To get from the second floor of East to the second floor of ACEN, it takes, what, two minutes, three if you’re slow? To get to town, I either take the ten minute walk, or talk someone into driving me (and then you have to run all their errands with them too….). To go from campus to my parents’ house, it’s around two and a half hours (depending on how many buggies you get stuck behind in Elkhart County) by car. Getting around Strasbourg and travelling in Western Europe is a bit different.

So, let’s talk about getting around Strasbourg. The way I see it, there are 3.5 main options for getting around Strasbourg: The tram/bus system, your feet, bicycle, or (increasingly so) monocycle gyroscopique, aka, electric gyroscopic unicycle, (or by car, I guess, but that’s largely only people carrying a lot of things or people who live in the villages and drive into town to work). But that’s right, you heard me, electric gyroscopic unicycles.

Tram / Bus System
Strasbourg’s public transportation is well known for its ease and efficiency. We even had one student here last year studying the tram system for his master’s thesis! Between the trams and the buses, one can reach most anywhere in town and in the surrounding villages. They’re even close to linking Strasbourg and the German town across the Rhine, Kehl, by tram. An allé-simple ticket costs 1,70€ and an allé-rétour costs 3,30€. OR, you can get a fancy-pants Badgegéo for 25,60€/month and use the public transport unlimitedly (I broke down and got mine this week, it’s luxurious).

Feet
Honestly,  Strasbourg’s  not  that  big  of  a  city,  it’s  not  that  big  a  deal  to walk everywhere. I live on the west side of town, my fac (department / college / institute) is on the east side of town, the Parliament is in the north-west corner, and I teach English often in the north-east corner. To walk from the two furthest points from each other, it takes about 35 minutes (for one with long legs rocking out to foreign policy podcasts on the way).

Bicycles
Strasbourg is a very bike-friendly city. Granted, it’s situated in a bike-friendly country  on  a  bike-friendly  continent,  but  I’ve  heard  French  people  remark about Strasbourg’s bike-friendliness, so I feel comfortable making the claim. I’ve been saying for about six months that I’ll buy a bike, hasn’t happened yet. Point being, everyone rides bikes.

ELECTRIC GYROSCOPIC UNICYCLES
WHAT?!?!

Look at that thing! Is that not the coolest thing you’ve ever seen??? Granted, they are 400€ and I can easily outwalk them, BUT STILL! There’s just something about walking on a cobblestone street next to a 600 year old cathedral and having a guy in a suit zip past you like something out of a science fiction movie. The future was yesterday, people.

I think that I want to talk about the best advice I’ve ever received. That seems like a generic prompt you’d find for people looking to break writer’s block, which is I guess what I was looking for when I Googled ‘prompts to break writer’s block.’

So, I don’t think I know what the best advice I’ve ever received is, which is a solid start. I could come up with some good advice, and some bad advice, but I don’t know if I have best advice. Like world shaking, life changing advice, advice so good that you never have another question about how to live. So I should probably lower my standards.

Considering this, I’ll just talk about some good advice I’ve gotten, or things that have stuck with me about life in general. Ready? Okay!

1. Don’t grocery shop when you’re hungry. I like to think of this one both literally and figuratively. Don’t go to Costco if you’re craving fruit snacks, and don’t make a ton of commitments when you’re free. I’ve made this mistake a couple times, felt under-involved and bored with life, so I’ve signed myself up for a million things that all ended up happening at once.
2. “You’d worry less about what people think if you knew how seldom they do.” This one is a David Foster Wallace quote so get ready for pretentiousness. So when you’re getting dressed and you like your outfit but are worried people will judge you for it, just think about the last time someone’s outfit affected you in any way. Probably wasn’t recently. In fact, try to picture what your best friend wore two days ago. If you can’t remember that, chances are strangers aren’t thinking too much about your clothes.
3. Happiness is not a choice. Anyone who tells you that happiness is all a matter of perspective knows basically nothing about mental illness. If you physically cannot be happy, it is not your fault
4. Wear sunscreen and floss. I’m not gonna do it and maybe neither are you, but I figured it should be included. All dermatologists and dentists reading this, there you go!
5. You never have to answer ‘favorite’ questions. If someone asks you your favorite food, or color, or memory, you don’t have to answer. That’s way too much pressure, and you should feel free to tell them that. In that vein, tell people when something is overwhelming or you don’t want to talk about something. Usually they will be more accommodating than you expect, and if they’re not then they probably don’t deserve to talk to you.
6. Dance with the person you came with. This one I like to think less in a sense of hang out with your prom date all night, but more like if your mom drives you and your friend to the mall, don’t ignore her and just talk to your friend. This one is tough for me, but I promise just treat everyone like a person and things will be better for everyone.
7. All advice is useless. Unsolicited advice should be taken with a grain of salt. If someone starts listing advice and no one asked, they probably think too much of themselves. 

Virginia Rendler ’20 is a Peace Studies major, and is hoping to double major in English, as well as double minor in Spanish and Visual Art. She loves animals and is a Leo. 

It’s not very often my friends and I get the opportunity to go off campus, and so when we do, we usually travel to Wabash or Ft. Wayne to get something to eat. Unfamiliar with the hours of local businesses, we’d been forced to either stick with the fast food joints in town or forage elsewhere. This week was a bit different. On a work assignment posting fliers around town, my friends and I hit the street of downtown Manchester, home of Mr. Daves, Zook’s Cafe, and the Main View. My friend, whose former teacher had gone to Manchester and worked at the Main View, was desperate to try it out.

Since she works on weekends, we went for dinner on a Thursday after classes.

