tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62269328298374338452024-03-13T04:35:18.619-04:00Love, Laugh, PhotographJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-65258891291840059442015-04-15T18:31:00.001-04:002015-04-15T18:31:24.792-04:00{ AN ALMOST-THE-END UPDATE }Hello!<br />
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I apologize for my absence lately, but things have been so busy lately that I've barely had time to eat and sleep, let alone blog. I thought I'd give a quick update though about what's been going on.<br />
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First, and most importantly, the weather is finally <b>beautiful</b>. The skies have been so spectacularly blue lately that even though this winter was long and cold, I realize exactly why I came to a school in Vermont. I can even say that I've seen a change in the general mood around campus. Students are always outside studying in the sun, playing frisbee, or just sitting on blankets and talking with friends. The warm weather really accentuates the community here on campus (although it is present all year round, I promise!). If you need proof of the nice weather, check out #smcvt on Instagram.<br />
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Other than admiring the weather, my time has been completely filled with working on my senior capstone project. Because I designed my own major in Applied Linguistics (you can read more about that <a href="http://jessicacampbell3293.blogspot.com/2014/10/why-im-in-love-with-liberal-studies.html" target="_blank">here</a>!), my project is also one of a kind. I've worked with an advisor and am currently putting the finishing touches on a literature review and a content-based lesson plan for K-12 ESL students in a U.S. public school. It's really great because it's something than can be directly applied to my future career, and all of the feedback from my really experienced professor is invaluable (as any future teacher would agree).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDxxq8pLKNfaUakSfPG9tvjfjQsHan03Wo_XggxQ3YiSkMwwO_rDaNBfyVAfmaJJIVI_K5Xb79IS_-Zw2dlj3m-_T2d39-rxIUHwThMr-2drqZT4vMKUeAlxa1_c_QpZubgE4x4LI7-5E/s1600/bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDxxq8pLKNfaUakSfPG9tvjfjQsHan03Wo_XggxQ3YiSkMwwO_rDaNBfyVAfmaJJIVI_K5Xb79IS_-Zw2dlj3m-_T2d39-rxIUHwThMr-2drqZT4vMKUeAlxa1_c_QpZubgE4x4LI7-5E/s1600/bed.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My workspace (the organized version)</td></tr>
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Last weekend, I got to take a short break from my work and go take some photos of my two housemates doing some pretty awesome things. One of them presented her senior capstone project (a documentary on ageism) at the Dean's List Reception, and the other attended the Fire and Rescue banquet, a black tie event for celebrating all the (soon-to-graduate) seniors and their families. What can I say, they're both awesome individuals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyXzakLU1nnwWkiSCGddcEA06uYa1btduKgmpvYTXfCDUJ-2NY7SiQNvpa9sdnRsiZ3F3tZoXJasHvemJ9uJB_TRipwuCYC44egENAZ9IRfNk4baiptM6Co3uf9hIm5AO_BBg_yipgXkq/s1600/SheilaLauren3+bw+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyXzakLU1nnwWkiSCGddcEA06uYa1btduKgmpvYTXfCDUJ-2NY7SiQNvpa9sdnRsiZ3F3tZoXJasHvemJ9uJB_TRipwuCYC44egENAZ9IRfNk4baiptM6Co3uf9hIm5AO_BBg_yipgXkq/s1600/SheilaLauren3+bw+watermark.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheila and her filmmaking partner Lauren</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJv4AHmnjHcYb3EQbWsg5FeUTCXAA3MA-3mgBG7EU9P6Dho2aUGTWB2zgQwV8lEEzvJvqyTyO0IU_3QHmqON8RLIXLGFpchTr1nEHC567718QvMiZdf99EEQdj9fDYiler9Smr_x-hgcnz/s1600/Aerielle4+watermark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJv4AHmnjHcYb3EQbWsg5FeUTCXAA3MA-3mgBG7EU9P6Dho2aUGTWB2zgQwV8lEEzvJvqyTyO0IU_3QHmqON8RLIXLGFpchTr1nEHC567718QvMiZdf99EEQdj9fDYiler9Smr_x-hgcnz/s1600/Aerielle4+watermark.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerielle and her beautiful black tie family</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUJpydO9RIi3iaD41N0FUu2SC26MMj3GTHPi8vr7hMFxZ8K1Y817nGGMAFNDNmzaixG0O873vLK-nIndSFVWYrRkEj3q7wBCp_sKreQaL-MTpcyanwYz-aPbr-bDDYfZKSSWxnGLBtEQr/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-04-15+at+6.20.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUJpydO9RIi3iaD41N0FUu2SC26MMj3GTHPi8vr7hMFxZ8K1Y817nGGMAFNDNmzaixG0O873vLK-nIndSFVWYrRkEj3q7wBCp_sKreQaL-MTpcyanwYz-aPbr-bDDYfZKSSWxnGLBtEQr/s1600/Screen+shot+2015-04-15+at+6.20.27+PM.png" height="248" width="320" /></a><br />
Be sure to keep a look out for my next post will be about five things I wish I knew before coming to college. I've given it a lot of thought, and it should be up some time this weekend. <br />
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Also, I really dislike Spongebob, but I thought that picture was kind of funny (aka relevant)...<br />
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I hope that wherever you are you are enjoying this beautiful weather!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
<br />
-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-61511602839277869082015-03-08T16:33:00.000-04:002015-03-08T16:33:19.433-04:00{ DANCE TEAM SPRING SHOW }One of my favorite events to attend on campus is the Dance Team's Annual Spring Show.<br />
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The Dance Team spends a lot of time practicing each week and usually performs at basketball games. But once the season is over, the dancers pour hours of hard work into a show for their families and the Saint Mike's community. If I remember correctly, one of the captains said at the show that no dancer put less than 15 hours of work into the show <i>outside of regularly scheduled rehearsals. </i>And I believe one dancer contributed over 50 hours!<br />
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It's evident that the women on the Dance Team are really passionate about what they do. Students run the team themselves, choreographing the routines and coordinating rehearsals completely on their own. The bond that the group shares is evident once they step foot on stage, and their dancing appears simply effortless.<br />
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Here are some photos I snapped:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4cIcivhMDyH3xBeZK3v4b5VBW0clZ9_UwK0L_ELCU6JPQ6-uKQ-hDNEWsGSqy07n5BLJH6Y1u6r8cRWqRU4gr9RDtEdBfRtUxikDDgS_gfoYt9SFLXS8cDaVWdPERavAHyaORbc4YzPx/s1600/DT2+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4cIcivhMDyH3xBeZK3v4b5VBW0clZ9_UwK0L_ELCU6JPQ6-uKQ-hDNEWsGSqy07n5BLJH6Y1u6r8cRWqRU4gr9RDtEdBfRtUxikDDgS_gfoYt9SFLXS8cDaVWdPERavAHyaORbc4YzPx/s1600/DT2+W.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emcees: Bizzy Lucey & David Weiss</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSUbY5x8W77ZB3JQNPEPBbfc4t7Wbs3WUWfOdlnO7M_QZbXRohPALpQSqv4AJexw3JkDkwvyWK2bbZzvZ38bZ-rWz3ky2XpEPSGotKzmJ51sWH_G3m5gUFzNxwVZw8-lsx0faWvhlTvxK/s1600/DTA3+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSUbY5x8W77ZB3JQNPEPBbfc4t7Wbs3WUWfOdlnO7M_QZbXRohPALpQSqv4AJexw3JkDkwvyWK2bbZzvZ38bZ-rWz3ky2XpEPSGotKzmJ51sWH_G3m5gUFzNxwVZw8-lsx0faWvhlTvxK/s1600/DTA3+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Love Me Like You Do," choreographed by Jessica Gandini</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGDmMnuyCdWtLY2LlPRdtHtj4g4bm7aEDclIu5tK0i64DmWndBWe3tNc3w46lIssOAZ_TXjQGCMcsugAnOj0mYAaUSbE7DfDMCHISYqxlDmdR_k0nI1DhIkQq5mLgvJ9AKaxNliuZSY76/s1600/DTB8+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGDmMnuyCdWtLY2LlPRdtHtj4g4bm7aEDclIu5tK0i64DmWndBWe3tNc3w46lIssOAZ_TXjQGCMcsugAnOj0mYAaUSbE7DfDMCHISYqxlDmdR_k0nI1DhIkQq5mLgvJ9AKaxNliuZSY76/s1600/DTB8+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cosmic Love," choreographed by Kristen McCarthy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq1y83_lLnknDBQW_Kohb4swNzPcz8mGtH7Cf_G_PcBcax9A0vuIqFKTbq7bVFkyDOEGgexK9LlCm7Y9uZW8xIud2C91PO_MP0tAygJ1EzP7OabIhzzmIc5-eRtvp4sZ1YVMjgzkWv3Ev/s1600/DTC3+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq1y83_lLnknDBQW_Kohb4swNzPcz8mGtH7Cf_G_PcBcax9A0vuIqFKTbq7bVFkyDOEGgexK9LlCm7Y9uZW8xIud2C91PO_MP0tAygJ1EzP7OabIhzzmIc5-eRtvp4sZ1YVMjgzkWv3Ev/s1600/DTC3+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pom Mashup," choreographed by Nat Chamberlain</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoLz6U3StWBtRHNegxZce6Yj2YDlMKVRmXcURMjPb-TTUrpfp7duZ1BIdZxax552FQUQoB-XiG6PHUxqqxELc4X4hdsET-QV5lK0IpIEILzcE4ejtYi4mfYPF8EIib7UIs4nHnlMJmRDT/s1600/DTD4+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoLz6U3StWBtRHNegxZce6Yj2YDlMKVRmXcURMjPb-TTUrpfp7duZ1BIdZxax552FQUQoB-XiG6PHUxqqxELc4X4hdsET-QV5lK0IpIEILzcE4ejtYi4mfYPF8EIib7UIs4nHnlMJmRDT/s1600/DTD4+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Flickr," choreographed by Kelsey Pett</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIqYPVUQDQN_6zfqRM7OmbEo9AxjFRpCBXS7YDWPmUyq6SEIR5EvZBL7NAxlvcpfVgHcOkUoT46qFuO-qPu0nNPwDRMAoPB-sWxI4FdZsiB40oVyCyXAX3FpUuF0YkhvYGHYvdT-xlRtX/s1600/DTE5+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIqYPVUQDQN_6zfqRM7OmbEo9AxjFRpCBXS7YDWPmUyq6SEIR5EvZBL7NAxlvcpfVgHcOkUoT46qFuO-qPu0nNPwDRMAoPB-sWxI4FdZsiB40oVyCyXAX3FpUuF0YkhvYGHYvdT-xlRtX/s1600/DTE5+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Calabria/I'm an Albotroaz," choreographed by Karianne Shetter & Aly Campbell</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6OmiU0hJbwB9S9UQ4twPDe-dAzBxOiMcNPnU6zFARTF-DRuYijHa_5LUA8xpk7l04ZIMALrN2-e850mb8tbe06flUoak4o-neV6HKhQ70F2shQozgVKOUUVzQMdC4uq61pDbbiM-jTNE/s1600/DTF4+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6OmiU0hJbwB9S9UQ4twPDe-dAzBxOiMcNPnU6zFARTF-DRuYijHa_5LUA8xpk7l04ZIMALrN2-e850mb8tbe06flUoak4o-neV6HKhQ70F2shQozgVKOUUVzQMdC4uq61pDbbiM-jTNE/s1600/DTF4+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ain't Nobody," choreographed by Kristen McCarthy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQWhqyL_I46PlR_W7-dVEhAyZrRRU5IynLaCHOcVcIxncO1s0Q22p2rj6FVpMI_SSRZAi4r4khopQlVSJBFPAeoWstmjA9ViP6xgkzVhHF9LSEFhbt8shsBMTHXz_CW6R0LLOHU65J3sy/s1600/DTG5+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQWhqyL_I46PlR_W7-dVEhAyZrRRU5IynLaCHOcVcIxncO1s0Q22p2rj6FVpMI_SSRZAi4r4khopQlVSJBFPAeoWstmjA9ViP6xgkzVhHF9LSEFhbt8shsBMTHXz_CW6R0LLOHU65J3sy/s1600/DTG5+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"#THISISNEWAFRICA," choreographed by Manuela Yeboah</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdAusf6mK-lcwtCRs-eOH60j59rANKv7im5gGpoF_-I4cRLmKE07CewMXUPaCfqsXgTGj1nhCM4UQ2JKIPge1vX7iScAILij8bBl-5OIwmWbejXnRVezZO1XpSpf8znqbqQTCDJqrFM7U/s1600/DTH2+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdAusf6mK-lcwtCRs-eOH60j59rANKv7im5gGpoF_-I4cRLmKE07CewMXUPaCfqsXgTGj1nhCM4UQ2JKIPge1vX7iScAILij8bBl-5OIwmWbejXnRVezZO1XpSpf8znqbqQTCDJqrFM7U/s1600/DTH2+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two-time World Irish Dancing Championships competitor Samantha Harris</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkauCFVi2nGsaETGqM5T3px9nP2WvP4isCkQjTyzPNTMndVP3zo5l6r-qg2DEhTeo9P5mA-dUat7pbsUWSBQ0L5Ui0ce42erYPEbTo4N-_bBxhjhWTCG8g45zTEkrmBpolq-nUyxX643q/s1600/DTI2+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkauCFVi2nGsaETGqM5T3px9nP2WvP4isCkQjTyzPNTMndVP3zo5l6r-qg2DEhTeo9P5mA-dUat7pbsUWSBQ0L5Ui0ce42erYPEbTo4N-_bBxhjhWTCG8g45zTEkrmBpolq-nUyxX643q/s1600/DTI2+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Michael's College Tap Club</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iMR6b8VQTXKwS9icZeIhGN9it6fGfiJyEouvJ9fQOp24qx-0IkfiQg4Mql5JmukDLe4aj2rDtsJHvmWUTEbQIc1q8MX8PW1dRrgsDxSDSG2xXT0QEjjYkKAGOpbYOIi2NSy6fCkhAeSS/s1600/DTJ1+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iMR6b8VQTXKwS9icZeIhGN9it6fGfiJyEouvJ9fQOp24qx-0IkfiQg4Mql5JmukDLe4aj2rDtsJHvmWUTEbQIc1q8MX8PW1dRrgsDxSDSG2xXT0QEjjYkKAGOpbYOIi2NSy6fCkhAeSS/s1600/DTJ1+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bounce," choreographed by Aly Campbell</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg5OKNflwey8RTauBUKAZsEW_1P0Gz1jzEmSWFiXW-ckNyPgpYGVxnvWUh75WCTth8X7IIlh44iyV3pbxXJ785iTavl0-xFrVLygNRfVmYbm3GhuuboP3NAfGCb2gRS2N9n-U0J2E0lga/s1600/DTK3+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirg5OKNflwey8RTauBUKAZsEW_1P0Gz1jzEmSWFiXW-ckNyPgpYGVxnvWUh75WCTth8X7IIlh44iyV3pbxXJ785iTavl0-xFrVLygNRfVmYbm3GhuuboP3NAfGCb2gRS2N9n-U0J2E0lga/s1600/DTK3+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Take Me to Church," choreographed by Amanda Fitzpatrick & Karianne Shetter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_POvvxpHZ_MuKVARWixm0xGcDKdrVVeAJinx3yZDqMT9fYy0gBSZS37SwUB33HiI1xcTxzLXfxtJUql0wXR16V4Gu3uU7r_yeCDNvZK4jNvoMBYv1NQqpEPqvCjtnhFauKuHvn07SU80Y/s1600/DTL2+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_POvvxpHZ_MuKVARWixm0xGcDKdrVVeAJinx3yZDqMT9fYy0gBSZS37SwUB33HiI1xcTxzLXfxtJUql0wXR16V4Gu3uU7r_yeCDNvZK4jNvoMBYv1NQqpEPqvCjtnhFauKuHvn07SU80Y/s1600/DTL2+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Every Little Thing She Does is Magic," choreographed by Marissa O'Shea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63SL3ZHe3-xRc7IH2zRU4WL1T177AR54II_7fzlc6RxMoaSyxeApP37VvKaUIeJAwHiTC9nr0QsvdYQMMNU75obnlnrarTVPKwcpM2zgxxvCjyuwNJaB9zPMiyawi2TzO6ufzd2E73_MA/s1600/DTM2+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63SL3ZHe3-xRc7IH2zRU4WL1T177AR54II_7fzlc6RxMoaSyxeApP37VvKaUIeJAwHiTC9nr0QsvdYQMMNU75obnlnrarTVPKwcpM2zgxxvCjyuwNJaB9zPMiyawi2TzO6ufzd2E73_MA/s1600/DTM2+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ghost," choreographed by Mary-Margaret Pickman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocKuQ4nKivetC_yOM_zctV9_Ii3_8bAS0L0JGH5nLFAUoOHw6aYYW2-qxXGCmDkWmfDbwq-87IZaHPL5RFVMu8JdWrRCzyPTkNZRVc13mjbe7cc3LQbVQs1ob3l3EoKWKnOHgM6R-zV0Y/s1600/DTN4+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocKuQ4nKivetC_yOM_zctV9_Ii3_8bAS0L0JGH5nLFAUoOHw6aYYW2-qxXGCmDkWmfDbwq-87IZaHPL5RFVMu8JdWrRCzyPTkNZRVc13mjbe7cc3LQbVQs1ob3l3EoKWKnOHgM6R-zV0Y/s1600/DTN4+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Diva," choreographed by Kelsey Pett & Emily Rivers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QgKgFc3JF1OM_o5iMUe9OavS5BBZG20naUfSQ18oyhoLo6mSyS32m3Rw8ZvleF9Il5GTUzfN_kX-33tnFRvV38a3E9TycXHzaIeHBC9D6Aj6oc1L-UJkX5Nl-C1FDf_KcxGDD4KBt6qM/s1600/DTO6+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QgKgFc3JF1OM_o5iMUe9OavS5BBZG20naUfSQ18oyhoLo6mSyS32m3Rw8ZvleF9Il5GTUzfN_kX-33tnFRvV38a3E9TycXHzaIeHBC9D6Aj6oc1L-UJkX5Nl-C1FDf_KcxGDD4KBt6qM/s1600/DTO6+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Addicted to Love," choreographed by Hannah Smith</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzzwhyQn_ZiwiV7qjW2bI5ZGQh-t931W8ygblr-EBcOWl6xJtu9-qwCGESRpcTLSDNOQte0xtyhKFHsNVVJwANDYprbtFFPDbcXpRxMJiqg9AWQEm9VgFM5o7RChjGbhaf-FHF30NbAh7/s1600/DTP3+BW+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzzwhyQn_ZiwiV7qjW2bI5ZGQh-t931W8ygblr-EBcOWl6xJtu9-qwCGESRpcTLSDNOQte0xtyhKFHsNVVJwANDYprbtFFPDbcXpRxMJiqg9AWQEm9VgFM5o7RChjGbhaf-FHF30NbAh7/s1600/DTP3+BW+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Skinny Love," choreographed by Katie Copp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOKTGOvSBk1WQKM0mCqnQ3quH879aqst2quTV8s18WCxr4JlTTWpV6ge4o2MrF8RSL8MrTVpVqXyUz_EaTW_rP35F9iPu4RPWy_IYkaRG-3sjxUyGYX0LN3HQcTI5pbHcnbmTdiILJtIP/s1600/DTQ10+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOKTGOvSBk1WQKM0mCqnQ3quH879aqst2quTV8s18WCxr4JlTTWpV6ge4o2MrF8RSL8MrTVpVqXyUz_EaTW_rP35F9iPu4RPWy_IYkaRG-3sjxUyGYX0LN3HQcTI5pbHcnbmTdiILJtIP/s1600/DTQ10+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Uptown Booty," choreographed by Hannah Smith</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXV612RHhUTRapRXosPouW3yED4BynQ84Qbgcbx5pPb99wiNgnfhkHLEJfroSzqYKkVOXh-fCaYvXCLP9RZhLTCWICRQUjEk4vq0xcmsBw6Hy9CxDn_-QBQdysF965acfrMwUTxO1iuu4/s1600/DT3+W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXV612RHhUTRapRXosPouW3yED4BynQ84Qbgcbx5pPb99wiNgnfhkHLEJfroSzqYKkVOXh-fCaYvXCLP9RZhLTCWICRQUjEk4vq0xcmsBw6Hy9CxDn_-QBQdysF965acfrMwUTxO1iuu4/s1600/DT3+W.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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To see a full album of images from the show, click <a href="http://lindaublushphotography.pixieset.com/danceteamannualshow/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph.<br />
<br />
-Jessica<br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-66545495958913121952015-03-02T17:55:00.001-05:002015-03-02T17:55:21.346-05:00{ HARVEY }When you live in Vermont, snow and cold temperatures are inevitable. This winter has been no exception. It was 25 degrees today and I could have sworn it was <i>warm</i>.<br />
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I think everyone on campus is wishing for the fast arrival of spring. Luckily enough though, the cold doesn't keep students from having a good time. The grill still runs outside the Dion Family Student Center on Friday and Saturday nights, and there are plenty of things to do indoors as well.<br />
