How and where do wash your clothes?
...R. Sherman, Boulder, CO, USA
by Ann Chanecka, 2/19/97... from Queensland
Yes, it is hard to be away from our friends and families. It's not
as hard for us to be away from our parents since we're used to
being away at college for most of the year. But, it is a bit
different than that because they can never call us. We do miss
our friends because many of us did not know each other before
we came. The good part about that is that we are all making
really good friends here and are all feeling the same way about
having left so we are all taking care of each other.
We can make calls home but it is really expensive calling half
way around the world so we don't get to talk for very long. The
other way we talk to our friends and families is through mail,
but that is also very different because it takes ten to fourteen
days to get here. That means that by the time we write back to
them it's been almost a month. And, since most of us were used
to having email at school which is very fast, it's hard to get used
to the slow communication in such a fast paced world.
Would you please describe the typical day of a student?
...Katie G., Claremont, CA, USA
by Cabin One, 2/21/97... from Queensland
...Apurva Dave, Dorian Fougeres, Matthew Pike, Mark Buckley, David Stern,
Mark Rivers, Barry Stephenson, and Arthur Wendel
On a typical day, breakfast is at 7:30 am. It usually consists of cold cereal and
fresh tropical fruit. Starting at 8:30, we have two lectures for an hour and a half
each, with a half hour break in between. Lectures can either be led by one of
our professors, or a local with expert on what we are studying. Following lunch
at noon, we get ready for an afternoon of fun and excitement in the field. On
most afternoons, we take field trips into the surrounding areas to become more
familiar with the area in which we are located. Sometimes, we spend the
afternoons collecting data, which we then turn into reports and projects.
We usually get back around 4:00p.m., at which time some students start
preparing dinner. The rest of us use the time from four until dinner to study,
hang out, lift weights, play ping pong, nap, shower, or write letters home.
On most evenings, the time after dinner is our own. Sometimes, however, we
have other activities, including slideshows, movies, and student meetings.
