Exploring Special Book Collections at the University of Iowa

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Hi everyone! It is Jordan again, and since my last time writing, I have had the pleasure of visiting two different special book collections at the University of Iowa libraries, and I wanted to share my thoughts, because I felt like they were hidden gems on campus!

First, I got to see the John Martin Rare Book Room in the Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. This room contains many old and historic books on early medicine and the health sciences. The books were on display within the room, and my class got to flip through them all. And it was cool to be able to actually see and read the materials. If you are really interested in health sciences and medicine, and want to learn more about these rare books, check out the Hardin Libraries page on the rare book room!

Second, I visited the Special Collections room on the third floor of the main library. I needed to use a rare book for one of my class projects, so I requested it ahead of time through Aeon on the UI Libraries website, and when I arrived, they had it waiting for me. This collection is a little bit broader, and you can find more genres and types of books that might interest you! You can review the main libraries page on the Special Collection and Archives room to explore for yourself!

To me, it was really cool to be able to have access to these rare, old, and valuable books, and I think it is a really great resource to have. Even though I stumbled upon these rooms because of my classes, I would definitely recommend checking them out on your own when you get the chance! There’s something really special about holding history in your hands, and I am glad the university gives us the opportunity to access these resources. That’s all for now!

-Jordan

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Tired of Dorm Food? Here Are My Favorite Places to Eat in Iowa City!

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Hi everyone! It is Jordan again! Today I wanted to talk about places around campus that are good for when you might not want dining hall food anymore. Don’t get me wrong, the dining hall food is good, but can be repetitive after eating it so many times. I also want to put a PSA that I am a pretty picky eater, so these places are good for those who are also picky eaters, and those who are not! Also, I am going to be talking about restaurants more local to Iowa City and not chains like Canes and Chipotle (which we also have on campus)!

This first one is a little fancier, but definitely one of my favorites! It is an Italian restaurant called Basta. If you want good pasta or pizza, this is the first place I would recommend!

Another fancier option is Pullman’s. I will say their menu is more selective and probably not the BEST for pickier eaters, but the food is really good, and they have nice patio seating outside.

A place I tried the first week in Iowa was Pop’s Barbeque. It is really close to the dorms on the East side, and it has really good barbecue, and their chicken is also really good. I would say it is also pretty affordable and a low-key environment.

Like I said, I am a picky eater, so I love some good chicken tenders and fries, and I would say some of my favorites are at Bo James. Bo James has lots of good food options and has been one of the places my family goes to watch football and eat! Mickey’s Irish Pub also has really good chicken tenders, and I get them to-go a lot to bring back to my dorm! Another pro of these places is that they are open really late!

One of the things I love about the campus and Iowa City is that there are so many places to eat and explore. I still have so many to try, but these have been some of my favorites so far!
That’s all for now!
-Jordan

 

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Cleaning Tips in College!

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Hi everyone! It’s Jordan again, and today I wanted to share some cleaning tips that I have used in college to help keep my room clean!

My first big tip is dust spray. My room is really small, so it gets dusty really fast. I use Pledge spray to help me dust in my room. Also, be sure not to just dust your desk, all of the small crevices, like in my desk hutch, and even in my Woozoo fan, get dusty. To clean my fan, I spray some of the spray on Q-tips or a cotton pad to get in all the grooves of my fan!

In terms of laundry, I have a few things! First of all, please set timers for your laundry. Letting them sit in the washer can make them smell a little bit funky, but also, there are tons of people who have to do laundry! So be courteous and try to get your laundry in and out of the machines as quick as possible! If you have a bag your laundry goes in, throw that in with your wash every couple of washes! The bag itself can get kind of gross and smelly, so I just throw it in with my wash every other week to keep that clean as well! When it comes to the dryer, clean out the lint before and after drying! If the lint catcher gets too full, the machine will not dry your clothes as well!

Get a vacuum (if you have carpet), and a Swiffer (if you have hardwood)! Like I said before, it gets really dusty and gross because the room is so small! This includes the floors! My roommate and I vacuum almost every day or every other day, and the vacuum gets pretty full almost every time! I would also recommend getting a vacuum with a small, narrow attachment. This way, you can vacuum in small crevices as well! I use my vacuum to get dust out of our AC machine!

Those are just a few things I do to help keep my room and laundry fresh and clean!
-Jordan

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From High School Halls to Hawkeye Life: Adjusting to College

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Hi everyone! It’s Jordan again! Today, I was thinking about some of the things that have been a bit of an adjustment from high school to college so far.

