Jan 19, 2010

January 20th, 2010 by mebrow12

Salvete, all!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday! I slept for more hours than I thought humanly possible and generally lazed around the house, which was much needed after the most stressful finals week of my life. I’m so excited to get started on my second semester of sophomore year! Classes start tomorrow and I have Greek and Statistics, which should be interesting because I haven’t taken math since senior year Calculus. I’m at a point where simple mental math eludes me now and I rely on my phone calculator to make the easiest of calculations…so I’m interested to see how I handle jumping back in again. I sure hope I’m not diving right into the deep end (probably not because it’s a non-major course, score!)…

I must say, it is absolutely amazing to be back on the hill for what is potentially my last semester here for a year, if I do indeed get accepted into the study abroad program I want. My interview is next week and I’m hoping that all goes well. This semester is going to be yet another whirlwind…I have so much planned and not enough time to accomplish it all (but I’ll sure try!). I’m editing the Blogs section of Holy Cross’ online newspaper, The Advocate, working at Kimball, tutoring, singing in choir, and through it all attempting to enjoy this fleeting semester with my friends through trips to Boston, NYC, and Providence. We’ll see how everything plays out!

For now, I must return to work for the second time today to help feed the masses. I just wanted to say hello, welcome back, and Happy 2010! Valete!

Jan 19, 2010

January 19th, 2010 by Admissions

Salvete, all!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday! I slept for more hours than I thought humanly possible and generally lazed around the house, which was much needed after the most stressful finals week of my life. I’m so excited to get started on my second semester of sophomore year! Classes start tomorrow and I have Greek and Statistics, which should be interesting because I haven’t taken math since senior year Calculus. I’m at a point where simple mental math eludes me now and I rely on my phone calculator to make the easiest of calculations…so I’m interested to see how I handle jumping back in again. I sure hope I’m not diving right into the deep end (probably not because it’s a non-major course, score!)…

I must say, it is absolutely amazing to be back on the hill for what is potentially my last semester here for a year, if I do indeed get accepted into the study abroad program I want. My interview is next week and I’m hoping that all goes well. This semester is going to be yet another whirlwind…I have so much planned and not enough time to accomplish it all (but I’ll sure try!). I’m editing the Blogs section of Holy Cross’ online newspaper, The Advocate, working at Kimball, tutoring, singing in choir, and through it all attempting to enjoy this fleeting semester with my friends through trips to Boston, NYC, and Providence. We’ll see how everything plays out!

For now, I must return to work for the second time today to help feed the masses. I just wanted to say hello, welcome back, and Happy 2010! Valete!

Jan 19, 2010

January 19th, 2010 by Admissions

Salvete, all!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday! I slept for more hours than I thought humanly possible and generally lazed around the house, which was much needed after the most stressful finals week of my life. I’m so excited to get started on my second semester of sophomore year! Classes start tomorrow and I have Greek and Statistics, which should be interesting because I haven’t taken math since senior year Calculus. I’m at a point where simple mental math eludes me now and I rely on my phone calculator to make the easiest of calculations…so I’m interested to see how I handle jumping back in again. I sure hope I’m not diving right into the deep end (probably not because it’s a non-major course, score!)…

I must say, it is absolutely amazing to be back on the hill for what is potentially my last semester here for a year, if I do indeed get accepted into the study abroad program I want. My interview is next week and I’m hoping that all goes well. This semester is going to be yet another whirlwind…I have so much planned and not enough time to accomplish it all (but I’ll sure try!). I’m editing the Blogs section of Holy Cross’ online newspaper, The Advocate, working at Kimball, tutoring, singing in choir, and through it all attempting to enjoy this fleeting semester with my friends through trips to Boston, NYC, and Providence. We’ll see how everything plays out!

For now, I must return to work for the second time today to help feed the masses. I just wanted to say hello, welcome back, and Happy 2010! Valete!

Jan 19, 2010

January 19th, 2010 by mebrow12

Salvete, all!

Hope you had a wonderful holiday! I slept for more hours than I thought humanly possible and generally lazed around the house, which was much needed after the most stressful finals week of my life. I’m so excited to get started on my second semester of sophomore year! Classes start tomorrow and I have Greek and Statistics, which should be interesting because I haven’t taken math since senior year Calculus. I’m at a point where simple mental math eludes me now and I rely on my phone calculator to make the easiest of calculations…so I’m interested to see how I handle jumping back in again. I sure hope I’m not diving right into the deep end (probably not because it’s a non-major course, score!)…

I must say, it is absolutely amazing to be back on the hill for what is potentially my last semester here for a year, if I do indeed get accepted into the study abroad program I want. My interview is next week and I’m hoping that all goes well. This semester is going to be yet another whirlwind…I have so much planned and not enough time to accomplish it all (but I’ll sure try!). I’m editing the Blogs section of Holy Cross’ online newspaper, The Advocate, working at Kimball, tutoring, singing in choir, and through it all attempting to enjoy this fleeting semester with my friends through trips to Boston, NYC, and Providence. We’ll see how everything plays out!

