Saint Leo University: Margaurete Romerotag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//2512008-04-21T16:10:36ZMovable Type 3.34A Busy Timetag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.59252008-04-10T20:31:59Z2008-04-21T16:10:36ZIf I can give a really good piece of advice to any incoming freshman, it is this: sign up for classes early. As a Bio major, there is not only limited space, but there are awkward schedulings and labs that...Margaurete Romero
I also had the pleasure of going to the ministry play on Suday, and was pleasantly surprised to see many of my fellow bio majors singing and dancing in Once on This Island. The costuming was well done, and the dancing was amazing! I am always interested in hearing the voices of my fellow students, and they always surprise me with their intensity and vocal ability. I can't wait to see what they have for next year!
But the last full week is upon us now, and i am trying to get all those paper done in such a way that I can end the year in a good way. ]]>
My Weekend at St. Leotag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.59232008-03-31T16:24:52Z2008-04-16T16:50:32ZEaster Break was nice after being in NJ and going back to the classes. To just be with family is very important to me, and we really enjoyed the day. Easter was a relaxing time, as we just had family...Margaurete Romero
1984. i had never actually read the book, so I could only go by what the play did, and it was very well done. The play reminded me slightly of a play i did in Highschool called The Moon is Down, showing the dramatic life of living in a totalitarian society. Yet, where my play had hope, this play stayed in despair. The set was made in black wooden stage, and soldiers wore the black outfits with the red bagdes of the facist symbol. It was very eerie, and we had the pleasure of seeing some of our teachers as Big Brother displayed on a large screen in black and white.
On Friday, it was hard not to go back to see my sisters in Tampa, as Carly and I decided to kidnap my sister Kristy to take her to get a manicure and have a nice dinner. We were all stressed because school had made us do the uphill climb, but we decided to have fun that night.
By Saturday I was back on Campus though, and I helped my friend find a nice white dress for her baptism. It didn't seem like such a hard task until we found out that none of the white dresses fit properly or were just not flattering designs. But we both were adamant on finding her a dress for her Baptism on Sunday, and after a disastrous trip to Brandon mall, we went to Citrus and found exactly what she needed. That night we celebrated our victory and went to see Horton Hears a Who, which I thought was very cute and very well done in its use of CG.
Sunday was a lazy day and i was able to just relax until seven when a few of my friends were doing their sacraments for the Catholic Church. I was happy to see them finally get to become a part of the Catholic community, and I enjoyed seeing my friend able to wear her white dress as she became Baptized into the faith.
Paola in the middle of her Sacraments
But now it is going to be busy a schedule with the season winding down. It's crunch time!
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SERVE Trip IItag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.56552008-03-27T18:03:02Z2008-04-03T17:52:06ZThe day after the food bank, we were off to another new sight. It was a home for unwed mothers, a place that they could learn skills and be able to find jobs and have a cheaper daycare and free...Margaurete Romero
Maya, Jess and I picking up the paper from the floor
We joined the others at the main sight after our work was done, and helped to move things from one area to the other. there were boxes of so many things, and they wanted them moved from their original location to a main location so that later it would be easier to move it to the new building. We finished surprisingly fast, and after that task, we were able to have lunch. The lunch consisted of quiche, soup and salad, a very well made lunch. when we were through, a few of us went to help them serve the food while others helped with the children. The women were grateful for thier lunch, and enjoyed food. After that, we cleaned up, and we were done for the day.
All of us at Oasis
For dinner we had the privilage of going to Jess's house and we were able to relax. They gave us a huge meal, including NY cheese cake, which was on my list of things to try. We all started to understand one another, and this was one of the ways that we could get to know one eachother in a more relaxed way. I enjoyed some time with the group, and after relaxing there, we went back to the house and started to get ready for the day ahead of us.
We were back at the soup kitchen for one more go around. The people were happy to see us back as volunteers, and there were other college students there from a nearby college that helped with breakfast. that day, a few of us helped with thier plot of garden outside, picking out weeds and clearing off leaves from the sidewalk. After that, a few of us went down, and helped with the making of the plates. There are always a lot of things to get done, and so once we had enough plates, a few of us went up to the serving area and served the food. Again the people were grateful for what they could get, and it felt good to see them get something warm in the cold day. One woman, who had sang to us before on Tuesday, sang for us again about how she wanted her spaghetti and meatballs. The sight was amazing to see, she had so much energy and love for life than some of us do.
