Adam

While clumping around campus this week, and getting more into the expected lifestyle of a college student (and thinking of something to blog about), I came up with a few key things that’ll help you manage your time as a student at the University of Iowa. Now, you don’t HAVE to take my advice word for word, but I’m sure you’ll find some pretty good stuff listed. Also, a lot of these are very common sense, just saying.

1.) Watch out for this cross-walk. It’s the one that puts a break in Jefferson Street and spits you out of the T. Anne Cleary Walkway, and it’s undoubtedly one of the most busy on campus for most of the school day. It was designed this way for a purpose, and it should be obvious to most people. However, most isn’t all. You’ll occasionally see the kid hauling to wherever he has to go (I can only assume it’s an “emergency”) who’ll do his best to not stop. He may even honk, because you taking the right of way means being in his way. Even the bus drivers, with their giant, elephant-sized vehicles, will make more of an effort to stop for you than this lunatic driving his 1997 Ford Taurus.

2.) Try to eat something healthy. It sounds pretty obvious, but really, you’ll feel like junk if you keep going into Burge and loading up on plates of fries and burgers. I thought I had learned, but after a 10 p.m. McDonald’s run, I’m no different. The food sat in my gut and pestered me for hours. Anyway, eat some fruits and veggies. If we all followed the recommended guidelines, we’d lack time to do much else, but an extra bowl of lettuce is a start.

3.)Go and lift, but not with your back. Being a student at Iowa, you have access to some really great exercise facilities. The Rec Center is, most definitely, top of the line (and has great smoothies), and has ways to exercise that accommodate any interest. Going along with eating healthy, exercising can help you look and feel great, and help you relax after a stressful day. There are a lot of other great options around campus too. The cost is probably included somewhere in your student fees, so make the most of what you’re paying for (and seriously, try a smoothy from the Rec Center at least once).

4.) Get some tea and some honey. The other day, I tried to call out to a friend, and my voice cracked. It wasn’t used to the stress associated with screaming. Football season’s getting extremely close, so be sure to stock up on some tea (I suggest Irish breakfast) and honey to soothe the damage you’ll be doing to your vocal chords. If you didn’t lose your voice a noticeable amount, you weren’t yelling enough at the game.

5.) Spruce up your space. While a bare room has an artistic feel to it, it’s not a liveable space. Get some posters, some plants, and maybe even a fish to liven up your new home. My apartment complex (sadly) does not allow anything out of water (and hamsters can’t swim forever), but we still brought a new edition into our place. His name is Jack, and he’s probably the toughest guy in the apartment. Also, he’s very adamant about having a clean living space. You should be too.

Check out this shiny new blog, I bet it’s worth reading! But really, if you’re reading this, I’m glad you decided to grace my page with a view. Ya’ll come back now!

This weekend has been a baby-step for me towards the acceptance of an adult reality. Although my building at Hawks Ridge (formerly the Lodge) came fully furnished, I still managed to throw together bin upon bin of things to bring. The items I packed include: kitchen utensils, pots and pans, a TV, books, sheets, clothes, and food (more Mac and Cheese than could ever be consumed). But guess what! I forgot to bring a bath mat, and a trash can, and a (take a guess here, you’ll probably be right).

The sense of realism I was feeling was heightened when I tried to cook this morning. The burners on my stove are foreign (and feisty), and everything had to be opened and eventually resealed, and dishes had to be cleaned. Anyone who’s spent more than a week in an apartment will laugh at me, but it’s difficult to get “into the swing of things” when you have to create “the swing.”

I imagine most people feel a small sense of this when moving in. A new place is exciting and scary. However, coming back to Iowa, I feel at home. The campus is the same (for the most part, minus that new patch of dirt by Rienow). Hanging out with my friends was a warm way to assimilate myself for life at school. So go make some friends! Friends are good.