The place is really comfortable and easy going, and the staff was crazy friendly. It was seat yourself, and since the place was empty, it took a minute for the waitstaff to realize we were there, but once they did we were served promptly. The food was out quick, and the portions were huge, especially for the prices! Together we ordered KL’s Pasta, an All American Burger, and the Chicken Basket.

The food was fairly good, and I would definitely recommend the pasta to athletes looking to carbo load.

Unfortunately we were on a time limit, and the waitstaff took a while to bring our check. Otherwise, the visit was great. Perhaps a place you’d go for Sunday night dinner when there’s no time constraints.

Exploring different places in Manchester for places to go and to eat is a great way to save time and gas for MU students who just want to get off campus

As I’m approaching my final months at Manchester, I am overwhelmed by the fear of the unknown; the future is blurry to me. I’m not scared that I won’t be able to find a job and I’ll look like a failure to those around me (yeah, that was last month), but I’m afraid I’m going to make the wrong “first choice.” One thing I’ve learned about this little thing we call “life” is that one decision can take away other future decisions. To relate, for example, you’ll date someone from a certain friend group and then they will perhaps have friends that you feel closer connected to or could perhaps see yourself with more than the current person you’re dating... but you can’t have them because of your initial decision to date their friend. I’ve seen this situation play out before and it can get really ugly – that’s just one example.

So after graduation I can go several routes and I don’t know which route will make me happiest in the long run. I could care less about the career that makes me the richest, most powerful, coolest, etc.; all I care about is what makes ME as an INDIVIDUAL the happiest. Unfortunately, we never know... but we can guess. Buuuut that doesn’t help my fear. I’m terrified undoubtedly on the unknown. I crave to have control of my life and mind, but I can’t control the future.

If there is one thing that I do know it’s that everything will be okay. No matter what happens after graduation, I truly believe I’ll be okay no matter what, and I have Manchester to thank for that. Manchester was the best fit for ME. I wanted to write that Manchester taught me how to think intellectually and critically, but that’s also not true, because then everyone would have my mind and I’m thankful they don’t. I was given the right people for me, and it’s hard to imagine that I would have found that anywhere else. Manchester DID give me the resources and surrounded me with amazing individuals in order to help me find my intellect and develop myself into a person I’ve come to fall in love with.

Do I go to graduate school (‘The road less travelled’ as I’ve come to call it) to follow a passion in screenwriting that I’m eager to explore? Do I go into the Sales/Marketing work force to start a life for myself in the real world? Do I put on pants today? These are all questions that I find are constantly consuming my mind, but when the time comes I know I have to make my move. No matter what decision I make or what opportunities will present themselves, I know I’m prepared. Maybe I’m not prepared financially, perhaps physically, or emotionally, but my mind is ready. I’m ready to take on any challenge in a professional environment because I know that everything will be okay; I have Manchester to thank for that.

I have struggled with anxiety for a long time and it always seems to just get worse. For years, I have worked hard to try to lessen my stress and anxiety by seeing a counselor for a while, constantly staying busy, and finally being placed on non-habit forming medication. College is one of the most stressful times of a person’s life and I know that many of you agree. We worry about our classes, jobs, money, clubs, activities, and futures, that’s a lot to think about on a daily basis. So I have compiled a list of things to help us with our stress and anxiety. Some of these I have tried or come up with on my own, and some I have researched in times of struggle:

• Try Yoga – Yoga is known to be a hugely calming activity. And I know some of you are probably thinking that it is silly or so overrated, and I don’t know how you feel, but I am willing to try just about anything. There are lots of moves specifically for stress and anxiety (or to help you sleep if you have trouble with that as well) and I think it would make a large difference even if you just did 10-20 minutes a day.
• Eat Healthy – This one is probably the hardest for me (I love pizza and dessert just as much as the next guy), but it apparently makes a HUGE difference. Now, I’m not saying that you can’t still enjoy your French fries and Twinkies, just add some fruit and veggies in there as well, especially at the beginning of the day.
• Listen to Calming Music – Listening to calming, slow-paced music, even for just 5-10 minutes a day can help immensely. You can listen in the car, on your walk to class, or when taking a quick break from life and sitting on your bed with headphones. You can also search for listening activities like mindfulness or other things, usually lasting about 5-20 minutes, that go through a calming routine with you with lots of deep breathing.
• Focus on the Good – I personally believe this one may be the most important. When I have high levels of anxiety, I start to pile on everything and think that everything is bad and falling apart. I constantly think of the worst possible situation. However, the one thing I have found that always brings me back to the real world is when I start to list all the good things. Sometimes I write them down and sometimes I just repeat them over and over in my head. List everything, take nothing for granted. I try to make a short list now almost every day of five things I am happy and grateful for that day. Most of the time, the five things are very small, but taken for granted things like: my ability to walk, I arrived at school safely today, I have a dog, I am not sick, I have a family who loves me. Focusing on the good can also include making lists of things that make you happy like sunshine, pies, chocolate, the feeling of a breeze on a hot day, daisies, basset hounds, and hugs. Focus on the good, and be happy.

Love, a fellow stressed out college student

Delaney Ray '19 is a Psychology and Sociology double major with a minor in Criminal Justice. She works as a Student Orientation Leader and a Library Desk Assistant in addition to blogging for MU. She never thought she would be a blogger, and her dream job is to work for the FBI in the behavioral unit.

For some people, the idea of going to a thrift shop might just be a Macklemore song. But for some college students, including me, however, thrifting is somewhat of a way of life.

A popular reason that so many students choose to thrift is because the low prices of hand-me-down clothes make it easier to shop, even as a broke college student.

