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Katherine's blog
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 Getting in the spirit of things
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 1:47 PM
The people have spoken, and the countdown has begun. It is almost Thanksgiving! Wait, really? I’m pretty sure the grass is green and it is 75 degrees outside right now. No matter—it is time to get in the holiday spirit. All the members of my floor have used a black marker to trace their hands onto a long strip of red crepe paper. In each finger we have written something we are thankful for. Someone has added a turkey beak to the thumb as an ode to the good old days of elementary school arts and crafts. Someone else has drawn in fingernails. Here are some of the things people on my floor are thankful for: education, family, friends, sunshine (ok, that was obviously mine), music, pets, dreams, sleep, and Santa Clara. As I was staring blankly at the board trying to select items for this blog post, one of my floor-mates pulled up beside me and said, ”It’s kind of poetic, huh?” Yes, he’s right—it is poetic. But it’s not just poetic. It’s simple. It’s profound. It’s honest.
If each finger allows room for just one blessing, then five fingers are definitely not enough for my hand. What was I most thankful for this week? My mom came to visit from Connecticut! I was so excited to see her and introduce her to my friends. How beautiful she looked in the late afternoon sun, wrapped in a sweater, sipping coffee on the patio outside of the student center. “That’s my mom!” an almost-surprised voice commented inside my head. “She’s really here. “
As the opening to our weekend lineup, my mom, brother and I drove up to San Francisco to watch the play Wicked. Aside from the Orpheus theater (which is, in itself, a real gem), the costumes, singing, and story were all awe-inspiring. I imagine myself going up there again with some of my friends from Santa Clara to walk around the wharf, attend a symphony, or, at the very least, share a giant hot fudge sundae from Ghirardelli.
My mom and I spent Saturday afternoon taking pictures of campus. It’s amazing just how familiar I’ve become with my surroundings. It was nice to take a step back to notice the orange tiles on the buildings and the fountain outside of the dining hall. For the record, we smelled the roses today. A lot of roses.
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Musical stylings of Santa Clarans
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 1:13 PM
I am sitting in the common room of my suite right now and can hear someone signing in the shower. They are surprisingly on pitch. Jason Mraz, maybe? There is definitely something about this place that makes people want to burst out in song. Just yesterday, a couple of my friends and I belted Pocahontas’ “Colors of the Wind” while striding down the pathway to the dorm. By the time we made it up three flights of stairs we found ourselves at the end of the last chorus. Can you paint with all the colors of.….the…wind??
Just today, I drove with the Chinese Club to a karaoke restaurant. We had a great time singing along with N’Sync and Brittany Spears. We also sang a few great Chinese songs. After an hour, our voices were thoroughly exhausted, so I drank a nice, cool glass of water at dinner. We probably sang over thirty songs. Since the karaoke place is only about ten minutes away from campus, I expect to go back soon.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but one of my life goals is to learn how to play the ukulele. My mom gave me a ukulele with a pineapple painted on the body for Christmas last year. I can play a few songs, but I am always looking for cool rhythms and strumming. Lucky for me, there are three people in my dorm who also play the ukulele. One of them lives in Hawaii and has offered to give me a few pointers. We have decided to form a ukulele group for the dorm talent show in the spring.
I hope you all have a great (and possibly musical) week!
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Skype...all the cool kids are doing it.
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 1:06 PM
Okay, I’ll admit it here. I’ve never been a good multi-tasker. Many would say that that puts me at a disadvantage among my peers who can handle three chat windows, an open word document, youtube.com, and a toenail clipper. Let me put it this way – I even have trouble spooning Cheerios into my mouth while reading. My idea of multitasking is more like sleeping while lying down. When my brother showed me Skype last year, I was reluctant to create yet another way that my friends could mock my decided technological clumsiness. But I can now honestly say that joining the Skype world was one of the best decisions I’ve made in terms of college transition. For those of you who are not familiar with Skype, it is a software program that allows people to make voice and video calls over the Internet free of charge.
