Crazy Week: Tie-Dye, Giants, and Switching Majors!

The shirt of a true SF hippy :)

Although the weather was weird as usual (87 one day, 60 with rain the next!), this week had some fun and wild adventures. On Tuesday our residence hall had a BYOT (bring your own t-shirt) event and had a tie-dye station set up. The only white shirt that I had that I was willing to dye was my bay to breakers shirt from last year... I figured tie-dye would suit the spirit of the shirt. Although I love my shirt, I could have passed on rinsing out the dye in my tiny sink and having purple hands for 2 days.

A very happy Giants fan!

On Thursday my roommate and I, with two other friends from our dorm, took the "L" several stops to Wrigley field to go to a Giants game, I repeat, a Giants game (no, not a Cubs game). We paid $8 a seat and had an awesome view.   I wore all the orange I had and my SF hat and surprising I was not the only one (quite reassuring). Though Claire is a pretty big Cubs fan, she doesn't hate me after the Giants creamed the Cubs 13-0. It was a fun game :)

View from our $8 seats 

Today I was finally able to get all the signatures required to switch my major from Biology (what I put on my application when I applied here) to a double major in French and Spanish. So now when people ask they won't need a super long explanation. But I am still following a pre-med track, just not subjecting myself to the torture of a Bio major.

My mom should be walking up in a few minutes as she landed this afternoon for parents weekend. And although my first paper for my Honor's class is due next Friday, we will certainly be enjoying this weekend!

Weekend Happenings

After a day full of homework and a morning run on Saturday, Claire and I ventured to Target to stock up on some Cinnamon Pita chips, vitamin water, and fresh fruit. We also happened to find ourselves caught in the middle of the Halloween aisle wanting to by room decorations, bags of candy corn (we couldn't not buy some) and fun costumes... we promised each other that we'd come back when it was actually October. That night some other girls from our floor went out to Thai food right down the street from our dorm with us. The crab rangoons and pad thai were amazing. Sunday was mostly a day of sleeping in and reading, along with a late afternoon run (cool breeze included!)  I'm gearing up for a week of 2 quizzes and 1 exam and lots of reading, but being able to look forward to a Cubs v. Giants game on Thursday and my mom arriving Friday I think I'll find a way to survive :) Also, this morning I had my first interview to become a student ambassador who hosts prospective students and later gives tours and works at Open Houses... keep your fingers crossed!

PS: For the pure entertainment of the Marin people reading this, I thought that I'd mention that there are the "Bike and Roll" tourists bikes around here too... students can even rent them out for a day or two. I may have to put a skirt and flip flops, rent a bike, and find a steep hill to ride up (not many of those around). But so far no one has stopped me on my run to ask for directions yet... probably a good sign.

TGIF!!

After a long week, and some rain, it's finally Friday. Although I was really excited to get to wear my rain boots yesterday and actually have a reason to do so, the college perks of Fridays are awesome. In my Biology lecture, we finished a chapter, but rather than starting the next powerpoint presentation, my professor just dismissed us 25 minutes early.  And in my discussion for my Honor's class, the teacher agreed that she too was tired and ready for the weekend, so we got out 15 minutes early of a 50 minute class. So, finally the weekend here. Other than a few errands and a trip to Target, I'll mostly be relaxing and getting ahead/catching up on reading for the week and studying for my first real EXAM. I shouldn't be too nervous since I did hand in my first college paper 2 days ago!  But the blue skies and cool air are wonderful for hanging out by the lake and if it does happen to rain this weekend, a good reason to stay indoors and read :)

Pilsen Urban Immersion 2010

Over this weekend, a group of 15 first year students and three leaders went down to the Southside of Chicago to the Pilsen neighborhood for an Urban Immersion.  We stayed in a huge 4 story church, St. Procopius. We left Friday night, and on Saturday did a bit of work around the church to help. We fixed the side walk and picked up trash and weeded in the back alley. Around lunch time some of went over to help make sandwiches and serve at the church's noontime soup kitchen.

