Your freshman’s experience and impressions.

The end of my freshmen year first semester comes to an end I've learned a lot of different things. I've made so many new friends, and lost ones. I've dealt with a lot of pettiness and drama, and I learned how to deal with this drama in a mature way.

While being at the university I have experienced the responsibility issue a lot. I realized that all the stupid things that I do come back to nobody but me; there are no longer mommy and daddy to get me out of trouble. Besides, I have moved to the hostel and it means that I started to live a life of independence.

By the way, I feel dissatisfaction with my timetable. On the one hand, it’s very useful to wake up not so early. On the other hand, in the evening you have not enough time to catch up with all things you have to do. As a result, you have a late night and very sleepy complexion.

In our building it’s a normal thing that you have not free lecture hall. And you must find it as fast as you can otherwise another group occupies it.

Throughout all of my experiences and expectations of the university I guess I have learned a lot. Although I still have many experiences ahead, I feel that I have finally got my mind focused on the right things. Some disciplines are very interesting for me, for example English, History, IT.

And such subjects as Latin and P.E. arouse no enthusiasm. From practical point of view we may have more hours of the foreign language.

I hope my future experiences will be a lot less turbulent then this semester has. I’ve learned a lot of patience dealing with the administration and even advisers and certain teachers. The qualities that I’ve acquired during my first semester at Moscow State Region University are qualities that I plan carrying on with me through the life. Things that I want out of my university experience are to truly find myself, find lifelong friends, and get a degree.

Judy Abbot.

Jean Webster's novel, "Daddy-Long-Legs" is one of those rare books which live forever. First published in 1912 it has run into numerous editions. Recently I came across an edition of the sixties while browsing in an old book-shop. It takes one back to less hectic times when there was a chance to live and learn, when people had the leisure to give expression to their benevolent instincts, to cultivate personal relationships and nurture them into enduring ones. But more than all this, it is the story of a young innocent romance between a foundling and a millionaire without the sullying touch of money anywhere.

One is not allowed to forget that Jerusha Abbott is a foundling, an orphan who does not know who her parents are and what her origins may have been. The girl doesn't allow herself to forget it in her long road to self-discovery. In fact the small world of the orphanage is so cramped that she cannot help remembering it when she finds herself in the big, wide world. And she can never bring herself to go back to the world of the John Crier Home. She, however, is uninhibited in her expression of loath to return. Her attitude is in contrast to the attitude of Jane Eyre in Charlotte Bronte's novel of that name just as the world of the Home for orphans is different from that of Oliver Twist's world of hunger and scolding in Dicken's "Oliver Twist".

Another factor which is the life and breath of the novel is Jerusha's character: hers is a quicksand character. That is her moods of depression are short-lived she is by nature a ..sunny soul", and able to see the funny side of things. At the age of seventeen her future is decided and she is to be sent to college at the expense of an unknown benevolent trustee who prefers to be called by the name of John Smith and wants only a regular report about her progress. It is these letters that form the body of the novel. Jerusha, who later abbreviates her name to Judy, used these letters for expressing her heartache, her contentment, her gratitude, her loneliness and also her liveliness. The unknown benefactor is a much hyphenated man, a "Kind-Trustee-who-sends-Orphans-to-College", and because the only thing Judy knows about him is his height she labels him Daddy-Long-Legs. Her letters are marked by candor and honesty. she does not hesitate to admit her ignorance. She tries to treat her unknown benefactor like a living person and entreats him to take up various roles in order to fulfill her longing for a family. One Christmas she buys herself seven presents with the five gold coins she receives from him and pretends that they are from her parents, her grandmother, brother Harry, Aunt Susan, Uncle Harry and sister Isabel. On another occasion she entreats him to be a grandmother.

It is not a fairy tale though it reads very much like it; it is not a mystery though there is the right amount of narrative suspense. It is a natural story about natural emotions. Judy is jealous and lonely; she has brilliant success and also fails in two of her examinations. She writes stories but most of them are rejected. Her mysterious benefactor does not disclose his identity but we learn that he is Julia's Uncle Jervie, and as the young uncle of her flat-mate he treats her to an opera, manages to spend a holiday with her on Lock Willow. a farmhouse, and begins a correspondence with her. In the capacity of her benefactor he instructs his secretary to forbid her from holidaying with the Mc Brides. There is the right degree of impertinence in their relationship. The discovery that Uncle Jervie and Daddy- Long-Legs are one and the same comes right at the end of the novel. It is both a surprise and a very pleasant attachment.

The letters carry the narration forward; they have a touch of humor and of satire. Judy avails of every occasion to dig at families and family pride at silk stockings and frivolous hats and at education. It is Julia Pendleton's family tree which infuriates her and she writes, "on the topmost branches of her family there's a superior breed of monkeys with very fine silky hair and extra long tails".

Another attraction besides Judy's endless chatter, are the sketches accompanying her letters. The book has a nostalgic touch and is very human in its approach. It is realistic and the descriptions are lively and amusing. It is worthwhile to spend an afternoon or an evening with it.

My day. Since I entered Moscow State Region University, my life has changed. Lectures and seminars in the University, living in the hostel in Moscow influence on my daily routine. I would like to tell you about one of these days.

At nine o’clock sharp my alarm buzzes. It’s difficult for me to understand who am I and where am I. In a few minutes I realize that I am in my hostel room. Yesterday I had a late night and I didn’t have a good sleep. There are many causes of my sleepless night. For example, homework and my noisy friends. Anyway, I must wake up. After washing I would like to have breakfast. So, my neighbours wake up too and we start to make a meal together. Our breakfast looks like an aristocratic meeting: we read the latest news, gossiping and obviously delight in meal. After this ingestion I clean up my room and lost in thoughts. Looking at the clock I see that it’s time to go to the university. Oh my! I’m not ready for going out! I choose clothes and make up in a hurry, turn on my personal stereo with my favourite music and leave the hostel.

The special joy is the underground. As for me, it is the best social transport. That’s why the way to the University is not dull for me. Usually, I reach universtity dead on time and it’ a good begining of my classes. But sometimes I get late and all day has gone wrong.

Generaly, I like our lessons. We have various disciplines and each discipline influences on our development of skills and help us to become professionals. But every student is glad when classes are over. I’m not exception. After study the way to the hostel doesn’t seem so long. I always do the shopping after my studying. As soon as I enter my room I can relax and forget about problems for an hour. I take a shower and dinner and it gives me strenght. When I finish all this things, I have to do my homework. But it isn’t so interesting as have a cup of tea with my mates. Moreover, I spent several hours with my roommates talking about everything, watching films in English, reading books, listening to music and etc. All in all, I often start to do my homework after midnight and it means that I haven’t a good sleep again.

There is no reason to complain. I have a hectic life and I’m greatly pleased.