Easy studying

 

A little mirror selfie never killed nobody

 

Vest // Joules. Shirts // H&M, Gina Tricot. Jeans // Zara. Shoes // Zara

 

Get Back On

 

Hi guys!

Coordinating studies, work, the very little social life I have left and writing on the blog is quite difficult, and I beg your pardons for not being consistent. As for lately, I've been super busy in the Uni, working all holidays and trying to see my friends in the week, but I does not always succeed in doing all of those. Today I skipped one lecture and snapped my outfit of the day. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Shirt Calvin Klein // Jeans Zara // Trench coat Esprit // Shoes Deichmann // Necklace Primark

Torrevieja

Study mode

I'm on the denial stage right now. Finals are approaching and there is not one molecule in me that wants to start studying. Instead, I'd take surfing the internet from my bed any time, or watching Modern Family until late. I'm facing a major problem here. While some of my fellow students do like to study in the library, I like to stay at home where I have all my books and all my favorite distractions.

Only yesterday I opened the site where all the old finals are, but just looking at the site was painful to the eyes. The moment I start actually doing exercises and calculating stuff will come, but not for now. This Semester I'm writing three finals-- Analysis II, Mechanics I, Structural Engineering-- by the end of February, and Construction Materials I in April. I'm not really sure if leaving that one final for April was the best decision, but the learning method for that last final is completely different from the other three. While the first exams use logic and mathematical methods, Materials is all about memorizing everything exactly how it's taught. And the other problem is, this course is offered once a year, which means that if I do not pass I'd have to wait one year to take the final again, and of course all the knowledge will be gone by then. Nevertheless I will do try my best to pass with great marks!

My best study tips

Write it down

Before I even start studying I write down a summary of all important definitions, formulas and calculation rules, like those ugly theorems you always forget. That how I get the big picture and the reason why we learn everything we learn. Understanding the big picture is the main goal of studying. If you do that, the rest is easy.

Stay hydrated

While I get headaches really quickly when I don't drink enough water, while studying the headaches can be much much worse because we're using our brain more than we do on a daily basis, so drinking lots of water is very important to it. I always keep a 1,5L bottle of water next to me, tea and coffee (of course). It's important to keep in mind how much caffeine you drink, that's why I drink Earl Grey tea and coffee only until 16h, after that I drink mint tea, apple tea or roiboos tea.

Make a Pause

In between exercises, both calculations and theoretical ones, I always make a pause where I distract my brain with my favorite distraction: Solitaire. While most of the people upgraded to high-graphics games and stuff, I stayed on 2000 and love my Solitaire. It's the best game to play for a while to wipe out your brain and start studying again.

--

Ich kann es nicht fassen, dass ich bald Klausuren schreiben muss. Es gibt keinen einzelnen Teil in meinem Körper, der sich hinsetzen und lernen will. In der Schule habe ich es irgendwie geschafft, alle meine Klausuren zu bestehen ohne mich zu viel Mühe geben zu müssen, aber die Uni ist was komplett anders.  Alles was ich jetzt machen will ist das Internet ziellos zu surfen und Modern Family in Netflix gucken! Leider lerne ich am besten zu Hause mit Jazz-Radio an, meinem Kühlschrank nur drei meter entfernt (und mein Bett noch näher!) und nicht in der Bib wie meine anderen Kommilitonen, die ganz brav um sechs Uhr morgens aufstehen und dahin fahren um den ganzen Tag zu lernen.

Nur das Öffnen der Freitagsrundeseite war so schwer! Das Rechnen kommt noch nicht im Sicht. Dieses Semester schreibe ich Analysis II, Mechanik I und TWL in Februar, Baustoffe I in April. Ich weiß noch nicht, ob die Klausur in April zu schreiben die beste Entscheidung war, denn es wird einmal im Jahr angeboten. Falls ich nicht bestehe muss ich ein Jahr warten, und natürlich in der Zeit verschwindet die ganze Information. Es wird jedoch versucht auf jedem Fall zu bestehen!

Meine besten Study-Tips

Schreibe es auf

Ich versuche immer eine Zusammenfassung vor das Lernenbeginn zu schreiben, in der ich alle wichtigen Definitionen schreibe, alle Formeln und Rechenregel. So schaffe ich mir ein großes Bild und ein besseres Verständnis über das Thema.