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This past weekend I went to see a production of Harvey that was put on my students in the theater department. If you've never heard of it, it's a charming play about a man with an invisible rabbit friend, and it's hilarious. Not to mention, it was put on indoors where it was nice and warm (and snowless). Here are some photos I snapped:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hi7aaaOiBupNEetDalO-VitaYu-TnqOV_syTyY-6-FgWtKr8gbKpRxN3Y-N7-z8jn9S0ufY4UKJGML4abVG_Fo-8f_S2lHorDnsOdMSzFuWQTzNwSwEWefDUBECxclQhcZUSECvAANqg/s1600/Harvey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hi7aaaOiBupNEetDalO-VitaYu-TnqOV_syTyY-6-FgWtKr8gbKpRxN3Y-N7-z8jn9S0ufY4UKJGML4abVG_Fo-8f_S2lHorDnsOdMSzFuWQTzNwSwEWefDUBECxclQhcZUSECvAANqg/s1600/Harvey1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3B_SEX3-aAMkUG75G9J-NxXYQvv32JSWekZ6kwdL8qcMsc-IXN6vzr_qntda_qhnty0UvPoQonsLBcAPirvnx1PZcu0Ch7AodfXhQHrafg7OZbJbXKC-hmeYgqbcJCYY1j2x7jGkXSnh/s1600/Harvey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3B_SEX3-aAMkUG75G9J-NxXYQvv32JSWekZ6kwdL8qcMsc-IXN6vzr_qntda_qhnty0UvPoQonsLBcAPirvnx1PZcu0Ch7AodfXhQHrafg7OZbJbXKC-hmeYgqbcJCYY1j2x7jGkXSnh/s1600/Harvey2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwX1l2P8kJrJyD7wviSrHQ5r8n3VKRCTwNufyTTc2takWd9704APg6C4YS5LzEAzngNbLRAKDRfeh_3fu44fsGJR1U3BBsZ3l7iP6F1ganadBIG-yE7fRdcup31ld3CXELpMWs3J-k_cgf/s1600/Harvey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwX1l2P8kJrJyD7wviSrHQ5r8n3VKRCTwNufyTTc2takWd9704APg6C4YS5LzEAzngNbLRAKDRfeh_3fu44fsGJR1U3BBsZ3l7iP6F1ganadBIG-yE7fRdcup31ld3CXELpMWs3J-k_cgf/s1600/Harvey3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUrpLV_sarJ6ExrXqZplzBmAUAJX8g3Phy47gUrY95ppzKvjGL-MaJo5ZTOsn4Umz9q34XiIohhtdnig3SruzgixfTBTHiuq-alHixPTY94o4MLQFrgPkk_UUmkey1bLWrJ68hohjbLEa/s1600/Harvey4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUrpLV_sarJ6ExrXqZplzBmAUAJX8g3Phy47gUrY95ppzKvjGL-MaJo5ZTOsn4Umz9q34XiIohhtdnig3SruzgixfTBTHiuq-alHixPTY94o4MLQFrgPkk_UUmkey1bLWrJ68hohjbLEa/s1600/Harvey4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRupoOdwXHa-9GD6i_f_0-e4UdOkBqhqr8LmobZoPF0MlOa9bk0O65tBV-5xJwFdYJ2NmXBg11rLrajbkVbN-IHUpGrA96xdv8VjXPbqxgYT8YTq5dqpF9ygD7BDx0_v19LYDKt0a2zMBU/s1600/Harvey5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRupoOdwXHa-9GD6i_f_0-e4UdOkBqhqr8LmobZoPF0MlOa9bk0O65tBV-5xJwFdYJ2NmXBg11rLrajbkVbN-IHUpGrA96xdv8VjXPbqxgYT8YTq5dqpF9ygD7BDx0_v19LYDKt0a2zMBU/s1600/Harvey5.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbN9v3ouWTdoATfSKSLr6yzuvTDyrnCW1jlDhnEa7tiS4sQbeVYefGuGaHUDT7IyhR5cQXabBXlbXPUMU9P1HJsy-qcRoo-9Pw3XKMbeQC8GM-rcAU0ami64yPzYi10MPZbrP9w2eyQJL/s1600/Harvey6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbN9v3ouWTdoATfSKSLr6yzuvTDyrnCW1jlDhnEa7tiS4sQbeVYefGuGaHUDT7IyhR5cQXabBXlbXPUMU9P1HJsy-qcRoo-9Pw3XKMbeQC8GM-rcAU0ami64yPzYi10MPZbrP9w2eyQJL/s1600/Harvey6.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The cast and crew did an awesome job, and there are plenty more productions to look forward to as the semester goes on. This Friday I'm going to the Dance's Team's annual show, and I know there are acapella performances as well. They should all be fantastic!</div>
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Until next time, when hopefully the temperature will be at least 10 degrees higher than it is right now (fingers crossed!),</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph.</div>
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-Jessica</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-13914205473630115412015-02-06T14:58:00.000-05:002015-02-08T14:36:11.680-05:00{ FITNESS CENTER }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Because I'm studying Applied Linguistics, which isn't a major offered at Saint Mike's, all of my courses this semester are from the MATESOL program. That means that all of my classes are held in the evening, so I have a schedule very different from previous semesters.</div>
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Aside from the reading and assignments I do for my classes, it's been especially interesting for me to find ways to spend my time while most other undergrads are in class. It's been really great to have some time to myself and to be able to maintain my health, both physically and mentally. When I'm not reading (I recently finished Eleanor and Park-- great book!), I spend a lot of time at the fitness center on the second floor of the Dion Family Student Center.</div>
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This gym might just be my favorite part of the new building. I'm not too intense about working out, so the fact that there are only cardio machines is perfect for me. Also, there aren't generally too many people there when I go, and I've never felt pressured or judged while working out, which makes it that much more enjoyable. And it's in a really central location, which is great especially in the colder months. I can get there from anywhere on campus in under five minutes.</div>
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Here are a few photos:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw1DqyCx6AKU3oI4peENk7FCPESjVFLw4dpav-U7kL0fUXYAH-h1Qu_5wYVflxMEUMkPyK6Wozhd1ijXnL0R9KRjcEwLNkgFjkgpOY_WYOZCGbmmFYPGwLDjnnlJTzl5VOIVDs05xsqje/s1600/sdf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw1DqyCx6AKU3oI4peENk7FCPESjVFLw4dpav-U7kL0fUXYAH-h1Qu_5wYVflxMEUMkPyK6Wozhd1ijXnL0R9KRjcEwLNkgFjkgpOY_WYOZCGbmmFYPGwLDjnnlJTzl5VOIVDs05xsqje/s1600/sdf.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe it's just me, but I think the vibrant colors give you more energy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_rfEKLOKcbSkdo9lGnTBI09U1rYp3Q3XaZIC0Y12L36yanCBY9ezdf4490wv7D-nGOm-Qrj5iih3ThTg-YnZpFFN25vH-p9jAV7NTWTRP990jd1uZqtdtur2nzp3a6142TBD6PiBDKNo/s1600/awe.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these huge windows when the sun pours in.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdBJU_eg-NeqVQMMdtWySiRqh-ZLzOTsic5mWKDJAkSq3719cYcnGVy46KAW2yyNy_iHwTYCxh18T7YFbaCT-94_nLAdfC1c7VGuqHbgpCgitiSQC12O2U_7nnjNMRqN7fAEVsyHQnfq5/s1600/d+bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdBJU_eg-NeqVQMMdtWySiRqh-ZLzOTsic5mWKDJAkSq3719cYcnGVy46KAW2yyNy_iHwTYCxh18T7YFbaCT-94_nLAdfC1c7VGuqHbgpCgitiSQC12O2U_7nnjNMRqN7fAEVsyHQnfq5/s1600/d+bw.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, and a rowing machine.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkS3gyn73hLe5Te56OXolIxSOW_u5k5dgL6j8pConBkCjPkLPNzSgVbR7g1tsi65nf-qgxPZ46JIkp0BK1jTsvkUrkPiehhsQ7QUf1gZ-1FVuSOYsrOnF33y5A5Ja5f0AUK2JAUuBjGPP/s1600/ge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkS3gyn73hLe5Te56OXolIxSOW_u5k5dgL6j8pConBkCjPkLPNzSgVbR7g1tsi65nf-qgxPZ46JIkp0BK1jTsvkUrkPiehhsQ7QUf1gZ-1FVuSOYsrOnF33y5A5Ja5f0AUK2JAUuBjGPP/s1600/ge.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can even plug your headphones in and watch your favorite tv show!</td></tr>
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If you've never been to the fitness center, go give it a try! If you come visit Saint Mike's, be sure to check it out! You don't have to be an all star athlete to feel comfortable here. Sometimes, I even just bring work to do and walk while I finish my readings for class. Whatever your goals are, I hope you have a wonderful experience!<br />
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Fitness Center Hours</h4>
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Monday-Thursday 8:00am-11:00pm</div>
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Friday 8:00am-10:00pm</div>
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Saturday 11:00am-9:00pm</div>
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Sunday 11:00am-11:00pm</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph.</div>
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-Jessica</div>
<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-15521326671992503942015-01-30T17:27:00.001-05:002015-01-30T17:27:13.087-05:00{ 100 DAYS }<h4>
100 days...</h4>
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As I sit in my townhouse and watch Law & Order: SVU with my housemate and good friend, Sheila, I try to let that number sink in. Within the next hundred days, I'll read a lot, write a lot, laugh a lot, and learn a lot about life and myself in general. In 100 days, this part of the journey is over. We graduate!<br />
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I remember when I was a spunky little Kindergartener. We celebrated the 100th day of school with games and fun and snacks. As a senior in her spring semester of college, I wish there was a similar celebration at the 100 day mark. We've made it this far and should be excited to use all that we've learned, but at the same time should remember to appreciate each day and not to wish away our remaining time at Saint Mike's.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoxLD4H2vJmmyx9jEV8Nk0705DasMOwvyZo6L35HFD1bE2PY2j2tY68A2_3p9axMv2Lv8jH8azz62ufvjXnUCwYYc2_igvfKhTy2xucBbX5Zg5qGrDTdSDY8rSqDBw6uYiGj-A7NQ6Pio/s1600/5yo+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoxLD4H2vJmmyx9jEV8Nk0705DasMOwvyZo6L35HFD1bE2PY2j2tY68A2_3p9axMv2Lv8jH8azz62ufvjXnUCwYYc2_igvfKhTy2xucBbX5Zg5qGrDTdSDY8rSqDBw6uYiGj-A7NQ6Pio/s1600/5yo+me.jpg" height="382" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kindergarten me: "You can do it, you can do it!"</td></tr>
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My classes this semester have been wonderful so far. All three are graduate courses, as part of my self-designed major (to learn more, <a href="http://jessicacampbell3293.blogspot.com/2014/10/why-im-in-love-with-liberal-studies.html" target="_blank">click here</a>), and I'm learning a lot of practical information that I can definitely see myself applying in an ESL classroom in the future. Here's how I'm ending my time at Saint Mike's:<br />
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These classes are especially wonderful because they allow me to look more in depth at the content I'm studying, and the professors are extremely passionate about all they are sharing with us. I feel as though it is a gift to be able to learn from their years of experience. Both professors even invite their students to come observe their ESL classrooms to see their breadth of knowledge first hand.</div>
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For now, I'm back to SVU and watching the snow accumulate outside. As for appreciating my remaining days here, I think my 100th to last was fantastically simplistic.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph.</div>
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-Jessica</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduation, here we come!</td></tr>
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-89798922667636712622015-01-25T17:07:00.001-05:002015-01-25T17:07:04.032-05:00{ A BIT ABOUT BRUNCH }In college, I don't think Sundays are typically the day of choice for most students. They're associated with homework, laundry, and the inevitability of another week of classes. But Saint Mike's does have one thing going for them when it comes to the closing of the weekend- brunch.<div>
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Alliot has a great breakfast selection any day of the week, but on weekends there are so many options that it's difficult to make it back to your table without grabbing one of everything. My personal favorite these days is the omelette bar, where you can choose between lots of different veggies and meats, and you can even have tofu or an omelette made with egg whites. Other popular options include pizza bagels, a waffle bar, some kind of lunch option usually served with smiley fries, fresh fruit, and cereal (a classic).</div>
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Einstein's, located in the Dion Family Student Center, has a ton of food options for those who don't want to brave the dining hall. It runs on dollars and not on swipes, but Saint Mike's loads $25 onto each student's knight card every semester that can be used at the little café in the academic buildings or at Einstein's. It's super convenient on the way to class or when you don't want to sit down in Alliot to eat.</div>
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My roommate and I stopped there after brunch this morning, needing a little motivation to make our way over to the library (which really isn't that far away... maybe we just needed an excuse to get coffee). She got a vanilla hazelnut latte and I a frozen caramel macchiato. </div>
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And now we're hunkered down at the library, getting a little bit of work done as we draw nearer to week three of our last semester at Saint Mike's. My goodness, does time fly...</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph.</div>
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-Jessica</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-54360281635209410162014-11-14T17:55:00.000-05:002014-11-14T23:49:14.473-05:00{ 8 REASONS YOU SHOULD LEARN JAPANESE }<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tm9YIffAdweunouPYlvVgxgbO7e3b1EQ3fxL8MG5LVQ3NY_kF0t-uPchUyjB0gvK151XlopEqWQ8FGqm29OSXX9WsG-08wgIo3sqhEms2JkCh3CnBHexcJdB3998Bf6M5S0sT3hN4Yxj/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tm9YIffAdweunouPYlvVgxgbO7e3b1EQ3fxL8MG5LVQ3NY_kF0t-uPchUyjB0gvK151XlopEqWQ8FGqm29OSXX9WsG-08wgIo3sqhEms2JkCh3CnBHexcJdB3998Bf6M5S0sT3hN4Yxj/s1600/image.jpeg" height="221" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Konnichiwa (good afternoon)!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With only three weeks left of classes this semester, I felt as though I needed to share with you some of the reasons why I am loving my Japanese class. Whether you are coming to Saint Mike's as a first year, or have been here for a while, we all are required to take two semesters of a foreign language (unless, of course, you have some prior language experience and test out). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As you decide which language to pursue, I think it is important to consider how you could use the language in the future, whether that be for studying abroad or for your career after Saint Mike's, and what kind of a language learning experience you want to have. </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't be fooled by popular misconception. </span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although Japanese culture is very far from culture in the U.S., that does not make the language extremely difficult to learn! In the hopes that I can help you to make a more educated decision about your language learning, please take a look at these eight reasons you should learn Japanese:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. English and Japanese have some similar words</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have learned throughout my education in linguistics, and having learned three foreign languages, that there are words in almost every language that have been borrowed from another. Finding this little consistencies is not only fun, but the fact that Japanese and English borrow from one another means that even if you don't know a word, there is a chance that the English and Japanese way to say something will be similar and you will still be understood.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9HiFPq_eStOtMrdXRiFF9UxYPtjSn1a2BXb7dZW4Q8KMuWEEYm63RtS97BWrbX0Ff0vPlorGn1Ry_rz7QH2zu9QW0otzZ0WxeRRj9gxxPzVS4xGyPEPvTOBq9PgDRikGRGNw2G3BK7Mj/s1600/image%5B1%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9HiFPq_eStOtMrdXRiFF9UxYPtjSn1a2BXb7dZW4Q8KMuWEEYm63RtS97BWrbX0Ff0vPlorGn1Ry_rz7QH2zu9QW0otzZ0WxeRRj9gxxPzVS4xGyPEPvTOBq9PgDRikGRGNw2G3BK7Mj/s1600/image%5B1%5D.jpeg" height="150" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some English words borrowed from Japanese</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnuWpJtqhAE5cV4mbjL8GaTb2F2ufbRJ7E7xgcK_hePGN99UgzEgcKgFxZLxr-arkZ0SVYnWBqafts2wAoFDbS8SQ06Bir_7WQaax_c0KzQ0QIv0WEycwCGky8tAYZkIIGulkbI8x7yO8/s1600/image%5B2%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnuWpJtqhAE5cV4mbjL8GaTb2F2ufbRJ7E7xgcK_hePGN99UgzEgcKgFxZLxr-arkZ0SVYnWBqafts2wAoFDbS8SQ06Bir_7WQaax_c0KzQ0QIv0WEycwCGky8tAYZkIIGulkbI8x7yO8/s1600/image%5B2%5D.jpeg" height="141" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some Japanese words borrowed from English</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Nouns don't have gender articles</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I learned French in high school, I remember struggling to match the correct article (le, la, l' or les) with each noun. This became a little easier for me when I took German as a first year at Saint Mike's, but I still wasn't ever sure I knew when to use der, die, or das with total confidence. This is a complete non-issue in the Japanese language because there are no gender articles. You say the noun you want to say, and nothing more. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjVNIFbAu-EMlEIRwGcFhJisBet8Don3q0m4tddTyqliP3zimugCS7Ik4K2iHdudOo9y8tJzW38OI1H9GjLbS3ULK3Zq1nbA-KkS_Zlf84ONpYbs39lx05RMdlai-t3oAMjcS-dxIRkkA/s1600/image%5B6%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjVNIFbAu-EMlEIRwGcFhJisBet8Don3q0m4tddTyqliP3zimugCS7Ik4K2iHdudOo9y8tJzW38OI1H9GjLbS3ULK3Zq1nbA-KkS_Zlf84ONpYbs39lx05RMdlai-t3oAMjcS-dxIRkkA/s1600/image%5B6%5D.jpeg" height="161" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Japanese compared to German and French, which use gender articles</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. No subject-verb agreement</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Writing and memorizing conjugation charts is another not-so-fond pastime of mine. I would spend a lot of time thinking about which subject matched which verb ending, especially when there was an inconsistency or a verb didn't match the rules I was taught to follow in that language, that often, when I took tests, I felt as though my work wasn't as great as it could have been had I not spent so much valuable time thinking about verb endings. Once again, subject-verb agreement is not a part of the Japanese language. When you speak or write, you still give the subject, and you still give the verb, but it is thought to be obvious that the subject carries out the verb. (French and German should adopt this characteristic. I must say, it makes writing and speaking so much easier!)</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Subject-verb agreement in French</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9ttk0YcUV5h4iASVtoK-HH-HfIpFqCvU6NlnMMkshKJc-00ryNykhsS5Y5LNhSfFRcEI0hv6M-Z2OPtCzBXd722j6m0OaBkMOuT6v0gCB8wCromqbMX0O_fXL0OsdRe_8Dx52ESYRAmf/s1600/image%5B4%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9ttk0YcUV5h4iASVtoK-HH-HfIpFqCvU6NlnMMkshKJc-00ryNykhsS5Y5LNhSfFRcEI0hv6M-Z2OPtCzBXd722j6m0OaBkMOuT6v0gCB8wCromqbMX0O_fXL0OsdRe_8Dx52ESYRAmf/s1600/image%5B4%5D.jpeg" height="400" width="335" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Japanese- no subject-verb agreement</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Pronunciation of syllables doesn't change</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think a lot of people worry that Japanese will be difficult to learn because it doesn't use an Indo-European writing system (the Latin alphabet used in English, French, and German). I was intimidated by this too, and that was before I knew that Japanese uses <i>three</i> writing systems! But now I feel just as confident writing the characters in Japanese as I do the alphabet in English. It's important to remember that these new writing systems don't come separate of the language. Because you're always learning new information, you are constantly using them, making them almost impossible to forget. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As far as the characters go, they represent syllables, sounds of the language. And unlike English, pronunciation of these syllables doesn't haphazardly change depending on oder or combination. The sounds remain the same, no matter what. So once you know hiragana, the first writing system in Japanese, you can easily pronounce any given word. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KapgkngS8y-YKWd9wFxaLYz8BcfSbnsXi6RTE6HX1zvRIfHaoRyb3xXeiQzEQSj3cScXLsNk7DBs-hwOws1WkXNnYG61N-bOgo0CkZqytmgLYpTZ6ughHZWRQvc0VikLxbRYpthgvC5F/s1600/image%5B5%5D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KapgkngS8y-YKWd9wFxaLYz8BcfSbnsXi6RTE6HX1zvRIfHaoRyb3xXeiQzEQSj3cScXLsNk7DBs-hwOws1WkXNnYG61N-bOgo0CkZqytmgLYpTZ6ughHZWRQvc0VikLxbRYpthgvC5F/s1600/image%5B5%5D.jpeg" height="179" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike letters in English, Japanese syllables always sound the same</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Voiceless to voiced using diacritics </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is another feature of the language that has to do with the writing systems. If you know anything about linguistics, you know the difference between voiceless and voiced sounds (for example, p and b, in English). Japanese uses the same characters for these sounds, but differentiates using diacritics, or small marks, making the learner less dependent upon memorization and more on simply thinking about the different sounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Not a tonal language</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was difficult for me to decide whether to learn Chinese or Japanese. I really didn't know anything about either language and thought they were so similar that I honestly ended up using a Google search to make my final decision. The reason I chose to learn Japanese was that Chinese is a tonal language. That means that depending on the tone of your voice, something you say could mean two totally different things. I want to make it clear that I'm not saying this difference is a good reason not to learn Chinese,! However, if you're deciding between the two and have any kind of trouble listening for detail, you might want to keep this in mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. Only two tenses are used</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another aspect of Japanese that makes it a little bit easier for me to use than the other languages I have learned is that only two tenses are used, the past and the non-past. You don't say something differently if you're talking about the future as compared to when talking about the present. Again, this isn't a huge reason to learn Japanese, but is one small piece of the language that can be appealing to some learners who might struggle with understanding how to create different tenses in a foreign language.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">8. Highly logical</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm the kind of person who likes to keep everything in order at all times. If I misspell something in pen, I usually start over on a whole new sheet of paper; I always tie my left shoe before my right; and I like to know that I am using a language in the way that it is supposed to be used. Japanese is a highly logical language. At least in my class here at Saint Mike's, it has been made very clear how to use the language effectively, appropriately, and accurately. I know which particles go with which parts of speech, how to read and write the language (as noted in 4 and 5), and what the order of a sentence should be. I'm the kind of learner that needs to know <i>why</i> something is the way it is, and not just to be told to do it, and, therefore, Japanese is the perfect language for me to learn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I hope that if you are exploring your options for language learning, these eight aspects of Japanese have given you something to think about. Don't just choose Spanish or French because they seem the easiest or the closest to English. You may enjoy the language of a more distant culture just as much, or much, much more, as I have. If you have any questions about my experiences with learning languages here at Saint Mike's, feel free to contact me via twitter or to comment below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love, laugh, and photograph.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Jessica</span><br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-86136439418666696752014-10-15T23:32:00.003-04:002014-10-15T23:32:57.799-04:00{ Why I'm in love with liberal studies education }Before I came to college, I don't think I knew what "liberal studies" was. I applied to, visited, and decided to attend Saint Mike's, but the fact that it was a "liberal studies" school seemed trivial in my decision making process. Now, I'm finding that coming to a school with a liberal studies curriculum was one of the best decisions I've ever made.<br />
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Saint Mike's says, "we want our graduates to take on the world as thoughtful intellectuals who aren't afraid to take risks and think differently." They want students to leave having learned as much as possible from the best and most experiences educators there are.<br />
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The liberal studies curriculum at Saint Mike's instills in students the following:<br />
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When I first realized I was required to take science, math, and philosophy courses, among others, I wasn't all that thrilled. I was here to study Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts. What did a course such as <i>Effects of Climate Change</i> have to do with me?<br />
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The courses I took as liberal studies requirements ended up having everything to do with me.<br />
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To fulfill my literary studies requirement for my liberal studies curriculum, I decided to take a course called <i>Literary Studies: Border Crossing</i>. It was a great course, and I learned a lot more than I would have had I decided to take only MJD courses. But it was important to my education for more reasons than that.<br />
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One day, my class met with a group of international students for an activity. I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided I would take an Applied Linguistics course the next semester, just for fun. One AL class led to two, and somehow two led to declaring a minor. After fulfilling the minor requirements, I still wanted more. Last semester, I worked with a number of professors to compose a proposal for a special self-designed major in Applied Linguistics. The process involved a lot of planning and a lot of research-- I wouldn't recommend waiting until the end of your third year to propose a special major-- but a couple of weeks before I moved back home for summer, my proposal was approved. I'm now an Applied Linguistics major! All because of one course I took to fulfill a liberal studies requirement!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of my proposal</td></tr>
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I'm so grateful that Saint Mike's gave me the chance to explore disciplines I've never before known about or had an interest in. When I graduated from high school, I felt like I was one of the "lucky ones." I knew exactly what I wanted to study and I was going to the perfect school for that program. I would never have guessed that I would be graduating in 2015 with an undergraduate degree in Applied Linguistics.<br />
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[Despite my enthusiasm about studying Applied Linguistics, I think it's important to say that the time I spent studying Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts is invaluable to me-- I thoroughly enjoyed working with each professor and cultivating all of the relationships I did, and I have the utmost appreciation for all of the skills I learned and the ways in which I was able to grow as a person during my time studying within that department.]</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwft4SYiPfYQQsuZRLN-RUmEEqlCtAuuQsvHf4gvMG16n3_IMMuZ8S7OdsgwQRCbG3U8pRwDL4xHoZsaap06F-xISywvq3r_au03FIM-O6jCTS9h_HA788nBPh7sYipOE26GJ9rnH-UGi/s1600/10273850_10200936612576256_5914010064726187871_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwft4SYiPfYQQsuZRLN-RUmEEqlCtAuuQsvHf4gvMG16n3_IMMuZ8S7OdsgwQRCbG3U8pRwDL4xHoZsaap06F-xISywvq3r_au03FIM-O6jCTS9h_HA788nBPh7sYipOE26GJ9rnH-UGi/s1600/10273850_10200936612576256_5914010064726187871_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
As week seven of my senior year comes to an end, I am positive that proposing a major in Applied Linguistics was exactly the path I was meant to take at this point in my life. I am loving my courses and the experiences I am having every day with the most wonderful people-- experiences I never would have had and people I never would have met had I not taken a course to fulfill a liberal studies requirement my first year of college. And <i>that </i>is why I'm in love with liberal studies education.<br />
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Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
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-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-67339330292769373202014-10-07T00:11:00.001-04:002014-10-07T00:11:17.483-04:00{ THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was May 29th when I set off for Guyana with fourteen classmates, two professors, and an open heart. While all of us knew what we would be studying there-- ideas about Otherness, marginalization, and alienation-- I don't think any of us could have predicted the extraordinary experiences we would have or the the unforgettable memories we would make.<br />
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Day one was long, a day of many firsts for me. I drove with my family to Fordham University, where our group met and all had dinner together before heading to JFK. After watching the sun rise as we approached land, our flight arrived in Guyana early the next day, and rather than sleeping, we took advantage of the time and were shown around Georgetown. We even got to visit the sea wall!<br />
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To see more photos from my trip to Guyana, <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/99733795@N07/sets/72157645217595041/">click here!</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We met the runner up for Miss Guyana during our visit to Guyanese parliament!</td></tr>
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The next couple of weeks were packed full of class sessions, visits to a variety of special places, and lots of memory making overall. We visited a geriatric home, a leprosy hospital, and multiple public and private orphanages, all relatively close to our home in Georgetown. During the time we spent with our new friends at these places, we developed special relationships, not based on stereotypes and judgments of their lives and the circumstances in which they live, but rather founded on openness and desire for companionship alone. It was especially important for us to understand, even before departing for Guyana, that we weren't "Americans trying to make the world a better place." We were going for a little over two weeks, and then would return to the U.S., feeling not as if we had changed peoples' lives, but grateful that they had changed ours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Esther</td></tr>
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One of the relationships I forged in Guyana was with a woman named Ruth Esther Gains-- the first time we met, she told me I could call her Queen Esther. I was caught off guard, but delighted by her spunk. Queen Esther resides at The Palms, formerly known as The Palms Institute for the Destitute and Dying, along with a couple hundred other seniors. During our time together, we talked about both of our lives, the beauty of Guyana, and the mysterious ways and workings of God. Once, I found a Bible and read to Queen Esther, realizing quickly that although she was completely blind, she could have read the book to me. This is my most fond memory of the Queen. Even as I chose pages to read at random, my new friend would join in, recalling every word from memory.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nadine</td></tr>
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Another special connection I made at one of our service sites was with a little girl at a Red Cross convalescent home. Her name is Nadine, though I only found that out on the day of our last visit. Nadine is probably seven or eight years old, but depends totally on others. She can't walk, eat, or talk on her own. She ended up being the most changing part of Guyana for me. I don't know what it was, but, without any words at all, she spoke directly to my heart. And her laughter made me feel as if there was nothing in the world I would rather be doing than making her laugh. It was pure and contagious and filled my heart twice over.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju58O1AtBpC8U1sySr-0Ls8Z_11LzCsSClIkriOSKcwGC6V6GGTjOlOzh3Mh8WB1_x4-mQlhv1-ohKZN_Cqk0Chv02LUlzzkOjoRV33231AUW19zkg1U6AgjIaHrtDWWOK7AS75Sf9imG/s1600/guyana85+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju58O1AtBpC8U1sySr-0Ls8Z_11LzCsSClIkriOSKcwGC6V6GGTjOlOzh3Mh8WB1_x4-mQlhv1-ohKZN_Cqk0Chv02LUlzzkOjoRV33231AUW19zkg1U6AgjIaHrtDWWOK7AS75Sf9imG/s1600/guyana85+crop.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2boYqk1SQvMoUZ-Z6FCowzGGLOsxzt7rm5kZBuWP-pIWPzSScbZYQESwncFifvzBCi91EOWN3Gwzo0gq3X_RZ85I7VSwahj7yKiOea-wANAKFSWyICpq2YaV_7jC1jgveIcp07BIhI9_/s1600/guyana49+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2boYqk1SQvMoUZ-Z6FCowzGGLOsxzt7rm5kZBuWP-pIWPzSScbZYQESwncFifvzBCi91EOWN3Gwzo0gq3X_RZ85I7VSwahj7yKiOea-wANAKFSWyICpq2YaV_7jC1jgveIcp07BIhI9_/s1600/guyana49+crop.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a>The most profound part of my trip to Guyana was the ease with which I connected to people I had only just met. Even being as quiet as I am, I felt like these new friends were my family after only a few visits. I even became good friends with some of our hosts for the duration of our visit, with whom Professor Kirby (who I believe has been to Guyana 12 times now) is especially close. These hosts weren't simply hosts. They didn't leave once we were back at our home. They cooked for us, ate with us, brought their family around us, and stayed up with our group late into the night and helped us to love Guyana and its people even more than we already did. And once we were done talking or singing or playing card games, our hosts and security slept just downstairs from where we were. I'd never seen hospitality like it before.<br />
