Today I went to do community service with Save the Bay. The event was International Coast Cleanup where people all over the world are cleaning up their bays/beaches. This however is a little more tedious because we had to tally how much we found of everything. Like my group found 185 candy/food wrappers, 27 cigarette butts, 24 straws, 85 pieces of glass, etc. They do this worldwide because they want to find what the main factor of pollution is. For example, they collected 1700 cigarette butts in the state of Rhode Island last year. Now they are banning smoking on the beaches. Things like that to help the environment because marine wildlife see the trash and thinks it is food and eat it and it hurts them.
I had that from about 9:30 to 12:30 and I met a cool girl there that lives not too far from Newport. So this morning was pretty good and exciting and now I'm off to hit the books!
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Clubs, Friends, & Campus Life
Hey All!!
How is everyone doing!? I miss everyone so much and am trying so hard to get plugged into life here. I have no school on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. So, Friday is going to be "chore" day which is going to involve studying, laundry, ironing, taking out the trash, and cleaning up.
There are so many clubs and activities going on here at JWU (Johnson & Wales). I signed up to be in the University Involvement Board (UIB) which plans student activities. Currently, we are planning for Freak Week which is going to land at the end of October and is going to have events geared towards Halloween. I also signed up to be a CAT which is the Collegiate Ambassador Team. JWU's mascot is a wildcat, hence the abbreviation to be a CAT. The CAT club are people that are tour guides to school visitors along with other programs such as the Shadow Program where visitors and a CAT member can work one on one and the visitor follows their CAT to all their classes for a day and basically experiences a day in the life of a college student at JWU. Those are the 2 clubs that I have involvement with so far, but I know there will be a lot more coming along.
Food is decent here. We have 6-9 different facilities to use. City Burger & Starbucks will be added to our meal plan here very soon. The main hall that I use is the Snowden which is ran mostly by students so of course the food gets better each day.
I am starting to make some friends, each day if I am alone and eating, I try hard to eat with someone different every day. Yesterday, for dinner, I sat down with a girl on the cell phone. I wasn't feeling the most sociable and there weren't any open tables so I thought this would be perfect. The girl ended her call and started talking to me. We hit it off almost immediately and made plans to hang out later that night as I had UIB (University Involvement Board) stuff to do. She seems like a keeper for me so far. My roommate and I are getting along great and I started to show her a glimpse of the crazy me (I hope I didn't scare her too bad). I made some other friends in my Foods I class, and a few others just dispersed here and there so now I'm getting to the point where if I wanted to, I could probably find someone to hang out with. It is so nice to have friends ;)
As for dorm living, someone got busted for coming home drunk and with alcohol in tow, so now all bags have to be searched for today at least. Also, there is a crazy guy on the first floor that runs around the halls and walks into people's room and starts using their computers, tvs, bathrooms, etc. My roommate bumped into him this morning and didn't know who he was until he asked her what room she was in, so now we keep our doors locked at all hours whereas if someone was in the room, it'd generally be unlocked. I still feel very safe but you just can't be too cautious or careful.
How is everyone doing!? I miss everyone so much and am trying so hard to get plugged into life here. I have no school on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. So, Friday is going to be "chore" day which is going to involve studying, laundry, ironing, taking out the trash, and cleaning up.
There are so many clubs and activities going on here at JWU (Johnson & Wales). I signed up to be in the University Involvement Board (UIB) which plans student activities. Currently, we are planning for Freak Week which is going to land at the end of October and is going to have events geared towards Halloween. I also signed up to be a CAT which is the Collegiate Ambassador Team. JWU's mascot is a wildcat, hence the abbreviation to be a CAT. The CAT club are people that are tour guides to school visitors along with other programs such as the Shadow Program where visitors and a CAT member can work one on one and the visitor follows their CAT to all their classes for a day and basically experiences a day in the life of a college student at JWU. Those are the 2 clubs that I have involvement with so far, but I know there will be a lot more coming along.
