No Work, All Play

After five days of classes and  homework, I entitle myself to two days of absolute lethargy, and consequentially, no work whatsoever.

Friday afternoon, I decided to go visit Rolyn Rollins at the Cothran Center for Vocational Reflection. What I absolutely love about that office is that it is always booming with tons of delightful people! Little did I know that in that short period of time, I would binge on Rice Chex, get swing dancing lessons and have amazing conversations with the people there!

• Swing Dancing Lessons with Matthew Morris :

Swing Dancing Lessons with the Dancing Star

I ran into Matthew Morris at the Cothran Center who, besides being awesome, also happened to be a great dancer! Amidst the random conversations, he decided to (try and) teach me how to swing dance.
While I clumsily tried to follow his lead, he swayed me with the ease of a professional dancer. 
                                             

Like A Pro - Matthew at Work

• Just Paddock-ing ...

Ever since I have come to college, I have become a night owl! I don't know what would have I done without Paddock's night hours, because that's when my unpredictable appetite surges.

                                             

I have been frequenting the restaurant a lot, and these midnight meals keep me going...especially since they are so delicious!

•  Weekends Like A Collegian!

The best part about being in college is that every weekend, there's a party somewhere on campus! But the real challenge is finding out where it is.
On Saturday night, I tagged along with a bunch of friends to go to an International Student Party. Excitedly, we knocked loudly on the door, expecting a boisterous group of people to welcome us. Somebody did open the door, but instead of being greeted by exuberant party-goers, we were welcomed with awkward silence and stares. That's right - we had the wrong address. After a long time of futilely trying to find the venue, we ended up deciding to go back to our rooms and call it a night.
And that, my friends, was my Saturday night.

While I haven't been socially active in a long time, I promise to come up with more next week!
I hope y'all had an awesome weekend filled with (real) parties!

Until my next post,
Bhavya Sharma

bhavya.sharma@furman.edu

Soup, Singing and Shaving Cream... Typical Furman

#ThatAwkwardMomentWhen I use hashtags in my blogs.
 #ThatAwkwardMomentWhen you feel a million butterflies in your stomach and begin to be overly excited about something.
#ThatAwkwardMomentWhen it becomes typical to feel that at Furman.
#ThatAwkwardMomentWhen you embrace it.

Welcome to Furman, where you can never really say goodbye to the butterflies. The past couple of weeks, I have been so exposed to butterflies in my stomach that I am about to start naming them. They always seem to wake up when something is going on at Furman.

I felt them when I was on my way to a $4 Dinner. My buddy, Rhodes, a senior here at Furman, invited me to attend a $4 Dinner. These are hosted by a group of students on campus called Mere Christianity Forum. Rhodes picked me up and took me to the Vista House, where we met with the rest of the people I would be dining with. The Vista House is a very neat house in Traveller's Rest which is open to all students. It functions as a place dedicated to service and christian Ideals. But do not mistake it for what you might find in a church.

Hanging at the Vista House!

When I got there, I realized that the people I was surrounded by were all very different and had different thoughts and opinions. I quickly learned that this was going to be something that I loved because these were the types of people that were able to question and decipher what it means to be religious and what we should take away from it. Beyond the $4 dinners, Mere Christianity Forum hosts events throughout the week to to engage students. The primary goal of MCF seems to be arriving at answers to questions with intense thought and discussion. I cannot wait to continue being a part of this organization, seeing that I have only just gotten my feet wet.

All in all, I met some great people and ate some great food. All of it was healthy and vegetarian. Now, I'm not a vegetarian, but once in a while, it feels good to eat fresh and organic. There were a lot of different fresh local foods that I could tell you about, but the names were so new to me that I have unfortunately forgot what they were called, except for the super good roasted red pepper soup.

A couple of nights later, I was hanging out with some ladies on Geer 200 when my hallmate, Drew, a vocal performance major, came and hung out with us. Him and three others then decided to show me a little talent of theirs.... THEY COULD SING BARBERSHOP! It was a total surprise.

Believe me, when I went down stairs with my jar of peanut butter and  bag of banana chips, I was not expecting to be serenaded by a borderline professional Barbershop Quartet! They sang multiple Barbershop tags, which are pretty much the harmonious and extravagant endings to songs. Then the butterflies came back as Drew offered to teach me.

We spent the next hour or so teaching me how to sing the base part to the end of a tag. The amazingly patient Drew taught me all I needed to know to be a barbershop singer (Just kidding, there is a lot to it... but I am on my way!). So, if you need someone to sing "My Love, where is she? My love, my love, my love," I am your guy. It was just another great experience that showed me how talented students are around here and how unique experience are just around the corner here (or in this case, down a flight of stairs and a few rooms over.)

Yesterday, I felt butterflies yet again. I was sitting in the Trone Center waiting for the boys from Berea Middle School to arrive so that we could meet them. This is for a group called Men Of Distinction, a mentoring group between Furman Students and boys from a local middle school. I was so anxious to meet them because I did not know what to expect...

