Today was more of the same,new and interesting plants and...well Sarah found a large shoe..so maybe just a little different :-) Bottany is by far my favorite class at the moment,where else would you find random giant shoes :-)
This blog will be an account of four First Year Students embarking on a learning journey in the Science of Herbs in Cork Institute of Technology.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Late...Really late..
After 7 days of horrible illness i finally have time to write up the blog..a bit late i agree but i would have hated to give you cyber flu by accident so really this was a selfless act :-) So ill try fit two wednesdays into the one blog.So we begin with Wednesday the 22nd and the first practical bottany class. Though the bus leaves way to early the lovely Clonakilty scenery makes up for it..just. After a lenthy class on plant characterictics we finally made it out to the green house to take a look around and being looking at plants properly. Although the plants latin names are quite daunting i've found them quite easy to remember. Maybe because they are so odd they're unforgettable,i hope anyway:-)
Today was more of the same,new and interesting plants and...well Sarah found a large shoe..so maybe just a little different :-) Bottany is by far my favorite class at the moment,where else would you find random giant shoes :-)
Today was more of the same,new and interesting plants and...well Sarah found a large shoe..so maybe just a little different :-) Bottany is by far my favorite class at the moment,where else would you find random giant shoes :-)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Science is fun!
So far in my Herbal Science modules I find Chemistry the most challenging but like all challenges I am sure that I will find it the most rewarding. I just need to put in the effort so that the penny will drop and it all will become clear. Even though many of us in the class seem to find it difficult, as we have not studied it in the past or maybe not for a long time, the general consensus is that we will all work together to get help from tutors, fellow class mates who know the score and we will have study groups.
I find youtube a valuable tool...I've spent my weekends scrolling through videos on Mass Spectrometry and Periodic Tables...here are some of my favourite video's so far..
It's all fascinating really...and hey..if Golden Retrievers know about Atoms then I can too!!
I find youtube a valuable tool...I've spent my weekends scrolling through videos on Mass Spectrometry and Periodic Tables...here are some of my favourite video's so far..
Sunday, September 26, 2010
like atoms that bind, together we'v joined.
Having a great experience in CIT; the class-mates are some of the most intresting people I'v got to know in a very long time and the content of our course is getting more exciting daily as we delve into the workings of chemistry, physics, biology, botany and much, much more.
During week two we began our lab work after a laborious safety message from each member of staff, taking up half of each allocated lab class, Mmmm... health and safety regulations are important.
During chemistry we done an experiment to show us in a practicle way, how atomic mass can be applied which I found amazing. I'v been getting to know some of the fourth year herbal science students also, who have been very helpfull in showing me around CIT and reassuring me that the course gets better as the years roll on, I am sure that my love for the subject will grow as my knowlage of it does.
During week two we began our lab work after a laborious safety message from each member of staff, taking up half of each allocated lab class, Mmmm... health and safety regulations are important.
During chemistry we done an experiment to show us in a practicle way, how atomic mass can be applied which I found amazing. I'v been getting to know some of the fourth year herbal science students also, who have been very helpfull in showing me around CIT and reassuring me that the course gets better as the years roll on, I am sure that my love for the subject will grow as my knowlage of it does.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
No one left behind
I have found the lectures more than obliging when it comes to help inside and outside of the classroom, whenever necessary. There have even been whispering of a yoga class with the skilled tutilage of a fellow classmate, "the first one is for free". Great way to stir up some interest.
Last night i attended this years first meeting of the olympic weightlifting club, a talk from a former irish, european and world champion weightlifter, with tips and instruction throughout. A true gentleman, he led the session by example and it was a pleasure to see and hear such experience face to face.
Here's hoping for continuing comfort and procession through the college year.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Deathproof....
You need to be either mad or made of steel to cycle to CIT!
In one week I have had many near death experiences. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I am a careless cyclist, in fact I am the opposite, I go super-slow instead of zipping in and out of lanes like some of the other cyclists out there and I also wear safety gear from head to toe!!
My first brush with death was the scariest..a big black Mercedes pulled across a junction in front of me and I nearly ended up going over the bonnet of the car, THEN this morning I'm pretty sure a young man tried to push me into the curb, my pedal was scrapping off the pavement as I tried to cycle past the car.
I have no idea why they put a cycle lane for 100m to 200m and then stop it...it seems a tad pointless to me, and even when there is a cycle lane a lot of cars (well their drivers really) still pull in to them so that the wing mirror will be in the way of us poor cyclists.
Although I don't think that these incidents are just happening to me. I have seem lots of cars dangerously swapping lanes and nearly causing accidents. I think going anywhere at rush hour is just a matter of taking your life in your hands.
Nevertheless I will persevere because I love my bike (her name is Cindy and she is very pretty), it's good for my health (http://www.whycycle.co.uk/why_cycle/) and I get to
college in 15 minutes.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Enjoying a great start to a great course.