All of us outside the soup kitchen
After cleaning up, we were on our way back to the house. After resting, we went out to a diner for dinner, and had really good diner food. We had been living off of Edimends and food that a student's parents made, so this food tasted really good. After that, we had a confession with the priest, and then we prepared for tomorrow. The next day was the big day though. The next day was NYC, our off day to see the big city.
I had never been to NYC, nor had I ever taken a train before. It was an exhilarating feeling as when we try anything new. We came off at Penn station, and then some of us went our separate ways. There was so much to see! I went with Nick, Liz, Kristin, and Moon, and we saw the two towers site, the statue of Liberty, parts of Central Park, and Time Square. At five, we all decided to go to mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a beautiful church in the middle of NYC. One of the saints with a statue there was Don Bosco, which we thought appropriate considering our mission in NJ.
All of us in NYC!
After mass, we went to eat at Bubba Gump's Shrimp, as the group slowly came back together. We talked about all of our different adventures in NY, and after dinner, some of us stayed longer. We went down Canal St. shopping and went through parts of Little Italy, where some of the girls got a piece of NY pizza. Traveling the subway was an adventure and new experience for me, but in the large group I felt safe and the transportation got us to where we needed to go.
It was so hard to go to sleep after such a fun filled day. But the next morning we were up early, packing and having our last mass with the Salesians. It was hard to leave behind so many memories, but we had to pack our bags and go. At the airport we mingled together, knowing full well that after this everything would go back to school, work, and other jobs that belonged in our lives in Florida. Florida's heat and humidity reminded most of us of home, and though the palm trees and blue skies were nice to see, each of us will have a special place in our hearts for NJ's chilly March nights and the bright lights of Time Square.]]>
SERVE Trip Itag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.56152008-03-25T16:19:39Z2008-04-03T17:46:50ZFor the start of Spring Break, I was not on my way to the beach or to the malls. I was packing for a cold spring break in New Jersey. I came back to school on Sunday, ready to leave...Margaurete Romero
Moon, Maya, Sarah, Nick and I all helping to make the food.
After that, we went to the Food Bank,which was an experience. it was stocking shelves and trying to place things in the same area as the other food. it was nice to see the supplies, but at the same time it was a grueling task to try and fix everything to be in their correct place. we were able to put many things in the correct placement, and did a good job of making sure that everything was put away.
Sarah and I posing after a long day of putting food on shelves.
That night, we treated ourselves to some ice cream or Starbucks. It's amazing how much sweeter things taste after a day of hard work.
The first three days were tiresome, but we still had a lot of work on our hands. We were getting to know eachother too, which was nice because some of us were in different majors, different classes, and would not have met if it weren't for the trip. ]]>
Hectic Seasontag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.51272008-02-24T22:01:54Z2008-03-11T15:15:48ZNow the tests are piling and the projects are due soon, and spring break SERVE trip is just around the corner (thank goodness I am all paid for at this point!) - it has been stressful, but good at the...Margaurete Romero
Jersey Boys on Tuesday, a musical about the Four Seasons which was a very good play. Although Tampa's performances are off Broadway, they are still always worth the watch there and are always a joy to see. This one in particular was very good for all ages, and I enjoyed getting away from my hectic work at school.
There is also the beach that helps kids relax, and this is only so far away, which is nice to escape to some weekends. Thanks to global warming and Florida's naturally warm environment, we can basically go all year round and manage to get some sun. It's another way to get away from the stress of a week.
Nature likes its own miracles every now and then, and the lunar eclipse happened on Wednesday, a beautiful sight to see! As a science major and a writer, I love these events for their own beauty and for its fascinating scientific background. Lunar eclipses will come around again, and I enjoy watching them, reminding me that there is a bigger universe than just the one I can see everyday.
There is also family - if you are close enough to take a weekend off just to visit them. It has been hard recently as my twin sister is in UF, but she finally came down this weekend, and we went to the Renaissance Festival that MOSI holds in a lot just outside of their facilities. It unfortunately rained on us, but not before we could get some cross-bow and archery games in, plus my sister Carly and her boyfriend ended up jousting, which they did without sharp objects (thank God). It is a fun event to go to, and it is just a relaxing time.
