This blog is about a 22-year old millennial, living in South-Africa. I am open minded. I write about university and the travels, which I am going to have. I have a wanderlust that can't be satisfied, unless I travel. Adventure is my middle name.
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
I would like to thank my friend, Armand, who sent me this song. This song is my exam motivation, because I have found my inner ninja and will conquer these exams!
I have received good news! I can write the Accounting exam, because I did good in my test. BUT I will have to do very good in the exams to pass! Therefore my inner NINJA will come out when studying for it!
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Exactly at 11:11, I made a wish. A wish that there is a day for every day.
You are probably gonna hate me for making this particular wish. Damn you person for making such a wish! Is a year not enough for you??
But I certainly need a day for every day! What do I mean by that? By that I mean that for every Monday, I need another one. For every Tuesday the same, etc....
Why? Would you ask. Well, because my workload is a lot and I am struggling to keep head above water. I am usually 'til late busy with academic work. It takes me the whole day to complete my work, which must be handed in next. The days are flying past like tennis balls being shot out of the machine.
But after my day is done, I haven't made time for the people in my life and therefore I need a day for every day, so I can get the chance to spend it with them!
Maybe I need time manage. Maybe I need to sleep less. Maybe maybe maybe.
But this is my wish, which will not be granted. So stop hating me for my wish and chill! Life is short, enjoy the days. They go by so fast.
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
When I'm awake, I constantly think of sleep. When I'm asleep, I dream of sleeping. Sleeping is my drug and you know what? IT'S FREE!!!!
Are you also a student, who constantly sleeps?
In my first year, I got the nickname, Sleeping Beauty, because I was always falling asleep in my Afrikaans lecturer's class. But in my defense, she was a bit extremely boring. Always reading the same poems and going on and on about the same work. The time of the class, was also accidentally in my afternoon nap time. I got good grades so the lecturer never scolded me, she just nicknamed me. My second year was pretty much the same thing, always falling asleep in class.
Lately, I'm quite good at staying awake in class and at work. I try to doodle in class or make notes, which helps to keep the sleepiness at bay. When I do eventually arrive at the residence, I immediately get in bed. I never sleep the amount of time that I planned. I set my alarm for an half an hour, but when I eventually awake from my death sleep, it's an hour and a half later...
I always feel so guilty when I wake up and think about how much work I COULD HAVE done in that hour...
Pfffft! Yeah right!
Problem is: I love sleeping so much, I might consider marrying it. I love my bed. Oh, and did I mention my cushion. Just writing this, I am already fantasizing about my bed.
Is there something wrong with me? Or is sleeping just my drug?
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Everyone has been there... that time when you count the cents in your pocket. Or when you binge on Two Minute noodles or tuna. When you measure everything you buy and how much drinks you could have bought with it. When you are nice to people in clubs, so they would buy you drinks, because entrance just made you poor. Have you ever experienced this?
Yes, we have all had the student poorness syndrome.
I am a student, who is always keen for jobs or holiday jobs. I have worked at shoe shops, at lawyers, at daycare centers, you name it! I also work at university at the Reading Labs, where we help first year students to better their reading skills, so they can do better in their academics. But then, we came across the idea to buy t-shirt strips and make headbands, armbands and necklaces from it.
A braided headband
A double finger weave armband
A sailor's knot headband
We had a market day at the residence, where I did pretty well. But then I decided to go bigger. I am going to sell my things at Life Market. "The LIFE Market is a local market where fresh, interesting and out of the ordinary food can be found. In addition to the really good food, you can also find decor and clothing goods".
I decided to take a chance and try to get into the Life Market. They are a very prestige market with beautiful things every time. It is a bad place to go if you have money, because you want to buy every single thing. The e-mail came through that I am approved for the market. I am looking forward to sell it!
I hope this will help to cure the student poorness, which I am suffering from! But I also enjoy making these things, it is therapeutic and relaxing.
The things a student will do for money is amazing! You just have to get something that is worthwhile to do!
What have you done for student jobs, just to survive?
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Technology is a funny thing, don't you think? Some people have no idea what it is. Some people had to adapt to it and others grew up with it.
This past week, when we were on holiday, we were three generations in the home. My grandparents, my parents and me and my sister. I realized that we differ so much in the way that we use technology.
