PEACHES DE LA PAZ

I'm finally leaving for Malta tomorrow! I wanted to update before I leave because I've been keeping busy on and off campus. It seems that I can't stay away from Saint Peter's too long. Classes started for everyone else on January 14 and I start next week!

This break I've been visiting a lot of my friends and spending more time with my family. I drove to north Jersey to visit my friend from college, Mae. She took me around her hometown and we had a blast. I'm really going to miss her when I leave for Malta.

With Mae

My girlfriends from high school had a last get together before we left to go back to college. We always have a "Fab Fest" every year and this time we ate at PF Changs. It was nice seeing everyone again. I honestly can't believe that it's been three years since high school already but it's good to know that I still keep in touch with many of my friends from back home.

With a few of my friends from back home

Before classes started at SPC we had our annual Pavo training for our new tour guide members. This year it was from Jan. 11-13 and we all had such a good time! There are eight new Pavo members ready to be certified and give tours of the college to all the prospective students. Including giving tours of the campus, we had outside speakers talk to us like Art Youmans, Director of Campus Safety and Fr. Braden, who talked about the Jesuits and their role on campus. As part of our team building, we bowled as well and I think I've improved from last year, I hope. We finished our training with a graduation dinner and all the old Pavos were invited to share the evening with us.

As an outgoing E-Board member it was a joy to work with the Pavo Society, planning training and everything! I will definitely miss it when I'm away, especially dancing the "Peacock Shuffle." Congratulations to our new E-Board members, two of whom, Nicole and Barza, will be blogging as well!

Our bowling team!
Lucky Charms, M&Ms, Daddy, and Shorty

Eating Dinner

Our new Pavo members!

I have a story about this scarf-my friend Veronica travelled to Spain and Portugal as one of the study abroad classes offered at SPC. She saw this Peacock scarf in Barcelona and brought it back for me! I love it so much and I'm bringing it with me to Malta. Thanks Veronica!

After Pavo training I had to go back home :( But it was OK because for the first time in two years I got to celebrate my brother's birthday. I also had a Farewell Dinner the following Sunday with my extended family.

Last Tuesday, January 20 was President Obama's Inauguration Day. I was (and always will be) proud of being an American. It's fascinating to think that he spoke at our college only last year. I wish him luck and give him my prayers.

I spent the day with my friend Casey, in New York City. We watched the Inauguration Ceremony together and then we proceeded to the Museum of Sex and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I wanted to spend some time with my best friend from home in the City before I leave. The Museum of Sex only contained three exhibitions, one of which was about animal behavior. I thought it was interesting but I felt that there could have been better topics and more historical aspects. After that we visited the Met, only the second time I've been there since starting college. It always amazes me with how huge the Museum is and how much there is to see. I loved seeing the Japanese Garden and French bedrooms.

My best friend Casey-she's actually visiting me in Malta in March! I'm so excited!

In front of the heiroglyphics

Last Thursday, January 23 I travelled to Washington, D.C. with my dad and our church parish to take part in the annual Pro-Life March. This celebrates the anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision that overturned anti-abortion laws in all states. I personally believe that all babies have a right to be born and that life startes from the moment of conception. President Obama has promoted the "Freedom of Choice Act" which will allow abortion, including partial birth abortion. Although I support the President, I am vehemently against this act.

Please read more about this act on this link: http://www.fightfoca.com/

There were about 400,000 marchers who were in Washington, D.C. to protest abortion. I was proud to be of them.

My Dad and I at the National Basilica
This was the first time I've visited D.C. since interning there this summer and I really miss it.

At the March going to Capitol Hill

Finally, this past weekend I was able to go on the Chorale Retreat even though I'm leaving. I was so happy to be spending my last weekend in the US with all of my good friends on a retreat. We travelled to a retreat house in New York and learned new songs and bonded together. Our theme for this semester is: Songs of Conflict. We will be singing any songs with conflict for our Spring Concert in March. I will miss being part of the Chorale this year too...

With my friends Kate and Mae on the way to the retreat house

Some of the Sopranos

Last week I also donated my hair to Locks of Love. I cut ten inches off because I wanted a new look for Malta and do it for a good cause as well.

Look at my new haircut:

The weather in New Jersey has been very cold since Christmas. I honestly can't wait to be in Malta where the climate is a great deal warmer than here. I leave tomorrow and I'm so nervous and excited! I've said my good-byes and will miss everyone and everything at SPC. When I come back I'll have plenty of stories to share.

Posted by Peaches De la Paz at 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to everyone!

December was a busy month for me at SPC. We had about three weeks of school left, including a week of finals. It was hard balancing my extracurricular activities with my studies, but somehow I pulled through.