For me, thrifting has always been a part of my life. When I was little, my family would have family thrift store trips, and that tradition carried into my teens. Even today, my mom and I will spend hours going from thrift store to thrift store finding cool clothes for a great price. I love finding fun and interesting clothes, and spending so little money on them. On any given day, you could find me in all thrift store finds.

However, just this year, I learned that there was a thrift store in North Manchester. Right? Who knew? And ever since, my roommate and I have gone and shopped at least every other week. We’ve gotten so many amazing things, and spent less than $5 every time we go. We’ve found so many crewnecks (basically, all I wear are crewnecks), cups, scrunchies, crocs, ugly Christmas sweaters and vests, winter hats, baseball caps, fleeces, and I even found an Ohio State long sleeve shirt.

But why shop secondhand?

❊ Thrifting is cheaper. It’s a great way to save money and still buy clothes or items that are new to you. I’ve even found amazing clothes with the tags still on them for more than 90% off the original price.

❊ It's eco-friendly. By buying secondhand clothing or donating clothes you don’t wear anymore, you're recycling in the most stylish way possible, and you'll help keep clothes out of landfills.

❊ It's a great source of inspiration. Sometimes I’ll see or find something at a thrift store that I wouldn’t even have thought to buy at a regular retail store.

❊ Thrift shops have a constantly changing selection. Since thrift stores receive donations, you can always expect to see completely different items at the thrift store from one week to the next.

❊ Thrift shopping sets you up for some great DIY projects. Whether you want to transform T-shirts into tank tops, paint mugs, or anything in between, you can find most, if not all the basic materials for your DIY projects at a thrift store.

There’s a million pros and cons for thrifting, but to me, it’s a fun and great experience. There’s no other way I’d rather spend a Saturday than at a thrift store with my mom. So go out and find your local thrift stores. And make sure to check out the one in downtown North Manchester for some great clothes, and an even better price! 

Kia Ora (Maori greeting)!

I have been quite busy lately travelling to the other side of the world to Dunedin, New Zealand for the semester. I’ve been here for about two weeks now and I want to share a few things about studying abroad. I strongly encourage you to get out there and push yourself to new limits. Classes start this week, but I’ve been busy exploring the outdoors and trying new things! Culture shock is a real thing and I thought it would be a good first blog while here to share with you my list of the top 10 things that have surprised me most:

1. More Relaxed – The airport security is very relaxed. Many people go to run errands or shop with no shoes on, and nobody ever seems in too big of a rush. There are lots of friendly faces that are always willing to stop and chat with you!
2. Driving on the Left: Riding in a car on the left side of the road is very strange! I always feel like we’re about to crash.
3. Walking on the Left: Naturally, society walks on the sidewalk the same way they would drive. I have run into many locals around town because I forget to walk on the left side of the sidewalk!
4. No Tax & No Tipping: The price stated on a tag or menu is the total price, no extra costs… which has been very nice!
5. Walking Everywhere: Coming from Manchester, it’s very strange to not have a car and have to walk everywhere I go. Gas here is very expensive (about 7 dollars a gallon), so walking at least 20 minutes to get somewhere has been quite the adjustment!
6. Metric System: I don’t think in the metric system just yet. Temperature, speed limits, and distance has been a challenge for me so far… but I’ll get there eventually.
7. Locks & Doors: Locks unlock/lock and doors open/close opposite than at home. I have run into many doors since being here thinking they are push when in fact they are pull.
8. Sauces: New Zealanders don’t really put sauce on food and if sauce comes with your food it’s not the sauce you would think. The most popular sauces here are aioli and tomato sauce (pronounced toe-ma-toe… and does not taste like ketchup from the states!). My favorite dipping sauce is buffalo sauce and that is nowhere to be found here… missing that big time!
9. Time Difference: New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of MU. I am just starting to kick my jet lag and get into a good routine. Sometimes I still forget about the time difference and call or text people in the early hours of the morning. I have also wished some a Happy Birthday a day early since it was their birthday here already!
10. Not Knowing Anyone: I think the thing I miss most about MU are all the friendly faces. The campus is very large and I can walk all over campus without seeing a single familiar face… never take our small little school for granted!!!!

So far, my experiences have been great. I wouldn’t trade any of the sights I’ve seen so far for the world. I can’t wait to see what else this semester brings, cheers! 

Do you live close to campus? Be a commuter! While living on campus is great and all, being a commuter has so many perks! Manchester is great at accommodating for commuters and professors are very understanding if the weather is bad or you have car trouble. Here are some bonuses to being a commuter:

• Your mom is your RA! – While obviously that is a joke, it is great to continue to live with your parents into college because they help keep you on track with school and are super encouraging! (Plus, if you are lucky like me, your parents will still do your laundry! Woohoo!)
• Your pet is your roommate! – In the dorms, we are not allowed to have pets, but at home you can have all the pets you want. And let’s be honest, animals are superior to people when it comes to roommate drama.
• You are more likely to avoid the ‘Freshman 15’! – You can eat home-cooked meals all the time and you have more healthy options in your fridge than you do in the dining hall.
  Not to mention that you are always on the go which means more exercise!
• No communal showers!! – You don’t have to wear shower shoes in your own shower! And you don’t have to worry about who used the shower before you or what unidentifiable objects are lurking in the corner.
• No judgement! – Your parents have dealt with your oddities forever so they have certainly stopped judging you by this point. They don’t care about your stuffed animal collection or your obsession with old tv shows!
• Homework time! – When you are between classes and you do not want to waste gas and head home, you have time to work on your homework! Just head over to our awesome library, find a comfy chair and get stuff done!
• We have our own house! – Here at MU, there is a house just for commuter students—with computers, couches, and microwaves—that provides a great spot to relax, eat food, or work on homework!
• SAVE MONEY! – If you live at home, you save lots of money by not having to pay for room and board! And the more money you save, the more cool stuff you can buy for yourself!