Stay hydrated

Ich bekomme sehr schnell Kopfschmerzen wenn ich nich genug Wasser am Tag trinke, und wenn ich lerne es ist viel schlimmer, denn wir benutzen unseren Gehirn viel intensiver als sonsts. Wenn ich lerne habe ich immer eine 1,5L Wasserflasche dabei, eine Kanne Tee und Kaffee. Mir ist sehr wichtig, wie viel Koffein ich trinke, deshalb trinke ich Earl Grey und Schwarzer Kaffee bis 16 Uhr, danach Pfefferminz-, Apfel- oder Roiboostee.

Mach eine Pause

Zwischen Altklausuren zu rechnen und theorie zu lernen mache ich immer eine Pause, wo ich mich mit etwas anderes ablenke. Meine Lieblingsablenkung ist ein Spiel Solitär. Viele Leute sind von Minecraft oder ähnlichem begeistert, aber ich bin definitiv im 2000 geblieben und spiele immer noch Solitär super gerne (siehe Sucht).

Early birthday present

Because early birthday presents are always a good idea (specially when you get 16€ off!)

Clinique custom-repair serum

Lush Love

Today I want to talk about probably one of the most important conversation topics among girls: skin care and skin care products. I've literally tried everything, everything, with little to no results or even worse, allergic reactions and dry skin. Strolling the other day in the Boulevard Mall I saw that Lush had 50% sales, so I couldn't resist to grab that heavenly smelling face moisturizer, Enzymion, which I tried back in August and loved so much, but found too expensive at 23€ for the 45ml Pot. Luckily I got the last one in the shop! ...and a little bit more.

Tea tree water // Enzymion // Ocean Salt

A new year

2015 arrived already and it's simply mindblowing how fast time can pass by. This year I have no concrete resolutions, I really want to spend time with my loved ones and let life surprise me. I happened to start this blog with 2014 resolutions, so I wanted to take the time to review them and see how far I've come.

Learn how to save money. I think I'm getting way better on this one. Ever since I started working, I realized how much money is worth and have been saving at least half of my pay (I still go shopping way too much!)

Be organized and keep it. Big change, the best I've ever had so far! I'm so impressed by how organized I can be. You know that feeling when you have way too many things to do and you do them all and on time? It's like a fresh summer breeze in my face, a huge load off my shoulders. Those are the times I feel like I have a grip on life, and not the other way around.

Eat healthy. I haven't been eating as healthy as I want to, but just eating more fruits has changed my body so much. A few months ago I started drinking 1,5 liters of water every day and i just feel. so. good.

Discover more of who you are and stay true to who you are. I believe I'm on my way to really understanding who I am, what I think, say and do. It's not an easy road, but last year was a major eye-opener as of the things I like in me and in the people that surround me. I'm a firm believer that you have to choose your friends and choose the people that influence you- build relationships of inspiration and not of deprivation. That was my focus last year and will continue to be for a very long time.

Serve others and be humble about it. As much as I'm divided on this subject, I still believe in the goodness in people and I always have a need to see everyone around me on their best shape-- intelectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually. But as much as I love helping others, I can't make enough time for everyone. For this year, I'd like to be there for the people I love, make them my priority and of course, give myself some time out.

Work hard to be able to play hard. This one is more than accomplished. I cannot fathom how hard I work and how much stress I feel about my work, but at the end of the months I can see the results, mostly in my closet!

Read a lot. Do Syllabi and technical books count? I haven't read as much as I want, so as of now I've set my Goodreads Reading Challenge of 24 books for 2015, that is, 2 books per month which I should be able to complete. And the props of having a kindle is having the world literature at a black-and-white click!

Ged rid of bad habits. Which included drinking, partying, lying and biting my lower lip in the most savage way. It's all gone! I still need to work on my cellphone and shopping addiction, but we still have more years to come for those ones ;)

As you noticed, I didn't include writing more often in the blog because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up ;) Uni and work are tough, and this girl has barely time for herself.

NYE

Dress: Closet via Zalando

Autumn (Uni)form

This is basically what I have been wearing everyday for University. Jeans. Sweater. Loafers. Throw in a jacket and a scarf and shut the door behind you: you're already late for your lecture. So have been all these days, specially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when I have to be from 8 to 5 in campus, either at a lecture, or taking advantage of any free block, and studying or doing homework.

As for me: stressed, haven't slept, underfed, but well dressed! Above all, extremely happy! Everyday I'm falling more in love with civil engineering, and I love having so many inspiring and passionate professors that really put an effort on giving us an integral education.