How my grandparents use technology
My grandparents are pretty good with technology, seeing as they only recently started using it. My grandma uses Whatsapp, Skype and Facebook, which I think is great! But she constantly asks me to help her out with things on her phone. They also use their laptop to play games like Solitaire and other card games.
How most parents are
I must say, my parents are fairly good with technology. My mom often struggles with things like remotes for the TV and DVD machines and she will sometimes appear like the woman above, but she is better than me in social media and all things digital. My mom is a real social media devotee. My dad is also really good with technology. In our home, we are constantly trying out new stuff. The newest is the Apple TV.
How my generation is
Forgetting to look up. Forgetting to face reality. Social media, not really being social, with the people around you. Yes, this is my generation.
A while back, I was informed by my mother that I got my degree when I was 6! SIX!!!
But the human race just couldn't accept that I am such a genius. So, I had to go through with school (yawn) and through university (yawn again), just to prove to them that I am THAT smart.
Proof of my first degree at 6
With my first degree, I studied physics and graduated as a physicist...The clever alien that I am, but the second time, I tried to be more NORMAL and studied communications. (So, I would know how to communicate with the human race).
Well, human race I made it a second time! Our graduation only takes place in March, but one of these days I'm gonna have my graduation gown and cap on! Just so I can prove it to you! VAT SO!
So, for those who know me, know that my skin color is just a shade darker than snow! I have always been a casper and had many nicknames like Tippex, The milk man's daughter, snowy, etc... Name it and I had that nickname!
It is summer time and it means that I have to show some skin again and then I realize that I really am insanely white! My family and I are also going to the sea in December. I found this gem of the last time when we were there
Yes, this is me!
I white-out on photos, I am invisible on some, and sometimes I get a photo I can actually use, where I don't white-out!
I have tried tanning, I have tried spray tans... I have tried every trick in the book, so stop giving me tips: Been there, done that, got the leopard striped spray tan marks....
Yes, I have had some bad times just trying to tan, like being sunburned very badly, etc, etc...But then I realized there are perks to being a Casper:
When I'm old, I won't have a rubbery and ugly skin, because I never tan.
I can't tan (Tanning is bad for your skin), I just stay snow white.
I can scare people in the dormitory and make them believe that I am a ghost.
All the colors of rainbow look good with my skin
I shine like white paper when I'm in the sun (almost like the vampires in Twilight, unfortunately I don't sparkle...YET).
Chinese think of me as royalty, because kings, queens and other royalty are not allowed out of the palace, therefore they have very white skins. (I learned this fact, when I was in Paris and met a lot of Chinese tourists).
I won't be mistaken for another race.
People instantly know that I'm from European lineage.
I give Snow White a run for her money. I make Tippex look brown. I give snow Arc Eyes. I shine brighter than a white paper in the sun... AND I LOVE IT!
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Ah, the mysteries of 2015...
Autumn-the change of seasons just like 2015 will be to me
In previous blog posts I have written about my uncertainty about next year and here I am two months later and still clueless as ever. As a final year student, many important decisions have to made in this crucial time; decisions like am I going to do my honors, or another diploma, or am I going to start working. For the past two weeks I've been filling out so much forms and applications, I'm starting to feel like one, no jokes.
I imagine myself meeting someone and I'll be like:
Me: "Student number?
Person: "Huh? Why?
Me: "Okay, person doesn't know... What is your title, initials and surname?
Person: "What? You wanna stalk me on Facebook already?"
Me: (Filling out the form in my head thinking: Initials are YWSMO and surname is Facebook)
"What is your date of birth?"
Person: "Dude, I'm 21!" (Walks away, not knowing what just happened)
Yes, that is the extent of the Application Syndrome. Normal conversation has been forever ruined because of these life changing forms. These forms will determine the beginning of my working career, but not necessarily the end of it. It feels like very big decisions that I'm making. I might sound negative, but I'm actually very excited for the possibilities and I still have the perception that I can change the world with whatever choice I decide to make.
Today, I also heard that I got accepted at Flow Communications to shadow there in October. They are a very prestigious communication company and I am indeed a very lucky person! This will be a big step for me, because it will be great putting it on my CV, as well as the experience I'll be gaining will be priceless!
