ACL Diaries: Part 1

     As the title says, yes, I am on crutches. You're probably thinking, how did that possibly happen? Well, if you have been up to date with the posts, in early October I tore my ACL playing rugby. I knew that if I ever wanted to play sport again or do anything remotely active, I would need to get it fixed. So on Tuesday, Santa, I mean, the doctor, gave me the great present of a new ACL. Now let me tell ya, I seem happy and cheery now, but if you saw me yesterday, you probably thought I was going to die. Well, it sure felt like it. Essentially, in the type of ACL reconstruction that I had, they took out a piece of my patella and tibia with a piece of tendon attached. They drilled holes in both my femur and tibia and then threaded the piece they had taken out to reconstruct my ACL. Thankfully, everything else looked good so all they had to do was give me a new ACL.
     But, it isn't just a quick surgery. The full recovery for this surgery is 9-12 months and even then, it may take longer for my knee to actually feel like my knee. It will take a lot of time to rehab it and get it back to working condition. Right now, I have started to put weight on it, but I am not allowed to bend my knee yet. The past few days have consisted of a lot of sleeping and watching TV. The medicine that I was on made me really sick, so today is the first day that I have actually been able to eat something and keep it down. I start PT on Monday, so hopefully it won't be too bad. I plan on updating you all about how this is going, just because when I was planning the surgery, I wanted to know more about what to expect.
     As for the rest of my winter break, I plan on resting a lot and getting my knee in good condition. My hope for when it comes times to go back to school is that I can walk with crutches comfortably and that I can make it up stairs! I think its a pretty achievable goal!
     Wish me luck!
Love,
Susanna

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What am I listening to?
(I know, its weird that I am not posting a what I am listening to, mainly because I have not been listening to much music. Instead, I leave you with a what I have been watching. I highly suggest you watch the show Limitless. I have watched the whole season already!)

Burlington on a Budget

     Although I have only lived in close proximity to Burlington for the past 4 years, it has really become home to me. I have probably said it before, but my mom hates it when I refer to college as home. But its the truth, both Saint Michael's and the surrounding area really do feel like home to me. It is no secret that Burlington is a great place. It has been voted one of the best college towns in the country and its food has been gaining great reviews over the past couple of years. Unlike its counterparts of Los Angeles, Manhattan and Boston, Burlington is a place to live and explore without breaking the bank. Trust me, I know. I'm a college kid after all. So, if you are a college kid living here or are just looking for some great places to explore, here are my top choices for things to eat and places to see in Burlington on a budget.

     Let's start the morning right. Everyone knows that the best way to start the day is with a great breakfast. What's better than some good food? Good food that won't break the bank. Assuming that you were a little slow moving in the morning, I would suggest Handy's Lunch. Handy's is a super old school place with only counter seating, so it approximately only seats 25-30 people. This often means that there can be a wait, but I mean, the longer the line the better the food, right? The people that work there are great. Earl, one of the owners, is really friendly and will do everything he can to make you feel nice and welcome. The food is great and it is really inexpensive considering how full you feel after. It is definitely one of my go to spots for breakfast!

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     After breakfast you are probably going to have to walk off all of the calories that you just consumed. One of my favorite places to do that is at Lake Champlain Waterfront. Perks of this? It's absolutely free to walk around and the view is fabulous. You can always see people riding bikes, cute dogs and who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of our lake monster, Champ. One of the cool places to visit at the waterfront is the ECHO Center. The ECHO Center is a non-profit organization that hopes to educate people about the ecology and history of Lake Champlain. It is an awesome place to visit for people of all ages. Tickets are fairly inexpensive as far as museums and aquariums go, and they often have ticket deals. Here you have the opportunity to watch them feed animals, meet some baby animals and learn about all of the things that go into making Lake Champlain great!

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     Wow, all that walking must have started to make you a little hungry. Just a short walk away from the Echo Center is Church Street Marketplace. It is arguably one of my favorite spots in all of Burlington. Here, you have the choice of dozens of restaurants, shops and bars to choose from. For lunch, my favorite place would have to be the Red Onion. If you want to enjoy the best sandwich of your life, then look no further. My favorite sandwich to get is the Red Onion. I mean, if they name their restaurant after it, it has to be good.  This sandwich has turkey, bacon, red onion (duh) and garlic mayo on your choice of fresh made bread. Delicious, right? A typically sandwich will cost you about $10 here, but it is more than enough for 2 people to split. Also, try one of their cookies. They are one of my favorites and I really don't like cookies that much.