Most importantly, Skype has allowed me to keep in contact with my family and friends from back home. With help of webcam, I have received countless tours of freshmen dorm rooms from across the country. One of my friends here at Santa Clara skypes (yes, it is a verb now) with her parents and dog at the end of each day. I find that Skype has really helped me keep in touch with my friends from back home. At the end of a really long day, seeing a familiar face really helps to put things in perspective.
Now, do not think that Skype must be reserved for long-distance communication. Well, maybe if you consider down the hall a long distance this is true. My friends (who live at most five minutes away) and I have study break dance parties with the help of our beloved Skype video chat.
And I have a final reason for loving Skype. I was ahead of the curve! I’m usually the type of kid who finds out about things way after everyone else has “gotten over” them. This goes for songs, especially. “You’ve got to hear this song?” I spew. “Umm, yah. That came out last year.” Skype was different, as I discovered it before most of friends.
So, join the bandwagon! Skype is magical.
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Balancing act
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 2:04 PM
I mentioned that one of my goals as Santa Clara student is to create better balance in my life. College often has a reputation for oscillating between two extremes. The first of these extremes is characterized by exam stress and sleepless nights. On the other end of the spectrum, free time abounds, left for the student to divvy up between work, clubs, and socialization. I’ve found that working consistently through the term has really helped to mitigate the stresses of the exam crunch. I do this in a number of ways. I’ve collected many from upper-classmen while baking pineapple cake and chocolate chip cookies in their apartments. Maybe this advice will also help some of you, too.
1. Keep a detailed planner! I used to be the type of student who would try to remember twenty things at once. This does not work in college. I repeat: this does NOT work in college.
2. Review notes the same day you take them. I haven’t been able to do this as much as I’d like to, but I’ve started to block out time in my planner (See? That planner again.)
3. Stick to the same sleep schedule throughout the whole week. I have found that going to bed at midnight and then waking up at 7:00 to work on homework before my 9:15 class works the best for me. Routine is especially important in college.
4. Focus on the aspect of the assignment that interests you the most and ride on that motivation. Suddenly, 200 pages of reading seems a lot less tedious.
5. Wind down before bed. Sometimes, I get caught up in the whirlwind of the day and my homework. Listening to music, journaling, and reading books really help.
Taking care of the body is especially important in this demanding college atmosphere. Although I take a yoga class twice a week, I’d like to build more time in my schedule for working out at the gym. The Malley Fitness Center is a real gem, as it has courts, dance rooms, and a huge lifting room. I have never had a problem finding an empty treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical machine. I also hope to start swimming in the outdoor pool.
But where would we be if we didn’t remember to nurture our spirits? I’ve enjoyed my community service club, which meets every Tuesday from 6:00 until 9:00. Guided meditation and Tuesday Night Liturgy really seem to smooth out the stresses of my week. I hope that those of you who are in the midst of this demanding college admissions process find some time for yourselves. You deserve it!
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Oh, the places you'll go (to study)
Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 1:17 PM
We are coming to the end of the midterm exam stretch. And now I need a nap. Although I was a little anxious for my first college exams, I managed to enjoy my study time, or should I say, my study places. I have secured three wonderful locations to do my homework and review my notes, which I alternate between depending on my mood. I’ve decided to dedicate this whole post to describing my study nooks because they are just that awesome.
The first place is in the common room on my floor. This is a perfect spot to study when I am feeling too lazy to walk anywhere. I only need to grab my books, notebooks, laptop, slippers, and maybe a study buddy from down the hall and I’m all set to go. There are two square tables for writing work and couches and comfy chairs for snuggling up with some history notes or a book. As an added bonus, one wall is completely lined in books (read: ample distraction.) And did I mention that two walls are floor-to-ceiling windows? The morning sunlight is just beautiful.
If I am feeling particularly adventurous, I pack up all my study materials (and maybe a granola bar) and trek (ok..it’s only two minutes down the path) to the Learning Commons, our library. I’ve found that the people on the third floor are the quietest, since many of them are law students. I typically grab a cubicle or a booth. I’ve yet to study on the balcony patio porches, but I look forward to doing some leisurely reading there very soon. I get an overwhelming feeling of calm and silent support from this space. We are all in this together in some very real sense.
