If you know me at all you’ll know that anytime I’m on my laptop I’m either watching Netflix, scrolling thru Pinterest, or (more often) taking Buzzfeed quizzes. I like finding things out about myself, like which Hogwarts House I’d be sorted into (it’s Ravenclaw), what my dominant personality trait is, or even what Bob Ross painting I am.

As an avid Buzzfeed quiz taker, I decided to compile a list of a few of my favorite Buzzfeed personality quizzes for you to take if you also want to find out more about yourself.

• Which Famous Sarah Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahaspler/which-famous-sarah-are-you?utm_term=.jkar3ym8Aj#.grGyqzgokZ

• What’s Your Dominant Character Trait?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/whats-your-dominant-character-trait?utm_term=.vez13XBqJa#.jqPVl1QKNW

• What Does Your Taste In Dessert Say About You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/joannaborns/taste-in-dessert?utm_term=.pmWqWMNevB#.snp3WbME6O

• Which Hogwarts House Do You Belong In?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mackenziekruvant/which-hogwarts-house-do-you-belong-in?utm_term=.ylKlJB9QKP#.ecBoVMqO8Z

• What Bob Ross Painting Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/erinchack/which-bob-ross-painting-are-you?utm_term=.mrlNZWg4Ad#.wfMeK5279a

• Which Member Of The British Royal Family Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kimberleydadds/tell-us-your-favourite-british-things-and-well-tell-you-whic?utm_term=.lq1m9NjqzG#.dj5XgkKzqm

• Which ‘00s Disney Channel Parent Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/basicdisney/which-2000s-disney-channel-parent-are-you-1ap2x?utm_term=.nnQ30zGY46#.cdy5APpOmN

• Which TV Mean Girl Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/lilaspen/which-tv-mean-girl-are-you-2ay1c?utm_term=.buz6JPwyp0#.pmWqWMNevB

• Which Kardashian-Jenner Are You?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/angelospagnolo/which-kardashian-jenner-are-you?utm_term=.ebwXd1KP0R#.qhrlvZqa5r

I know that there are millions of other Buzzfeed, and non-Buzzfeed personality quizzes out there, but this was a list of just a few of my personal favorites. While online quizzes can be fun and silly, they don’t define you, and they’re not always correct. To me, they are something humorous and entertaining to pass the time, and make me smile.

I had no idea what to blog about today and was unsure if I was going to be able to come up with something. I turned on my computer to look up some blog ideas, clicked on the Google homepage and I knew what I wanted to talk about before even typing in the search bar. Right there, in the Google logo, was all the inspiration I needed. Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day so Google made a special doodle, just like they always do. But today’s was different, today’s gave me a sense of pride, a sense of hope. This doodle was not about celebrating Dr. King, but it was about his message, which I’m sure is what Dr. King would rather us celebrate. The doodle, as shown below, is a drawing of six people standing side-by-side with arms linked in unity. I then read a little about the doodle depiction and found out that the artist was trying to capture one of the major themes of King's speeches and writing: unity. King once said, "All life is interrelated," and what a better way to show such a theme than with people of all shapes, sizes, and colors, standing side-by-side with linked arms? King urged Americans of all races to keep "working toward a world of brotherhood, cooperation, and peace." Now, I do not know what political side you find yourself on, nor does it matter to me, but it does matter to me how we treat other people. We go to a college of love where we celebrate “the infinite worth of every individual,” but the outside world is always like that and we must, as Manchester students and alumni, make a difference in this aspect. Go out and show the world how to love and accept others, no matter who they are, no matter what they look like, and let us help our country to stand up for one another in times of trial and heartache.

On Thursday, I was on a field trip to Chicago and I was very sick, so at some point I asked my professor if he could take me to the train station and my mom was going to pick me up at a stop in Indiana. The train never showed, so I was all alone in the train stop with nobody I knew and no official employees anywhere to be seen. All that was there was a few benches, three ticket machines, and two small enclosed areas with barely any heat. So, as expected, I called my mom and had a total breakdown. I was alone, in South Chicago, and very afraid. At this point, we did not know that the trains were no longer running that day due to weather so I went ahead and bought a ticket and sat down in the enclosed area with a few benches and a little open space. One other man was at the stop with me, a black man who appeared to have just gotten off work at a factory or something. I was utterly ashamed at myself for racial stereotyping (and I was fully aware I was doing it), but I was afraid of him. I realized that I had a few questions and decided that I would very politely ask for his assistance and see where it went. I didn’t have many options at that point, and I figured being very nice was my best option. I was even more ashamed with myself when this man turned into one of the nicest, most helpful people. He was supposed to get on the same train as myself and he said that he was here early for it and it had not arrived so he assured me that I did not miss it. He then would check his phone periodically to ensure that we were updated. I could tell this man was leery of me as well because anytime he would show me something on his phone about the train, he would approach very slowly and make sure I was not freaking out about it or anything. The whole thing was almost ridiculous, we were both a little afraid of each other, not because either had posed a threat, but because media has socialized us to be this way. Finally, when another man arrived and we all realized that the trains were just not running, they were both very concerned about me. My phone was about to die so I told them that my plan was to walk over to Michigan Ave and go sit inside a hotel I could see from the station. I told them I would call my professor from there so he could come get me and both men wished me luck and made me promise I would be safe. They genuinely cared about what happened to me, and they have no idea how much it means to me. We must stop being afraid of each other, and learn to love and accept each other, and today we need to remember King’s words, that “All life is interrelated.”