We were awed by even greater hospitality when we ventured into the interior of the country. After a lengthy, winding speedboat ride, we arrived in Moraikobai where the Amerindian people welcomed us with open arms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming in the Mahaicony River</td></tr>
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Due to a shortage of beds, I was even lucky enough to be invited to sleep in the home of one of the elders of the village. Our time here served almost as our "vacation" after some of the more heavy things we were learning at our service sites. We talked, relaxed, soaked up the Guyanese sun, ate rich pineapple freshly plucked from the ground, toured the sandy roads of Moraikobai, and swam in the deep amber waters of the Mahaicony River.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4x-AiEdAzBuQZxAEVcUO5PtciWCd5-WigAcCisjDqnQJG4w7oQ2FRwylBBAz9AlBgn-v71O0YDRLPkff-rhiN8FLleL2p7kavHFzFfcK46NJn0pS3CEsO3Ukvb44idrysbIV1oK3HT_/s1600/guyana202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihp4x-AiEdAzBuQZxAEVcUO5PtciWCd5-WigAcCisjDqnQJG4w7oQ2FRwylBBAz9AlBgn-v71O0YDRLPkff-rhiN8FLleL2p7kavHFzFfcK46NJn0pS3CEsO3Ukvb44idrysbIV1oK3HT_/s1600/guyana202.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a><br />
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The joy felt here was simply too incredible to be described. I apologize for the vague nature of this post, but I don't think anyone could understand this experience without too experiencing it. To check out other study abroad and academic study trip options at Saint Mike's, please, please, please <a href="http://www.smcvt.edu/Experience/Study-Abroad/Programs.aspx#tab4">click here.</a> If you are especially interested in traveling to Guyana, please <a href="http://www.smcvt.edu/Pages/Get-to-Know-Us/Faculty/Kirby-Katherine.aspx">contact Professor Kirby</a>! Only someone who has woken under a bug net to the sounds of jungle birds or jumped off of a tower with Amerindian children and into the shallow water of the river below can ever know how it feels to be in such a place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSuCB0fpiN3ng6-l6iJXEgndcnpk1EaL4c01zShKRSGZXHWy-71Md4EAe9mhGHC-X4MWcfJ3wjJq59U1xQCc658g7fyXb_RO0vqhWGvns9HIVdhqlM6fY3dy_O1B1YuBDXZqM-oqhqZyM/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSuCB0fpiN3ng6-l6iJXEgndcnpk1EaL4c01zShKRSGZXHWy-71Md4EAe9mhGHC-X4MWcfJ3wjJq59U1xQCc658g7fyXb_RO0vqhWGvns9HIVdhqlM6fY3dy_O1B1YuBDXZqM-oqhqZyM/s1600/group.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our last night together, playing around in the ocean</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiJAFF_oNkd0csf2aP8W7iH84SRXHVCbHaNyPpuN4oueW3x8S1mcntiVsA2smyJKX-CknvnitK7ZRBvEARMhvNZzx-f588Ge5aLmFnhvOj5nrjAU_Z8jhyqBngmYHmnnpgnVGIMBMEYkA/s1600/guyana279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiJAFF_oNkd0csf2aP8W7iH84SRXHVCbHaNyPpuN4oueW3x8S1mcntiVsA2smyJKX-CknvnitK7ZRBvEARMhvNZzx-f588Ge5aLmFnhvOj5nrjAU_Z8jhyqBngmYHmnnpgnVGIMBMEYkA/s1600/guyana279.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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There were so many times in Guyana that I felt overcome with gratitude-- I was grateful for being able to visit such a beautiful country, grateful for all of the special friends I was so privileged to make, and grateful for the things I have and often take for granted that many people in Guyana are not afforded, simply because of where they happened to be born. Professor Kirby introduced me to my now favorite proverb:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">There, but for the grace of God, go I.</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HaIb6HBCUbbCpyUm9pHFmMSjyJbvbgYdGAzfX8UeKvmS-z738B7Ieo09rcuLG24ma-UYYg-NH8quoMr7cP_PzzFUJwvWZoqLso03nmXqF_i5nDtT8EsytccnbQeZ_84PftuMUwNQLdzi/s1600/guyana252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HaIb6HBCUbbCpyUm9pHFmMSjyJbvbgYdGAzfX8UeKvmS-z738B7Ieo09rcuLG24ma-UYYg-NH8quoMr7cP_PzzFUJwvWZoqLso03nmXqF_i5nDtT8EsytccnbQeZ_84PftuMUwNQLdzi/s1600/guyana252.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a>One of the biggest lessons I learned was that people simply cannot be judged by where they live, what they do, or what they have. Some greater power decides. It is solely by chance that I don't live in a developing country or suffer from poverty or illness, have such a loving family and such wonderfully irreplaceable friends, and am able to pursue education further and work towards my master's degree starting in May.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph.<br />
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-Jessica<br />
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-31929599549284005332014-04-11T23:06:00.000-04:002014-04-11T23:06:09.151-04:00{ Saint Edmund's Hall }<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pQC_wanzgHMT1nwq8w31bFLgFNCs_2q3UTTEOUyprqRnB26RdldfaZi-4dcb1YUsUOV1MoXA_fY5DsGDiC0h71lYlCoVBNl9JzpzJ-8yw3LNwIk7gLjfU1E-5FNi1m0-3z0v4uN5TIP5/s1600/STE1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pQC_wanzgHMT1nwq8w31bFLgFNCs_2q3UTTEOUyprqRnB26RdldfaZi-4dcb1YUsUOV1MoXA_fY5DsGDiC0h71lYlCoVBNl9JzpzJ-8yw3LNwIk7gLjfU1E-5FNi1m0-3z0v4uN5TIP5/s1600/STE1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a>Out of all the buildings on campus, I probably spend most of my time in the beautiful Saint Edmund's Hall. It's the academic building I associate most with language. I've taken English, history, Christianity, German, and applied linguistics courses here, the last of which is currently my minor (but hopefully soon to be my major- I promise to work on a blog post about this exciting news!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIIDw3pntCzmFAAjbuO2iMqmMJ6P9vYNZCqfxVgMUQJVGQHq7-1N75Oci0fPpLkWYQLSUyjwNY7iWCe9dHp4U8xBn-_7MzWgisPnVMtfE5yQ2yZGfXE88_a8jumgr47QanaKvTkIfNVx6/s1600/STE2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIIDw3pntCzmFAAjbuO2iMqmMJ6P9vYNZCqfxVgMUQJVGQHq7-1N75Oci0fPpLkWYQLSUyjwNY7iWCe9dHp4U8xBn-_7MzWgisPnVMtfE5yQ2yZGfXE88_a8jumgr47QanaKvTkIfNVx6/s1600/STE2.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a>The building itself is just gorgeous and is connected to two other academic buildings, <a href="http://maurasmc2014.blogspot.com/2014/04/jeanmarie-hall-my-second-home.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">Jeanmarie Hall </a>and Cheray Hall. This is extremely handy in the winter when the chilly Vermont winds are in full force. You can go from one to another without having to trudge through the snow and cold! It's also very close to both <a href="http://www.smcvt.edu/Academics/Library.aspx">Durick Library</a> and <a href="http://smcvtdining.com/dining/">Alliot</a>, the dining hall, so anywhere you need to go is always relatively near. It usually doesn't take me more than three minutes to get anywhere on campus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJoW7v0oc-odCwHJTzl0xIo3E5RIfrZgxz6MmDXlYJc4uucgXKvvy6XhBRYVKon72r7mqsTwszgrzm7sMPcomzqAW-sw1_xLhVgGv_JqVsjc3Xsniddf85Hu5xzP_6zZG07zO8SshTUf7/s1600/STE5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJoW7v0oc-odCwHJTzl0xIo3E5RIfrZgxz6MmDXlYJc4uucgXKvvy6XhBRYVKon72r7mqsTwszgrzm7sMPcomzqAW-sw1_xLhVgGv_JqVsjc3Xsniddf85Hu5xzP_6zZG07zO8SshTUf7/s1600/STE5.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a>If you don't feel like walking over to the library, the St. Ed's foyer is the next best place to go. I often sit here and read when I have a few extra minutes in my day. It's one of my favorite spots on campus because of its livelihood-- there are always so many people here just talking and relaxing. Also, the natural light is wonderful, especially on a cold December day. St. Ed's is also home to the English programs for international students. Every week they host <a href="http://www.smcvt.edu/Admissions/International-Admission/About-the-University/Student-Activities.aspx">international coffee hour</a>. It's fantastic and a wonderful way to make new friends from all over the world!</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">As I mentioned before, I have taken many classes in Saint Ed's. The room in the picture above is where I currently take Structure of the English Language, a class required for the </span><a href="http://www.smcvt.edu/Academics/Majors-Minors-and-Curriculum/Applied-Linguistics.aspx" style="text-align: start;">Applied Linguistics minor.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AWu5bdKmKD0X7EY6lpbG5et2_3q-p8GwoIViAx6KtoQkmAHuAO-UxJ8qKTmk3_9ue9DgkYvl9v_jUuIcdjOTigqdtsfZrhAu3_xGKwVMna0ZikkRfA-eCBHIfCwZRr8fmibbdpDsvy93/s1600/STE10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8AWu5bdKmKD0X7EY6lpbG5et2_3q-p8GwoIViAx6KtoQkmAHuAO-UxJ8qKTmk3_9ue9DgkYvl9v_jUuIcdjOTigqdtsfZrhAu3_xGKwVMna0ZikkRfA-eCBHIfCwZRr8fmibbdpDsvy93/s1600/STE10.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a>Aside from the typical classrooms in St. Ed's, the building is also home to the school's <a href="http://www.smcvt.edu/On-Campus/Offices-and-Services/Information-Technology/About-IT/Helpdesk.aspx">IT help desk</a>- on the second floor- as well as a couple of Mac labs (which are photographed above- one on the first floor and one on the second floor). Although I've never used the labs before, they are gorgeous and brand new. I think both labs are used by classes in the fine arts department. I have, however, been to the IT help desk. The experts there are extremely helpful and always willing to sit down with you and help you with whatever you're trying to fix. For instance, I went there last year when I couldn't get my final Digital Film project to export and they sat down with me at a computer for probably an hour to help me figure out what the issue was. There's also a printer here, which is very handy in between classes when you need to print something off quickly. At Saint Mike's you can print using any school desktop or your own laptop and then walk to any printer on campus, swipe your knightcard, and the wireless printers do the rest. It's really quite fantastic, especially for busy college students.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR87BzaNyP9sSzqiSVmw_IrDInzaj8RIoJ8eFzkIdaN5sObeMl2QmD9Ky0cmV2p5I9AZrUuFEuW3JObcJcFVGumnOtSY3nISlUxiXDUY_9afjr62Vm6l19L0H26F1SDdq6ksLTJfsihp7/s1600/STE15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR87BzaNyP9sSzqiSVmw_IrDInzaj8RIoJ8eFzkIdaN5sObeMl2QmD9Ky0cmV2p5I9AZrUuFEuW3JObcJcFVGumnOtSY3nISlUxiXDUY_9afjr62Vm6l19L0H26F1SDdq6ksLTJfsihp7/s1600/STE15.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a>Saint Ed's is one of those places on the Saint Michael's campus that has so much to offer that you might never realize it. If you've never been there before, I suggest you go relax in the foyer for a while, take a walk around, or, if you're really feeling adventurous, take one of the Applied Linguistics courses!<br />
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(By the way, I know it seems random, but the image to the right is a piece on the second floor of Saint Ed's made completely of old pennies. I just thought it was so cool that I had to take a picture of it!)<br />
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I promise to write again soon about all of the excitement of spring as the semester winds down.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
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-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-14913556460495598072014-03-04T23:30:00.004-05:002014-03-05T09:09:31.135-05:00{ In Memory of Grace }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post is not very typical of me, but I felt it was one that had to be written. The world lost a beautiful soul today.<br />
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I'm taking one philosophy class at St. Mike's this semester- otherness and marginalization. As part of that class, each of us has been carefully paired with a senior at St. Joseph's Residential Care Home, located only minutes from campus and run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. Before the semester began, I was excited to form a new friendship and to hopefully make someone else's days a little bit more bright, even if only for a little while. Community engaged learning seemed like such an incredible opportunity.<br />
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My professor paired me with a woman named Grace, who, when we went around in a circle to introduce ourselves, spoke softly and demurely said that she liked to read, talk, and go to stores, but only to look and not to buy. She had gray hair and kind eyes. When I found out she would be my partner, I knew I was in for a treat.<br />
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Our journey began in Fletcher Allen Hospital. On the day of our first meeting, Grace wasn't at St. Joe's, so Professor Kirby and I drove a couple streets over and navigated the never ending maze of corridors to find Grace's hospital room.<br />
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You would never have guessed that anything was wrong with Grace. She was so sweet and genuine. When she said she was excited to be my partner, I could feel her bright eyes and smile welcoming me into her life.<br />
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As soon as she returned to St. Joe's, we quickly got into a schedule. I went to see her twice a week. Always on Monday and Wednesday and always at 2:00. We didn't do much. Just sat in her quiet, warm apartment and talked. And never about anything too serious. I learned of her childhood, all of the jobs she kept throughout her life, the farm she started with her husband, and all of her family, whom she made evident she loved very much.<br />
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She told me about the time she and her best friend fought over her new doll and the head popped right off and about how she and her family used to take trips to Maine in the summer. I quickly found out she could recall every detail of every memory of her entire life, as if she had relived every moment just before she told me about it.<br />
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There were some things Grace and I didn't have in common, and we found humor in them whenever they were discovered-- Grace hated sewing and struggled to make a dress in her home economics class, while I found pleasure in the activity and made my own prom dress senior year. Grace loved seafood, but I couldn't stand the smell of it.<br />
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But there were many more things that we shared love for. We discussed TV and movies and musicals for hours one day, discovering that we both loved The Sound of Music, we didn't know how we felt about the overly-artistic style of the new Great Gatsby with Leo DiCaprio, and also that we thought olympic ski jumping was simply terrifying. We both also worked on our high school yearbooks and decided that I would bring mine on my next visit so that we could look at it together. And we really loved pie. Coconut cream, blueberry, lemon meringue-- it didn't matter. Grace lit up when I suggested we undergo a covert mission to sneak pie into her apartment one afternoon. We were very excited about our pie date.<br />
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But I never got to look at my yearbook with Grace or sneak pie into her apartment. Today our journey ended in the same place that it began. <br />
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I will truly never forget the gentle yet humorous woman who made it a point to hug me and kiss me on the cheek every time we said goodbye. I won't forget the magical, positive way she made me feel, even on those days when the sky was gray and the world seemed bland. I think our partnership, although short, was more of a gift to me than it was to her. Her friendship was the best thing I could have asked for.<br />
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And although my experience has been tough thus far, I have learned through it all the importance of community engaged learning and how it really can change the way we look at life. Being a part of something bigger is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences and I am so lucky to be a part of it through my education at St. Mike's.<br />
