Start of Classes

posted by: Esi

Just as soon as you think you're settled at home, it's time to come Back To School! We'll I'm back at school for spring semester 06' (Can you believe its 2006?)

I came back early for January Orientation and for Information Desk training. It's always nice to come back to school a little earlier than everyone else. That way you're all done and settled when people just start moving in. Orientation was a success; we got a lot of new students coming in.

The first week of school also came and went fast. I've very satisfied with my schedule this semester. Of course I have my education classes, teaching literacy and teaching math, which seem very interesting. I'll be doing my second junior level experience at Dutch Neck School this semester. I also am taking a computer course and a course on Dance History. The dance history class is interesting because we actually get up and move and do some of the dance we were learning about. It's not too complicated so it's very fun for someone like me that can't dance but am interested in dance. The last class I'm taking is a class titled "Great Composers" which could sound boring to some until you learn what it's really about; The Beatles. It's a class chalked full of the history of The Beatles as well as analyzing the music. It's a really interesting class and I can't wait to see what's in store for the class.

So far I've kept organized so hopefully things will continue this way. Tonight's the first Bronc Buffet of the semester. It'll be a nice way to relax after a somewhat hectic first week of classes. It's also a good way to see the last few of my friends I have yet to see since getting back!
Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Esi

London continued...

posted by: Katie

So I've been here for two weeks already and I feel as if I have been here forever. I've "semi" mastered the bus and tubes, only getting ridiculously lost once, but the people here are very nice and try their best to help you. My friends and I have done so much, and we try to do as much as we can on the weekends, since school is in session during the week, but luckily, Richmond, my school, has Friday as a "dead-day" which means there are no classes, so there is more time to do what we want.

I feel as if I have been everywhere! We toured the Tower of London, running around to see everything before the tower closed. It's so interesting to see things that are almost a thousand years old, seeing things that are older than America's discovery. Lately, there have been about four sunny days, and I am maximizing those days as best as I can, since usually it's cloudy and a little gloomy. My friends and I walked ALOT the other day, for three hours straight, just looking at everything we could.

We walked through Kensington Gardens, found some of the most beautiful and manicured gardens I have ever seen, I even had squirrels and birds eating out of my hand in these gardens and ponds. We then walked through Hyde Park, then through St. James Park, onto Buckingham Palace. We couldn't go in, because the palace is only open during July and August, when the Queen is on vacation. Sadly, we had no glimpse of her or her grandsons...And then we walked to Westminster, where the London Eye and Westminster Abbey are located. We were so exhausted that day-we walked 8 tube stops! We definitely took a double decker bus back.

The other day was very fun-it was a shopping day! Portobello Market is a market that vendors and shops open their doors every Saturday. There are so many interesting things there-from clothing, to shoes, jewelry and many many antiques. And it's so big! I had a lot of fun on that day. Later on that day, we went to an old fashioned English pub, where I was able to meet my cousin who lives here. It was really cool to see what people our age do in another country, very different from Rider. In the short two weeks that I have been here, I feel as if I am so acclimated to this London already, and so glad that I took the opportunity that so few get to take.

Katie

Back from break

posted by: Matt

Winter break was awesome. The first half was spent enjoying the holidays with family and friends. I spent New Years in Philadelphia at Denim. They had a private party that I attended. I went with some teammates from the hockey team.

On January 5th I left to go to the Dominican Republic. I went with a group from Rider called Catholic Campus Ministry with the Orchid foundation. We went there to work on an orphanage. I had lots of fun working with the kids there and making their home and school better equipped. We did some roof work, hung blinds, organized the entire years supply of their food. We even had time to dress up as the three kings and hand out presents and candy to the kids. We left on January 20th and I made it home just in time for classes to start.

I will keep every one posted on whether the team makes the playoffs or not. Until then rock on.

Matt

Tourist

posted by: Katie

So, I am all moved into Richmond, The American University, and I like to say that I am a British student now (I even try to put off a British accent, who knows if it works). I was pretty homesick for awhile, but slowly I'm doing better, making good friends, and exploring a lot. A few friends of mine finally did some "touristy" things today, aside from all the errands that we have to do before school starts, like get Tube (subway) cards, get books, special student cards and sign up for trips around England. I kind of don't want classes to start yet, because it just feels as if I am on vacation with friends, and it's a blast. A few of us went to see Parliament and Big Ben at night, and that's when it hit us that we are in England, cause it's just so pretty here, looking at all the lights, old castles and Victorian era buildings. I definitely feel as if its another world here, aside from another country.

Studying Abroad: My London Story

posted by: Katie

My name is Katie, and I am a junior Communications major in the
Television and Radio track at Rider University. I really do love my school, sometimes I would rather be there than home. So it's probably really weird as to why I would want to study abroad for a semester. There's just a whole mix of reasons that eventually culminated in choosing to study in London, England at Richmond, The American University for four
months.

I guess a major reason why I chose to study abroad were the
classes. Although I enjoy my classes at Rider, there are just some that my school can't offer, and I can only get while studying in another country. For example, I have classes about the European Union (which I never learned about in American in general) and one called Foreign Trade Policy. That class is probably the most interesting, basically because of the group of students that make it up. I am the only American, and sadly, only speak one language. Everyone else in the class have experience with their parents' import/export businesses back home, in Germany, Yemen,
Nigeria and even Bulgaria; one student even speaks 5 languages fluently, while I only know basic Spanish. It's like I have the world sitting in with me in class. It's pretty interesting to hear what they have to say.

Another reason why I chose to study abroad was perhaps because I always wanted to, which is why I chose Rider. I guess even back then I knew it was going to be an awesome experience, to be on my own, in another country, for four months. The school helped me out a lot in getting everything together. They helped me figure it all out, especially my advisor, and the people in the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences offices, they helped me get done what I had to do to study abroad, and helped me get in contact and apply to programs and schools for studying abroad.

Lastly, I realized recently that so many people seem to be proud of me for studying abroad, doing something out of the ordinary, which I learned that only one percent of American students do. My mother told me before I left that she was proud of me, and it meant so much, because she had always wanted to study abroad but never got the opportunity. So I guess she's living vicariously through me. And it makes me feel good that my sorority house is cheering me on back home, and that when I return to Rider, I'll still have my home waiting for me.

Katie
ps. I am the one on the right in the picture it was taken in front of Big Ben with my friend Chelsea from Texas.

Relaxing is coming to an end

posted by: Julie

I hope everyone had great holidays! I know I sure did. It was good to relax and enjoy a home cooked meal and spend time with the family.

Other than that, that's about all the relaxing I've been able to do. I'm working on what I like to call "my big girl room" back at home. So that's the big winter break project. I know that once I start student teaching, I am going to be bringing home a lot of papers and I want to have a new organized space to put everything in.

Speaking of student teaching, I have my training in a week and then I start teaching in two weeks. I have to admit, I'm kind of both nervous and excited about teaching. In one sense, I've prepared for this day over the last two years at Rider, but now it's like the real thing. It's not like I have other classes at Rider, or that I'm only teaching two days a week, I am going to be in this classroom everyday, and then the next step after that is teaching my own classroom. Part of me wants to jump right to teaching my own class, I think that will be so much fun, but I know I am going to leave my student teaching experience with a lot of things that are going to help me in my own classroom. But I really am looking forward to student teaching because I will really be able to put all that I've learned in my classes to work. I hear so many times, "am I really going to need this in the real world?" but I'm pretty sure everything I learned in the school of education will be used at some point in time in my teaching career.

Well, I hope the New Year brings good times to all of you and for those high school seniors; good luck with the college decisions.

Talk to you soon!

Julie

Almost break time

posted by: Esi
Break is almost HERE!

I must say I shouldn't complain because I've had a pretty easy final schedule this week. I had to hand in 3 finals and other than that I've been working at the desk and preparing for me one (and only) real final which is on Monday in Geology. So the week has been fine for me.
Last Friday I went to the Alphi Psi Omega's (the theatre fraternity) winter formal. I had a really good time. Plus it was an easy opportunity to get dressed up for no reason! The next night the Rider Vibes had their winter concert. Despite the short notice, we had a great concert and an awesome turnout. I had a duet/solo in Weezer's "Island in the Sun" and a cheesy role in our holiday skit. Hopefully, having people see the concert will encourage them to try out next semester. We had a really good time and I can't wait to start Vibes up again next semester. As for the break, I've got nothing planned. I'll probably just hang out with my friends from home and my friends from school. I really should have gotten a job but this break I'll just relax. I'm coming back to Rider a week early to start preparations for Winter Orientation, so I'll be back in no time.

Something I'm really excited for next semester, BRONC BINGO. But more of that next year!

Maybe I'll keep a resolution this year.
-Esi