Signed on the 27th day of August
Signature of student:
AKOosthuizen
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Today was the first day of my last semester as a final year student. Yes, it was the beginning of the end... Feels great even writing this. Next year is still a mystery, but it's not today's worries.
Point being, it is great to be back and it is great to see that students haven't lost their sense of humor. These are two posters which were on campus, everywhere:
This translates to: "Have you maybe seen this dove?
I met this dove in front of the SS (Student sentrum) and we chilled for 5 minutes and he flew away.
Within 5 minutes he became my best friend.
If you maybe see him, tell him that I miss him.
Thanx
Gerrie"
"Free pieces of paper"
Thank you random students, you made a Blue Monday a little less blue! I love being back!
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
The power of words are amazing.
Quote in a coffee shop
The reason why I say that words are amazing is because of the power it has.
The other day, I had an interview to work at the Aardklop Music Festival, here in South-Africa. It wasn't really an interview because the people already know me, so we just started talking about random things. The discussion ended up with the power of words.
The manager said that words can either get you this job or it cannot. That got me thinking about the power of words.
The way how they can cut like knives. The way they can make your day.
Words can start a relationship. Words can end it. Words can start a war or end it.
I have always loved words and the way how you can make art with them and how you can write magic in the form of a book. I, myself, could never really find the right words to say or write to make magic, but I really love reading and how every author has his own voice and his own magic in his books, but still using the same words. I love reading poems, where the words have so many meanings. MAGIC!
But words can also cut like knives and somehow you never quite forget the knives that stabbed you. I still remember how people bullied me in primary school, which is quite a few years ago. I still remember how people said mean things to me in high school and also at university.
Lately, I needed a lot of inspiration to get me through my studies because it got quite tough with studies and the picture above, which I took in the coffee shop, gave me the needed inspiration to keep on going. Yes, these words inspired me to STOP GIVING UP!!!!!
Go and watch this video on Youtube, because it perfectly describes what I mean in a song!!!
We should be careful with what we say because it has so much power. We should rather try to make magic with our words and make it art, instead of hurting people.
Sometimes, life gets tough. In the past month, I had so much work to do that it felt like I was drowning. But then I try to motivate myself with these few things:
Just remind yourself how privileged you are, to be able to study. Other people wish they could be in your shoes. So work hard and appreciate what you have.
Only focus on the next project. One can only eat an elephant bite for bite, swallowing it whole, will kill you! Looking at all your work that needs to be done, will make you negative and will not help you with the next project!
Make a cup of tea, take a deep breath and start.
Go to 8tracks- choose a study and classical playlist and relax while working.
Allow yourself some 'me' time, but not too much or you will fall behind.
Cry it out, moan and complain, but then move on! You have to face your work...
It might look like a mountain now, but once you start, things will look better!
My best advice to myself is always: Anything is better than nothing... Even if you get bad grades, you could've gotten NO grades if you didn't do it!
I hope these few tips will help you, when things feel too much.
My exams are starting in a week's time and here we are still busy scraping together participation marks so we can go and write exams! Yes, studying is tough! Suck it up and get a move on :)
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Here at my university, we are busy writing semester tests. It's equivalent to a mini exam. It helps us to scrape together the little marks, we already have and helps to lift our participation mark for exams. But I am very good at procrastinating, so I decided to compile a list of things, which I and many other do, while procrastinating.
This is us, procrastinating....
My procrastinating list:
Your room is always exceptionally clean. (The dishes get washed immediately and the floors are scrubbed.)
You are up to date with all your series. (Game of Thrones, Pretty Little Liars, Reign and Dexter are my faves.)
ALL your social media profiles are up to date. (Regular posts are made on each profile)
You have regular visits with all your friends. (This is easy for me, because I stay in a dormitory.)
Your parents know you are alive. (You phone them everyday to procrastinate just a little more.)
You are there when the dining hall opens. (You run for food and the 15min break away from work.)
Having songs in your head and then ending up on Youtube to watch it. (Two hours later you are still on youtube.)
A shower becomes an outing. (You get excited to go and shower and absolutely take your time.)
When procrastinating, one takes at least 2 naps.... each hour... (When I should study, I get so tired and take at least 2 naps a day.)
You count all the dots or groves on your ceiling. (Ours is not exciting, 'cause it only has 17 groves...)
Taking out your trash also becomes fun. (When you were little you hated it, now you take out the trash even if there is only one paper in.)