I'm off to study Chemistry of Materials til my name is Zement.
Have a nice week! xx

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Das oben abgebildete Outfit ist was ich mittlerweile jeden Tag zur Uni trage. Dazu kommt meine liebe Barbour-Jacke und ein Schal, und so heißt es ab zur Uni, denn ich bin schon zu spät für die Vorlesung. Besonders am Dienstag und Mittwoch sind meine Tage extrem stressig, da ich um 8 Uhr schon meinen Tag anfange, und erst um 17 Uhr kann ich mich entspannen. Und falls ich keine Vorlesung habe, heißt es entweder lernen oder Hausaufgabe bzw. Hausarbeit schreiben. Essen? Nä, das nimmt einfach zu viel Zeit! Diese Tage bin ich Andy: unter Stress, unterernährt, kaum geschlafen, aber trotz Allem, überglücklich! Jeden Tag liebe ich Bauingenieurwesen mehr und mehr.

Ich wünsche euch eine Tolle Woche! Ich kehre zurück zum Lernen!

Uni start!

I am well aware that I've been off the radar this days (weeks?), and that is solely due to the fact that University started and I have to fall back again into the 6am routine. Quick update. After the two exams I had earlier this month (both aced!) I became a visit from my best friend, we enjoyed my last Uni-free days together and most of all we spent time together going out and about Berlin. How I missed this girl!

 

I've been taking strolls around my neighborhood

 

Went to a party on the weekend before Uni start

Snapped this Mango cape for 9€ at the local flee market

 

Braved the rain in pink

 

But now Uni has started, so back to the nerd mode am I!

I can't describe how excited I am for the weeks to come. I can't wait to be really deep in the topics and achieving a global understanding of everything related to construction and structures. Call me a nerd, but I do love learning new things. I do promise to snap pictures of my Uni outfits, which we all agree is the most difficult task of the day. Is this warm enough? Is this too short or too revealing? Is this appropiate? Am I comfortable enough to spend ten hours outside my house bed? 

What have you been up to lately?

Autumn Shopping

Vest // Joule

Pants // Zara

Scarf // Adagio

Sweaters // Clockhouse

I've been focusing my shopping into buying key items that I can combine with everything else in my closet and that will last forever. Since last year, I've been lusting over a puffer vest so badly, I was already giving up on the search, and then I finally found one that doesn't look too sporty or too boring. Joules is becoming one of my favorite brands! Then yesterday I discovered these pullovers in C&A for an impressive 9€ each! I had to get every color! I'm only missing one thing to face the cold weather in peace :)

New beginnings

I can't find the words to describe how quick summer flew by. I barely remember enjoying my vacations, maybe because of the fact that I had almost none (maybe two weeks), but then I'm so happy that I worked during the summer break and I'm already finishing up two subjects before the beginning of class. As October slowly approaches and the leaves turn yellow and make a carpet out of roads, I can't help thinking about the things I want to accomplish this semester.

When it comes to projects and lists, I'm on top of it all: there's nothing I love more than planning and setting out goals. Be it books to read or activities to fulfill or restaurants to try out, I list them all in my beloved Ikea notepad and revise them from time to time to remember where I'm going and how I'm to get there.

Leave old habits

I want to stop doing the things that I know are wrong for my body and for my mind. Right know I'm going through a phase in which I'm discovering who I am and what I like, and it's all in vain if I do not take action. And I've taken some steps since I drew out a list a couple of weeks ago. For example, I no longer have the Facebook application in my cellphone to avoid being attached to it anymore. And I love not having the need to check my phone every ten minutes! Instead I focus on my inbox: I love reading everything from Brain Pickings.

Enforce the current habits

One thing I love about the Early Bird Course is that I've developed a daily learning habit, and I no longer feel frustrated or stressed out if I'm staying in campus until 17:00 because I do enjoy what I'm doing and I see the importance in it, and this is something I want to carry with me this semester. Another one of the most important aspects is organization: not only spacial organization but also time management. So far I'm able to keep track of everything I do and even squeeze half a dozen errands in one day. Like the meme, "If I could keep doing the same this semester, that'd be great"

Try new things

Ever since I moved to Berlin I've seem my activity spectrum broaden so much. The capital has unlimited possibilities to offer, I want to try them all! Some of the things I want to try out are sailing, falconry, hiking and ping-pong to name a few. I don't know if I can do them all with my university schedule + working on the weekends, but I do hope to at least give them a try! One thing that's non-negotiable is my will to train more. Recently, and persuaded by my roomie, I tried running and I love it. I hope I have the same kind of reaction with my upcoming little projects.

What do you still want to accomplish before this year is over?