1. The Hunger Games-Never go at any 50! This means 8:50, 9:50, 10:50, and so on. People are getting out of classes at these times and are rushing to get to the Oaks just like you. If you plan on going to the Oaks before a meal ends, be prepared to hand your card to an employee so you can get swiped in before a meal ends.
2. Don’t Ask for a Bronx Basket-This is the best way to spot a first-year on campus before lanyards were invented. Just don’t do it. The workers at the Oaks know you want a sandwich, sides, and a drink. (There’s more than that there, but you get the idea).
3. Be Prepared for Awkwardness- You will see anyone from professors, exes, and frenemies at the Oaks’ Line. The best part is you get to make awkward jokes with each other and then look away or look down when you’re finished.
4. Bring a Cellphone-The cellphone is the best cure for an awkward situation. When I’m finished making conversation with some lovely acquaintances, I catch up on Facebook, SnapChat, or my mom’s many text messages.
5. If You’re Going to Wear Headphones Always Keep One Out- It’s really hard to get people’s attention when they cannot hear you. People around you will get angry especially if it’s at a rush time if they cannot get a hold of you to get your food. Plus, it’s just a good idea, if there were ever to be an emergency on campus to be aware of your surroundings.
6. Maybe Know Your Order- When I was a first-year, I remember saying my order at least ten times myself and then blanking when I saw Michelle’s smiling face. It’s very okay to do this, at least in my opinion, but that’s just because her laugh is hilarious and infectious.
7. Have Fun and Enjoy Your Meal- Self-explanatory! Now, get out there and go eat little, solider!

Bolanle Oladokun ’17 is a Communication Studies Major. Since she was a kid, she’s always loved to talk and frequently got into trouble at school for talking so much. She loves making people laugh, recording videos, and hanging out with friends. She’s happy to be able to use her gift to put a smile on people’s faces.

Back in the fall I posted what I did during a normal week. Since then, with a new semester, my schedule has evolved into something new. I wanted you to get a feel for what a week would be like with me now that baseball season is underway and I have new classes. Let’s begin!

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I always start my mornings with breakfast. I have classes at 9, 10, and 11, so I wake up at 8 to eat before my 9am. I eat lunch following my 11am which takes me up until about 12:30. After that, it really just depends on how much homework I have. Usually I like to come back and do homework until 2:30ish, leading me to baseball practice. Baseball players here normally start arriving for a 3:30 practice around 2:45 to get extra practice in, and I like to be one of those guys. After practice, I head to dinner. I eat in Haist Commons with the rest of my team. Once I get to my room and get cleaned up, relaxing always sounds great, but usually I have some homework to do because the classes I decided to take this semester are a bit harder. When I don’t have homework, I like to just lay around my room and watch TV or play guitar. Usually I’m drained from practice, so weekday nights are pretty lazy.

My Tuesdays are a bit different because I only have one class form 8-9:15. What makes it different is that I go to work at Claypool Elementary to read with the students. I go straight from class and arrive back to campus around 12. Also, I’m a back-up lunch host for a job where I eat with prospective students from 12-1, but either way I’m eating lunch at that time. From then on, the afternoon plays how I said before. On Thursday, I still have my 8am but I also have a class from 9:30-10:45. Once I’m done there, I head back to my room to chill for an hour or so, then I actually do lunch host prospective students from 12-1. Yet again, the afternoon follows the other 4 days of the week.

As of right now, my weekends consist of practicing, homework, guitar, and just relaxing. Starting March 4, though, the baseball team starts its weekend games. So, I will either have doubleheaders on campus, or I will be playing at another college. Aside from baseball on the weekends, there won’t be much time for relaxation. I plan to do homework – if I even have any – on the bus ride or when I get back on Sunday nights.

This is a bit different from my Fall semester but it’s all the same concept: class, practice, homework, relax. My schedule may be different from others because of being a student-athlete, deciding to take somewhat harder classes during season, and working 3 jobs (yes, that is all possible). Whatever homework I have I get done with plenty of time to relax and do other activities. If you didn’t get a chance to read my other post from the Fall, the link is below!

https://www.manchester.edu/hub/social-media/blogs/nick-rush/spartan-blogs/2016/10/07/a-week-with-me

Nick Rush ’20 is studying Sports Management and plans on minoring in another business area. He plays baseball for MU, and he plans on working in the sports industry after graduation.

I will preface by saying that I’m fairly confident in my French speaking ability at this point; I can work my way through most any situation I need to. That being said, any word containing -uill- is next to impossible for me to say. E.g. Accueillir (to host), Mère d'accueil (Host mother), Feuille (Sheet or Leaf), Réveiller (To wake up), Ecureuil (Squirrel), and Aiguille (Needle).

To    set    the    scene,   I   walk    3-4    miles   a    day    in    Strasbourg    and    my on-sale-from-Marshall’s jeans are not meant for that. Needless to say (pun intended), a hole or two will show up which need mended. I came to discover just how hard aiguille   is to say the first couple of times I asked my host mother for a needle and thread (Marshall’s socks are also not meant to be walked in that much). *Disclaimer: Ivanka Trump did not pay me to trash Nordstrom/Marshall’s, it just  happens that I buy cheap clothing from them* Anywho, I felt bad for always  asking my host mother for a needle and thread, so I went to the store to buy my own,  then I could fix all my socks and my bag, etc.