When we got back from Thanksgiving, the McMullen Chorale was preoccupied preparing for our first Christmas Concert on December 4. We always sang before the Christmas Tree lighting on campus the years before, but this year we actually got to sing in Roy Irving Theater and the Lighting Ceremony followed outside in the quad with refreshments in McIntyre afterwards. We sang traditional Christmas songs, two beautiful Hebrew songs, and a few soloists sang their hearts out. Many people came to see us even though the weather wasn't really cooperating. Fr. O'Brien blessed the tree and Dr. Cornacchia and Joe Ferraro, Student Senate president both spoke as well. Our first Christmas Concert was a success and I can only imagine next year's performance.

My camera died right before the concert-this was the only picture I took before :(

The first weekend of December I helped lead yet another retreat, Koinonia VII. The five student leaders and I have been busy all semester planning for this weekend. It was a busy weekend. We all got to know a great deal about each other and shared each other's personal stories of overcoming obstacles. I only wish that more people went on this retreat, but it was definitely a success.

On the last day of the retreat

Student Leaders

As soon as we got back from the retreat, I had to focus on writing papers and preparing for finals during the week. Not to mention all of the Secret Santa and Christmas Dinners....

AASU had the last meeting on Monday, December 8 with our annual Christmas party and Secret Santa. We played musical chairs (no joke when playing with college students), a potluck dinner, and had fun spending a few hours with each other before the semester ended.

The 2007-2008 AASU E-Board reunite!

My Secret Santa gave me the perfect gift-a travel guide to Malta complete with a map!

The following day, the Pavo Society had its end of the year dinner with a White Elephant gift exchange afterwards. It was my first time doing this-basically people can steal each other's gifts or open new gifts that haven't been picked yet. I was lucky enough to pick Cheryl's gift and she surprised me with a $50 Visa Giftcard! We ate dinner in downton Jersey City at an Asian restaurant called Grand Banks-the sushi and meals were all very tasty.

The Pavos with our final gifts!

The next day was the last day of classes and the first Winter Formal held in McIntyre Lounge and sponsored by all of the Classes. The tickets were all sold out and McIntyre was decorated into a Winter Wonderland. I had a lot of fun dancing one last time for the semester.

Our Table

With my lovely friends

In front of the sign

The next day was reading day-nobody had classes, instead this day is dedicated to hard work and studying (or sleeping in....)

The McMullen Chorale did their community service early in the morning at the A. Harry Moore School for special needs children. We sing for the children every year and it's so great to bring Christmas joy to the teachers and students.

With the children

The last weekend of the semester was another busy weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 13, SPC Basketball had its double-header against Seton Hall. Unfortunately we lost, but we did put up a good fight and it was great fun cheering along with other SPC students and getting free t-shirts and towels!

The Men

Peacock fans!

Later on that evening I had the privilege to see my history professor, Dr. Rabin, sing at Carnegie Hall with the St. Cecilia Chorus. A few other SPC professors are members of this chorus as well. Every semester the Chorus raises funds to have special student tickets for college students to attend their events. I've been attending these concerts since freshman year and I love it every time. This time the Chorus performed Handel's Messiah , a piece famous for its rendition of "Alleluia." Many SPC students attended to support our professors and to enjoy the classic music.

In front of Carnegie Hall

The city is beautiful during the holiday season. After the concert we saw the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

With Veronica in front of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree

The following week, it was down to business. The end of the Fall semester is always a lot of fun because of all of the Christmas ceremonies, dinners, and gift exchanges. But it's SO hard to concentrate on writing final term papers and concentrating on actually studying. I spent my share in the library the last week. I'm actually very satisfied with the grades I received. Hard work always pays off in the end.

It was a little sad leaving campus-I had to pack up all of my stuff in my apartment because I won't be coming back next semester. I've been busy organizing all of my college stuff at home, figuring out which essentials to bring with me when I study abroad next semester.

I've been trying to spend as much time as I can with my friends and family. I can't imagine not seeing my family, especially my cousins, for the next six months. I hate saying Good-Bye. I always catch myself saying "I'll see you later" because saying good-bye just makes my departure more real. During the last mass of the semester, Campus Ministry was very kind giving me a last blessing before leaving to study abroad. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and well-wishes. I'm sure I'll have a blast in Malta.

With my Secret Santa, my best friend Casey from high school-she also gave me awesome travel guides to Malta including a webcam

Spending Christmas with my family (and the dogs too)

My family

Last Monday my cousins and I went snowboarding for the first time. I've been recuperating from my bruises and aches since then-everything hurts! It was fun though. It didn't help that we didn't have any lessons, so we started snowboarding cold feet. The last hour and a half on the bunny hill we actually learned how to brake and stop. It wasn't so hard after that. Next time I'm definitely bringing knee pads and more water....

Many blessings for the upcoming year. Next time I update I'll most likely be in Malta....I can't wait!

Looking back on past blog entries, 2008 was another busy year full of firsts and excitement, and of course hope for the upcoming year.

Posted by Peaches De la Paz at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)