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     After lunch, I would say that it would be in your best interest to just take the time to walk around Church Street Marketplace. As I said earlier, it is a long pedestrian street where there are tons of shops, restaurants and bars to visit. In my opinion it is honestly one of the best places to window shop. It's a great place on a budget because you don't actually have to buy anything. But, if you were so inclined to spend a little money, you could to to places like Tradewinds, Earth Bound and Homeport, which are some of my favorites.

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    After all that (window) shopping you are probably hungry again, right? I thought so. One of my favorite places is American Flatbread. I promise you will love this place the minute you walk in the door. Only a quick walk from Church Street, the rustic inside and the no cell phone sign really makes you feel at ease. On busy nights, like Friday's an Saturday's, there will normally be a wait. My suggestion is during the wait you should step up to the bar and try one of the local brews that they have on tap. Almost all of the ingredients used are local, free-range and organic, which makes eating pizza healthy, right? Any pizza you get here is good, but my personal favorite would be the buffalo chicken with blue cheese pizza. I like it because it has super thin crust and the sauce is super flavorful.

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     Finally, its time for dessert. Take your full belly and walk back up to Church Street and then one block past it to My Little Cupcake. This place is hands down my favorite place for something edible near Church Street. I cannot remember how my friends and I stumbled upon it but I am really happy we did. We make it our tradition now. Every time we go to Church Street we have to stop at My Little Cupcake to get a quick snack. They have both mini and regular sized cupcakes, along with cake pops, gluten free and vegan cupcakes. There is something for everyone! My personal favorites are the salted caramel and the red velvet. One of the cool things that they do for the 21+ crowd is every Friday night they have a pairing night, where you get 3 types of alcoholic beverages and 3 desserts for a flat price. They also have one of my favorite drool worthy accounts on Instagram!

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    After all that I'm assuming that you are totally stuffed and exhausted. It must be time to head home to get some sleep! See, doing things during the day can be really fun and inexpensive.

    Winter months, especially January, is a time when many people start thinking about budgeting money. One of the places that I have recently discovered to help me do this is Personal Capital. They have awesome free financial tools that people what don't really know where to start can check out.

Love,
Susanna

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Finals Schminals

     So that time is year is upon us. Sadly, that time of year is not too fun, instead it is probably one of the most frustrating times of the year. Yes, I mean finals. It is really weird to me to think that this is the second to last time that I will have to experience finals. Weird, I know. I have written a lot about prepping for finals. I think I post one almost every year or so. This post will kind of be a recap of everything we have discussed. I would say that this is my "holy grail" of studying hacks for finals. This list of things has helped me to survive numerous finals weeks and would ya look at me, I think i turned out ok. So, here we go!

ONE// Think about how much you have to do and how much time each task will take. I know, this is one of the most daunting tasks. It can be really frightening to actually visualize all the tasks that you have to accomplish. It is even scarier when you have to actually think of how long it will take you to accomplish these tasks. We all know that writing "read chapters 12-16" in your planner realistically gets you no where. Put a time on it. Say "read chapters 12-16 from 6-8pm". Then you will be more likely to do it.

TWO// When you are scheduling, add in a relaxing time. This sounds pretty weird to some people, but I promise you, it helps. Also, when adding it in, make it a non-negotiable. You should never feel guilty for taking time for yourself. This is something that is hard for me at times. When I have a lot of stuff to accomplish, I often feel like it is difficult to take time for myself. Adding it o your schedule forces you to take the time to refresh yourself. This also helps you to be more focused when studying.

THREE// Schedule in times to check social media. Whether you add this in on your "me-time', schedule time to check social media. I know that this is a problem for me. I am addicted to social media and I often get really distracted by it. When I set certain times to check it, it helps me to focus more on my work.


FOUR// Get everything together ahead of time. I am notorious for walking downstairs in my house or to the academic buildings, sitting down and then noticing that I do not have one of the things that I need to study. Then, I get completely out of the zone and have to get my head back into it. This goes for finding all the supplies you need, prepping playlists and making sure your computer is charged. Also, food and drinks is a big one for me. If I am hungry to thirsty while studying, I would put money on it that I will most likely get nothing done.

FIVE// Get some positive vibes circulating your space. Change the background on your computer. Write little notes in your planner. Do whatever you have to do to get you psyched and hyped to study. When you feel positive and happy studying will feel so much easier. The easiest way to do this you may ask? Smile.

