Farewell

Posted on May 4, 2026

Hey guys.

I will not be returning as a student blogger next year.

This is it.

Goodbye.

I’m joking, of course. It’s true, I won’t be returning next year, but I hope that I will in my junior year! Next year will just be so busy, and unfortunately, this blog has had a tendency to fall to the wayside already, so I know I will not be able to keep up with the very high demand of my extremely large readership next year. I may start something independent, though, so be on the lookout for that! I’ll let you know on my Instagram (@schuessical).

Even though the University of Iowa was not my first choice—it was barely on my radar until my aunt, an MS and PhD graduate of UIowa, suggested it—I could not be happier that I am here. It hasn’t been all good; I’ve shared that! Living on your own is hard, having a roommate is hard, and college classes are hard. But I’ve had a most wonderful year, and I hope I was able to capture some of the magic I’ve experienced.

The key to survival is a support system. It’s not always easy or straightforward; friends come and go, with conflict or without, throughout the year. The people I am ending with, I did not necessarily start with. As I gushed about in my last blog, though, I think I’ve found the exact right people for me.

I wish I had more thoughts for you all, but it’s an overwhelming time of year—school is ending, summer is beginning; friends are leaving and graduating, and I’m going back home. Time is rushing forward, but I feel suspended in time, soaking it in. I can’t put everything I’ve experienced into words; I guess you just had to be there. 

So… goodbye. 

But don’t be a stranger 🙂 

Kiah<3

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One for the Books

Posted on April 30, 2026

This past weekend was one of the happiest of my life. I was too busy to think about homework and surrounded by the people I love and who love me. College has felt like home for a long time, so I won’t say that I finally feel at home, but college has taught me to feel so much more deeply than I have in years. During my preteen and into my teenage years, I’m pretty sure I struggled with moderately severe depression. It leached the color from my life, leaving everything tinged sort of gray. My emotions were duller, and my excitement for the future was gone. I felt it again this winter; lack of sunlight does that to you. But now, it’s spring, and I’m breathing fresh air and walking with my skin exposed to soak up as much sun as possible, and I’m achingly happy. Let me tell you about my weekend.

Before I start, though, I want to give you all a recommendation: when the sun comes out, lie on the Pentacrest. As the weather warms up, you’ll see the quintessential college image of kids scattered on the green lawns of the Pentacrest, and you should join them! It’s so nice to lie in the sun, and I usually bring a book with me, catching up on a hobby that I don’t tend to make time for. If you’re not a reader, bring a friend and chat, or just sunbathe—either way, get outside after the long, cold Iowa winter!

This weekend, I visited the Athletics Hall of Fame for my Museum Studies class. While it was not my favorite museum, I enjoyed hanging out with the friends I went with, and getting rescued by my other friend when we missed our bus back! (The Hall of Fame is very, very far from campus…) That day, I also went to a bridal shower with my bible study and to the Campus Activities Board (CAB) Spring Formal with my dear friend, Elza! Shoutout, Elza, I know you read these 😉 We made beautiful flower crowns and watched my RA tear up the dance floor. I was exhausted by the end of that day for sure, but dressing up and going to events is one of my favorite activities, so I wasn’t mad.

Luckily for me, I had another event the next day! It was the Boundless X launch party! This is the lit mag that I work for, and it was so satisfying to lay out the copies and listen to our authors and translators read their pieces aloud. We work on the magazine all year; it’s a long labor of love, but oh, how I love it. I’m sad that it’s over, but so ready to dive right back in next year!

After the launch, we celebrated at The Green House, a gorgeous little cocktail lounge that serves plenty of non-alcoholic drinks, too. Their house-made syrups are amazing—I had a blackberry latte, and it tasted almost like eating fruit-infused chocolate. It’s a great place for everyone; the loud, the quiet, those who drink, and those who don’t. It was also just so lovely to sit around with other translators and exec members and talk. For me, truly, there is nothing better than a long and loud yap session that’s full of laughter, and trust me, we could not stop laughing. I went home, weary once more, but worn out from activities that filled my cup and didn’t drain it. 

Of course, I had to go back to my real life the next day, which, surprise! Is still full of sunlight and the people I love. I’m feeling very lucky because this finals season is not stressing me out at all. Maybe I’ll eat my words, but for now, I’ll take the long, relatively lazy afternoons and enjoy them. 

