Thanksgiving break

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Hello Hawkeyes,

Welcome back to campus. Don’t you just love the snow? Oh, sorry, I forgot most of you know what it’s like to have snow every year. I didn’t until 3 years ago when I moved to a small town here in Iowa named Clinton. But I am going to tell you about my Thanksgiving break. Also, I want to hear about yours so put it in the comments below if you have any favorite dishes or memories of Thanksgiving, present or past. Let’s get into where I went for Thanksgiving, what I did, and past memories.

On Sunday, the start of break we boarded our plane in Chicago on our way to Portland, Oregon. The flight was nice and I listened to music and wrote some songs on the plane. When we made it to Portland we got our rental car and started our two-hour journey to Dexter, Oregon.

We made it to Dexter around 8:00 or so. I don’t remember because I fell asleep in the car on the way there.

My father and I thought this trip would give us a chance to get a breather from our busy schedules. Oregon is so pretty if you have never been. I would recommend going if not for the pine trees, then to experience the amazing food.

Throughout the week my father and I went to our favorite food places in Eugene, Oregon. Some of our top places are Sabi (Thia food) Sweet Life (BEST bakery in the world), Yum Bowl (comfort food to an outstanding level),  and Magpie Coffee (a really good coffee shop).

We also went out to enjoy the holiday vibe. I grew up most of my life in Oregon and I truly miss some of the best parts of it, like how everyone runs. We did a turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning in Alton Baker Park. There were over 2,000 people there. I also miss the rain. Here in Iowa, people don’t enjoy the rain as much. To be fair, if you live in the Pacific Northwest you’ve got to enjoy the rain, or well, I don’t know how you will have time outside ever. I also just love the way people live in Oregon. There is no fear of being different. I will always have some of that in me.

OK, thanksgiving was amazing! I love food in Oregon it’s just so fresh. My family is vegetarian so we had Toferky, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, dressing, and my friend brought sweet potato casserole.

My friend Emma and her brother joined me and my father

for dinner, and we had wonderful conversations it was nice to host in that place again. Friday, my father and I went back to Iowa and enjoyed the rest of the weekend with my sister and mother. I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving.

Cheers

Talk to you all in December

Rose

 

 

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The Holidays As A Hawkeye

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Hello there, welcome back to my blog!

I am so excited because here in the city, it has officially passed Halloween, which means… IT’S FINALLY THE HOLIDAY SEASON!! As a music major, that means I can start singing Christmas carols out loud and listen to music that’s finally seasonal, and people won’t give me THE look (I am joking; I get it if you don’t want to hear “Let It Snow” in July). Also, Starbucks released the Holiday menu, so now I can get a peppermint mocha or a sugar cookie latte. Also, everyone is suddenly extra sweet and wants to hear about tour days. I mistakenly ran into someone the other day, and instead of saying, “Look where you’re going,” they asked if I was okay. I truly believe this time of year makes those around us happier and want to be kinder.

Okay, so you might wonder why I would be so excited for a holiday season in college. It’s not all the breaks we get (but don’t get me wrong I am excited for time to relax), but really I am excited to drink hot cocoa and hang out with people I really care about. I remember being in high school and feeling lonely but one of the best parts of growing up is I make my own choices. If I want to go to Starbucks with my music major friends or if I want to decorate my room with some paper decorations I can. I also want to enjoy the way the city decorates for the holidays because while yes Christmas is what many people celebrate it’s not the only holiday and I love seeing such diversity and excitement in everybody it really is a time for giving.

Well, I can’t wait to see everyone in a festive mood around town, and don’t forget those coats cause I am cold for you if you decide to wear shorts.

Cheers

Rose

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Going home.

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Well, I am back. How has your fall been? Mine has been very hectic which is why I am excited to say I am going home. While college life is fun, this is a really nice thing to look forward to. I have been gone from home for over two months now. College is about finding yourself and getting used to living on your own, but going home is such an important aspect. You need to give yourself a break once in a while.

The first thing I did when I got home was say hi to all my animals. I have a big dog and 3 cats. They were so happy to see me. Going into my own room was so strange like I am used to sharing a room now with my roommate.

Saturday I did some catching up with a friend of mine. We went to our best coffee shop in Clinton, Iowa. It’s called 392. You have to go to one of their locations if you’re ever in the Quad Cities or Clinton. They really are the best coffee shop. Right now their Campfire Mocha is my favorite fall drink. But they have so many amazing drinks all year round.

In the arboretum, the trees have changed so much in colors and it is beautiful. My friend and I spent an hour taking in the glorious day, taking pictures, talking about the town, and college life, and just catching up.