Cutting through the Parc de l’Orangerie started in either 1801 or 1735, depending on who you ask, I can see the swans swimming in the pond that takes up most of the park. Sans ice and snow, the pond would usually be full of row boats and ducks. The Parc de l’Orangerie is a great place to go for a walk, read a book, or have a picnic. It’s usually full of joggers, pets, picnickers, kids running around, couples walking in the park, families at the zoo (that’s right, our park has a zoo), and more! Given that it’s winter, today it’s just me, the swans, and the odd person walking alone.

Past my ‘longcut,’ I walk past the construction site of the soon-to-be Orthodox church on the western bank of the Rhine. Through the quiet neighbourhood which, really seems to be just as quiet as my street in the middle of centre ville, nonetheless, I really enjoy the calmness of Strasbourg on the weekends. I soon arrive at the home of one of the families to whom I teach English. During my time in Strasbourg, not only have I had the wonderful opportunity to take such beautiful walks through town to get everywhere, but also to meet some amazing people, especially my ‘English students!’ Being an American abroad, I’m fully aware that anything I say and/or do will often be taken to represent all Americans. Teaching English is one way that I can do my, albeit small, part in representing the U.S. as a form of cultural exchange. It also helps buy sweaters and tarte flambée.

Ever since the Fall 2016 semester ended, I have been working, reading books, and traveling, just trying to come up with some inspiration to do something great. That’s what Manchester University has done to me. It’s a place that has helped me learn so much about who I am, who I want to be, where I’m from, and where I want to go in life; it has given me inspiration and motivation to be better. My first “great”? Studying abroad. My second? Choosing a major that is right for me, instead of one that was almost forced upon me. You see, at Manchester, both faculty and students encourage each other to be themselves. From the various campus clubs, to all the different cultures represented, to the gender-neutral bathrooms located in the Academic Center, there truly is a place for every student. For me, I found my place through my First Year Seminar (FYS) class. When I arrived on campus my first day in August 2015, I was put into a group with about 20 other first year students, and it was during week one that I made some incredible friends, along with professors, that would later inspire me to do whatever makes me happy, because I only have this one life to live, and I need to make the most of it. Without their help, I don’t think I would be the same person, and I love who I am now.

So, you may be wondering why this awkward sophomore is rambling on and on about “finding your place in this world” and “being happy.” I think the answer lies in the question – being happy in this world. For the first time in I don’t know how long, I am truly happy with my life. Here’s how it happened: I went to the Activities Fair in September of my freshman year, and I wandered over to the Study Abroad booth where I met Professor Thelma Rohrer. With her help, along with the help of classmates and students that have already returned from their semesters abroad, I was able to select a program that was right for me, and complete deadlines to make my dream of exploring Spain a reality.

As a Secondary Education major with a concentration in Spanish education (and a possible minor or two), Barcelona is the perfect place for me to combine my Spanish studies and my loves for art, architecture, and history. I can enjoy walking through Barcelona’s streets, admire the work of the famous Antoni Gaudí, go to the Dalí museum, immerse myself in the Spanish language, and enjoy Spanish cuisine and delicious cups of European coffee all in one day. It’s an amazing opportunity, and I encourage everyone to at least consider their options regarding Study Abroad. There is a lot of work to do before departure, but I promise you, it’s worth it.

My adventure begins on January 15, when I will make my journey across Atlantic Ocean to the coast of Spain. When I first started the process of applying to the BCA program – BCA being the company that Manchester uses to send their students abroad – I was terrified. I was scared that, even though I worked so hard, I wouldn’t be able to go. This is the dream I never thought would come true, and now it has. I could say I owe all of my thanks to Manchester, but that would be a lie. Yes, Manchester presented me with an abundance of opportunities, but it was really my family that pushed me to do everything I could to fulfill my life-long dream. They tend to do that a lot – push me. My family has always expected the best from me, and they try so hard to help me in any way that they can. They pushed me to study hard in high school, they pushed me to go to a college that would better fit my needs rather than a school where a lot of my friends were going to, and they pushed me to be a better woman who deserves so much more than some stupid man who broke my heart.

My whole pre-departure experience almost makes me think of the book I’m reading right now, titled Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler. One of the main characters in the novel, Lee, is a famous musician who’s first album is all about how it was the people in his life that practically forced him to keep pursuing his dream of music by way of doubting his success. He appropriately titled the album Shotgun Lovesongs, comparing his overwhelming sense of failure to a shotgun wedding where a couple gets married because there is an urgency to do so – usually with a shotgun held to the groom’s back by the bride’s father. Lee used his fear of failing as the “shotgun” against his back and, because of it, he produced an album that led to his big break as a musician. So, here I am, ready to leave the United States for the first time, and I feel ready. I used my fear of letting everyone down, of letting myself down, to motivate me to meet my deadlines and make it to Spain. If I can do it, so can you.

