Welcome back!

Hello and welcome back! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Now that summer is over, we can finally go back to our regularly scheduled blog updates!

I was unfortunately really sick last Spring, so I couldn’t do an April blog post, but nothing like that should happen anymore. And what a nice way to start off September! Not too cold, not too warm, just a nice and comfortable temperature to walk around and catch Pokémon.

Squirtles started showing up everywhere, it's great.

The SMC campus has been through a lot of changes over this past summer, and I’m sure more will come over time. Change is good, it makes life more exciting! Let`s go over some of the new things that bold new first years might not be aware of:

We have a new housing option!

Residence Hall IV as it is being called right now is a brand new housing option for Juniors and Seniors. It is right to the side of Canterbury Hall and it is now the closest building to Ethan Allen Park. It is also basically a really nice hotel.

(There are not a lot of pictures of the new Residence Hall. That's how new it is.)

Students may choose to live there from their Junior year onwards if they wish to have a limited meal plan and/or just want to have an apartment-style place instead of a townhouse. All apartments come equipped with their own kitchens, hold up to four people, and are considered part of “wet campus”, meaning students over the age of 21 can drink alcohol while indoors.

This also means we are one step closer from completely overtaking the gas station and making it our own! Rejoice! One day!

One day.

We are a smoking free campus!

From September 1, 2016, Saint Michael’s College and all of its property is officially a smoke-free college. While our advertising only mentions tobacco, as a member of Resident Life, I can guarantee that this also extends to other categories of smoking, such as hucas and marijuana.

This has been a project two years in the making, and you can read all about it on the official school website. This is part of a cultural change that we, as a community, think we are ready to embrace.

While some people might not be happy with it, on the bright side Bergeron Wellness Center has opened a great group for smokers support, where people can get help if they wish to stop but cannot do it by themselves. Our main priority is still making people comfortable, and we are ready to do whatever we can to guarantee everyone can have a happy and positive experience while coming here.

We are rolling out KnightSafe!

For a couple of years now, Public Safety has been looking into options for making students feel safer once the lights go out. It gets dark quite early during the Vermont winter, and, although Vermont is still the state with the lowest crime rates in America, some students just want to feel safer walking across campus after hours.

That is why the department is rolling out the KnightSafe initiative. Basically, students in patrol will be connected to the Public Safety Switchboard, and will be on duty to escort students across both campuses every day from around 6PM to 1AM. The service includes both walkers and drivers, and will prove useful for art students who need to transition between both campuses fast. It is completely free and we are eager to help.

Business has already started and the response has been great. I am involved with the service, so this blog will also serve as a nice reminder of developments and advances in that front!

And this is just off the top of my head. Fall is always a season of change for Saint Michael’s – new students coming in, new programs, new classes. I hope we’ll have a great year, as we always have.

And you, have a lovely day! 

Changing seasons!

Hello everyone! I hope that you all had a safe Saint Patrick’s Day and a relaxing Easter break!

Weather has been acting erratic the whole year, but the important part is: we’re finally changing from winter to spring!

More on adorable animals later.

Changing seasons affects students in many different ways. There has been a lot of research about how Vitamin D affects students’ behavior and mood, and how important it is to take care of yourself during colder seasons. We’ve had a very atypical year, however – at least in Vermont, it never dropped below freezing for too long, and we didn’t get a lot of snow.

That doesn’t mean winter didn’t affect people. The winter season can have really bad effects: it messes up students’ health, sleeping schedules change, depression becomes more likely and stress levels start rising with the approach of finals.

But that’s in the past! Spring is coming and it’s coming fast! And we have so much to look forward to!

1.      Go out! And have fun! Without three layers of clothing!

·         Gone are the days of being unable to walk outside without protective gear! We can finally wear t-shirts and don’t immediately regret our life decisions. Additionally, it is also the perfect time to just hang out outside – studying indoors can get boring sometimes.  

Being outside actually makes studying fun sometimes.