SIX// Don't just write down one major task, instead, split it up into small groups. When I have a huge paper to write, I will instead split it up into small things, such as write thesis, do research, write body paragraphs or collect quotes. It makes a huge task become smaller and easier to accomplish.

SEVEN// Remember that finals is not a time to get everything absolutely perfect. At times it is hard to accept that you won't be perfect. But during finals, you have to understand that you cannot always achieve perfection. With a long to-do list, you won't be able to accomplish everything to your exact specifications. That is ok. Do everything to the best of your ability and you will be fine. Just remember, you do you and as long as you do your best, you're fabulous.

THREE// Do not pull all nighters. This isn't a problem for me. I love my sleep and I always will. I do have some friends that would prefer to stay up all night to study for an exam, but personally for me, I set a time for myself and if I don't finish everything by 11:30pm, I accept the fact that it probably won't get finished or that I need to wake up earlier to finish studying.

Well, that's all folks. I hope finals goes well for all of you. Remember, you can do it. In the end it is only a grade. Just work your hardest and you will be fine. 

Good Luck!

Love,

Susanna

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The Best Feeling in the World

the trophy is back where it belongs.

     Wow. I guess that is all I can really say about this weekend. For those of you that don't know or are new to my blog, I play rugby and I love every second of it. SMC's women's rugby has a great reputation of bringing women together who have never played rugby before to compete at a high level. This season is one for the record books. We ended our regular season undefeated after winning our conference championship yesterday against Stonehill. To say that I am incredibly proud would be an understatement. Unfortunately, with a completely messed up knee, I couldn't compete in my last conference championship game as a member of the team, which is a personal battle all in itself. But watching my teammates play was something that I will never forget.
    Going into this game, we knew what we wanted to accomplish. We knew that we wanted to walk away victorious and that is what we did. Although some parts may have been a little slow or chaotic, we picked it up and everything worked out.
    I'm so proud to be a part of this team- to be a part of something great. Our entire team, both A side and B side, deserve this win. Without B-side, A-side would not be as good as it is today and without A-side we wouldn't have amazing role models for our newest players.
   I am so proud to be a part of this team. This team is something great. This team is family.
Next weekend we take on Smith College at SMC at 1pm in the first round of Nationals.

some pretty amazing people

Want to see some amazing photos of the game? Click the link HERE!

Love,

Susanna

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Breakfast of Champions

     I will be the first to admit that breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day. It really is. I will eat scrambled eggs and oatmeal basically any time of the day, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. But, I will be the first to admit that I am completely lazy. I mean, sometimes I will spend a lot of time making food because I love to cook, but mornings are not my thing and I would much rather spend that extra 20 minutes in bed rather than spending my time in the kitchen. I also know that if I do not eat breakfast, there is no way that I will function for the rest of the day until I eat something. Soooooo, here are some of my favorite breakfast ideas when you are really short on time and money!

ONE// Banana Ice Cream. I mean, ice cream for breakfast? SIGN ME UP. So while this may seem totally not ok, I promise, it is ok to eat for breakfast. Essentially, it is just bananas. I'm serious. That's it. All you do is freeze some bananas then blend them up in the blender. Super easy and super delicious. I like to add a little vanilla sometimes along with cacao powder if I'm looking to be a little more exciting. I normally top if off with some fresh fruit and granola and it is honestly delicious! This is also a great breakfast that you can make the night before and pop in the freezer so it is ready to go when you wake up! And to be totally honest, I have a Tupperware of chocolate banana ice cream in my freezer right now waiting for me! It makes getting up in the morning easier when you are excited about breakfast!

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TWO//  Eggs in a mug. Sounds weird, I know. But you can cook eggs in a mug in the microwave and they are still completely safe to eat (I mean, people eat raw eggs, so this is definitely better!). All you do is crack an egg in your mug, mix it up, add all the yummy things like veggies, cheese and whatever else floats your boat. Then put it in the microwave and cook for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds (depending on your microwave) and then enjoy! 

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THREE// Overnight Oats (or oatmeal in general). I will be the first to admit that oatmeal is fairly new to me. I can say that I did not like oatmeal until the beginning of this year. I know, totally strange. I don't really know why I didn't like it seeing how much I eat it now. It is normally my go-to breakfast because it is super easy and really filling. I will normally opt to just make it hot in the morning. I like to add brown sugar and cinnamon to mine and top with bananas if I have them on hand. I recently discovered overnight oats. A lot of people call it "summer oatmeal" because you eat it cold. Basically you put your oats, yogurt and come milk in an individual jar, most people opt for mason jars, then leave it in the fridge overnight. The next morning it is ready for you to eat! 

