my parents tend to treat me the same way they did before I left for college. In their eyes, I'm pretty much still a little kid who needs permission to go hang out with friends. It feels kind of strange since I can basically do whatever I want whenever I want at Berkeley. I don't really do anything my parents wouldn't approve of, though, I think. I've been told that I don't have much of a college life. I don't really mind. I'm pretty content with my experience right now.
Anyways, I hope you guys are having fun over break!
Continue reading "Chameleon" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:55 | Permalink
01 January 2009
Arizona Trip
We left on the morning of the 26th and drove about 8 hours to Mesa, where we went to my dad's friend's Italian restaurant. Their bread was amazing. It was a rustic type of bread, hard crust but chewy on the inside. I ate an entire loaf...the food was taking a while to arrive. Every time I go to an Italian restaurant, I always order Eggplant Parmesan. I'm not vegetarian and I used to hate eggplant, but this dish can be really yummy. Anyways, after dinner in Mesa, we drove to Tempe and spent the night watching ''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' which was pretty interesting.
We were up bright and early the next day (Arizona's an hour ahead of California) and drove to Sedona, home of the red rocks. Here's a picture:
Continue reading "Arizona Trip" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:59 | Permalink
01 January 2009
New Year's Resolutions
These are my New Year's Resolutions so far:
1) Not pig out on junk food...I eat waaaay too much junk food...so so bad
2) Exercise...
3) NO slacking off!!! I really can't afford to since I'm taking Bio 1A/AL and Physics 8A this coming semester...yes, I'm basically toast
Anyways, I hope everyone's having a great time and relaxing at home. Enjoy the break!!
Continue reading "New Year's Resolutions" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:52 | Permalink
25 December 2008
Happy Holidays!!!
Anyways, I'm the only one up in my house right now. We stayed up pretty late last night just chatting away. I wish I was still asleep. I'm not sleepy, but I feel like I should make use of the holidays to sleep as much as possible. For some odd reason, I haven't been able to sleep past 7 or 8 am, even when I go to bed at 3 am. Anyways, enough about my sleeping patterns.
Continue reading "Happy Holidays!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:28 | Permalink
10 December 2008
Ways to Stay Awake
1) Drink something caffeinated
-For a while, I drank hot coffee every morning to stay awake and keep warm. After about a week or two of this, the effect of the coffee kind of wears off. Also, coffee tends to make you crash a few hours after you finish drinking it. I drank some green tea with honey today and that seemed to work quite well. I didn't crash at all and the tea made me feel completely refreshed.
Continue reading "Ways to Stay Awake" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:39 | Permalink
14 November 2008
Planning Ahead for Summer
- Take MCB 102
I know a lot of advisors say summer school isn't always the best way to spend your summer, but in this case I think it's valid. MCB 102 is one of the hardest classes here at Cal, but I heard that it's much more do-able over the summer. I'm just going to take this one class, so even if it's killer, I only have to concentrate on that one course. MCB 102 is an eight-week course over the summer and for the summer of 2009, it's going to be from June 22nd to August 14th. Since spring semester ends on May 21st, I'll have an entire month before plunging into more school work! :) Also, next fall semester doesn't start until August 20th, so I'll have about a week to relax.
Continue reading "Planning Ahead for Summer" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:10 | Permalink
08 November 2008
Thanksgiving Plans!!!
I'm flying back on the Thursday morning...because I ordered my tickets a bit on the late side...oops. Anyways, instead of having a whole gigantic 20 pound turkey this year, my mom decided that we should each have our own Cornish hen. They look like miniature chickens. We're each going to season our own Cornish hen with whatever flavors we want. I'm still trying to decide whether to go for an Asian taste (ginger, scallions, hint of sesame oil) or an herby lemon with root vegetables.
Continue reading "Thanksgiving Plans!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:21 | Permalink
08 November 2008
Over and Done With
Yesterday, after I got home from the Bio IB midterm (6-7pm), I was surprisingly productive. Well, after failing at trying to make some sense out of my organic chemistry lab for my write up, I gave up and decided to clean my studio. I chloroxed the entire kitchen and bathroom and threw away a bunch of junk! XD Throwing away stuff just makes me happy for some odd reason.