2.       Having way more sun all day long.

         Remember that thing I said about vitamin D? Well, lack vitamin D is very correlated to depression and sleeping problems. One of the main ways we get vitamin D is through exposure to the sun, which, in the winter, is obviously a problem. But we’ve beaten the tyranny of winter, and so everyone’s moods should start getting better!  

Accurate representation of the sun during Spring.

3.       Flowers! Remember them?

         Some like the white aesthetic of the winter, but really, dead trees and fields get old. Spring brings back all that color and biodiversity that makes places like Saint Michael’s beautiful.  

You can also just play Flower. It's a really nice game.

4.       Dogs! And barbecues!

        With the temperatures rising, people can finally bring their dogs outside again, officially beginning dog petting season! Read that again. Let that sink in.

Average dog attire during Spring.

And there you go! A lot of things to look forward to during Spring!

Have a lovely day.

How to defeat midterms stress in three simple steps

Hey everyone. February has been quite busy, so that's why we're having such a late post!

I was also struggling to come up with something to write about, but then I realized one of the main reasons for that is because I am studying for my midterms. So let's talk about that.

Midterms are scary if you don't prepare for them. As you move on in your college life, the classes get more and more challenging. It might not feel like it, but once you're taking three or four 300-level courses at once you really start understanding what people mean when they say college can be hard.

Luckily you also discover some great tricks to avoid stress and to study better. Such as...

Take good breaks.

It sounds kind of weird telling people to not study, but it's extremely important to pace yourself. While research shows that cramming does help your scores, it's not gonna help if you don't actually absorb anything in that 10-hour marathon of studying for your Physics exam.

You are objectively more focused after taking a break.

Go outside and walk for a couple minutes. Buy a coffee and stick around the cafeteria for a while. Or really, just play with your phone after a long study session. As long as you rest in-between good chunks of mental exercise, your brain should be re-energized and you should get a better grade. Hopefully!

Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

All the study in the world isn't going to save you if you haven't slept in three days. Maintaining healthy habits such as eating well, sleeping well and exercising makes your body better prepared to deal with anxiety, bad moods, and just generally makes you feel better.

Look at that beautiful stock image! Don't you wanna be like that when you're studying?

What I'm basically saying is a lot of studying well is taking care of yourself. Otherwise the information will just be buried underneath all the other things you have to worry about. It does suck that you can't live on McDonalds and coffee, but your brain will thank you for the balanced meals and exercise by giving you more energy in your day, and more focus when you study.

Know your limits.

Sometimes you just can't study the entire semester in one night. It's better to understand what you can get done and focus on being practical rather than trying to bite more than you can chew and accomplish nothing. 

Pace your studying. Make a plan ahead of time and make sure you know what you're doing. If you're having difficulties, you can have tutors, talk to your professors, or ask classmates who are ahead of you in that subject to guide you. What's important is to know that no one is expected to get everything perfectly: you have the right to admitting you're stuck, and you have the resources to help yourself.

And since we just left Week 6, I just want to make clear: midterms can really mess you up. If you're not feeling well and if it feels like too much, SMC has in-campus counselors that can help you. No one's alone in this, and everyone knows how hard it can get sometimes.

This was a pretty long post, but I hope it helped you somehow. Good luck in your midterms, and have a lovely day.

Welcome back!

Hey guys! Welcome back to Saint Michael’s! I hope you all had a great break.

Considering how warm it was last year, it’s kind of surprising how the winter has really picked up. I’ll try not making “Winter is Coming” jokes throughout the entirety of this post, but I promise nothing.

You love it though.

Going from a humid 100 degrees to a dry 8 is a pretty big shock, but I honestly like the winter. Although it does suck to have to go outside when it’s snowing, but hey – at least you’re going indoors again very soon after that. And it is really nice to be back for classes – I’m pretty excited about my schedule, everything sounds really interesting.

Granted, the spring semester is relatively smaller than the Fall one, meaning we will spend less time together this time. But it doesn’t mean there’s less to talk about. Next week the school will host our customary Martin Luther King Jr. Week, with daily activities in the memory of one of the greatest leaders the country has ever seen.