To anyone who is even considering going abroad for a semester or two, here’s some advice: dream big, try your best, don’t ever forget where you come from, take lots of pictures, and try as many news things as you can. Life is way too short to not be extraordinary, and who knows if you’ll ever find yourself abroad again? Take every chance you can, while you still have time.

My experience as a Spartan Abroad will be from January 15 until May 6, 2017. Between that time, I will be posting updates to Spartan Blogs every 1.5 – 2 weeks, and to my personal blog (www.beccagraceface.wordpress.com) every 7 – 10 days. I promise you, I will tell you all about my latest and greatest adventures, and I will take way too many pictures as proof. Until next time. – B

FOOD

Alsatian food tends to be a mix between French and German food. One of my professors told us a joke that Alsatians tell:

French food is good, but there’s not a lot of it. 
German food isn’t good, but there’s always a lot of it.
Alsatian food is good and there’s always a lot of it.

The Strasbourg Christmas Market is the best opportunity for Alsatians to share their culture, especially through their food. As I’ve been reminded by half the Strasbourgeois I’ve spoken to, it’s ‘Not as good as their grandmothers’,’ but when is streetfood ever? Anyways, the market is full of great Franco-Germanic-Alsatian food! Though the Vin Chaud (Hot spiced wine) usually overshadows the rest, there’s flambées (Tarte flambée/flàmmeküeche/flammkuchen [#FunWithTrilingualism] on a baguette [like a pizza/fajitas/ambiguous open-faced tortilla-esque thing]), Spätzle, Pretzels, all the chocolate one could want, Cords Américains (A candy rope thing, I don’t see what makes it American, but whatever), and a whole section of Portuguese food in an area that features a different country each year!

Knickknacks, Paddy Whacks, Trinkets, and Doodads

Though most things in the market now come from China, the Market is a great opportunity for local artists and artisans to showcase their products. Half of Place Broglie is Christmas ornaments, lights, and pieces of art. By Temple Neuf (I add all the place names half for the people who’ve been to Strasbourg, but not the market, and half because I know my dad has Google Maps open in another tab right now) there are various artists and some of the finer chocolatiers. During the non-Christmas season, Place Broglie and maybe others I don’t know host art markets, some of these artists run stands in the market. I’ve been told that the market isn’t as good as the ‘good ol’ days’ when it comes to such knickknacks, paddy whacks, trinkets, and doodads, but it’s still great.

Hot Wine | Vin Chaud | Glühwein

I’ve saved the most well-known for last: Vin chaud in Alsace is generally made with Riesling wine (in the Spring, when I know more, I’ll try to write about Alsatian wines) and spices. Though just about everyone claims that ‘their grandmother’s is better,’ vin chaud (glühwein, hot wine, fun, eh?) is primarily made with cinnamon (sticks, of course), cloves, star anise, citrus, sugar, and sometimes vanilla. One can find different variants of this in the market, which all cost more than the usual 2,50€, so I haven’t tried any of these ones… Hot wine is sometimes made as well with red wine, which is sacrilegious to some, but tastes just fine. According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, glühwein is also often made with blueberry wine and cherry wine, though more so in Germany, I haven’t seen any of these in the market, sadly. The market also has hot orange juice with basically the same spices and honey added. (I’d admit that the orange juice is just as good as or better than the hot wine, but I’d get scolded by at least 5 people, so I’ll refrain from that.)

Overall, the market is a great opportunity to experience Alsatian, French, and German culture, get something to eat, enjoy the lights, or go for a walk with friends. There’s always something new one could find; in amongst the Chinese plastic stuff, there are some real gems. It’s truly one of the best things Strasbourg has to offer.


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.

If you know me, you know that winter is my favorite season. There’s something just so magical about the snow, the fashion, twinkle lights, and bundling up to brace the cold. Also, I love peppermint hot chocolate with all my heart and it’s really only available during winter.

To me, winter break is the best time of the year! I love being home in my small hometown in Ohio, being with friends and family, celebrating the holidays, the snow, and all the food I get to eat. However, over winter break I always end up staying in bed, watching Christmas movies, and drinking hot chocolate. Not that that any of those are bad things, I just never get around to doing all the things I want to do. This year, I’ve decided to make a bucket list for the 19 days I’m home.

So here ya go!

Hannah’s Winter Break Bucket List 2016:

• Go ice-skating! Every year I tell myself that I’ll go ice-skating with my friends, and every year I never do. So this year, I will make plans to go ice-skating in Dayton, OH at the rink by the river. It’s such a beautiful place, to have the city on one side, and the Great Miami River on the other side.
• Start and finish a book! I’ve always loved reading, but since I started college, I’ve found it hard to make time to read, let alone finish a book. I have dozens of amazing novels and non-fiction books that I’ve wanted to read, like Devil in the White City, All Rivers Run to the Sea, and A Casual Vacancy. So this break, I plan on starting and finishing at least one book, or maybe all three.
• Donate old clothes! I have so many clothes that I don’t wear, and don’t need. So rather than keeping them, and letting them take up space I could use for other things, I’ve decided to donate them to my local Salvation Army.
• Bake cookies! Just like ice-skating, I also tell myself every year that I’ll bake cookies or other desserts and pastries with my mom. And yet, we never do, so this year will be different.
• Have a spa day with my friends! My friends and I love doing facemasks and painting our nails, so this year I plan on making a whole day out of it. We’ve already decided that we will do homemade facials, do our nails, make hair masks, and have tea.
• Set (and keep) a New Year’s resolution! This is another thing I never accomplish. Over break I will figure out what I want my New Year’s resolution to be, and then hopefully I’ll be able to keep it.
• Have a movie marathon (with friends)! Fortunately, I do this every year so it’s an easy thing to cross off my list. But this year, I plan on sharing my movie night with my best friends!
• Go shopping! Not only do I want to go shopping, but NEED to. So far, I only have Christmas presents for my friends, but I’m really excited to shop for my family for the holidays.
• Relax! I think most people spend their breaks relaxing, but I think it’s especially important for college students to take their time to relax after the stress of finals, and the semester. So don’t worry, I’ll spend a lot of time relaxing too. 

As the semester closes, it’s now time to worry about Jan Term and the spring semester. I just wanted to give you guys some info about what I’ll be up to. I think I will be pretty busy, so let’s see what you guys think.

For Jan Term I am enrolled in Descriptive Astronomy. Some say it doesn’t sound too fun, but hey, I like that kind of stuff so I guess we’ll see if I like the class! For those who aren’t sure what Jan Term is, here you go: you take only one class Monday-Friday for 2-3 hours each day. Since there are 15 weeks in a semester, Jan Term classes are completed in 15 days, so three weeks. This is another way to get credit hours tacked on, but another popular option is to study abroad for a couple of weeks.

Spring semester is when I’ll get busy. I have two jobs now, which are Social Media Ambassador and Indiana Reading Corp. In the spring, I’ll be adding Student Ambassador, Student Budget Board, and College of Business Programming Committee to my resume. On top of that, baseball will finally start!! And, of course, I will have classes. Since I involved myself in too much without thinking about it, I have four classes scheduled for next semester. Speaking of classes, I’ll have three of them Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, one class on Tuesday, and two classes on Thursday.

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 have been wanting to highlight this very special person at Manchester for a long time. Whether she remembers your name or not, Patty is a shining light at Manchester. I absolutely love all the women that have been so kind, generous, and willing to laugh at my lame jokes at Wilbur’s, Sisters Café, the Oaks, and in Haist Commons. This is my favorite group of people HANDS DOWN at Manchester… but Patty holds a very special place in my heart.

Patty is my college grandmother; she notices when I’ve lost some weight (oh, Patty *hair flip* you shouldn’t have), when I’m a little stressed, but mostly she warms my heart with her kindness and care. I have one grandmother left who is one of my favorite people in the world; she practically raised me while my parents, who work on a firefighter schedule that often caused them to work 24 shifts on the same day, were away. Being away from her while I’ve been at college (along with the rest of my family) has been a little difficult to say the least. Patty, oddly enough, slightly resembles her physically, but I swear the sweetness of their hearts are identical. I’m incredibly blessed to have found Patty at Manchester, more than she knows.

I remember one day earlier this semester I was just have a crap day and I just happened to go inside the Union (and yes, I still call the JYSC the Union) to pick up mail and I see Patty and BA-BAM! … my day instantly turns around, or at least was filled with a little more smiling that I needed. A few kind words and a smile can make a person’s day. As much as I’ve been ready to graduate for the better part of two years, every senior knows they will be walking away from something or someone at Manchester that they’re really going to miss. I’m going to miss Patty a lot.

So do ME a favor underclassmen and take care of that lady. She’s really, really special. I also want to encourage everyone to find their special person at Manchester. For some it’s a significant other, a professor, or a squirrel that they watched eat nuts for an uncomfortably long amount of time (I get it). You may not always have a support system right away, or you may feel you are alone in this place, but the special people you find throughout Manchester (and there are multitudes) are how we are able to make it through some of our toughest days. Never take them for granted.

Mental health is just another thing that makes us who we are, along with physical health, the color of our eyes, our favorite movies, books, and what we like on our pizza. I never realized how important mental health was until I learned about it the hard way, dealing with my own mental health. It was a long and slow journey, but here I am, speaking out, and wanting to share my mental health story with all of you.

When I started my first year of college, I thought I had already learned how to deal with my mental health. I was on medication, had been to counseling, had regular visits with a psychiatrist, and had a pretty solid support system. I came to college ready to meet new people, study what I wanted to study, and be independent. College is an amazing time for young adults to learn about themselves, and figure out who they are. College really did that for me, and it still is helping me learn about myself.

My senior year of high school, a close friend of mine was worried about my mental health. He told my guidance counselor that he should call me into his office to make sure I was okay, check in with me, and figure out where to go from there. I broke down, and told my counselor that I was struggling, was experiencing panic attacks, feeling extremely unmotivated to do anything, and feeling enormously anxious over trivial things. My mom was called in, and he told her what I was experiencing, and how to help me. My mom took me to a psychiatrist, and I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, along with having depressive episodes. That whole year, I spent figuring out how to deal with my mental health, especially with college quickly approaching.