One enjoyable and interesting week down, many more to come. Getting to know my class-mates aswell as the getting a deeper understanding of the course content has been an uplifting experience for me and given me a confidence in my chosen subject, that it will fullfill my expectations.
CIT itself runs quite smooth with a large and indept content thaught in an efficient and easy to follow manner, the teachers are eager to help us understand the content and give extra attention to a student if needed.
The canteen, gym and library are great facilitys, all other requierments are catered for in CIT, which gives a comforting feeling while studying here.
CIT itself runs quite smooth with a large and indept content thaught in an efficient and easy to follow manner, the teachers are eager to help us understand the content and give extra attention to a student if needed.
The canteen, gym and library are great facilitys, all other requierments are catered for in CIT, which gives a comforting feeling while studying here.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Getting into the swing of things
Following our fun in the sun Clonakilty(now home to my one and only copy of our timetable) its time to get down to the nitty gritty and the teeny tiny.
Late today, the irish bus service has held influence over my timekeeping once again, and dare i say it, not for the last time. It doesn't take 30 minutes to get from Patrick st. to dear Rossa Avenue, it takes one Irish Bus Time Unit or IBTU.Based loosely on the idea of a timetable, one IBTU in practice bears no resemblance to that of a system governed by minutes and hours. But i digress.
Our chemistry lecture has shot into action, essentially ripping asunder our views on space and physical structure. We are mostly space not substance. As a cannon ball through a wall can cause no damage, i become less angry at those busses.
especially when i saw this :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPlEj2cBats
Late today, the irish bus service has held influence over my timekeeping once again, and dare i say it, not for the last time. It doesn't take 30 minutes to get from Patrick st. to dear Rossa Avenue, it takes one Irish Bus Time Unit or IBTU.Based loosely on the idea of a timetable, one IBTU in practice bears no resemblance to that of a system governed by minutes and hours. But i digress.
Our chemistry lecture has shot into action, essentially ripping asunder our views on space and physical structure. We are mostly space not substance. As a cannon ball through a wall can cause no damage, i become less angry at those busses.
especially when i saw this :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPlEj2cBats
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Flower Power Wednesday!
After two manic days filled with scary subjects and words I don’t understand (like Cation... sounds like a robot kitty), we finally made it to botany, and the subject I was most looking forward to by far. Although I had an early start (Nobody should have to be up before 6 o’clock it’s not natural) I had high hopes for my day in Clonakilty.
It was a slow start it has to be said but we soon met with our botany teacher. Although he didn’t look like what I had imagined (which was of course the stereotypical hippy wearing a daisy chain and no shoes) he immediately made me feel comfortable and interested in the semesters work. After a slightly over whelming lecture we finished off the day with a quick look at some lichen and moss. I can tell I’ll definitely enjoy flower power Wednesdays.
Day Two (best said in the accent of the notorius Big Brother voice)
Early start..still trying to get used to these after a leisurely summer...first classes were Anatomy and Physiology which are both a bit daunting but the teachers are very nice and I am hopeful that it will all come together as the year progresses and I'm sure they will help if I get stuck.
Had a bit of an explore around the college during our 2 hour break and ate my first meal in the canteen...not so bad I have to say! I sat and talked with some of the other girls who are starting this Herbal Science adventure with me. Everyone has a different background and different reasons for starting the course so I find it very interesting to listen to everyone's stories.
At 2pm we had a orientation of the college with the Student Leaders (who get paid 12 bucks an hour...nice job!) It was very informative and I did find out where a lot of stuff was that I hadn't previously seen, including the very fancy auditorium..I would happily watch a movie or two in there so I may join
the movie society next week to avail of that option.
At the end of the orientation we got free tea and coffee and a choccy bicky and soon after I legged it before we had to listen to the DJ play the chicken dance and make people dance on the tables...I feel that as a Mature Student I surely get away with not partaking in these antics..no?
Looking forward to Botany in Clonakilty tomorrow.
Had a bit of an explore around the college during our 2 hour break and ate my first meal in the canteen...not so bad I have to say! I sat and talked with some of the other girls who are starting this Herbal Science adventure with me. Everyone has a different background and different reasons for starting the course so I find it very interesting to listen to everyone's stories.
At 2pm we had a orientation of the college with the Student Leaders (who get paid 12 bucks an hour...nice job!) It was very informative and I did find out where a lot of stuff was that I hadn't previously seen, including the very fancy auditorium..I would happily watch a movie or two in there so I may join
the movie society next week to avail of that option.
At the end of the orientation we got free tea and coffee and a choccy bicky and soon after I legged it before we had to listen to the DJ play the chicken dance and make people dance on the tables...I feel that as a Mature Student I surely get away with not partaking in these antics..no?
Looking forward to Botany in Clonakilty tomorrow.
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