For now, I must return to work for the second time today to help feed the masses. I just wanted to say hello, welcome back, and Happy 2010! Valete!

Return from the Realm of Organic Chemistry and Laundry Machines

December 22nd, 2009 by Brandi Ramos
Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, it was the last time I updated my blog.

Excuse me while I cringe in horror for having the gall to forget you, Readers.

Once again, I have plenty of excuses to make for falling off the edge of the earth. Take, for example, Organic Chemistry. I thought of you while studying for that exam in the science library. I wrote a lovely introduction to an entry that went like this:

“After over a month, I should not be updating my blog right now. This should be amongst the last things on my mind, along with how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop, and if bacon will be served at Midnight Breakfast tonight. However, I could not resist sharing my sheer joy at not only saving more than thirty sheets of paper by not printing every copy I made of all the answer keys to all my former exams in organic chemistry, but for having finally found an empty cubicle in the science library, where I am now typing this entry, with several packets worth of reactions in front of me.

Tomorrow, at 2:30 p.m. I shall begin the very end of a year long sequence of orgo. I will be depressed, not only because I will be facing three hours (although Dean Jarret, my chemistry professor and class dean, says it should only take two) of a final exam, but because I appreciate organic chemistry. That’s right, I said it. After complaining, yanking out my hair, and staring with glazed eyes at the blackboard as Dean Jarret …”

At this point I stopped, remembered I had a final the next day, and pushed that entry off for some other night. As it is, bacon was served at Midnight Breakfast and the final did take me all three hours…because I plan my time inefficiently.

I regret to say that I left my camera cord at school, otherwise I would upload a picture of the massive laundry pile I did last week. I had $1.35 left on my card (you can put money on your I.D. and use it for things like laundry, instead of carrying around a bunch of quarters), which was enough for one load of laundry…but no dryer. It was very sad, until Kimball came to the rescue, decided I was a good worker, and gave me five bucks for student appreciation week. I spent all of it on laundry.

I’m at home now, a wondrous place where laundry is free, and while food might still come from a can, at least the can is opened with love. Enjoy your holidays everyone, and I’ll see you all in the new year!

P.S.- I stalked STAR (Student Academic Records—it’s where all of your important information goes, including housing, schedules, and grades) and finally have all my grades in! It’s been my best semester yet! Yay!

P.P.S- I keep meaning to point this out, but see the nifty little sidebar there? I’ve now included links to places of interest, including SaderLink and The Advocate. As we’re all on break, the sites won’t be active again ‘til the end of January, but you should still check them out! On SaderLink, click on the ‘Organizations’ tab at the top of the screen to see a list of everything Holy Cross has to offer. You don’t need to be a member to poke around, so poke away!

Annual Winter Wonderland '09, sponsored by CAB. This year there was a candy wall, cookie decorating, and this picture on the green screen. Cutting a long story short, this is my HC Family Photo. I'm the sketchy girl in the back. Picture scanned to computer, courtesy of Clara.

Annual Winter Wonderland '09, sponsored by CAB. This year there was a candy wall, cookie decorating, and this picture on the green screen. Cutting a long story short, this is my HC Family Photo. I'm the sketchy girl in the back. Picture scanned to computer, courtesy of Clara.

Return from the Realm of Organic Chemistry and Laundry Machines

December 22nd, 2009 by Brandi Ramos
Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, it was the last time I updated my blog.

Excuse me while I cringe in horror for having the gall to forget you, Readers.

Once again, I have plenty of excuses to make for falling off the edge of the earth. Take, for example, Organic Chemistry. I thought of you while studying for that exam in the science library. I wrote a lovely introduction to an entry that went like this:

“After over a month, I should not be updating my blog right now. This should be amongst the last things on my mind, along with how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop, and if bacon will be served at Midnight Breakfast tonight. However, I could not resist sharing my sheer joy at not only saving more than thirty sheets of paper by not printing every copy I made of all the answer keys to all my former exams in organic chemistry, but for having finally found an empty cubicle in the science library, where I am now typing this entry, with several packets worth of reactions in front of me.