After graduation, vacations, and spending the summer days with my best friends, I headed off to Manchester University, 3 hours away from my hometown. I was very nervous about leaving home, and even more nervous about how my mental illnesses would react to me being in an entirely new place, surrounded by entirely new people. First semester was the hardest, but luckily I had an amazing roommate who was there for me constantly, even helping me make the decision to reach out to Counseling Services and speak with one of the wonderful counselors we have on campus. It helped a lot, but I was still struggling. I spent many days in bed because I couldn’t find the strength and motivation to get out and do something. I had several panic attacks and struggled with the anxiety of walking to class and having to talk to people.

Second semester went smoother, mainly because I tried to hide my feelings of anxiety and depression and cover it up with a smile. I would hide in my room on some days and break down. However, it helped me learn a lot about myself, and helped me realize how important it was for me to focus on myself. The end of my first year of college proved to be one of the harder times of the year. I lost one of my best friends, made new friends only to lose them too, and struggled through some very bad days.

Sophomore year was pretty uneventful compared to my first year when it came to my mental health. I stayed on my medication, and really tried to put myself first, and make sure I was in a good place, mentally and emotionally. Throughout the year, I considered transferring. I wasn’t sure if Manchester was the place for me anymore after struggling with so much my first year. After a lot of reflection, talking with my mom, my friends, my professors, and thinking by myself, I decided that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Yes, Manchester has seen some of my darker days, but it has also seen so many of my bright days filled with love and laughter. I made new friends sophomore year, friends who have stuck by me ever since, friends who I have confided in about my journey, my recovery, and my story.

Now I’m in my junior year, still on meds, and still struggling some days. However, I’ve come to terms with my journey, with my past, and with my future. I’ve started telling my story in order to helps others with their stories, educate others about mental health, and reassure myself that even though some days are hard, the day always ends and a new one begins.

College is one of the best times of our lives. It’s a magical time where we get to find ourselves, reinvent ourselves, and surround ourselves with the people we choose. I can’t describe how happy I am to be in a place where I get to study what I want to do with my life, make new friends, and be surrounded by professors and faculty members who care about us, and our well being.

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always”

Across the country, students are procrastinating and worrying about the worst week in the school year, finals week. The last week in the semester brings out the worst in many of us due to the insane amount of stress we all suddenly feel is weighing us down. Not only are our grades in possible jeopardy, our bodies are too, physically and mentally. There are tons of ways we can make sure we make it out of finals week alive, so I’ve compiled a list. Here are six things you can do to make yourself less crazy during finals.

1. Stay active! Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, and sitting in one place for an extended period of time can lead to a tired, ill-supplied mind. Even if you can’t fit a full workout into the week, you do have time to go for a short walk or to do a few sets of crunches or push-ups. There are tons of simple and short workouts on the internet if you need some inspiration.

2. Silence your phone and social media! Although it may not seem attainable or realistic for us to turn our phones off or stay off of Twitter for more than an hour, phone use is a good reward for studying. After studying for an hour, allow yourself to check your phone for 5 minutes, and keep that up for as long as you’re studying. However, be aware of “just for a moment” syndrome. As most people know all too well, checking your Instagram feed can lead to an entire afternoon of watching hilarious cat videos and taking Buzzfeed quizzes.

3. Find your space! If you study well in the library, go for it! Find a big table where you can spread out and get stuff done. If the library isn’t for you, that’s fine too. Try dedicating a space to studying and stick with it throughout finals week. Avoid your bed, the couch, or other places that are associated with relaxation and are destructive to your studying attempts.

4. Eat well! Eating healthy food is always a great idea, but during finals week, you may be tempted to eat and drink whatever is most convenient. However, the quick calories of processed carbohydrates will ultimately leave you exhausted. Junk food gives you instant energy or a sugar high, but it affects your concentration and memory and you will end up in a food coma or sugar crash. Eating nutritious foods will energize you and increase your concentration and retention. Simply maintaining a healthy diet is an easy way to help manage stress and get good grades during your finals. Trust me, your body will thank you!

5. Take a breath and take a break! Studying non-stop is not helpful. After a long period of studying, your concentration will be broken, and the material that you are trying to learn will not be retained. Studies show in order to really grasp information the brain needs time to absorb what it has learned. It’s best to take a 5-10 minute break every hour or so to breathe, refresh, and stretch. You can also use a longer break to exercise, eat a healthy meal, rest, go outside, or socialize. You will absorb information best if you can study before going to sleep. But, the most important thing is that you do something for yourself and reward yourself for getting some work done, no matter when you find time to do it.

6. Catch some ZZZ’s! All the caffeine in the world can’t replace a good night’s sleep, and pulling an all-nighter is one of the worst things that you can do during finals week. Sometimes an all-nighter is inevitable though, so if you do need to pull one, then make time for naps. Fatigued brains do not retain information, nor do they recall it well. No matter what your study plan is, having a healthy sleep schedule is the key to any study plan’s effectiveness.

Finals week can really take a toll on you, with the heavy amounts of stress, the cold temperature, the various sicknesses circulating the school, and the anxiety and excitement of going home for winter break. It’s important to take care of yourself, so that you can focus on finals. Hopefully these tips make finals week a little less insane for you. Good luck on your finals, Spartans! 