It may not sound like much, but this weekend was drenched in joy and laughter, which is what made it so great. My world is vibrant again, richly painted in every hue. High school was fun, but at college I’m no longer tethered to my hometown, my parents, and the expectations of those I’ve known the longest. I haven’t changed much, but everything has, at the same time. This year is closing on a high note, and oh, how grateful I am 🙂

Thank you, my dedicated readers, for coming along this journey with me. I will have at least one more blog post out to you before the year ends, which will be a deeper reflection on how I’ve changed over the year. College is a transformative time, and I’ve felt it! I appreciate you all for following along. 

All the best,

Kiah<3

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Girl Who is Going to be Okay

Posted on April 1, 2026

As most of you know, last semester was… a mess. I was picking up coping mechanisms left and right and trying to share them with you all because I was so busy and stressed. This semester, with a stable living situation and established friends and routine on campus, I have found much more peace. It’s almost… dare I say, easy?

I really shouldn’t say that; I’ll jinx myself. But I find myself with more spare time these days, and especially during the week immediately after spring break, I felt like I had nothing to do. Then the thought crept in: what if I were to slip, slide, and slump through this second semester? What if it was easy because I wasn’t trying hard enough?

However, I don’t think that’s true. I deserve nice things, like free time. I’m so glad it isn’t all being gobbled up by practicing the viola or working out or too much homework. I like getting a full nine hours of sleep each night. I’ve even started reading more. Next on my list is Milk Fed by Melissa Broder, which has been on my list forever. I’m also slowly increasing the length of the books I’m reading, and this one is solidly average in length compared to the short story and comic book I finished before this one!

Because of the breathing room I have this semester, I’ve taken on more work for the future. This sounds really silly—wasn’t I just saying how much I loved my free time? Well, yes. However, it’s different this time.

First of all, I’m definitely more aware of my limits and how to stay within them than last semester. Furthermore, despite these additions being:

1. A new major 
2. A new job 
3. A second new job (hopefully)

I am confident in my ability to balance everything. So, to clarify, I declared a second major. Now, I’m a Translation and Art History major with two language minors. According to my advisor, I can still graduate on time 😅

I am also going to be an RA next year! I’ll be living in Daum, which I’ve heard great things about, and I am so excited to meet my kids. I do have to come back to school early, but it’ll be fun to be on the experienced side of On Iowa! week, rather than the fresh-faced first year, overwhelmed and trying to orient herself. Lastly, I applied to be an Honors Writing Fellow. Confession: I love writing. I know. You never saw it coming. This will be a more academic/advisory position, though, but that doesn’t decrease my excitement at all. I haven’t gotten an official offer yet, as I interviewed on the 30th, but I feel good about everything and am really hopeful!

Between these two new jobs, however, I’ll have to leave my other university jobs. I work at the Stanley Museum of Art and as a Student Partner with a faculty member—for both positions, I observe classes and provide feedback to work with the instructors to keep improving them. However, this means that school is classes and work is also classes. I’d like to escape school a little bit more next year. 

With all of these changes, I’m more excited for next semester than I was starting college, which is an incredible feeling. I’m can’t wait to have my own room and hopefully my car on campus, to separate my work from school, and meet my students in Daum! College is really where my life is now, and I’m already looking forward to coming back. Summer feels like a dream right now, a break in reality. I’m definitely looking forward to it: sun, work, friends, family, beach days, hikes with my dog. I’m also thinking of starting a personal blog to keep you all in the loop of my non-school adventures! Let me know if you would read that down in the comments! 

Overall, life is looking up. The weather is definitely playing a role; I feel like the “girl who is going to be ok” meme whenever the sun touches my skin. I also had my first outdoor intramural soccer game this past weekend, and oh my goodness, we are so back. I have a bruise in the shape of a soccer ball shingle on my calf, and my ankles hurt, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My high school just started its soccer season, and I miss my teammates so much, but I’m feeling okay, as long as I can be on the field. My new teammates are also very kind and quite talented, and it’s been great to make new friends in the sport I love. 

Overall, life is good. College may be hard, but it’s so, so worth it. I know I sound like an ad for Iowa, and I am, without shame. Some younger friends back home have come to me, thinking of coming here, and all I can say is “Do it.” I love it. It’s amazing. It wasn’t my first choice, but I couldn’t be happier that I ended up here.

