Hey Everyone!! How is the rest of the world out there? I’m doing pretty good here. It’s getting colder now that it’s deeper into winter time. It’s getting down to like mid 40’s at night and mid 60’s to 70’s in the daytime. Well what else has been going on you may ask? Not a whole lot. This past weekend did a little shopping, and all. Also this past week I did a little maintenance on my car. New brakes/tires/all that good stuff. I always love workin’ on the car. It’s always fun to put so much work into something and then see how it pays off in the end with performance and such.

I’ve been programming a lot lately. CS225 has a lot of programs to do. We do at least one per homework, sometimes more. The rest of you CS majors will never have to take CS125 and CS225. They are getting rid of them and calling it engineering something or another. I don’t know why. They’re apparently taking java 1 and java 2 and cramming it all into a 1 semester class. Physics is a lot of studying too. Along with every other class, haha. Anyways, I’ve not done a whole lot lately. Just kinda hung out and chilled in front of the TV. It’s always something good to do when there is nothing else to. We’ve had a little bit more rain lately too. It’s been like 2 weeks or so since it’s rained last, but it only sprinkled a little bit so that’s no big deal. Anyways, I don’t know much else, but I’ll talk to yall later.

Hope you all are all doing well. Seems like January has flown by, granted we were only in school for half of it. Classes are getting harder and the weather has been cold, but we just have to make it through the spring break..and I think we’ve got another 3 day weekend coming up in February, wooh! I don’t think we’ll be lucky enough to get another hurricane break this semester.

I had a bit of fun over Christmas break…went to visit my friends in Jersey and then took a cruise to the Bahamas with my friend Katie. I had an awesome time but my debit card isn’t very pleased with me. So it seems I’ll be stuck with school food for awhile. ): I’m glad to be back though..I’m settling into a routine again, which always helps. Some people decided to transfer this semester. I knew the drop-out/transfer rate was part of the whole college scene, but I didn’t really have any major problems first semester so it’s a little baffling. Guess it’s all subjective..

I had Special Ops tryouts again Jan 30th. You have to try out every semester to be on team and be on for at least 2 semesters before you can apply to be on staff. Going from 8:45 AM to 5:30 PM covered in water, sand, and mud definitely motivated me to try and step it up a notch this semester so I can make staff and never have to go through it again. ‘Twas definitely an experience though.. I thought the watered-down tryouts last semester were hard but this time around, tryouts kicked my ass! Definitely the most physically demanding thing I have ever done in my life. I woke up the next day all bruised, scraped, and unable to move, so I just laid in bed for half the day. The only things I could reach without having to get up or roll over were my cell phone and my water bottle so I just made phone calls all day and whined a bit. And this is what ROTC kids call fun…?! Hrmm.. But it’s so worth it.

I started work again..taking on a few more hours this semester (still in the Career Services office). I fixed my Tues/Thurs schedule so that my first class isn’t until 2:15. This works nicely, because I can roll out of bed late, go to work at 11…and take it easy before heading off to class in the afternoon. I guess it’s a personal preference but using trial and error, I’ve found that anything before 10:30 and anything after 3:30 just doesn’t work well for me. Lucky for me I’ve got a 9:15-10:15 and a 3:30-4:30 on M/W/F and I go til 5 on Tues/Thurs. Freshmen register last so hopefully I’ll get some of my first choices next semester. I’m also hoping to do summer abroad for the 2nd half of the summer in Paris/London. If that works out, I’ll get 6 credits for the price of 3..not to mention knocking out some Physical Science credits and getting to travel Europe. If all goes well, I’ll have 48 credits when I start my sophomore year (between classes, AP credits, and study abroad). Then I’ll be able to take a light schedule next spring when I’m going through field training prep (FTP) for AFROTC.

