It's starting to get to the point in my classes where everything I'm learning right now is something I've already learned, but with a twist. For example, in physics right now, I'm learning kinematics (for the third time), except this time, with calculus to derive the formulas we need. Math 100 is just Calc 12 all over again (sorry, no twist, except for the fact that it's in a 200-person lecture hall). Mech 141 is Physics 12, with a different approach (I'm not too sure what it is yet, but we were told essentially to forget the sine and cosine laws when solving vectors; I think it involves components). Comp Sci 110 is Java, with a larger focus on program design than just pure code, and Math 133 seems to be the only course where I'm learning something new (complex numbers, then matrices later), and I seem to have taken my usual math approach to things (get a few days ahead, but this time it was unkowingly).

So, right now, I'm kinda bored in my classes. If it weren't for a 19-page form I have to fill out for ENGR 020 (read: CAPP) about my skills, I'd have absolutely nothing to do.

Back at UVic

I got back just fine. I got home at 11 pm on Friday, slept for a bit, and pretty much devoted my entire weekend to hanging out with friends from Abby. Seriously, most of my awake hours were spent out of the house. But I had fun.

I got back to UVic at about 20 to 8 then had to run off to a quick building meeting. Now I'm back in my room, just relaxing until classes start again tomorrow. I'm glad to say I found my room in pristine condition (you don't want to know why I'm really stingy about this right now) upon entering.

Unfortunately, I found out something. It's not too important, but it does concern if I want to do this again. I got lucky last time; my dad was on a business trip on the island and picked me up from school and took me home. Unfortunately, most of the time it's not the case and I've got to take the bus to the ferry terminal. The last bus that goes direct from the university to the ferry terminal leaves at 3:50, and my last class on Friday ends at 4. This leaves me with a few options:

- Take the bus downtown, transfer on a bus there, and get there, but the soonest I've seen I can make it is 6:56, and the ferry leaves at 7 and they won't sell tickets less than 10 minutes before the ferry leaves, meaning I'd catch the 8 ferry and get home at around 10:30-11-ish. It would also involve my parents picking me up at around 10.

- Or I can take it early Saturday, but I'd want to avoid this if possible.

There may be another way, but I'm still trying to figure it out. Wish me luck.

edit: yeah, I found an easier way that would make me catch the 7 ferry. w00t.

First day of classes

Sunago last night was pretty good. I got to meet a bunch of new people but I couldn't stay for the whole thing due to the building meeting. I only got to stay for the worship at the start. It takes place in a night club in the student union building (and Joel, no, not THAT kind of night club), which is a really different approach than your average church. I still need to find somewhere to go on Sunday, though.

Well, today I started, well, that thing people go to university for (no, it's not partying). I had Math 133 (imaginary numbers today, and I also got that warm, fuzzy feeling where someone explains how to do something and it gets pulled out of thin air, seemingly, but then later, you figure out that it makes perfect sense), then Math 100 (mainly explaining things, but eventually will turn to Calculus 12 all over again, and then some), then Physics 122 (I got to re-relearn about units and unit conversion). There's some frosh stuff tonight that involves dark clothes and flashlights, though. Tomorrow is the start of C SC 110 (Java. Good thing I have a little bit of experience, but only when it comes to linear programming; I've had trouble wrapping my mind around object-oriented programming), and it's the only thing I've got, since labs and tutorials are cancelled this week due to frosh.

Frosh week

Okay, something I thought started tomorrow started today. It's essentially a one-week thing where you do a bunch of (organized) crazy stuff. A bunch of people got their heads partially shaved. Don't worry, guys, I'm not one of those people.

And I actually met someone I liked today. She's on my team for Frosh (dunno if she's Christian or not, but definitely interesting) and is one of the few people on campus (supposedly) that hates alcohol as much as I do. That and she made a physics joke during lunch that I would normally make if I weren't so tired. Crazy, huh? She's really nice and energetic, though she has a bunch of crazy ideas sometimes. (that's okay, I kinda like that in a person) And no, I don't like her in that kind of way. Just as a friend. ;)

Oh, and apparently there's a mandatory building meeting at 8 tonight. This is fine and all, but Sunago starts at 7:30. I think I know what the meeting's about (there was a huge party that got way out of hand in my building last night), so I may be able to get out of it if I talk to the dorm supervisor beforehand. We'll see.

Awesome news today.

I missed dinner today (it's alright, I have food in the fridge), but I continued to walk and I found two really cool things. One of which was a labyrinth (not to be confused with a maze. A labyrinth has one path.) that the interfaith chapel set up here which is essentially used for prayer and meditation. You follow the path to the middle and stay there, clear your mind, and walk out. It's really cool.

The even cooler thing is I found pretty much made my entire day, if not my year. The one thing I was really hoping that UVic had but wasn't sure exists: a Christian youth group. What's more, the pastor there's actually did studies in Abbotsford. It was the best news I heard all day.

Books are heavy.

Especially when you go into first year engineering. I got my books (that cost 800 bucks by the way) for this semester, and the bags weighed more than anything I've ever had to pick up at the raspberry plant, carried them back to the dorm (not without the bags breaking, though) and laid them down here. Luckily the most classes I have in a row this semester is 2, so it shouldn't be too bad to lug around.