In the afternoon, we heard from a Union representative about some worker injustices around the city. Ten years ago all the hotels in downtown Chicago agreed that together they would raise the wages for their works. All of the hotel agreed except for the Congress Hotel, and for the past 7 years the workers have been on strike and picketing every day. We were able to talk to the workers and walk the picket line with them while participating in the chants, right outside the front entrance to the hotel. Later that evening we heard from several undocumented immigrants and the issues that they face in their everyday lives and what they are doing to advocate for more just legislation. We had a delicious Mexican meal that evening and were able to just relax back at the church and enjoy some Mexican hot chocolate.

On Sunday we went to the Spanish mass at St. Procopius and then walked to the National Museum of Mexican Art where they have an exhibition of Mexican Art through the ages in Mexico, and a special exhibit for Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The altars and small, colorful clay pieces we beautiful. After another meal of delicious mexican food, we packed up and headed back to school. Over the two days I meant a lot of really nice people, and I'm looking forward to seeing them around campus and in my classes. We are thinking of going back next weekend for their annual Kermes festival which highlights culture and really yummy food!

Last night back at the dorm, we had a "3rd Floor Slumber Party" minus the sleep part. So we decorated cupcakes, painted our nails, met new people, and watched the VMAs... what a fun weekend. Hopefully this week will be as enjoyable!

The Happenings of the Week

Second week, almost done... only 3 classes today! This week the weather has finally started to cool off and the humidity has disappeared (knock on wood). This week all the clubs had their first meetings, so I went to the ones that I could. Habitat for Humanity looks like a good club to join, I know that they will be doing lots this year. I'm also going to join the Gardening Club and a few others ones that I'm passionate about.

We finally finished the Odyssey in our Honor's class, with our last lecture happening today. Then onto Genesis for a week.  With the weather cooling off, my runs are seeming much more doable, and I even tried a spin class in the Gym this week!

Other than that, this week was pretty straight forward. I leave this evening on a 3 day Urban Immersion to the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago where my group will be doing community service and learning about the issues that this neighborhood faces. Can't wait to post pictures and exciting stories from that trip! Have a good weekend

Labor Day Weekend

After completing my first week of college classes, I took the "L" up to Wilmette in order to visit the Baneux's, the family we met while living in France. I got to see Julien's soccer game, have a homemade meal, watch Iron Man, see Isabelle get asked to homecoming and sleep in a very comfy bed on a quiet street. Isabelle had swim practice in the morning, but when she got home, she made us her famous buttermilk pancakes! We also played Scrabble, and got a delicious lunch before I took the L back to Loyola. This evening there is the New Year's Festival celebrating the beginning of the new school year where there were carnival games and carnival food (cotton candy, snow cones....) Claire and I both accumulated lots of raffle tickets and won Loyola coffee mugs :) We are about to go back out to watch the fireworks, and then enjoy the rest of the weekend. More to come soon. Happy Labor Day weekend!

Nick (Izze's boyfriend), Isabelle, and me

Ignatius in the House!

After an on and off day of rain, my neighbor Susan and I walked from our Chemistry class to go to the Jesuit Fest.  A fun-filled afternoon of food and fun celebrating the Jesuit heritage of our school and an opportunity to meet some of the Jesuits who live at Loyola.

We got t-shirts that said "Ignatius in the House", had some dinner, and a chance to joust and dunk Jesuits in a water tank! It's always fun to run into those few Jesuits who have worked at SI or who know my teachers from my high school :)

Reading, Reading, and more Reading

The IC, on the edge of Lake Michigan

That sums up the last few days... Although I did get out for a tempo run in the rain this morning and got dinner with friends and got to relax, a lot of my time has been spent reading theology books, The Odyssey, Bio, Chem etc... After dinner tonight I decided that I'd get out of my room to read, so I went over to the Information Commons. They have nice comfy leather chairs, and I sat there, with a Chai Latte, and read The Odyssey for 2.5 hours. It was so peaceful even when it became too dark to see the lake. At least I know I can always have a beautiful, quiet place to study or read, read, and read!