Just this past week I found a completely deserted area to study where I can be alone with my notes. This is on the second floor of the Arts and Sciences building. Shhhh. This is our secret. For some reason or another, people do not go here to study. The only other student I’ve seen was sleeping in a chair. This area is very sunny in the day and has a nice aesthetic.
As you can see, I’ve become rather attached to these places. I have one more exam coming up this Thursday. Off to study! But where?
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It actually does rain in California!
Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 1:53 PM
Today, I woke up to a campus flooded with alumni. Red and white balloon arches don the stairways, and flowing, white tents are staked into the grass. Elderly couples walk along the paths arm in arm, remembering what Santa Clara was like way back when. As I walk to my own classes, I can’t help feeling some sort of reverse nostalgia. What will I remember of these first few weeks in college? I imagine that I will hold onto flashes that now seem unimportant. Perhaps I will remember how empty the bunks and desks looked when I first moved in. Perhaps I will remember the distinct cool smell of the air that I breathe in while walking to breakfast in the mornings.
Speaking of memory making, Tuesday was one for the record books. We had our first rain of the school year! The sheer amount of rain was almost comical in comparison to the four weeks of sunshine we’ve enjoyed. The rain pooled in beautiful, muddy puddles outside my dormitory (did I dare?) People came into classes with dripping-wet hair, but seemed contented, almost pleased to have been caught in the storm without umbrellas. I, for one, have always loved thunderstorms because they heighten my senses to the environment around me. Colors seem brighter in contrast to the dark landscape. Shapes, like the fronds of Santa Clara’s palm trees, pop forward. After my class (I only have one class on Tuesday), a bunch of my friends and I hung up our wet clothes and changed into sweatpants and slippers. Then we hunkered down for an afternoon of hot chocolate, movies, and a few of episodes of BBC’s nature documentary, “Planet Earth. “ Wrapped in blankets, we watched desert animals brave the Death Valley heat, as rain pounded on the cement just outside the window.
The next morning, all was dry. Tuesday’s thunderstorm seemed like the kind of dream that you know you had, but can’t quite remember. I have a cold now. They say that your grandmother was wrong when she said that you get the sniffles from the cold, that correlation is not causation. But still, I have a cold. I like to think that Tuesday’s storm, which brought me so much joy and memories, lingers on in me in a physical way (even if it be in form of a sore throat.)
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Some Thoughts from the Laundry Room
Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 1:17 PM
Here I am, sitting cross-legged on the counter of the laundry room, waiting for the rinse cycle to complete. My roommate sits beside me typing away at her laptop, writing an email to her family back home. Besides the clicking of our keyboards and clothes tumbling in the dryer, all is silent. I drink in this time for reflection. All is well. All is well. Every morning, I wake up early to sit in our dorm’s sunroom to watch the hawk that lives right outside or to do a little painting. It is in these times that I can most appreciate how life Santa Clara supports balance, encouraging growth of the “whole person.”
It seems that many people here are eager to get in touch with their spirituality. People go after what they love. The members of the pep band look so alive banging out on snare drums for a home soccer meet. I see others drawing in the courtyard. They are clearly inspired. Every week, my dorm hosts a Tuesday Night Liturgy, where we pray together and sing songs in different languages. It is a great way, along with weekly Mass, to step back from the busyness of classes and clubs. The Indian Jesuit priest across the hall has also begun to lead weekly sessions of dorm yoga.
So far, I have really enjoyed my classes. I’ve been so excited by some of the topics that I’ve gone out to look for articles out of my assigned reading. The best part? People seem to share my enthusiasm. This term I’m taking four classes including Chinese, The Rhetoric of Social Class, Savages and Barbarians, and Women in American Society. I am especially happy that these classes are driven by discussion that is both heated and respectful.
