UCM Students First Center!

Follow me on Twitter @DanielaUCMSFC! 

[kevleven]

The Heaven Above

[ucresearch]

This weekend marks the solstice. Above is a sunset from Yosemite National Park where students from UC Merced participate in a summer field research program. One of the projects they’re focusing on is local ecosystems and how last year’s Rim Fire affected plant populations. 

[danielaucmsfc]

Some undocumented students struggling with financial aid restrictions are receiving up to $25,000 for their educations through TheDream.US, a scholarship program designed to help highly motivated, low-income students. The program is particularly helpful to UC Merced, which has over 300 undocumented students enrolled this spring. Three students on campus won scholarships last year: Mariela Arceo Madriz, Paul Chavez and Flor Aquino.

GO UC MERCED!

[ucmerced-mediacats-blog]

Lets take the time to thank these men that cleans the UC Merced’s Kolligian Library.  “Sir, may I take a photo?” “Si, yes!  (leans back to the other guy)  "Me and you are celebrities today!” “Is your work difficult?” “Of course, but no work is easy. But as long as you can pay for food and to have a house for your familia, then no work is too hard."  "Thank you.” “Okay! You go have a nice day!”

[vox]

Watch: UCLA Gymnast Whips, Naes Naes her way to a win

UCLA’s Sophina DeJesus floor routine is not something you see every day. 

[shess0vogue-blog]

[danielaucmsfc]

Last Month..

Hello everyone!!

Tomorrow will be December. For many of you this will be GREAT news. However, for me this means that it is my last full month here in Turkey. And it truly does make me so sad. Time has passed by so fast. ITS SCARY! But I’ve talked about this way to much already..

So Thanksgiving just happened, and me and my friends had our own Thanksgiving. Half of my group of friends never celebrated Thanksgiving or knew what it even was. But we did it! hahaha not with Turkey cause it cost a fortune here! But we had the pie, the mash potatoes the wine! It was a lot of fun! We even said what we were thankful for hahha

With December coming up this also means FINALS ARE COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still have no idea when mine are.. since they don’t put that dates up for us to know which is very frustrating because I want to do some traveling before going back home. Since they don’t celebrate Christmas here we are pretty much planing on doing our big celebration on New Years! I’m s excited to be able to celebrate the New Year here! Just a year ago I was in Mexico! WOW!

I’m ready for the new year, even though it does mean leaving Turkey behind. 2015 was a very interesting year for me but I must say these past few months have been some of the best of my life. I will forever remember this year. Ready for what the 2016 has in store for us all!

[danielaucmsfc]

Time..

My time here is running out.. and it’s freaking me out!!

I have fallen in love with the life here! The people I’ve meet here have become some of my favorite people. And the places I’ve seen are so beautiful! I am so happy I took this amazing opportunity. I have had my fare share of home sick and other challenges but it is all part of the experience. And boy has this been an unforgettable experience. I will forever remember my short time here in Turkey.

I hope that you all take studying abroad into consideration. I has made me see life so much more differently. As well as made me open my eyes and realize so much. I am even more grateful for everything I have in life. Study abroad.. just traveling just makes you see the world differently. In a way that I can not describe to anyone is they have not lived through it themselves.

With that being said.. I hope you all take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!!!!!

[danielaucmsfc]

Turkey and all its wonders..

OMG! This trip was amazing and ohhhhh so Magical!!! It was one of the best days of my life.. well three  days. I really hope you all have the chance to explore Turkey someday. Or actually just have the chance to explore any part of the world. It really is life changing.

Here are just some pictures I took of Cappadocia and the Second Largest Salt Lake(1st photo). Hope you enjoy them!!

[danielaucmsfc]

Merhaba!!!

Midterms are upon me everyone... you know what that means! STRESS GOING UP!!!

I have had 2 midterms so far and still have a few more to go. However, the last two that I took were very easy compared to back home. I was so nerves because they AREN’T multiple choice haha but written exams are so much easier!! Too be fare I did study a lot for both haha

Apart from studying and going to class and the gym(GAINZZ). I have had an amazing time so far!! I love it here! It’s so different from home but it really does feel like a home away from home. I have made amazing friends from a variety of place. We have all grown so close that I am going to be extremely sad to have to leave them behind. Half of my group of friends is staying the year in Turkey.

When I was applying to study abroad I thought a semester was WAY to long. But boy has that changed. Time has gone by waaaayyy to fast! I only have 2 more months until I return home. I miss the people back home & THE FOOOOODD!! But I really think that I would of been fine doing a whole year here. It has grown on me so much that I plan on spending my spring break in Turkey hahaha

It is bitter sweet being here for the holidays. In Turkey they do not celebrate Christmas.. I actually have finals this week hahaha However, my friends and I are planning on doing something so I am excited to see how this holidays will go being away from home. I will also be here for New Years which is something I am also excited about. I am so interested in seeing how New Years in Turkey is!!

With that being said I would just like to say that it you have the chance to study abroad and I know many of you think you can’t... you can!! AND IT IS SOOOO WORTH IT!! I can not explain how much this experience has impacted me in so many positive ways. ( I could go on about this of hours) I just hope you all take advantage of this amazing opportunity you all have.

SOOOOO PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK ME ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE OR JUST TO TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS/DOUBTS ABOUT STUDYING ABROAD!!! I’M HERE TO HELP!!

Hope you are all doing well!! Sending love from Turkey!

[dianaucmsfc]

FOLLOW DANI IN TURKEY!