I’m both haunted and blessed upon witnessing my father cry for the first time. As a boy, I naturally drew conclusions to what manliness was defined as, but all those were broken in a matter of moments. My father was hurt. Really hurt. He was hurt… seeing me hurt. My father cried like a man. It wasn’t hysterical or a sob, but a transformation of his face.

We all know the look of someone trying to hold back tears. Numb, slightly widened eyes looking down at nothing. Those same eyes, once dry, slowly become more red, filling with tears. Teeth clinched, yet concealed from anyone’s view; Your lips, uncontrollably shaking as you fight to conceal this energy ready to burst out at any moment. You open your mouth to obtain a deep breath, but isn’t found immediately, resulting your eyes to shift to the ceiling, as you attempt to take another breath. Then among making eye contact with the person surrounded in the essence of your emotion, you look at them, red-eyed, and flatly smile with only a grin.

Too often we internalize our feelings, especially as men, when more than anything we just need to cry. I don’t like to voice my stresses to the Internet, but last week was nothing short of an emotionally-wrecking week; I had confusions of my calling, past decisions I had made, and built-up stress that my body couldn’t contain much longer. Like most people, I held it in. It sucked.

Then when I went home I cried. When I say cried, I mean CRIED. I turned on the hot water of my shower, turned the lights off, buried my forehead against the wall attached to the showerhead directly above my head and I just sobbed and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. Do you ever start to cry and eventually, in the middle of your little episode, forget why you are crying? Yeah. Me too.

The point of telling you all this is that it’s okay to cry. In fact, I would almost argue that it’s not okay to NOT cry. In my (watery) eyes, if you aren’t crying then you aren’t living. To cry is a blessing.

So as finals week approaches and maybe some of you are getting this message a few days late, but just know that NO MATTER WHAT, these feelings of stress, depression, anxiety, etc., WILL fade and will not last a lifetime. Go out. Go cry. Don’t text your ex about how much you miss them. Let out that stress.

HAPPY FINALS!

As a first year student, the upcoming finals have me pretty stressed out. At least, they would if I wasn’t already stressed out about the two last minute papers and the presentation I was assigned. I’m learning it’s difficult to focus on a test that I have next week when I have a seven page paper due in three days.

Since I got here, college has been all about time management. Things don’t get too stressful if you manage your time. You can make time for everything if you manage it. I’m a structured person. I like living a structured lifestyle, but not everyone does. Until now, I’ve seen other people be able to fly by the seat of their pants, and now, they’re crashing and burning because they haven’t felt the need to put in an effort up until now.

It’s been my experience that college isn’t hard if you try. If you try and go to Study Tables if you need it, the Writing Center to check your papers, and put the effort into your homework during the regular year, you won’t need a crunch time. You’ll already know what you should know for the course, and so the final, while it may take some study, won’t take over your life.

And if you’re a last minute crunch time person, here are some tips to get it together fast:

1. Know your limits.

If you know you can only focus for 20 minutes at a time, set aside all the time you need to take as many 20 minute study sessions as you have to to get the material down. Have to take a 10 minute break between each one? Even better. Recharge your brain. Eat something. Do something to recollect yourself.

1. Eat right

   It sounds cheesy, but it really does help you. Stay hydrated, eat often and well. When your body isn’t hungry or thirsty, it’s one less distraction you have to deal with when trying to study.

2. Find a method.

   Flashcards. Outlines. Personal study guides. Finding the key concepts. Find and know the methods that work for you before December, before you start college even. Knowing how to study beforehand will take some of the pressure off of you when it comes down to the week before finals.

3. Do something that makes you happy

The percent of people who actually like to study is practically microscopic. You study because you HAVE to, because school is your job, and you should take pride in the work you put in (especially when you’re paying so much). But that can take a toll on people. Take some time for yourself. This isn’t the time to become a robot. Do stuff that makes you happy. Watch an episode of that show you were binge watching. Go for a pizza run (pizza is good for your mental health, and is therefore healthy, right?), go to the gym. You aren’t going to fail from a little fun. As long as you’re putting in as much time studying as you are having a good time (if not more), you’re okay.

Know yourself. Know your habits and how you procrastinate. The last month of the semester is not the time to suddenly take an interest in your grades (it won’t work out well for you, I guarantee it). Put in the time early on to learn how to study, to take an interest in your courses. That’s the best way to prepare for finals.

Kelleen Cullison ’20 is pursuing an English major and minors in Journalism and Peace Studies. She hopes to work as an editor for a publishing company, and hopes to help current and prospective Manchester students avoid the mistakes she is currently making.

Do you still have lots of gifts to purchase? With finals coming up, you probably do not have much time to shop before Christmas Break, especially if you are thinking about going somewhere like Fort Wayne. But what if you could just drive a few hundred feet away? That’s right, you can just shop right here in North Manchester! I went around town and made a list of stores and what they carry to make your shopping experience just a little easier!

