It is now about 3:35am January 1st 2008 in the Philippines. A new year and a time to celebrate for most, but for my family, it is a time to rest before daylight breaks and the reality sets in. My cousin Joff is 19 years old, a healthy 195 pounds, a second year college student and an athlete.Last night, my aunts and uncles took Joff to a clinic, and his platelet count was at a low 10,000. He got sick after Christmas and has had a nagging cough and high fever. I know that the normal blood platelet count is about 150,000-400,000. Even though the family pleaded for a blood transfusion or that he be rushed to the hospital the doctor (at the clinic) insisted that it would be best to wait. My cousin passed away shortly after midnight from Dengue Fever.

One of the worries of going to the Philippines is getting sick, especially with the devastating Dengue Fever. Dengue Fever or West Nile Fever is a vector-borne infectious disease carried by mosquitoes that can cause rashes, joint pains, fever, nausea and vomiting, pain behind the eyes, high fever, and hemorrhagic fever: damage to blood and lymph vessels, low blood pressure, and shock. (http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/dengue/default.htm and http://neeladri.wordpress.com/2006/10/12/dengue-fever-and-its-managemet/)
So as this new year comes upon us, we will not be grieving but celebrating the life of an individual whose life was taken far before his time and being thankful for all the blessings we do have in our lives.

Continue reading "hard to say goodbye" »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:58 AM | Permalink

This semester has been...short and bittersweet. My classes were wonderful: ESPM 118, EDU 114AC, PP101, PP190 (Negotiations), and ESPM 163AC. I would actually recommend all of them to others.
policy memos, the impact of garden programs on school children and hot to build and foster a successful garden within one, slow foods, the multi-dimensional, multi-modal meaning of literacy, the right to fair treatment and conditions to everyone regardless of race, class, ethnicity, gender, or preferences, how to negotiate, and adaorable and intelligent fourth and fifth grade students like Marky are just a few of the things i've learned, experienced, and worked on/with this semester
I managed a class of interns and an Asian American Field Studies course - which I was still writing evaluations and reading reflections for and from even after my finals were over. I completed a whole (gut-wrenching) semester as PASS' assistant director of internal affairs. ha! I sound like i'm reading from my resume.

It all sounds great now...but man was this semester stressful! I don't think i've had another year go as quickly as this one did. Besides school and the incessant group projects that plagued me this semester, there's also family back at home. So many things happened at home: my mom tripped and was in crutches for a while, my brother sick, and my sister was once again a basketball star-starter/team captain. You miss a lot when you're away from home...even if you're still in the same state. But you know? I think for me it was sometimes a good growing and learning tool. I had to learn to balance it all and try not to let things influence your school life. It sure is good to be home though!

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 10:26 AM | Permalink

That's the headline I saw today when I hopped out of bed and picked up the Los Angeles Times. http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx
The tagline read "Bhutto's death triggers violence and heightens instability."
Benazir Bhutto, as many of us now know, was killed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan just over a day ago. The pictures, the stories, the survivors, the blood, the faded hope. All of the events continue to escalate tensions in an already unstable, tension-ridden country. Funny thing, to follow the line of leaders the United States has backed in the past and the way that history seems to repeat itself. As I read on and continued to hear more and more about the events that unfolded, I really thought about U.S. politics, influence, and power. In the Philippines, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, an opponent of U.S. backed Ferdinand Marcos was assassinated while coming off of a plane (1983). History tells us a lot about foreign relations, intent, personal gain, and "democracy for the people". Perhaps oppression, terror, and dictatorship ("sweeping power" or Martial Law) come wrapped in a disguise of democracy?

What I thought a lot about as well were the people...the citizens of Pakistan. Then I thought about my best friend, who is in Pakistan visiting family and friends for his winter break.
He called me today and left me a message "I don't know if you've been following the news, but it's pretty crazy here...we had to drive cross-country early this morning...everything's on lockdown..."