Later guys..any questions, you know the drill. Melanie

Hello everyone, thought I would start this one off with a joke. A blind man walks into a store with his seeing-eye dog. All of a sudden, he picks up the leash and begins swinging the dog over his head. The manager runs up to the man and asks, “What are you doing?” The blind man replies, “Just looking around.”

Everything has been quiet since I got back from Orlando. I’ve just been settling into classes again and trying to sort out my depleted financial situation after a long Christmas. I applied for my social security number after only 6 months of living here. Not too bad for me! I might be able to get paid for my on-campus job that I have had since the start of last semester. I was working out how much I should get in my first pay check from E.R.A.U. that has been building up since September of last year. My expectations of a substantial amount where sorely disappointed, because contrary to popular belief on-campus jobs don’t pay that well. The fact that I am an international means I can’t work off campus. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful because I would be a lot worse off if I had no job at all, and to be honest it is not the hardest work in the world, actually enjoyable most of the time. The professor that I work for is a good laugh and has no problem helping me with any of my classes. I am just bitter that I could be earning more money than I am, and as a student I always have to have something to complain about.

The soccer team are back training now, so that is a good thing because my evenings where getting depressing for the past two weeks. I know I have said this before, but our spring season is a lot more relaxed than our fall season, which is our main focus. We only have a few exhibitions and an alumni game, but in the fall we are officially hosting nationals. That is the reason that the soccer field looks like the beach at the minute, renovations. There are big plans for renovations of the soccer field, intramural field (that will now be outside of Adams hall), and a new softball field that will no doubt bring up the percentage of female students at Riddle. I know that this will make a few of the lads on the team happy, as well as the majority of the male student body.

I had my first flying experience in a Cessna 172 on Friday night, as a passenger only, but it was good none the less. It’s hard not to get caught up in the whole flying thing, being a student at Riddle. To be honest I didn’t even know that much about Riddle before I came here and didn’t care much for planes or flight. However, I am now thinking about doing a minor in Air Traffic Control, it depends on whether or not I can use it when I go back home. Nobody I have talked to can seem to give me a straight answer, so if anyone knows if the regulations for ATC are the same in Europe as they are in the U.S. could you log on the discussion board. Cheers.

I’m looking forward to my first Super Bowl experience, I know I’ll only be watching it on T.V. but there has been that much hope about it that it had better be good. I’d say that it’ll be the same atmosphere as was in Ireland for the World Cup finals in Japan. But not as good, and by the way that is proper football i.e. no hands. What is the craic with the weather? I didn’t move here from Ireland for this, I am sure that this place is meant to be hot. I mean I got here in August 04 and there were hurricanes for a month and now the weather is freezing.

Another thing, is that the pool on campus is closed until March for some reason, does anyone know why that is? Anyway I am finished complaining now so I will head on. All the best.

Finally, I am a student journal writer. Hurray!! Until today I was just reading these journals, but now I will be writing too. And it happened in a great fashion. She (supervisor) wrote me in the morning and asked a few question. I replied back with all the answer, not really expecting to get in. By the way, the name of my supervisor is Jill Meridith, a lovely lady with warm personality. I had some chore to be taken care of at undergraduate admissions office and I was waiting there for my turn when a lady asked me if she can help me. Her name was Jill Meridith; I saw that on her name tag. Later I realized that she was Jill Meridith, the lady who I was supposed to see for journal writing thing. So I went to see her in her office and that’s it. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t realize and now that I have it feels great.

My name is Manan Vyas. I am from Clifton, New Jersey but originally, I am from India. As we all know Embry-Riddle is ranked #1 for its Aerospace Engineering program, so that’s how I ended by being here. I turned in my application in September last year, got accepted and was ready to (impatient) move down to Daytona Beach.

Day-1

I arrived to Daytona Beach on 10th of this month; I had never before visited here, so things were very new to me. But it all came good. Everyone on campus is very friendly and specially the administrative staff. I attended the student orientation and I recommend it for every incoming student. It was simply great. We went back to our dorms at around 6:00 pm after which I organized my room. Later that evening I made a lot of friends in my dorm and not to my surprise we went to sleep at 2:00 in the morning.

