Month: December 2012

Christmas Break Is Here!

Christmas Break Is Here!

I returned home to Cleveland, Ohio last night.  I only had three finals and three papers, so it wasn’t too bad of a finals week for me.  I’m looking forward to Christmas time, as my family goes all out for Christmas.  Check out our Christmas tree! Happy Holidays!

Finals Breakfast

Finals Breakfast

Yesterday night was the annual Finals Breakfast. It happens on the Tuesday night of every finals week, as a chance for students to take a break from studying and enjoy some free food since there are no exams on Wednesday. Since I have been at Loyola, I have attended every semester, each one equally as memorable.

Not only do I like Loyola’s breakfast, but it is a good opportunity to see everyone in the big arena before we all go to our perspective hometowns for Christmas break. It was extra special for me this semester, since I will be studying abroad next semester, aka no finals breakfast.

After eating and socializing, it was back to the books. One final and two papers to go!

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break was a much needed, relaxing time.  I booked it home on the MegaBus Tuesday, and arrived home Tuesday night to my family, dog and my favorite pasta! It was the perfect things to come home to.

I went to both sets of my grandparents houses on Thanksgiving day.  I ate twice (it’s possible.. trust me) and then had some leftovers later.  I was basically in a food coma for the remainder of break, but I wasn’t complaining.  Thanksgiving food is definitely in list of top five favorite meals. Deeelicious.

I braved the crowds and went Black Friday (well, Thursday) shopping Thursday night.  I went to Target just to look around.  The line wrapped around the entire building! It was insane, but it wasn’t too long of a wait because they were letting mass amounts of people in at a time.  I didn’t get anything, but it was fun experiencing the Black Friday craze!

The rest of my break was spent relaxing and catching up with old high school friends.  On Sunday, I drove back with a friend to Chicago.  Now, I’m just anxiously awaiting Christmas break! One week to go!

Christmas on Campus: Round II

Christmas on Campus: Round II

This past Sunday, the second annual Christmas on Campus event got underway here at Loyola University Chicago.  Just like last year, Santa Claus made his special appearance, along with 40 Loyola student organizations.  All in all, over 130 Loyola students buddied up with over 100 Chicago Public School children to tour the Gentile Center-turned-Winter Wonderland.
Among the numerous activities filling the concourse of Gentile were snowflake making with the Loyola Ultimate Frisbee team, basketball dribbling drills with the Loyola Women’s basketball team, seed planting with the Growers’ Guild, the candy cane walk with SAE and many, many more activities.
Also adding to the festivities was the Loyola break team team SCORCH, who showcased their impressive dance moves, the Sandy Pilgrims, a local Loyola band who played a combination of Christmas classics and contemporary Christmas creations and Christmas-themed Zumba.
Perhaps the highlight of the day came when all of the students, Loyola and CPS, gathered together to watch Magician Chris Bohne perform his many impressive magic tricks, including an escape from handcuffs inside a locked trunk.
All in all, everyone went home, happy if not tired, from a day of holiday activities.  Many carried with them handmade creations from the day, but all carried with them memories, new friendships, and a generous Christmas spirit.
(Pictured above is the core team of Christmas on Campus planners; photo courtesy of Alex Boesch).
Fine and Performing Arts Events

Fine and Performing Arts Events

With first semester courses coming to a close, the Loyola community is gearing up for finals week and all the commotion that comes along with it. Faculty are busy grading, students are busy finishing up projects and studying, and everyone wants to de-stress!

Outside of the mid-week study day and finals breakfast, I think that one of the best ways to take a break—right here on campus—is to attend one of the programs offered by Loyola’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts.

Check out what’s on tap for this week. From an international poster competition to the Winter Dance Informance, you’re sure to find something that interests you.

Good luck to everyone on their upcoming exams.

And if you’re considering Loyola and planning a visit, cap off your trip to campus with a Department of Fine and Performing Arts event.

Operation Study Abroad

Operation Study Abroad

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyletaylor/4496317344/in/photostream/

During my senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to travel to South Korea for a mission trip where I taught at a local school, visited many popular tourist spots and explored the Korean culture and lifestyle. Through this experience, I learned how much I loved traveling and experiencing different parts of the world. I promised myself that I would take active steps to ensure another great experience abroad.

Since this September, I have been working on making my study abroad plans a reality for the Spring of 2013. After months of convincing my parents, doing research about my program and meeting with several people in the Office of International Programs, I have received official acceptance through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) to Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia!

Many things contributed to the details of the decisions I made for my study abroad plans. Of course, the main aspect I had to decide on was WHERE I want to go.

The only explanation I have for picking this destination is my sheer interest in the Australian culture and terrain. Since Loyola only provides campuses in Rome, Bejing and Vietnam, this meant researching provider programs that Loyola is affiliated with, such as USAC. After doing so, I brought my findings to a study abroad advisor, who went over every detail with me and gave me a list of next steps to complete.

It took some work, but I can finally say that there is some light at the end of the tunnel and I would tell any of my fellow Loyolans that the process is worth it once you see the acceptance letter and realize what it means.