Tomorrow, at 2:30 p.m. I shall begin the very end of a year long sequence of orgo. I will be depressed, not only because I will be facing three hours (although Dean Jarret, my chemistry professor and class dean, says it should only take two) of a final exam, but because I appreciate organic chemistry. That’s right, I said it. After complaining, yanking out my hair, and staring with glazed eyes at the blackboard as Dean Jarret …”

At this point I stopped, remembered I had a final the next day, and pushed that entry off for some other night. As it is, bacon was served at Midnight Breakfast and the final did take me all three hours…because I plan my time inefficiently.

I regret to say that I left my camera cord at school, otherwise I would upload a picture of the massive laundry pile I did last week. I had $1.35 left on my card (you can put money on your I.D. and use it for things like laundry, instead of carrying around a bunch of quarters), which was enough for one load of laundry…but no dryer. It was very sad, until Kimball came to the rescue, decided I was a good worker, and gave me five bucks for student appreciation week. I spent all of it on laundry.

I’m at home now, a wondrous place where laundry is free, and while food might still come from a can, at least the can is opened with love. Enjoy your holidays everyone, and I’ll see you all in the new year!

P.S.- I stalked STAR (Student Academic Records—it’s where all of your important information goes, including housing, schedules, and grades) and finally have all my grades in! It’s been my best semester yet! Yay!

P.P.S- I keep meaning to point this out, but see the nifty little sidebar there? I’ve now included links to places of interest, including SaderLink and The Advocate. As we’re all on break, the sites won’t be active again ‘til the end of January, but you should still check them out! On SaderLink, click on the ‘Organizations’ tab at the top of the screen to see a list of everything Holy Cross has to offer. You don’t need to be a member to poke around, so poke away!

Annual Winter Wonderland '09, sponsored by CAB. This year there was a candy wall, cookie decorating, and this picture on the green screen. Cutting a long story short, this is my HC Family Photo. I'm the sketchy girl in the back. Picture scanned to computer, courtesy of Clara.

Annual Winter Wonderland '09, sponsored by CAB. This year there was a candy wall, cookie decorating, and this picture on the green screen. Cutting a long story short, this is my HC Family Photo. I'm the sketchy girl in the back. Picture scanned to computer, courtesy of Clara.

Dec 19, 2009

December 19th, 2009 by mebrow12

Salvete, all!

So sorry for the lack of posts lately. I just ended the most stressful finals week of my life. I thought it would be a good idea to schedule two breakfast shifts at Kimball in between my finals, but all that did was to make me exhausted when trying to study for my two finals Thursday and one Friday. I got through it, though, and am now writing this post from my cozy basement in a blizzard-ridden Philadelphia. I find it ironic that the second I drove into my county early this morning (we decided to take a midnight run” home so we could avoid the storm), we drove smack into the middle of a snowstorm and temps in the 20s. I thought I had just left New England!

Besides finishing the up the semester, I am also just about through with the Study Abroad application process. When I come back from Christmas break, I have an interview and then my fate will be sealed. More updates on that when I have more information! My friend Mike is leaving for Australia in February for a year, and it’s making me realize just how strange the end of next semester is going to be for me. This may be my last semester at Holy Cross for a year. Simultaneously a bummer and super exciting.

Reflecting on the past semester, I must admit that it has been a whirlwind. I have accomplished so many things that I had set out to do in my time at Holy Cross…apply to go abroad (that was quite the battle), join the College Honors program, survive and thrive as a Kimball captain, and have fun. I think I have struck an even better balance than last year at managing schoolwork and friends. And best of all, I have met some of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever encountered, and am so thankful to have gotten to know them! Cheers to the Kimball captains and everyone else who has made this semester a wonderful one.

Look for lots of exciting posts in the New Year! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and see you in 2010! Xairete!

Dec 19, 2009

December 19th, 2009 by mebrow12

Salvete, all!

So sorry for the lack of posts lately. I just ended the most stressful finals week of my life. I thought it would be a good idea to schedule two breakfast shifts at Kimball in between my finals, but all that did was to make me exhausted when trying to study for my two finals Thursday and one Friday. I got through it, though, and am now writing this post from my cozy basement in a blizzard-ridden Philadelphia. I find it ironic that the second I drove into my county early this morning (we decided to take a midnight run” home so we could avoid the storm), we drove smack into the middle of a snowstorm and temps in the 20s. I thought I had just left New England!