It will be my pleasure to hopefully entertain you once again! Your attention is really appreciated and it’s shaping up to be a great semester.

Have a lovely day.

...

I'm sorry.

Today is the last day of finals! CELEBRATE!

We’ve had a great semester, haven’t we? I got a new job, you read my blog posts – we all had a very productive four months. It’s nice to take the time of the day to reflect on where we stand now, and to try to remember how did we see ourselves at the end of Fall.

Some of us won’t be returning next semester, some of us will be moving on to greater and better things, and some of us will just come back in a couple of weeks, well-rested and hopefully well-fed. I never thought I would actually feel sad with the prospect of going home – Saint Michael’s College has actually become my home away from home. I never thought it would happen so fast.

God, I keep thinking of all the hours I spent at Dion's this semester,
 and I kind of wonder if I should try to sleep more.

Though I will admit, it is nice having a place so far away from where I was born associated with so many good memories. My sophomore year has challenged me in ways I didn’t know I would be challenged, and I feel like a stronger person for going through it.

Wherever you are now, I hope you have had an excellent semester. And if you didn’t, don’t worry – next term is always a chance to try again. New classes, new friends, that’s all going to affect your life here. And it’s going to be great.

I’m looking forward to coming back, and I’m looking forward to writing to you again, kind reader. I hope you have lovely holidays!

And I hope you find actual snow. Like, fun snow.
Not dangerous or annoying snow.
It's so ridiculously warm.

P.S: By the way, I didn’t synch these properly, but if you would like to check that out, I just finished my week hosting the official SMC Instagram page! Go like my pictures if you love me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi! This will not be a big post, because I know you are tired and want to enjoy break with your family. So let’s get right to the point!

Thanksgiving is a weird time for me. You see, my country does not have an equivalent of Thanksgiving. We do not really do anything at this time of the year – because of that, I do not really have any feelings associated with the holiday.

That being said, I have learned to appreciate and value this part of American culture.

Also, food. Food is very important.

For instance, I had to memorize what is Thanksgiving so I could explain it to people back home. I feel like the concept of a holiday to give thanks to what you have is fascinating, and it shows a lot of the best North American culture has to offer: yes, rewards are important, but understanding where they came from is just as vital.

Saint Michael’s College also has an amazing program in which international students can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with members of the staff, for those who could not travel or go to their friends’ houses. The sense of community is strong here, and many students enjoy the benefits of that.

But more than that, it’s just very nice to feel the sense of belonging and generosity that goes around this time of the year. Considering the end of the year is right around the corner, it is good to think back on what we all did this year, and what we can all be thankful for.  

Have a lovely Thanksgiving!

Enjoying fall while it lasts!

Ah, yes. I don't have to pick up those leaves. Perfect.

It is the middle of October and somehow no one is wearing coats every single day. It can only mean one thing: Global warming has made fall weirdly warm! Hooray!

While it is true that this will not last for long, after all, winter has to come eventually, it does mean that we should take this opportunity to enjoy the heat!

“But Pedro,” you might ask, wide-eyed and naïve, “How can I enjoy fall as a Saint Michael’s student? Surely it involves a lot of money!” 

Or does it? Here are some things you can do to have fun which should leave your wallet relatively unscathed!

•      You can walk around campus and enjoy the scenery.

Here's an adorable tree.

Saint Michael’s College has a beautiful main campus, which is where you are probably spending most of your time anyway. However, when was the last time you took a good hike around the area?

The weather is perfect for running. Before we must lock ourselves in our rooms, take the time of the day to appreciate the warmth and take a walk around the 300s, or even visit parts of campus you do not usually go to. Why not go the extra mile and walk through Ethan Allen Park, eventually reaching North Campus as it is described in legends? That is a beautiful 30 minutes walk, and it will definitely be worth your time.

The foliage is turning yellow and falling on the ground, and everything is just nice enough to make your experience pleasant. And hey, if you’re not a student yet, you can take a tour with our friend Chris, who has also written a post on his own blog about how nice the season is right now.