Bref, I searched the whole store, twice, to no avail. Once all hope was lost, I decided to ask someone who worked there where they were. Seeing as I can’t say aiguille correctly to save my life, I decided to search for the word on my phone, then I’d just show the lady the word, apologise, and tell her I’m looking for that. I’m sure I’m definitely not the first foreigner to do this, but it’s a good idea, eh?

So, the plan was set, I went up to the lady and said (in French), “I’m really sorry, but I can’t say this word to save my life, I’m looking for this (gesturing towards the dreaded aforementioned word).”

“Aiguille,” she said, not unlike one of the Knights who say, “Ni!”

“Yes, that,” I said expecting to have to go find a shrubbery or to cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with a herring.

“No, repeat after me, aiguille” “Aiguiyya,” I said like Bedivere…

“Aye - gwui - ya,” she said more like the King of the Britons “Aiguille,” I said with 50% confidence

“Aiguille”

“Aiguille,” I said confidently, hoping it wasn’t about to change to Ekke ekke ekke ekke ptang zoo boing…

“Ok, you’ve earned it, I’ll show you where they are,” she replied with proud relief. She led me to an end cap I’d somehow managed to miss the first few times I’d searched the store. “Voilà, les  A-I-G-U-I-L-L-E-S!”

I doubt you’d see someone working at Meijer’s taking the time to help immigrant (or migrant in my case) trying to learn English in that way; I sure hope they would. I don’t know if this story is that exciting on the other side (or if you now hate me because of the attempted Monty Python jokes), but this is one of the memories that will really stick with me. She could’ve rolled her eyes and gestured in the general direction of the needle and thread as per the stereotype, but instead, she took the time to help me improve.

People are cool. Every single one of them is unique in their own special way; it’s hardly impossible to find someone that is exactly like someone else. Since my temporary move to the incredibly large city of Barcelona, this observation has time and time again proven to be true. When I walk down the street in the morning on my way to class, I people watch; it’s a lot less creepy than it sounds, I promise. I just emerge from my metro station, and the sounds and smells of the city fill the air around me, and my wanderlust heart skips a beat. Some days, I see middle-aged business men rushing to catch a taxi to the office and girls dressed down for a morning stroll, and other days I find groups of skater boys (I always say “see you later boys”) skating in the University Plaza and older women frantically running from store to store looking for the best deals on shoes and sweaters. Just walking around the city is an adventure within itself, I’m telling you. You never know what you’re going to find!

            After lunch the other day, I decided to venture down to one of my favorite spots in Barcelona: Playa Nova Icaria. Located to the left of Port Olympic and in front of Ciutadella Vila Olímpica (the Olympic village from the 1992 Summer Olympics), this beach is fairly empty Mondays – Fridays and the views are absolutely insane! It’s a great place to have a picnic lunch, or to read a book, or even to exercise or play volleyball. The sun has been out every day this week, and this Florida girl is getting in as much beach time as she can while the weather permits. I noticed though, that wearing a bathing suit to the beach, or even wearing shorts, is uncommon here; I’m not in Florida anymore. It was almost 70 degrees today, and I was just laying on my towel soaking up the sun with a good book, and wow I got a lot of stares. I guess khaki shorts and a swimsuit top are very interesting things to look at. The locals all wear heavy winter coats, long pants, and scarves this time of year, even if the weather is warm and spring-like. It almost reminds me of my hometown; if it dips below 70, WalMart stocks up on winter coats and UGG boots. Maybe it’s the Indiana rubbing off on me, but I think 70 degrees and sunny is perfect weather for shorts and a tee shirt!

            Aside from the clothing differences, I really am starting to feel like a local here. I speak Spanish constantly, and I’m actually able to help people navigate the city more. It’s amazing what 5 weeks in Spain can do for a person’s language skills! I’m meeting all sorts of people too, and I’m learning so much about this incredible place. My favorite thing of all, though, is that I’m getting to know the people that have lived here their whole lives. I found a group of people that meets once a week just to practice language exchanges – I’m learning Catalan, a dialect of Castellano (Spanish), and I’m teaching others how to speak English. It’s kind of like the Intercultural Center at MU, but instead of focusing on mixing cultures, this group divides itself into subgroups so that language exchange can occur. My group, for example, is a Catalan – English group (that’s a really popular one), but there are also German – English, Italian – Catalan, and I think even Chinese – Castellano groups. I’ve met students from all over the world just by attending one meeting. One girl, Laia, is a physics student that’s lived across the street from La Sagrada Familia (aka my favorite piece of architecture) her entire life. To her, it’s no big deal, it’s just a church. To me? HOLY WOW. That’s something I can only dream of doing.

            Meeting people in Barcelona is a great way to gain a new respect for the life you lead in the United States. The standard of living and the quality of life in Spain are similar to those in the United States, but the cultures are so different it almost makes me wonder if I’ve been living my entire life the wrong way. You see, Spaniards like to drink, although never in excess. It’s pretty normal to see people drinking a beer with lunch, or a glass of wine with dinner here. In Indiana, on the other hand, having wine at dinner is (at least to me) the mark of wealth and status in society. Spaniards also really like espresso. If I go to a coffee shop, I have to order a “café con leche” (coffee with milk) because black coffee is 10x as strong here as it is back home. I love cafés con leches, though, so I’m not complaining in the least.

            Barcelona is leaving quite an impact on me, I must say. I thought I had this world figured out already, but then I got here, and it’s like I was in a whole other lifetime. Everybody has a story, and I had always judged the people of Barcelona by their cover – Spain. Until I really got to know this city, I had no idea how complex, exciting, and proud its people were. I mean, just check out this fire parade I stumbled upon! I’m not entirely sure what they were celebrating, but still, you could see how proud these guys were about what they were doing. There were fireworks, drumlines, and even dances!