My sisters at the Ren Fest (Cassie got into a biking accident at UF, hence the bandages, but it does make it easier to tell us apart now)
Family doesn't have to be blood related though. The student chaplains the weekend before did a retreat at the lakehouse where we reflected on Lent and on the things that weigh us down in life. Being near the lake is a great way to clear your head and to just feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. In college, we all have a tendency to get caught up in the hectic life we lead, that we rarely have time to stop and think about what we really want to do. Many people find it hard to sit down and relax and think about what is happening or just to clear their minds. I always found writing gets me there, as long as no one is criticizing my poor spelling or my use of passive voice. We all need to find those outlets to take us away from the stresses of the workplace or the schoolwork, or anything else that weighs us down to the point where we can't remember why we are here.
And now midterms are coming up and so I am feeling the calm before the storm. Papers are about to be due and tests are coming up, so it is going to be stressful, but as long as I have a way to release stress, school is usually fine, and we all make it out in the end, anyway. ]]>
Back to Schooltag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.46742008-01-25T20:24:59Z2008-02-18T17:19:52ZThe first few weeks of school have been hectic. My friend the first week of school was rushed to the emergency room on Wednessday, which had all of us worried. She is ok, though she gave us a scare. I...Margaurete Romero
The first few weeks of school have been hectic. My friend the first week of school was rushed to the emergency room on Wednessday, which had all of us worried. She is ok, though she gave us a scare. I went to all my classes and enjoyed being back, though the second semester starts up so fast. I was back in Chemistry doing equations and such and I was in zoology learning my structures of the cell all over again (I took AP Bio in highschool, so a lot of the things we are doing in the beginning is like a review). I love my honors courses, and if you ever are a student and are offered the honors program, take it. I have Professor Spoto for Academic Writing II and Professor Imperato for Christian Vision. Both classes are mainly led by discusions on what we have read and some of our philosophies on the subject. They require a lot of reading and papers, but they are worth taking.
Getting back into the swing of things means going back to work too. My sister and my father started an action photography business, CR Action Photo, and we mainly take soccer tournaments. Over the weekend I was back out there, in the cold in Fort Lauderdale, taking the DC cup, a small recreational tournament. I was freezing, but i have a lot of fun taking the pictures since soccer is one of my favorite sports. At school, I was back to work in the lab, washing glassware and preparing the laminations for zoology. Our department finally got a laminating machine, so now the zoology assistants are excitedly laminating every picture we have. Yes, we are a bit cheesey, but you have no idea how much this means to lab assistants that now we are more organized.
Overall, there is not too much going on quite yet exept a lot of work and school. But the rest of the time feels more promising, and so we will wait for things to pick up around here.
The Holiday Breaktag:blogs.targetx.com,2008:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.45752008-01-14T20:49:09Z2008-02-18T17:18:27ZIt has been a while since I have written for these blogs. So much happened over the break, especially since it was a very long break. I celebrated the usual warm Christmas in Tampa, which I have become too accustomed...Margaurete Romero
Though Christmas was going really well, I had in the back of my head a reminder: I was leaving. You see, my friend had invited me on a 2 week trip to Montana - Helena, to be specific - and I had actually accepted. This is odd, only in that this movement was so spontaneous and I normally do not go very far without my family. She was picking me up the day after Christmas, and it was odd packing on Christmas day for this long trip. My mom had already frantically tried to make sure that I would stay warm, remembering what it was like to grow up in Ohio, and she worried I was way over my head. But sure enough, Ashley and I made our way to Billings without a problem, though a really long lay-over in Denver, and an almost cancelled flight because of the Denver snow storm.
The drive from Billings to Helena couldn't have been prettier with mountain forests dusted with the white snow, and the big blue Montana sky. When we arrived to her grandparent's house, we quickly decided that the next day we would climb Mt. Helena. We being Floridians, had no idea the ice we would find on the steep slopes of the mountain side. Needless to say, we made it halfway up with the time we had, then as we were climbing down, the ice got the best of our boots and we slid down for some of the mountain. Later on, we climbed to the top, a beautiful view of Helena and the surrounding mountains. We encountered some of thier infamous deer along the side of the mountain too.
Ice skating was another adventure that we did in Montana. It was only $3 to skate, so Ashley and I decided to hone in on our skills on the ice. I have to admit, I couldn't make my Russian heritage too proud in the figure skates, but I did do pretty well considering how long it was since I had strapped on any kind of skate, let alone ice skates.
Another one of the big events was skiing. Many people have skied before, but for someone who rarely sees snow in her life - well, its a big event. Ashley had skied before when she lived in Montana and Michigan, so she was a step ahead of me. I, on the other hand, had difficulty stopping. which is not such a good problem to have, especially on the slopes of The Great Divide, which were really steep. I did fine for a while, and i had some amazing wipe-outs, but then they decided to try and get me to go to the taller slopes. That's when i hit the tree. Well, after you hit a tree ( a small sappling, but nonetheless i hit it hard) skiing is kind of hard to get into again. Ashley stayed with me the whole way, because the only way to get off of your skis is to make it down to the bottom of the hill. I made it down in double the time of many people, but i did have fun. It is just a totally different feeling than what i have ever experienced before in my life.