Some kids working with chromatography

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! Oh my goodness, those boys were hilarious. Within minutes of it starting I realized that this was going to be one of my favorite things at Furman. Luckily, we were doing chemistry experiments with the kids this week (my favorite thing considering I love chemistry and plan on majoring in it). After touring the science building, we went into a lab room and did three different experiments. First, we learned about hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials and got to experiment with them using paper, water, food coloring and the ever-messy Shaving cream. They spread shaving cream on a plate and mixed in some food coloring to make cool designs. Next, they put a notecard on the design and peeled it off to find that they now had their designs on the paper, since the shaving cream was hydrophobic and pushed the water/food coloring onto the paper. The kids were so excited to be making the cool design on their notecards.

Next, we covered cups with coffee filters, drew on them using markers and squirted isopropyl alcohol on them to experiment and have fun with chromatography. Believe me, these boys have been exposed to a lot of science now.

The aftermath of Elephant Toothpaste

Finally, we made elephant toothpaste, which involved putting a little hydrogen peroxide in a water bottle, mixing in some food coloring and then adding yeast to act as a catalyst. It was like BOOM! The tooth paste came flying out and the kids faces lit up! They saw how much fun science could be-- even though a couple of them enjoy social studies more, as they demonstrated when they completely schooled me in the Glorious Revolution and facts about English Monarchies. I'm telling ya, Men of Distinction is the bomb diggity.

The Bros from Geer 300 and my Dad

There was one other SUPER EXCITING thing that happened to me this week. My parents finally came down to visit! I was beyond excited to see them. When they arrived, they surprised me with one of those big tubs of popcorn that has caramel corn and cheesy popcorn and the other kind (which I  think is just plain). Well, I set it on top of their rental car, forgot about it, and as they drove away, I watched half of it spill onto the ground in the parking lot. No matter, it still tastes good. After that, my parents graciously took me and a couple friends to a Tex-Mex restaurant in downtown Greenville. It was so nice for them to be able to finally meet some of the people that I talk about so much.

When we got back from dinner that night, I received an email that my only class for the next day was cancelled, meaning I had an entire free day with my parents. First we ate at Tommy's Ham House for breakfast. Seriously, if you come to Greenville, go to Tommy's. It is the best breakfast anywhere, and it is conveniently owned by a Furman Graduate. We ate lunch at the Paddock, the new on campus restaurant. It was my first time going there and it did not disappoint. If you aren't catching on, one of hte best things about having your parents visit (beyond having them be there) is the food! They take you to Cheerwine and dine you. It is fantastic. We ended our night downtown at a Restaurant called Soby's, which is like the best southern seafood ever.

The Real McCoy's dining Downtown

I was also able to show them around campus and especially the science building. They saw my furnished dorm room for the very first time. They also watched as I finished up a Chemistry Lab assignment. That was probably their favorite part. It was so exciting to have my parents visit. They left yesterday, but I miss 'em already.

Alright, this blog is a little lengthy, but only because my Furman Experience is extensive and grand.

Remember, if you ever have questions about ANYTHING, just shoot me an email.


Until next time,
Sam McCoy
sam.mccoy@furman.edu

Living the Camp Life - Rinker Mountain Retreat part 2

Hello, paladins! Hope your week has kicked off to a great start!
Mine sure did, reminiscing about the most amazing time that I have had in a while!

I thought I'd share some more pictures from the retreat...just because I am superdupertruper excited about it!


Firstly, here are some pictures of the nature art that we all made:

(I don't remember who did what, but let's take a moment to appreciate the amazing work that all these people did!)

 

Nature art - Circle of Life And Death
Photo by Rolyn Rollins

                           

Nature Art - Symbolic of a tower
Photo by Rolyn Rollins

         And finally, here's mine!

Photo by Rolyn Rollins

And here's pictures of us campers planting our plants during the morning meditation!

My super-photogenic fellow campers
Photo by Rolyn Rollins

Me and David Bost (D-Bo) Chilling
Photo by Rolyn Rollins

This is one trip I would recommend to every student!
It truly was a marvelous experience, not just in terms of what we learnt, but the time we spent together to get to know each other and ourselves better.

Hope you all have an amazing week with tons of stories to tell!

Until my next post,
Warm Love
Bhavya Sharma

bhavya.sharma@furman.edu


Photography Credits - Rolyn Rollins
                                   

Organized Chaos

This week was a fairly stressful week for most. Many people had several tests and papers due. As everything is settling down and falling into place, people are finding their daily routines, their favorite places to study, their most productive times of day, and their favorite classes and professors. One thing I have recently figured out is that I am becoming a morning person. The strange thing is that almost every other student on campus is the opposite. I have found that my most productive time of day is the morning. Perhaps it is because almost everyone else on campus is asleep, so I know I am not missing out on anything fun. This becomes most important on Saturday and Sunday mornings. While other students sleep in until the early afternoon, or sometimes later, I am awake. This brings great opportunities for quality study time. My favorite place on campus to study is in Plyer Hall at the tables by the big window. Off campus, however, is The Forest Coffeehouse in Traveler's Rest. They have delicious coffee, big tables, and student discounts. On Saturday morning I went to The Forest Coffeehouse to catch up on some homework. Greenville has a lot of coffee shoppes that are great for studying. Sometimes it is nice to study off campus to escape the mid-week stressful vibes in the library. Although there are also hundreds of great places to study on campus.

