I think I’m getting this whole “being a student again” concept under control. My life is now highly scheduled (ie even sleeping hours are planned out), but it makes the days run along smoothly. I finally had some time to relax, hang out with a few friends, do some cooking and watch the awesome fireworks from my balcony in Grove. The Fall Family Weekend was a great success, we should do it every year!

International Events

Thanks to everyone who came to the Fall Weekend International Table to help with face painting and tattoos. We were in high demand, an all-round successful and enjoyable project. And we are even closer to being back in good standing with Student Government, yay! I wish I had pictures to show you, my favourite is the dragon I painted on someone’s head (my friends joked I would end up being a tattoo artist . . . K, scary how they predicted that). To anyone interested to join in our International fun, we have a meeting Monday the 21^st at 3pm in David and another on Wednesday the 23^rd at 9:15pm. See you there!

Tennis Time

On Wednesday we sent some of our men and women to an ITA tournament to compete with other schools in a mega draw of intense competition. Intense it was and all of our players fought hard to represent Walsh the best they could. Congratulations to Mark and Gary Innes, doubles winners at the ITA tournament this weekend!!! This South African duo can now advance to Nationals, held in Alabama, although I don’t know when that’s happening. In any case, send them your support!

If you would like to show your support for Walsh Tennis, and I know you all are dying to do so, there is a Women’s home match on the 29^th at 3pm on the courts behind Giant Eagle. You can buy your Giant Eagle Bakery cake and eat it too, all while watching some doubles and singles on our home courts. Cake donations to the team are always welcome

Come out and support us!!! Note: Jenamarie and Jen Yost are no longer with us (graduation, darnit), but hopefully they will come over and lend us some support!

In other Walsh news . . .

Our 2009 Business Club trip is fast approaching. This year we are flying out to Boston to visit universities and local business branches to get some hands-on experience to the many opportunities the US has to offer within the business world. All majors are welcome, but hurry as spaces are limited. Please contact jenniferpassewitz@walsh.edu for more information.

Travel Tips and Tangents

Though I never actually saw much of Germany other than the insides of a few of their airports, I would definitely recommend it as a place to visit! The views from the plane were awesome enough to convince me, as was the food (the most important experience while travelling).

Dusseldorf, my half-way house while flying. This little airport was so quaint and extremely efficient. It was so small that we had to sit on the plane for a good 20 minutes before the airport actually opened so we could get off. I had never heard of airports closing before.

Dusseldorf at sunrise. Too early, even for the airport itself!

Munich is the home of Oktoberfest , a week-long party where everyone enjoys some good fun, food, music and traditionally, beverages made from barley and the like. I was in Germany the ending weekend of this city-wide party, but I could not witness any festivities because of my connecting flight. Maybe another time. I did manage to buy some German chocolates for the family, which were quickly devoured when I came back home. I think I might have tried one, they were gone that fast!

Can you get more picture perfect? Flying over Germany. Image (c) of Julia Kole 2008.

Well time for some Sunday homeworking. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Julia

So far Junior year has been the most demanding thing I have ever done. So much to do, not enough time to do it all! That’s why I have started to put things in perspective, trying to sort out the important jobs and events from ones that I can miss or option out of. I’m sure all of you can relate on some level. Just work through each day and take it in stride!

International Events

Thank you to all who signed up to join this year’s International club, either voluntary or by force J We had our first meeting this Wednesday and I was thrilled to see so many people turn up. We discussed a lot and had a good time getting to know one another. I also discovered that food is a great incentive for high turnout. I will keep that one in mind . . . For anyone who is interested in still joining just send me an email. juliakole@walsh.edu. We would love to have you! Keep watching emails for the latest in International events and happenings.

Celebrating my birthday, International style! Sukko Thai, yum!

Tennis Time

Practice, practice, practice! I’m sure I lost about 10 lbs this week alone sweating it out on court and through conditioning. Though I can barely stand and it hurts to laugh, I know it will all be worth it once the season starts. Let’s hope our men’s team did well today at West Liberty! Go Cavs!

Playing a match in Florida during Spring Break.

Travel Tips and Tangents

What the heck is this? Well in order to not bombard you with enough travel stories to start my own series all at once, I figure one story a week will suffice. It will also bring you some hand-on experience of areas around the world. This week: Malta.