So, yeah. Life is worth living

I’ll see you guys in April,
Kiah<3

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How To: Stew

Posted on March 31, 2026

I have to talk about food again. I simply must. It’s a huge part of my life now; hours spent chopping, kneading, standing at the stove, not to mention meal planning and grocery shopping.

Wait—I’m actually lying. This is the first week I’ve ever meal planned. When I got back from spring break, I did a big restock but bought almost nothing that would help me survive the week (also false, I’m clearly alive and well, but I did eat the same soup four days in a row, which got boring). So, when I was last in the public library, the cookbooks caught my eye, and I checked one out. It marketed itself for busy people who still want to eat good food, so… yeah.

I have a lot of ingredients just lying around, unused, so I wrote everything that I had down and started flipping through the cookbook. Y’know, I’ve always wondered how someone becomes a better cook, but it’s the same way you get better at anything: keep trying new things and failing and sometimes succeeding. Some people are so effortless in the kitchen; they just know what needs to go into the pot next, how long to cook the chicken, and what flavors work together. I aspire to be that person, and this cookbook better help.

So, I’m flipping through the cookbook, specifically the pasta section, because I love a good pasta and I have way too many noodles in my cabinet right now. The name of the game is USE WHAT YOU’VE GOT. I’m flipping and comparing their ingredient lists to my ingredient list when I find a recipe for pasta e ceci, which sounds Italian. (I googled it and I was right—also, ceci is the Italian word for chickpeas!) It’s a chickpea stew, and I bought a can of chickpeas to make fake chicken salad with (it’s good, I swear). I also, unfortunately, bought a whole jar of mayo just for that recipe, so if anyone knows anything else that requires mayo in bulk, let me know down in the comments.

This stew sounded perfect. It requires a leafy green (that I didn’t purchase) and doesn’t call for carrots (which I will be adding). It also calls for whole canned tomatoes, but Aldi only had diced :/ We persist! 

Actually, allow me to digress: back in my day, I was an Aldi pro. I’d accompany my mom weekly, she’d send me on errands, I’d return empty-handed because I’m the worst finder you’ll ever meet, and then we’d find the item together. The point is, I knew my way around Aldi. Emphasis on knew. Since COVID, my mom learned the joy of ordering her groceries online, so all she had to do was pick them up. She doesn’t like shopping; it saves her time; it’s convenient. I get it. I, however, like shopping, but I’ve lost my muscle memory for Aldi. Now, I feel like a massive buffoon wandering the aisles, doubling back, getting in people’s ways (unintentionally, of course). I’ll learn in time. Thanks for sticking through my rant, by the way. I just needed to let the people know.

Back to my stew…

I’m really excited to make it. I made some awful dumplings recently—inedible, threw them away—I do not like throwing food away. Furthermore, it took me about two hours to make! I had to dice the chicken up all tiny, chop carrot shreds, and mince celery, all with one itty bitty knife that really wasn’t up to the task. I think the problem was really the dough – I have glutinous rice flour, maybe that will work better than all-purpose? Dumpling lovers and experts, I await you in the comments. Anyways, I was heartbroken and hungry, a terrible combo. Therefore, when I sat down to write this, all I had was food on my mind.

Now I’m thinking about breakfast…

Remember how I said that I could take the bus to Aldi, but usually drive with friends instead? Well, I’ve been taking the bus recently, and to my surprise, it only takes about ten minutes each way. I take the 12 there from the Main Library and the 12 back from right outside the Aldi. Once, though, I walked back to campus with like 20lbs of groceries, in the cold, so imagine my surprise and embarrassment when the bus stop my friend and I were so desperately searching for was in front of our faces the whole time.

Public transit is such a blessing, but it has led me to several impromptu adventures. If the next bus isn’t coming for 45 minutes, suddenly walking for 30 doesn’t sound so bad. When I got back to school from winter break and realized I’d forgotten my phone charger, a state away, I walked to the CVS and got a new one in single-digit degree weather because there were no buses running. When it didn’t work, though, I did not venture back out into the cold. Even I have limits.

Well, thank you all for reading this ridiculous blog! I used to think I was writing for no one, but every now and then, someone will tell me, in real life, that they keep up with my writing, which is crazy to me.  If these bring you even a snippet of joy, then thank you. This is for you. But I’ll stop shouting into the void now. Bye!

