As I am writing this blog, I notice that today is September 23rd. It is practically a month since school started! I can't believe it because it only feels like a couple weeks since we started. Soon it is almost October and then it will be November, soon enough May will come along and I will graduate. Time flies when you are in college!

My week has been going well so far. Last week I started Judo again! One of the many new things I picked up since freshman year. I recommend anyone interested trying a new sport or something new in general to try it. I didn't know what Judo was freshman year and I decided to take it as a gym class. Ever since, I have gone every semester since spring of freshman year to Judo because it was something that was so much fun! I didn't think I would get too serious about it, but I did get my yellow belt and I am thinking about going for my green belt (if I have the time to train!). Even in Singapore I learned some great Judo moves from very good Judo athletes. I miss the Judo club over there because they were really good athletes and they were more than open to letting me train with them! If you are interested in trying a new sport I totally recommend it. For the past 3 years I did Women's Crew & Judo! Two sports that weren't really popular as I grew up, but when I came here to the University of Scranton I got exposed to it, I tried it, and I LOVED it! Unfortunately, since my schedule is so hectic this semester I am unable to do Crew as I need to concentrate on my academics. I miss rowing!

Otherwise, being back is wonderful! I am working also at the Study Abroad office and I have met some of the International Students who are here which is so great! I love meeting new people and its always great to learn about other cultures as well! Well I am off to my International Business class (funny I'm talking about international right?). Have a good weekend everyone!

Take Care!

- Pattie Vongsoasup

Posted by Patra Vongsoasup at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello everyone!! We are finally back at the University of Scranton, going into our 4th week at school! How crazy is that? I am finally settling back in my house and the environment, since I was abroad last semester. Now that things are finally starting to settle down, I can finally start to talk about whats been going on since I've been back to the United States!

This summer went by so quickly, I couldn't believe it! I worked a lot of jobs this summer because I wanted to make up for all of the money I spent abroad. I was asked to come back to my internship at Quest Diagnostics for a second summer and it was a great experience. I met so many great people, made so many friends, and worked on a volunteer project that focused on fund raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The interns challenged the full-time employees to a softball match and the Quest Diagnostics softball team decided to have a game day to play against the interns and also use it as a community service event to raise money. It was so awesome because we raised just about $3000 and so many employees came out to support and have fun. Many of the Vice Presidents (VPs) and upper management employees who came out to enjoy the barbecue and also watch the interns beat the employees! Unfortunately, that didn't happen because it turns out that we lost 11-4. Yikes, looks like we the interns need to step up their game for next year, but to say the least it was a lot of fun and very successful. The employees said it was probably one of the best things they ever had because they got to interact with the interns and get to have some fun! Below is a picture of the team, not everyone is in the picture, but I sure miss these guys! We became pretty close during the summer and I know we will stay in touch!

Besides work, I also got to spend time with my family, hang out down the shore with my house mates and also see some of my friends that I met in Singapore! One weekend we had a big Singapore reunion in New York City and our friends from Norway, Finland, England, Canada, Connecticut, Boston, North Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey met up to do site seeing and spend the weekend together. It was so great to see all of my friends that I met abroad again because we all missed Singapore so much. A lot of my friends that I met abroad that are from the United States are from around NJ, NY, and CT so it is easy to meet up with people as well! It was a great reunion in the middle of the summer and it was so weird at the same time that we were all hanging out in a different country! Like I said in previous blog entries, if you are considering going abroad, do it because you meet so many incredible people from around the world that you will be friends with forever. I still stay in touch with my international friends and I would never trade this experience for any other.

Otherwise, I had a great summer and now I am back for my senior year! My last and final year...it seems like only yesterday that I was a freshman at the University of Scranton. I am very glad to be back on campus seeing familiar faces and friends and meeting new people at the same time! The semester is going well so far and its going by so quickly as well! I have a new responsibilities which include being the President of the Health Administration Society! I have so many things planned for that, I will tell you more about once we start doing our fundraisers and everything.

It is getting pretty cold pretty early this time of year, usually it doesn't start til beginning of October. Stay warm everyone and I hope everyone is having a good start to their semester!

Take Care!

-Pattie Vongsoasup

Posted by Patra Vongsoasup at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)