Anyways, even though midterms are over, finals are looming just around the corner. My
Continue reading "Over and Done With" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:46 | Permalink
27 October 2008
Random Facts from OChem
I really wish I could take a break this Friday for Halloween, but I really can't afford to slack off from studying. Anyways, while studying for Chem 3B, I came across some interesting facts that might amuse you guys:
Continue reading "Random Facts from OChem" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:01 | Permalink
01 October 2008
Is that really 100%?
Continue reading "Is that really 100%?" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:53 | Permalink
27 September 2008
Destress
So, when you're feeling overwhelmed and you feel like you can't shove any more information into your brain, take a break and relax for a bit...not too long, but long enough to destress your system so you can study some more! Here are some things you can do to destress:
Posted by Victoria Eng at 1:13 | Permalink
19 September 2008
Studying Abroad...
So, I did some online browsing and found that the University of Hong Kong actually offers a Microbiology major with a LOT of interesting microbiology courses. HKU is one of the universities that participate in the UC's EAP program, which is the study abroad program. I think studying abroad would be amazing. Not only will you experience academic life in a different country, but also take courses that may not be offered here at Cal. You can check out the EAP website here:
Continue reading "Studying Abroad..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:39 | Permalink
12 September 2008
Midnight Cravings
Continue reading "Midnight Cravings" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 3:43 | Permalink
12 September 2008
Office Hours
This semester I'm taking Bio 1B, which is basically plant biology. I took AP biology in high school, but even then, I never really understood the life cycle of a pine. Megaspore...megosporophyll...megasporocyte...they all sounded the same to me! Back then, I just blankly memorized the steps for the exam and forgot all about it immediately afterwards.
Continue reading "Office Hours" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:53 | Permalink
27 August 2008
First Day of Class
It's so interesting. When I'm back home in SoCal, I don't really miss Cal at all. When I'm back, however, I remember all things I miss: the Campanile bells, CNR, and just the whole atmosphere of the Berkeley campus. For some odd reason, just being on the campus makes me feel more studious. Sitting in Bio lecture this morning, I felt like I was ready for another semester of school.
Continue reading "First Day of Class" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:33 | Permalink
26 August 2008
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is about three hours northeast of Berkeley. It's on the border between California and Nevada. It was really awesome up there! This camping trip totally made me feel satisfied about my summer. It was just really relaxing and it felt nice just spending time with my family.
Continue reading "Lake Tahoe" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:21 | Permalink
27 July 2008
Wanna be a Fresh Faces blogger?
For those who love reading Fresh Faces blogs and want to become a blogger themselves, it's really easy! The only requirements are:
1) you're in CNR
2) are interested in posting regularly over the semesters
Just email our webmaster, Eva St. Clair, at webmaster@nature.berkeley.edu and she'll be happy to help you!
Continue reading "Wanna be a Fresh Faces blogger?" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:59 | Permalink
26 July 2008
Planning...yet again...
Telebears Phase II should be coming up for most people. There was a glitch in the Telebears system a few days ago. I'm not sure if they fixed it or not, but apparently, people's Telebears Phase II appointments have been changed to about 10 days earlier than their original scheduled time. Check to see if your time has changed! I hope everyone gets into the classes he or she
Continue reading "Planning...yet again..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 3:46 | Permalink
25 July 2008
Junk Food Addiction
For some odd reason, many college students are addicted to cereal, but why? Is it because of the sugars or the munchiness and convenience of this "breakfast" food? I don't eat cereal for breakfast anymore; I eat it all the time. There were days at Berkeley where I would go through
Continue reading "Junk Food Addiction" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:06 | Permalink
22 July 2008
OC Fair
So, enough about work. Summer's for fun! About one and a half weeks ago, I went to the Orange County fair with a few friends. The fair goes on til August 3rd, so go if you want! It only costs $2 to get in, but you have to buy tickets to go on the rides...each ride is about $4...so it's not really worth it for the rides. I'm really scared of heights, so roller coasters totally freak me
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:57 | Permalink
22 June 2008
Foooood!!!
Banana Bread
Continue reading "Foooood!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:31 | Permalink
28 May 2008
What to do over the summer...
Continue reading "What to do over the summer..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:36 | Permalink
18 May 2008
Almost.....
Advice: Know the location of your final before you get there. Always head out to the location of your final about half an hour before it begins.
My first final was on Thursday at 12:30. Instead of going to Haas Pavilion for the final, I actually went to the classroom. Luckily I headed out early around noon...about 12:15 I walked into Dwinelle and realized that that wasn't the location of the final! I ended up semi-sprinting to Haas. It was really stuffy in there! Hot day + sweating people + people without tissues + final = complete annoyance. Let's just say I tried to get out of there as soon as possible.
