So my room is a lot smaller, but I don’t really mind; all I'm concerned with is that I have a good roommate now.  It feels soo liberating.  I'm sure some of you may share similiar sentiments.  It's nice to be able to talk to my roommate more than just once a month.  The dreadful times are over indeed.

I hope all of you had / are having a great summer.  Over the past 3 months, I visited and spent quality time with my parents in Chi-town, traveled up and down the coast to visit Cornellian friends in Sacramento and San Diego (can't get enough of you guys), and spent way too much time in cl with you little kids playing games and killing all my time.  But now, it’s time to get back to work.  I need to get a 3.8 or so if I even want to stand of chance of getting an internship this coming summer and be eligible to study abroad in England next year.  I think my classes are manageable -- no more writing seminars, which probably took up more time than all my classes combined last year, and no more CS database class, which I can’t understand even if my life depended on it.  This semester’s going to be a challenge.  We’ll see what happens.

For Fall Break this year, I think my parents are coming here to visit.  We’ll probably be in the Boston area during the 5 days, so lemme know if you’re there and want to meet up.  I would like to go home for Thanksgiving break, but I’m not too sure yet.  As for winter break, my last final is on Thursday evening, so if everything goes well and I don’t fail and drop Econometrics, I’ll be home on Friday, December 16.  Can’t wait for winter… CES at Vegas and snowboarding at Mammoth.  It’s gonna be amazing.

Well, good luck in school for those who have started and enjoy the rest of summer for those still at home.  See you in four months! 

Today, my grandma was walking home from Levy Adult School when she was hit by a car at the intersection of Hawthrone Blvd and 230th St.  Paramedics rushed her to the hospital where she passed away a few hours later.  It is truly a tragic event and it is my first encounter of death of a close family member.  It has been years since tears last rolled down the side of my face.  She was 77 and had been living with us for the past 10 years.  She was by far the most altruistic person I've ever known, and our family will never be the same again.  We will miss her sincerely.

Rest in peace, grandma.  You will be in our hearts forever.

Soo, I got destroyed by Cornell this first semester.  I started the semester off by fooling around and trying to be social and what not, and consequently failed two of my first three prelims.  After that, I buckled down and concentrated on my classes and managed to get respectable grades on my second round of prelims.  At that point, I thought I was safe and let up a little, trying to experience college by attempting to balance out studying and playing time.  But when it came to finals , I don't think I re-gathered myself to the extent that I should have.  I certainly didn't perform nearly as well as I had hoped on my finals, as my final grades brutally showed.

Well, that was all first semester, which done and over with, and there is no sense agonizing and dwelling over it.  College is nothing like high school; I am just another freshmen trying to make the transition between the two.  Next semester, I'll know what I need to do and will make the appropriate precautions and changes.

Hope everyone's break is going well.  Happy New Year!