Studying Abroad

     Today in Alliot, there was a study abroad fair.  This is when a whole bunch of representatives from different study abroad programs set up tables and tell you about what they offer.  It is an excellent place to get started if you have no idea where you would like to study abroad.  Generally, if you go up to a table you can get brochures and information about the programs offered.  I already have an idea of the programs I want to do, so I knew straight away where to go. 
     Here is an image of what the fair looked like-

     
Here is a list of the programs that came to the fair today-

Academic Programs International (API) - http://www.apistudyabroad.com/

Advanced Studies in England (ASE) - http://www.studyabroadbath.org/drupal/ase_dev/

American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) - http://www.aifs.org/

American University, Washington Semester Program - http://www.american.edu/washingtonsemester/

Antioch Education Abroad - http://aea.antioch.edu/

Arcadia University, The College of Global Studies - http://www.arcadia.edu/abroad/

Boston University Study Abroad - http://www.bu.edu/abroad/

Champlain Abroad - http://www.champlain.edu/Office-of-International-Education/Champlain-Abroad.html

College Year in Athens - http://www.cyathens.org/

Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) - http://www.dis.dk/

Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University - http://www.ifsa-butler.org/

Interstudy - http://www.interstudy.org/

International Partnership for Service-Learning (IPS-L) - http://www.ipsl.org/

Middlebury College – Schools Abroad - http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/sa

Peace Corps - http://www.uvm.edu/~pcorps/

Sea Education Association (SEA Semester at Woods Hole) - http://www.sea.edu/home/index.aspx

SIT Study Abroad - http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/ (includes IHP programs)

Syracuse University Abroad - http://studyabroad.syr.edu/concrete/

The School for Field Studies (SFS) - http://www.fieldstudies.org/

Wisdom Study Abroad - http://www.wisdom-study-abroad.com/

     Once you have an idea of where you would like to go, or even what program you are interested in, it would be a good idea to book an appointment with Peggy Imai.  She is the Study Abroad coordinator for all students and it is very simple to make an appointment.  You can go here and then see what fits your schedule.  It is never too early to start researching your options for studying abroad.  The study abroad office is located in Klein-

     Well, I hope this has inspired you to go abroad and get an even greater chance of increasing your educational opportunities.  Tweet me, contact me, or formspring me with any questions you may have.

Kayley

Your Adviser

     Simply stated, advisers are professors appointed to you to help you sort out your college career.  My advisor is professor Busic, a Spanish professor, and I think he is has been an amazing help to me. 
     At first, meeting with an adviser can be intimidating, I admit I was nervous at first, but you have to realize that they are there to help you! Come with questions and don't be afraid to ask them about things in the system you don't understand.  They don't always know the answer, but are always more than willing to ask around for answers.  However, don't forget that your adviser is also professor, and a very busy person.  They may forget, so it's sometimes helpful to shoot them an email (within a respectable amount of time). 
     Also, a key to college success is to map out your courses and when you can take them (see post-it note plan blog).  Your adviser has a wealth of information about when courses are generally offered and if you'll be able to take them when you want to.  My adviser helped to fix my plan to account for classes that are only offered in the fall and some that are only offered in spring.  As a general rule, though, go to your meeting with your plan already done- it is not their job to put everything on the "map," you should plan it out first and then they can correct it.  
     It is simple to find out when you can meet your adviser, you can always look on the website (go here, find your major, and then click on faculty), you can send them an email asking them for office hours, or you could even stop by their office and see if they have their office hours posted on their door.   
     Well, if you have any questions tweet me, contact me, or formspring me!

Until next time,

Kayley
    

Snowflake Semi-Formal

     Last night was the VITA Snowflake Semi-formal.  It was held in the Pomerleau Alumni Center from 8:00-11:00.  VITA is a campus ministry group that my friend, suite-mate, and fellow blogger Alex is involved in!  She and my other suite-mate Kate organized the whole Semi-formal and did an absolutely beautiful job.  They decorated the room so wonderfully and also had little hors d'oeuvre to eat.  There was a chocolate fountain with strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels to dip in, mini quiches, pita chips and dip, veggies and dip, and grapes.  We also had sparkling apple cider to drink!

The beautiful centerpiece

     Everything was so delish and the night then really got started with dancing!!  I love to dance, I absolutely LOVE dancing.  So I had an excellent time being with my friends and dancing the night away to the great songs. 
     Here are some pictures of my friends and I at the dance:

My friend KK and I

Megan, me, and Liz

Alex and I doing our best pose!