Continue reading "Almost....." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 4:31 | Permalink
13 May 2008
Last Minute Stuff
A few months ago, I applied for volunteer positions at some hospitals near home, but I haven't heard from any of them, yet. Even though you probably think you have to do something productive every summer of your college career, some experts say you should just take it easy summer of freshman year. You still have a few more summers to show those graduate schools how productive you can be. Why not take a well-deserved vacation? Or get a fun summer job?
If I don't hear back from any of the places I submitted applications to, I'll probably just get a fun summer job and hang out with my friends and family all summer long.
Continue reading "Last Minute Stuff" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 3:28 | Permalink
26 April 2008
Stressed?!
I have a paper due in about a week. Whenever I write papers, I always feel like I'm trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle. First, I write random paragraphs, or parts of paragraphs, to just get down all my ideas. Then I have to fit all the pieces together and smooth it all out. Papers take such a long time for me to write. I've always been envious of those people who can crank out an A paper the night before it's due. No wonder I'm a science major.
Besides the paper, I keep getting this feeling that I really should start studying for my Chemistry 3A final. Chemistry 3A is the first part of Organic Chemistry. A few days ago, I read over the notes I took since the last midterm and my head literally hurt after an hour.
Continue reading "Stressed?!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 8:35 | Permalink
20 April 2008
Apartment Hunting
Advice Check out Craigslist for Apartment showings! The website lists the number of bedrooms, rent, and other features included with the apartment.
Even if it looks good on the website, you really need to go see the apartment itself. My friends and I saw this one on craigslist and it seemed pretty good...
Continue reading "Apartment Hunting" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:15 | Permalink
23 March 2008
Home Sweet Home
Besides the weather, Socal is just home. I love being with my family and some of my friends from high school. Even though people at Berkeley are awesome,
Continue reading "Home Sweet Home" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 9:00 | Permalink
18 March 2008
Fall 08 Semester Planning!!!
I've already started planning my schedule and so far, I know I'm definitely going to Chemistry 3B/3BL (this is the second part of organic chemistry) and Biology 1B. Most students take Biology 1B before they take Biology 1A
Continue reading "Fall 08 Semester Planning!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 3:44 | Permalink
12 March 2008
Spring Break...
Continue reading "Spring Break..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:12 | Permalink
12 March 2008
Whole Foods Market
Continue reading "Whole Foods Market" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:01 | Permalink
12 March 2008
Mini Laptops
http://eeepc.asus.com/global/
Continue reading "Mini Laptops" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 6:42 | Permalink
24 February 2008
Rain Rain Go Away...
It rained for about two weeks straight after Winter Break. Then, we had about a week of wonderful sunshine. I was so surprised! I've been asking some NorCal people and they all say that it gets warm around here in April. So I was extremely happy about the warm weather. I'm from SoCal, so I absolutely love the sun and warmth. I was actually in shorts that week. Alas...it was not to last...
The rain came back and it's as gloomy as ever in Berkeley. Doesn't rain just make you want to crawl back into bed with a cup of hot chocolate and watch tv or read all day? That's what I want to do instead of sloshing through puddles to get to class everyday.
Continue reading "Rain Rain Go Away..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:21 | Permalink
24 February 2008
Have lunch with CNR Dean Candidates!
Continue reading "Have lunch with CNR Dean Candidates!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:12 | Permalink
05 February 2008
Summer Plans?!
(1) Stay at Berkeley and take a summer course (maybe Chem 3B/L, Physics 8A, Bio 1A/L, or Bio 1B/L...any suggestions?), continue working at Moffitt Library, and maybe find a clinical positon...
OR
(2) Go home to SoCal, take Spanish somewhere, and find a clinical or volunteer position
Continue reading "Summer Plans?!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:00 | Permalink
28 January 2008
Housing Co-ops
I've started looking at housing co-ops online, but I'm going to go visit them in person sometime soon. There's an application you have to fill out. I've heard they're some party co-ops, but in general, I think the atmosphere is close to that of a dorm. Right now, I'm considering
Continue reading "Housing Co-ops" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:08 | Permalink
01 December 2007
Crashing Down...
Anyways, still wondering about the title? Well, I live right across from Tolman Hall, so I can get the Airbears wireless internet connection...until now...On Monday, my internet just died and I haven't been able to use the internet at my studio ever since. I know I sound like such a modern college student, ever so dependent on internet...