While procrastinating, just remember that you are extremely privileged to study and only 3% of the population is able to study and never let it get out of hand like this:
"It's gotten to the point, where I can't even call it 'procrastination' anymore,
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Last year, my older friends struggled with their third year. They constantly complained about the work load and I thought how bad can it really be?
Now, I completely understand! IT IS A LOT OF WORK! Every minute I have, I have to use for work. I can't play around anymore this year. In this two weeks I have 7 projects, which I must still start and finish... At least, I completed one in this very short holiday.
My stuttering started up again from the stress of the work load. It is the second time this year that my stuttering came round.
I don't even know if I am so eager to do my honors anymore, next year. The work load is even more then. I think I will crack if I have to do honors, as well.
I am emotionally tired! The second term only started today, but I literally don't have the energy, that I used to have the past few years, around this time of year. I AM TIRED! But not the tired that sleep can cure...
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Being in a dormitory, we always have themes to dress-up to. I absolutely love it to scratch around in my closet and come up with something for the theme.
Superheroes
P-party
Stewardesses
Vintage 21st
Cowboy 21st
Japan and Russia
What are great themes to also dress-up to? I am looking for ideas for my 21st...
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
Every year, in the dormitory we have a corridor-decorating weekend. This year, we decided to have a farm/cowboy theme for the corridor, which I live on. Here are some photos of the end result.
Me and my roommate's photo on our door
Our name board
Everyone living on the corridor's photos, pinned up in the corridor
The birthday board
The painting in our recreation room
Our washroom
Decorations in the windows
Our telephone room
It was so much fun in taking part in decorating the corridor and the results are very beautiful.
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
We were busy taking photo's for the corridor that I stay in (it is a tradition to decorate the corridors), when me and my friends decided we can just as well have a photo shoot, because we are dressed up. The theme was farm/cowboy. (It's open for interpretation)
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
The month of March is the month when you finally get your degree.
This morning when I walked to class, our main building looked fabulous, so I had to take a photo of it.
Later, when I walked past there were loads of graduates smiling and posing, for photos, in front of it. It is kinda a tradition to take photos in front of the main building. This is the month of March when people get their degrees and inspire others to graduate!
Proud parents and families were there taking pictures and fighting to take photos with the graduate.
Next year, I will be the graduate and my parents will be the proud ones taking photos! Congrats to all my friends, who graduated! You are awesome and I admire you!
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
People don't know what they want. They complain about the weather being too hot, or because it's raining. Decide what you actually want.
Rocking the wet dog look
I enjoy every season for all it is. It is raining season here in South-Africa. My parents have been having trouble on the roads, because of all these storms. We are just having a lot of rain here at the university.
I recommend that every person here at university should get their own pair of gumboots, because these stuff are amazing. Everyone is dodging the puddles, while I'm walking straight through them! It makes life fun, so buy some nice gumboots.
I was soaking wet the whole day, but it was worth the fun! Enjoy the rain and STOP COMPLAINING!!!
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
My good deed for the day is done! I donated my blood today.
Last year I wasn't allowed even once to donate blood, because my blood pressure and iron was too low. Today, I ate like an ox and salted every single thing on my plate, so I could go and donate. The friendly lady, who took my blood pressure and iron, told me that I was still on the border of not donating. But at least, I could!
I, also have this phobia for needles. I freak out when I see them, especially the needles they use to draw blood! IT IS HUGE! Another friendly lady, kept talking to me and made awesome conversation, when she suddenly stuck in the needle in my arm. I like that tactic a lot, because I didn't expect it.
My blood saves lives. Your blood saves lives!
Go and donate some of those awesome juices!
By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen
There is never a shortage of signs on campus, which attracts one's attention. Some signs are horribly misspelled or they are LOL-funny Today, I saw this sign on my way to the Mac labs (Mac Computer labs).
Translation of the poster:
So, you stole a new Apple Keyboard or mouse out of the Mac Labs?
Do you know that your theft will influence others' education?
Look how beautiful your behavior (or silence) radiates the values of this institution.
Theft is ugly and yes, it influences us in our studies, when people steal our equipment. There are less computers to use and thus it takes more time to complete these tasks. Students don't have any time to waste!
So shame on you!
But I love it when people put up signs like these. It is priceless.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