The lodge at the Great Divide
Its a good thing I made it down too, because after that, it started snowing really hard. we left when the storm was a little better, and made it home to see that it had even snowed in town. Later that night, more snow softly fell, powdering the ground. I was able to make my first snow angel in my life.
Overall, the two weeks were fun! I had a white new year, which is my first ever. The only wierd thing was noticing my Florida friends texting me at 10:30 at night to have a Happy New Year, and watching the ball drop three hours after the fact, but it was a good time.
I am worried about going back to school, but my break was so fulfilling that I think I am ready. I have a lot of classes that are worth taking and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things! ]]>
The Final Weekstag:blogs.targetx.com,2007:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.41412007-12-04T15:49:11Z2007-12-06T21:01:57ZI have been doing a lot on campus recently between schoolwork, work, and the play. I became involved in the ministry musical Children of Eden slightly by accident. In highschool, I was an actress, then I co-directed a one-act my...Margaurete Romero
Some of the Cast
On Friday, I went to Winter Formal, which is a little like prom. I had so much fun, probably more fun than I did at many dances in high school. The dance took place at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, a very nice hall. The food was amazing, and the music was pretty good. But, just like all dances, it really depends on who you go with whether you have a good time, and I had so much fun dancing with my friends. It was a lot of fun.
Winter Formal with some friends
Now, it is crunch time, trying to do lab exams, last week projects and grade raisers. The weeks are as stressful as they are fulfilling, and I am counting down the days to winter break with a little hesitance. A part of me doesn't want to leave everything behind for a month, but I guess that's another part of college life: leaving things behind and letting things end.]]>
Thanksgiving Weektag:blogs.targetx.com,2007:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.39882007-11-26T16:04:34Z2007-11-27T13:22:11ZThe nice thing about St. Leo: you get a whole week off for that great Thanksgiving holiday. How does one enjoy so much time off? Well... First, you try let off steam by going to dinner and a movie with...Margaurete Romero
Cassie and I standing next to one of the largest oaks in Florida
Kristy and I on our canoe
Thanksgiving is always the time when my family tries to come back together. I think that is why it is my favorite holiday. Christmas tends to be slightly materialistic anywhere you go, but the Thanksgiving week is just about family and good food. I figure this is a good time for people to really see what matters in our lives, the sustenance of not only the foods we eat but the relationships we share with those we love. We get away from work and school and concentrate on what really matters. Some people experience unpleasant times with their relationships during this time, and that is also a reason to decide what is going on in relationships around us.
Well, the end is near, and I have a lot to do before the Christmas vacation.]]>
So close to the Endtag:blogs.targetx.com,2007:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.39012007-11-16T19:37:58Z2007-11-27T13:15:46ZWhere did i leave you off? O, yes, Halloween trick-or-treaters came over to Marmion-Snyder and we were able to give out candy the day before the 31st. Halloween night I usually celebrate my sister's birthday, so she came up for...Margaurete Romero
All of us at Grand Prix
On Sunday I volunteered for Tri-Beta to go to the Leadership Conference. Every club and group on campus sends so many people to this and they enjoy a speaker and lunch and free gifts. This year, Andrea Mosby talked to us about her key to success, her DECISIONS method. she believes in the determination, energy, courage, intuition, serious, imagination, open, never give up and success. She explained some of her life stories of being a teenage mom and trying to raise a son on her own. She was very insightful and very funny, mentioning to us first hand that she WILL laugh at her own jokes. She was honest with us, and that made for a great presentation.
The next day was community service day. I chose to go to the battered woman's home with Jen Duffy as leader. We were going to do yard work and such for the home, which had neglected the job due to more interest in taking care of the women in the home. We pulled up vines and weeds, raked leaves and tidied up the area. Although we didn't have much direction from the people about what exactly they wanted, we did our best to give them the care their yard deserved.