(home safe - 1/1/08) :)

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 1:18 AM | Permalink

This happens every semester, the hold-my breath, knots in my stomach feeling that I get NOT when taking finals, because those are over, but when I go to "current term grades" on Bearfacts. One of the longest parts of the semester can sometimes be waiting until your grades get posted onto Bearfacts. This is especially true if you have those type of teachers that don't give you too much feedback on your other works, isn't too good at updating the bSpace gradebook, or if your professor missed the technology train and is stuck in the era of manually issuing and posting your grades. So now that Christmas is over and I have less and less distractions, I will be waiting by my computer for my grades and in a few of my classes, it's a tossup...I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it goes!

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 8:59 AM | Permalink

So, last week was a terrible week. I had presentations on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and had papers due at least every other day. By Friday, I was completely burned out and I decided what better way to celebrate finals than by stopping by Mulford and supporting Cal Forestry through the purchase of a Christmas Tree!

Every year, since I've been a freshman, I've looked forward to a forestry tradition that heralds in the coming of the holiday season: the sale of Christmas trees! Every day this week, I have walked through the Eucalyptus tree grove up to Mulford and breathed in a the lovely smell of pine and orange-like smell of the Douglas Firs. It reminds me of home, reminds me of the holiday season, reminds me of my family! Finals are coming up and this tree reminds my roommate and I every night that they are only a temporary nuisance that will soon give way to good times with family and friends at home.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:54 PM | Permalink

As the semester winds down, I remember why the last few weeks after Thanksgiving come and go so quickly. Aside from course wrap-ups and professor and gsi evaluations, there are also end of the year/semester events all over campus. I remember when I was a freshman we got booted out of the dorms the last day of finals and couldn't get back in until welcome week. That wasn't actually a problem for me because I was packed and ready to go back home well before finals even started- and I brought home about 3 check-in luggages as well as my 2 carry-ons. As I sit here, I'm thinking, when will I really have time to pack, what I really need to pack anyways besides maybe a few essentials to last me a few weeks...and how did I do it back then?

All this random thinking comes of course only because it's time for finals, time to "buckle down" and study. I think this is true for every college student but I feel like we all need a study place, where we are motivated to work. For some it's the library (but God knows I DO NOT want to fight for then fend my spot in the library from all the troopers who call it "home" for the duration of finals. I think i'm getting old, I need my sleep. That's why I stay close to home. My favorite places to study? It's a tie between Royal Grounds on Shattuck and Starbucks on Oxford, the places where I tell myself I have to work.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 4:48 PM | Permalink

So, for our semester long team project in ESPM 163AC, and Environmental Justice class, we were assigned to update the calej.org website. The website is linked to Wikipedia and is basically a resource for people around the Bay Area about issues that effect them including food justice, pollution, brownfield sites, conservation efforts, community and job opportunities, and upcoming events.I just wanted to share a part of the video that I put on the website from a few of the interviews I collected this semester about how different people define environmental justice. I hope you enjoy it! Maybe you can comment here or on calej.org about what Environmental Justice means to YOU!

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 6:05 PM | Permalink

So today, I had a one-on-one meeting with one of the PASS interns.I took her to one of my favorite places in Berkeley, Brazil Cafe. If you have never been there I definitely recommend that you go and either order the tri-tip sandwich (or plate) or for those of you who prefer veggies, the Lambada, either with a mango or acai smoothie. The intern loved it and other people I've brought love it. I haven't heard many bad things about the place but hey, you know, everyone's a critic. Pedro, the man with the vision, is extremely nice, actually a few weeks ago he told me to visit their new location. A new location, just around the corner? It's definitely different from the lively and bustling shack on University, I see it more as an indoor, longer-hours, no-student special alternative (so slightly more pricey) to the original place. The service is just as great and the people are just s nice. I think Pedro said his sister was running this one, but after "the Shack" is closed, you can sometimes find him here as well.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/431044

Well the second place is just as good, totally different food but hopefully the colorful descriptions of the first won't make this one pale in comparison. The other is Thai Noodle on Shattuck - great food, again, nice people, it's a few blocks past University but well before Elephant Pharmacy. Fan favorites? Fried chicken over fried rice :)

Enjoy!

