Wow its been a while!
So as I am in the midst of studying for my first round of finals at UW Madison, I suddenly realized that I haven't updated my once-beloved blog since returning back to the U.S. from my summer spent in the MIddle East. And of COURSE I jumped at the opportunity to do anything other than study!
I said I would be keeping this blog up and running, and I fully intended to(and still do), but somehow, the semester got away from me!
Ok first, a quick summary of my first college semester, and then on to my newest adventures!
Madison is wonderful. I was pretty skeptical about staying so close to home for college, (if you don't believe me, just ask my mother!), but in all honesty, I think its working out pretty well. I dont feel like I'm only a half hour away from home. I was told that you can make this campus as far away or as close to home as you like, and that statment couldn't be more true. I love that I can zap home for a wuick Friday night to catch one of my brother's football games, but then I can disappear into the social society that is Madison and not have any ties or associations with my small hometown.
Speaking of social society, I LOVE it. I LOVE how diverse and international everyone and everything that is part of this campus is. I LOVE how there is a certain niche for everyone, no matter what their interests, views, etc. And, as far as that goes... I think I'm pretty well on my way to finding mine! I am starting to get ever more involved with campus life and different organizations.
As of now, I am a member of the UW Gymnastics Club! (This is a club team, as sadly, there is no official team for the UW). I've had so much fun this semester geting back into gymnastics and making up new routines and meeting some really fun people, who, most of them, I actually competed or am connected with somehow in our gymnast histories! Its SUCH a small world out there sometimes!
I also joined an organization call Dance OPTIMA, becuase I just couldn't STAND the thought of never dancing again-those of you who know me well will understand this! In this organization, it is completely student-run, and all the dances are student-choreographed, and we put on a student-produced show second semester! Its been so exciting going to the different auditions for different pieces and I can't wait to see how it all comes together for the recital next semester!
And then the last student org. that I am now a member of for this semester is a little less recreational (not to say it isn't just as much fun!), and a little more professional. I joined an organization called AIESEC (pronounced EYE-SEC). (If you've never heard of it, which, most likely, you haven't, at least I never had, you should definitely google it!) Basically, AIESEC is the world's largest student-run international organization. There are chapters in over 100 different countries, and 800 different universities around the world! Its mission is to facilitate leadership and responsibility as well as cultural understanding and communication through international internships. In OTHER words: each chapter sends people to work abroad, as well as try to bring other members from different countries to work here in the United States! Sounds pretty awesome no? Well it is, I've only jsut gotten into it, but I'm already in love with the whole program. Withint our Madison Community, our chapter has many different regional project teams that work to promote awareness and interest of different regions of the world. I'm sure none who followed this blog all summer would be surprised to learn that this semester I was most active as a member of the Salaam(arabic for peace) Team-the region dealing with the Middle East and North Africa. We sponsered a video conference with universities in the Middle East, a Student panel, where students from the MIddle East who are studying here in Madison answered some of the questions different American students had about life in their home countries, we put together an Arabic movie night (I have now seen the Lion King in arabic! :) ), and next semester THREE of our local AIESEC members will either be studying or working in the MIddle East! Its a fast growing organization and a very influential one in my opinion-AND, next semester I will be the new coordinator for the Salaam team! Lets hope its not too much for me to handle!
Okay, this "brief" summary of my semester is getting quite long! My classes are...going okay, but thankfully, almost done! I was in a political science class (intro to international relations-SO interesting!), an American Lit. class (pretty standard, nothing special), a Nutri Sci class(actually a lot more interesting than it sounds!), and my asian american studies class(which I would have enjoyed a lot more with a different prof., unfortunately) And as of the time I'm writing this, I have one final down, and three more to go before I'm DONE for the semester! WHOO! Can't wait!
Ok, but since this is getting so long, I think I'm gonna wait and save my JUICY news for the next post, get you all drooling to hear about it! HINT: I'm returning to the MIDDLE EAST!
Hope everyone's surviving the frozen tundra we live in! MISS YOU ALL!