• One World Handcrafts: This is my favorite small shop in town! All items in the store are fair trade (trade in which fair prices are paid to producers in developing countries) and absolutely amazing! Their incredible items include: Earth Divas’ purses and scarves made in Nepal, Pine Needle Jewelry made in Nicaragua, Recycled Aluminum Jewelry, Omiyo Jewelry, various scarves, cookbooks, ornaments, pottery, cards, décor, soaps, toys and books for children, baskets, and figurines. They carry local artisan items in the back including jewelry, knitted items, cards, scarves, and wooden items. They also carry lots of fair trade food including tea, coffee, cocoa, olive oils, soup mixes, jams, and chocolates. Even if you have no more presents to buy, I would highly recommend stopping by this shop anyway and I guarantee you will love it!
• Manchester Marketplace: This little bulk and specialty food shop is the greatest ever. My parents know the owners and they are just the sweetest people and would be more than willing to help you with anything you might need. They have an array of food items including: specialty snacks, bulk candy, drink mixes, noodles, soup mixes, nuts, flours, popcorn, cheese, meats, and premade and custom gift baskets, all for discounted prices!
• My Red Moon: This is an adorable antique store with a wide range of gifts ideas! They have: clothes (new and vintage), jewelry, shoes, boots, purses, furniture, glassware, kitchen supplies, games and toys, instruments, pottery, primitive décor, and two full floors of antiques!
• The Do It Best Hardware: You may think that I am a little crazy for putting a hardware store on this list, but you would be surprised by they awesome things they carry! The hardware store has gifts for everyone on your list for great prices. They have: fun sodas and teas, Carhart brand clothing, bird feeders, home décor, candles, Fiestaware, lotions, flavored hot chocolate, various soaps, tumblers, placemats, napkins, rugs, unique jewelry, a mass amount of tools, Christmas décor, garden flags, wind chimes, wreaths, plants, and various stocking stuffers and unique gifts. Woah! I bet you didn’t see all of that coming did you?
• Cottage Creations (Florist and Gifts): Check out this amazing little shop if you want slightly more expensive items of high quality! Different gift ideas here include: ornaments, floral arrangements, live plants, stuffed animals, décor, decorative pillows, lots of holiday décor, decorative mirrors, paintings, CDs, children’s books and toys, infant clothing, wind chimes, candles, adult clothing, purses, scarves, jewelry, candy, coffee, and lotions and soaps in great holiday scents! I would highly recommend checking this store out!
• Blooms and Heirlooms:  A great little shop carrying floral arrangements, live plants, and antiques.
• Nordman’s Nook: Adorable shop with country and primitive décor, amazing candles, handcrafted furniture, yummy pies, noodles, and some of the best cookies around.

This week, I’ll give a bit more context for my studies here in Strasbourg, France. I’m sorry if this one is boring, I’m not quite sure the best way to both explain everything and be exciting at the same time. Manchester’s Strasbourg placement is a bit different than the other study abroad placements because it’s not BCA (formerly called Brethren Colleges Abroad), instead I study through Lewis & Clark College in France. LCC is a college in Portland, Oregon. We study here as well with students from Kalamazoo College in Michigan and Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. In the end, we all study at the Institut International d’Etudes Français at the Université de Strasbourg.  (Context to the context: French universities are composed of facultés, basically the different departments or colleges, but at a larger university like UniStra they’re each huge buildings with their own administration and such).

IIEF - The Classes

The IIEF is an international institute geared towards international students to learn French. We study with people from all over the world, it’s also nice because we’re all pretty much in the same boat trying to learn French, so that takes away a lot of the pressure while speaking French. We’re divided into language groups depending on language ability (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) and then smaller language groups (I’m in B2 this semester, next semester I’ll go to l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques, a French Grande École, but we can talk about that some other time). Our language groups meet together all week for a few hours a day. On top of that, we have a choice of ‘option’ classes about various topics of French culture and such. I personally really like this system. Since everyone in the IIEF is working on learning French, it makes it easy to talk to other people. Since everyone in your option classes is the same level as you (B2, etc), it makes it even easier to talk to people. AND, since everyone in your language class is exactly the same language level as you, it’s super duper easy to talk to people. This coming from an introvert lacking the chutzpah to confidently talk with people in French on the street (that’s changing, especially after a few months and a lot of awkward conversations!).

IIEF - The People

A lot of people have pushed me to ‘meet French people’ while I’m studying abroad. Most advice given to me has included “blah blah blah is a great way to meet French people!” but one of my favourite things about the IIEF is that we learn with people all over the world. In my language class, I have Chinese students, Koreans, Iranians, a Ghanaian, an American, a Chilean, and a Venezuelan. Given the huge influx of Syrian refugees in Europe, the President of the University of Strasbourg waved the inscription fees for Syrian refugees to study here. This creates a beautiful international community at the IIEF, the kind of community I miss most about Manchester.

One great example of this was last week, during a break between classes I sat down for coffee with a Brazilian and a Syrian friend. They asked me to explain the web of alliances and conflicts within the Syrian war from a political perspective (See, I can do this in French, but my hands shake when I buy things in the market…). By the end of the conversation, which included a lot of maps and hand gestures trying to explain abstract concepts, we had a circle of Syrians, Iranians, Americans, and a Brazilian discussing what our generation can do to fix the world’s problems. It reminded me a sitting the Intercultural Center talking with everything (Except the IIEF doesn’t have couches…) (But, it does have a coffee machine!).