Kiah<3

P.S. I made the stew, and it is so good!! However, I have enough for like four days… again.

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How To: My First Midterms Seasons 😓

Posted on February 27, 2026

My dear readers, I must be honest with you. This midterm season is off to a rough start, and it’s all my fault. I am a terrible studier, and for both of my exams so far, I have put off studying until the night before. Don’t be like me.

I am finally taking classes this semester that give exams! I’m in Intro to Environmental Science (my favorite class this semester so far) and Arts of Africa (also cool, and for my second major, Art History!!). I had my first environmental science midterm last week, and my first art history exam this week. I was allowed to make a study guide for the former and bring that into the exam, but I barely used it. It’s a great study method to make one, and required for that class, but most of the information was already stored in my brain from reviewing my notes, the lecture notes/slides, and the textbook while making my study guide. For my art history exam, my professor provided a study guide, but we were not allowed to bring it out during the exam.

In both study guides, I filled out a lot of vocabulary. In art history, however, the focus is more on the narratives and culture surrounding a particular object, in addition to its creator, name, and time period. When those facts didn’t come quickly to me when looking at a particular object, I added them to the study guide. Then, I went back through and wrote down what I was still unfamiliar with or did not understand a second time completely, in a different color. Finally, if something still wasn’t sticking in my head as well as I wanted it to, I rewrote or wrote over it in a third color. I couldn’t tell you why I did this or why it helped, but I felt pretty confident on the exam!

For Environmental Science, I went through my (handwritten!!) notes with a friend, and we decided what was important. This also allowed us to discuss concepts we weren’t confident about and make sure we both had everything in our personal notes. Then, I went back and wrote down everything I highlighted. Unfortunately, I did not read the rubric beforehand, and it was not as organized as my TA would have liked, which reflected in my grade. Unrelated to exams but related to rubrics, I didn’t read the rubric for a Rhetoric essay recently and came to class with a draft of a research paper for workshopping. Turns out, we needed to write a rhetorical analysis of our sources. I had to scrap all my work and rewrite an (excessively long) draft in two days. So, kids, read your rubrics.

Anyways…

Because I could use my environmental science study guide on the exam, I was less concerned with memorization than for my art history exam. Looking back now, though, my methods for both exams were quite similar. I handwrite my notes for both classes, which I think helps with retention off the bat. Then I reviewed and rewrote those notes at least once. Rewriting doesn’t have to take the form of a study guide, either. It can be flashcards and flow charts, too. Teaching a friend is also useful because they can ask questions and prompt more comprehensive answers. Studying with friends is definitely a recipe for distraction, though. When my friend and I went through my notes, we ran into some other friends, and we all probably chatted for an hour. The work did get done, but not very expeditiously😅

To wrap up this installation of my How To: series, which is not much of an installation at all because I am not good at studying, I want to say that it is important to give yourself time. This past week, I’ve either been staying up ridiculously late to finish my homework or not getting it done at all. I stayed up very late to study for my art history exam (which is why a homework assignment didn’t get done, whoops), and I procrastinated a scholarship so hard that I didn’t get it in until 8 minutes before the deadline. This has resulted in me being tired and hungry, which is a deadly combo to say the least. I make all my own meals, so if all my time is used to study, none is left to, y’know, feed myself. Being tired and hungry leads to bad moods, low motivation, and thus more exhaustion and hunger because I don’t want to do my homework or cook!! At some point, though, you just have to put your foot down and stop the cycle. So I went to bed at 9 pm last night. It was like magic. I woke up at 7:30 and made breakfast, lunch, and prepped soup ingredients for tomorrow. It’s also 50 degrees outside and sunny, and I feel ready to knock out all of my homework so that next week goes much, much better. 

At school, you will be much happier and healthier if you pace yourself and give yourself time to do your work. That’s what I’m going to be working on this semester, and if I figure out anything good, you all will be the first to know!

And with that, I bid you adieu 🙂

Kiah<3

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Just Dropped: New Hobby!!