If you can’t find fun at Santa Clara, you must be hiding under a large boulder. Just last week, I attended three soccer games (completely decked out in SCU attire) and a free performance held by the on-campus improvisation group. At the club fair, I signed up for so many clubs that I thought my hand might give out on me. I think I will stick with swing dance, the Chinese Association (which is hosting an Autumn Festival this weekend!), Fireside Chat (we talk about current events), the Environmental club, and a couple of community service opportunities.
I’ve talked about fostering the mind and spirit, but what about the body? Benson Center (the dining hall) is stocked with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, and dairy. Here is the bottom line: the food is delicious. All in all, SCU is a physically active community and this might be because e because everyone has so much extra energy! I have enjoyed talking walks with friends around campus and am eager to start my yoga/Pilates class.
The buzzer has sounded. Time to pull the clothes out of the washer and make some memories. Dance party in the laundry room, roomie?
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Home Suite Home
Monday, Oct. 5, 2009 1:12 PM
The very first friend that I made at Santa Clara introduced himself to me by jumping out of the rose bushes at Mission Gardens. Granted, the welcome committee here at SC is very enthusiastic, but my new friend was not there to help me move a mountain of luggage to the dorm or point me in the direction of the Registrar’s Office. No, he just wanted to say “hi.” He also had whiskers and a tail.
Like this cat, people here are not shy to introduce themselves and open up their lives to you-- someone they have only known for a moment, a day, or, at most, a week. We greet each other on the path and hold open doors. I am surprised that people whom I have only met once or twice greet me by name. “Hey, Katherine! How’s it going today?” This may not seem like a big deal, but please consider that we meet over twenty new people every day!
Well, to be honest, I actually met a lot more than twenty people yesterday. And here’s why: my friends and I decided to make a huge batch of cookies in their dorm. Sure, we made a loyal standby, Tollhouse Chocolate Chip, but we also ventured into other territory, making cookies out of Funfetti cake mix. I have always been amazed how people are brought together through food. To start off, there was already someone in the dorm kitchen when we entered, making a cake for her friend’s birthday. She helped us rummage around for measuring cups and talked with us a while about her hometown. After we had baked four batches of cookies, we set out for dispersal. Knock, knock. “Hi, it’s Cookie Thursday. Would you like a cookie?” Even though many kids were in the midst of homework or packing up for class, most invited us in to chat. I met freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, resident faculty, and a couple of Santa Clara’s uniformed staff about to vacuum. “Take as many as you’d like.” People seem to react well to that, I’ve found.
Let me now speak to the success of the Residential Learning Community (RLC’s). In short, they work. In the RLC system, students take a couple of specially-designed classes with other kids from their own dorm in hopes of extending discussions outside the classroom. Just yesterday my floormate/classmate and I were sitting in the hall in our pajamas and socks, talking about the scene in The Iliad in which Achilles discovers that his best friend, Patroclus, is dead. For one of my RLC classes (The Rhetoric of Social Class), we have been assigned a group project. I imagine that working on it will bring us even closer, and, at the very least, it will be easy to coordinate the location of our meetings.
Each floor in every dorm is designated with two Community Facilitators (CF’s). On my floor, where freshman and sophomores live in suites together, the CF’s are juniors. It is weird for me to write “the CF’s” because we always refer to them as “our CF’s.” They are always around to direct us to fun and encourage us in our studies. At the beginning of our stay, they left us with a long, heart-filled letter that outlined their hopes for our floor and general advice for adjusting to college life. The letter started out like this, “Welcome home. We are so happy to have you here.” This place is magical. Let me give you an example. On the first day here, I was thinking to myself, “Gee, I wish I could figure out how to connect to the internet.” Not two seconds later, my CF popped his head into my room, asking, “Anyone need help connecting to the internet?” I might get used to this.
I am lucky enough to live across the hall from two Jesuit priests. They are staying here on exchange from abroad. One has arrived from India, the other from Nigeria. They have invited my suite over to make dinner with recipes from their childhoods. I am really excited to get to know my neighbors better and, since I love to cook, to learn how to make some fantastic dishes.
I expected Santa Clara to be a tight-knit community, and that’s mainly why I chose to come here. I never expected it to be quite so true.
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