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FOUR// Avocado Toast. I have to say that I absolutely adore avocados. I really do. There is just something about it that I just adore. Plus, it has some super healthy fats that keep you really energized all day long. One of my favorite things to do with avocado is to smash it up and put it on toast. Its super easy and delicious. I top it with a little salt and pepper. Sometimes I will chop up some extra veggies like tomatoes or spinach to put on top. If I am feeling super fancy, I'll cook and egg, but most of the time I just eat it plain! 

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FIVE// Smoothies or a smoothie bowl. This are pretty basic and really easy. Just grab some frozen fruit, some water, maybe a few veggies and blend it all together. Smoothies are really easy. Plus if you are in a rush you can take them to class with you. I have really started to take a liking to smoothie bowls. I think I like them because they feel more filling to me. Basically the difference is that they are thicker than smoothies. I will normally add a little less water or liquid to it. Then you pour it into a bowl and add your favorite toppings like granola, chia seeds and fresh fruit. 

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So those are some of my favorite breakfasts to enjoy in the morning! I hope you give some a try and learn to love breakfast the same way I do! 

Also a little update on my knee. Unfortunately the doctor thinks that I have torn my ACL. We aren't positive about the diagnosis yet, but I have a MRI scheduled later in the month that will tell us for sure! As for now, I am just wearing a brace when I walk and going to physical therapy 4 days a week!

Love,

Susanna

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Favorites!

     So normally this post happens on a Friday, but as I have been neglecting this blog (I'm so sorry!) I decided that I would post something a little more fun! Its fall here, which is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year. I know, everyone says that, but it is so true, especially here in Vermont. Vermont is definitely one of the prettiest places to witness fall foliage. Just a few minutes ago, people walked up to the tree in front of our house (we named her Claudia) and started picking up leaves and taking pictures with her. I guess she is kind of a celebrity. Ohhhh those leaf peepers! So you may be asking, what else is happening with your life Suze? Well, not too much. fun fact, I am actually on crutches. I know, it stinks. On Sunday in our rugby game I dislocated my patella. It was so painful I literally thought I was going to vomit. But all is good now. Hobbling along. So far they just think my knee is "very angry" at me. Hopefully that is all that has really happened but they will know more once the swelling goes down a bit.
     Anywhoooo, let's get into these favorite, shall we?

ONE// Rugby. I feel like this is always in my favorites. Even though I just screwed up my knee, I am still super excited for the rest of the season. Currently, we are undefeated which is amazing!!! We are playing Roger Williams this weekend at home. We are not entirely sure what to expect, but I know that it will be a great game! I'm excited to see all the skill and talent from a safe position on the sideline.

rugby love just a day before I ended up on crutches. 

TWO// "Race to Nowhere". It is no secret that I love a good documentary. I am not really sure why I enjoy them so much, I just do. I stumbled upon this one a little while ago and for lack of better words "OMG, this is fantastic". This documentary looks at our education system today and how children are pressured to achieve. It is beautifully done and it makes you really think about our education system in the United States.

THREE// The Odyssey. Procrastination is my middle name. If I have to do homework on a computer I will probably get sucked into something other than homework. Lately, I have really loved reading the Odyssey. Its great because they are short posts with a lot of pictures so I can click through multiple articles instead of reading just one lengthy one! One of my friends writes for the Odyssey and I highly suggest you check them out HERE!

FOUR// Makuta. One of my best friends, Kelsey, has this super cool job where she works with this awesome band. Sounds cool right? Well what is even cooler is that their music is awesome! They also seem like super amazing people as well! I've been super into their music lately, and I know that you will enjoy it too! I highly encourage you to check out their music and social media sites!
Soundcloud HERE
Twitter HERE
Facebook HERE
Youtube HERE 
Website HERE

FIVE// Mindless Eating. So normally books for class tend to be super boring. Well, not this one. I got assigned to read Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink for my Research Methods class and I absolutely love it. The book basically explains the reasons why we tend to eat too much. It chronicles his research and all the experiments he has done about the topic. It is a really good book and easy read!

SIX// Mango Island Mamma YouTube. I am not a vegan. I'm not even a vegetarian, but for some reason I absolutely love watching YouTube videos of vegans. I find it so interesting that they can sustain a lifestyle of just eating plant-based foods. I found this channel a little while ago of this family that lives in Hawaii. They are literally the cutest family ever and all of their food looks absolutely delicious! Check them out HERE.

come on. look at that face. he is so adorable!!