Day-2

I went for Air force ROTC meeting, as I am interested in serving Air Force after I graduate but due to some technicalities I will have to wait till next fall to join ROTC. Later that day we were helped to pick our classes by academic advisors and the process went smooth. I am taking EGR 115 (programming class), EGR 120 (graphical representation class), ES 201 (statics), COM 221 (technical writing), and SS 325 (studies of Eastern Europe). Then later that day I made other new friends and we all went to eat together.

Day-3 and afterwards

Things are getting better every day. Now I know quite a lot people around here and in this short period we went out to eat at Hooters, Olive Gardens, a pizza place, went to mall, and went to Orlando. And believe me or not we have a group of 14 people now and we always hang out together. Its pure fun!!

A week and a half has passed since the school started so there is not much covered in class, but things are catching up fast. Professors are really good and always ready to help. So this was it for now and I will keep you all posted with future development. If you have questions, mail it to vyas85a@erau.edu.

CATCH YOU LATER,
OVER AND OUT!!!

Hello everybody!! How’s it going? It’s pretty good on this side. School’s starting again. BOOO, haha. Seriously, school starting is always good. They made some minor aesthetic improvements to campus. They’ve been working on putting some trees and bushes in around the place to spruce it up a bit. They apparently re-did the cafeteria, but I haven’t seen it yet so I don’t know what all was done for sure.

Well, let me tell you what all I did during my break. Not much, just a good ole time here and there. The day after finals last semester I packed up my stuff and I took a week off back home in Tennessee. One problem, it was WAY cold, and it started to SNOW!!! Snow is no vacation, but I got to see the family and hang out with my friends, so it was all good.

Then I came back down to Daytona for Christmas and everything. That was fun. It was the first time I’ve ever worn shorts and a t-shirt on Christmas Day! Gotta love Florida.

Then just the other day I took a little short vacation to Manhattan. It was my first time to NYC, so it was an experience, let me tell ya. One of the best times ever, it’s so much fun around New York. Lastly I came back to Daytona once again and started class just a couple days ago.

Daytona doesn’t have much going on right now, but one of my favorite races is coming to the speedway; The Rolex 24 at Daytona. It’s a 24-hour endurance race with some of the greatest drivers in the world for those who don’t know. This isn’t NASCAR; these guys actually make turns. Anyways, you can hear them testing at the track from campus. Two days ago it sounded like either the Corvette C5-R’s or the Saleen S7-R’s out running. Whatever it was, it had a V-8. Today it sounded like a prototype car, maybe the Championship Team Audi or Bentley or something like it. Anyways, that’s coming in early February, so I’m going to that for SURE! Catch ya’ll later.

-Darryl

Hope everyone had a nice break and all that fun stuff…I’m sorry it’s been so long, but now it seems it’s time to get back to business. I’m taking a pretty light schedule this semester with plenty of nap breaks, so it shouldn’t be too bad at all. I’ve got 16 credits, which is more than last semester, but I think I’m taking ‘Intro to’ everything..and I’m thinking of taking a Navy ROTC course to mix things up a little. We’ve only had a few days of classes back, but I’m already much more impressed with this round of professors than the last. Ratemyprofessors.com is your friend.

ROTC started up again on day 1..I have a really cool flight commander and a bunch of good people so should be a good semester in that regard, too. We had our first PT session back from break on Friday, and I worked out quite a bit over break, but it was a wakeup call nonetheless. Since S.O. hasn’t started for the spring yet, I’ve been hitting the gym at least a couple of times a week. It’s really been helping out, so I think I’m going to have to keep that in the routine.

I found out my last final is going to be May 4, 2005, so with spring break in there somewhere in the middle, hopefully it’ll come soon enough. Getting through all the distractions is going to be interesting though.. races, bike week, and perpetual spring break here in Daytona.