     Overall the night was a great success and I'm so sad that I won't be able to go next year.  I'll be studying abroad then, so unfortunately I will have to wait until my senior year!  Well, tweet me, formspring me, or use the contact page at the top to ask me any questions about college life.

Until next time,

Kayley

Oh I Believe in Yesterday

     Yesterday was an incredibly busy day for me.  I had a study group, French club, Paper making at the Center for Women and Gender, and a Graduate School Workshop.  By the time my day was over, it was 9:00 and I was ready to collapse in bed! 
     The Graduate School Workshop was an excellent preparation to explore my options for life after Saint Michael's.  It was held at 4:30 in Klein and a career counselor gave us a brief over view of everything "Grad."  We covered standardized testing, handling the application, time issues, scholarships, courses to earn the degree, faculty advisers, studying abroad, transcripts, and essays.  A lot to fit into an hour, but it was a great start for me and I learned a ton.  The Career Counseling department is an absolutely wonderful resource and it is so easy to make an appointment and get started.  (here is a previous blog post about a Graduate School fair I attended)
     After the Graduate School program, there was paper making in the Center for Women and Gender.  It was a great opportunity to learn about paper making and take part in some of it!  I was so excited to go make paper that I set out around 6:15 and got to watch a great demonstration (by an SMC alumnus) and then create some designs of my own!  The paper is actually made of "pulverized" cloth that is ground into a very fine silt.  Here are some pictures I took-

This was the instrument used to sift through the fine fibers and water

On the left you can see what will be the paper (the purple stuff on the wood frame)

Here he has just transferred the paper to lay on a cloth so it can dry

In this picture he is putting a design on the paper with colored sprays

Here is my own creation! It says "Celebrate Differences"

     I am so happy I was able to take part in these two wonderful opportunities- a Graduate School workshop and paper making at the Center for Women and Gender.  I can't wait until tonight when I have the Snowflake Semi-formal with VITA.  Please tweet me, formspring me, or contact me with any questions you have about SMC. 

until next time,

Kayley

Chinese New Year

Happy Year of the Dragon!  if you didn't know, Monday was Chinese New Year!  Here are some interesting Chinese New Year facts-

• tangerines represent good luck and prosperity
• the color red drives off evil and back luck
• lanterns are a traditional symbol of the celebration and are decorated with animals, flowers, and birds
• Dragons (the best part) are created out of silk, paper, and bamboo!

     The Coffee Hour was generous enough to put out vegetable fried rice, egg rolls, and coffee today from 3:15-4:15.  (read a blog post about the Coffee Hour) So I hope that if you had a chance to go you were able to enjoy the delicious food!  If you have any questions about Saint Michael's, tweet me, formspring me, or contact me!

Kayley

Knight Chats!

     As a student and a blogger at Saint Michael's it's important that I try and connect with prospective students.  One way that is done is through Knight Chats!  Knight Chats, as I have already explained here, are great ways to ask questions directly to students and get answers instantly.  There are several Knight Chats coming up soon and one is tonight!  Here are the dates and times:

      Wednesday, January 25, 2012 - 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST

      Thursday, February 16, 2012 - 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST

      Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST

      Wednesday, May 2, 2012 - 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST

     There is also a parent chat on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 7:30-9:00 p.m.

     You should try and "attend" one of these chats to give you answers on all the questions you have.  Just sign into this page and continue according to the directions. 

Until next time,

Kayley

Eddie's Lounge

     Hi All! Eddie's Lounge (located in upstairs Alliot) is a cool room.  It has a big tv, a pool table and air hockey table, tables and chairs, and a nice couch.  Clubs have meetings in there and it's a great place to hang out or do homework.  I have even had a couple of knitting club meetings in there.  But how does one book the room?  It's quite simple actually, you have to be timely, though, and make sure you go around it in the correct manner. 

1. think about the time and date you would like for your event
2. check the calendar for availability https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=smcstudentassociation@gmail.com&ctz=America/New_York&gsessionid=jmDJ-Sk5vR_B7Pllr0Q0Dw
3. you can click on the events to see where they are booked
4. if your time is available, then you can email  EDDIES@mail.smcvt.edu with

           A. your event
           B. date
           C. time
           D. contact information

     It's that simple and worth it!  So the next time you need to have a meeting or gathering, you should try and book Eddie's!  Have a great weekend.  Please tweet me, formspring me, or contact me with questions and concerns you have about college life.