One of my favorite study companions

On Sunday, my friend Shannon invited me to the JCrew factory store in Asheville, NC. When I agreed to join her and two other friends, I was not aware of what I was getting into. We arrived at 9:45 am to a line that wrapped around the parking lot. An hour later and we were still in line waiting. Clearly whatever was inside was going to be worth it due to the rapidly growing line of people. Finally at 11:00 am we made it into the warehouse. Inside we were each handed a trash bag as well as a list of prices. All dresses were $15, shirts were $10, sweaters were $15, belts were $5, and hair accessories were $1. There were rows and rows of cardboard boxes overflowing with colorful cashmere bundles and an assortment of leather boots, dresses, and swimsuits. Pieces of clothing were flying as shoppers were digging into the boxes and tossing items into their garbage bags. I had never seen anything like it. It was certainly chaotic.

I would call this unorganized chaos

After just over an hour of shopping, the four of us were ready to make our final decisions. We found some great items for great prices. The wait was definitely worth it. Afterwards, we went to Tupelo Honey Cafe to enjoy some delicious Southern food.

This week was definitely a chaotic one, but if you manage your time, your life won't get as crazy as a JCrew Factory Warehouse sale. My new life is organized chaos. There is always a new and exciting opportunity, like attending a Mere Christianity Forum led by my philosophy professor, or meeting with a Reformed University Fellowship small group for dinner, or attending an etiquette dinner with the Shucker Leadership Institute, or going shopping at the JCrew Fall Warehouse Sale. Balancing all of these great activities with classes and a social life is crazy, but I couldn't ask for anything better from my University. College is about digging your heels into new and interesting topics and taking advantage of new opportunities. Although life can get a little chaotic at times, as long as you stay organized the chaos can only help your college experience!

Kjersti.kleine@furman.edu
Contact me with any questions, comments, or requests!

Ann Coulter, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and Gruesome Playground Injuries Oh My!

I am not the first blogger to write about the Fear of Missing Out or FOMO, and I am sure I will not be the last, but I think it is something so easy to fall victim to that you lose yourself in the days.

The weeks here should go far faster than they do, yet when the weekend comes I am wondering what happened to my seemingly endless week that has managed to disappear.

Mondays are certainly the craziest days for me- I go from my 10:30 Chemistry 110 class to my 11:30 Theatre 101 class to my 12:30 FWS followed in rapid succession by French 110 at 2:30, Symphonic Band rehearsal at 3:30, Flute lessons at 5:30, and Flute Studio Class at 6:30 and soon Pomp and Circumstance rehearsals after that. They seem so long when they are happening, yet with Monday only a few short hours away, I am wondering how it came up so quickly! And then I remember......

I spent my Tuesday night watching movies with a friend.

I went to Campus Catholic Ministries on Wednesday.

So not the best quality ever thanks to the lights in McAlister, but this is the best photo I have of Ann Coulter, whose Conservative talking points are often at once funny, enlightening, and borderline offensive.

I saw Ann Coulter speak on Thursday.

I went out to dinner at a pizza place and then watched Inception with my roommate Friday night

All dressed up for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra performing Wagner and Beethoven- what a lovely evening in downtown Greenville!

I attended a Greenville Symphony Orchestra Concert and got Thai food on Saturday.

I went to Mass led by the Bishop tonight.

I have a true case of FOMO. I want to do anything and everything, and because of that I am trying to do as much as I possibly can with my days. There's nothing wrong with that of course, except that now the weeks are just speeding by!

And there's so much more coming up! The world of theatre is heating up with Company being performed by the Pauper Players, and OFT is putting on Gruesome Playground Injuries. I personally will be attending both and you should too, tickets are available at the Trone Student Center for both shows! In case you haven't seen the trailer for Gruesome Playground Injuries: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lt4_SjBqSE

....so maybe a little FOMO isn't such a bad thing after all. At least when my personal favorite department benefits from it!

Living the camp life - Rinker Mountain Retreat Part 1

This was the first time in my life that a weekend felt really long.
And that is chiefly because after a long time, I spent my weekend in a very productive way.

Since I am a part of Engaged Living (Finding Your Life Purpose), I was provided the opportunity to go on a retreat to Asbury Hills this weekend! It was truly enjoyable, just as much as it was intellectually stimulating.

I went with a group of five other students, as well as Furman faculty members.
While it started out as a camping trip, it became more of a source of unwinding for me, especially since we stayed in an accommodation that could compete with just about any boutique hotel.

The retreat was an attempt to make us contemplate deeper questions about our existence, and basically, to ask ourselves what the world needs from us.

The retreat comprised five parts :

# 1. Systems for Sustainability -
This program was an attempt to make us realize how every system on earth consisted of elements that are interdependent, and how everything moves in a virtuous or vicious cycle. If a cycle could balance the negative and the positive elements, it would be termed as a "balancing loop", otherwise, it would be called a "reinforcing loop".