In other news, festival season is quickly approaching, so I’m about to be very busy! Lots of pictures will be taken (you’re welcome, Mom) and I will be sure to fill you all in with the details in two weeks! Until next time. - B

History

I received my first cellphone in 5th grade. It was a white Cingular flip phone with red hearts and glitter on it. I couldn’t use it for much because I was only allotted 50 ingoing and outgoing text messages (total) and the internet didn’t work. During the first few months, I ran up the bill to $300 because I went over my text message limit. The phone company took the charge off, but I knew it would happen again. Several cellphones later, I eventually had a phone with internet on it. It was a gold Razr phone. I left it in my school skirt and it got washed in the washing machine. Needless to say, my parents weren’t too pleased. Luckily, I was able to have my sister’s old flip phone and charged up the internet bill to $1,000. Again, the cellphone company took it off, but they forced me to enroll in my first data plan.

My First Smart Phone

I received Chester the iPhone (don’t judge me, yes I named it) Christmas of my first year of college. We went everywhere together. I used it as an alarm clock, camera, a source of entertainment when I was bored, and thing to look at when I got into awkward situations or when I wasn’t comfortable looking at another person when I walked passed them (you do it too). It was in my hands at all times.

The Day Chester Gave Up

On February 16, 2017 at approximately 11:30am, my phone dropped at the Jo Young Switzer Center for the last time. I was talking with Berta (who works at the register) and it just fell. The screen split from the phone and it was unfixable. At that point, I was fine because I went to my classes and my professors have policies against them. When I got back, I immediately called my Mom and Dad and they let me know that I would be without a phone until Monday (cue dramatic music).

Friday

The day started off pretty well. Again my classes have policies about cell phones and it didn’t bother me …that much. However, I notice something strange was happening. I felt unplugged and disconnected from the world. When classes would end, I’d often see my peers immediately bring out their cellphones and look. For once, I was forced to face my boring surroundings. As the day progressed, I started to get antsy. We went Walmart and everyone was looking at their cellphones to and from there. I was forced to make conversation, but no one was biting.

Saturday

I used my laptop to go on Facebook. Facebook messenger is super impersonal and none of my friends liked communicating with me. I also look at SnapChat daily and it gives me updates on the people around me. I panicked and found an emulator that would allow me to use it on my laptop. I could see messages, but it wouldn’t let me send or look at Snapchat stories.

Sunday

This was probably the worst day ever. My parents called and alerted me that the next day was President’s Day and I’d probably get my phone Tuesday. I relied on Facebook to tell me what was going on in the world. (Side note: the layout on Facebook is so much better on mobile.)

Monday

I went to class in the morning with no sense of time because I use my phone as a clock. I went to lunch and went back to dorm. I saw the email from the campus bookstore and ran the fastest I could. My heart was beating rapidly and it was first time I was happy that it was not a care package, but my brand new cellphone. I immediately turned it on and started downloading all of my apps back.

Lesson Learned

I’ve learned that my cellphone has many uses and it may not be good to rely on it for so many things. Therefore, I plan to buy an actual watch to track time and maybe cutback on how long I use my cellphone. Human contact is the best contact.

This past weekend I attended the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference, or MBLGTACC. Catchy name, right? It took place on Navy Pier in downtown Chicago, and included about 2,000 college students from all across the Midwest that were passionate about LGBT+ rights.

Spending time in this space was pretty amazing. The amount of solidarity and intersectionality made it feel safe and open. It’s hard to describe the feeling of walking down Navy Pier, somewhere I have been many times, and knowing that the majority of the people were a part of the queer community. There was no place for intolerance at this conference, everyone was open to everyone else’s identity. I’ve never been in a space so full of people that shared a community and ideals about human rights but were so different in identity and individuality.

The conference opened with a keynote by Patricia Cullors, a founder of Black Lives Matter, who reminded us that the resistance has always been queer. Queer black women started Black Lives Matter, and queer liberation is black liberation. There were many workshops for queer people of color, and this solidarity is crucial to building a strong community that builds each other up.

I identify as bisexual, and this conference afforded me many opportunities to meet people who identified the same way I did, and to learn about the history. On Saturday, the second workshop I attended was called Bi Our Own Voices, and discussed oral histories of the bisexual movement. It made me realize that a lot of myths about the bisexual community exist, and erasure is really common. Many oral histories of LGBT+ movements do not include even one bisexual person. The B in LGBT does not just mean ‘and’. There is an entire history that accompanies it and this conference made me realize that I am proud to be a part of that, which is more than just a letter in an acronym.

The most poignant workshop I went to was on conversion therapy. Samuel Brinton is a survivor of conversion therapy, a nuclear physicist who advises the president, the leader of the Kink and BDSM 101 workshop, and an activist for ending conversion therapy. So, I guess that’s relatable? He led a workshop on #50Bills50states, a movement he started to pass a bill in each state to make conversion therapy illegal. It is estimated that 1 in 3 LGBT+ people have gone through conversion therapy to some degree. As an 11-year-old child, Pavlovian training techniques were used on Brinton to ‘turn him straight.’ This form of torture is still legal in 45 states. Visit www.50bills50states.org to find out if your state is participating in these human rights abuses, or email hello@50bills50states.org to find out how to submit a bill in your state. Sam Brinton, and this entire conference, reminded me that activism is better than empathy.

We can feel bad for people until the cows come home, we can say that we’re in solidarity with a struggle, but it is not until we actually stand up and do something that we can truly make a difference. 