Why not just speak English since ‘everybody speaks English?’ In short, it’s more fun to learn another language. In medium, Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” In long, you don’t care that much, I’ll spare you details.

More to come: the European Parliament, international language institute, STRASBOURG, cultural differences, the election, and more!

As winter approaches, many people are going to be staying inside out of the cold. Do you know what that means? Movie binge! There will be so much more time for movie-watching that some people may not know what movie to watch. I figured I would tell you guys some of the movies I would recommend (many of these can be found on Netflix). Here they are:

• Remember the Titans
• Interstellar
• 42
• Pitch Perfect
• Pitch Perfect 2
• Any Nicholas Sparks movie
• Any of the Sandlot movies
• Independence Day
• Black Hawk Down
• Saving Private Ryan
• Maze Runner
• Selma
• 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street
• American Sniper
• The Do-Over
• London Has Fallen

And if you’re looking for something longer-lasting, you can never go wrong with these TV series:

• The 100
• NCIS
• Friends
• Criminal Minds
• The Office
• Fuller House
• Leverage
• Flashpoint
• How to Get Away with Murder

These are the movies and series I have watched and really enjoyed. If you’re looking for something to watch, I hope you find this list helpful and enjoy them as much as I did!

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.

Christmas is right around the corner and I can’t wait. This is my favorite time of year and I love everything and anything having to do with this holiday season. From snow and presents to family and parties and everything in between, this season can be celebrated in many different ways. One way I love to get in the Christmas spirit is by baking and listening to Christmas music. Here are my top 3 favorite desserts to bake and my top 5 Christmas songs to jam out to.

Desserts:

1. Pizzelle: This is my all-time favorite cookie. It’s an Italian cookie with intricate designs and many different flavors such as chocolate, almond, vanilla, and orange.
2. Lemon Chiffon Cake: This cake is a bit complicated to bake, but it is definitely worth it in the end. It’s a nice, light and fluffy cake that’s perfect for after dinner.
3. Oatmeal Chocolate No Bake Cookies: This are so easy to make… and very cheap, everyone’s favorite! These don’t require many ingredients and can be made during a quick study break!

Music:

1. One My Way Home – Pentatonix: Have I ever mentioned how much I love Pentatonix? This acapella group is amazing. This is a must hear song!
2. Home to Mama – Justin Bieber & Cody Simpson: This is the perfect song to curl up next to the fire and drink hot chocolate while relaxing. Very calming and catchy!
3. Christmas This Year – tobyMac: This is a very upbeat jingle that will be stuck in your head all day!
4. Shake Up Christmas -  Train: This song will forever remind of the Coke commercial it accompanied a few years ago, but this is a very festive tune!
5. Baby It’s Christmas (Piano Version) – Colton Haynes & Travis-Atreo: These guys have dreamy voices that will put you right to sleep. A festive ballad with two great singers.  

My first year on campus, I got to hear about Thanksgiving and its perks and funs. I was still trying to figure a lot of things out about the way things were celebrated in the states, so because of how unaware I was, I stayed on campus.  It wasn’t too bad, there were other internationals on campus too. We went to the Intercultural Center and made a meal for ourselves. It was fun and to me it was just a break, not that I was complaining or anything. Everybody would come back and tell me of many dishes they had over Thanksgiving, and some of the internationals that went to a Manchester faculty or staff’s house for the actual Thanksgiving Day came with their stories of the different dishes they had tried for the first time. All was well that ended well.

My second year on campus I was able to get my name on the list prepared by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and they assigned me to Tammy Barber’s house for the day. I went along with Olivia, Merykokeb, and Marian, all juniors at the time. There wasn’t a lot of people at her house as I had expected; it was about four other people apart from the four of us. We were set at the table and began the lunch. I remember thinking I have never had such an amazing bun, and it was at that dinner that I decided I liked mashed potatoes. Tammy had also prepared the Turkey and a casserole. I didn’t realise until later that those were typical Thanksgiving dinner dishes. While we all ate and enjoyed my mind kept going back to the little buns that I was so much obsessed with. She later told us not to feel shy and go for more if we wished, low and behold the opportunity had presented itself. Olivia and I stood up and dished more food (I went for the buns).

After a while we got together and played Apples to Apples. My first time playing it, but it was a really fun game and got competitive really fast. If my memory serves me right, Merykokeb took the win for that game. We later watched some American football, and then prepared to take our leave. Tammy told us to make plates for ourselves and take it back to campus with us, which we were very excited to do! With all that being said it was a great experience for my Thanksgiving dinner. We went around the table and told everyone else something we were thankful for.

This year, I’m currently a junior and I will be staying on campus for Thanksgiving, but this year I will be going to my advisor’s Thanksgiving event. Prof. Onyeji told me my sophomore year not to reserve any plans for Thanksgiving, that I will be spending it at his place, and he told a couple of other students the same thing. The event is supposedly one of elegance, and I cannot begin to express my excitement for this Thursday. Most of the international students staying on campus are going to be in attendance. I am excited to see how my Nigerian advisor spends his Thanksgiving in the years he has been in the states. With that said I am excited to see what this Thanksgiving holds. I hope everyone else is too!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM ME TO YOU!