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So after you read this, please send a little prayer or thought or whatever you'd like for Grace and maybe have a piece of pie in her memory. She really was a beautiful soul.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph.<br />
<br />
-Jessica<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOXO9M9Xr_001czJKyPuj5JXB2ai56v5c_Z3RZD92uTShYIup1JifxNbaQ8ZbQni_Bpl5bQIz5G6fP6iUtrWyVmHxJgoKsr_0aIM3r3N_FT14hVWiTSMwZwbCT6ZdNlwBNhDPvyWfhgVy/s1600/vermont+sky3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOXO9M9Xr_001czJKyPuj5JXB2ai56v5c_Z3RZD92uTShYIup1JifxNbaQ8ZbQni_Bpl5bQIz5G6fP6iUtrWyVmHxJgoKsr_0aIM3r3N_FT14hVWiTSMwZwbCT6ZdNlwBNhDPvyWfhgVy/s1600/vermont+sky3.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-12027278968442162262014-01-21T18:56:00.000-05:002014-01-21T18:56:21.579-05:00{ Winter Walks at SMC }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabtORwKR5iUh92Tfmo55H7NeWFu_NUp2Hdy4JZ_EQNo-lyOwMBNx9bpZcR8vTeC3SMKckdVnvD-Nlwms5Zf1VcnEWqU0neQZpzMzZeKL_OPVQbxYuIxZUCxlnB7AgeHXqOe4ccfwzXuKc/s1600/3s+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabtORwKR5iUh92Tfmo55H7NeWFu_NUp2Hdy4JZ_EQNo-lyOwMBNx9bpZcR8vTeC3SMKckdVnvD-Nlwms5Zf1VcnEWqU0neQZpzMzZeKL_OPVQbxYuIxZUCxlnB7AgeHXqOe4ccfwzXuKc/s1600/3s+clouds.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a>Hello, friends!<br />
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The spring semester has officially begun, and after winter break, I feel refreshed, renewed, and ready to get back to the grind. I'm only taking four (rather than my usual five), so I'll have a little more time to enjoy St. Mike's, and hopefully more time to keep my blog updated for all of you!<br />
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This week is going to be super cold (as in below zero), to the point where you step outside and the inside of your nose freezes, but last weekend was beautiful. I think the temperature was up around 40 degrees, the sun was shining, and the sky was bright blue. I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and explore a part of campus that I usually don't visit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIbSfryvDNwj3W8JOFi7HHy2W2QqaflU2JSr7q3TM3g-1KIqOe1fj0U_e_SBydAC8hFE1DFLxQf-zqdSwxeGeSArO517FZEu4MNohJYdGvQuM6lY0VRZoFFBZfWBdU47fa3jDxIluPY-a/s1600/trees+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIbSfryvDNwj3W8JOFi7HHy2W2QqaflU2JSr7q3TM3g-1KIqOe1fj0U_e_SBydAC8hFE1DFLxQf-zqdSwxeGeSArO517FZEu4MNohJYdGvQuM6lY0VRZoFFBZfWBdU47fa3jDxIluPY-a/s1600/trees+1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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I made my way over to Gilbrook, a forest right next to the 300s field with beautiful trails and even more beautiful trees. Then I took a little walk around and just appreciated the the snow and the water and all the other parts of nature that you wouldn't think you'd be able to find right at the edge of a college campus. Here are some photos:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfMudvRu7lwzBGrHQHQ8t1hMRWeYL8vGQOIW5lw82IJ19cG_m4BVX6QQzutFHM9anTVqEtgRIXcde4BVLdfWeNberb0Zk3cIkXrCe3XFhb70bp9EQV8dOKDxeaxLAwNEf1z4YOm7PS5eI/s1600/trees+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfMudvRu7lwzBGrHQHQ8t1hMRWeYL8vGQOIW5lw82IJ19cG_m4BVX6QQzutFHM9anTVqEtgRIXcde4BVLdfWeNberb0Zk3cIkXrCe3XFhb70bp9EQV8dOKDxeaxLAwNEf1z4YOm7PS5eI/s1600/trees+2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHGRrCdO0NtjIpLr7VefDWR69VrcI9U1yTa8ob1bf4HVqtRfDBNR8tgfRHii-jjBUfhdU7cDVLt9oDdndQDMpW1rgyH6ht-bDgU_6rRElWwgUVzrmApLGPyDxzdfkgTXrzB4UIcVj_C6z/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHGRrCdO0NtjIpLr7VefDWR69VrcI9U1yTa8ob1bf4HVqtRfDBNR8tgfRHii-jjBUfhdU7cDVLt9oDdndQDMpW1rgyH6ht-bDgU_6rRElWwgUVzrmApLGPyDxzdfkgTXrzB4UIcVj_C6z/s1600/tree.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaDABmvPJ7VYWjOU7VKBHBEBtliyKaG0wYWIx14v_865uV8jaAT3rapTGvDz1zEWvVoQ0Hq3XuR_wobqe9Wjh_imlQzURkuetaInFZUlwVKn07EowKwRG49Rf6Jlva8wIzWamTX_2Baox/s1600/water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaDABmvPJ7VYWjOU7VKBHBEBtliyKaG0wYWIx14v_865uV8jaAT3rapTGvDz1zEWvVoQ0Hq3XuR_wobqe9Wjh_imlQzURkuetaInFZUlwVKn07EowKwRG49Rf6Jlva8wIzWamTX_2Baox/s1600/water.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYY9CuaVrrNQaeZKWpEvIHSfnsNz-6EBFvtDb2dwr3v3_RVO-zcp8DqnZNjOh8HgNgsvxd62LagL6EXMXB46SQ_5F0x-SS4ZVtFtTOQ2o_U_cQGHHgPB8J2ReDvjKlE5DGQfhdlhmrym4/s1600/trees+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYY9CuaVrrNQaeZKWpEvIHSfnsNz-6EBFvtDb2dwr3v3_RVO-zcp8DqnZNjOh8HgNgsvxd62LagL6EXMXB46SQ_5F0x-SS4ZVtFtTOQ2o_U_cQGHHgPB8J2ReDvjKlE5DGQfhdlhmrym4/s1600/trees+3.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a>I plan to go back soon, and definitely want to make more visits when spring comes. I'm sure Gilbrook is even more beautiful then.<br />
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If you feel like taking a walk (alone, or with friends) in a beautiful place that's not difficult to find or too expensive, try Gilbrook! I think when we're constantly sitting at desks and computers, clicking away on laptops and iPhones, a little bit of nature can do wonders for the soul.<br />
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Exploring new places reminds me of the wonderful childhood I had, playing in the woods for hours with my sisters, digging up bones and catching frogs. While I wish I could spend more time just being in nature, like I did when I was younger, I appreciate even being able to take an afternoon walk in the woods. After all, sometimes it's the little things that can really make a day so much better.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
<br />
-Jessica<br />
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-51478482565085018892013-12-15T12:12:00.003-05:002013-12-15T12:13:56.368-05:00{ My MJD Travels }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, the semester is over!</div>
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It's been a long and very busy fifteen weeks (as is made evident by my lack of recent blog activity), but just like every previous semester, the media studies, journalism, and digital arts program has allowed me so many unbelievable experiences. I thought I'd take this chance to document some of the places I've been since August and share a little bit about whom I met or what I saw in each place. So here it goes!<br />
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<b>1. Basin Harbor Club - Vergennes, Vt.</b><br />
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One of the first stories I covered for The Defender was a Color Vibe 5k happening about 40 minutes south of St. Mike's. My fellow photo editor Sheila and I created a multimedia piece about the color run and Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp for children who have or have had cancer with whom Color Vibe was partnered for the event. Seeing so many people come together for one cause was inspiring and wonderful and the energy was indescribable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxbxUEaoySrSk99UmJmeSm_A-zYWVX_h6hOaqMuLEHemEa_zb0bt2fvwX2vf6KNAl81nU3J6zcnMxKF_4DEGzi8ZUQ5bziYVTdWsf1WK3n8DIOKyHUgvjh8I7MzA__nlH-CvkifeUMazy/s1600/CV38+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxbxUEaoySrSk99UmJmeSm_A-zYWVX_h6hOaqMuLEHemEa_zb0bt2fvwX2vf6KNAl81nU3J6zcnMxKF_4DEGzi8ZUQ5bziYVTdWsf1WK3n8DIOKyHUgvjh8I7MzA__nlH-CvkifeUMazy/s640/CV38+resize.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkEvYYQBSeY"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to view the final product!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">2. Norwich University - Northfield, Vt.</span></span></b></span></b></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">My next story was about the Westgate Mall shooting and problems spilling over the border from Somalia to Kenya. I really wanted to include the voice of an expert, so I traveled to the country's oldest private military college to talk to an expert on international and domestric terrorism, Dr. Travis Morris, as well as a Norwich University student who lived in Nairobi when she was young. The more southern part of Vermont was gorgeous as the leaves were just beginning to turn and it was really awesome to be able to talk to someone who specialized in a subject we don't offer at St. Mike's.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn5HkOow4x3SgMWqgoUIvbbTOU8lkBGhSPuitWUeu_RrehrDnXzUStvb6SQBFO3Qycj-eBFkj5n1rtCrkY5Dhwt3k762mIDA6vvONogVqcwbYkkQY7X48xdoTm3y68gut0DhBH9uP-YYD/s1600/cadets+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn5HkOow4x3SgMWqgoUIvbbTOU8lkBGhSPuitWUeu_RrehrDnXzUStvb6SQBFO3Qycj-eBFkj5n1rtCrkY5Dhwt3k762mIDA6vvONogVqcwbYkkQY7X48xdoTm3y68gut0DhBH9uP-YYD/s640/cadets+trees.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://defender.smcvt.edu/?p=1533">Click here</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> to see the final story!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b>3. The Veterans' Place - Northfield, Vt.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;">Just before Veterans Day, we had pitches due in Defender class, which is when we come up with story ideas for the next issue. Since almost 25 percent of the homeless population in the U.S. are veterans, I thought it would be good to shed some light on the homeless veterans in Vermont. I spent some time at a house for homeless vets in Northfield, right down the road from Norwich University. It was awesome to be able to really understand the issue of homelessness from a different perspective and to be able to share some of the guys' amazing stories. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqbNa-_TrIJU3fmJ5fme5_Zbviduk8hzw7o8rbXx0gHnSsKAASkTXaRC-CEhFKJAJ6NM96gEbY46m041JQ8CXAf5L8Q0LZjLrc0Bk8DpWHbuKqks7x5jCjuh5cp139CTXx7F7iKUrv41D/s1600/couch+wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqbNa-_TrIJU3fmJ5fme5_Zbviduk8hzw7o8rbXx0gHnSsKAASkTXaRC-CEhFKJAJ6NM96gEbY46m041JQ8CXAf5L8Q0LZjLrc0Bk8DpWHbuKqks7x5jCjuh5cp139CTXx7F7iKUrv41D/s640/couch+wreath.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><a href="http://defender.smcvt.edu/?p=1784">Click here</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"> to see the final story!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Now that finals are all done and I'm back in snowy Canastota, I'm already missing my friends and routine from St. Mike's. While I'm enjoying the comforts of home, I'm sure that soon I'll be eager to go back and start the spring semester. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Until next time,</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Love, laugh, and photograph!</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">-Jessica</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'palatino linotype', palatino, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-74255332346896906512013-10-23T18:26:00.000-04:002013-10-23T18:26:10.826-04:00{ Fall in Vermont! }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hi, everyone!</div>
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So it's almost the end of October! How crazy is that?! I've been keeping super busy with Defender stories, photos, projects, and research for all of my classes, but fall has been absolutely beautiful in Vermont. I'm obsessed with the colors and smells of this place in October because they're just so wonderful. You really can't find them any place else, either.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVDGq4Jv40x_C45T5Q3nD2TgPFH7luh-NID9VF1_uSZjxV2TL75yH_73Dhgec7MB4kzv6g6EJwStN6i4SDPKwX-4B82sm-mRyDAXRQVhaOu3gPEGFsxP9XPP3V-KxDyW4zwxT7opuzpTe/s1600/caramel+apples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVDGq4Jv40x_C45T5Q3nD2TgPFH7luh-NID9VF1_uSZjxV2TL75yH_73Dhgec7MB4kzv6g6EJwStN6i4SDPKwX-4B82sm-mRyDAXRQVhaOu3gPEGFsxP9XPP3V-KxDyW4zwxT7opuzpTe/s640/caramel+apples.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caramel apples from Lake Champlain Chocolates. They looked so good!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv4Bm1eYDc6sIDAgECiismiB6vq1PmkRw60NdqPHUbicZnyKsRnfys6k2nsZh-rvcBFxd17lFHgrE9hdgH6gxfd2igwIDTKT7ob9SrK3PJ2yxSzQQ7_6ucDf2lFolDp7SsHji7UELNFRj/s1600/mountains+norwich+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxv4Bm1eYDc6sIDAgECiismiB6vq1PmkRw60NdqPHUbicZnyKsRnfys6k2nsZh-rvcBFxd17lFHgrE9hdgH6gxfd2igwIDTKT7ob9SrK3PJ2yxSzQQ7_6ucDf2lFolDp7SsHji7UELNFRj/s640/mountains+norwich+leaves.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a shot from a cemetery in Northfield, Vt., about 50 minutes away.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDLdCLUyEZmw3aqt8UZAKXC-pJCyhVjSGyUcnfTZDNVpn7XNDmLmhwX4WDO9KLQIHdryLeOpPaa01HcJ71jwvo0Tr3d6_d0X4hfmq0S4sHCWmn-wITY5tEzno4jPiGzss7qXDSrxJOdF8/s1600/yellow+leaves+campus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDLdCLUyEZmw3aqt8UZAKXC-pJCyhVjSGyUcnfTZDNVpn7XNDmLmhwX4WDO9KLQIHdryLeOpPaa01HcJ71jwvo0Tr3d6_d0X4hfmq0S4sHCWmn-wITY5tEzno4jPiGzss7qXDSrxJOdF8/s640/yellow+leaves+campus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's a sidewalk on the St. Mike's campus.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bARiQEoTo3jxfUEZkKa0TqMgYC29V3lN0EUz7ohZivIztDBh55i8rOuu4mjLvhuH8_ynG4Lh_0wE3xp94-lVSCYe-6dflIc_mbbu3KjZJgjyQg3d2co_z3h2IdK8KpsNOvtIzZk1jlnF/s1600/gourds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bARiQEoTo3jxfUEZkKa0TqMgYC29V3lN0EUz7ohZivIztDBh55i8rOuu4mjLvhuH8_ynG4Lh_0wE3xp94-lVSCYe-6dflIc_mbbu3KjZJgjyQg3d2co_z3h2IdK8KpsNOvtIzZk1jlnF/s400/gourds.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gourds!</td></tr>
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This past weekend was our fall break, which means we had a four day weekend.<br />
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I wasn't able to go home, but my family made the five hour trip from New York and came up for a visit! Even though it was only for a day, I was so excited.<br />
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First we went to Sam Mazza's, a corn maze and farm about ten minutes from campus. They had a CSI themed corn maze where you had to find clues about a crime and solve the puzzle. My little sisters loved being little investigators. I think the maze was 3 miles long altogether.<br />
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Then we headed to Burlington for lunch and ate at one of my favorite restaurants: Boloco! I always get the buffalo wrap, but with fajita veggies instead of chicken. Mmmmm.<br />
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After lunch, we walked down to the waterfront. It was kind of a cold day, but my family loved the view of Lake Champlain and walking out on the dock by the Echo Center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuUmqhQPw4WKBF7HMIpmBGl-GVsuuZC1iD36CJ0tM-gjF1erZx-SrrWApmTw-1anEnUiOEZUT3uq5Pkgb6DiDiWVqZp1jqZzbqDs4quLr5AEM1e6-qLXL5Gm5Lj4uZxS5y8XdAT7oqxCp/s1600/scarecrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuUmqhQPw4WKBF7HMIpmBGl-GVsuuZC1iD36CJ0tM-gjF1erZx-SrrWApmTw-1anEnUiOEZUT3uq5Pkgb6DiDiWVqZp1jqZzbqDs4quLr5AEM1e6-qLXL5Gm5Lj4uZxS5y8XdAT7oqxCp/s640/scarecrow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMUyXat-bS9lcnHqXvA_vi8zMu1HmxC3HWjjMjUfSl50XQn20gvtG4VDKiZfl9tnTlh_3f14fjubKKSB_qjm_IzB1FMUvmeZxgRKz-IjOkeVSzRdCyysfsV1DMhgD7P3nsxzMgd-iaK03/s1600/cupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMUyXat-bS9lcnHqXvA_vi8zMu1HmxC3HWjjMjUfSl50XQn20gvtG4VDKiZfl9tnTlh_3f14fjubKKSB_qjm_IzB1FMUvmeZxgRKz-IjOkeVSzRdCyysfsV1DMhgD7P3nsxzMgd-iaK03/s640/cupcakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little cupcakes at the bakery in Sam Mazza's.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2mivrRbw7Ei1NXkPFacBKpNA1x3WiJf7vsJM_zRiwrBdMc2Uf4tuk8Z5nqYNieGF8Z_04IwXOiV_-CkxfKkUUaysK6ky9GdepU_TZxVwVw8wfmWceMyfIMH91ea9QIhPwPrFb1iI_vBh/s1600/corn+maze+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2mivrRbw7Ei1NXkPFacBKpNA1x3WiJf7vsJM_zRiwrBdMc2Uf4tuk8Z5nqYNieGF8Z_04IwXOiV_-CkxfKkUUaysK6ky9GdepU_TZxVwVw8wfmWceMyfIMH91ea9QIhPwPrFb1iI_vBh/s640/corn+maze+edit.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course, here's us in the corn maze! (My twin sister Molly missed out, so I felt bad and put this together for her.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHizTqwdHRGnUP4yM7OvuOIxddh-xZGb2EGo-dEfCsP4nx3JHMKuHbebzERWjYUCruDcM7A7gKDLqBIXYerZxmihE2yVKvTeBYubNFgxemH1zksNEiWmFRxbSfsNAZknMViQFksggMmFo/s1600/katie+emily+dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHizTqwdHRGnUP4yM7OvuOIxddh-xZGb2EGo-dEfCsP4nx3JHMKuHbebzERWjYUCruDcM7A7gKDLqBIXYerZxmihE2yVKvTeBYubNFgxemH1zksNEiWmFRxbSfsNAZknMViQFksggMmFo/s640/katie+emily+dock.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and Katie on the dock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwc2dFbKBPbLtn6hlO4OgxFmm0_8RIaR_yENMA3npRPMSq24nPf5vOTR6llhrQ1NufexYh3HlR927lT8bd6_wRy5recXkbAVzZaZ-SC6oyVmYBRbSG9KoTEGhyB8A-a7z9AZIy5ukxiDG/s1600/me+frank+dock+facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwc2dFbKBPbLtn6hlO4OgxFmm0_8RIaR_yENMA3npRPMSq24nPf5vOTR6llhrQ1NufexYh3HlR927lT8bd6_wRy5recXkbAVzZaZ-SC6oyVmYBRbSG9KoTEGhyB8A-a7z9AZIy5ukxiDG/s640/me+frank+dock+facebook.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Frank!</td></tr>
