Tackling Stress May 7, 2008

Photo By Silver

One of the less creative ways to make lunch table conversation: “I’m so stressed..” Also,one of the most oft-repeated words on campus. As is inevitable stress is a very natural part of life here: caught between endless quizzes, social events, gossip sessions, extracurricular activities, essays and mid-terms, adrenaline levels are constantly running high.

You might have found it easier to switch off before coming here, to put everything aside.

Read a book. smell the flowers.

However once you get into the mindset of constantly planning (and putting off) things the idea of just letting go becomes harder than ever. Its a common feeling to have your thoughts race ahead of you: things someone said, a spam war, deadlines, endless to-do-lists, a world of laundry stay: these stay with you even when you’re in the shower, listening to a song you like and cuddled in bed with your favourite pink bunny called Mr Whiskers (just improvising)

I came up with a list of things you could to once more learn to SWITCH OFF and not become a WORKAHOLIC:

- Take a few moments off before going to bed to think about your day- It helps.

- Once in a while put you work aside,regardless of how guilty you might feel and watch a sitcom you enjoy. (Gilmore Girls!)

- Get off campus! There’s a world outside the bubble: Experience it!

- Keep a check on your diet: Eat Healthy.

- Exercise if you can: Trust me you need those mood-elevating endorphins.

- Try Progressive Muscle Relaxation if you feel nervy, or before an important presentation.

- Once in a while pour your heart out to someone you trust. No one can be self-sufficient all the time.

- Do something for someone else. I know it sounds nuts- but it’s effective.

- Deep breathing: It works like a charm.. Never underestimate the power of long, deep breaths.

- Pamper yourself: get a manicure, put on a smelly mud mask, paint your nails- and guys could alternately watch movies with lots of blood and gore and pig out on chips. (or whatever it is that guys do)

- Pray.. Once in a while it’s good to know that Someone’s watching over you. If you’re an Atheist, just take a few minutes to be grateful for your health, having enough food, the roof over your head, etc.

- Have a happy place- I know this sounds clichéd and disgustingly cheesy but it calms you down. It could be any place: your bedroom at home, the IRC(?), campus green, a field of daisies, next to someone you really really like. Whatever.

If the stress level or other issues, however, seems to get overwhelming, you can always consult the Counseling Center which is located in Reimer Lüst Hall, Rooms RLH 125 (Dipl. – Psych. Frank Haber), RLH 126 (Group Room), and RLH 127 (Dr. Amina Özelsel). They will also give you advice, if you have trouble coping with academic requirements.

Diagnosis: Cough and Sore Throat May 6, 2008

Something one can tell oh so many stories about when living in Bremen, where it is windy and rainy most of the time.

I personally (Dominique) have the pleasure to face this problem every other day!

To make this very annoying maladie somewhat less painful, here a few solutions:

Germany:

1. Cut onions wrapped into a hot cloth – put the filled cloth on your chest (cough)

2. Cut onions and put sugar on top (be generous) – leave it to soak for abt 2-3hrs, the

sugar will have extracted the juice from the onions. Onions work as disinfectant

and as the natural form of antibiotics (cough)

India:

Ginger, lemon and salt in hot water (cough)

Colombia/International :

Hot water with honey and lemon, simply honey or honey in hot milk (sore throat)

Hot milk should only be applied when you have a dry cough, because milk encourages mucus

to develop

Gargles with hot water (sore throat)

Romania:

Black radish juice, extracted in the same manner as onion juice (cure the cough)

Diagnosis: Hiccups May 6, 2008

A minor problem, but it can get utterly annoying if it is persistent..

so here we go with solutions:

India:

7 sips of water not more not less – granny’s medicine

Colombia:

Drink a bottle of water upside down…not that enjoyable

Wikipedia:

Think about cows, any cows doing anything…allegedly this is 110% effective!

Other Cures:

Hold your breath (a well known one)

pulling ears, pinching nose, drinking honey and getting tickled are other common beliefs

- Whether they are effective, you need to find out by trying them out yourself.

Criticizing the Faults May 6, 2008

So you’ve been at Jacobs for a month, and suddenly you realize: This is not the Utopia you signed up for!

Photo from DRA studio

Well, of course not, it’s a real place, and it will naturally have its faults. But this is where the beauty lies: Everyone, from the Administration over the Management to the Professors, cares about your views and your criticism. They really do.

They want to integrate you into the university, not assimilate you.

So if something crosses your path were you think “I have a much better Idea on how this should be done to create an optimal learning environment” then go have a chat with the responsible person. If you don’t like how your Prof handles things, talk to him about it! The people here might not be able to apply your every wish, but they will listen to what you have to say, explain their position and try to find the most productive solution for all. This is a very young university, and you can help shape it.

In some cultures criticizing legitimate authority is not polite, but these ones are open to constructive criticism so let your voice be heard. Remember that constructive criticism is not an attack or an insult, it’s offering ideas for improvement. Just make sure you word them as such.

Diagnosis: Sleeplessness May 6, 2008

When studying at Jacobs, this is rarely the case…or it is even “desired”, but there are also people that get insomnia from staying up too many nights in a row or a mixed up biorhythm.

Germany:

A glass of warm milk, warm water with sugar

Milk contains Tryptophan and after some chemical reactions this turns into

melatonin which is a sleep-inducing chemical

Other Cures:

Avoid working in bed, the work and sleeping space needs to be separate

A warm/hot shower

Breathing techniques – breathe deeply in and out to divert your mind from stress

and problems

If all of the above do not work, try counting sheep or whatever your favorite animal may be…and if that does not suffice either, see a doctor or the counselor to deal with your continuous unrest.