One of my biggest tips for going home is to make a list of what you want and bring back what you didn’t use or need. Then you can switch out clothes, appliances, and even grab some food when you’re home. As I get ready to leave this Sunday morning I will say it’s been nice to be out of the city for a bit but also I am ready to be back with my friends there in Iowa City.  See you on campus.

Cheers

Rose

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The Reason Why I Say IOWA!

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Hello,

It’s Rose again. Wow, it’s been quite a first half of the semester. From amazing new experiences to the stress and realization of being on your own. Also learning how to manage your anxiety and depression, while also recognizing it’s okay not to always be strong. I want to tell you why I stay, and why I say IOWA.

When I walked into the doors the first time as a student I thought everyone here would support me. While yes, some professors want you to succeed, there is still a LOT of discrimination toward students with learning disabilities. I have dyslexia which means I struggle with reading and writing. I know funny, right? I am a music major, and that’s basically all my major is. I can laugh now about it when I make silly mistakes, but I still don’t always get the same respect I deserve.
So why would I still choose Iowa even when I have had so much trouble this semester? It’s because while I don’t have everyone on my side, I have more people supporting me than I could have imagined. I can go to 20 different people who all will support me and will find a way to make it possible for me to keep going even with those few things working against me.

Last, I fight for myself. While yes, you have support, you need to speak up if things are not getting better. Say something, plan a meeting, change the situation, etc. They will help you here and will be on your side. That is why I stay and say IOWA

Cheers,
Rose

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My Hawkeye Era

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“So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment, and taste it. You’ve got no reason to be afraid. You’re on your own, kid Yeah you can face this” states Taylor Swift in her song “You’re On Your Own Kid.” I feel these first weeks have been that song. I am 18 almost 19 and feel the ups and downs of being a young adult. I feel this poetic love for freedom but it also is hard. If I told you I am always okay that would be a lie but I also am not totally failing I am getting the handle of my professors and classes. I also spend every day working on just being happy with myself which leads us to what it felt like these first few weeks. . . 

I have always been a very organized person. I plan things ahead. I never had anyone to make plans with because, in high school, I was involved in student council, theater, AP classes, two choirs, cross country, and more. You understand what I mean. I never had time to cultivate friendships because they were all within my clubs. I also worked at my local coffee shop on weekends.

So, during On Iowa! week, I decided to make some new friends. I’m quite the social butterfly. Anyway, I met many new people, and now I have a large group I can reach out to for hanging out, studying, grabbing coffee, going to the dining halls, and exploring other places.

Being spontaneous is new to me. Sometimes, I’ll receive a message from a friend about a market in Cedar Rapids, and without hesitation, I’ll walk over to the west end, hop into their mom’s car, and we’ll drive there, staying until 11:00 pm. And even though it was Sunday the next day, I’ll still have to get up early ’cause I promised to get coffee with somebody. (So when you see college students walking with bags under their eyes that’s why.) But it’s enjoyable. I don’t sleep well personally, so I find myself working on homework until 11:00 and then getting up at 5:00 to go to the rec center for a workout. That’s something that’s new to me.

I just can’t believe that people can change. I don’t recognize this new self. It’s fun and I am not as scared to be honest about how I feel and I have people who want me around. I am an overthinker so I would feel like I was intruding, but people in college genuinely want you to talk about real things and not how many of you were popular in high school. There are still mean people; don’t think that goes away. It just doesn’t phase you because the people that matter are so much more important now. I know if you’re reading this as an incoming college student, believe me when I say you will feel like the Taylor Swift lyrics “Happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time.” It’s cathartic and at first, you will be overwhelmed, but then it will feel glorious.

While I don’t recognize myself, I still hold onto my morals. You can try things and say it’s for me. Most people judge you in high school. If you haven’t dated or had a first kiss, but here people don’t care much. Honestly, we think more about what we want from the dining hall and how we are going to get to our jobs from across the campus. So be true to yourself. If you don’t like to drink, don’t drink. As the sober, friend I tend to be the safest way my friends can call and I don’t mind.

If you always keep your room neat, don’t let your roommate completely keep it messy. Make sure you communicate with people. Usually, if you’re honest people will respect that. Lastly, be you. If you love to wear dresses then do it. I certainly turn heads but then again I like to sparkle and I feel so confident.

So as I close I want you to just know there is so much change but there is also so much fun to experience so don’t hesitate to say hello to people. Also if you see me on campus just say hello I always am up to a conversation. I will be bold and honest and I trust the good in every human, and I will never turn you down to have a conversation. I might be overly friendly at first but it’s because I am a people person. Well, I will end with another Taylor Swift quote for your week. “I never grew up, it’s getting so old.” I don’t feel like an adult half the time but are you ever really truly a grown-up? Honestly, it’s just numbers so be kind to yourself, and let’s see how my new era goes. Go Hawks!

Cheers,
Rose

 

 

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