Posted on February 27, 2026

One thing about me is that I need exercise to function. I’ve written about how I had a strict gym schedule last semester, and while I still want to be active this semester (even more so than last, honestly), I’m trying to be flexible and honor the energy, time, and motivation I have to do exercise. Sometimes, my movement for the day is walking back to Mayflower after my classes. Sometimes, it’s forcing myself out on a run because I want to run a 5K this summer and need to stay in shape for that. Sometimes, it’s doing yoga in the Mayflower gym because I’m feeling tight. Sometimes, it’s ROCK CLIMBING.

Whoa. Sorry, guys. Didn’t mean to scare you. But I really, really like rock climbing. I always have! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do it much because climbing gym memberships are expensive, and I was already playing sports in middle and high school. Now, I’m not playing sports, and the CRWC has a climbing wall! More specifically, it has a top rope wall, the one where you’re harnessed in and climb to the ceiling, and a bouldering wall, which is shorter and for free climbing. The latter is also always. Open. One of my futsal friends invited me to climb with her one night, and now I’m hooked. I haven’t been back YET, but I texted my dad to see if he had an old chalk bag and some shoes. He climbed mountains when he was my age because he grew up in Colorado. I’m not jealous at all… 😒

He offered to send those items over, which was really sweet, and trust me, I will be AT that wall!! It’s great for upper body and grip strength, and I can only imagine it helps with general body control. I can’t wait for summer to show off my insanely built back and shoulders😌

Besides any aesthetic benefits, I’ve found that high-concentration physical tasks, like climbing, are really good for giving my brain a break. They force me to be present in my body instead of just living in my head all day. Running does this for me, too. Additionally, demanding physical activities force me to take care of myself. I can’t run well if I haven’t had enough water that day or lift heavy if I haven’t eaten enough, and I certainly won’t want to do anything if I haven’t slept enough. It’s easy to get lost in the academic sauce, but one of the keys to college is taking care of yourself through it all.

I will keep you guys updated with everything climbing, but that is all I have for you today! Catch ya in the next one!

Kiah<3

(Forgive my excessive use of emojis. They’re so cute, I can’t resist.)

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Bon Appétit!

Posted on January 30, 2026

When you come to the University of Iowa, you have a lot of choices to make about your diet: what, when, where, and how. There are three dining halls: Catlett, Burge, and Hillcrest, as well as cafes on campus where you can use dining dollars (that come automatically with a meal plan), like Yella’s and the Food for Thought café at the library. The Food Pantry in the IMU is another resource for students and faculty, where you can get groceries for free. Essentially, when you come to Iowa, you’re gonna eat.

However, you’ve still got to answer those questions above. During my first semester, I didn’t want to worry about getting groceries, but I didn’t need to eat three meals a day, so I chose the Weekly 14 meal plan. This gave me the ability to eat twice a day, every day. The dining halls are also buffet-style, so I wasn’t constrained in terms of how much I ate. If I had time to spare, I’d usually do homework while I had coffee or dessert, but if I was in a hurry, I’d grab a to-go box and be in and out in ten minutes. The dining halls are very flexible. 

The dining halls are also fairly simple to navigate: after swiping your ID, I recommend setting your things down before getting a plate of food, so you have somewhere to return to. Take a turn around the stations and decide what you want to eat, then hop in line. If you have dietary restrictions, there are tags on every station explaining if what is being served is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, etc. I do not have any dietary restrictions, so I can’t speak on the quality of the dining halls for those who do. I do know that there are different types of milk in the fridges, usually half-and-half for coffee, soy, and oat. There is also a gluten-free fridge, where the gluten-free brownies live, and friends, they are so good. Truly the best brownies I’ve ever eaten in my life. I did once take a gluten-free sandwich to go, though, and… just stick with the brownies. Trust me. 

I enjoyed eating in the dining halls a lot; it was finally easy for me to eat a lot of protein every day, and the chopped melon that was served at least two times every week was delightful. I got into a really comfortable routine. Now, I have the Block 50 meal plan. This plan is unique in that it is only available to those who live off campus or in dorms with university-supplied kitchens: Parklawn, Mayflower, and some dorms in Hillcrest. This is because you have to prepare the majority of your meals yourself. Whereas last semester, I barely used the kitchenware I brought to school, I use it at least once daily, now. This may seem like a big switch, but it felt pretty seamless. Here’s how I made it happen:

Primarily, I came in with a lot of prior knowledge. I have watched my mother meal prep and make grocery lists since I was young and grew up in an ingredient household where cooking daily was the norm. As I grew up, I watched and helped my mom make breakfast and dinner, so by the time I left for college, I had a small but effective arsenal of recipes as well as the skills to make and execute grocery lists. If you couldn’t tell, I’m a big fan of lists. They help me focus. Moreover, when the task involves my wallet, focus is of the utmost importance. 

