Freshmen Orientation
This has been overdue for sometime. But anyway, lots of things happened at such a short span of time. Anyway, in this single post, we'll be tackling two things- Our Freshmen Orientation Program, which I have to admit is fun and entertaining, and the Parent's Meeting which has its own air of friendliness and entertainment.
Anyway, the first thing that we're going to tackle is the Orientation.
Freshmen Orientation
First Day (May 25, 2010)
Packing our bags and our belongings, we prepared to hit the road for today's freshmen orientation. We arrived in Davao City at a fairly early time so mama and I decided to to go around my Boarding House to unpack my things and prepare myself for the occasion.
I entered the university at around 8:30, more or less and was directed to the covered court where I was seated according to my section. There, we attended a rather short and simple mass which doesn't come as a surprise due it being a Catholic school. Although it wasn't terribly long, it is enough to bore me.
After the mass, we were directed to our classroom, which was F301. The first few moments were cold and truly awkward. I mean, you stick yourself in a room filled with strangers you barely know and you'll surely feel small. Not to mention that you don't know the capacity, personality and other details about these new people and you'll be having a hard time breaking out of your shell.
Fortunately, our facilitators have thought of this and after a few games and group activities, the class is having progress and the next few hours, we're talking like we've been classmates for a year. Now isn't that a huge leap? Yup, it definitely is.
Anyway, lunch break came and I reunited with my mother, who was waiting, along with my cousin and younger brother in their van just outside the campus. We took a few chances to get acquainted with the road from the university to my boarding house before stopping to take lunch.
After lunch, mama deemed it time to go and went home. Once their van disappeared from my sight, I am beginning to feel the symptoms of "missing home." But I was easily entertained with the prospect of living independently that I just proceeded back to our classroom, where I was able to collect myself and my thoughts.
The aternoon session focuses more on acquaintances and more activities. Although the main highlight seems to be the campus tour and the freshmen audition. Since I have no talent in singing and dancing, I found no point to try in the department and chose to go along with the tour instead.
Once the tour is done, I found my way back to my boarding house, took a few moments to rest and went out to take supper. The rest is pretty much a routine after that, brushing, preparing, reflection and eventually, sleeping. The first day had been interesting, I wonder what would happen next time?
Second Day (May 26, 2010)
Upon gaining consciousness with the help of my phone of course, and its loud alarm tone, I jumped off from my bed, new realization hitting me. This is the first time that I am truly alone. And it feels a bit...directionless. I don't know where to start. But, first of all, I am so used to having my mother prepare everything for that I am at loss at what am I to do.
I can only shake my head. Well, I am getting too sentimental and overly exaggerated over these thoughts. What can be so bad? I mean, how hard can it be? So, after that brief soul-searching, I did my morning routines, which is a bit different due to my new environment, but I was able to make myself presentable and well-dressed. Thank goodness for that. Once that routine was done, I set on for my next goal, breakfast.
Since it's still 6:50 or something, the majority of the stores around my boarding house are still closed, which is a major annoyance. However, I seemed to remember that they announced yesterday that there's a food court in the basement of Ateneo de Davao University so I decided to give it a try. After all, it's a school so they should open early right?
So, clutching my bag, I immediately set my destination for the university but only to be disappointed to find out that the area is closed as well. Oh it's not really closed as in locked, bolted and chained. But it's closed as in, no food has been displayed yet.
As I entertained myself by viewing the janitors cleaning, my eyes fell upon a group of what I assumed as students waiting on a nearby table. This gave me hope. Anyway, the session will not start until 8 anyway so I just settled myself in a chair and decided to give it a chance.
Well, my patience did not go unrewarded. A few minutes later, people started coming in, the display was filled with food and I was able to eat my fill. After that, I decided to go to the room to see if anyone's there. Again, I was met with silence. But not for long because just as I was able to place my bag on the table, my new classmates started coming in.
The morning was uneventful. Our FYDP facilitator for the day came and that was the only major activity we had. During our lunch break, something interesting happened that I wasn't able to predict. I met two person from my section in the food court. They introduced themselves as Princes and Irvin. Of course I knew them from class introductions earlier, but this is the first time that I was actually able to talk to them.
They were honest individuals and I immediately told myself to befriend them. I ate with them and we chatted for a while before returning to our classroom. Now the afternoon is probably the most interesting of all time that we had here. This is the true peak of getting to know each other. We had a few games, the Blue Knight Song was introduced, and for the most interesting part, we gave each other messages in the most unique ways.
The final part involves in us getting ready for our yells, attend the closing ceremony, and after my aunt called to pick me up, we were on our way back home again.
Parent's Meeting (June 5, 2010)
The parent's meeting is one of the shortest, but memorable aspect of my pre-College moment. It took place in June 5, but we left home a day before and stayed in my boarding house.
For this activity, it was just mama and I. And although it was her activity more than it was mine, I accompanied her wherever she is. Although I did left her at the meeting place because I thought it was "exclusive" for parents only, she later sent me a text message that I was able to join with her.
So, after riding the elevator alone for the very first time of my life, I joined up with my mother. Although it was rather an unenteraining gathering, it has its funny moments, like some parents asking questions and was replied in a humorous way or something. But then again, that didn't compensate for the boredom I had.
After the meeting, mama and I headed to take our lunch and after strolling around Gaisano Mall, it eventually came to a point where she have to leave. So after my aunt picked us up, they dropped me back into my apartment before saying our goodbye.
I felt partially sad and guilty though. I wasn't able to spend some time with her and my family and now that class is starting, I guess it would take for me a while before I am able to visit them again and truly, that is a sad thing.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in a restaurant with free wifi access. That's pretty much what happened for this day. And although it was a bit lonely and sad, excitement eventually came. After all, class is approaching fast and I must eventually get ready for that.