Never heard of it? Not surprising, not many people have. This country is a wee island between Italy and Africa, a former British colony mainly used as a military and trading point. It was also the home to the Knights of the Templar for quite a while way back in the day. The Island itself is a physical mix of African and European geography, and the culture is just as confusing. I would meet Egyptians with Maltese citizenship, speaking with an English accent. The food was wonderful and very Middle-Eastern influenced. Prices were ideal for shopping and there was much to see and do. I even made it to the beach and enjoyed a day in the sun with a fellow Rome Experience student. Getting a tan two weeks before Christmas, how insane! Definitely a spot worth exploring.

Me enjoying the December heat in Malta. A spectacular sunset followed soon after this photoshoot.

The funky, retro buses that somehow still run. A few close calls, people drive crazy in Malta!

Now time for me to get back to work and start planning out my weekend. Have a good one everyone!

Julia

Hello there Walsh community!

I guess an introduction is in order, eh? My name is Julia Kole and I am a new blogger this year at Walsh U. As well as working on my Accounting Major and Economics Minor, I am an active student in the Walsh Community. Some highlights you will hear a lot about from me will be about Walsh Varsity Tennis ( I am part of the women’s team) and the International Club, where I will be acting as President for this academic year. I am a newly founf globe-trotter, so be prepared to hear all about my travels here, there and everywhere. I took part in the Rome Experience Fall II trip last year in 2008 and had the time of my life, and also traveled to various other countries before and during the program.

Part of our Faboulous Fall group. Here we are outside the Coliseum enjoying the wonderful weather in Rome.

This past summer, in addition to working at my equestrian all-girls summer camp, I flew across “the pond” again to revisit Spain, this time taking a Spanish language course. I will try to share all of my experiences of my travels abroad, the good, the bad and the slightly funny. Shall we get started?

Adios Canada!

So after the grueling battle that was NAIA Tennis Regional’s (where we were finalists), it was time to kick back and relax after a hectic Spring semester. What better place to unwind than in sunny Seville, Spain? I signed up with CSA (Center for Study Abroad) for a three week Spanish language course with Enforex, a language program that has schools all over Europe. There was an exchange of quick hello and goodbyes at home and just as I unpacked the last of my university things, I was in the air waving bye to Canada. I was excited to experience the sun, heat, culture and cuisine of southern Spain. Upon arrival, I was blown off my feet (almost literally) with the insane heat as I stepped out of Arrivals and into a taxi. It was a blistering 104F !!! My Canadian blood barely withstood the barrage, especially at night sleeping with no fan and no air conditioning. X_X But I survived each day and got used to the dry heat, even when the temperature reached 111F.

Close quarters! Good thing I liked my roomate I did eventually get a fan.

Meeting new people is always so thrilling, especially when they are from different countries. While studying in Seville, I met many people from all over the globe including England, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Croatia, the United States, China and Sweden. A group of us formed a “League of Nations” of sorts and merged our cultures into one. At one point we would speak to each other in a new kind of international dialect, part French, part Spanish and part English. My classes were great and I really improved my conversational Spanish, though there is much left to work on. We had many outings and sightseeing activities and even Flamenco dance lessons! Unfortunately I have discovered that dancing is not a talent I possess. Oh well, I made up for that artistic disaster by shutterbugging around the city taking hundreds of photos.

A typical Sevillian scene: The Cathedral, a sunny day, a few tourists and horse carriages everywhere!

Now I don’t want to rant on forever and get a bad rap on my first blogging attempt, so let me just say this: IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, STUDY ABROAD!!! Not that I want to force anyone into it, but the experiences, knowledge and friendships you gain from exploring the world are priceless. Not only will they help you in an academic way, they can help lead you into new fields in the workplace and change your perception of how you view the world around you. And if all else fails, you will always have some sort of gypsy tale to tell your friends when cafeteria conversation gets dull.

I look forward to informing and entertaining you all this year. Hope you had a great first week and have an awesome holiday weekend.

I’m “oot” and “aboot”,

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Canadian

We have another new blogger this year, Julia Kole. Julia is a junior and an Accounting major. Julia’s hails from Ontario, Canada.