Farsong Blog-o-Matic - March 15th, 2008

I've noticed a lot of different things since transferring to a state school, but the most interesting thing might be the change from a semester system to a quarter system. Normally, with the semester system, by about the second month everything reaches a tired lull that remains until about two or three weeks before finals. This lull is even longer in spring semester.

However, with the semester quarter system just as class starts — midsemester starts. Shortly after that, as one is getting used to classes and figuring out how to slack off, finals pop up on the horizon not two weeks out. Projects, finals, finishing up work. It all comes up quickly. The cool thing about quarters is that they are over before (or just as) they can become boring. The class leaves off on a high note, instead of the hopelessly-oppressive feeling of the end of the semester and its huge rush; instead of lagging and then ramping up the workload, the workload is fairly stable throughout the semester (or perhaps simply the focus on classwork remains constant and stable).

Finals week starts for me this Tuesday. My one and only final is from 16:00-18:00 that day. Math. The final in my only other class is short, and is on Monday. The only big project I had was completed this week: a group presentation. The weirdest thing is that I have no papers due for finals, for the first time in years. It's weird. There are just tests, and more math homework.

I think it's more a sign of the transition from English to Computer Science major, that I do not have any papers due, but still, it's interesting. It makes the semester feel like I haven't actually done any work. It's been easy. Yes, there was a small classload, but perhaps this is the way classes are supposed to be. Easy and fun. I do like math.


After Tuesday, I'm done with school and on spring break until the 31^st of March. I haven't really decided what to do, but I'll be staying in-town through the 25^th at least (plans are not nailed down, but I might be heading over to the west side for a few days). I'm also planning to hang out with friends Friday evening.

Classes start again the 31^st with the next level math class, Pre Calc I, Economics 100, and Intro to Programming. And for the first week, I'll be home alone. I live at home with my parents because it's cheap. But that week, the week after my spring break, my brother's starts. He and my parents are headed down to Florida and to Disney World. I get to stay in Spokane for spring break, then start classes and stay at home. Hooray.