Kadie
So as I am in the midst of studying for my first round of finals at UW Madison, I suddenly realized that I haven't updated my once-beloved blog since returning back to the U.S. from my summer spent in the MIddle East. And of COURSE I jumped at the opportunity to do anything other than study!
I said I would be keeping this blog up and running, and I fully intended to(and still do), but somehow, the semester got away from me!
Ok first, a quick summary of my first college semester, and then on to my newest adventures!
Madison is wonderful. I was pretty skeptical about staying so close to home for college, (if you don't believe me, just ask my mother!), but in all honesty, I think its working out pretty well. I dont feel like I'm only a half hour away from home. I was told that you can make this campus as far away or as close to home as you like, and that statment couldn't be more true. I love that I can zap home for a wuick Friday night to catch one of my brother's football games, but then I can disappear into the social society that is Madison and not have any ties or associations with my small hometown.
Speaking of social society, I LOVE it. I LOVE how diverse and international everyone and everything that is part of this campus is. I LOVE how there is a certain niche for everyone, no matter what their interests, views, etc. And, as far as that goes... I think I'm pretty well on my way to finding mine! I am starting to get ever more involved with campus life and different organizations.
As of now, I am a member of the UW Gymnastics Club! (This is a club team, as sadly, there is no official team for the UW). I've had so much fun this semester geting back into gymnastics and making up new routines and meeting some really fun people, who, most of them, I actually competed or am connected with somehow in our gymnast histories! Its SUCH a small world out there sometimes!
I also joined an organization call Dance OPTIMA, becuase I just couldn't STAND the thought of never dancing again-those of you who know me well will understand this! In this organization, it is completely student-run, and all the dances are student-choreographed, and we put on a student-produced show second semester! Its been so exciting going to the different auditions for different pieces and I can't wait to see how it all comes together for the recital next semester!
And then the last student org. that I am now a member of for this semester is a little less recreational (not to say it isn't just as much fun!), and a little more professional. I joined an organization called AIESEC (pronounced EYE-SEC). (If you've never heard of it, which, most likely, you haven't, at least I never had, you should definitely google it!) Basically, AIESEC is the world's largest student-run international organization. There are chapters in over 100 different countries, and 800 different universities around the world! Its mission is to facilitate leadership and responsibility as well as cultural understanding and communication through international internships. In OTHER words: each chapter sends people to work abroad, as well as try to bring other members from different countries to work here in the United States! Sounds pretty awesome no? Well it is, I've only jsut gotten into it, but I'm already in love with the whole program. Withint our Madison Community, our chapter has many different regional project teams that work to promote awareness and interest of different regions of the world. I'm sure none who followed this blog all summer would be surprised to learn that this semester I was most active as a member of the Salaam(arabic for peace) Team-the region dealing with the Middle East and North Africa. We sponsered a video conference with universities in the Middle East, a Student panel, where students from the MIddle East who are studying here in Madison answered some of the questions different American students had about life in their home countries, we put together an Arabic movie night (I have now seen the Lion King in arabic! :) ), and next semester THREE of our local AIESEC members will either be studying or working in the MIddle East! Its a fast growing organization and a very influential one in my opinion-AND, next semester I will be the new coordinator for the Salaam team! Lets hope its not too much for me to handle!
Okay, this "brief" summary of my semester is getting quite long! My classes are...going okay, but thankfully, almost done! I was in a political science class (intro to international relations-SO interesting!), an American Lit. class (pretty standard, nothing special), a Nutri Sci class(actually a lot more interesting than it sounds!), and my asian american studies class(which I would have enjoyed a lot more with a different prof., unfortunately) And as of the time I'm writing this, I have one final down, and three more to go before I'm DONE for the semester! WHOO! Can't wait!
Ok, but since this is getting so long, I think I'm gonna wait and save my JUICY news for the next post, get you all drooling to hear about it! HINT: I'm returning to the MIDDLE EAST!
Hope everyone's surviving the frozen tundra we live in! MISS YOU ALL!
Kadie
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