Random bits

When I was in college I studied French, German, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese all in the same semester because I had just realized that I could not continue on my path to becoming a veterinarian and wasn't sure what to study. That was the only semester I achieved a 4.0 GPA (perfect score for my university). I went on to graduate with a BA in French and a minor concentration in Asian Studies. By the time I finally realized I needed to switch majors from pre-vet to French I was already a senior, so I was a second-year senior when I graduated. I have always been embarrassed by this because on paper it looks like it took me five years to study French and that my cumulative GPA means I sucked at it. In fact, I never got below a B in any of my French or Asian Studies classes, but by the time I switched majors the damage to my GPA and pride was done. I'm looking forward to the day when I can accept the past and not be embarrassed by it. Right now the only satisfaction I get is that I somehow graduated with a GPA of exactly π. My French name is Natalie. My Chinese name is 白思治。

When new people meet me they think I'm either weird or nice. I am much more complex than those two words, but those are the two first impressions I inevitably make.

I would much rather experience life vicariously through others, although I absolutely adore travelling to and being in new places. I am on the edge of introversion and extroversion, so am always either tired from my experiences or disappointed with myself for not experiencing something new. My favoritest places on Earth:

⇒ Peggy's Cove, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
⇒ Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
⇒ Schroon Lake, NY
⇒ York Beach, ME and its surrounding towns
⇒ Okmulgee, OK
⇒ Knoxville, TN
⇒ Liège, Belgium
⇒ London, England
⇒ More to be determined

I enjoy helping others, but I don't enjoy the resulting reliability upon me.

I am often in my own little world so people basically need to yank me out of that to communicate with me. It's easier to yank me out via IM or email than it is in person.

I have enjoyed drinking coffee since the age of 7.

I've always hated the phone because of two rather traumatizing-at-the-time experiences in my youth. I'd rather not get over this trauma, because I rather like not enjoying the phone.