My community service group
This next week is Thanksgiving, and I am excited! A whole week off with family and friends to enjoy.]]>
So much to do...tag:blogs.targetx.com,2007:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.37412007-11-08T20:03:11Z2007-11-11T17:43:22ZThese passed few weeks have been crazy in their own way. One of the great things about St. Leo is their commitment to community service. I heard a lot about the SERVE trips from my sister and others, and I...Margaurete Romero
I was able to win somthing, so anything can happen.
the xbox
Speaking of doing things new, I, a city girl, went with some friends to the country club "The Dallas Bull". It was actually a lot of fun, and it was the first time I did line dancing. I have to admit, I am not a pro, but it was fun just to try. When we miss steps it is actually more obvious than I am used to, and I would have been embarrassed if it weren't enjoyable.
All of us going to the Dallas Bull
Another thing I would recomend on campus is to go canoeing. Lake Jovita is really nice, especially on the calm day I did it. Even doing it the first time, i was able to paddle pretty well. Now I just have to learn how to steer...
As for classes, the teachers are really nice about helping us out in our concerns for our grades or our progress in the course. Between tutoring sessions and extra credit, they are trying to help us do the best we can in college. For chemistry, we were pleasantly surprised when Professor Williams had us play a game for class. We played Jeopardy and my team was doing well on some of the categories. We really took off when we got the mystery category (music) and answered the question of the artist who sung Island Girl (I answered correctly Elton John), and after that my team took off. We ended up ahead by a few points, and we were able to get the correct answer for the Final of Movie quotes. when he told us the prize was three points added to our test scores, I couldn't be prouder of our team.
I've been keeping busy, one thing that is not hard for a college student to do. The next few weeks are the end of the semester, so they will be stressful, but I will be able to handle it. ]]>
My First Few Weekstag:blogs.targetx.com,2007:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.36942007-10-08T19:13:56Z2007-11-11T17:40:12ZWell, where do I begin? I got all my stuff together and I didn't know what to expect. Three of my sibblings had already been to college, and Cassie was there for only a week by the time I made...Margaurete Romero
Nanny Diaries. By the next day, I had gotten to know more people on my hall, and a few of us hung out at Magic Kingdom together. I have been to Magic Kingdom many times and Disney Land in California, but to be with a new group of people that I had only met moments ago was a new experience for me. We had so much fun even through the rainy weather and jumped in puddles. Since Disney, we are still close friends and have found more people to add onto as friends.
The group at Disney
I started classes that Tuesday and I found out just how different classes are from high school to college. I had two hours in between classes - something I could never even dream of in high school. I also came from a school with uniforms and all-girls, so the atmosphere was a bit different than what I'm use to. Classes also seemed to move faster than what I remembered in high school, but thats part of fitting it all in a semester. What I do like about Leo is how close we are to our teachers. We can contact them usually very easily and they are generally as concerned as we are with how we are doing in their classes. As part of the Honors program, I find that the classes are a great way to expand thoughts while learning about all the different viewpoints of the classics.
Classes are not the only things that we do, of course. I was able to get a job as a lab assistant in Lewis Hall, which is a nice perk to help in my biology major. I am also part of Tri-Beta, a national honor society for biology. I am only a prospective member, but I can still get involved and help with fundraising and biology awareness on campus. I am also part of the Chemistry Club which is not only trying to build awareness of chemistry on campus but to also try and create a chemistry major at St. Leo. Sporting events are also good to attend, and my personal favorite sport being soccer, I have seen the men's soccer team play at home. The games are really exciting and I enjoy cheering on the teams. There are also parties supported by Greek life and a few are pretty interesting. I went to the no-clothes party, and before you worry, all it means is to wear something that is not quite every day clothingwear. I made a trash bag into a halter dress, and me friend made a dress out of a table cloth. both dresses looked pretty good, and we got compliments on them (especially when we were out of place at McDonald's). And there is always Tampa. I know because I used to live there. I went to ZooBoo this past weekend and had so much fun. It is slightly directed for younger children, but Lowry Park Zoo is a very good zoo to see animals up close such as giraffes and african penguins.
