Hi again, at last.

You may have noticed that I haven’t been posting for a while, and for that I do apologize.  Things have been crazy as usual but coming back from study abroad compounded an already busy term, so it’s been hard for me to find the time to do anything but schoolwork.

It’s hard to believe winter term is pretty much over already.  I’ll try to go through and give a brief summary of what went on.

Coming back from study abroad and having those few weeks off was a little surreal.  Everybody warns you about culture shock when you go abroad, but it turns out there’s also “reverse” culture shock.  It was really hard to get back into my normal life after becoming sort of a different person while abroad.  The Office of International Programs is always there for support if we need it, and after a while things just sort of fall into place.

Once the term started, I had to hit the ground running.  I had two very high-level computer science classes this term – Operating Systems and Data Communications and Networking.  Both were quite challenging.  In the operating systems class we have been learning about all the nitty-gritty stuff that makes your operating system work (for those who don’t know, Windows XP or Vista are examples of operating systems), and have had to do some traditional programming projects like the Dining Philosophers and Cigarette Smokers problems.  In the networking class we studied all the theoretical technical components of getting computers to talk to each other.  I also had a Creative Writing class which was fun but time-consuming, and helped me learn a lot as a writer, even if I’m not often a creative one.

Finals are happening this week, and then it’s spring break!  After this term I’ll be officially done with my major.  It’s a little disorienting.  Next term I’ll have three English classes to finish up my minor and then – eek! – it’s off to the real world!

The classes themselves are challenging, of course, but that certainly isn’t everything that’s been going on.  COW had a ton of fun events this term, including going to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and taking a group of students to play laser tag.  I’ve also been working on my honors thesis, which I’ll write more about as I make more progress.

Anyway, that’s a very high-level update of what’s been going on.  Sorry for the long gap.  You should be seeing much more of me as Spring Term goes on.  Thanks!