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 12:39 PM | Permalink

Whoever decided to give the name "midterms" to exams and papers preiodically distributed and due throughout the semester was nuts! Or maybe, it is just that professors and GSIs are taking intrpretive liberty in defining the "mid" part of midterms.I really have no idea where the semester has gone. Oh wait yes I have, midterms! I thought that last week heralded the end of my midterm season but right when I thought I had a second to breath I was hit by this week, where I actually have a paper due everyday (Tuesday to Saturday). I have to think positive and look on the bright side, Thanksgiving is coming up and before I get a chance to crawl into bed for a full night's sleep it will be time to get on a plane and fly on home to Los Angeles. I can't wait!

Oh yes, and I just remembered that I promised a few pictures from my summer travels abroad, so just to liven up this post a little bit, I will post a few here...

Continue reading "Drowning in (end of the semester) midterms. STILL!" »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 4:26 PM | Permalink

This past October 21st, my roommate Jane and I set out to do something most people would never want to do - run a Marathon. Yes, i know, people train for weeks, months, and maybe even years. Since I was in Spain for most of the summer, training didn't really start until the beginning of the semester.

The Nike Women's Marathon is a race in San Francisco whose proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (1)

Race day was pretty crazy, there were thousands of people, mostly the women runners and their supporters lining Union Square in San Francisco. The race "Start" was on post between Saks and Nike and right in front of Williams Sonoma. The race officially started at 7am but there were so many people running the race that we didn't get our start until about 7:35 or so. It was pretty crazy, the race course was 26.2 miles, which is actually larger than San Francisco! It was actually still dark when we got there, {actually we had to get up at 4:30 in order to get there on time} and the sun started coming out once we were finally at the start line. (2)

Continue reading "NWM- 26.2 reasons we had a love/hate relationship " »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 9:15 AM | Permalink

on another note, it seems that my adorably sleepy, lazy, fat bulldog, Yoda found a new bed in our backyard. (all on his own!) how precious.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:43 AM | Permalink

Six Weeks! (well now, it's a little closer to 7!) Of course, like many of you, I have NO idea where the time has gone. Let me try to recap: eighteen units, a staff position in one of the recruitment and retention centers, tutoring in San Francisco, facilitating a field studies course, and working. Just the typical life of a college student I suppose. Hmmm, as I sit here rolling my eyes and sense a little queasy feeling sink into my stomach I realize just how much that sounds like now that I put it out as a laundry list! As busy as it all seems, I am enjoying every moment of it!

Now to the breakdown of things
My courses.
SO, I am taking two public policy classes: the introductory class and a negotiations class, a class on environmental justice, an agroecology class, and an education class on literacy: individual and societal development. Classes alone are keeping me quite busy with the hands on work, service-learning components, and all the readings. I am actually on campus on Thursdays from 9:30am to 9pm, it's a good thing I have breaks inbetween classes or I don't know how i would survive.
Through PASS, Pilipino Academic Student Services, I serve as the assistant director of internal affairs, which in normal people's words would simply mean that I am in charge the behind the scenes component of the organization and also have the privilege of running the internship program and facilitating the Asian American Studies field studies course. This is a lot of fun because I get to hold my own meetings and work with Cal students towards understanding educational policies, developing leadership skills, and talking about topics that shape students today. At our last meeting this past Tuesday we went a little bit into the the Dream Act and current issues/stories in the media that point to inequality, assumptions, and racism/intolerance/discrimination that still exist in the world today. This included CNN footage about English in the United States, comments from Tom Tancredo (a presidential hopeful), and a comment on Desperate Housewives when Teri Hatcher's character had been told some news by a doctor and replied:
“Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the Philippines?”

It was a good discussion and will continue into our next meeting. :)

I am also tutoring at the first bilingual Tagalog-English after-school program in San Francisco at the Filipino Education Center with students ranging in age from kindergarten to middle school. The students are so adorable and so intelligent, they have a lot of potential, hopefully we can help them realize it! Then there's the YMCA, where I work and coach. Right now I'm only teaching two classes. One is a Parent/Child 3/4 year old soccer class and the other is a 4/5/6 year old soccer class. I can probably tell you more about this in another entry. They're adorable too! The best part is that even though our miniature soccer goals are 5-10times the size of some of these kids they always impress you with their power kicks, dribbling, and goals.