Because of their inherent, immense, and infamous value, I want to share how I plan to make my grocery lists every week. My mother (this article was sponsored by her, actually, which is why I keep talking about her) decided to get me my first week of groceries on Instacart, which I then picked up in Iowa City. It was so practical, so kind, so simple. Thanks, Mom. That first order contained a lot of staples: olive oil, spices, chicken breast, and lots of frozen veggies. It was a lot more expensive than, say, my grocery run this past weekend. I only needed to replace my yogurt, frozen blueberries, fresh vegetables, and cheese. Usually, I’ll sit in my kitchen so I can physically see what I need to get, but it wasn’t difficult to do this list off the top of my head because it was so short. When I think about what I need for the week, I think about what meals I’m going to want to make. Typically, I need enough ingredients for sandwiches, yogurt cups, salads, pasta and pasta sauce, grilled chicken, and roasted veggies. For snacks, I make myself a trail mix or cut up vegetables. These are the bulk of my meals – simple, easily rotated, and relatively nutritionally dense. It’s kind of boring, I know, but I like it, and it keeps me going.

At the end of the day, everyone is different. Some people don’t like to cook, and that’s fine. The dining halls are a great option; straightforward and convenient. If you need to save money, like I did this semester, a plan like Block 50 is an option. At the University of Iowa, it’s all about choice, which is one of my favorite things about going to school here. No matter who you are or what you need, you’ll be set up for success😊

If you’ve gotten this far, thank you! I hope my page can bring some insight and confidence to those considering coming to the U of I for college—I love it here, and I’m confident you will, too. Stay tuned for next month’s blogs and stay warm! See ya!

Kiah<3

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How To: College as a 9-5

Posted on January 26, 2026

Hello, my dear readers! I am finally back on campus and just wrapped up my first week of classes; I am delighted to report that I am doing well. I think this semester is going to be much better than the last, knock on wood. Here are the reasons why.

Firstly, my schedule is so much more manageable this semester. Instead of taking 18 credits across seven (7!?) classes, I am taking five classes for a total of 16 credits. I was going to take another 18 credits this semester, but my 5-credit Portuguese class got cancelled, so I pivoted and ended up with 2 fewer credits. However, I think the problem was with the volume of classes I was taking rather than the number of credits they totaled. It was simply overwhelming, especially as it was my first semester. It felt like there was always an assignment I had forgotten about and was scrambling to complete on time. My goal is to relax more this semester, and reducing my course load will definitely help me do so. 

In addition to having less work, I intend to treat the work I do have like a 9-5 job. Right now, my full-time job is “student.” I have an actual job, too, but school is my primary occupation. However, I am going to set serious boundaries around the times I do work. Every day, I will clock into school, and at the end of my “work day,” I will very firmly clock back out. I want to avoid doing schoolwork past 5 pm because I need to be able to unwind and turn off my brain before I go to bed. Last semester, academics bled into every aspect of my life, and it badly stressed me out. My goal this semester is to allot myself homework time every day and simply do what I can within that time. One of my professors advised the same thing: to treat school like a job and clock out after doing a solid amount of work. Work hard, but don’t grind yourself into dust. At orientation, too, I was told to expect to do 2-3 hours of coursework outside of class for every hour I spend in class; if I spend that time wisely, what teacher can fault me?

Here’s the kicker, though: I actually have to spend that time wisely, which means limiting distractions, aka, my phone. I don’t know if it was winter break, but recently I have been on my phone to a detrimental degree. In order to get my homework done and waste less time, I have to stay off my phone. For me, this is as easy as leaving it in my dorm room if I go down to the Mayflower lounge to work, or keeping it in my backpack if I’m studying at the library. If it’s out of my sight, it’s out of my mind. I hope this small change helps me be more efficient and save valuable time for doing other things, like my hobbies. I’ll hopefully write, exercise, paint, and crochet a lot more than last semester! 