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I'm so glad my family was able to come and enjoy beautiful Vermont with me. I get to see it every day, but they aren't quite so lucky. And now there are only about four more weeks until Thanksgiving break, which will be the first time I've been home since I moved back here in August. I'm really excited, but still trying to enjoy my time here and all of the great experiences I'm lucky enough to have.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
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-Jessica</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-80897745218842743772013-09-12T23:20:00.001-04:002013-09-12T23:21:58.841-04:00{ My Start-of-Junior-Year Update! }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello, friends!</div>
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It is hard to believe that tomorrow marks the conclusion of the third week of the fall semester here at St. Mike's! Everything has been so busy with new living arrangements, new roommates, new classes, new professors, that the time has just flown! I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants it to slow down a little bit.</div>
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As a junior Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts major, this semester is especially exciting for me. This is the semester when MJD majors can choose to take Defender class (technically called Publication Editing and Design). For anyone who isn't familiar, the Defender is our school publication, produced entirely by student journalists with the assistance and mentorship of Professors Mindich and Swope. They're kind of like the Mr. Miyagis of the group. We work really hard to fairly and without bias report news to the community of students and faculty. It's a lot of work (so much so that the class fulfills the experiential learning liberal studies requirement), but it's extremely rewarding. My position this semester is Photo Editor of the defender, along with my good friend Sheila.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sh4uLZoKb-MmkS-LY-QJGhzc1E7e1RDrKA3U9qYMaXbRwdPU_BxRbj06BM6o-gNbwa2lCBqXf6A1_yUC35M60r87yS3Jnjt5P9w5dEhjI1L4MZhbQsmUCG8GzT4uVSdtq-Pb-1sTmazN/s1600/Sheila+mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sh4uLZoKb-MmkS-LY-QJGhzc1E7e1RDrKA3U9qYMaXbRwdPU_BxRbj06BM6o-gNbwa2lCBqXf6A1_yUC35M60r87yS3Jnjt5P9w5dEhjI1L4MZhbQsmUCG8GzT4uVSdtq-Pb-1sTmazN/s640/Sheila+mountains.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a shot I got of Sheila on one of our Defender assignments. So majestic! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviyrSpDr3uJFU8CpQwRG5ASi4fRH5fWIxZEKDl8KuUdw2vIejLYKkTaDshch4lPb6Sj3wyF03I_bI-8Qb-bjSGnuvthlKdcF_XmcbXu5LozUG8oQQOGzYhCb6aKdZ1-hQ0DtgBOadQajR/s1600/overlook+clouds+bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviyrSpDr3uJFU8CpQwRG5ASi4fRH5fWIxZEKDl8KuUdw2vIejLYKkTaDshch4lPb6Sj3wyF03I_bI-8Qb-bjSGnuvthlKdcF_XmcbXu5LozUG8oQQOGzYhCb6aKdZ1-hQ0DtgBOadQajR/s640/overlook+clouds+bw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo I took (while on a Defender assignment) from below the overlook right across the street from St. Mike's.</td></tr>
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Our first issue actually just came out on the 10th! If you want to take a look at the Defender's web page or read some of the stories we've published, please click <a href="http://defender.smcvt.edu/">here.</a> I wrote one on <a href="http://defender.smcvt.edu/?p=1209">Obama's plan for lowering the cost of higher education.</a></div>
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Aside from Defender, I'm also taking Christianity: Past and Present with Father David Theroux, Ethics with Professor Kirby, Digital Film and TV with Professor Hyde, and Ballet with Professor Hartmann. They're all very interesting classes, and I'm finding that I enjoy some a lot more than I originally thought I would (like Christianity with Father David- it's so interesting!).<br />
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I'll write more in my next post about a project I'm really excited about for Digital Film and TV. I can't wait to get started on it in the next couple of days!<br />
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That's all for tonight though. I must hit the hay.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
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-Jessica</div>
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Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-6397657226033824802013-05-01T14:47:00.002-04:002013-05-02T10:52:22.922-04:00{ Journalism Happenings and a Show at the Flynn } <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy first day of May!</div>
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Today was the last day of classes here at St. Mike's. That means finals are the only thing separating me from home and family and summer!</div>
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I've written before about the closeness of the students in the MJD department before, but I wanted to share a story that further illustrates the family-like aspect. </div>
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My Advanced Writing for Media class all decided we wanted to have dinner together before the semester was over and some of us went abroad. We ended up taking a St. Mike's van to Professor Cleary's house on Sunday evening. It was a beautiful day and we ate a delicious home-cooked Indian meal outside in the sunshine. It was so great to be able to spend time together outside of the classroom. We were all so grateful that Professor Cleary had us over. The 12 of us in the class really do feel like a little family because we've spent so much time together and gotten to know each other (and each other's work) so well. I'm happy to be able to call myself a part of the little MJD family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp8RnM5pvVtSHm5_9muCQkqX5PGoSQ7-Rdov5JlBs3_nibkPz5JcWZ9gpIIAs6YqkhdI8T5t6hq4tGUSEnyTFhPH2Ra2lJ13EJ_shW5Bmq6uIRw_C6MTMvmRWl486EhovZMjU9lwxn27Y/s1600/Advanced+Writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp8RnM5pvVtSHm5_9muCQkqX5PGoSQ7-Rdov5JlBs3_nibkPz5JcWZ9gpIIAs6YqkhdI8T5t6hq4tGUSEnyTFhPH2Ra2lJ13EJ_shW5Bmq6uIRw_C6MTMvmRWl486EhovZMjU9lwxn27Y/s640/Advanced+Writing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yesterday, the class met up at the shuttle stop instead of in the classroom. We headed on over to North Campus and went on a little field trip at Vermont Public Radio. Mitch Wertlieb, who works at VPR, had come into our class a couple of times and helped us with the radio stories we produced, so it was neat to see where he works. We even listened to him do a live news report. So cool!</div>
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Last night, my Dance for Athletes class all met at the Flynn in Burlington to see Cirque Zuma Zuma. They were actually on America's Got Talent! (Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5abYYlLMbqY" target="_blank">here</a> for a video.) The acrobatics and things were really amazing. And because we went for a class assignment, our tickets were free (usually they're $10 for St. Mike's students, which still isn't bad!).</div>
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There are only six days until I'm on my way back to New York. I can't wait! The weather is gorgeous here, which makes it a little bit more difficult to concentrate on work, but I love it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4fPmmDT1wtJITD35XZ-cUOuJJwkH94__xc3oNvwJ1W1DMv2rB8SneIHeKCCPNYMOyPIUqpTr82jIAa5Y_JUWKqwULi_GvG97D4QCqhMW9zcjWstB_yJUh0W9ZAN9dMxlF56tU_VryU-o/s1600/May+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4fPmmDT1wtJITD35XZ-cUOuJJwkH94__xc3oNvwJ1W1DMv2rB8SneIHeKCCPNYMOyPIUqpTr82jIAa5Y_JUWKqwULi_GvG97D4QCqhMW9zcjWstB_yJUh0W9ZAN9dMxlF56tU_VryU-o/s640/May+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
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-Jessica</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-84761193227298760422013-04-28T13:18:00.001-04:002013-04-28T13:18:42.357-04:00{ P-Day 2013! }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello, friends!</div>
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P-Day weekend is officially basically over as it is now Sunday and everyone is kind of getting back to what they need to do for the remaining three days of class (yes, classes end on Wednesday!), and then finals, which are Saturday through Wednesday, the 8th.<br />
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Friday night, rather than the usual dinner, Alliot brought food out to the 300s field. We sat in the grass in the sunshine and watched the men's and women's rugby games. It was a great start to P-Day weekend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5yhVjBzXsr2rObSUSaRTAA9fBDtUnxuD8SaXiqADbvRn5qiqAXIQ0U47f408FOAlyKCDa1C4kENBjoeTwhCFynnP7Q06L_-CdMh1DUKkEEAHjlYjckbFO0jUsoz8dqgRdJxy7QnNt1jH/s1600/rugby+bbq+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5yhVjBzXsr2rObSUSaRTAA9fBDtUnxuD8SaXiqADbvRn5qiqAXIQ0U47f408FOAlyKCDa1C4kENBjoeTwhCFynnP7Q06L_-CdMh1DUKkEEAHjlYjckbFO0jUsoz8dqgRdJxy7QnNt1jH/s640/rugby+bbq+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men's rugby vs. UVM.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgGovcFyE739JJ-Q8ZhzFTwHAjlc0NSHbtEcW1H0pDnF6ShlBPeSc5P0CDabdDZZ5TKHzrRzpS2uHMbruD_oSqUBHmmQL0ti7Vw5h9dwbyHRP48H7ccigWCWZz28jirAqdq6T5ly4Cyxm/s1600/me+hannah+bbq+bw+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgGovcFyE739JJ-Q8ZhzFTwHAjlc0NSHbtEcW1H0pDnF6ShlBPeSc5P0CDabdDZZ5TKHzrRzpS2uHMbruD_oSqUBHmmQL0ti7Vw5h9dwbyHRP48H7ccigWCWZz28jirAqdq6T5ly4Cyxm/s640/me+hannah+bbq+bw+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ0cqZB11KPcqDXgHNMHsI3P0MmR8r1kJW1au-Xvj5GAHmt2oHUdCNUGkNuZKCQ14tDkaXb6jpgR20YvMnc0yKUA0-85IATzhUL57-baK1KW-WXDqguvsbtvZ5yNLFLs3JEfU5skARMCQ/s1600/henna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ0cqZB11KPcqDXgHNMHsI3P0MmR8r1kJW1au-Xvj5GAHmt2oHUdCNUGkNuZKCQ14tDkaXb6jpgR20YvMnc0yKUA0-85IATzhUL57-baK1KW-WXDqguvsbtvZ5yNLFLs3JEfU5skARMCQ/s320/henna.jpg" width="320" /></a>The day started yesterday at 11:00am, with a trike race by Alliot. This is always fun to watch, as people douse the racers with water and flour and other obstacles. It's also just plain funny to see grown men and women riding tricycles meant for small children.<br />
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At 1:00pm, the festivities on the 300s field began. Here, there were inflatables, henna, a photo booth, live music, and (my favorite part) a giant tent of food. I ate so much yesterday that I was still full this morning when I woke up. But everything was so good!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBFj_suLfP18wnrWR4JxJTF3ap9OY59qfByjyaS3k9KzFxpgts7TLG5QJjXzxTFwltl2rPFwF7IkE6tk4O99GkHsKfWwlwSOppC5DGo1RouBIJP-C9G-_SRDRTCNLdrXioQMOXZc7BTjA/s1600/food+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBFj_suLfP18wnrWR4JxJTF3ap9OY59qfByjyaS3k9KzFxpgts7TLG5QJjXzxTFwltl2rPFwF7IkE6tk4O99GkHsKfWwlwSOppC5DGo1RouBIJP-C9G-_SRDRTCNLdrXioQMOXZc7BTjA/s640/food+tent.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food tent after things calmed down a little bit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrDDnfEOtylD7o2vK_NPCIccbotfrd1Ynv0lqDyGIJMEVXrK3B9pJQTgTYM9WmdIJVvvZBmLJ6zNgdt6SJo7AsMXKwc5BITPDq82jit5vb8LyKFd7qRXSjUNkCRg8_kKYbg-NiYeqS2_G/s1600/falafel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrDDnfEOtylD7o2vK_NPCIccbotfrd1Ynv0lqDyGIJMEVXrK3B9pJQTgTYM9WmdIJVvvZBmLJ6zNgdt6SJo7AsMXKwc5BITPDq82jit5vb8LyKFd7qRXSjUNkCRg8_kKYbg-NiYeqS2_G/s640/falafel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ever falafel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYifWTGUvfpjndIXw3isC9abO8lkucuv-k0evNjdN8VKPjwCDw4B5YeeX9dplKq_jszKpSEjqCTU_Gz5FVDujndFAUgflkhB-n-q9go0momFj7K0d0Zpzlw8UQ0D2fb8bkO4St6baZxKs/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYifWTGUvfpjndIXw3isC9abO8lkucuv-k0evNjdN8VKPjwCDw4B5YeeX9dplKq_jszKpSEjqCTU_Gz5FVDujndFAUgflkhB-n-q9go0momFj7K0d0Zpzlw8UQ0D2fb8bkO4St6baZxKs/s640/pizza.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKC2VQnIh6xKmAcjA_yJ8AfTWPF0gWXUOSKpomoQ_ycmyb_O3tarkvhbHZ7jbHuRtwIWXBRI2Bp2EGYMU9rz-EF0CLut6tgLGhF6NRPoimpJgR2H4sUUEj1wuj0lFOvRu-xC8qKaMaqgr/s1600/lo+mein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKC2VQnIh6xKmAcjA_yJ8AfTWPF0gWXUOSKpomoQ_ycmyb_O3tarkvhbHZ7jbHuRtwIWXBRI2Bp2EGYMU9rz-EF0CLut6tgLGhF6NRPoimpJgR2H4sUUEj1wuj0lFOvRu-xC8qKaMaqgr/s640/lo+mein.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lo mein was so good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW2s3TxfPQjuvqhvM5WsPbeBCxYZroLRx9-bwV9pdZ7Lhw2e027EkpeZDZu10coj0Joh39ypJzn2u1rx0CLckyOMbqlB5GBjXjY4warV1EKyVR0MXs_2QnEW1LaNRefedbx3yWpmcnX3_/s1600/cannoli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW2s3TxfPQjuvqhvM5WsPbeBCxYZroLRx9-bwV9pdZ7Lhw2e027EkpeZDZu10coj0Joh39ypJzn2u1rx0CLckyOMbqlB5GBjXjY4warV1EKyVR0MXs_2QnEW1LaNRefedbx3yWpmcnX3_/s400/cannoli.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cannoli.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKM7iUnmV7XnS1OSrryhXfc_pRJNZUT42ONOjKHKmJO0Y9bAf-sj0TRzb0mM74khTr-2zinuzJKHWVlV8m4pnRy89w67VV7-VI9milu-DuV2MoBLDNC8zOB0NIQg4b7LcaFcrBC3pk0Mn/s1600/hannah+cookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKM7iUnmV7XnS1OSrryhXfc_pRJNZUT42ONOjKHKmJO0Y9bAf-sj0TRzb0mM74khTr-2zinuzJKHWVlV8m4pnRy89w67VV7-VI9milu-DuV2MoBLDNC8zOB0NIQg4b7LcaFcrBC3pk0Mn/s400/hannah+cookie.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hannah with her big cookie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf4_y55SZkejJ5WwKn6ziEaiKipV9VE8aBmMozg8282yVQXOs3X5U7sJxr6VF7rvz4eZZhRGqJyCwIdt3i-RE43W-5eaeJw3MldrzA36SvifqVjebT2VciTGcStUWWh_W2wyZvMJKp4WA/s1600/cookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKf4_y55SZkejJ5WwKn6ziEaiKipV9VE8aBmMozg8282yVQXOs3X5U7sJxr6VF7rvz4eZZhRGqJyCwIdt3i-RE43W-5eaeJw3MldrzA36SvifqVjebT2VciTGcStUWWh_W2wyZvMJKp4WA/s640/cookie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was perhaps the best thing I ate all day. It was still warm when the woman handed it to me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTOzMdxPi8pi6RkeYt4SdxI70e8IPxGqon1s8eXDLnjnuoqmRw6JlWOptQg_aWz6_rk7abOMuAB1c_X72yqCeSXWBDouX8S8QMXLaXunoVsfTgeTpoVCTyMk0viMEX5oRwQY0x01GWnLh/s1600/ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTOzMdxPi8pi6RkeYt4SdxI70e8IPxGqon1s8eXDLnjnuoqmRw6JlWOptQg_aWz6_rk7abOMuAB1c_X72yqCeSXWBDouX8S8QMXLaXunoVsfTgeTpoVCTyMk0viMEX5oRwQY0x01GWnLh/s640/ice+cream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben & Jerry's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRRnDZUJnGKeQ8Qys5sHftus666kp16i6e7-_zsZzVoyG-fGADz-05O5dGt-1xiWkoiPOKuVTiugQa9jTtyG5d8Re8h55WA4yjRJIrm8kM1Rh7CPmpJ2eoI6YEkjh2BEFNK8eC2aX-NVz/s1600/me+hannah+ice+cream+bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRRnDZUJnGKeQ8Qys5sHftus666kp16i6e7-_zsZzVoyG-fGADz-05O5dGt-1xiWkoiPOKuVTiugQa9jTtyG5d8Re8h55WA4yjRJIrm8kM1Rh7CPmpJ2eoI6YEkjh2BEFNK8eC2aX-NVz/s640/me+hannah+ice+cream+bw.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Hannah with our ice cream (aka in heaven).</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5UUIkyLhpFhpwchtKeZGgsU8h2QyRu22GzNWQETbd5RW6xPuXdT5eCYbMed2C5_iLdbI9x5fD-j_kYbnR76fA5YxrCwS-kJsCeavoX3gHsZKhOEuj4zDMdTVpFXkJBFXOcFCEeCYuU67/s1600/overall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5UUIkyLhpFhpwchtKeZGgsU8h2QyRu22GzNWQETbd5RW6xPuXdT5eCYbMed2C5_iLdbI9x5fD-j_kYbnR76fA5YxrCwS-kJsCeavoX3gHsZKhOEuj4zDMdTVpFXkJBFXOcFCEeCYuU67/s400/overall.jpg" width="400" /></a>At 7:00pm, there was a mind reader / sword swallower who performed in Ross. I guess he's been on Ripley's Believe it Or Not before!<br />
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Then, at 9:00pm, Alliot served breakfast. This is always quite interesting, but I didn't go this year. I was still full from everything else!<br />
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Because the weather is getting so nice and because everyone's really stressed out with assignments and finals for this last few days of school (ten, to be exact), it's great to be able to enjoy some time with friends.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw3zurhEZldTCGICsLTb5K9orMo9_8cfWlZlPM4eR-fV24zGSk4UliqL82fvgQL03K18wFcQh6axzGMjqUoBRLrlUHsEOh4B0gm7xTNdcDSZAwHzon1CD0R-VQ9VXOUNUxNPj2lOS2jPy/s1600/hannah+glasses+p+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCw3zurhEZldTCGICsLTb5K9orMo9_8cfWlZlPM4eR-fV24zGSk4UliqL82fvgQL03K18wFcQh6axzGMjqUoBRLrlUHsEOh4B0gm7xTNdcDSZAwHzon1CD0R-VQ9VXOUNUxNPj2lOS2jPy/s640/hannah+glasses+p+day.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Only ten days left until summer officially begins. I'm sure move-out day will be bitter-sweet. I shall blog again soon as this year comes to an end.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