Me in my trashy dress
St. Leo has a lot to offer, and I can't wait to go through the rest of my semester.]]>
Summer of '07tag:blogs.targetx.com,2007:/slu/MargaureteRomero//251.36232007-08-20T07:01:17Z2007-11-11T17:47:15ZSummer before St. Leo was a great way to start the year. I graduated from Academy of the Holy Names with high honors with my twin sister, Cassie. It was some of the last months we would have together before...Margaurete Romero
My graduating class of '07 (I am one of the short ones in the front)
May was hectic in my family because my sister Carly had just graduated from St. Leo herself, and Cassie and I were graduating from high school. My dad had already bought us our graduation gifts - airline tickets to Cancun - and we were on our way to Mexico in June for a week. My heritage is in Mexico, and for the first time i was not only out of the country but i was introduced to Mexican culture and life. We got off the plane and already saw the beautiful airport. Our hotel room faced the beach on the gulf, and we had stairs leading out to the beach (very convenient for us girls). We attended folk dancing performances and went out to town. One of the most memorable trips was to Chichen Itza. We traveled to down to the underground waters first. I was nervous about jumping into the waters, but Carly persuaded me to jump in. it was cold, but the blue waters were so pretty and the natural waters made a trickling of water fall like gems into the water. Afterwards, we went to Chitzen Itza, and the temple was large in the middle of the field. The temple is one of the wonders of the world, and rightfully so. Though climbing the temple is now banned, we were able to observe some of its others spledors such as the make of the opening makes a bird sound when you clap right in front of it. Also, the stadium was impressive as the echos went on for seven times, keeping the number seven involved as part of a ritual. The jaguar statues are also noticeable and the sacrificial statue where they sacrificed live people to the gods. The experience was overwhelming and i wish i had more time to enjoy such a rich culture. Another day we went to Xcaret, which is like a theme park in Mexico. We floated down the underground rivers and then my two sisters and i went snorkeling. It was the first time we had ever been snorkeling, and despite swallowing a lot of ocean water, it was a great experience. That night, we attended a performance where the people danced and played the Mayan sports. Seeing the display of culture was very interesting and I enjoyed not only the music but the dancing and costumes. I had so much fun, and i wish i could have stayed a little longer.
A figure of the jaguar eating the heart of someone sacrificed.
Cassie and I enjoying the setting sun from the beach
The rest of my summer was very relaxed. I went to summer orientation, and had a lot of fun. I met a lot of new faces and enjoyed staying on campus. My grandfather came to visit, and we made homemade bread like we always do. When times are changing, it is nice to have small traditions to remind us not only where we come from but to keep families together with something in common.
As summer came to a close, I started to feel the change in the household. My mother was trying to make sure I was ready, and I could tell she didn't want her youngest girls to go. My sister who had just graduated helped me out by giving me her old stuff that she was not going to use anymore. I was gathering my belongings in my room, trying to get all the things collected and ready for college. But i was not sure i was ready. What prepares you for college? How do you go from being dependent to independent? As I saw my twin sister being dropped off at UF, I decided I was ready give college a try. And I did.]]>
But the last full week is upon us now, and i am trying to get all those paper done in such a way that I can end the year in a good way. ]]>
Sunday was a lazy day and i was able to just relax until seven when a few of my friends were doing their sacraments for the Catholic Church. I was happy to see them finally get to become a part of the Catholic community, and I enjoyed seeing my friend able to wear her white dress as she became Baptized into the faith.
Paola in the middle of her Sacraments
But now it is going to be busy a schedule with the season winding down. It's crunch time!
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All of us at Oasis
For dinner we had the privilage of going to Jess's house and we were able to relax. They gave us a huge meal, including NY cheese cake, which was on my list of things to try. We all started to understand one another, and this was one of the ways that we could get to know one eachother in a more relaxed way. I enjoyed some time with the group, and after relaxing there, we went back to the house and started to get ready for the day ahead of us.
We were back at the soup kitchen for one more go around. The people were happy to see us back as volunteers, and there were other college students there from a nearby college that helped with breakfast. that day, a few of us helped with thier plot of garden outside, picking out weeds and clearing off leaves from the sidewalk. After that, a few of us went down, and helped with the making of the plates. There are always a lot of things to get done, and so once we had enough plates, a few of us went up to the serving area and served the food. Again the people were grateful for what they could get, and it felt good to see them get something warm in the cold day. One woman, who had sang to us before on Tuesday, sang for us again about how she wanted her spaghetti and meatballs. The sight was amazing to see, she had so much energy and love for life than some of us do.
All of us outside the soup kitchen
After cleaning up, we were on our way back to the house. After resting, we went out to a diner for dinner, and had really good diner food. We had been living off of Edimends and food that a student's parents made, so this food tasted really good. After that, we had a confession with the priest, and then we prepared for tomorrow. The next day was the big day though. The next day was NYC, our off day to see the big city.