Between my smaller course load and my stricter timetable to do work, I have high hopes for this semester. As always, I’ll keep you updated; my approach to school this semester is a lot more relaxed, and I will share if it works any better with you all! This was a short one, but I appreciate you guys reading it nonetheless 😊

Stay warm (it feels like –35° in Iowa City currently!), and have a great start to your semesters!

I’ll catch you in the next one,

Kiah<3

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Featuring: Iowa City

Posted on December 30, 2025December 30, 2025

Hello readers! I dearly hope everyone is enjoying their holidays and the time off that comes with it; I know I am! I mentioned that I was in Arizona in my last blog, and while it was a great trip, I am so relieved to be home with my pets, in my own house, and able to catch up with old friends. 

For my last blog of the year (what??), I want to give you all a glimpse into Iowa City itself. It’s a beautiful place; walkable, friendly, always bustling, full of charismatic shops right beside intimidating university buildings. It’s been a pleasure to live there, truly. 

My birthday facilitated most of these excursions; it was the weekend before finals week, so instead of studying or doing homework, I went out with my friends. I finally went to the Kitty Corner Social Club after spending four months looking through the window every time I walked past, and checked out two restaurants: Formosa and Nodo. I hadn’t made a point of frequenting Iowa City’s small businesses throughout the semester, so it was lovely to experience a handful so quickly!

Firstly, the Kitty Corner Social Club is a cat café that also serves as an adoption center. There were about a dozen cats when I visited, and I got lots of photos of them. It was a very calm environment, and the cats were friendly for the most part, though some were more reserved. For cat lovers, hopeful cat parents, or those who cannot adopt their own cats for whatever reason, the Kitty Corner Social Club is a great place to visit to scratch that itch—or some cats, behind their little ears. University students also get a discount, which makes it really affordable, as well! I paid about $10 for a half an hour with the cats. It was a fun way to spend some time on my birthday, especially because I have two cats of my own back in Wisconsin and miss them a lot when I leave for school. I definitely recommend it for anyone who needs to de-stress or simply wants to pet some cats!

That weekend, I also visited Formosa, a sushi restaurant, and let me tell you, it was scrumptious. I got a spicy crab poké bowl, and my friends and I shared the Plaza Tower sushi roll—both were simply divine. It was also the day before my birthday, and so when my friends alerted our waitress to that fact, she brought out a hefty slice of some of the best chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted, adorned with a full-blown sparkler! It was a great experience, and also very affordable! I’ve found Iowa City to be price-friendly toward students, so if you enjoy eating out, going to cafés, or getting involved in the nightlife, Iowa City is a great match for you! This third restaurant is more of a café called Nodo. It’s a skinny and tall building—I almost walked past it when trying to find it for the first time! —with two floors of seating, and a shabby chic vibe. The atmosphere was cozy, and I can imagine reading or doing homework there would be quite peaceful. There are lots of nooks and crannies in Iowa City to tuck yourself into and work for a while, but Nodo would be a particularly good place to do so. 

That is the extent of my extremely occupied weekend, but I have some bonus recommendations from little trips I made during the semester. The Bep Teahouse will meet all of your milk tea needs, with delicious mochi donuts to boot. I also enjoy Prairie Lights for the vibes and the coffee; get your books for the semester there and then pop upstairs to grab a drink and work by the window. Midnight Coffee is another good study spot, just get there early in the day if you want to find a seat, there aren’t many, and it’s popular (for good reason)! I’ve also had dinner at Pullman’s and Red Ginger, and both were great! Whatever you’re looking for in Iowa City, there is a restaurant for you, and it more likely than not will be super cute and well-priced. That has been my overall experience, at least. If anyone has any other recommendations, drop them in the comments below, and please let me know if you try out any of the places I’ve mentioned here! I will keep you all updated when I discover new little gems around Iowa City!

As always, thank you for reading. Happy holidays, and get some rest over break!
Kiah<3

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How… I’m feeling

Posted on December 24, 2025December 30, 2025

Hello, dear readers! I hope you are all staying warm in these cold and trying times (trying not to slip on all the slush in the streets!). I want to break for a bit and do an introspective piece this month. This is because I have no words of wisdom right now, but I do have a lot of feelings surrounding the end of the semester.