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-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-38979830004113684562013-04-26T14:46:00.000-04:002013-04-27T08:25:13.989-04:00{ Macklemore and our Dance Performance }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last night was the Macklemore concert... it was AMAZING. St. Mike's is so fortunate to have a great student planning committee to make events like these possible. It was my first concert (unless you count Aretha Franklin a few years back..) and I know I'll remember it for a long, long time. But not only for that reason..</div>
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Macklemore visited a St. Mike's student named in the hospital before the show on Thursday who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. And then he paid tribute during the show with a moment of silence, which was actually silent (surprising for such a loud, excited crowd).</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpkXWRmiChgsJcZriACEJk99u7UeMlXTDOFQIQgQ1FUffClpdqNv8TzA7PSbrbZ_Dh_Wq2xDHI4xQNC1JAmY6ftBG9rMFq-5GoxnCAzlKEODWY-uYTw-yfSU4hEz-xqUcgE5rg2cb4mxf/s1600/Macklemore_Sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpkXWRmiChgsJcZriACEJk99u7UeMlXTDOFQIQgQ1FUffClpdqNv8TzA7PSbrbZ_Dh_Wq2xDHI4xQNC1JAmY6ftBG9rMFq-5GoxnCAzlKEODWY-uYTw-yfSU4hEz-xqUcgE5rg2cb4mxf/s640/Macklemore_Sam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo from Reddit.com)</td></tr>
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Here's what Macklemore said about the incident in his blog:</div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></div>
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<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"In all honesty, it’s the Sams of the world and the situations they go through that give us perspective on our own lives. Unfortunately, so often it takes a tragedy to wake us up and appreciate those closest to us. When we are faced with death, we immediately put a new found value on the life we’ve been given. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet Sam and his parents today. Made me feel like a real person. Beyond the music and the accolades, at the core that is what I want out of this life. To feel. And Sam reminded me of that.</em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Much love to him, his family and his friends.”</em></div>
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Read more about the visit <a href="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23719/title.macklemore-visits-a-vermont-fan-suffering-from-leukemia-/" target="_blank">here</a>. It really is a touching story.<br />
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Today marks the beginning of P-Day weekend, an annual event at St. Michael's. P-Day actually stands for "preparation day," so the students can kind of get ready for the home stretch and finals. It's a lot of fun. I'll blog about that later. </div>
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At 12:30, all of the classes in the dance department met outside the gym and performed all of the material we've been working on throughout the semester. I can't stress how much fun the classes are and the bonds you make with your fellow dancers over the semester.<br />
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I couldn't fit Ballet or Beginning Dance in my schedule this spring, so I ended up taking Dance for Athletes (no, I'm not an athlete..). I'm so glad I took the class though. The guys and two other girls in the class have such great attitudes; we all push each other so much that the group really ended up feeling like a team. We like to call ourselves the Shooting Stars.<br />
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We performed two routines today, one with the Beginning Dance class and one with just our group. The first had parts which were choreographed by the Shooting Stars and we choreographed almost the entire second piece (the one performed to Alicia Keys' "Fallin'."<br />
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Here they are. Enjoy!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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(My class was in all black and Beginning Dance wore white shirts.)</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/u-7BI9tITbY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Until next time,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-Jessica</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-89983822101611891072013-04-18T20:54:00.004-04:002013-04-18T20:55:09.911-04:00{ Our Field Trip to WCAX! }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Advanced Writing for Media is one of the two MJD classes I took this semester. It's not a requirement for the major, but should be taken before Defender class. It's kind of a continuation of Investigative Reporting, which I took last semester. Both were taught by Professor Cleary, so it seemed only natural for me (and a majority of my classmates) to make the transition.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHM0Y2-OJTZVxmZp1NiOJ2T54vMfPkg6vCDyxBD0gFZhEZcNlBit4NHmQza9DcwMsNMl6fDfhyphenhyphenA9Pq6BsrJdID3uIzWiYQq8k38r4psLsELYwPl-VyoFSNwhTPc4H0MlYz09AuWsimN_D/s1600/wcax+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHM0Y2-OJTZVxmZp1NiOJ2T54vMfPkg6vCDyxBD0gFZhEZcNlBit4NHmQza9DcwMsNMl6fDfhyphenhyphenA9Pq6BsrJdID3uIzWiYQq8k38r4psLsELYwPl-VyoFSNwhTPc4H0MlYz09AuWsimN_D/s200/wcax+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That means that the people in Advanced Writing are all kind of close. I'd almost consider us a little journalism family. We know each other's work pretty well from our constant editing and discussion sessions and have gotten very comfortable collaborating and sharing ideas over the past year.<br />
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Today we took a field trip to WCAX in South Burlington. It was great to be able to see working journalists in action, especially those in the class who are interested in broadcast journalism.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0_-0zCyTT-vmD0OfH_86ud-0rAICurVjeggEXtCSn_N3dUb7ZgU6kYJlzKfFlpSYl8CRqBh0gghTSiCpnI9ZI265HrxARUsJMF54pcbFtJzZFeziJW6bKOyGoOcQWTUw3lq5Se-qceeX/s1600/wcax+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0_-0zCyTT-vmD0OfH_86ud-0rAICurVjeggEXtCSn_N3dUb7ZgU6kYJlzKfFlpSYl8CRqBh0gghTSiCpnI9ZI265HrxARUsJMF54pcbFtJzZFeziJW6bKOyGoOcQWTUw3lq5Se-qceeX/s640/wcax+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYMinRhutsEf-Nkg-z7SLwt8Fn1HQDOAth29v99105h1FJI453TipWJzD0G7aOuYEPYjJum2Z0Jp6wBvzuQlT4RX5gQ3LBBsfxzhalKQA9F3gF5O6_OyLiIDiP1L3OoLzcd_RQUeU3r1/s1600/wcax+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYMinRhutsEf-Nkg-z7SLwt8Fn1HQDOAth29v99105h1FJI453TipWJzD0G7aOuYEPYjJum2Z0Jp6wBvzuQlT4RX5gQ3LBBsfxzhalKQA9F3gF5O6_OyLiIDiP1L3OoLzcd_RQUeU3r1/s640/wcax+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were filming a cooking segment when we got there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP1UAbIHfVgfMF6gH-I3cv7tYqMMGLeP6EFJS1mi8WqQBZg-_gsxYdSyjyoz8UTdfP6fspv7S9sE9X3veUaTihmxdomndCzDIPHQy0AsrGHSW0-WWT9wQp7xFMl1-X4GwNTmhCCMhjQqS/s1600/wcax+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigP1UAbIHfVgfMF6gH-I3cv7tYqMMGLeP6EFJS1mi8WqQBZg-_gsxYdSyjyoz8UTdfP6fspv7S9sE9X3veUaTihmxdomndCzDIPHQy0AsrGHSW0-WWT9wQp7xFMl1-X4GwNTmhCCMhjQqS/s640/wcax+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever wonder what it looks like when they film the news?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ICqqm05597M0pLqEa0ibREqY6Gx1EZSMaiYUkcBIcBxm-hi6naqTIIN7sj5WgIY8Qb6t4mwj008RJ9zoMAXlKAk6QHgV9W14h1Y80FtPSQNBbT5GkypJ3z1M-ciSwnw_GhGmegMU1nNv/s1600/wcax+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ICqqm05597M0pLqEa0ibREqY6Gx1EZSMaiYUkcBIcBxm-hi6naqTIIN7sj5WgIY8Qb6t4mwj008RJ9zoMAXlKAk6QHgV9W14h1Y80FtPSQNBbT5GkypJ3z1M-ciSwnw_GhGmegMU1nNv/s640/wcax+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The control room. So many buttons and screens!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_YTx4fppKZhh_Ub6WiJAbfCzHKOwWdCrsLHw6s0Q8GhEDiuU4Z_t3yuijTji8NdTh-XTAPeSmRms1SUH5qB30l4wl17KfNW2CF_csrra2gj1xYvBMVwxACcvFZVeFPlJUL0UIu8B1ZmG/s1600/wcax+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_YTx4fppKZhh_Ub6WiJAbfCzHKOwWdCrsLHw6s0Q8GhEDiuU4Z_t3yuijTji8NdTh-XTAPeSmRms1SUH5qB30l4wl17KfNW2CF_csrra2gj1xYvBMVwxACcvFZVeFPlJUL0UIu8B1ZmG/s640/wcax+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Here we are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trip to WCAX was just one of the many opportunities that I'm so thankful I've been able to partake in as part of the MJD department at St. Mike's. It was a great time and we learned so much.<br />
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The countdown continues. 20 days until summer vacation officially begins. I love it here, but after two semesters, everyone just kind of needs some time away from classes and work and stress.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
-Jessica </div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-88762972130119836432013-04-15T10:34:00.001-04:002013-04-15T10:53:00.574-04:00{ Going to a Ball & an End of the Semester Update }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well hello!</div>
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Things have certainly been busy here at St. Mike's as the weather gets warmer and the semester comes to an end. </div>
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My global media mapping project was due last week for Global Comm. (one of the required courses for MJD majors and minors), which is a huge relief. It's a great project for developing web design and research skills, but I'm so glad it's over! Click <a href="http://journalism.smcvt.edu/webcourses/HomePages/GC2-2013%20Media%20Mapping%20HOME.htm" target="_blank">here</a> to see all of the fantastic web sites created in the class. Mine is on the <a href="http://journalism.smcvt.edu/webcourses/GLOBAL%20COM-CULTURE-300/Campbell/Philippines_Campbell/SITE.html" target="_blank">Philippines</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15v3U3LngYygCpR3AD48tmT_aI-q89YKRyli_S7JwjS8gIFI7hlBwOKIUYNmciVpoM7XGCE0UGqn_M09h_Hmo5w20D9rwY7xHkYrtcTn5IhrMMZsf17-nWlA7wIhyphenhyphenQccN8n6sd_QlroL6/s1600/Junior+Ring+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15v3U3LngYygCpR3AD48tmT_aI-q89YKRyli_S7JwjS8gIFI7hlBwOKIUYNmciVpoM7XGCE0UGqn_M09h_Hmo5w20D9rwY7xHkYrtcTn5IhrMMZsf17-nWlA7wIhyphenhyphenQccN8n6sd_QlroL6/s200/Junior+Ring+11.jpg" width="200" /></a>This weekend was a busy one too. There was lots going on for Accepted Students Day and the Earth Fest, so campus was very lively (which is wonderful with the coming of spring!).<br />
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Then I went to a ball! My boyfriend is a junior at Norwich University, a military school about an hour southeast of St. Mike's, and they celebrated Junior Ring Weekend. There are a few photos below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKIlcoI67_b0IdGR0UXL1-rwm8ARhx2ZhxbKiMB5T6s1rwFVbRblXIrRc0LJIGByZ3XeptkPuhhoh9krMmQqybimYbpLZ8yHFElL0UNhOdT2lMXxU-xB7PtVaEOX71YbyAjqVS6nw_3pt/s1600/Junior+Ring+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKIlcoI67_b0IdGR0UXL1-rwm8ARhx2ZhxbKiMB5T6s1rwFVbRblXIrRc0LJIGByZ3XeptkPuhhoh9krMmQqybimYbpLZ8yHFElL0UNhOdT2lMXxU-xB7PtVaEOX71YbyAjqVS6nw_3pt/s640/Junior+Ring+3.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXPIj1rthx0Pa3R5wx5m8IGfJuo7WRygFrDW7Dq9IOrPvkt5gq-nPdPfuDVvwkOZoCbbkg9v8NpnAsspLDvZOiu-VhuYomlXddlHLwciN4eLmN4ZbabmtT7KzW89Rc-YGUgldbXdfoxfa/s1600/Junior+Ring+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXPIj1rthx0Pa3R5wx5m8IGfJuo7WRygFrDW7Dq9IOrPvkt5gq-nPdPfuDVvwkOZoCbbkg9v8NpnAsspLDvZOiu-VhuYomlXddlHLwciN4eLmN4ZbabmtT7KzW89Rc-YGUgldbXdfoxfa/s640/Junior+Ring+10.jpg" width="464" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_ibNE5NkHi6COPsza5gIXMKovf6oSa84auqRZ-j2-L_ga6vKPgqm_whMNz_P7TEBmmxv32b-S_SUh86SDKjTiiiOvsYGd89GD6GXSugW5lsQAcRduVaySOmTEFXOBN0j0K3jGs6ksETG/s1600/Junior+Ring+6+BW+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_ibNE5NkHi6COPsza5gIXMKovf6oSa84auqRZ-j2-L_ga6vKPgqm_whMNz_P7TEBmmxv32b-S_SUh86SDKjTiiiOvsYGd89GD6GXSugW5lsQAcRduVaySOmTEFXOBN0j0K3jGs6ksETG/s640/Junior+Ring+6+BW+edit.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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We're all kind of in the final stretch now; there are only about two weeks left of classes and then finals and then we're done! And I think the warm weather (it's supposed to get up to 75° this week!) and everyone being so busy will make the time fly even faster!<br />
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I shall update again soon!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
<br />
-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-39695570356720795632013-03-31T21:35:00.002-04:002013-03-31T21:35:15.936-04:00{ My Birthday in Burlington }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Before I say anything else, I want to apologize for my lengthy absence. Things have been so busy lately!</div>
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So my birthday was at the beginning of March. As one of my aunts told me "I turned double digits..." While I'm not in fact a 10 year old college genius, I did, however, turn two <i>decades</i> old. So odd. I feel so old! Anyway, to celebrate, my friends and I braved the snowy streets of Burlington for a night and had dinner and desert. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AtbHKc8nCh48Mgne1tszGN9ffoi6WbYRcXlDWJtSFK6bCkS65dg4sDNH_OU3D7ul2vLhbQEPt-IPDRQRRq_UdeCU7RlfCiuJqULhdXmOtNordRoSvcPByNgHvMRgiTEp30RIUz2FQsKT/s1600/church+street+lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AtbHKc8nCh48Mgne1tszGN9ffoi6WbYRcXlDWJtSFK6bCkS65dg4sDNH_OU3D7ul2vLhbQEPt-IPDRQRRq_UdeCU7RlfCiuJqULhdXmOtNordRoSvcPByNgHvMRgiTEp30RIUz2FQsKT/s640/church+street+lights.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We ate at American Flatbread, a great pizza place right off of Church Street. I had never been there before, but it was delicious. The atmosphere was nice and homey too. And they had lots of different kinds of pizza; it was hard to pick just one!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9dEkxJRX6Bh3pSGBgsggXAT48-dJR-r0Dv9VMxCwCABOsGxGjVcX4TLUkSHdMFZqt6cr05lIKHJJXgahL2pfvL1DTTRxQeofy-0C9ppmIfYDDrUuhqW55vxtlZS_WuxCK7EnAKf7Wo-S/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9dEkxJRX6Bh3pSGBgsggXAT48-dJR-r0Dv9VMxCwCABOsGxGjVcX4TLUkSHdMFZqt6cr05lIKHJJXgahL2pfvL1DTTRxQeofy-0C9ppmIfYDDrUuhqW55vxtlZS_WuxCK7EnAKf7Wo-S/s640/wall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside American Flatbread!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yp2ShDjiqKVqof-5S4_m2Tg1_1eEDd1kdhfEOVzgwaV84kUeLuXmkRDehKVGOju0l3jjVJ-pSStZfhL7_T7uGr3YS3pPrWM99kJPLCs11TpMsKzes9kpLaiB1tI9Xqx1fWSZfm2DSQz3/s1600/candle+straw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yp2ShDjiqKVqof-5S4_m2Tg1_1eEDd1kdhfEOVzgwaV84kUeLuXmkRDehKVGOju0l3jjVJ-pSStZfhL7_T7uGr3YS3pPrWM99kJPLCs11TpMsKzes9kpLaiB1tI9Xqx1fWSZfm2DSQz3/s640/candle+straw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're ecofriendly!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwyH7JyPAK9kfk9z2dHnk387pSs7DX8OcM4RGAYUHsvK3bHPXjTE67shhUGjOWPhnTifGOtF6sDa5YfOV94CWf6Pl_kTItNHLp4GdCFkHQpjLIjT7UXDAx10fGtm43hFh7cGL0gucBcHM/s1600/pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwyH7JyPAK9kfk9z2dHnk387pSs7DX8OcM4RGAYUHsvK3bHPXjTE67shhUGjOWPhnTifGOtF6sDa5YfOV94CWf6Pl_kTItNHLp4GdCFkHQpjLIjT7UXDAx10fGtm43hFh7cGL0gucBcHM/s640/pizza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHyZPgPaCk5mt1B6TyUCCQtXDONhomj2KACy9hXj-7_vI9c4D2zb7D0LXmDJnOZDr1os9POOHKAzPn8YGXzsO2q8gP98RxTPCJOxJNe5O7yHDOYeM7fskYN21S4yqTsOF8aTELJVqFI7Y/s1600/my+pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHyZPgPaCk5mt1B6TyUCCQtXDONhomj2KACy9hXj-7_vI9c4D2zb7D0LXmDJnOZDr1os9POOHKAzPn8YGXzsO2q8gP98RxTPCJOxJNe5O7yHDOYeM7fskYN21S4yqTsOF8aTELJVqFI7Y/s640/my+pizza.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-qj1HbnS4iy-oG1lRbdnp3szYv3veLbZrHQ3R-hx7DPEXOeR3qPivl0xkeeJJ5r5x4i6eycg7xmtuWoWYcsb1BAKolTM0-WOd4qPss7t8Fr9L4mA5bujihtMX0XUrL0KpOITYR5lAVG6/s1600/me+hannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-qj1HbnS4iy-oG1lRbdnp3szYv3veLbZrHQ3R-hx7DPEXOeR3qPivl0xkeeJJ5r5x4i6eycg7xmtuWoWYcsb1BAKolTM0-WOd4qPss7t8Fr9L4mA5bujihtMX0XUrL0KpOITYR5lAVG6/s640/me+hannah.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my lovely roommate Hannah!</td></tr>
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After dinner, we walked down the street to Ben & Jerry's. Although it was a bit cold outside, our ice cream was as wonderful as always. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy and Nick!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and John Murray!</td></tr>