I love February, but I’ve especially loved this February. In the past, I’ve dropped my new year’s resolutions by the time February has begun, but this year, I’ve worked hard to keep them up. My main resolution was to be healthy, both mentally and physically. I’ve worked hard to do well in my classes and to get enough sleep, but I’ve also kept up eating well and working out. Staying healthy in college used to be a struggle for me, but I think I finally found my groove.

I didn’t want to try and change myself or my life too much, because in actuality it’s hard to just wake up one day and change your routine, but gradually changing little things is a lot easier and more realistic. I’ve started eating better. I cut out lots of fatty food, pop, and a lot of sugar, and I’ve tried to eat more leafy greens and fruit, and to drink more water. I’ve also started going to the gym at least four times a week.

Changing your routine and staying healthy is a lot easier when you have a work out buddy, or someone to help keep you from straying or stopping altogether. My freshman and sophomore years, I always told myself to go to the gym, but I never actually went, or kept up the routine of going. This year, however, my roommate also decided to eat healthy and workout, so I have someone to go to meals with, and go to the PERC with. It’s also great to have that person to tell you it’s okay if you miss a day of working out, or decide to splurge and go to McDonalds.

There are a ton of different things you can do to stay healthy in college, and you don’t have to do all of them. Even just one thing, changing your routine in one way, to stay healthy would be an awesome goal. I try to adopt a new habit to stay healthy at least once a month. What will you do?

Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy in College

1. Get enough sleep. It’s important to get enough sleep as a college student in order to be alert and feel rested for classes, work, athletics, etc. And the magic number of hours of sleep is different for each person, even so, try to get a much sleep as you need to be refreshed when you wake up.
2. Drink water. Water. Water. Seriously, drink your water. Drinking soda and sugary drinks 24/7 is really really bad for you and will make you feel sluggish all day. If you’re not a fan of water, try tea, or adding lemon or mint to your water.
3. Watch what you eat. Diet plays a HUGE role in being healthy, and it really is true “you are what you eat.” Eating unhealthy foods will also leave you feel sluggish all day. So if you eat mainly vegetables, lean meats, and fruits, you’re going to have so much more energy and feel so much better than someone who eats burgers, pizza, and chips at every meal. Also allow yourself to “cheat” and eat your favorite food now and then. You don’t have to cut out all your favorite junk food, just monitor and be cautious of when and how much you eat.
4. Get some exercise. Even though not many people actually want to work out or go to the gym, exercise is really important in being healthy. And the PERC is included in tuition, so take advantage of that and don’t let your money go to waste.
5. Don’t get sick. Whether it’s taking vitamins or eating foods to boost your immune system (citrus, broccoli, garlic, spinach, yogurt, and almonds), making sure your body is healthy to avoid getting sick is really important. In college, it’s so easy to catch a bug or a cold since everyone is living and spending time in such close spaces. All the other tips on staying healthy also help you avoid getting sick.

All these tips, whether all together or standing alone, will help you stay healthy, and get even healthier.

“Eat clean. Stay fit. And have a burger to stay sane.” - Gigi Hadid


Hannah Brown '18 is from Yellow Springs, Ohio. She is majoring in Peace Studies with a focus on Social Justice. She also works as a Student Ambassador at Manchester.

As a second semester sophomore and a Student Orientation Leader, I often look at the first years and think about when I was in their shoes. I think about how easy it was for me to make the decision to come to MU, and how glad I am that I came to that decision. Manchester, for me, is one of my favorite places; I look forward to coming back every summer. And still, after being here for what feels like forever already, MU never ceases to surprise me. For example, in the past two weeks alone on campus, I:

• Got to hang out with the two service dogs in the library
• Got a caricature in the JYSC
• Learned how to analyze cognitive data for a research project
• Went to a birthday party for one of my great MU friends
• Learned some karate moves
• Made a book/journal at a club meeting
• Had a game night with some of my best friends
• Tried guacamole for the first time
• Went to a basketball game
• Went to a hypnotist
• And had a work pizza party at one of my on-campus jobs.

Just get involved, put yourself out there, and you never know what fun things will arise at Manchester! MU, thank you for all you have done for me so far, and all you will do for me in the next two and a half years!

Sincerely,

A very grateful MU undergrad

Food
My favourite perk of programme trips is always the meals, hands down (I’m not a foodie by any means). As part of the programme, our host families provide us with breakfast and dinner; for lunch we have 5,75€ provided, anything past we pay on our own. Needless to say, we don’t eat the same way during the week as on these trips. In the fall, our group was over 20 people. We usually filled the restaurant! Not only are group dinners an opportunity for great food, it’s a great time to hear stories from the other students (the Strasbourg programme is with Lewis & Clark College, Kalamazoo College, and Bryn Mawr College).

The best part of a weekend in Paris is, of course, just walking around. I’ll let the pictures speak to that.




Zander E. Willoughby ’18 is a Political Science & French major & Peace Studies minor, and a former Multicultural Affairs Programmer, Student Senate Vice-President, Model U.N. Secretary-General and more. He is currently studying in Strasbourg, France at the Institut d'Études Politiques at Université de Strasbourg. His future plans include working in International Relations or International Law, hopefully within the U.N. system.

Hey, guys! I’m from the wonderful residence hall of Schwalm, but I love blogging so I’m just going to tell you about Helman. Don’t worry! I brought my friend and resident of Helman, Nathan Timmerman, to help me out in finding the highlights of the dorm. So, sit back and relax!

1. Comfy Places- I can’t tell you enough about how comfortable the chairs are in there. They have a nice fire place that you can turn off and on for those cold nights or if you’re trying to impress a date. Me and Nathan were contemplating on life’s great mysteries during my tour.
   