Firstly, I’m tired. My end-of-semester isn’t even that grueling! I was momentarily in the trenches last week, preparing for dead week, but I’ve evened out. For context, I had one final exam in my Portuguese class, a one-on-one conversation with my professor that lasted all of ten minutes. From there, it’s been projects and presentations as far as the eye can see. I’m also on crunch time for Boundless, the literary magazine for which I translate and am designing the cover. More information about Boundless and the Translate Iowa Project, which is what Boundless functions beneath. Find more information on the Translate Iowa Project website.

So, I’m tired. I’ve been on the grind for too long, and I’m worn out. The end is so close I can taste it, and I can’t wait to go home. Since I don’t have any proper finals during finals week, I’ll be kind of bored, doing nothing (theoretically). I have no idea what it will be like to just live in Iowa City, not as a student, not doing school.

That leads me to another weird feeling I’ve been having, or more accurately, that I had during Thanksgiving break. My family home doesn’t feel like my full-time home anymore. I found myself longing to return to my quiet, cozy dorm room, though some of that definitely had to do with the rambunctious tendencies of my three younger brothers. I loved spending time with my parents, my extended family, and my pets, but I wanted to go back to school, fall back into my daily routine, and be fully independent. School is my home now. I was so sad about moving out of the home I lived in for 18 years, if you all remember my first blog, but no more. I’ll get back to you guys on how my feelings change during a month-long break, though. Part of me was in “waiting mode” during Thanksgiving break, just waiting to get back and finish the semester. Now that I’m done, perhaps I will be able to settle back into a home routine.

With the end of the semester comes some thoughts on classes! I had a rollercoaster of a first semester. I was in the absolute trenches during October and into November, and now, I feel like I’m lounging on the top of the mountain. Thank goodness. Part of the problem was the sheer number of classes I was taking. I had seven classes this semester, eight if you include the mandatory freshman course. It had homework, and I could have failed it, so I think it counts. Beyond that, a lot of my “small” classes (orchestra, Intro to Honors, and a freshman seminar) had a lot of work that came along with them: I practiced my instrument twice a week for an hour or two each session, in addition to a weekly, two-hour orchestra rehearsal. Moreover, my Intro to Honors course required me to attend events that I otherwise would not have gone to. Beyond the hours I “lost” to these activities themselves, I also needed to work around bus schedules, walking, and other responsibilities. That time adds up quickly and can leave you feeling crunched and squeezed when working on homework or looking for time to rest. Moreover, I worked out twice a week, almost religiously, for about a month and a half after classes began, and that was another commitment to myself that I really prioritized keeping. I thought I was doing well, preparing for what was difficult, taking time to care for my body, but at some point, I lost the plot. I was doing too much. Beyond academics, I applied for an exec position for the Translate Iowa Project, in addition to being a translator. I write these blogs. My roommate situation was deteriorating before my eyes. There was a lot on my plate.

I don’t want to scare anyone, and I’m not asking for pity. I simply want to be transparent about the mistakes I made so you, prospective freshmen, who I am writing for, don’t repeat them. College is a lot of fun. I have met so many cool people and done so many cool things. I love living in Iowa City; it’s beautiful, friendly, walkable, and lovely in all seasons. I’ve found my people and am now in that really awesome stage where I get to know them really well. I’ve started dating, and it’s been a ton of fun. My exec position is such a blessing and lets me build creativity into my work in ways I know I wouldn’t prioritize for myself otherwise. I’ve found a church that I think I just might love. I’m learning so many cool things! My classes challenge and tire me, but at the end of the day, that is what I am here for. While my first semester wasn’t completely painless, I am very grateful to be at the University of Iowa, and I can’t wait to keep sharing all of my (mis)adventures with you all!

If you got this far, thank you! This one was a little messy, a little personal, and a lot cathartic. I’ll catch you in the next one, where I’ll be on winter break!

Kiah<3

P.S. – I’m on winter break while editing this! My family and I are on vacation in Arizona. It’s lovely and warm here. 

It’s weird reading this back: I’ve changed my mind on some things, like my finals week being “boring” – so much happened! And remember how I said I really wanted to go home? Granted, I was only ‘home’ for about 12 hours from Wednesday to Thursday and then hopped on a plane out west, but living with my family again has been… an adjustment. There are just so many people in my “personal space” again! It’s weird. However, I am glad to be on break and hope the rest of you have a very happy holiday season!

Bye for now, for real 😊

 

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