Classroom Culture: do you not talk enough in class? May 6, 2008

Have you ever had the feeling that you do not contribute enough in class?

Are your classmates verbally outstripping you even though you are all doing the same readings?

Are you cautious to contradict your professors or published works of academia?

WHY???

The case is not that some people are less intelligent than others, there are in fact influences from our background which influence the way we learn and the way we question what we learn. So don’t lose hope! Just because you do not immediately rip a reading to shreds does not mean that you have not understood or appreciated the text. Culture plays a major role in shaping people’s beliefs about learning and their consequent behavior. Learning beliefs are not innate but products of socialization.

What do people think they gain from learning?

What does it take to learn something?

Is there a joy in learning?

Is there a difference in perception of teachers by those who learn well vs. those who do not?

Allow us to outline two basic philosophies concerned with these questions

Western (European-American) learning:

influenced by Socrates’ ideal that the best learner is one who develops and uses his mind well to inquire into the world

-finely differentiated mental functions to understand the world, develop personal skills and realize personal goals

-personal passion is intrinsic in learning

-image of good teacher is one who arouses interest, explain clearly, use effective instructions and organize activities

-less patience and attention to detail, originality and individuality are important

-understanding is seen as a process of sudden insight

-importance of verbal expression: speaking assists learning

Eastern learning:

Chinese learning is especially influenced by the ideals of Mencius and Confucius that to be a quality learner, one must become a more virtuous person.

-also value efforts to achieve understanding of the world, but mental understand alone is not central to their beliefs.

-the main purposes of learning are to perfect themselves morally and socially, to achieve mastery of material and to contribute to society.

-personal passion is important but not intrinsic.

-emphasized respect for knowledge and teaching authorities.

-learning aims at breadth and depth of knowledge, its application to real life situations and unity of ones knowledge and moral character.

-image of a good teacher is one who has deep knowledge, is able to answer questions and is a good moral model.

-diligence and persistence are important

-memorization and repetition

-Confucius: speaking is an act of committing oneself to one’s claim; if one is unable to back one’s claim with action, one should remain silent.

From the contrast of these two philosophies stems an important observation

How Eastern students are perceived in the West:

- more quiet and receptive, lacking a challenging attitude toward authority

- more solitary and contemplative learners, the last step of learning is verbal interaction and discussion with others.

- some students were found to get frustrated when teachers expect them to engage immediately in questioning and analysis

So, remember this when you attend your first classes at Jacobs, since most Professors here come from a Western background and tend to support a Western classroom culture. But also remember: Your Profs are here to help you. They’re all approachable and friendly, so if your unclear about anything or worried about your behavior in class, just talk to them. Communication is key.

How to recognize a major from far away May 6, 2008

Photo by Duncan Blair

Here’s some tips on how you can tell someone’s major without asking him or her:

Is the subject :

a) unshaven and spaced, walking around with a stack of homework and glasses falling off the bridge of his nose ? EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computational Sciences)

b) have a faraway expression and lost in thought about the universe ? HTAL (History and Theory of Art and Literature)

c) part of the IRC furniture ? IPH (International Politics and History)

d) cracking math-related jokes and laughing at them while others look confused ? MATH

e) chemically analysing Aramark food in terms of molar masses and organic structure ? CHEMISTRY

Diagnosis: Sunburn May 6, 2008

- A common phenomenon when the summer months beset.

Germany:

Apply natural yoghurt, cucumber or lemon slices, also if available pure lavender oil.

Other Cures:

2 tea spoons of olive oil and 2 tea spoons of vinegar leave it on the sunburn for 1/2 hours

Mashed tomato and crushed ice

Drink a lot of fluid and do not apply creams that contain fat or butter

they will trap the heat and slow down the healing process

- For more serious burns, please consult a doctor

An intro to first aid: Exotic Remedies Across the Globe May 6, 2008

Quirks and Aches…

Everything from itches and scratches to bumps and bruises.

In this category you can find remedies that are helpful, rather unusual and funny from all over the world.

We take a more natural approach on how to cure minor maladies. We do not provide advice on clinical medication, because anyone with more serious states of health should consult with a doctor.

We hope that you get better quickly and benefit from the extraordinary remedies we collected in this category.

Best, your First “Alternative” Aid Team

Encountering Cultural Differences May 6, 2008

So you meet this nice Pakistani girl (just an example) at the O-week barbeque, and after having a really nice conversation that lasts for 2 hours, you realize you’re really tired and decide to go to bed. Naturally, after sharing this nice evening, you give her a good night hug. What happens? SHE GETS REALLY WEIRDED OUT. For the next two weeks she avoids you and gives you really weird looks and you feel like an idiot.

This is just a random example of all the weird and uncomfortable situations you might end up in because of the cultural differences between you and others at Jacobs.

Don’t despair:

There is something we can all do to avoid or correct misunderstandings. We can talk! Most of these situations are created because of misunderstanding, of different cultural interpretations for the same action or words. So, when something like that happens and you think you’ve been misunderstood, don’t go sulking in your room cause someone else thinks you’re a weirdo or got pissed off at you. Think about what you meant to convey or express by your words or actions. Then you can go to the other person involved in the misunderstanding, say something like “hey, I think we had a misunderstanding earlier” and clearly state to them what your intention was, talk to them about how they perceived it and what meaning it might have for their vs. your culture (this would be a very “Western” and direct approach).

You can also talk to others, find a mutual friend or someone like an RA to mediate between the ‘parties’, if you do not feel comfortable approaching them yourself.

The important thing is that a dialogue is allowed to emerge. Remember to listen to them and their side of the story, and don’t let your prejudices and expectations get in the way. Be open to new points of view. It will turn a weird situation into a positive and connecting learning experience. Communication is key!