Saturday by the Shore

Megan, Mary, Taylor, and me

     Last Saturday, April 2, I went into Burlington with some of my best friends Taylor, Mary, and Megan (we were sad that Marci, Alex, and Katie couldn't come).  We took the 10:00 bus into Burlington and went to the Skinny Pancake.  I got the Hot Apple Crispy (soo delicious), Taylor got the Love Maker (also equally delish), Megan got the Early Riser, and Mary got the Breakfast Monster (Megan and Mary were very happy with their food too).  We were all so full and happy after eating there that we just wanted to relax and explore the water front.  At the shore of Lake Champlain, we went down by the water and took many pictures.  After a while, we sat by the board walk and relaxed on a swinging chair.  There were so many people and animals out and about enjoying the beautiful weather. 

     It started to drizzle a little while later, so we trekked back up to the main street and window shopped for a bit.  We also went into the Burlington mall and looked in some stores for a bit.  We finally arrived back on campus around 3:30.  It was a long day, but I had so much fun there and can't wait to go back. 

     This is just one way to spend your Saturday and you will find fun activities to do with your friends in Burlington or right on campus.

Kayley

Mardi Gras Madness

     Mardi Gras is a day of celebration before the commencement of Lent.  At my home Mardi Gras is not a big deal, there are no parades, maybe just a church celebration.  In Burlington, however, there is a huge parade that is attended by people from the surrounding area and even Canada. 
     A few weeks prior to the parade, an email went out looking for people to help supervise the parade and to make sure people do not get in the way of the parade floats.  My friends Marci, Alex, Taylor, Megan, Mary, Katie, Erin and I signed up to help out that Saturday.  We all took the bus from St. Mike's to Burlington and it was packed!  It was so packed that Taylor, Mary, and I had to get off the bus half way there to let people on who needed to go to the hospital.  We eventually caught another bus and even made some friends with some guys from Alaska.  When we all were finally in Burlington we went to a local elementary school to learn our instructions for helping out as crowd control.  We got special shirts to identify ourselves and some Bueno y Sano coupons.  [I used my $5 off any purchase coupons when I went to see the two Flynn shows these past few weeks.  Got some really good food for real cheap ($2.75 for a chicken burrito)!]  We then walked back into town and took our positions on the parade route.  It was so much fun watching all the floats going past and the little children's faces light up. 
     When the parade ended we all walked back up to the elementary school and got chips and chocolate.  Back on campus my friends and I ate at PK Cafe and then watched a movie in Katie's and Mary's dorm room.  I really look forward to attending the parade next year and helping out again! 
     I hope when you come to Saint Michael's you will think about taking advantage of the opportunity to help out the local community.  We helped out and had so much fun while doing it!  

Here are some pictures from the parade: 

Megan, Taylor, and I showing off our buff bodies in the parade shirts

Katie, Taylor, Marci, Megan, and I (Just so you know- I am wearing a puffy coat under my shirt)

Taylor and Alex

Taylor and me

Kayley

Musically Minded- The Momentum Continues

     Some of you may know that last Friday (April 1) I tweeted about my upcoming concert.  Well, it was a major success!  Our concert was in the McCarthy Arts Center and we definitely rocked it.  The Wind and Jazz Ensembles performed at 7:00 and I was so proud that my friends Taylor, Megan, and Alex were there to support me.  Both the band and jazz band played so well.  This weekend we have another performance at 12:00 for Family Weekend!  Here are some pictures of us performing!

The Wind Ensemble

Sara and I sitting on the stage

Director Paul LeClair front and center of the Jazz Ensemble



 On the right, Taylor doing some dance moves to the jazz band

    

     I hope if you play in your school band now, you will consider playing in college!  I have had so much fun in band and have made great friends.

Kayley

Sensational Seniors

     Hi everyone! Every Monday I visit a Senior Citizen Home within 10 minutes of  Saint Mike's and play a card game called Kings in the Corner.  I first went there on Valentine's Day with my friends Taylor, Alex, and Mary.  We all had a lot of fun and I have continued to go every Monday since.  I meet Nora,  a student who runs the program, outside the MOVE office at 5:50 and in about 10 minutes we are there.  The men and women who live there love to play King's in the Corner with us and I really enjoy talking to Ruth, Martha, Dorothy, and Donna.  Just going and visiting brightens their day and I don't know who benefits more, the seniors or me!

Martha is in pink, David in the plaid, Donna in the light blue, and Dorothy in the dark blue!

     MOVE stands for Mobilization Of Volunteer Efforts and it is a community service organization that is extremely popular.  MOVE activities are posted on a bulletin board outside the MOVE office in Alliot.  There are sheets of paper where you can sign up to participate in an event and you can sign up to do an activity once or continue to sign up each time it occurs.  There are no commitments to the activities, but you'll probably end up loving it and wanting to continue going.  There are activities that deal with dogs, such as Cause for Paws, and activities with young children, like Little Brothers Little Sisters, After school Games, and a homework club.  There are also many other programs that are listed on the MOVE website and if you would like to know more about a specific program you can always stop in the office to learn more about it. 