Yes Life has been pretty busy, but so much fun! I'm definitely loving it.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:06 AM | Permalink

The end of my Summer Sessions Program in Tarragona, Spain ended of course with more adventures! We arrived at the airport at 4:00am and our flight back to San Francisco was scheduled for 12:10pm. The check-in and gate information on the boards/screens lagged and the information that we finally found was wrong and we ended up missing our flight and were forced to stay an extra day in the airport.

So let me backtrack a little. After our program ended we traveled a little bit.
I wanted to go to the Basque Region to visit the Guggenheim in Bilbao which I think has one of the most interesting and beautiful buildings with titanium panels but there were seemed to be a lot of buzz about ETA and terrorist activity and some of the locals warned against the trip.
Instead, we first went to Geneva and attended the Geneva Festival. The people were friendly, the air was crisp and the weather was nice and warm; it was all so beautiful. We visited the United Nations buildings, where we met an Arabic translator and were able to examine such details as the doorknobs, which were originally from the League of Nations.We were also able to watch performers such as the French rap artist Doc Gynéco. We also met the CEOs of Christian Aid and Muslim Aid. After our trip to Geneva we went to Paris, France watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle in the summer night sky, visited the Louvre, and took a tour of the city.

And finally I am home, adjusting to the time and getting ready for school. Already!

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:55 PM | Permalink

Tarragona has turned out to be a beautiful place. It is the site of a lot
of Roman history including aqueducts called Pont del Diable similar to Pont du Gard, except for
the fact that the one in Tarragona was built more for aesthetic purposes
and is a little better preserved, allowing for people to walk along the top
of the aqueduct. We have visited Barcelona, monasteries, mosques, and can
simply walk a few blocks to the beach, The Mediterranean Sea!

It is a little funny that in such a beautiful place, we continue to talk
about the the U.N, insurrection, violence, minorities within minorities,
and the colonality of power, all of which complements the program. Spanish lfe in general has proven to be very interesting. In the U.S. it is so easy to get caught up, wrapped up, and completely swamped with the everyday things that just need to be done. Here life is a little more slow paced. People take advantage of siestas, little cafes and cervecerias stay open until the wee hours of the morning, and free performances are offered throughout the week on the streets and allyways of Tarragona. Last week we watched a "circus," complete with improv, juggling, and fire-tossing/breathing/juggling men. Yesterday we watched "arte visual" which was a little like modern art in the form of film.

Continue reading "Halfway Through!" »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 2:52 AM | Permalink

On Saturday my alarm went off at 6:30 am and it was time to head off to the airport with my parents, brother and sister. After driving through a thick fog caused by a smoky car on the bridge, I knew this would be an adventure. I started at SFO and stopped over at Philadelphia and in Frankfurt. Actually, I almost missed my flight in Philly because our plane arrived late (something with overbooking, too many connections, being on the runway waiting to take off for over almost two hours, etc) and we had to run from one end of the airport to the other. Apparently I made it just in time but one of the other girls in the program came a little after i boarded the plane and was detained there with no luggage because they did not have a seat for her. I arrived in Tarragona, Spain only after almost non-existent plane flight, over eighteen hours on the runway or in a plane, two stopovers, interesting plane food, and a bus ride.

The flight to and from Frankfurt was interesting because on the way there I actually sat next to an economics professor from Cornell who was headed for a conference in Germany and we were able to talk for a good bit. I learned that he went to Berkeley as a grad student and we talked about many aspects of Berkeley life. He told me about a few of his favorite spots around campus (including a few restaurants, book stores, and coffee shops that have since been closed). He also told me that one of the things that he really liked about Berkeley was the intellectual/scholarly community and culture, how students and faculty could be found in cafes having informal conversations about anything from daily life to questions about the meaning of life, how friends of his were able to spend some time talking to and dining with Berkeley greats like Alfred Kroeber and his wife. Events like these were very possible because finding housing within the city of Berkeley was less expensive and a bit easier to find and many people did not have to resort to living in surrounding cities. Interesting how things change in such a short time.