     Well, that's all folks! I hope you enjoyed this quick little read! Hopefully fall doesn't fly by too fast! I'm not sure if I am really prepared for winter just yet! What are some of your favorite things of the month? Leave me a comment down below! 

Love,

Susanna

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Townhouse Life: Kitchen

       Growing up, I have always loved anything to do with food. My guilty pleasure was, and still is, Food Network and all other cooking channels that I can find. I love eating food, try new food and most importantly, cooking food. One of the great things about being a senior at SMC is that you get the opportunity to live in a townhouse, which is a 6-4 person house with a full kitchen. Once in the townhouse, you have the option of going onto the reduced meal plan which gives you 40 swipes a semester. All the other times, you cook for yourself. For me, I was completely excited about this.
      My mom and dad almost always cooked dinner for my brother and I growing up and while at school, home cooked meals was something I missed. So for me, being in a townhouse and cooking for myself is like having a little piece of home. My mom is one of the best cooks I know and my dad is amazing at grilling almost anything and everything. Growing up, my parents encouraged my brother and I to try almost any type of food there is. From different meats, to fish to all types of fruits and veggies, we've tried it all.
      Cooking at school is like "me-time". It allows me to focus on a single task at hand that will eventually turn into something bigger and better. I love mixing ingredients and seeing what I can make with whatever I have in my cabinet, fridge or freezer.
     It allows me to get creative with something outside of class work. As I spend, for the most part, all day looking at a computer screen working on different projects, working with my hands in the kitchen allowed a creative outlet away from a screen. That, I think, is one of the most important things for me today as so much of my time is consumed by screens.
     Hopefully, this year I'll be able to share some of the things I make with you all. But for now, here are some pictures of some of the things that I have made so far. My favorite thing is posting them on Instagram, so, shameless plug, if you want to see all the jazzy things I create, follow me on Instagram (HERE).

Parmesean crusted pork chops with a side salad.

Vegan stir-fry with brown rice. 

Homemade baked seasoned french fries. 

The contents of a roasted red pepper and corn soup. 

Greens salad with fresh tomatoes, grilled chicken, hard boiled egg and goat cheese with a side of roasted potatoes. 

Baked apple crisp in apples. (not pictured: homemade caramel sauce)

Love,
Susanna

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Senior Year

     Wow. It has been FOREVER since I last posted. And, as may of you may know, I always say that it has been forever since I have written, but this is serious. I just checked and blogger said that it had been 2 months.... yeah, you read that right, 2 WHOLE MONTHS since I have last blogged. That's insane and I am so sorry for that.
     So now you are all probably wondering "Suze, since you haven't blogged in 2 months, what the heck have you been doing?" I don't blame you for wondering. I don't think I have ever gone 2 months without blogging. But for you curious souls out there, I spent yet another summer at one of my favorite places in the entire world: summer camp. I don't know what it is about that place but I just can't get enough of it. So, to show you just a little bit of what I did this summer, here are some pictures!

Me waking Dave up form a little nap before more training!

Dave (left) and Max (center) stole my phone and sat on me while taking this picture.

     The summer started off just dandy. The first two weeks of camp are training weeks. The first of the two is certification week. During this week our lifeguards and ropes staff get certified in their designated areas .This is my second year of being a lifeguard at camp. Last year I got certified so I didn't have to get re-certified this year. That basically means that the entire week I was the drowning victim for our new lifeguards.

booyaaahhh for small craft certification with Caito (left) and Max (right)

     Wanna know what's awesome? Caito makes videos on YouTube and she documented both of these weeks! Here are some videos of what actually happened!

     After those 2 weeks camp rookie camp. Rookie camp is a week long session specifically designed for kids that have never been to sleep away camp before. It is a long and hard week, but really rewarding at the same time. For the entire summer I lived in a cabin called Chickasaw with some amazing counselors and campers. The girls in my cabin were between the ages of 11 and 13. While at times they were a difficult bunch, they were so much fun and I am so happy to have had the privilege to be with them.
     Once rookie week came to a close, our regular sessions began. Our normal camp consists of 3, 2 week sessions and my oh my did those weeks fly by! This year I was the assistant waterfront director so I spent the majority of my time by the pool or the lake life guarding! Here are some pictures from those 6 weeks!

(l to r: Meg, Pip, Nadine, Me, Haris, Sophie)
These are some of my absolute best friends. I'm so lucky to have friends from all over the world!

some of my awesome campers!

Max and I were in charge of the waterfront this year.

On one of our off days Meg, Pip, Haris, Nadine and I went to the beach!

Lake Compounce day off!

More Lake Compounce!

(l to r: Pip, Maddie and me)
Doing what lifeguards do best!

Day off in Boston!

And then MARY HUGHES came to visit!!!!

Saying by to Mary was probably one of the saddest days of the summer.

Casino night theme opening dinner!

(l to r: Pip, Mac and Me!)

my cozy corner in Chickasaw!

     So that was basically my summer in a nutshell. I had a fantastic time and I miss it so much when I am away. It is scary to think that on Monday, I will be making the trek back up to SMC to start my first semester of senior year (after preseason, of course!) I can't wait to see what this semester has in store!

Until then,

Susanna

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Update

     Hello lovely people of the internet. I know as per usual, it has been forever. But I really mean it this time. I think the last time I wrote it was about a month ago as I was getting ready to head home from London. Well, I made it home and I have been home for almost a month as of now. I am about to head out to a bunch of Memorial Day BBQs and just enjoy summer time. I start work on the 4th and I honestly could not be more excited! I am working at summer camp for the 3rd summer and if I could be there right now I would in a heartbeat. It is my favorite place in the entire world. Until then, I am just catching up with friends, family and enjoying my time doing absolutely nothing!
     I promise to write over the summer although I have no idea how many posts I will be writing. But I promise at least one or two!
     As for the new members of the class of 2019, WELCOME! I cannot wait to meet all of you in the fall!

Love,
Susanna

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An Open Letter...

     An open letter to anyone and everyone that was able to take this journey from a thought to a reality. 

     Dear you,
Thank you. I guess starting a letter fairly bluntly would make sense seeing as you probably weren't expecting a letter in the first place. So, rather instead of stringing you along on a ramble for a little while then dropping the ball part way through I figured I would just start off plain and simple. But again, thank you. I guess I should be able to say thank you in 1000 different languages now because you know, study abroad and stuff, but knowing my track record with languages that probably isn't the best idea. Therefore, I will leave it up to professionals, native speakers and Google translate.
    Thank you for allowing my dreams, hopes and wishes to become a reality. Studying abroad was something that I was thinking about for years but I was always unsure if I would be able to accomplish it. But without your support and desire to see my dreams come into fruition I would not be sitting in west London a 5 minute walk from one of the most famous parks in the world and with such easy access to a quick plane ride that would whisk me away to other countries for a new adventure.
     Thanks for believing in me. Thank you for believing that I had the strength to live in a world that is so often crippled by fear. Thanks for believing that I could survive on my own-in a new place, with new people, with new things to experience. Thank you for allowing me to see how people other than me go about their day to day business. Thanks for believing that I had the power to live for 4 months out of 2 suitcases and a limited idea of what I was actually getting myself into.
    Thank you for believing that I could succeed in the classroom while the world outside the lecture hall danced around me. Thank you for having confidence that my head, although sometimes questionable, is screwed on tightly and that I have the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
          Thank you for your emails, tweets, Facebook posts and comments, they all mean more to me than you will ever imagine. Knowing that even though you are across the world, your family and friends will always be there is more comforting than a fuzzy blanket and cup of tea could ever be.
     Thank you for allowing me to go on this journey, for adventure is the biggest gift anyone can ever give. Thank you for forgiving mistakes that I have probably made along the way, as you realize making mistakes is part of life. Everyone makes mistakes, and its ok. Thank you for believing that I could stick it out. At times, home was the only place that I wanted to be. I needed the support of consistency and comfort, or at least I thought I did. So thank you for teaching me that wanting and needing are two different things. I wanted home, but did not need it as a crutch to prop me up in hard times.
    So, in the simplest form, thank you. Thank you for giving me the world.

Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime. 

Love,
Susanna

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Decision Time!

     It seems so crazy that once I finish my last exam on Tuesday, I will pretty much officially be a senior in college. It seems like just yesterday I was going through acceptance letters to try to figure out which college I was going to spend the next 4 years of my life at. For me, deciding to go to St. Mike's has and will be, one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. For incoming first years, I know the struggle that you may be facing right now. It is a big decision that often times leads to a lot of stress. Especially since the May 1st deposit deadline is coming up so quickly, now is crunch time. A lot of things can go into your decision about attending a college. Is it a residential campus? Are there sports? Is the food good? What are the dorms like? These are all incredibly important details that shouldn't be overlooked, but there are somethings that really shouldn't weigh into your decision. So I am here to tell you a few things that you probably shouldn't base your college decisions on.

ONE// No one has heard of the school. Sure, some schools are more well known than others. SMC is a small school in Colchester, VT. More often than not when I mention it to people they have never heard of it. This also goes with the reputation of a school. Everyone always dreams of attending an Ivy, but choosing a school just because of its prestigious reputation doesn't necessarily mean its the right school for you. Look beyond the name to find if it is really the right fit for you. Are classes organized like you like? Does it have things on campus for you to get involved in?

TWO// All of your friends are going to a different school.  I have to admit that this is probably one that I relate to the most. For those of you that don't know, I am from southern Connecticut, so northern Vermont is a little bit of a drive for me. All of my friends from high school, and I mean basically all of them, go to school in either Connecticut, Massachusetts or New York. I was the only one that was really looking at schools far from home. It sounds really intimidating to go to school without having your friends right by your side (especially people that you have been friends with since you were 5), but that is the whole point of college. I often times say that college was the best thing that ever happened to me. Without college I wouldn't have made the friends that I have made, made decisions that I did or have had the opportunities that I have been blessed to have. So if you are all alone, don't be afraid. It will be one of the best things that has ever happened to you!

THREE// You're in a relationship and distance isn't your friend. I didn't have this problem, but I did have friends that had a hard time with this. Its up to you and your significant other as to how you are going to maintain a healthy relationship, but this is a decision that you ultimately have to make for yourself. Focus on your future and in today's society going to the correct college for you can help to facilitate that future.

FOUR// It costs too much. NEWSFLASH- college in the United States is expensive. Period. It is going to be expensive. Take into account financial aid and scholarships. You won't be able to calculate how much colleges actually cost until you take into account financial aid and scholarship prices. Also, if you are really set on a school and your scholarship or financial aid package still won't allow you to attend, talk to an admissions counselor and explain your situation. More often than not, they are more than willing to help!

Ultimately, pick the school that you feel fits you the best. I know that I got that feeling the first time that I stepped onto campus. It was a feeling that was like "wow, I belong here". Follow your gut and trust your heart. Do what is best for you. You will make the right decision.
Good luck!

If i didn't choose SMC, I most likely would not have met some of my absolute best friends. 

Love,
Susanna

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Nearing the End

     I would say I am doing pretty well for myself. 2 posts in one week? Its like a whole new Suze! 

P.S. waddaayaaa think of the new updated features? Pretty nice navigation bar, eh? Anyway, my time in London is quickly coming to a close. I cannot believe that tomorrow marks the one week countdown until I am on a big metal thing that will bring me all the way across the world. It is absolutely insane how fast the time has flown by. This city is absolutely magical and has completely stolen my heart. While I love home more than anything, I will be really sad to leave a week from tomorrow. Study abroad has been one of the best experiences of my life, and it is something that I will forever be an advocate for. I think that anyone and everyone should experience studying abroad or at least visiting another country. There is something about getting immersed in a completely different way of life that just makes you appreciate your own a little more. If you have been following my blog for the duration of the semester (if not, welcome!) you will have already heard about all of the amazing things that I have been able to experience and the people that I have been able to meet. Therefore, I felt no need to go on and on about the amazing things I have done since you have had the opportunity to read all about them! Instead, I thought I would tell you a few of the things that I have learned while wandering aimlessly here in London for the past 4 months. Hopefully these will help any person looking to study abroad anywhere in this massive, crazy world! (I wrote a post a few weeks ago about what to expect in London, check it out HERE)

ONE// Something will go wrong, just accept it. In life, things are bound to go wrong at some point. I am a massive planner and I like to have set plans and ideas. One of the things that stresses me out the most is things going wrong. The thing with life is that you just have to roll with the punches. If things go wrong, be prepared. Always have a map, extra money and emergency phone numbers. That way, if something does go wrong, you can fix it. Don't sweat the small stuff.

TWO// You don't always have to have a plan. To go along with number one, it is totally ok to not have a plan. One of my favorite things to do in London is to hop on the tube and go from there. Get off when you feel like it and just wander. Wandering can lead you to some pretty amazing places.

THREE// Don't blow all your money in the first couple of weeks. Trust me, it is so tempting, especially with Primark right around the corner. You'll get to wherever you may be calling home for the next 4 months and be so excited because you have a huge wad of cash just burning a hole in your pocket. I am notorious for spending money, but self control is key here. Always ask yourself, "do I really need this?" or "can I purchase this back home?". Spend your money wisely. It is much better to spend your money on experiences rather than things. You can always have a lot of things, but if you spend your money on things you won't have nearly as many experiences.

 FOUR// You'll have good days and bad days. Study abroad and living in a foreign country are often over glamorized in the media. Yes, studying abroad will be an adventure of a lifetime and amazing in so many different ways, but there will also be some pretty crummy days tucked in. Living and studying abroad is a lot of work and sometimes that can get the best of you for a little bit. When those days come, don't get down, the next amazing day will come when the sun rises again in the morning.

FIVE// Make new friends. This should go without explanation, but if you really need one, well, here it is. I get like routines and comfort. I like my friends back home and at school. Making new friends, while at most times terribly uncomfortable, is a necessity. Step out of your comfort zone. Trust me, it will make your time much better.

SIX// Take it all in. Stop every once in a while and just look at the world that surrounds you. I promise you, its a pretty magical place. Take it in. Soak it all up. These are the memories that you will never forget.

little wonders everywhere you look. 

Love,
Susanna

Questions? Comments? Just wanna say hey?
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Harry Potter Studio Tour!

     As always, it has been a while. I always say that...maybe next year I will make it a New Year's Resolution to stop saying that at the beginning of every post. But I really do feel like I need to apologize every time! I'm just busy, ya know?! In order to not let you down too much, I present you with a new blog! (*clap*) Anyway, this weekend was super packed a busy so I thought I'd share the highlight of it....Harry Potter Studio Tour!
     My weekend starts on Friday, as I have no classes. Weeks ago, my friends and I booked tickets to go to Harry Potter Studios, so we knew for a fact that we were going to go that afternoon. During the day my roommate, Grace, and I went to the British Museum. I had never been and I figured "why not?!". As I have mentioned before, all of the museums here are free which is amazing. We weren't really sure what to expect when we got there. I didn't really know much about it before going to be completely honest. It was packed. That is probably what you get when you decide to go to the museum at around 1pm on a Friday during a typical English spring break. I was not completely wowed by it. Some of the things were really interesting, like the  architecture, mummies, the Rosetta stone and all of the Greek artifacts, but other than those things, I was not really blown away. It was nice to see and check off my bucket list, but I don't think I will really need to see it again. It also didn't help that it was really hot in the museum and I was sweating to death (not literally but you get what I mean).

This is the main part of the museum and I have to say, it is pretty freaking amazing. 

     After we were done with the museum, Grace and I went to get lunch and then head to the train station to meet Kerryn, Ashley and Meggie to head to Harry Potter Studio.
     **pro tip: when looking to get train tickets to get to the Harry Potter Studio tour, it is possible to get a group rate on London Midland return tickets. A normal ticket is about 11GBP. With the group rate it was only 7!**
     The train ride to the station nearest the studio was only about 30 minutes from where we left, so it was really quick and painless. Once off the train, there is a shuttle bus that takes you right to the studio. We got there and picked up our tickets and were like kids in a candy store. Now, I have to be honest, I am not the biggest Harry Potter fan. I have never read the books but I have seen most of the movies and love them. Our tour didn't start until 6:30 and we got there pretty early. We went into the gift shop and looked around and then just sat and waited until it was time for our tour.
    Once it was 6:30 we all lined up and entered into this large room with TV screens around. They showed us a quick video and went over the rules, then we entered into a theater to watch a quick movie about the studio. It was then time to explore! But first, a huge door had to open. It was Ashley's birthday on Sunday and she was lucky enough to get to open the door! CRAZY! The massive door opened into the Great Hall, and from there it just got more and more amazing. I figure pictures can tell the story much better than I can, so enjoy!

Outside of the studio before we went in.

The lobby of the studio.

Ashley (2nd from the left) about to open the door!

The Great Hall!

The Chamber of Secrets

The Hogwarts Express was a new part of the tour for 2015!

The Knight Bus. (I think we need one of these at SMC!)

Privet Drive!

Kerryn and I casually driving a car.

Meggie and Ashley exploring!

Probably the most magical part of the entire tour.

This was the last thing you see before you leave the tour. 

     All in all, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is one of my favorite things that I have done while being in London. Even if you are not a massive Harry Potter fan, you will find this enjoyable. Yes, it was fairly expensive, but trust me, it was 100% worth it!

Love,
Susanna

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