CRAZY.....

This has been a bit of a crazy week, but that's ok, crazy is exciting right? But I finally got my laptop back from the shop. My hard drive crashed and of course I didn't back all of my files up, but at least it didn't happen in the middle of the semester or something. So NOW that I have my computer I am just grateful to have it back. The computer labs on campus saved my life! Each semester we get free print outs and you can get into any of the computer labs that are all around campus with just your student ID card. I was still able to all of my homework done and it wasn't too much of a hassle not having my laptop.

I'm working on my study abroad applications and meeting with my study abroad advisor. The Study Abroad Office has been such a great resource to me as I have been deciding my plans for studying abroad. I'm getting super psyched for the Study Abroad Fair. (I'll tell you more about that later...)
This week I also got my Aggie Blue Bike! What is that? Aggie Blue Bikes is a resource on campus from which any student can simply borrow a bike for free for the semester. All you need is your ID and a bike lock and they provide you with earth friendly t
ransportation to get you around campus. Not only does it save you the trouble of buying a bike or transporting yours from home, it saves the environment when you bike instead of drive. ABB is associated with Americorps and they are dedicated to helping the environment by promoting biking rather than driving. Once you check out your bike, Aggie Blue Bikes will fix it and teach you how to do do it yoursel for F R E E. Few people know about this awesome resource though, so make sure when you come to Utah State you get a free bike for a semester! Mine is a really cute cruiser and I love it :D

Epic!

As you all know this has been an important week. It was so exciting to have the new president inaugurated. During the day all throughout the TSC (Taggart Student Center) in the main lounge and in the ballroom the Inauguration proceedings were broadcast. Students and faculty, random passersby, whoever, we all watched the new president be inaugurated. It was really cool.
Not only that, but it was a long weekend because of Human Rights day (Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday), what could make this week better? The Arts and Lectures Committee had guest lecturer Kirk Bloodswirth, who was sentenced to death row for a rape and a murder he didn't commit. In 1993, he was exonerated by DNA evidence. His case was the first capital conviction to be overturned in the United States. Now at the helm of The Justice Project in Washington, DC, Kirk is now an advocate and a leader in criminal justice reform. And everyone at USU was able hear him speak and share his story at the TSC Ballroom. We had the opportunity to ask him questions and even shake his hand. It was definitely cool.
The Polynesian Student Union is just starting up dance practices for our big luau coming up in the spring. It sure is exciting!

Spring 2009 Here I Come!

So my friends, it is the beginning of a new year and a new semester and I am determined to work hard to meet my goals for the coming year. Not only is it a new year, but I am now a year older (cause I am really cool and my birthday is New Years...yep January first!) There is always a party, and everyone remembers it is my birthday, so it's pretty sweet. But now that the long needed winter break is over (which was very fun) it is time to get to work.
It is the beginning of a new semester and I really like my classes. I'm so excited to learn new things and meet new people. This year I am going to get up a little bit earlier, be more balanced, and make the most out of each day by using my time wisely.
The other night I went skiing at "The Beav" (or Beaver Mountain) and it was so much fun! Just about 45 minutes and you're there! There was sweet powder and lots of fun people. Regardless of if you board or ski, it's a fun place to be.
Right now I am working on my study abroad applications so I'll let you know how that goes.
Welcome back Aggies to the Spring semester!

woohoooooooo! finals week is done!

Yay! Finals week is now over, what a relief! I was lucky this semester and I only had 2 final exams, but instead I had a lot of final papers, group projects, and presentations. But I’ll take those over a final any time. So, as you could imagine, this week was a bit stressful and I am very glad to be free of homework, studying, and the library. I do love school, but finals week is always crazy (in a good way of course) it wouldn’t be finals week without a little stress right?

It is pretty funny actually. Someone started this tradition during finals week called “the howl.” And Wednesday of finals week at 10pm on the dot, everyone in the library breaks the silence, the monotonous pencil tapping, or the keyboard clatter and just starts howling like wolves. It is quite an invigorating experience. It definitely helps to get through the rest of a crazy cram night. And of course, its fun!

there's a video of it on youtube...take a look, it's pretty great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtE4BjkoQ9A

Tis the season to be jolly...

The week before finals has been as jolly as I could allow. I most certainly enjoyed attending the 2nd Annual Christmas Sweater Party hosted by some friends just down the street from me. It was quite a joyous and hilarious occasion. There was a $50 prize for the best sweater, $25 and $15 for second and third. and 4 $10 Firehouse cards that will be handed out to the fourth and fifth place winners. I just so happened to win 1st prize! Not only did I get a the $50 dollars, but the great honor of having the best sweater. Aside from the sweater contest, there was also a mistletoe "kissing zone", dancing, and of course a station for dance photos! Everyone had really great sweaters and it was just a blast, but I was clearly the champion. I even wore sweater pants and christmas tree socks, a wreath, mistletoe, and ornaments.

This week there was "Holiday Lane" where the student clubs buy a tree and decorate it so that it can be donated to families in need through the Cache Valley Head Start program.
There was also a little Festivus celebration (Seinfeld fans...) which included airing of grievances, feats of strength, and the Festivus pole. I was declared the victor (all of these victories for me..yay!) of leg wrestling. I definitely beat a boy and it was in the newspaper :)

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Break :)

Happy Turkey day! We had a long weekend for the Thanksgiving holiday and it has been lovely! Utah State has an awesome location; it is the perfect distance away from home. I live in Salt Lake so it is far away enough that I have some independence and freedom, yet close enough that I can come home when I need to for special occasions, holidays, sweet concerts, or when I’m just a little homesick and want to see my family and friends. I spent Thanksgiving with my family and I really enjoyed my break, I really needed one. Over the break I saw Twilight, went dancing with my friends, did a little bit of homework, and of course, feasted on delicious food. Now I am refreshed and recharged for a crazy week getting ready for finals and such. It will definitely be an adventure! 

(This is my Xia xia and Pa pou (grandma and grandpa in Greek) and my sisters boyfriend at Thanksgiving dinner...it's kind of a terrible picture of me and I think i was saying something to the affect of "Why are you taking a picture right at this very moment when we are feasting for this day of giving thanks?" just maybe)

Diversity Week

This has been an amazing week full of diversity, dancing, and deliciousness! Diversity is such a big part of Utah State, so much that campus diversity is even a position in our student government here (ASUSU). It was created in 2002 to continue the tradition of Diversity Week, to promote inclusiveness and to give diverse students a voice and the opportunity to be represented. 

Chase Skidmore, the Diversity VP this year said that he wants students to know that “While issues such as ethnicity and skin color are a large part of diversity, it is not just our skin color or our cultural background that defines who we are. This year, Diversity Week will focus on race, ethnicity, culture, education, sexual orientation and diverse interests.  I think the overall hope I have for the week is a better understanding that we are all different and yet we collectively make up what it is to be USU.”

If you didn’t know Utah State has a VERY diverse campus. We have students from so many backgrounds and walks of life. We also have many international students, anywhere from China, Venezuela, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, or Tanzania, to Lebanon, Korea, Italy, or India. Anywhere you can think of really.

Having so many friends from all over has really enriched my experience here at Utah State, because as I have spent time with them I have learned about their countries and culture. It is such a beautiful thing to meet people from all over the world. I love it!

Some fun events for this week included “The World Sampler” cookout with food from all over (I loved the Indian food), the Unity Through Diversity Dance Show (featuring dances from all over), the cultural showcase and Mr. and Mrs. International Pageant.

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” –Anne Frank