#2. Morning Meditation - Plant A Plant- 
                                   

My Plant - Chives

The next morning, as a part of morning meditation, we planted a plant. The basic concept behind it was that it would be a chance for us to learn to take care of our surroundings, and learn our responsibility for environmental sustainability.

#3. The Vocational Story of Yancey Fouche -
Yancey Fouche works in the Shi Center for Sustainability at Furman, and a part of the Rinker Retreat was that we would get to hear her journey through life.
Her story was inspiring for me, as it was for everyone else, since  it talked about how unpredictable life can be, in terms of where one ends up working, but how, in the end, we find our vocation and everything falls in place.

#4. Nature Art And Reflection - 
This was the most fun part!
We all were asked to go around looking for anything in the nature that we could find - leaves, flowers, twigs, grass, rocks - and get creative with it!

I really enjoyed listening to the concepts behind everyone's art, especially since each and every piece was simply breathtaking!

#5. Reflections -
The last part of the retreat involved us sharing what all we learnt on the trip.
What we all learnt was that we were going to part with some indelible memories that we would cherish for years to come!

Oh, and not to forget, here is a picture of where I stayed -
                                        

Doesn't look like a camp cabin, now, does it?

Other than that, we did what a good camper would never forget to do - we made s'mores!
                             

My fellow campers making s'mores

The Rinker Mountain Retreat was more than just a retreat for me. It gave me a chance to reflect on the three essential questions that are put before us in our lives (and in our class, of course) - Who am I, most authentically? What do I believe in, most deeply? What does the world need from me?

And while I could not find the answers to all those questions, I was able to discover what the world needed from me, and what made me who I am today.

I hope you all are having a marvelous weekend as well! 

Until my next post,
Warm Love
Bhavya
      

Go ham until you can't anymore.

Something that I do not believe I have had since I have been here is ham. Which is odd, because I've been going ham for the past couple of days. Since my slang may seem a little odd, let's define ham:

Ham:
1. (noun) the meat that comes from pigs, hogs and other swine.

2. (verb) to go hard in the paint: put full effort forward

In other words: If a person goes ham, assume they are going for it with full force.

The past couple of days have been a whirlwind of homework. Not in a bad way. If there is anything that I have discovered, it is that I like reading a lot more than I had thought... which is good because I have done 100+ pages today and I'm not quite done (do not be scared, 100+ pages is for a full week, not a single night). So I've basically been working hard.

This week I had my first college presentation, my first RLC meeting, my first Men of Distinction (a mentoring group) meeting, my first of many college labs, my first conference with professors, and my first Skype date with friends from home, which is more important than you would think. This along with all of the other things I like to do here.

Now I want to make something very clear: this is not a complaint. It is no secret that Furman is a difficult school, but it is what I signed up for so I am very excited to do it. But this week I really had to learn to prioritize.

Basically, I had more homework than anticipated this week because I am doing next week's work too. I asked all of my professors if I could get it assigned ahead of time so that I would have it done and would not have to work on it when my parents visit next week.

So, going with the theme of prioritizing, you may or may not have noticed that I did not blog on thursday, which is when I try my best to do. I am still figuring out balance, which means that I had to make decisions involving pushing back my blogging time to saturday.

That being said, this past week was an absolute blast! As is always is here! Last night I went to watch a improv comedy show put on by a group of students by the name of ImprovAble. It was side-splittingly good. My RA, the lovely Daniel Hoilett, was one of five cast members in it. He and his four cast-mates were absolutely incredible. If there is one thing that I will never get used to, it is the incredibly vast amounts of talents and skills in the Furman community. When I thought about college, I never really thought that I would spend Friday nights at improv shows. I now find my self constantly wondering when the next one will be. In fact they are holding auditions this week for new ImprovAble members... I might just try out! But that is for a later time.

Just to continue on the updates about Intramural Volleyball- we killed it this week! we are now 3-0 and #1 in our league. Soccer however... not as good. I played goalie again and let only 4 goals get scored on me this time! I even blocked one with my face, which I am pretty proud of. Win or lose though, Geer 300 is the best group of guys and we have fun regardless, which is what it is all about!

Okay, I need to get back to homework, but first, let's recap:

1) I can go ham without eating ham.
2) Furman is a hard school, but so worth it!
3) Balance is key.
4) My RA is hilarious
5) Volleyball is great
6) Soccer is... a work in progress

Don't forget to email me with any questions you may have!

Too-da-loo
Sam McCoy
sam.mccoy@furman.edu

Taking It Easy

Every college student, no matter how close or far away from home they may go, fears the day when they get sick at school.  Thankfully, no flu or stomach bug for me, but waking up with a sore throat was enough to make me a tad homesick.  After talking to my mom on the phone, I decided to head to the Furman infirmary to get my throat checked out.  I was greeted by a smiling staff, and I waited less than 5 minutes to see a nurse.  The nurse took my temperature, looked at my swollen tonsils, and said to my relief, "You don't a fever or strep throat.  It's probably a virus or allergies."  She gave me some cough drops and decongestion medicine while instructing me to rest and take it easy for a few days.

