Anthropology

Anthropology... Not sure I am going to make it through this class. I did get 10 points on my essay quiz but then everyone in the class did. He then told us that this was a level 2 college class, and that spelling, grammar, and punctuation all needed to be correct. You need to be able to write a complete sentence. Then he picked on the researching we did on each word. In other words, he wants us to look up the words and know them, but also be able to relate them to something he teaches or one of the many articles he buts on line. He really does not follow the book. Most of the words are not in the book from the Week word list. He said we will have another quiz on Thursday but did not say what it was over. Is it week one word list or week two word list? I sent him an email and he did not answer. So, how can we have a quiz on something we haven't even studied in the book or in class. In the syllabus and in class he said he would put 5 words on the board and we were to pick two to write about. He picked one word for us. Not at all what he said. Now, I don't know what to study and I am finding it hard to find the definitions to the word list. I walked out of that classroom feeling completely stupid.

I think he is a good higher level, critical thinking classroom teacher. I think he is every worldly with a little ego to go with it.

I plan to talk to my tutor and advisor to tomorrow and see what they say. Maybe I am not ready for this type of class. I am holding my own in all my other classes so far.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I am in my mid 40's. My age is catching up with me. If I have to go a full three years, I will get out of college at the age of 48. Tonight I am wondering just what I was thinking by going back.

Goals

My last two days of the first week went fine. I didn't do anything stupid. I talked to some new people. Not bad all and all. My Anthropology Professor cut off his hair! He does look 10 years younger, but I liked the long hair. The project we have due in that class really scares me.

This weekend I worked Friday night until midnight, Saturday day, and today. Nice thing about my job I can study while at work on down time. I got all my grocery shopping for next week done last night. I have to do laundry tonight, and True Blood is on! I won't have a day off until next Sunday!!

I miss my boys who are off to college. I suppose Mom's always miss their children. I was at work when on of the older boys came by yesterday.

Lifetime fitness starts this week. I don't know where I am going to find the time for this class. You get one point for a 40 minute workout. After tomorrows orientation I Will have 2 points. I need 36 points to get an A in the class. I will have to figure this out ahead of time and plan when I am going to the Fitness Center. I think we get 2 points for each wellness lecture.

Goals for the Fall Semester

1. Get an A in all my classes
2. Lose 25 lbs (cause I am doing lifetime fitness class)
3. Work on my ABS and flatten my abd. more
4. By losing weight I can get back into all my jeans that are in my closet
5. Make new friends
6. Learn to reduce stress
7. Lower our monthly bills even more so I have to work less
8. Make sure I spend enough time with my husband
9. Spend time with my children
10. To be happy with no stress!

So, that is what the inside of the Men's room looks like.

I went to college early today. We get extra credit for going on a tour at the math lab. I did my tour, left in a hurry as I had to go to the restroom and get to class. I walked down the hall saw the restroom sign and went in. It was disscusting. Toilet paper on the stool in one stall, urine on the stool in the other stall, so I went in the large handicap stall. It was clean! When I was done I was washing my hands and in walks a young man about 19 years old.

"I am in the men's aren't I." I said turning all shades of red.

"Yea." he replied.

"I am so embarrised." I utter as I quickly walk out the door, and down the stairs as fast as I can. I hope to never see him on campus again.

I bought an academic planner. I can't keep up when everything is due.

We got free pancakes today. It was to "Welcome back Students" week.

I have plenty of homework tonight. I am stressing about the essay questions tomorrow in anthropology. Why essay? I have to come up with five questions on an article in History. I can do this...I can do this.

I did get a little lonely today. I don't know anyone on campus. I don't know anyone in my classes. It is like I stepped into another world. I was wishing that my husband was going to school to. I don't know who I would call if I needed help in a class. There is no roster. I wonder if other older students feel he same way?

Day 2

I decided that I don't want to be home in the mornings anymore. My youngest son is a slob. I am moving him from the room downstairs back to his bedroom upstairs. We want to make the downstairs into a small family room so my daughter can have friend over. I moved some clothes off a shelf and placed them in a clothes basket, and moved the shelf, his computer, and dresser upstairs. He moved his clothes somewhere last night, and this morning he could not find them. He was mad, and demanded to know where his clothes were. It was another drive me crazy morning. He is gifted, and sometimes hard to deal with. He was in a much better mood this afternoon. He might not be tomorrow. He has to have his room moved by tomorrow night, or my husband is taking a shovel and placing all his stuff in boxes. Tomorrow night might not be fun.