Food is decent here. We have 6-9 different facilities to use. City Burger & Starbucks will be added to our meal plan here very soon. The main hall that I use is the Snowden which is ran mostly by students so of course the food gets better each day.
I am starting to make some friends, each day if I am alone and eating, I try hard to eat with someone different every day. Yesterday, for dinner, I sat down with a girl on the cell phone. I wasn't feeling the most sociable and there weren't any open tables so I thought this would be perfect. The girl ended her call and started talking to me. We hit it off almost immediately and made plans to hang out later that night as I had UIB (University Involvement Board) stuff to do. She seems like a keeper for me so far. My roommate and I are getting along great and I started to show her a glimpse of the crazy me (I hope I didn't scare her too bad). I made some other friends in my Foods I class, and a few others just dispersed here and there so now I'm getting to the point where if I wanted to, I could probably find someone to hang out with. It is so nice to have friends ;)
As for dorm living, someone got busted for coming home drunk and with alcohol in tow, so now all bags have to be searched for today at least. Also, there is a crazy guy on the first floor that runs around the halls and walks into people's room and starts using their computers, tvs, bathrooms, etc. My roommate bumped into him this morning and didn't know who he was until he asked her what room she was in, so now we keep our doors locked at all hours whereas if someone was in the room, it'd generally be unlocked. I still feel very safe but you just can't be too cautious or careful.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Day 1 of Classes/I Kissed Sleeping In Goodbye
Today was a good day, I bought a majority of my books which sure do add up quickly in price. I had my Foods I class (I just got signed up for English Composition so I skipped it today by accident) and Foods I is claimed to be the horror class for all Hotel Management kids because they hate the restaurant aspect of the field but we all should know that us Hotel Management kids to know both sides and that is why companies keep coming back to us for Hotel Managers/Hotel Jobs is because they know that JWU teaches both sides. JWU by the way is ranked 6th in the country for hospitality studies. My other class was great too, it was the Intro to the Hospitality field and I have a feeling that is going to be a fun class!
Here's the scoop, because of my 3.55 GPA and all my activity in National Honor Society and possible Key Club during my high school years, I've been accepted into basically the Dean's list except we call it SHARP here. I get to take up to 25 credit hours every term. So with regular tuition, I was enrolled for 15.5 credit hours and with my SHARPness, I get to take 9.5 more credit hours! So I totally took advantaged of this free schooling.
So I picked on my general classes and added 2 more English classes to my pile of classes. Now, I have 3 English classes making it a total of 6 classes.
My 6 Classes:
Communication Skills
English Composition
Food Safety & Sanitation Management
Intro To Literary Genres
Foods I
Intro to the Hospitality Field
My New Schedule:
Monday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ Communication Skills
11:30am to 1:25pm ~ Food Safety & Sanitation Management
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro To Literary Genres
Tuesday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ English Composition
9:20am to 11:15am ~ Foods I
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro to the Hospitality Field
Wednesday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ Communication Skills
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro To Literary Genres
Thursday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ English Composition
9:20am to 11:15am ~ Foods I
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro to the Hospitality Field
Since my butt is getting sore from sitting on the hallway floor, I think I'll go for my midday day meal, then I think I might go to Target or Staples/Whole Foods (to get an internet cable so I can sit in my comfy new chair), just depends all on the bus schedules and locations. Lets hope I don't get lost or miss my bus!
Here's the scoop, because of my 3.55 GPA and all my activity in National Honor Society and possible Key Club during my high school years, I've been accepted into basically the Dean's list except we call it SHARP here. I get to take up to 25 credit hours every term. So with regular tuition, I was enrolled for 15.5 credit hours and with my SHARPness, I get to take 9.5 more credit hours! So I totally took advantaged of this free schooling.
So I picked on my general classes and added 2 more English classes to my pile of classes. Now, I have 3 English classes making it a total of 6 classes.
My 6 Classes:
Communication Skills
English Composition
Food Safety & Sanitation Management
Intro To Literary Genres
Foods I
Intro to the Hospitality Field
My New Schedule:
Monday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ Communication Skills
11:30am to 1:25pm ~ Food Safety & Sanitation Management
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro To Literary Genres
Tuesday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ English Composition
9:20am to 11:15am ~ Foods I
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro to the Hospitality Field
Wednesday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ Communication Skills
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro To Literary Genres
Thursday:
7:10am to 9:05am ~ English Composition
9:20am to 11:15am ~ Foods I
1:40pm to 3:35pm ~ Intro to the Hospitality Field
Since my butt is getting sore from sitting on the hallway floor, I think I'll go for my midday day meal, then I think I might go to Target or Staples/Whole Foods (to get an internet cable so I can sit in my comfy new chair), just depends all on the bus schedules and locations. Lets hope I don't get lost or miss my bus!
Monday, September 3, 2007
My Starbucks Adventure with Big Mike
God works in mysterious ways!
So, I'm at Starbucks and this is my second new blog. Feel free to read them in any order. But don't forget to read the other one titled "My New Life"
I get to Starbucks, order a coffee so I could be a good paying patron while using their internet. I set up my laptop and this big black guy comes over. By the way, I feel like a minority at times since the east coast has a way more diversed crowd of people. This black guy, who we will name Big Mike, was saying something that I could hardly hear. I was like speak up what do you want (I was nice about it!). He said he just returned from Europe, couldn't figure out his laptop and didn't want to hassle it. I said what do you need to access, he said his verizon account. I took a chance and since Starbucks was packed enough it seemed safe.
Big Mike logs into his account and doesn't know a whole lot about computers and is amazed at my skills. He has a pre paid verizon on the go cell account which is amazing and I almost feel like changing to it. If you really want to know all the goods about it let me know and I'll tell you about it, I don't want to put any more people to sleep tonight ;)
But this pre paid on the go thing is amazing and is great for people that are going to be international and so forth. So in that way, God was presenting an answer to me on something that I was worried about and that was how am I supposed to communicate with family while I'm overseas without spending a ton of money.
But we get done with that and Big Mike introduces himself and he says, my name is Big Mike but they all call me Tiny Bear. Then he shows me his arms and on one arm he has Big Mike tatooed into it in a nice writing. On his other arm, he has Tiny Bear tatooed onto it. Big Mike goes on to the say that he is running around downtown a lot so if I ever see him, I should feel free to say hi. To me, it almost gives me a sense of security to know someone that runs around the city because one day I might run into trouble and Big Mike might be there to help me. Who knows, God works in mysterious ways!
So, I'm at Starbucks and this is my second new blog. Feel free to read them in any order. But don't forget to read the other one titled "My New Life"
I get to Starbucks, order a coffee so I could be a good paying patron while using their internet. I set up my laptop and this big black guy comes over. By the way, I feel like a minority at times since the east coast has a way more diversed crowd of people. This black guy, who we will name Big Mike, was saying something that I could hardly hear. I was like speak up what do you want (I was nice about it!). He said he just returned from Europe, couldn't figure out his laptop and didn't want to hassle it. I said what do you need to access, he said his verizon account. I took a chance and since Starbucks was packed enough it seemed safe.
Big Mike logs into his account and doesn't know a whole lot about computers and is amazed at my skills. He has a pre paid verizon on the go cell account which is amazing and I almost feel like changing to it. If you really want to know all the goods about it let me know and I'll tell you about it, I don't want to put any more people to sleep tonight ;)
But this pre paid on the go thing is amazing and is great for people that are going to be international and so forth. So in that way, God was presenting an answer to me on something that I was worried about and that was how am I supposed to communicate with family while I'm overseas without spending a ton of money.
But we get done with that and Big Mike introduces himself and he says, my name is Big Mike but they all call me Tiny Bear. Then he shows me his arms and on one arm he has Big Mike tatooed into it in a nice writing. On his other arm, he has Tiny Bear tatooed onto it. Big Mike goes on to the say that he is running around downtown a lot so if I ever see him, I should feel free to say hi. To me, it almost gives me a sense of security to know someone that runs around the city because one day I might run into trouble and Big Mike might be there to help me. Who knows, God works in mysterious ways!
My New Life!!!
Hey Everyone!!!
I was having some internet difficulties so I took a trip to starbucks and got onto to the internet so that way I could update ya'll!!! (Yeah my roommate is from Tennessee).
So flights/trip out on Friday was pretty uneventful, just long and tiring day. Do have to say that I wouldn't particulary want to fly into Newark, New Jersey again. However, my flight from Newark to Providence was the best for a few reasons. It was funny in the way I spent an hour on the runway and it only took us 30 minutes to fly to Providence. The flight was the best because of all the crazy people around me. That was a ton of fun! I arrived in Providence with a personal driver to greet me. He took me to my hotel, helped me get my stuff inside and waited to make sure I had reservations.
Now my hotel was pretty sweet. I'll be posting pics here of it soon. It was probably one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. I was lucky to find it since it is so close to my dorms, I only had to walk 2 blocks to move my stuff in.
Saturday morning, I moved my stuff into my dorm. My roommate was scheduled to arrive on Sunday so I delayed in unpacking my stuff so that way if she wanted to move things around it wouldn't be a hassle. I had orientation all day on Saturday and I met a girl from India. If I happen to find her again somewhere on campus, I think we will be good friends. She is also studying hotel management. I made a few other friends throughout the course of the day as well. I went to a hypnotist show which was extremely funny.
Sunday, I ran into 2 friends from my April visit to the school and we went running around for awhile. Then I helped 2 people move in but they were so cranky and had so much stuff I let them be after a while. My roommate arrived at lunchtime and I went and met her. Have to say she is a really quiet person but I think we will work out fine. I had 2 more hours of orientation left so I made plans to meet up with my roommate later. We met back up and spent a couple hours rearranging the room until it was just right. Later that night, I went to a comedy show with two of my friends, David & Dom (short for Dominique) and after the show, there was a huge celebration celebrating the start of the school's new year.
Monday, I had a hospitality welcome meeting and then there was the convocation ceremony which was interesting yet a little drawn out in my opinion. Afterwards, I went shopping to Wal-Mart. I was suprised to see a Wal-Mart made of brick and was slightly dismayed with the store and mass quantities of people and the really empty shelves from all the back to schoolers. I bought some must haves and decided to wait on the others. Good thing I did because I had just the perfect amount of stuff to carry and messed up the bus system and it took me almost 2 hours to find a bus to take me home. I could have walked home in that amount of time but uncertainity of the safety of neighborhoods held me back. Although, the bus stop I did end up choosing was a little iffy since it was this huge high rise building with low rent housing and no AC so everyone was out on the front lawn in chairs just sitting there, so that was kind of awkard to see so many people just sitting there and doing nothing. After a quick dinner, I went to check out some of the clubs that JWU has to offer. All the clubs and greek life set up booths out on the court yard between my dorm hall, the school library, and another dorm all. This court yard is called the Gaebe commons and is a huge place for partying ;)
After checking out the clubs, I went shopping at the Providence Place Mall, more particulary, I wanted to go the Bed Bath & Beyond to get a new comfy dorm chair with a gift card that someone gave me (thanks by the way!). I ended up buying the chair, a mini ironing board, a surge protector power strip, and 24 hangers which was a mistake because I had a mile to walk. Well it doesn't help either when you walk the wrong way and get lost in a unfamiliar city and you have all this stuff to carry and its getting darker and darker by the minute and all these security cars are coming out of the woodwork. After several moments of wandering I finally walked in JWU territory where all the light poles have JWU signs and JWU buses were running around. Much relieved I hiked on home.
At home, in my concrete box, I was having internet issues so I took the journey to Starbucks which leads me into my next blog. I somehow find adventure everywhere I go.
I was having some internet difficulties so I took a trip to starbucks and got onto to the internet so that way I could update ya'll!!! (Yeah my roommate is from Tennessee).
So flights/trip out on Friday was pretty uneventful, just long and tiring day. Do have to say that I wouldn't particulary want to fly into Newark, New Jersey again. However, my flight from Newark to Providence was the best for a few reasons. It was funny in the way I spent an hour on the runway and it only took us 30 minutes to fly to Providence. The flight was the best because of all the crazy people around me. That was a ton of fun! I arrived in Providence with a personal driver to greet me. He took me to my hotel, helped me get my stuff inside and waited to make sure I had reservations.
Now my hotel was pretty sweet. I'll be posting pics here of it soon. It was probably one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. I was lucky to find it since it is so close to my dorms, I only had to walk 2 blocks to move my stuff in.
Saturday morning, I moved my stuff into my dorm. My roommate was scheduled to arrive on Sunday so I delayed in unpacking my stuff so that way if she wanted to move things around it wouldn't be a hassle. I had orientation all day on Saturday and I met a girl from India. If I happen to find her again somewhere on campus, I think we will be good friends. She is also studying hotel management. I made a few other friends throughout the course of the day as well. I went to a hypnotist show which was extremely funny.
Sunday, I ran into 2 friends from my April visit to the school and we went running around for awhile. Then I helped 2 people move in but they were so cranky and had so much stuff I let them be after a while. My roommate arrived at lunchtime and I went and met her. Have to say she is a really quiet person but I think we will work out fine. I had 2 more hours of orientation left so I made plans to meet up with my roommate later. We met back up and spent a couple hours rearranging the room until it was just right. Later that night, I went to a comedy show with two of my friends, David & Dom (short for Dominique) and after the show, there was a huge celebration celebrating the start of the school's new year.
Monday, I had a hospitality welcome meeting and then there was the convocation ceremony which was interesting yet a little drawn out in my opinion. Afterwards, I went shopping to Wal-Mart. I was suprised to see a Wal-Mart made of brick and was slightly dismayed with the store and mass quantities of people and the really empty shelves from all the back to schoolers. I bought some must haves and decided to wait on the others. Good thing I did because I had just the perfect amount of stuff to carry and messed up the bus system and it took me almost 2 hours to find a bus to take me home. I could have walked home in that amount of time but uncertainity of the safety of neighborhoods held me back. Although, the bus stop I did end up choosing was a little iffy since it was this huge high rise building with low rent housing and no AC so everyone was out on the front lawn in chairs just sitting there, so that was kind of awkard to see so many people just sitting there and doing nothing. After a quick dinner, I went to check out some of the clubs that JWU has to offer. All the clubs and greek life set up booths out on the court yard between my dorm hall, the school library, and another dorm all. This court yard is called the Gaebe commons and is a huge place for partying ;)
After checking out the clubs, I went shopping at the Providence Place Mall, more particulary, I wanted to go the Bed Bath & Beyond to get a new comfy dorm chair with a gift card that someone gave me (thanks by the way!). I ended up buying the chair, a mini ironing board, a surge protector power strip, and 24 hangers which was a mistake because I had a mile to walk. Well it doesn't help either when you walk the wrong way and get lost in a unfamiliar city and you have all this stuff to carry and its getting darker and darker by the minute and all these security cars are coming out of the woodwork. After several moments of wandering I finally walked in JWU territory where all the light poles have JWU signs and JWU buses were running around. Much relieved I hiked on home.
At home, in my concrete box, I was having internet issues so I took the journey to Starbucks which leads me into my next blog. I somehow find adventure everywhere I go.
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