"Taking it easy," is easier said than done at Furman, where school work, clubs, and activities are more than plentiful.  I admit I probably am not getting as much sleep as I should at college!  However, now I'm doing my best not to overexert myself, and I already feel a little better by catching up on some sleep!

Questions or just want to talk?  Please email me at laura.woodside@furman.edu, I would love to hear from you!

In Which the Band Geek Goes to the Football Game

So I fully admit to being one of those kids who doesn't really "do" sports. I don't "do" tailgating and I don't "do" football and I don't "do" all of this standing and cheering and yelling at referees. I am that awkward kid that would rather spend her Saturday afternoon highlighting her new script or practicing her new sheet music than watch a bunch of guys toss around an overrated piece of leather. And I know I am not alone in this fact. I do, however, adore the marching band. Maybe because I am a flute player myself, or maybe because my roommate marches baritone, but whatever the reason, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was attending the first Furman home game. I pretended not to notice when I walked past a sea of sundresses and cowgirl boots, me in my jean shorts and nondescript purple tee shirt, pretended to understand the announcer as he called out descriptions of passes and fumbles- and waited for the marching band.

For the record, I intend on attending every home football game. Not only because the marching band here is actually stellar, but because I love the feeling of it. I love the idea that a community comes together to support their friends and their classmates, and I love watching everyone stand and cheer when we get a touchdown because in that moment we really are all connected to something, whether we're in sundresses or sportswear, whether we watch football every Saturday or aren't even sure which direction our own team is trying to send the ball in (I'm not that bad I promise). And no, I will probably never go game day dress shopping, and I will probably never yell at the referee for making a bad call. But I will be there all the same, just as excited and supportive as the rest of the fans filling our side of the stadium.

Revelation for the non-sporting Furman freshman. Go Paladins!

And in case you missed it......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sWdifnSRkg

The Fear of Missing Out

Here at Furman, we love to use abbreviations and acronyms. People are constantly referring to buildings, events, and groups as a strange series of letters and made up words. For example, the PAC is the Physical Activities Center, the DH is the Dining Hall, FUPO is the Furman University Police, Palapoints are the campus cash on the student ID cards, Palabroke is what happens when you run out of cash on your student ID card, and Soho is South Housing, the area on campus where a lot of the freshmen live. However, my favorite acronym is FOMO, also known as the fear of missing out.

Like most other Furman students, I have a bad case of FOMO. With all of the opportunities, clubs, classes, and organizations Furman University has to offer, it's often difficult to choose which activities you are going to partake in. As much as we would like to, nobody can do everything at Furman; that would be impossible. You can try, but you won't succeed. FOMO is the reason why I go to sleep late every night, and the reason why I can't seem to sleep in past 8:00 in the morning. 

I had a great week full of great classes, club meetings, study sessions, birthday celebrations, and a football game. Although I was afraid of missing out, I think I made the most of my opportunities and options this week. Now that we are three weeks into classes, the tests and essay assignments have begun. This week I had my first chemistry test, and I am currently working on my first two essays. Despite the pickup in academic work, there has also been ample social events and activities. Here are a few highlights of my week.

Friday was my friend's birthday. To celebrate, we surprised her by blindfolding her and driving her to Asheville, NC, one of her favorite places. Furman University has a very convenient location. First of all, there is so much to do in Greenville that you really don't ever have to leave. However, if you do decide to leave you can get to Asheville, Charlotte, Charleston, Columbia, Atlanta, and a lot of other cool places pretty easily. In Asheville we went to a Mediterranean restaurant where we sat on cushions on the floor and ate as belly dancers danced around the tables. It was an exciting evening. 

Saturday was our first home football game. Not only did Furman release their new logo, we also won our football game! Coming from a small high school with no football team, it was pretty exciting to cheer for a football team that I could call my own. The campus was buzzing with people of all ages coming to support to Paladins. We had the perfect football weather too. After the game, I tried the new restaurant on Furman's campus called the Paddock, which was delicious.

During the week I have been enjoying runs around the lake. It's a nice break from the chaos of classes, meetings, and homework. The views of Furman's campus never get old. I constantly find myself taking my phone out to take a picture of something on campus, which is probably a very clear indication that I am a freshman. 

With each week that goes by, I continue to establish my place here at Furman. There are so many options here, and while you can't do it all, Furman is good at helping students figure out exactly what they want to be involved in. It's a fact that Furman students will always be afraid of missing out simply because there is always so much going on on campus. As a freshman, it's fun to try out a lot of different things to figure out exactly how you want to spend your time. 

Feel free to e-mail me any questions or comments that you would like to share!

kjersti.kleine@furman.edu

Living the Freshmen Life

Third week of classes. Wow. I can't believe how far I have come.

It's been one marvelous week, to be terse. 

But my job as a freshmen blogger does not allow me to be terse.

So, here's a gist of all that happened this week:

#1. On my way to Freshmen Fifteen (more like, fifty) : 

                           

Yes, I eat like a fattie. There, I said it!