In terms of academics, there are a lot of things that differ from high school to college. In high school, teachers gave you exact instructions on what to do each night, while in college, it is more up to you to figure out what needs to be done for each class and when. Your professor might hand you a packet right at the end of class with no context at all. However, don’t stress. Check the syllabus or ICON, and you will almost always find what you are looking for and directions on what to do. Taking notes can also be very different. In high school, notes were usually more guided, or you were given a note packet, while in college, you have a lot more freedom. Two methods that have worked for me are, first off, taking notes on a Google Doc on my computer, then going back through my notes and the PowerPoint and rewriting them on my computer. It may be a bit tedious, but it forces me to go back and review the content again. Another method that has worked for me is downloading the PowerPoint slides from class onto my iPad and taking notes directly on the PowerPoint. This way, I am not just copying word for word from the slides, but taking note of what the professor is actually saying. Also, familiarize yourself with Microsoft applications like Excel or Word. I know for me, everything in high school was Google, so switching to Microsoft applications was a bit of a challenge for me!

Social life in college can definitely be challenging. It is very different to have lots of different people with all different majors and from all different backgrounds. Especially in the first week, you will meet a lot of new people at welcome events, and you may get their Snapchat or Instagram, and then never hear from them again. But try not to stress about it; this is a big campus, and you will meet your people. It is sometimes difficult to see your peers making friends quickly, while you are not, but try to remind yourself that meeting new people can take time, and you may not make friends INSTANTLY when you get to college. Try to go to the engagement fair and find clubs you are interested in, and go to the meetings! It gives you a chance to meet new people who have the same interests as you! Review our student organizations list here as well to see what you can get involved in here at Iowa!

College can be difficult, especially in the beginning, but remember to give yourself grace and time to find your place here at Iowa!

– Jordan

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Mistakes I’ve Made in My First Month of College (And What I Learned From Them!)

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Hi everyone! As I have been at college for just over a month, I wanted to share some of the mistakes I have made in college. I want to preface this by saying mistakes are what make us human, and they help us learn and grow! So, here are a few mistakes I have made, and how you could avoid them yourself!

My number one mistake I have made is getting lost on the cambus (the campus buses). It has not been once, but many times, I found myself on the wrong bus or ending up in the wrong place. One time, I even ended up being left at the Finkbine, the golf course! Figuring out the cambus system and transit app has been one of my biggest struggles. One way I think I could have helped myself out a little more is if I took a couple of hours of my welcome week or a weekend to just ride the buses and see the routes of the buses. This way, I could get a better idea of which number bus goes to which stops, etc.

Another mistake I made was not bringing a clear bag to a sporting event. If you have not gone to a sporting event at Iowa or plan to, this one is for you! If you have a clear bag of any size, it will be allowed into the event! However, if your bag is not clear, it has to be very small, only about 4 by 6 inches or somewhere around that size. Unfortunately, when I attended the volleyball game, my Lululemon bag was taken, and it was thrown away at the event because I could not bring it inside. So, before you come to Iowa or an Iowa sporting event, invest in a clear bag!

The last mistake I want to touch on is being locked out of my room. This has only happened to me once, but there have been a few times I forgot both my Iowa One card and my room key. A good rule of thumb is to ALWAYS bring your Iowa one card and room key with you everywhere. It is good practice to check for both of those items before you leave your room. Any student here will say that your Iowa One card is your lifeline, allowing you access to dorm buildings, getting your packages, and getting food at the dining hall. One thing that might help with this is having a card holder on the back of your phone. The bookstore in the IMU also has one that has a little key holder in it, too!

All in all, it is okay to make mistakes, but hopefully these few tips can help save you some stress from making these small mistakes like I did!

-Jordan

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From Brita to Fan: My Dorm Room MVPs

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Hi everyone! I have only been on campus for a week, but there are a few things I already couldn’t imagine not having in my dorm! If you live in, are moving in, or are planning to live in one of our residence halls, here are some of my recommendations!

  1. A Brita or water filter: I have been drinking TONS of water, especially with the heat. Since my floor in Currier has no water bottle refill station, having a Brita in my room means I always have clean water on hand (even in the middle of the night).
  2. Ice Trays: If you’re like me and like your water ice cold, get ice trays! I refill mine multiple times a day so my water can always stay cold!
  3. Woozoo fan: This one may be obvious, but this little fan has been a lifesaver. I keep it pointed at my bed, and it helps so much when the AC feels inconsistent.
  4. Scent Reeds: These make my room smell AMAZING! It is really nice to walk into my room and have it smell refreshing and clean. These are especially nice since you aren’t supposed to have candles in your room, and these pose absolutely no risk for fire hazard!
  5. A Big Garbage Can: The university provides small, lidless trash cans that don’t hold much (or hide smells). Bringing a bigger garbage can with a lid has been so worth it, I promise you will have more trash than you think!

Of course, there are many things that can make dorm life easier, but these are a few standout items I am grateful to have!
Sincerely, Jordan

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