Great Weather, Great Week!

Hi Everyone!

I had a GREAT week! I spent my Easter break with Becca (who I mentioned last week) and her family instead of driving all the way back to Pennsylvania. Her parents were so kind to me, and her mom had so much food for us! We spent a lot of time outside soaking up the sun, and Easter Sunday was beautiful; it was about 85 degrees and so sunny! I spent so much time outside in fact that I actually got a little sun burn… oops! On Tuesday classes started up again, and at night I had practice for the upcoming DiverCity Festival. This is the second year the Diversity Committee is sponsoring the event, and I am really looking forward to it. Basically, it’s a big celebration of culture and a chance to celebrate our differences. There will be songs, dances, food, spoken word performances, skits, and a world fashion show which I will be modeling an Indian sari for, so it should be a great night! Wednesday was another gorgeous day. There were students outside EVERYWHERE on campus: playing Frisbee, doing homework, reading, chatting with friends, napping, and just having a good time. I even saw several classes being held outside. I guess the professors couldn’t resist the weather either! One professor even had his students carry their desks outside-check out the picture. Yesterday was the last day of nice weather, so I tried to enjoy it! I also went to my volunteer site, which is always fun… after all, who doesn’t like to play with babies for two hours?!? The nice weather and a light homework load was exactly what I needed to make this a relaxing week. Next week starts the final stretch: its Spring Week so there will be all kinds of events going on, (including comedians, game shows, concerts, a carnival and a dance) then a few more weeks of classes (and lots of papers due!) then finals, then summer!

Mindful Living

Hi Everyone!

I don’t have much to update you all on since it was a short week (our Easter Break started Wednesday!) so I figured I would talk about my housing situation next year. As a senior, I have chosen to live in Special Interest Housing. Each year before the regular housing lottery, every student from each class year has the chance to form a group for Special Interest Housing and apply through the Residence Life office. This year, groups that were approved include a Spanish Language House, Colleges Against Cancer House, and a Mindful Living House. Next year, I will be a part of the Mindful Living group. The three themes of Mindful Living are community, service, and simple living. As far as community, we have “family dinners” every Sunday where a pair of roommates prepares a home cooked meal for everyone and Café nights on Wednesdays (similar to coffeehouses). Service means service both to Stonehill and the community around us. This could mean volunteering as group at a soup kitchen for the day, or organizing a trash pick-up around campus. Finally, to live by simple living, we recycle, use a compost, shut off the lights whenever possible, use hand cloths instead of paper towels, and other little things. The group is made up of 48 people from sophomores to seniors, male and female. I think it is great that the college affords us this opportunity, and I am really happy to be living with a group of people who share common interests! I am also super excited to living with my friend Becca again; she and I met freshmen year because we lived two doors down from each other and we were also roommates sophomore year. But this year, we were both abroad in the fall and this semester she is completing an internship in New York City, so it will be GREAT to be reunited for our senior year! Check out a picture

of us all the way from frosh year...