#2. Figuring out how to survive college: 

                                     

It can get out of hands, sometimes. Especially since I am super lazy with doing my homework.

But, hey, as long as I am developing survival skills, I won't complain!

#3. The PALADIN RISES: 

Furman University's awesome band

The Paladin - Furman University's mascot

My first football game. Lots of adrenaline. And a big, happy victory.

This made my weekend, I tell you.

The cheering, the hooting, the entire school spirit - it's contagious, really.
It made me feel elated that the first football game I saw was at Furman, and that we won (even though narrowly so)!

#4. Appointments! Appointments!

Ever since I've come to Furman, I haven't had the time to get bored.

It's because the campus is always booming with people, with events, and most of all, with life.

There is always a ton of activities that I want to do, and half a dozen places where I have to be, all the time.
And that is the best part of it all - the fact that I don't ever have the time to rest in my ennui.

This has been one helluva week, I must say!

And now, since weekend's here (finally!) , and I might finally have some time to get bored, I could say with reassurance that my profusely productive week deserves an easy-going weekend.

I hope you all are having a great weekend, and are getting some time to yourselves to unwind.
Remember, it's weekend. 

Let the laziness sink in. 

PS. That's also my new motto for college.

Until my next post,

Warm love

-Bhavya 

Sports on Sports on Sports.

Greetings from Greenville!

I just received the greatest news of my life: today is national Chocolate Milkshake Day. Which means my friends and I will be celebrating tonight with some Cookout. What is Cookout? It is the best/worst food on Earth. People who live in the Carolinas may already know this glory, but for those who do not, please pay attention. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

Cookout sells food in trays. A tray is comprised of one entree and two sides. The entree can be anything from a burger, to chicken fingers, to a BBQ beef sandwich, and even cajun chicken. Sides are anything from french fries to onion rings and hush puppies. Corn dogs, quesadillas and chicken nuggets also fall under "sides", even though I am fairly confident that they are entrees, but hey, I am not complaining. You also get a drink, or you can substitute a milkshake or float for another dollar. Long story short: Cookout is the perfect food for college students because it is cheap and delicious, but is not necessarily the greatest when it comes to avoiding that Freshman 15. 

Yea, this school is a Beauty

Luckily, Furman is such an active campus that I will not feel guilty about going to eat a milkshake tonight.

Something that is beautiful about the Furman is that it incorporates nature into the campus. Lets be realistic, how many schools look as beautiful as Furman? What this allows for is an active community. Something that I have gotten into in the past three weeks is intramural sports. I've also joined two club sports and gotten into working out regularly and exploring the many options of activity that Furman has to offer. 

Intramurals are sports that are divided up into different leagues and are low key (league depending) where everyone is understanding of the fact that people are there to have fun. Your freshman year, you are automatically put onto teams that are hall sponsored, so you just have to show up to your scheduled play times. This week, my hall had our first soccer game. We lost, but we lost in style and had a blast. We played another freshman hall and were upset 1-5 in the final score. I feel like I can say our goalie should have blocked more goals, but since he is recovering from the bruise on the side of his... buttocks...  from falling while trying his best, I will cut him some slack. For the record, I played goalie. Luckily, everyone on the field was just there to have fun and no one judged me for my "interesting"techniques. The sports are a blast and a definite must try for every Furman student.

Some members of our 2nd place team after our game
in front of the library!

Two days ago, we had our second co-rec volleyball game with our lovely sister hall. We continued our winning streak and now stand at 2-0 in our league. We played the lovely ladies of Geer 200 and their brother hall, Blackwell 100. The entire game, I was laughing with my opponents as we played a game to relieve stress from the long day of classes at Furman. Intramurals are, in my opinion, some of the most fun things because it gets you active with friends as you explore sports that you may not have had the chance to try before. I surely never thought I would have as much fun playing sand volleyball. 

The other great thing that Furman has is a myriad of club sports. The primary difference between club sports and intramurals is that there are tryouts and practices for the club teams. Also, club sports teams get to compete against other universities instead of just other teams within the school. For example, the club Swim Team will be traveling to the University of Georgia in a few weeks to compete. I decided to go out for both Swimming and Tennis club teams. While it is very difficult to balance both, I love both. Club swimming is very chillax and no stress. Tennis is separated into both Tournament and Practice Teams. Since I wanted to take it slow with tennis, I opted for the practice teams. But club teams exist for so many different sports all across the board. In fact, my roommate is currently practicing for the Ultimate Frisbee team. If you want to try club sports, I highly recommend it.

One thing that is so great about the students on campus is that just about everyone is active. As far as working out goes, I have found my own personal favorite activities. Just about everyday (I may have slacked a little this week... uh oh) I go for a run around the beautiful Swan Lake that is on the back side of campus. There is a gorgeous 5k route around the campus that I take. Of course I made some slight adjustments to accommodate for how much I want to work out that day. Conveniently, it is exactly 1 mile from my hall to the Amphitheater on campus, where I typically stop for some abs and arm workouts. The run is simply gorgeous and it makes me feel absolutely splendid. 

Since this is a blog where I am supposed to be honest, I might as well share with you all a story about one of my runs. As I stopped at the amphitheater with my music blasting in my ears, I began doing some core exercises. Being tired and in need of extra push, I was making odd noises, like grunting as I pushed for those final sit-ups. About five minutes into my noise making, I realize that I had neglected to notice the five ladies that were tanning just about 20 feet from me. After feeling embarrassed that I had made such an impression with them, I said hello and then goodbye as I jogged off into the sunset. Long story short for girls: tanning is optimal at the amphitheater. Long story short for guys: check your surroundings. 

The Physical Activities Center, or PAC as it is commonly referred, is the on campus gym for students. While I have not spent as much time in there as other students, it serves as a hub for student activity, whether it be a game of pick up basketball, a yoga class, or just basic strength training with friends. In all honesty, I have only used the pool. But I am sure that as soon as it cools off a little bit more, I will be spending much more time in the PAC.

It is almost impossible to go a day at Furman without being exposed to some sort of activity on campus. It is so therapeutic to go from classes to do physical activities with friends. One thing that is so great about Furman is its emphasis on experiences beyond the classroom. There is so much to do and to learn and I cannot wait to see what it has to offer in the future! 

RLC's way of notifying
new members! Definitely not
what I was expecting to see at 3 am

I am awaiting this weekend for so many reasons. I was recently informed that I was selected to join the Residential Life Council and we are going on a retreat tomorrow. Furman's first home football game is this saturday and we are about to find out about what all of this "Paladin Rising" business is about. I have plans to explore downtown just a little bit more this weekend! Also, I am now a Furman Future for the admissions department meaning I could host you all for a lunch or for an overnight visit. I cannot wait to get the ball rolling with my fellow futures! Stay tuned for more Furman fun!

Contact me with any questions you may have about absolutely anything! Now it's time for club swimming practice, followed by that milkshake. 

Sam McCoy

sam.mccoy@furman.edu

My Tie and Other Festivities

Even though Furman did not have a home football game this past weekend- there was still plenty of things to do to keep us busy!   We started the weekend with My Tie on Friday night.  My Tie was a RLC (Residential Life Council) sponsored event where you selected a colored tie and ate dinner with people from your hall and brother hall who had the same tie color.  My tie group (checkered red and white ties) ate at Mr. Salsa, a Mexican restaurant not far from campus with the orange tie group, and then headed to the Younts Conference Center on campus for a dance.  I absolutely love to dance, so My Tie was a blast for me!

Hall girls before My Tie




Roomies with the Bell Tower

My Tie Group outside of Mr. Salsa



Saturday morning, my roommate, Lacey, and I headed to downtown Greenville.  We started at the Farmers Market, which is open every Saturday during the warm months, where local farmers come to sell their goods on Main Street.  Even though I've grown up in Greenville my whole life- I had never been the Farmers Market!  I love exploring new things within my town as a college student- Greenville may be a small city, but it sure does have a lot to offer!  We grabbed a quick bite to eat at Grill Marks- a delicious hamburger restaurant on Main Street.  Then, we moved onto the Indie Craft Parade, which was a trade show of jewelry, art, and other goods from all around the South.  This was Greenville's fourth annual Indie Craft Parade, but it was the first for me!  All the goods were so unique! 

During the afternoon,  I squeezed in some time for studying.  Check out my view while studying:

The view from the back patio of the DH overlooking the lake

Saturday night, some friends and I cheered on our Paladins at the men's soccer game against the College of Charleston.  We won 1-0 in overtime!  Go Paladins!

The view from the soccer stadium

Paladin Soccer celebrating their win!

On Sunday, my roommate and I headed 45 minutes northwest of Furman to Lake Keowee, SC where my family has a lake house.  It was such a beautiful day to be out on the water!  The weather was absolutely perfect- not too hot and not too humid!  We took a boat ride and relaxed


The beauty of Lake Keowee


In other news, I had my first Chemistry quiz last week and was assigned my first college paper. Looks like I will be spending a lot of time in the library!

Feel free to contact me at laura.woodside@furman.edu!



Busy Days & Unnecessary Concerns

While preparing me for college, my older sister advised me to get involved as much as I could. She told me not to miss an opportunity to meet someone, to go somewhere, or to learn something new. She also told me not to sit alone in my room. Well, I can proudly say that I have had no time to sit alone in my room. When I first received my class schedule for the fall semester, I was amazed to see how different it was from high school. I thought for sure I would have hours of free time to study and relax. I was wrong. Somehow every hour of everyday seems to be filled with something important. Luckily, staying busy is the best way to meet people, to learn, and to take advantage of all that Furman has to offer.