Hey guys! Makes sure you give danielaucmsfc a follow and take a look at her experience studying abroad in Turkey!(:

[danielaucmsfc]

THANKS AMIGA! <3

[danielaucmsfc]

0 - 100 real quick

So we had this lovely break from school because of the holidays here. It was great! Didn’t have school got to chill and travel. Then we come back and *BAM* midterms.. like wait... hold on.. what’s happening!!

SO school is definitely not the same here. Here for some reason they have midterms and finals on weekends... why? I do not know! Like all my exams are on weekends!!! Also all my exams are written, meaning no multiple choice. Which is new for me. But I did take an exam Monday and I finished first. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing... but I guess we will see!

So much work to do and out of know where and so little motivation..

With that being said Bobcats! KEEP IT TOGETHER! YOU CAN DO IT! WE CAN DO IT! (I sound like a zumba instructor idk why I thought about that but anywass) Stay motivated, I know school can be a real pain but believe me your hard work will pay off! TRUST!!!!!! Plus you have thanksgiving break to look forward too. I will sadly be missing it this year.__________________. I’m going to miss the pumpkin cheese cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone out there is find enough to mail me some, I will love you forever. Thank you.

Keep working hard out there in Merced Bobcats! I’m rooting for you!

[danielaucmsfc]

Istanbul: CHECK!

HELLO BOBCATS!!!

I hope you are all doing amazing this semester. As I am sure you are all working hard during midterms! Don’t stress to much, just be confident and you will be perfectly fine.

Today I would like to tell you about my amazing experience in Istanbul!!! If you are ever planning on traveling please do take Turkey into consideration. It is absolutely amazing here!

So a group of 10 of us decided to spend 4 days in Istanbul this past week. We took the bus there which took around 6hrs. The buses were very nice too! They had snacks for us too! IT WAS GREAT!

We stayed in a hostel which was in a great area, right next to the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. The hostel also had free breakfast for us so we didn’t have to worry about that.

We spent our days roaming the city and eating and just enjoying every moment of it. The mosques are so beautiful! The city itself is so different! It’s so much more different then Ankara. A lot more tourist and much more to see. I hope that I will be able to go back before I go back home.

Study Abroad Tip: Make sure to explore whatever city you are staying in! It’s definitely worth it to get to see as much as possible while abroad. However, also make sure to plan it out as best as you can and as safe as you can. Always try and go with a group, it’s not only safer but also cheaper.

Here are a few of the pictures from my adventure. I hope you enjoy them!(:

[danielaucmsfc]

FOOOOOOOD!

I’ve been here for about 2 weeks now. Even though it totally feels like forever haha And I love it!! The food is so goooood! I thought I was going to have trouble, but I was so wrong!! THE DESSERTS ARE SO DAM GOOD! OMG! In Turkey they have big lunches instead on big dinners! It’s so much better! I have my breakfast and then my big lunch and I’m not hungry at all till like 8! It amazes me hahahha

I really do miss food from back home though. MY MOMS COOKING ERMERGERD! There is no Mexican food here.. not that I’ve seen anyway. I did have pizza the other day though and that was really good! They put corn on their pizza here which is different. But aye pizza is pizza! hahahaha I also miss milk! hahahah the milk here has a way different taste. More sour so I stay away from that  haha but besides that I’m loving the food here.

SO this post was pretty much all about food! Don’t be hesitant to try new things!!

[danielaucmsfc]

THIS IS ANKARA, TURKEY. AND I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE!

[danielaucmsfc]

First day of class

hellllloooooooooooooooooooooo

Today I had my very first day of class at Bilkent University! It went pretty good!

I had my first class at 8:40 and well.. i kind of got lost! Here the buildings are all my letters and I had class in FF building. Me not knowing there was an FF building just figured it was in building F. (like come on that totally makes sense haha) anyways, I asked around and someone pointed me in the wrong direction, of course, hahah but then some nice people helped me out and pointed me to the right direction. I made it in time to class hahha

I also had my Turkish class. I took a “Survival Turkish” course orientation which kind of helped but lord to I need to learn Turkish! And quick. None of the signed here are in English, which is quite surprising to me because at this Uni. you need to know English in order to get accepted. Also classes are in English. So learning Turkish is going to be very helpful. I hope I can continue to practice when I get back home.

My Abnormal psychology course go cancelled so I have the whole day free to start reading. Tomorrow we are also going to Fethiye! Which is this beautiful place by the ocean! I am so excited! ahhhh I will keep you all posted about my adventure!

[danielaucmsfc]

Study Abroad Program

LORD JESUS! The exchange program at the Bilkent University here in Turkey is amazing! They have so many activities planned for us. I’m so excited! From 3 day weekend trips to music festivals to night outs in the city. It has really made it easier to get used to being here in a different country and being far FAR away from home!! I have made a great group of friends and it wouldn’t have been so easy had it not been for the activities that we participated in with the exchange program managed here on campus. It’s run mostly by students and they really get to know you and are extremely helpful.

When deciding where to study abroad I never really payed attention to the program provided for me as an exchange student. I focused on the location, of course, but also making sure that the Uni. had the courses I need. However, now that I am here I feel it is very important to take into consideration the exchange program on campus. You want a place that will make it feel like you have a home away from home. And so far that is exactly how I feel here in Turkey!!!

Today we had a trip too Ataturk’s Mausoleum. It was amazing to hear the history of Turkey. Here are some photos, enjoy!(: