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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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!
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 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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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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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.
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
Questions? Comments? Just wanna say hey?
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