I had never been to NYC, nor had I ever taken a train before. It was an exhilarating feeling as when we try anything new. We came off at Penn station, and then some of us went our separate ways. There was so much to see! I went with Nick, Liz, Kristin, and Moon, and we saw the two towers site, the statue of Liberty, parts of Central Park, and Time Square. At five, we all decided to go to mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a beautiful church in the middle of NYC. One of the saints with a statue there was Don Bosco, which we thought appropriate considering our mission in NJ.
All of us in NYC!
After mass, we went to eat at Bubba Gump's Shrimp, as the group slowly came back together. We talked about all of our different adventures in NY, and after dinner, some of us stayed longer. We went down Canal St. shopping and went through parts of Little Italy, where some of the girls got a piece of NY pizza. Traveling the subway was an adventure and new experience for me, but in the large group I felt safe and the transportation got us to where we needed to go.
It was so hard to go to sleep after such a fun filled day. But the next morning we were up early, packing and having our last mass with the Salesians. It was hard to leave behind so many memories, but we had to pack our bags and go. At the airport we mingled together, knowing full well that after this everything would go back to school, work, and other jobs that belonged in our lives in Florida. Florida's heat and humidity reminded most of us of home, and though the palm trees and blue skies were nice to see, each of us will have a special place in our hearts for NJ's chilly March nights and the bright lights of Time Square.]]>
Sarah and I posing after a long day of putting food on shelves.
That night, we treated ourselves to some ice cream or Starbucks. It's amazing how much sweeter things taste after a day of hard work.
The first three days were tiresome, but we still had a lot of work on our hands. We were getting to know eachother too, which was nice because some of us were in different majors, different classes, and would not have met if it weren't for the trip. ]]>
There is also the beach that helps kids relax, and this is only so far away, which is nice to escape to some weekends. Thanks to global warming and Florida's naturally warm environment, we can basically go all year round and manage to get some sun. It's another way to get away from the stress of a week.
Nature likes its own miracles every now and then, and the lunar eclipse happened on Wednesday, a beautiful sight to see! As a science major and a writer, I love these events for their own beauty and for its fascinating scientific background. Lunar eclipses will come around again, and I enjoy watching them, reminding me that there is a bigger universe than just the one I can see everyday.
There is also family - if you are close enough to take a weekend off just to visit them. It has been hard recently as my twin sister is in UF, but she finally came down this weekend, and we went to the Renaissance Festival that MOSI holds in a lot just outside of their facilities. It unfortunately rained on us, but not before we could get some cross-bow and archery games in, plus my sister Carly and her boyfriend ended up jousting, which they did without sharp objects (thank God). It is a fun event to go to, and it is just a relaxing time.
My sisters at the Ren Fest (Cassie got into a biking accident at UF, hence the bandages, but it does make it easier to tell us apart now)
Family doesn't have to be blood related though. The student chaplains the weekend before did a retreat at the lakehouse where we reflected on Lent and on the things that weigh us down in life. Being near the lake is a great way to clear your head and to just feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. In college, we all have a tendency to get caught up in the hectic life we lead, that we rarely have time to stop and think about what we really want to do. Many people find it hard to sit down and relax and think about what is happening or just to clear their minds. I always found writing gets me there, as long as no one is criticizing my poor spelling or my use of passive voice. We all need to find those outlets to take us away from the stresses of the workplace or the schoolwork, or anything else that weighs us down to the point where we can't remember why we are here.
And now midterms are coming up and so I am feeling the calm before the storm. Papers are about to be due and tests are coming up, so it is going to be stressful, but as long as I have a way to release stress, school is usually fine, and we all make it out in the end, anyway. ]]>
The lodge at the Great Divide
Its a good thing I made it down too, because after that, it started snowing really hard. we left when the storm was a little better, and made it home to see that it had even snowed in town. Later that night, more snow softly fell, powdering the ground. I was able to make my first snow angel in my life.
Overall, the two weeks were fun! I had a white new year, which is my first ever. The only wierd thing was noticing my Florida friends texting me at 10:30 at night to have a Happy New Year, and watching the ball drop three hours after the fact, but it was a good time.
I am worried about going back to school, but my break was so fulfilling that I think I am ready. I have a lot of classes that are worth taking and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things! ]]>
Winter Formal with some friends
Now, it is crunch time, trying to do lab exams, last week projects and grade raisers. The weeks are as stressful as they are fulfilling, and I am counting down the days to winter break with a little hesitance. A part of me doesn't want to leave everything behind for a month, but I guess that's another part of college life: leaving things behind and letting things end.]]>
Kristy and I on our canoe
Thanksgiving is always the time when my family tries to come back together. I think that is why it is my favorite holiday. Christmas tends to be slightly materialistic anywhere you go, but the Thanksgiving week is just about family and good food. I figure this is a good time for people to really see what matters in our lives, the sustenance of not only the foods we eat but the relationships we share with those we love. We get away from work and school and concentrate on what really matters. Some people experience unpleasant times with their relationships during this time, and that is also a reason to decide what is going on in relationships around us.
