Danger_Zone

Okay thanks! I'll definitely check it out. I prefer keeping things light since my skin is so sensitive, but I don't think a bit more powder will bother me.

I think it would be fine? Guess I never thought much about the whole rivalry thing until learning about American schools. My boyfriend actually attends a rival school of mine so I guess I could avoid flaunting school-branded attire there (though I did take a school thermos there once, shh don't tell anyone!) American Eagle is great. They seem a bit pricier than I would expect but I just got my favourite pairs of shorts and sunglasses from there.

Do you have a specific setting powder that you like? My face isn't really oily and has always been more on the dry/sensitive side, but I do notice it getting shiny by the end of the day, so I always end up applying more powder half way through the day. It's especially shiny when I use a bb cream. Speaking of makeup, I've been thinking of upgrading what I use (I guess I used what's considered "nice" drug store brands, only occasionally shopping at Sephora or MAC) but I feel like grad school isn't the best time to start buying expensive makeup? So I'll see I guess.

I haven't, but I'll have to check it out, thanks! I really enjoyed Epcot and the history behind it is super interesting. I can't wait to go back!

Hope everyone has been doing well this week. I just got back from Disney World, definitely the happiest/greatest place on earth! Now to get back to worrying about school!

Thanks for the advice! I've decided not to try to publish at this time. I talked to my professor and she said it wouldn't really be realistic to do at this point since my article has been used for a book of hers being published. I guess usually the article comes first so that would have been something to do longer ago. She said I could try to rewrite basically the whole article to be significantly different from the book's content but I really don't have the time for that. Guess I will just focus my energies on getting published during my doctorate.

Haven't had much chance to read lately but I've about finished Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex.

It's not perfect but I was pretty happy with it. Though everyone kept calling him Jack Skellington.. One girl knew who he was! We even got him the pink slippers.

Alright, I will look into that, thanks. I haven't applied for a SSN, I thought that was something I was given once I was in the U.S. I was just told I need to fill out this form in an automated email and have not been given any information regarding taxes or how I'm supposed to fill this out.

Guess that's what I'm going to have to do. Hopefully it will be simple enough, thanks!

Unfortunately I can't really visit again until I move down there, and by then it will be too late, so I guess I might have to call about it.

I just received an e-mail from my school saying that I need to fill out an online form which affirms my financial obligations to the school. However, it requires an SSN or ITIN number. I'm a Canadian citizen, so I do not have one of these. It gives me the option to check "I am a foreign national/nonresident alien and do not have a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number. I do not plan to file an income tax return in the U.S." or "I do not wish to provide my taxpayer identification number at this time. I understand that I may be subject to an IRS fine of $50 for failure to do so. I further understand that the IRS will not be able to use the Form 1098-T filed to confirm my eligibility for certain education tax benefits without my taxpayer identification number." I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do, but I need to fill out this form or I will not be eligible to sign up for classes. I have absolutely no knowledge of how taxes work, so I don't even know if I'm supposed to file them or not. I've e-mailed the International Students Office, once over a week ago for another matter, and once again last night, and have not received any replies. I would call but they are only open during weekdays and I am going away for a week, so if they don't get back to me I will reluctantly have to call while on vacation. In the meantime, I was wondering if anybody knows anything about this.

Now/soon is probably a good time to build a good gaming desktop if you have the money, with the new NVIDIA GTX 1070/1080 graphics cards coming out. My boyfriend had a gaming laptop as well and it just didn't last very long. I think he's much happier with his desktop.

My boyfriend has some consoles so I plan on sharing console games that way once he moves in with me. I believe he has the ME games on steam and we use family sharing so I could probably play them that way. @sjoh197 I understand. That's my boyfriend's - and to an extent my - hobby as well.

It sucks how often you need to upgrade your computer in order to keep up with new games. Did he really pay that much though? Seems a bit excessive but laptops tend to be more expensive. If you can get a desktop instead that's probably much cheaper and easier to replace parts for if needed.

I need to check out Mass Effect, I've heard it's a great series. I have so many games I want to play, though. I'm planning on building a new computer this summer since mine can't handle newer games, so I've been unable to play some. Too bad I will soon have less time to enjoy them, though.

Those games are great! I don't play a lot of console games (don't have access to consoles much so I play steam games) but Skyrim is really fun. I'm in the middle of Assassin's Creed Black Flag right now. Based on those games, I would recommend the Fallout games (especially New Vegas) and Far Cry 3/4 if you haven't already played them. I only play a few first person shooters with some friends, but I absolutely love Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch. Undertale is great! For Halloween I made my boyfriend a Sans mask, he's a big fan of it too. Nintendo is probably my favourite console. I'm kind of just getting into Zelda now as I hadn't really played it much as a kid, but they're great games.

At the moment I've been reading a lot of Japanese fiction (Haruki Murakami is my favourite, as well as Kobo Abe) and graphic novels (Junji Ito). I generally enjoy memoirs, books told in the first person, dystopian novels and some philosophical/existentialist-type books (Kafka, Camus). I think my favourite novels would have to be Lolita, The Stranger, The Handmaid's Tale and Kafka on the Shore. Unfortunately I haven't really read any fantasy! Though I'd like to get into it eventually. @Neist What kind of video games did you play, if you don't mind me asking? @sjoh197 I'm pretty sad at this because I can't eat peaches, but I still love when they're in season because they smell really nice!

No problem, that's great then. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. I was told I wouldn't have to worry about quant much either (what a relief that was!) Good luck with applications!

I wish I could get through that much reading but my attention span/eyes won't let me. But I'm probably slightly addicted, though I spend a lot of time on other things too.. Like video games.

Well it sounds like you have lots of potential options, PhD or not, but if you do end up doing a PhD I'm sure you could find a suitable enough program for your research interests, even if it doesn't end up being in History. I think it's great though if you've found such a well-suited program! Definitely enjoy your time there.

Do you think you might go for a PhD then? I think that would be a great topic! But it is possible that it might suit another field better? You never know. If you do end up doing something like that you could always see if you're able to take relevant American Studies or similar courses while still being in a History program, or the other way around. Hopefully you can find a program that fits your interests.

I haven't really read much sci-fi, so I was a little unsure about it but it's a lot of fun! Very quick read too. Thanks for the suggestions! I have the book on Henrietta Lacks but haven't gotten to it yet, I'll have to do that soon. I'll have to take a look at the others as well. I enjoyed The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum so Ghost Hunters should be interesting as well. I agree, it's really great that there are so many easily accessible and accurate books out there on the history of sience. I've read a couple of books that some history students seemed iffy about because they were written by journalists and not historians, but I personally haven't taken issue with anything I've read. Also I've just started Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Should be a fun read!

Finished Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. It pertains much more to fictional writing, but it's really a great memoir of sorts about being a writer. By the way, I highly recommend The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. @Neist Do you have any particular favourite history of science books you've read? I'd love a couple of recommendations from you if you don't mind! You post a lot of interesting reads here.

That's a great idea, thanks! I think it would definitely help to have some visuals of what my rooms could look like. I'll definitely do that once I actually have a place. I jokingly told my mom I was going to video chat her and make her pick out all my stuff (she's a wonderful interior decorator).