Tarragona is beautiful. It is fairly small but it is costal and is rich with history (as is much of Europe), including Roman ruins and churches walking distance from our apartments. For four days this week there are fireworks on the beach to celebrate the patron saint of Tarragona. It is actually an international competition to see who has the best display and the winner will be in charge of the fireorks display that will occur early next month.
More to come!

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 5:38 AM | Permalink

There's something about coming home from Berkeley. There is this feeling of familiarity and safety yet there is also this strange creeping feeling of change. The first time I came home, it was like i was seeing everything for the first time. It was different and weird but it is always good to be home. On my way home last week I stopped by UCLA to stay with my best friend Jalees and my favorite neighbor SteveKim. You know I never thought that I would stay so close with friends from high school but amazingly enough, I think college has brought us closer together. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder hehe. Jalees especially, because I call the fool all the time and rely on him to keep me stable. While at UCLA, I picked up my mom's transcripts for her new nurse practitioner job and it got me thinking to where I will be in a few years and if I will be coming back to Cal and CNR to pick up my official transcripts when I get a job :) !

I love being home because I get to watch my basketball superstar of a sister do her thing on the court, be humbled by my brother's faith and willingness to give of himself, be spoiled by my parents, see and play with my bulldog, and enjoy the company of my friends, my second family.

best of all No School!
oh yes, and all quarter system UCs still have finals! ha! take that UCLA! hahaha

Continue reading "Home at last." »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 1:22 AM | Permalink

Just a warning: this post will probably be all over the place and
When Choosing a roommate, do you choose someone you know or go with the random roommate?
When I was a senior high school I had the daunting task of choosing a roommate that would live with me for a whole year at UC Berkeley. I mean it is one thing go to class or even be friends with someone, living with someone is a different story. By some strange twist of fate I asked a girl who went to my high school who just so happened to be valedictorian and a neighbor! We actually did not know each other very well and a mutual friend rationalized that we would help balance each other out, i mean we had the same ideals and she would keep me on track. We ended up taking a trip to Hawaii together the summer after we graduated, it was a little awkward at first. We tried to keep the conversation simple- didn't probe too deeply into each other's lives, past, personalities, etc, I guess we were still feeling each other out, still both regretting/questioning the decision of living with someone who was basically a stranger.
Actually, we admitted to each other later that we were both intimidated of each other and always asked our mutual friends to reassure us that we made the right decision.

Having a roommate you get along with is important. and that is an understatement. They are the person you come home to at night and they are your support system throughout all that Berkeley throws at you.

Hawaii was the first step, we bonded over a lot of things, even our quirky hotel roommate. When it came to the dorms, we definitely grew closer and experienced a lot together. Berkeley's a place you have to get used to - and it is even better when you have someone who goes through all the crazy experiences you go through.We have experienced a lot together. We lived on the 8th floor of Cunningham in Unit 2, survived a year of Co-ed bathrooms/showers, walked through People's park at night clutching on to each other's arms, brushed our teeth together, stayed up chatting about anything and everything, threw up together in adjacent bathroom stalls after eating some bad food, discovered shows like sex and the city and desperate housewives together, going to parties, going through the bunkbed "experience" - bruises and all, studied for finals together, mastered the internet realm everything from calmail to facebook, myspace to ImDb, perfecting our ghettofabulous slang, piercing our ears, flew home together carrying gigantic suitcases weighing more than both of us combined, crazy caffeine/coffee rampage nights of fun, discovering a shared love for hummus, pita bread, and smoothies, and oh so much more.

Continue reading "para sa kasambayan ko, ang asawa ko si Jane. (my CrAzY! roommate) " »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:23 PM | Permalink

I am proud to say that as of today, I accomplished my first feat of summer! Score!