Until next time,

Kayley

KNIGHT CARD

     All Saint Michael's students know that the Knight Card is an extremely important part of SMC life.  It gets you into buildings and MOST importantly it allows you into Alliot.  The Knight Card holds "money" on it, almost like a school credit card, and it is necessary when doing laundry and very useful when going to the school store.  However, on occasion your money may get low and you will want to put some more in your account.  It is quite simple and there are several ways to do it. 

1. you can deposit money online on this form using a credit card
2. go to the Knight Card office in upstairs Alliot and make a deposit there with cash using this slip
3. there is also a handy dandy machine in the library where you can put in cash in $20 increments and it is located near the computers on the first floor- 

     The Knight Card is used on campus, as I have already said, but also off campus at these locations.  It is so nice to be able to use the Knight Card all over Burlington and Colchester and not have to worry!  If you have any questions about college life- formspring me, contact me, or tweet me!!


Until next time,
Kayley

First Days back and a peep into the crystal ball of my future

     My first days back at the great SMC have been pretty good so far.  My class schedule is as follows-

     Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

1. 11:00-12:00 Spanish 310 advanced grammar and composition
2. 12:10-1:10   French 4th semester
3. 1:20-2:20     Spanish 343 literary studies

     Tuesdays, Thursdays

1. 9:50-11:20 Modern Latin America

     Basically, I like to say that I am only taking one class in English this semester...quite an adjustment in my book!  So far classes have gone well.  As I move up in levels, it is easy to notice that classes that came easily to me before are becoming more difficult.  I am prepared and ready to battle anything that comes my way though!!!  I also had to change my eating habits as now I have to wait until 2:30 for lunch, now I go to dinner with some of my suite-mates later at night, around 7:00.  This semester will be an interesting one to say the least.  I anticipate applying to study abroad for next year and in a couple short weeks I will be going on a trip with the liturgical choir with Marci!  I have a lot to look forward to and I will keep you posted.  As always please ask me any questions you may have about college life via twitter, my contact page, or formspring!

Until next time,

Kayley

Easy Printing

     Hello readers!  Before break, I wrote a post about our amazing IT department here.  Well this semester I have finally decided to set up the printing system for my own laptop.  It has taken me a while (very overdue) but it is quite simple!  I previously thought that it was going to take hours and I wouldn't be able to use my laptop after and everything would just blow apart.  A little dramatic, I know, but I'm definitely not good with electronics and I don't want to ruin my laptop.  WELL,  as I get back to printing on campus....the IT department put simple instructions on its website to guide you through the downloading process-

1. go to this page
2. are you a PC or a Mac?
3. if you are a PC then you have to click on this page and follow the instructions (I could not have said them any better)
4. then close out of it and click on the page underneath that says "Windows Pharos Client"
5. if you are a Mac then you go to this page and follow these instructions

     If you have trouble, then you can go to the IT help desk Mondays- Thursdays 7:30 am-7:30 pm and Fridays 8:00 am-4:00pm.  I hope this has helped you and please ask me any questions you have about SMC through twitter, formspring, or my contact page!

Kayley

A Recap and the Flynn

     Well my friends, I feel horrible- I have not blogged in a while.  Well, that is all going to change because I am blogging now!  Let's backtrack, I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and an equally nice New Year's Eve with family.  My favorite holidays, however, are Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Easter.  Mostly, I love the non-gift giving days when I get to spend time with my cousins, aunts, and uncles and play Skip-Bo (a card game).   I have been working at my job a couple times a week, for it is less busy in the winter and I have made an effort to walk my two dogs every day.  It's difficult to walk them at the same time, so I have to take two separate walks.  Well, besides my break, I would like to talk about the new Flynn Cultural Pass. 
     This year the eligibility and rules for the Cultural Pass are different.  Formerly, you would buy a pass for $30 and could see as many shows as you wanted for free.  Now instead of a pass, you must order your own tickets from the Flynn and pay only $10 for them!  If you go to the theater you can try to get seats next to your friends.  I think that this system is just as good as the former system and it is still an excellent deal for students! Don't forget when you're ordering, though, to tell the ticket agent that you are a Saint Michael's student!!! 
     The week before finals, Sunday December 11, my friends Taylor, Allyson, and I went to see A Christmas Carol.  It was a wonderful show full of singing, dancing, and Christmas cheer.  Here are some pictures of Burlington at night during the Christmas season

Here is a picture of the beautiful Flynn Theater!

     Well, I hope you have a wonderful break full of family and fun.  If you have any questions please tweet me, formspring me, or use my contact page at the top to ask me multiple questions.

Kayley