Continue reading "Crashing Down..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 4:58 | Permalink
06 November 2007
Can't wait 'til Thanksgiving!!!
I'm gonna fly back to SoCal on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, yes...cuz I didn't know that I wouldn't have some classes on Wednesday...but I actually end classes on Wednesday at noon...I guess I'll just try and get some work done and just hang out with friends. Anyways, by the time I get home, it'll be mid-afternoon...and I plan on eating a lot, watching a few movies,
Continue reading "Can't wait 'til Thanksgiving!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:33 | Permalink
06 November 2007
Midterms! Eek!!!
Continue reading "Midterms! Eek!!!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 0:24 | Permalink
19 October 2007
Planning your Future...
So, this is an extension on the Scheduling Nightmare entries, but I didn't want to title it Scheduling Nightmare III since the nightmare has long past...
Anyways, I've been trying to plan out my future semesters at Berkeley. I went in to see Marjorie (the awesome Microbial Biology advisor) yesterday, and she helped me plan part of my schedule...which classes to take...when to take those classes...
Continue reading "Planning your Future..." »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 5:02 | Permalink
12 October 2007
Scheduling Nightmare II
My spring semester...yes, Telebears scheduling for spring semester is just on the horizon. I think it's around late October. I'm most likely going to take Math 1B, just to continue with the series. I'm not sure if I can get credit for Math 16B if I take it after Math 1A and besides, wouldn't it kinda look bad on your transcipt? I'm probably going to take organic chemistry, 3B/3A...I haven't decided, yet. I also want to get my American Cultures requirement fulfilled
Continue reading "Scheduling Nightmare II" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 7:20 | Permalink
25 September 2007
Midterm Butterflies
Advice: Go with your first instinct! It's usually right! Don't change it unless you're absolutely certain that your first answer is wrong.
Continue reading "Midterm Butterflies" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 1:29 | Permalink
20 September 2007
Biology Majors Fair!
Take a look at these cute little beings!!!
Continue reading "Biology Majors Fair!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:52 | Permalink
17 September 2007
Freshman 15?!
Three weeks later....the myth might have a chance of becoming reality.
Continue reading "Freshman 15?!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:33 | Permalink
17 September 2007
Freshman 15?!
Three weeks later....the myth might have a chance of becoming reality.
Continue reading "Freshman 15?!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:33 | Permalink
08 September 2007
San Francisco
Popular places to visit in San Francisco:
1. Fisherman's Wharf
-lots of interesting stores and clothes at really good prices
2. Pier 39 (there are other Piers, but this one is the most popular)
-Aquarium of the Bay
-Sea Lions K-Dock
-a lot of seafood restaurants. Look at these sourdoughs!
Alligator!!!
Continue reading "San Francisco" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 3:18 | Permalink
08 September 2007
San Francisco
Popular places to visit in San Francisco:
1. Fisherman's Wharf
-lots of interesting stores and clothes at really good prices
2. Pier 39 (there are other Piers, but this one is the most popular)
-Aquarium of the Bay
-Sea Lions K-Dock
-a lot of seafood restaurants. Look at these sourdoughs!
Alligator!!!
Continue reading "San Francisco" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 3:18 | Permalink
08 September 2007
Scheduling Nightmare
Since I'm premed (forgot to mention this in my first post...), I have to take a year of math. So, of course, I opted for the easier calculus course: Math 16. Then...
The Nightmare:
On the second day of school, I freaked out because my friend told me that premeds are supposed to take Math 1, not Math 16. So....I sent an email to the Plant and Microbial Biology advisor Marjorie Ensor, asking if Math 16 fulfilled the math requirement for premeds...but,
Continue reading "Scheduling Nightmare" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:30 | Permalink
08 September 2007
Hey Everyone!
I'm Victoria and I'm a freshman at CNR (the best college ever!) with an intended Microbial Biology major. I'm from Southern California, but I'm quickly adjusting to Northern California's weather. It's a bit more chilly up here during the early mornings and evenings, but are those afternoons hot sometimes! Seriously, I'm starting to believe that the "Freshmen 15" is a myth. It's going to be pretty hard to gain 15 pounds while hiking up those hills to class, sweating under that California sun.
Continue reading "Hey Everyone!" »
Posted by Victoria Eng at 2:21 | Permalink
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