•  Visit Burlington without needing 5 layers of clothing!

Fun challenge: try to get around without Google Maps. We're college students,
we can adapt, right?

But maybe you are tired of campus. Maybe you need a breath of fresh city air in your life. Never fear, because you get free bus rides, now even on Sundays! Burlington is beautiful during fall, and you should absolutely make time in your schedule to visit it at least once. 

It is worth getting a bunch of friends to go to a restaurant and split the bill, or even enjoy your student discount at Flynn theater. There's always something new to check out, and you can just go out and explore the city. Who knows, maybe you'll find a new frozen yogurt place! (Pro tip: Yogurt City, Maple Tree Place. Trust me.)

• Visit Mount Mansfield while there is no snow!
• 
  

  

  No, that's not Lord of the Rings. I checked.

We all get tired of the busy city and college life, though. Sometimes all you need is to take a hike in the tallest mountain of the state. So find some friends who have a car and travel to Mount Mansfield! 

The weather is perfect for those of you who don’t like snow, and it’s just chilly enough that you can wear your coat and not feel like it was a bad idea to go out ready for low 60s. Plus, the gondola ride is breathtaking, and if you're feeling athletic you can just hike your way down the mountain.

When you’re getting back, make sure to visit Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Here is an incentive: Not only do they have amazing apple cider donuts, there is a free cold apple cider dispenser there. I’ll give you time to think it over while we move on.

• Halloween!

Easily the best part of being a young adult is being young enough to do kid stuff.

Now, I unfortunately cannot promise that the warmth will stay here long enough for Halloween to come by. However, you dear reader and any like-minded individuals are probably already planning the festivities for the Day of All Saints, so why not get in the mood right away? All around campus, you can see people decorating their dorms and public places for Halloween. Get in the mood!

There you go, here are a bunch of things you can try to do while fall is merciful enough to not drown us in rain or snow. So get some pumpkin anything and go have fun while we can go outside without taking damage over time!

Have a lovely day. Here’s a picture of a skeleton.

You love it. You know you do.

Introduction! Get hype!

Hello there. Thank you for choosing to read my blog! Hopefully it's worth your time. You might be wondering who am I and why am I writing this.

My name is Pedro. I have a bunch of names and they are all complicated, so let's just stick with Pedro. As you might have guessed, I was not born in the United States. Indeed, I'm Brazilian!

My city! (Not pictured: My actual house)

I come from Fortaleza, in the state we know as Ceará. I bring tales of amazing food and beautiful people.

I am also a full-time undergraduate student at Saint Michael's College, class of 2018. I am currently pursuing a Major degree in Psychology and a Minor in Philosophy. I love my school and have been trying to get involved with activities that allow me to showcase that for almost a year now.

Right now, I am a secretary in two clubs (even if one of them isn't open to the public yet shhh it's a secret), recently became a Social Ambassador and also help out the Applied Linguistics Department as a Student Assistant. It basically means I get to go on cool trips for free and meet awesome international students.

"Hey, wanna go to the highest point of Vermont for fun?", "I mean, yeah."

My plan is to update this blog at least once a month with whatever is happening with me as I try to juggle school work, relationships, work and leisure, flailing my arms like a manchild the whole way through. I'll probably cover clubs, events and trips that I either go to or am interested in supporting, but I'll also just give you guys my perspective as an international student on what goes on and off campus from time to time.

If you ever want to talk to me, you'll probably find me on Facebook or just walking around campus, trying to make sense of directions to my next class.

"You mean, like, by St. Ed's, right? Wait, St. Johns? Where's St. Johns?!"

If you're still here, I'm going to assume you're interested. So look forward to the next update!

Have a lovely day.

The first post!

Hello! If you are reading this, you are either early or have reached the end of the internet. Welcome either way!

I will have an introduction post soon, but basically, this is a blog about my life as an international student at Saint Michael's College. I will post long-winded texts about things that happen to me and my friends. And sometimes I will talk about cool things happening or that will happen in and off campus.

Hopefully you'll enjoy my blog!