I decided not to go for a fall 05 RA spot.. the candidate meetings are going to be on Wednesdays which conflict with S.O., so there goes that. Maybe later? But I’m seriously considering moving off campus next fall anyhow. Hoping to get a house or an apartment with a few friends from school. The dorms have been fun and good for the transition and such, but they’re getting a bit old. Too many rules… But I will miss the convenience factor.

I know acceptance letters are going out now so if you got in, congrats and I’ll see you next fall, if I don’t party myself stupid between now and then. (:

Alright everyone, hope you all had a good Christmas break. I am at home in Ireland at the minute. The weather is terrible, but that only makes it feel more like home. It is great to be back and to have all of my exams over so I can relax and take it easy for the month.

Since getting home on the 18th, I can safely say that I have been on the beer more than a few times. Went to my first ever concert during the week in the RDS, which is a big concert venue in Dublin. My girlfriend took me to see the Scissor Sisters, who are a pretty well known band here although not many Americans I have talked to have heard of them, which I find strange enough considering they are an American band.

I have also had a few nights out with my mates who have all been asking if college in the states is like American Pie. I told them that it may be in some colleges, but it’s definitely not at Riddle. I have realized how much smaller things are back here at home compared to America, cars, roads, shopping centers, houses, everything is a lot smaller. Not necessarily any worse but just smaller. Anyway, I am heading out again tonight to club 92, but I am off down to the local for a few pints of Guinness before then, so I will get back to this later. Sorry, (I am back in Florida) I meant to get back sooner but it was pretty hectic at home. I had a lot of visiting and partying to do. I thought when I got home that quite a lot might have changed but everything was just as it was before I left. All except that the family pub had been sold. It had been in the Davey name for the past 53 years. It was weird to see it and to think that it did not belong to my uncle anymore.

I just got back on Tuesday night before college and got through the week unscathed. It was not the toughest week at Riddle, most of the classes just gave out schedules and a brief class description. A few of my mates from back home have come over to stay in Kissimmee, just on the other side of Orlando, so I am down there at the minute. It is pretty nice down here but a bit quiet, more like a retirement spot. It’s a great house that they are staying in, it has everything, pool, table tennis, pool table, Jacuzzi, etc., so we have had loads to keep us occupied!

I’m not looking forward to next week at college because I have a feeling that it will be harder than last, and I am well used to doing nothing by this stage. I got a handy MWF this semester; I don’t start until 11:45am, which is a welcome change from 8:00am starts five days a week last semester, four classes on Tuesday and Thursday though. I took the one credit PE class that was being offered, so I am hoping that it will split my Tuesday and Thursday classes up and the days will not seem as long.

Hey everyone, again! Well my first week back went pretty well! I mean it was so wonderful to see all of my friends and finally see Mike again! I mean I was so nervous to see him again that I didn’t even notice him at the airport (ok I had butterflies in my stomach and I wasn’t used to see him without his usual ROTC haircut!)! Well needless to say that he and I had a great day with one another without having to worry about school and homework and what not. My classes this semester aren’t too bad: physics with lab, intro to computer programming, calculus 2, and studies in humanities. I had dropped my graphical communications class because I didn’t want a heavy course load. So this semester I am only taking 14 credit hours.

Well I eased onto the swing of things this week and I plan on starting off on the right foot and not slack off. I believe that my calculus 2 class might give me some trouble but I plan on staying on top of things early! Ok I’ll let you all know how all of my classes are going after I have actually been in there for more than a couple of days! Talk to you all very very soon! Adios!

*~Terryel~*

Scratch one semester. Easy as it may have been, things are fast growing into a busy world and busier times. I apologize for not being able to make this a long posting, but things being what they are this semester, technology headaches and all, there’s simply no time in the week to commit the time I normally put towards these musings.