   
2. Entertainment and Art- There are many sources of entertainment inside the building. Helman has a foosball table, pool table, TV, and a charging station for people like me who are too lazy to go their room to get their charger when they’re studying. There’s a huge black and white painting in the great room, and they also have a lovely crest. People regularly play Cards Against Humanity in the lobby. So, if you are ever bored on a Friday night just come on down and pull up a chair.
3. Charities- One unique item I noticed in Helman is they have a special sitting area dedicated to 85 Hope where people can donate personal hygiene items. 85 Hope is a free medical clinic in Wabash, Indiana.

Nathan Timmerman, a sophomore resident, says, “I love the balance of Helman. If you want a quiet experience you can enjoy it, but if you want to be social it’s also possible.”

If you like all of these amenities, but seek a quieter dorm check out my blog on Oakwood! 

Hey, guys! I’m from the wonderful residence hall of Schwalm, but I love blogging, so I’m just going to tell you about Oakwood. Don’t worry! I brought my friend and resident of Oakwood, Ashley Martin, to help me out in finding the highlights of the hall. So, sit back and relax!

1. Comfy Places- I can’t tell you enough about how comfortable the chairs are in Oakwood. There’s a nice fire place that you can turn off and on for those cold nights or if you’re trying to impress a date. Oakwood is known for being a quiet dorm which is good if you’re a person who likes to study or nap.
   
2. Entertainment- There are many sources of entertainment inside the building. Oakwood has a foosball table, pool table, TV, and a charging station for people like me who are too lazy to go their room to get their charger when they’re studying.
   
   
   
3. Fun Bulletin Boards and Artwork- As a senior, I’ve developed good habits on time management and managing stress levels. However, when I was a first year it didn’t come to me. The motivational bulletin boards on each floor offer tips and change periodically. They are a nice refreshing daily reminder that you’re never truly alone.
   
   

Ashley Martin, a senior resident, says, “I love how quiet Oakwood is and how respectful everyone is to each other.”  

If you like all of these amenities, but a seek a more social dorm check out my blog on Helman! 

I’ve taken a lot of trips in my short 20 years of life. I’ve done everything from the classic, month-long cross country road trip on I-10 – the interstate connecting Jacksonville, FL to Los Angeles, CA – to taking a simple day trip to Chicago. None of these somewhat spontaneous trips, however, even come close to the excursion I went on last weekend.

Through Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA), students are required to go on an excursion with the rest of the BCA group near the beginning of the semester. During the spring semester in Barcelona, students visit northern Catalunya, exploring everything from ancient ruins and monasteries to museums and small ocean towns along Costa Brava. The whole weekend is spent immersing yourself in the art, history, and nature of Spain, and wow it is such a cool experience! During our trip, we stayed at a hotel in Girona, Spain – about 40 minutes from the French Border. Girona is kind of like the European version of Wabash – the next, slightly bigger, town over from North Manchester. It’s right on the Onyar River, and it’s full of incredibly kind people and lots of history. When our group was visiting, there was this farmer’s market/carnival right on the river. Vendors sold everything from meats and cheeses to jewelry and stationary. There were rides for the little kids too, powered solely by a man using a hand crank to make the mechanisms twist and spin. My favorite part of this whole weekend though, I must say, would have to be watching the sun set from the top of the Roman Walls that surround the old Jewish neighborhood. We could see the mountains from our spot on the Wall and, as the day faded into the night, everything seemed to get quieter, but also so alive. It’s amazing how a sleepy little town like Girona comes to life when their world goes dark. I love it. Below is a picture from that night. I hope you appreciate it as much as I do!

Life in Europe is so different than it is in the United States, and boy do I love it. Consumer products seem to be cheaper here, university classes are nothing like they are at MU, and I swear the coffee here was made by angels – it’s that good. I get up most mornings around 8 or 8:30, depending on how much effort I want to put into my appearance, and I eat the breakfast that my host mom prepares me. For me, personally, breakfast always consists of a juice box and a bocadillo (a little sandwich with some sort of lunch meat, olive oil, and a tomato spread), but I know that other students luck out and get chocolate (aka Nutella) crepes every morning. It’s a little out there when compared to what Americans usually start their days with, but I must admit: it’s pretty darn good. After breakfast, I get ready, and I hop on the metro and go to class. Classes here are 1.5 hours long, and they meet twice a week sometime between Monday and Thursday. Words cannot express how much I enjoy my new life here. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and my time here has only just begun.

            Because I have so much freedom, I spend a lot of my time exploring and looking for good, cheap flights to other European cities. Every night, however, I make it a point to sit down and read a chapter or two of whatever book I happen to have picked up. My favorite book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is one that I read once or twice or year, and it’s the kind of book that seems to have something new to say every time you look through it. While I was reading last night, I came across one of my favorite quotes: “But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there. We can still do things.” To me, this quote is one that I feel is quite fitting for me, and for anyone who feels kind of discouraged in life. Just because we haven’t always made the best decisions, and things have happened that we aren’t too proud of, it doesn’t mean that it has to determine what we do for the rest of our lives. Because of this quote, along with the support of my family and friends, I felt motivated and determined enough to go to Spain, and to study in this beautiful city. That’s really all anybody needs to go on this kind of adventure - love, faith, and support. I have just recently discovered the Perks of Being a Traveler, and believe me, I have no intentions on stopping any time soon. Until next time. - B


Becca Kaplan ’19, is a Spanish Secondary Education major with minors in TESOL and Business. As a commuter student, she spends most of her time on campus either studying, watching Netflix, or writing her next blog post. When classes are not in session, Becca usually travels, either visiting her parents in Florida, or her extended family in St. Louis.