So a couple of months ago my parent called me to tell me that I had to show up to jury duty or go to jail, because apparently I had "ignored" my other notices. When I contacted the guy I tried to explain that I was a student in Berkeley and could not give up a week to fly to Los Angeles and how I was living in a different city at the time, and of course - because I'm sure he's heard many of the same "excuses" to get out of jury duty, he told me that I had to honor my obligation and serve. This guy definitely was not messing around. So he rescheduled me for this week and I had to come home right after finals so that I could fulfill my summons.

So I am officially done with jury duty.
...Granted, all I did was call the the juror hotline the every weekday night (this week) to find out that "you do not have to report for jury duty..."

I guess I just lucked out this time. I'll just have to store those "excuses" for the next time i have jury duty.
haha just kidding.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 11:10 PM | Permalink

So what exactly is there to do and see in Berkeley?

Academics and extracurricular activities often leaves many students exhausted and in desperate need for a break, so why not explore what else Berkeley (and surrounding areas) has to offer? One of the things that I have found was that UC Berkeley has speakers such as Jimmy Carter and John Edwards and performers come to the campus and students get of course a royal discount!! We have had such performers as Norah Jones, John Legend, Yo-Yo Ma, and Peter Cincotti (one of my personal favorites). Incubus will be performing at UC Berkeley this summer. There are also some performers that perform around Berkeley at the local high school or throughout the Bay Area such as Michael Buble, Blackalicious, and Mos Def. I went to a Peter Cincotti )who just so happens to be one of my favorite jazz singers) performance in Zellerbach Hall and bought my front row tickets for about $20! Score! haha and after the show, I followed these giddy girls and actually met him, got his autograph, and took pictures with him. Now how many people can say that about one of their favorite artists?

You can also explore the street vendors, shops, and food in Berkeley and along Telegraph. The people are always eclectic and you are always guaranteed an interesting adventure. In one day you can do everything from shopping for music, books, and clothes to getting a tattoo or piercing. That's just the kind of place that Berkeley is.
about.com has some lovely pictures in their Berkeley Telegraph Avenue photo album:

Continue reading "People to See, Places to go, Things to do" »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 1:38 AM | Permalink

Every year since I was a freshman, I have participated with the Fly to Berkeley program. Once a year, Berkeley flies up high school students who are also newly accepted Berkeley students from Southern California to stay with host Cal students. This is done in hopes that bringing these students to Berkeley will give them that tiny little push or the reassurance they need to know that this is the place for them to be. SO, as a fly to Berkeley greeter, I have found myself at Oakland Airport for three years, holding "Welcome to Berkeley" signs and flags, sporting the Cal gear, and greeting everyone with "Congratulations" and friendly smiles and hellos.This program has been especially fun because I have been able to host some of the students. Actually, some of the students that have stayed with me are now current Cal students and friends! The program headed by Annie Donato, OHP, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and the bridges and the multicultural recruitment and retention centers has been quite successful and one of the programs I look forward to volunteering/working for yearly.

Wondering how I get home? Well, I fly as well; Southwest Airlines to be exact. In fact, my frequent flying has earned me over 3 roundtrip flights. UC Berkeley is great because its location is just right, i mean not too close to home (in Los Angeles) but not too far away that it is a hassle to get home if i want to get there. Driving down is about a six hour trip but flying takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from gate to gate- it's wonderful! I remember my freshman year, I was always homesick. Everything in Berkeley was such a change from being at home, PLUS i did not care much for the dorm food, which my floormates loved so much. But this place has definitely grown on me, it's very....well Berkeleyesque. It's just one of those places you have to experience i guess. It's nice to know, though, that home is just a hop, skip...well more like a bart, airbart, and plane flight away.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 12:57 AM | Permalink

from an earlier blog that I never posted...