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I had a wonderful 20th birthday in Burlington and I couldn't have asked for more spectacular people to share it with. Here's to another twenty! </div>
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Also, I must add that my delightful roommate and her boyfriend made me a peanut butter birthday pie. It was delicious and very thoughtful. (She knows me well... I love anything I can eat. Haha)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYXxBtPIeriVfi-FpBoWj0UfusYIigTIl4cseAjP1LHNAFd5z8RFxnS2k5Uup7qaRL_VZhVVOberqpC0kMOCkRlrWgh7hXo9xJQANbL3tzN_T8vo4_CLKdOFgYE0j1c7IY9SZt_NO1zEo/s1600/birthday+pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYXxBtPIeriVfi-FpBoWj0UfusYIigTIl4cseAjP1LHNAFd5z8RFxnS2k5Uup7qaRL_VZhVVOberqpC0kMOCkRlrWgh7hXo9xJQANbL3tzN_T8vo4_CLKdOFgYE0j1c7IY9SZt_NO1zEo/s640/birthday+pie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The lovely spring weather we've gotten has cued the commencement of my countdown to summer. I'm excited to really concentrate and get everything done for these last few weeks. Only 38 days until vacation begins!</div>
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Until next time, </div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
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-Jessica</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-29953958729730456942013-02-28T22:58:00.002-05:002013-02-28T22:58:22.474-05:00{ Baking Cookies with 4 Ingredients! }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sometimes college is wonderful. The workload is nice and balanced, my many schedules (for classes, clubs and activities, and my job at Bath and Body Works) work together perfectly, and I feel like I could stay here forever. Other times, things get a little hectic and I start to count down the days until I</div>
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ll be home, stress-free and with my family. Now is one of the times when I'm excited to go home.</div>
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With so much to do though, and a five hour drive to Canastota, there isn't much room in my schedule to make a road trip. In situations such as this one, I've found little things that make me feel like I'm home. </div>
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Recently, my boyfriend came to visit and we decided we wanted to bake cookies. We went to Hannafords, located right by the University Mall (the CCTA bus system makes a stop at the mall and St. Mike's students can ride for free-- here's the <a href="http://www.cctaride.org/bus-information/routes-schedules.html" target="_blank">schedule</a>!) and bought all of our supplies. We ended up making this amazing <b>cookies that required</b> <b>only four ingredients!</b></div>
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<i><b>Ingredients:</b></i></div>
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<i>1 box devil's food cake mix</i></div>
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<i>1 bag Rolos </i></div>
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<i>2 eggs</i></div>
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<i>1/3 cup oil</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8e8QtFz0bw0dszJghqNsbHeEkPkwq705Ldp2EsJmCwn6O1tz4Rc5MeVEYoqw44AJfCUPixPbs2AIzPC5XlrOW39hP0u5o419CqI0FI9LGefS3XARWsYZypwQUxTx3GIe4YtWO98CtfC76/s1600/ingredients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8e8QtFz0bw0dszJghqNsbHeEkPkwq705Ldp2EsJmCwn6O1tz4Rc5MeVEYoqw44AJfCUPixPbs2AIzPC5XlrOW39hP0u5o419CqI0FI9LGefS3XARWsYZypwQUxTx3GIe4YtWO98CtfC76/s640/ingredients.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since I live in Alumni, I don't have a kitchen (none of the building in the quad do). Therefore, Frank and I ventured over to Cashman for our little baking adventure. All of the suite buildings have kitchens that any students can use, as well as the Center for Women and Gender. It only takes a minute or two to walk over and it's totally worth it in the end.</div>
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<i><b>Directions:</b></i></div>
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<i>1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and unwrap about three dozen Rolos.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2zn0KPF_mEH6bJ7hsndq3IcI-SOFm62Ixl242x0kpFkjq9z_h3BnsdzUe5_cdUkAbaziJ0JeIufUyRb58EpMkdOoUdtbvrRI1f9raUX2znI_vpuBnWIA0gOenWyFOoaz0r44Wxby0Vlm/s1600/rolos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2zn0KPF_mEH6bJ7hsndq3IcI-SOFm62Ixl242x0kpFkjq9z_h3BnsdzUe5_cdUkAbaziJ0JeIufUyRb58EpMkdOoUdtbvrRI1f9raUX2znI_vpuBnWIA0gOenWyFOoaz0r44Wxby0Vlm/s640/rolos.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>2. Combine the cake mix, eggs, and oil.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB2NmVIfRDRZMAT0EaGjGr2asWQsQ2_rcw2kKzNxHPC0ZOID_2a63dFnBoYYyx2UeEqBmPhhyphenhyphennsIMH-ovTWTxaCGXkIQin-U_uopjg5G8NXkzwrI2E6jPEHtkCE70G_yc54PhD79_po0P/s1600/frank+mixing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB2NmVIfRDRZMAT0EaGjGr2asWQsQ2_rcw2kKzNxHPC0ZOID_2a63dFnBoYYyx2UeEqBmPhhyphenhyphennsIMH-ovTWTxaCGXkIQin-U_uopjg5G8NXkzwrI2E6jPEHtkCE70G_yc54PhD79_po0P/s640/frank+mixing.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>3. Cover each Rolo with dough and then place on an ungreased cookie sheet.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdQa4TLA3cwBJflZc_9DG1G-wBpFUcGK6Ln-hw53yl-a9GaNYeqoeqgeNlvXrdeumAq516PhfJ0Ge5KK6bBLd6csHpo64aD6RfANo7lvEw9zk00rzz1vO35y6gmU27veJDGGHVwaCLBk7/s1600/cookies+raw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdQa4TLA3cwBJflZc_9DG1G-wBpFUcGK6Ln-hw53yl-a9GaNYeqoeqgeNlvXrdeumAq516PhfJ0Ge5KK6bBLd6csHpo64aD6RfANo7lvEw9zk00rzz1vO35y6gmU27veJDGGHVwaCLBk7/s640/cookies+raw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>4. Bake for 7-10 minutes.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEig3OduvUDz4HJrEUBVBPC8RD5PjmtZ0Eg2zm7TmIOmz_DUdyfgA93EYjngTFs-r6HopHhVS6-Spb3E4UD8N2AXuh2nMVaAJQbOG-oR0LgY0521B92TVizv46-Biw6LC_fpsZC3JDGdZ/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEig3OduvUDz4HJrEUBVBPC8RD5PjmtZ0Eg2zm7TmIOmz_DUdyfgA93EYjngTFs-r6HopHhVS6-Spb3E4UD8N2AXuh2nMVaAJQbOG-oR0LgY0521B92TVizv46-Biw6LC_fpsZC3JDGdZ/s640/cookies.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>5. ENJOY!</i></div>
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These cookies made me feel a little closer to home and the process of baking them was a great stress-reduction technique as well. I would recommend them to anyone.</div>
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The next time you're in need of a little bit of home or you just want a treat that's easy, ooey, and gooey, test out this recipe!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
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-Jessica</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-66838208752651501822013-02-23T18:32:00.002-05:002013-02-23T18:32:35.998-05:00{ Dinner in Burlington and a Brief Update }<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can't believe it, but we're already about to start week seven... this semester is flying by! And things have continued to be quite busy here at Saint Mike's! </div>
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I took the world test in Global Comm.; that was thrilling. I'm a little bit nervous to see how I did, but I feel so much more informed knowing where (most of) the countries of the world are. I'm glad we were tested on it. I feel like everyone should be better acquainted with the world they live in.<br />
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And now I'm focusing mainly on a global media project for Global Comm. I was assigned the Philippines. There's a lot of research to do, but I think the final product will be cool- we have to make a web site about our country. I think one of my challenges will be finding sources to interview from the Philippines or who have lived there for any amount of time. (So if you're reading this and you have any experience with the Philippines, let me know!)<br />
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Despite the huge amount of work I've been doing, I know it's important to find the balance between work and relaxation. Having said that, I had a wonderful time with my boyfriend last weekend in Burlington!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqmNiz5H70YBxQzkFiV1PyWRO_l-gk10cma9nnLolc0TBcr6vpVLX6MRcLjk9zJ8UDs-9KX0L1u6-6qQFoS8QAuncSqNQhh3jSVyhoeGNoTZF4zihylZ0jDuTLe-dnMs72eJ9vO1_p7rr/s1600/church+street+lights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqmNiz5H70YBxQzkFiV1PyWRO_l-gk10cma9nnLolc0TBcr6vpVLX6MRcLjk9zJ8UDs-9KX0L1u6-6qQFoS8QAuncSqNQhh3jSVyhoeGNoTZF4zihylZ0jDuTLe-dnMs72eJ9vO1_p7rr/s400/church+street+lights.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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I'm very picky about the meats that I eat (usually only whatever my dad hunts or our farmer neighbors raise), so I've grown very used to finding vegetarian options on every menu. Last weekend though, we ate at <a href="http://www.farmhousetg.com/home.html" target="_blank">The Farmhouse</a>, which cooks with all local ingredients, so I ate meat! I got sausage and fries and Frank got meatloaf and mashed potatoes. It was great! Here's a link to the <a href="http://www.farmhousetg.com/FARMHOUSE_Dinner_Web.pdf" target="_blank">menu</a>. I would recommend it to anyone!</div>
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I've got to get back to this Global Comm. research, but I'll be sure to write again soon. Next weekend's my birthday and the weekend after is the beginning of spring break. As much as I love it here, I'm kind of counting down the days until I can just relax. </div>
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Until next time,</div>
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Love, laugh, and photograph!</div>
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-Jessica</div>
Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-2353350126684660652013-02-19T21:28:00.001-05:002013-02-19T21:29:53.496-05:00{ One Billion Rising and an Attitude of Indifference }February 14th is most commonly known around the United States as the day people celebrate love-- love for husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, friends, family, parents, maybe even pets.<br />
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This Valentine's Day though, there was more happening on the Saint Mike's campus than the exchanging of flowers, cards, and chocolates. This Valentine's Day, students, faculty, and staff on campus came together to show love for one another in a different way; they rose against rape and violence against women.<br />
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<b>One in three women in the world is raped or beaten in her lifetime.</b> That's a huge number and simply not okay. One Billion Rising is an organization that aims to end these terrible crimes against women through acts of solidarity. To read more about the organization, click <a href="http://www.onebillionrising.org/pages/about-one-billion-rising" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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The group of about fifty students, faculty, and staff that gathered in St. Edmund's Hall on Valentine's day danced through the halls and to Alliot with music and signs. It was incredible to see the energies of so many caring individuals join into one very powerful one. To see videos of groups that rose for the cause around the world, click <a href="http://onebillionrising.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I wondered though, as the group stood in the back of Alliot, many heads turning to see what the commotion was, then returning to their mid-day meal, <i>why such an attitude of indifference?</i><br />
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After the reading of a poem about the need for an end to rape culture, everyone dining in Alliot was asked simply to stand and dance for a minute for the cause. As the music was switched on, people didn't stand. Some even became annoyed at the "inconvenience" the movement had caused them.<br />
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Then I considered the fact that I had joined the movement as part of a class field trip... While I could very well use the excuse that I had class at the time and, therefore, couldn't be a part of the movement at St. Mike's, I can't honestly say that I would have gone had I not had class. But why?<br />
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I guess culture has embedded itself in me. Making my way through the halls and to the back of Alliot with the group of enthusiastic individuals, I wasn't focused on the women the cause was helping or the importance of an organization such as One Billion Rising as much as I felt bad for interrupting what the people who weren't participating were doing.<br />
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I don't think we should be made to feel this way. Whether it's a generational thing or not (meaning I'm not sure if it's just my generation that's so indifferent), I think people should be proud to stand up for a cause, especially one as great as the one I joined on February 14th.<br />
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In this way, I think our culture needs to change. People should join together in celebration of life and to combat the evils that sometimes make their way into our lives. Working to end rape and violence against women shouldn't be an inconvenience.<br />
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I'm making it a personal goal to try to aid in the slow but steady reformation of our culture.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
<br />
-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226932829837433845.post-22341432609134869922013-01-23T16:15:00.001-05:002013-01-23T16:15:11.450-05:00{ This Might Be A Tough Semester... }Hello, all!<br />
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Vacation was fabulous and packed with family and friends and all things Christmas time. Sitting at home, thinking about my spring schedule and the courses I would be taking, I had a view of overwhelming positivity. I knew a couple of classes (Global Communications and Advanced Writing for Media, coincidentally both for my major) would be difficult,-- it's rumored Global Comm. is the most difficult of all MJD requirements-- bur I was excited to start learning again.<br />
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And now, sitting at my desk in Alumni Hall, a pile of books to my right and a list of assignments I need to have done in the near future scribbled on a note pad, I realize that this semester is going to be a lot tougher than all of my previous ones. I mean, I'm already feeling a little bit stressed.. okay, make that a lot bit stressed.. and it's only week two!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Global comm. reading and a snack!</td></tr>
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I find that obsessing about the work that has to be done causes me to fall into a more negative frame of mind. The one where "it's just too much" and "I don't know if I can do it" keep coming up in the back of my head. For me, it helps to think more long-term.<br />
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If one thing is going to cause me to deviate from this path, it's not going to be Global Comm. (Maybe joining a circus and traveling the world as a trapeze artist. Or writing a novel, making millions, and being able to retire at the ripe age of 19. Not Global Comm.) I know I'll make it through the semester and will have learned incredible amounts of information and expanded my horizons to extents that I never thought were possible. I just have to keep reminding myself.<br />
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Although a lot of reading in a short period of time might be stressful, or an assignment (memorizing all the countries of the world, for instance) might make me want to cry myself to sleep at night, thinking about the semester as a whole makes me anxious to learn from the wonderful professors here, appreciative of all the opportunities I have been given, and excited about the rest of my life.<br />
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There are great ways Saint Mike's helps students to deal with stress as well, many food related, because honestly, who doesn't love food? Tonight in my building, Harry Potter is going to be played and we can bring our own mugs and make brownies! Woohoo!<br />
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Anyway, there are a lot of great things happening too. There really are. I promise. I'll have to write a post about them at a later date. For now, global comm. calls.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Love, laugh, and photograph!<br />
<br />
-JessicaJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01664750508512952884noreply@blogger.com0