Ok, then things aren't too bad

OK, I admit: things aren't going too bad. It could be better but it is not too bad. Next week, I am terribly busy with about 7 scheduled stories for the DA, and applications to be sent out, with papers to write,...typical college stuff.

The Tet Party was really nice today. Sadly, that was the largest number of people that I have talked to since I reached Morgantown. But they were all very very nice. And the driving situation might work out. If it does, then I will feel very very accomplished. With a nice apartment in Austin, and an internship in a metro paper, and a salary, a car, what else can you ask for?

I'm debating whether I should go to the classical concert by myself. It's sad that I have to go by myself. But oh well, it doesn't hurt. Since I really really want to see it.

Dr. Esper was very strict in editing my stories. Some of his editing was very good. But I disagreed with some. He's getting very very old, and he should be really resting.

I don't know why I use a lot of really in this post. Anyway, I have to keep a cool head with a high motivation to work and study.... Any day should be a productive day...

Peace...Drink hot chocolate now...

Huong

When I love working

Sometimes things don't turn out the way you plan, I understand. Living in this apartment is getting suckier and suckier each day. I love my entire working week, and hate only the part of getting up early in the morning and waiting for the bus in the frigid temperature. But other than that, working at Eliza's is great. Making cappuchinno and latte and trying to smile to people and wish that they would give me tips. It's warm and cozy in Eliza's and free latte, what else can you ask for?

And at the DA, I feel comfortable. My student editors are all nice. I can basically choose to write whatever I want or care. Now, 6 or 7 hours at the DA a day isn't too long. I have great respect for Christine Simmons, the editor-in-chief. She's a great student editor, who makes sure everything is as accurate as possible. She spends about 6 or 7 hours at the paper every single day. And stays up late until 4:30am every day.

I really don't need to talk to people who are not nice to me. Keep my head up and stay focused.

A cold day in Morgantown

Washington D.C., here I come

The ASNE has recently posted a tentative schedule of the March conference. Ohmigod, all the big names in politics and journalism will be there. Tons of people from the Washington Post, New York Times, AP, Wall Street Journal, plus former CIA Director George Tenet and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Ahhhhh....I can't believe I can actually hear these people talk.....

The money situation is getting really sucky now. Maybe by May, I will die from hunger.....This time, it's not kidding

Freezing

I thought I could escape the snow in Plattsburgh, but West Virginia is just as cold as New York. I had to walk 35 minutes from downtown Morgantown to this hotel for this stupid assignment I volunteer.

Anyway, it was Saturday night. So no one would want to cover this because they all went out. Which left only me. I don't mind. It's what I love doing. While walking downtown, I saw American, skinny, gorgeous girls walking in high heels, in summer skirt? How the hell could they do it? WVU is a huge campus and going out has become not what you want to do, but what you have to do in order to survive, be cool. Going out is supposed to mean you want to have a good time with your good friends. Here, it has become like something you have to do because you fee so insecure, and the people you go out with aren't necessary your friends. How ironic.

A switch in attitude

http://www.da.wvu.edu/new/show_article.php?&story_id=25740

First of all, I love that column. It speaks for me, and it shows how my attitude about life in Morgantown has changed significantly. Last semester, it was all about feeling depressed, dissapointed, lonely and regretting the fact that I studied at WVU for my senior year.

Like what the author of that column wrote, why complaining while I'm 22 years old, also attending a big public American university, getting paid for 3 jobs that I love, having a really really cozy apartment, studying very interesting subjects with very talented professor, and will be attending a conference with most talented editors and reporters in the business?

Though however, I'm scared about going to Austin. And I don't even know if I could go. I'm scared about graduating. Graduation, then what will happen next? A big question mark.

"I like what I do, and mixing shots of espresso when the shop is busy and sipping tea with the regulars is a pretty decent job. So I smile and prescribe a caramel latte to the crabby customer, who's maybe less fortunate than me, who may be down on his luck. He might smile back and toss a tiny donation into my tip jar if I play my cards right."