Well, the end is near, and I have a lot to do before the Christmas vacation.]]>
My community service group
This next week is Thanksgiving, and I am excited! A whole week off with family and friends to enjoy.]]>
the xbox
Speaking of doing things new, I, a city girl, went with some friends to the country club "The Dallas Bull". It was actually a lot of fun, and it was the first time I did line dancing. I have to admit, I am not a pro, but it was fun just to try. When we miss steps it is actually more obvious than I am used to, and I would have been embarrassed if it weren't enjoyable.
All of us going to the Dallas Bull
Another thing I would recomend on campus is to go canoeing. Lake Jovita is really nice, especially on the calm day I did it. Even doing it the first time, i was able to paddle pretty well. Now I just have to learn how to steer...
As for classes, the teachers are really nice about helping us out in our concerns for our grades or our progress in the course. Between tutoring sessions and extra credit, they are trying to help us do the best we can in college. For chemistry, we were pleasantly surprised when Professor Williams had us play a game for class. We played Jeopardy and my team was doing well on some of the categories. We really took off when we got the mystery category (music) and answered the question of the artist who sung Island Girl (I answered correctly Elton John), and after that my team took off. We ended up ahead by a few points, and we were able to get the correct answer for the Final of Movie quotes. when he told us the prize was three points added to our test scores, I couldn't be prouder of our team.
I've been keeping busy, one thing that is not hard for a college student to do. The next few weeks are the end of the semester, so they will be stressful, but I will be able to handle it. ]]>
The group at Disney
I started classes that Tuesday and I found out just how different classes are from high school to college. I had two hours in between classes - something I could never even dream of in high school. I also came from a school with uniforms and all-girls, so the atmosphere was a bit different than what I'm use to. Classes also seemed to move faster than what I remembered in high school, but thats part of fitting it all in a semester. What I do like about Leo is how close we are to our teachers. We can contact them usually very easily and they are generally as concerned as we are with how we are doing in their classes. As part of the Honors program, I find that the classes are a great way to expand thoughts while learning about all the different viewpoints of the classics.
Classes are not the only things that we do, of course. I was able to get a job as a lab assistant in Lewis Hall, which is a nice perk to help in my biology major. I am also part of Tri-Beta, a national honor society for biology. I am only a prospective member, but I can still get involved and help with fundraising and biology awareness on campus. I am also part of the Chemistry Club which is not only trying to build awareness of chemistry on campus but to also try and create a chemistry major at St. Leo. Sporting events are also good to attend, and my personal favorite sport being soccer, I have seen the men's soccer team play at home. The games are really exciting and I enjoy cheering on the teams. There are also parties supported by Greek life and a few are pretty interesting. I went to the no-clothes party, and before you worry, all it means is to wear something that is not quite every day clothingwear. I made a trash bag into a halter dress, and me friend made a dress out of a table cloth. both dresses looked pretty good, and we got compliments on them (especially when we were out of place at McDonald's). And there is always Tampa. I know because I used to live there. I went to ZooBoo this past weekend and had so much fun. It is slightly directed for younger children, but Lowry Park Zoo is a very good zoo to see animals up close such as giraffes and african penguins.
Me in my trashy dress
St. Leo has a lot to offer, and I can't wait to go through the rest of my semester.]]>
A figure of the jaguar eating the heart of someone sacrificed.
Cassie and I enjoying the setting sun from the beach
The rest of my summer was very relaxed. I went to summer orientation, and had a lot of fun. I met a lot of new faces and enjoyed staying on campus. My grandfather came to visit, and we made homemade bread like we always do. When times are changing, it is nice to have small traditions to remind us not only where we come from but to keep families together with something in common.
As summer came to a close, I started to feel the change in the household. My mother was trying to make sure I was ready, and I could tell she didn't want her youngest girls to go. My sister who had just graduated helped me out by giving me her old stuff that she was not going to use anymore. I was gathering my belongings in my room, trying to get all the things collected and ready for college. But i was not sure i was ready. What prepares you for college? How do you go from being dependent to independent? As I saw my twin sister being dropped off at UF, I decided I was ready give college a try. And I did.]]>