I started my Cultural Anthropology class. My Professor for Anthropology is unique. Upon entering class he reminded me of Professor Snape from Harry Potter, except that I could tell he was from Indian descent. He put his hair back into a pony tail and started class. His father is from India, and his mother is white. He was born and raised in the US. He does not believe in tests, so I will not have a midterm, or final. Yea! However, he said we will be spending a lot of time in the college library, (we cannot rely on the Internet) and we have a do a big project throughout the class. I am thinking "Doesn't he know that I have kids, a job, and I don't live on campus?" He also said that we work harder in this class than any other. What was I thinking when I decided to go back to college???

A class I didn't tell my readers about is my Lifetime Fitness class. I have to spend 2 hours in the gym a week for this class. I need to exercise anyway. So, between Lifetime fitness, and Anthropology, I will be spending extra time on campus. I had better figure out what days I plan to do this and stick to that schedule.

I am working tonight until midnight. I have my Math done, now on to History. I can't remember if we have a quit tomorrow or Friday. I need a planner just for my homework!!!!

First Day of College

I decided that I wanted to go back to college at age 44. All ls good, although I am scared to death. I am not the greatest test taker in the world. In fact I suck at tests. Math is something that gives me nightmares, and I am sure math was invented by the devil himself.

I decided to take the bus into the city to save on gas. We have a large garden in which we are currently freezing everything in order to save on food bills. We are almost debt free, and we know down to the penny what we need each month to live. I am doing some in home care as a nurse 2-3 days a week for income.

I want to bed early last night to get a good nights sleep. My backpack was packed. This morning my youngest son all of a sudden needs a camera bag in which we cannot find. I put the wrong pants in the dryer to un-wrinkle, and after I was all dressed, took my daughter to school,then I spilled coffee all over my shirt while getting out of the car. Great start to my new year at college.

The bus ride was fine. I got to my first class only to find that it didn't start until Aug 31. Wow, how did I miss that? I am taking a Strategy in Learning Class in hopes to aide my ability to take notes, read the text, and take tests better. Another young man did the same thing I did, and found that his class didn't start until Aug 31 either. He was nice to talk to, as I was afraid all the other students would be fresh out of high school, and not want to talk to some middle aged woman with four children.

Upon further looking my speech class on Tues and Thursdays does not start until Sept 6. That should ease myself into college life at a slower pace.

I am taking Math 5 days a week. It is a refresher coarse. My instructor is from another country but you can tell she loves what she does, and loves her students. She promises we will learn to love Math.

She said "You are here because you need a refresher coarse in Math or else you hate Math. Some will retain it faster than others. This is elementary math up until the 8th grade."

First thought in my mind "Elementary math to the 8th grade? I am so stupid!"

Before college started my oldest son took me to the campus to buy my books and find my classes. He is a math major, and this is his senior year in college. He is taking the highest math classes he can take, and will be teaching himself. I decided to buy the answer solution book to my math book and my son looked at me and said "Really Mom?? You won't need this. This is so easy." He didn't get his math skills from me or else I have some hidden talent somewhere that has never been exposed. In fact three of my four children are math wizards. Go figure!

My next class is a history class. This class will require a lot of reading, and the Professor wants you to talk in class. 25% of my grad will be participating in class. I didn't really sign up for talking in class, but then I decided I could talk in class if I read my homework. I started reading her chapter while waiting for the bus to take me home. The professor reminds me of my best friend in high school who married at 15. Same face features,hair, body style, and mannerisms.

No one talked to each other on the bus, and I nearly froze to death on the way home. I finally napped a little and when I got home I slept for another hour. I must of been really tired.

The evening was spent at the high school open house. My daughters band is taking a trip this spring and I need to come up with $780.00 by March, plus $120.00 for food, then spending money on top of that. That doesn't count all the fees I paid for my younger two to attend school this year, the $5000.00 person loan I took out for one of my older boys to attend his last year of college, or school supplies. I am broke but happy. I have the best husband in the world.