Besides finishing the up the semester, I am also just about through with the Study Abroad application process. When I come back from Christmas break, I have an interview and then my fate will be sealed. More updates on that when I have more information! My friend Mike is leaving for Australia in February for a year, and it’s making me realize just how strange the end of next semester is going to be for me. This may be my last semester at Holy Cross for a year. Simultaneously a bummer and super exciting.

Reflecting on the past semester, I must admit that it has been a whirlwind. I have accomplished so many things that I had set out to do in my time at Holy Cross…apply to go abroad (that was quite the battle), join the College Honors program, survive and thrive as a Kimball captain, and have fun. I think I have struck an even better balance than last year at managing schoolwork and friends. And best of all, I have met some of the nicest and most genuine people I have ever encountered, and am so thankful to have gotten to know them! Cheers to the Kimball captains and everyone else who has made this semester a wonderful one.

Look for lots of exciting posts in the New Year! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and see you in 2010! Xairete!

Nov 23, 2009

November 23rd, 2009 by mebrow12

Xairete, everyone!

Hope everyone is doing well! I’m quite excited for Thanksgiving this week, especially since I get to go home on Tuesday. My dad and sister are driving up early and I should be home around late afternoon. I’m going to try to make this break a bit less stressful than Columbus Day break, when I ran around like a crazy person trying to see everyone and get things done. I really just have some homework to do and a paper to write, so I’m going to take the time to relax before the final push of the semester.

Yesterday was a really fun day. Cat and I worked our normal Saturday mid-day shift, had our evaluations (we’re doing fine!), and then ran from the end of the shift to catch the shuttle to Boston. We walked around the North End and ended up in a little café for canoles. It was the perfect release after a long shift and week for the both of us!

Enrollment went very well for me, thank goodness. Some people don’t trust the internet connection in the dorms and get up insanely early to grab a computer in the 24-hour O’Kane lab, but I’ve never done that and enrollment has always gone just fine. I registered for Vergil’s Georgics and Eclogues, the second half of Intermediate Greek, my Honors seminar Religion and Violence, and a topics math course in Statistics. I’m actually looking forward to having a non-humanities course in the mix, even if it is (gasp!) math. Interestingly, my Greek and Latin professors from this semester, Professor Ebbott and Professor Smith (respectively), are going to be switching roles(Professor Ebbott will be doing Vergil and Professor Smith Greek), which will be a lot of fun. This is probably going to be my last semester in a year for which I will have to legitimately register for classes at Holy Cross, since I’m becoming more and more certain that I’m going to end up in England for a year. I had a meeting with Professor Brit Smith, the coordinator for Oxford, and all looks to be going according to plan. Just an interview and some essay tweaking to deal with!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Safe travels and enjoy the time with your families. I’m off to Philly in less than 24 hours! Valete!

Nov 23, 2009

November 23rd, 2009 by mebrow12

Xairete, everyone!

Hope everyone is doing well! I’m quite excited for Thanksgiving this week, especially since I get to go home on Tuesday. My dad and sister are driving up early and I should be home around late afternoon. I’m going to try to make this break a bit less stressful than Columbus Day break, when I ran around like a crazy person trying to see everyone and get things done. I really just have some homework to do and a paper to write, so I’m going to take the time to relax before the final push of the semester.

Yesterday was a really fun day. Cat and I worked our normal Saturday mid-day shift, had our evaluations (we’re doing fine!), and then ran from the end of the shift to catch the shuttle to Boston. We walked around the North End and ended up in a little café for canoles. It was the perfect release after a long shift and week for the both of us!

Enrollment went very well for me, thank goodness. Some people don’t trust the internet connection in the dorms and get up insanely early to grab a computer in the 24-hour O’Kane lab, but I’ve never done that and enrollment has always gone just fine. I registered for Vergil’s Georgics and Eclogues, the second half of Intermediate Greek, my Honors seminar Religion and Violence, and a topics math course in Statistics. I’m actually looking forward to having a non-humanities course in the mix, even if it is (gasp!) math. Interestingly, my Greek and Latin professors from this semester, Professor Ebbott and Professor Smith (respectively), are going to be switching roles(Professor Ebbott will be doing Vergil and Professor Smith Greek), which will be a lot of fun. This is probably going to be my last semester in a year for which I will have to legitimately register for classes at Holy Cross, since I’m becoming more and more certain that I’m going to end up in England for a year. I had a meeting with Professor Brit Smith, the coordinator for Oxford, and all looks to be going according to plan. Just an interview and some essay tweaking to deal with!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Safe travels and enjoy the time with your families. I’m off to Philly in less than 24 hours! Valete!