Kayley

First-Rate Flynn

The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

      The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts is located in Burlington and is a quick bus ride away.  The Flynn Center Cultural Pass gives students an opportunity to see different performances at the Flynn for FREE!  The pass is free for those in the Honors Program and only $30.00 for those who are not.  Once you receive your pass you can fill out a form to choose which performances throughout the year you would like to see.  The performances which are free are dictated in a brochure you receive when purchasing the Flynn pass.  When filling the form out, you can also opt to get tickets with a friend so you can sit next to each other in the different shows.  When a performance is approaching, you pick your tickets up a week prior to the show in the Knight Card Office in the upstairs of Alliot. 

The Wizard of Oz

     On Wednesday March 30, I saw the Wizard of Oz with my friend Erin.  We took the 5:00 bus into Burlington and ate at Bueno y Sano, a restaurant which makes delicious burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and salads.  We then walked through Church Street and the surrounding area window shopping.  Sitting in the audience before the show started, I saw about 12 Saint Mike's students!  I was especially surprised to see my friends Dailey, Marlee, and Amy (Marlee's and Amy's seats were right behind me!).  The show began at 7:15 and lasted until 9:45 with a 15 minute intermission.  The singing and acting were amazing and really true to the plot line in the movie.  They even had a drop screen to depict the tornado and the house falling into Oz.  I really enjoyed the show and I hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity next year. 

     This coming Wednesday the 6th I am going to see Spring Awakening with Erin.  We will also be seeing our friends Megan, Marci, Katie, and Mary.  I'm not sure what Spring Awakening is about, so I hope I enjoy it.  Either way, I'm going to be with my friends so I'll have a good time. 

     The Flynn Cultural Pass is an opportunity that shouldn't be passed up.  There are so many qualifying shows to see that you'll want to see them all. 

Kayley

Alliot in the Afternoon

     Hey everyone, I hope you are all having a nice Saturday.  As a first year student, our meal plan is unlimited.  This means that you are allowed to enter the dining hall as many times as you like everyday.  I normally only go to Alliot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but on occasion I go in for an extra snack if I am exceptionally hungry.  One of my best friends Alexandra Byrne and I go to "Afternoon Tea" every Friday at 3:00.  We both get tea and she gets soup and I get a banana.  We love this time because we sit in the back of Alliot and we catch up with each other.  We value this one on one time and look forward to it each week. 

This is our meal tray- Alex specially arranged it to look like a smile

    

     Many times when visiting a college dining hall, there will be conflicting reports on how the food is.  I actually like the food in Alliot, I admit on occasion it's weird, but most of the time it's pretty good.  I miss my mom's cooking at home, but I like eating in Alliot with my friends.  Some students here don't like the food, and others love it.  I think it all depends on your eating habits (if you're open to trying new things or not) and your attitude.  My advice: be open to the food here and try some new things (even if you think you won't like something) because you may be surprised. 

     On campus there are several areas to get food.  Cafe Cheray is located next to Cheray Science Hall and it serves coffee, soups, salads, and some pastries.  The Knight Stand Cafe is located next to Alliot dining hall and it also serves coffee, salads, soups, sandwiches, pastries, and parfaits.  Personally, I think the parfaits are amazing.  They are made of layers of granola, vanilla yogurt, and fruit (strawberries or  blueberries).  Another dining hall similar to Alliot is the Knights At the Round Table.  This dining hall is located on North Campus and students use their Knight Cards here just as they would in Alliot.  The Knights at the Round Table is like a restaurant because you call ahead to make a reservation Mondays-Thursdays 5:00-6:30.  Once you arrive you sit down with your friends and choose your meal choices off a menu.  The food here is delicious and definitely worth trying.  I really love the different food options we have available here and I think that you will too.     

     Here is a link to the Alliot food service website, you can check it out to see what the menu is for lunch and dinner on a weekly basis:

http://www.smcvtdining.com/dining/ 

     Hope I have enlightened you all a little on the food options at Saint Mike's.  Have a nice rest of the weekend!

Kayley

    P.S. On Friday and Saturday nights, from 11:30 pm- 1:00 am, the Resident Life staff set up grills in the quad.  They grill chicken patties (the BEST!!), hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, bbq chicken breast, and italian sausage. 

     These are some chicken breasts Alex and I got last night!! Yum!

Skiing at Smuggs

Hear ye Hear ye: Read all about it!!! Skiiers and Snowboarders can go to Smuggler's Notch Ski Resort for only $30.00!! 

     Hi everyone, happy weekend!  This year, I bought a Smugg's pass and took lessons to learn how to ski.  This is how it works:  Once you have bought your pass you go to the wilderness office in Alliot and sign up to take the FREE bus to Smuggs on a Saturday or Sunday, you can sign up to take ski or snowboard lessons for beginners or those with more experience.  The lesson is only $15.00!!!  Also, if you don't have your own equipment, Smugg's provides all you need for Saint Mike's students. The bus ride there is about an hour and everyone is so exhausted after their day on the slopes that they just relax and take a nap.  In the end, I wasn't very good at skiing, but I'm glad I tried it.  

       If you're a new skiier and not sure what things you will need, I recommend that you buy (or borrow from a friend) a neck warmer, goggles, hand and feet warmers, thermal underclothes, ski mittens, knee highs, and a turtle neck.  Most importantly if you're renting equipment request a helmet because head injuries can be very serious.  At Smugg's there are restaurants, a Ben and Jerry's, a shop to buy equipment, and a gift shop. 

     The best advice I can give you is to have fun, be safe, and it's alright if you're not good at first, just keep trying and take some more lessons.

Kayley