After three (well almost three) years, you'd think that finals are now a breeze, that I am now an expert at them. Definitely not. Finals are still as stressful, annoying, and sleep-depriving as ever. But I have learned a few things:

1.) Set at least 3 alarms before your test
2.) the libraries are JAM-PACKED during finals season, get ready to fight(literally) for a seat
3.)I am a way better procrastinating studier than is better for my own good
4.) Showers become a luxury many cant afford during finals
5.) Take deep breaths and breaks
6.)Stay/sleep at the library if you have an 8:00am final
7.) Find your study spot....that will become your home
8.) Beware of STREAKERS!!!!
9.) Energy drinks, coffee, energy gum, etc. are a must
10.) The end of finals will come

:)

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 12:10 AM | Permalink

Classes are over and so are finals (thank God!)! And now summertime. Actually, some people do not even have a break, because the first round of summer school at Berkeley started last week, the Monday after finals were over (eeks!). I am definitely on of those people that needs the summer to recuperate from the semester and academic year. The summer of my freshman year I coached three basketball teams at a local park with my best friend (well he was pretty much forced into it..we were returning coaches from previous seasons). The summer my sophomore year, I stayed in Berkeley and was a summer camp counselor - now that was interesting! The best part was getting to go to all the fun places I would have wanted to go if I were a kid growing up in the Bay Area -while getting paid for it. This year I wanted to do something different... again. I thought about signing up for scholarships/internships and different other programs including Forestry Camp through UC Berkeley (which I would still love to do), but I got so wrapped up in the school year and the academic and extra-curricular commitments that I had that I missed many of the application deadlines. So instead, I am going to Spain for a Berkeley Summer Sessions class in Tarragona! haha What a jump! I'm super excited!

So while others are taking summer classes in UC Berkeley classrooms this summer, I will be doing the same here:

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 9:20 PM | Permalink

many people say that college is the place where you "find yourself." There is some truth to this but I mean it is all just a learning experience. Cal is different from where I grew up because of the diversity (though many *including me* would say that this is not enough) that Cal has to offer. Actually, I never grew up around too many Filipinos. At my high school I was always considered one of the token "brown students." My college counselor even called me in to her office to tell me "You are one of my top Mexican students, have you thought about applying to the Claremont Colleges?" When I explained to her that I was Filipino, she kept insisting that I was Mexican and said "I think I would know if you were Mexican or not, it also says so in my computer!" Actually, one of my classmates even asked me where in Mexico the Philippines was (maybe that little faux pas could be contributed to a geography/history teacher or the lack thereof). I never really thought about how big the cultural differences were until college, when I discovered so many other Pilipino students. I learned a lot about my cultural identity and history. I even joined one of the Pilipino organizations on campus. I watched a culture show a few weeks ago and was delighted to see so many dances, costumes, and languages many would just consider to be "ethnic," and am proud to be able to call them my own. http://pass.berkeley.edu

Continue reading "(re)discovering my culture " »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 8:15 PM | Permalink

I remember my first day on the UC Berkeley campus, it was coincidentally CalSo and the first time I had ever seen the campus. I loved m orientation because I felt like the counselors really cared (which of course they do) and I felt like I belonged at Berkeley.

One of the hardest things was I found was choosing between all the classes. There are so many! So here are a few of my favorites (in no particular order) and if you're lucky even an explanation why:

Continue reading "Favorite Classes" »

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 7:20 PM | Permalink

As a new member of fresh faces, I will start with a little introduction. My name is Nicole (nikki) Fernandez and I am currently a third year undergraduate who recently switched from Molecular Environmental Biology to the Conservation and Resource Studies Major. So why do I love CNR? As one of the smaller colleges on campus CNR offers a nurturing, intimate environment where class sizes are smaller and more attention is paid to the individuals. I have loved my professors and have gotten to know many of them on a first name basis. One of the things that CNR offers that not many other offer are chances for field work or field trips. Yesterday, I took a little trip to Ano Nuevo State Reserve with my Wildlife Ecology class with Justin Brashares. So what exactly attracts people to the reserve and keeps people piling in from year to year?

That's right, it is the elephant seals. Mating season begins around December and lasts until about March. We saw a few pups that did not look too good. Our guide told us that about 60% of yearlings die, which according to my amazing wildlife ecology skills tells me that they probably have a type 3 survivorship curve. We also learned a few things about their feeding patterns, molting, behavioral patterns, mating and gestation, weaners, birth, and development. It was a lovely and welcome escape from the sometimes dreary classrooms of Berkeley.

Posted by Nikki Fernandez at 10:24 PM | Permalink