So you may wonder what I have been up to that's been filling all of my time. I was selected to be a member of the Shucker Leadership Institute, an organization on campus that enhances student's leadership skills. I am also in the Furman Futures program through the admissions office, so I will soon be hosting prospective students for lunch visits and overnight visits. I have been trying out a few different clubs on campus, like RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) which has worship services and bible studies. I also attended a CLP (Cultural Life Program) event last week. (Before graduating, each student must have attended at least 32 CLP events. They are usually speeches or movies discussion interesting and unique topics that you otherwise probably wouldn't be thinking about). I met with the Pre-Med advisor last week who helped me map out my classes for the next four years. I have been taking advantage of the PAC (physical activities center - aka gym), which has awesome new fitness equipment. (I also attended a kickboxing class under the stars!) I attended the "My Tie" dance, a dance where each freshman is given a tie and attends dinner and a dance with other freshmen who have matching ties. Finally, I have visited the beautiful downtown Greenville several times. Yesterday I went to an Indie Craft Parade downtown where local artists were selling their homemade masterpieces. As you can imagine, balancing classes, homework, clubs, exercise, and social life is not an easy task, but I'm so excited about all of the new opportunities.

Here is my hall and our brother hall before the My Tie dance.

Here are some pictures from the craft parade downtown, including my organic orange cream popsicle

On Saturday, I attended a retreat with the other 24 Shucker Leadership New Fellows in Charlotte, NC. We spent the day doing leadership building activities and a high ropes course. The high ropes course was designed so that the only way to complete it was to rely on your group. Standing 50 feet up in the air on a metal wire with most of my weight leaning against another person is a great way to get to know someone. I was definitely pushed out of my comfort zone, but the ropes course was a great way to get to know the other Shucker New Fellows as well as develop our ability to work as a team.

The high ropes course at UNC Charlotte

The Shucker New Fellows after completing the high ropes course

As I begin to get used to the college lifestyle, I have been thinking back on this past summer and all of the worries and concerns I had. Like any soon-to-be college freshman, I was pretty nervous about starting my new life at Furman. Below I have listed a few worries I had. As it turns out, those were pointless concerns.

1) I was so scared that I would have to sit alone in the Dining Hall. 
First of all, sitting alone in the DH is not a big deal at all. People do it all the time, and it's perfectly acceptable to sit and read a book or look out the window while enjoying your meal. Second of all, it turns out that every single other freshmen student is also scared of sitting alone in the DH. So, that makes it pretty easy when trying to find people to sit with. Third of all, Furman is small enough that you constantly see people you know everywhere you go. I have been at Furman for three weeks now and I have never had to sit alone in the DH because I always see people I know.

2) I was worried that I wouldn't have time to go to church
I know it's silly, but I was worried that I would be too busy with other things that I would never have time to go to church or stay involved religiously. It has only been three weeks since I moved in, but I have already been more involved in religious life than I was even at home. Furman has so many clubs, religious groups, and bible studies. Greenville also has wonderful churches.

3) I was worried that my belongings wouldn't fit in my tiny dorm room
I thought I was bringing a lot of clothes, and after discovering that I would be living in Blackwell, I was very worried that my clothes wouldn't fit. In reality, I could have brought twice as much clothing as I brought and it would still fit nicely. Between my closet and the rows of drawers, there is plenty of storage.

4) I was worried that the showers would always be occupied
I have not yet had to wait for a shower. In fact, I have never even seen a line for the showers. I have heard stories of college students being late to class because all of the showers are being used. Well, that is not a problem at all at Furman, at least not on Blackwell base. We have plenty of showers to share here!

This next week is going to bring even more firsts. My first chemistry test, the first home football game, my first essay, are all quickly approaching. I can't wait to share all of the new experiences I will have next week!

If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me at kjersti.kleine@furman.edu

A Little Fresh Air

Sometimes I think we all need a little fresh air, something that takes us away from whatever stresses have been placed upon us (French quizzes, Chemistry study problems, and entire plays to be read and analyzed in my case).

This weekend seems to have been a rough one for my entire hall, there have been breakdowns, meltdowns, struggles with roommates- it's a bit like the whole world is finally realizing that the semester has begun, and the hard work that this entails from here on out.

So what do we do? Well, in my book, we enjoy our escapes where we can get them. My Theatre 101 teacher explained that there are three ways to handle conflict in the real world: you can escape from it, you can observe it, or you can tackle it head on. Sometimes, I think we all need to do the first, and there's nothing wrong with scheduling the time to take a day or two to yourself, so long as you continue to be accountable for the work that does still need to be done. Maybe you do your laundry a day early or you spend an extra hour studying for that quiz so you can do something exciting the next day.

I needed an escape this weekend, being far from home and officially in the swing of things has made me a little bit homesick and a little bit stir crazy. So I took Friday night off to go to My Tie with my friends, and I spent Saturday hiking in the area and seeing some really beautiful water falls.

I know that today I have to crack down and get my work done, but I feel better for it because I was able to go a couple things for myself and forge bonds with friends that are just as vital as any class in college, I think.

This is one of the beautiful falls I hiked to yesterday, Rainbow Falls.

Being from Arizona, I don't see a lot of newts or salamanders, so getting to hold one was pretty exciting for me, to say the least.

Admiring Falls Park

We went out on a limb- literally.

Pre-My Tie photo with my friend Anna- every time I see that beautiful background I have to remind myself that I actually live here!