To put the last month in summary, the coming semester is going to be a vacation from my vacation. A mix of plenty of work and catching up with household chores/meeting with people I’ve not seen in nearly two years added up very quickly. Fortunately I was able to squeeze in a bit of time to edit and further progress on my Unit Heritage project for the NROTC so that I wasn’t too terribly back-logged once things picked up here. Something that I’ve avoided mentioning for professional reasons has been my personal life and relationships. However, I’ve received so many inquiries that I feel I should make some mention of things, if not just to tip the hat to the dear lady. Having little to no social network in Florida, and not finding many of the qualities I look for in the region, I was introduced to an international young lady from Princeton not long ago and have very happily fallen upon good times with her. With the very solid possibility of her transferring to ERAU, there are hopes of something developing from our close association, but for now things are staying on very pleasant terms though restricted care of the distance.

Where current events are concerned, most endeavors have proven highly successful. My project for the Navy has gotten tremendous compliments and assistance from the Unit Staff. With its nearing completion, my hands will be free to do more important things, such as prepare for our major Color Guard performance for the Tulane Drill Meet and getting together the logistics for a Rifle and Pistol Team. Still working hard for that scholarship from the Navy as well. With any luck, I will only have one year’s worth of loans to pay off and will be able to extend my class-taking ability in the coming years. Classes are predictably harder this time around, having signed up for a swath of upper-level courses in humanities and aeronautics. My schedule is hardly to my liking, spread across the entire day for the entire week. This means I don’t have the regular availability I had last semester for mid-day activities or errands, but the chance to learn time-management should be interesting.

That’s all for now. Things are still fresh enough that I’m not quite sure where the semester’s going yet, but that should be resolved come a fortnight’s passing.

A resounding thanks to all those who have contacted me with your questions, comments and suggestions so far. I really appreciate the feedback everyone’s giving me. Hopefully this is helping out a good many of you. All the best for the coming semester!

Onward and upward, David

Thanksgiving break is over :-(…but Christmas break is almost here. I drove back to Jersey with some of my friends from here (Thanks, Joe!) and it was a very long trip. What should have taken about 14 hours ended up taking about 20 after traffic and stops. We drove all through the night and I ended up only sleeping for about two hours– we were supposed to take turns keeping the driver awake but everyone else passed out a few hours into it. So that was interesting… It was the first time I’d been back since school started and it was really good to see my friends. I was kinda worried that everything would change and it would be a little awkward but that wasn’t the case. Hopefully, I’ll get to spend a little time there over break.. Senses Fail and my Chemical Romance both have shows..

Finals start next week. The work load hasn’t really lightened and I’ve been running on empty and no sleep for a week or so. My UNIV101 class ended and I just gave my last speech in COM219 so that’s been winding down, but my other classes are definitely making up for it. Going straight through from 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM on M/W/F has been killing me but at least on Tues/Thurs I get to sleep in a little bit and take it easy. I partied especially hard this weekend for the new S.O. commander’s 21st birthday, and I’ve been sick, so the past few days have been a little rough, and now we have PIR and finals review. We don’t have PT this week though, so that makes it a bit better.

We have our last practice of the semester for Special Ops on Weds. Sounds like it’s going to be a fun one. Then we have a couple of colorguards and camp-out left. It kinda sucks though, because we have to start all over again next semester, which looks like it’ll be a lot harder. Two semesters on team though and we’re eligible for staff, so we’re half-way through. We did color-guard on ice last weekend at the hockey game. It was interesting to say the least, but it went pretty well all things considered.

The guys in my hall woke me up in the middle of the night right before break after they broke the sprinkler system in the hallway, which ended up making a huge mess and flooding all the rooms in the area, so I wouldn’t recommend testing out the validity of your RA’s warnings about it next year. I’m going through the process to try to become an RA for next year, so if all goes well, maybe some of you will get lucky enough to be one of my residents.

It’s time now for me to go find a 30 min block in which to take a nap today between ROTC, class, and ROTC..and then some more ROTC.