Organization

I might be the most disorganized and catastrophic person on earth, and heaven knows how much I've tried. But I seem to be selectively forgetful of the things that I really do need to remember! I leave doors open, I forget what I wanted to do as soon as I step on the room I waas going to, and most of all I consciously evade picking up the mess after I'm done going through my stuff, or my fridge, or the living room. I've put myself the task of really taking my time to be organized.

I recently added the 2x2 Kallax to my room to finally make more space on my work table and it has been such a life saver! Specially because I get to put all my binders away, which were clouding up my space. I still have to brainstorm how to decorate the upper part, where I only have photos of my family and friends. All ideas are welcome!

See how I draw little boxes next to the things I need to accomplish? There's nothing better than the feeling of crossing something out or putting a check next to it, so I used this as a motivation to get everything done! I have a long night ahead of me!

How do you organize yourself?

Tell your truth

Everybody needs to hear this. From little kids discovering who they are, to adults that think that they've got the world figured out. This guy gives you a life lesson under five minutes. Enjoy

Alles ist besser in der Bergstraße

My cousin Dan and I were over at my mother's over the weekend, and we got to pass through the Museumsuferfest in Frankfurt for a couple of hours before coming back to B Town.

Autumn Outfits

Here are some of my favorite posts from my Pinterst board Autumn.

What are your favorite Autumn outfits?

Have a lovely day!

TTT: An insight into Synesthesia

When I was around twelve years old I read a book called "A Mango Shaped Space", which was about a girl with synesthesia, a phenomenom in which you connect colors with shapes or letters, or both, and the experience of losing her cat, Mango. It was heartbreaking but at the same time totally interesting, hearing for the first time about that amazing thing which is synesthesia. Later on in my course of studies in school, in my Theory of Knowledge class, I learned about perception and was even further fascinated about this phenomenom. Daniel Tammet illustrates how a synesthetic person sees the world and it's beyond ashtonishing. Hope you enjoy the talk!

Favorite Instagrammers

Lately I haven't had any time for anything. Between university and work, I can hardly find any time to meet with friends or even have a relaxed dinner with my roomie. Days fly through and all I see myself do is write more and more appointments on my agenda for the upcoming months, which I know will come in the blink of an eye. On Saturday I recieved the letter of acceptancce from the Technical University of Berlin (yay me!) for Civil Engineering, so it's official! Then I realized that I have to do a thousand things before certain due dates in order to be fully enrolled at the Uni, which could only mean very little sleep and a lot of stress. So I'm asking myself, how am I employing my time?

First of all, mornings are the most important ritual for me. I get up one hour earlier than what I usually need to get ready because I love to have slow mornings in which I can slowly sip my coffee and eat breakfast without almost choking on the Müsli because I'd be late. Mornings are the key. That's why I try to look at my phone as little as possible: because once I open Instagram, I won't stop for at least 20 minutes which will not come back. However, lately I've been so detached from my phone and social media, that I feel like I need an inspiration kick.

Here are some of my favorite Instagram Accounts, for those of you missing some inspo source. Have a lovely week!

A girl can never have too many shoes

Sale find in Deichmann! These leather loafers were the last ones in my size, costing only 13€. What a great way to start the weekend.

Schnäppchen bei Deichmann! Diese Lederslipper waren die letzte und in meiner Größe und haben nur 13€ gekostet! Ich muss dazu sagen, dass ich mit Deichmann nur positive Erfahrungen gehabt habe, und mich immer auf die Sales freue.So fängt mas das Wochenende an :)

An afternoon at the Berlin Zoo

I finally get a break from the University! In order to write a test, we have to gather at least 50% in our homework marks, which we did, so we can now finally relax a little bit about the hustle of turning in homework every day. 

My days have been pretty much the same: wake up at 6 am, have a slow morning (I love those), go to the lecture from 9 until 11, have lunch and do a little bit of homework, and then come back home to study a little bit more and maybe cook some with friends. On the weekends, the job is calling, both Saturday and Sunday.

I had friends over this week vising around in Berlin. I was not able to join them in their Berlin tour, which was most wonderful including museums and musicals, but I did manage to fit a visit to the Zoo on Monday. Actually, this was my first Zoo visit as an adult. I remember going to a Zoo in Colombia when I was around eight years old, but I do not really recall all the details. Just the elephants!

This will probably one of the two times in my adult life in which I'll go to a zoo, for I do not support the caging of animals. I enjoyed my time in there, but I the space was way too small, specially for the big predators like the lion/lioness cage and the jaguar cages.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Have a lovely weekend!