Fun Things to Do in Tacoma: Point Defiance Zoo

Hi everyone! J-term has come to an end, and many people are relaxing the 5 days we have for J-term Break!  If you are ever around Tacoma and are looking for something fun to do, check this out: http://www.pdza.org/calendar. The Point Defiance Zoo has Tacoma Resident Free Day several times a month. If you have a photo ID with your address (WA I.D. card, Driver's License) and proof that you live in Tacoma, you can get into the zoo free on these days!

Since I was not particularly busy in the weekends during J-term, I decided to check it out! It was fun looking an animals and feeling like a little kid again. Besides the zoo there is an aquarium, so I enjoyed looking at sharks and colorful fish too!
So if you are looking for something to do for a day, go to the Point Defiance Zoo, because I guarantee that you will enjoy it!

J-Term: Mixing Business and Pleasure

This J-term I decided to mix Business and pleasure... Literally. I decided last minute to add a Skiing class to my J-term schedule and I am not regretting it one bit! I am taking an intro to Business class four days a week and get to ski two nights a week! Who ever said that was a bad thing?

My Business class is very fun. We are split into groups and have to come up with a Business plan which we will present to "investors" at the end of the term! Our business idea is a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course! So we decided to visit a real mini-golf course to do research and to check out "competition".

Business Team Bonding

For my skiing class we are split up into ability levels and have some days with instructors and some days with free ski! Our advanced group, the #geneteam, has the coolest instructor of all. His name is Gene and he is awesome.

#geneteam doing the #genelean!

It is nice to get up to the mountain and snow since it is still green down on campus and only getting warmer! The mountains really remind me of HOME <3

 Otherwise I am using my three day weekends wisely, bonding with great people, going on adventures,   sleeping and laughing. J-term goes by so quickly, you have to enjoy it while you can!

Studying at 208!

Live. Laugh. Love.

Madeleine

My J-Term

Hello hello :)

It's been a while since I posted something and I do apologize. I gotta admit, senior year is crazy. I have to not only work on school stuff but also my resume and my portfolio so I can get a job after graduation. Is it too early to think about "the reality" already, you might ask? Nah. It's never too early

So on a happier note, I just want to share with you guys some fun things I get to do over J-term to "de-stress" myself and I hope that you have your fun as well. College is stressful, work is overwhelming, and life is always hard so why not live to the fullest?

First stop, Seattle. This place is gorgeous. Here's a photo I took at Alki

Then I went to the Waterfront. If you haven't noticed, there's a Ferris wheel there and I did go up there. As you can see in the picture below, the wheel is literally on top of the water, so when your little cabin is going down, it almost feels like you are going to fall into the water. I'm afraid of heights (big time), so I might've sounded a little crazy when I described the wheel earlier :)

 

Next stop, Green Lake near University of Washington, Seattle. And FYI, the photo below is a raw image. Hashtag no filter.

My puppies are ready for a walk around Green Lake

 Want some Butterbeer in Seattle instead of flying all the way to Harry Potter Land in Florida? Come to Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. This place is in Ballard, which is a little North of Seattle.

 And here's some photos I took on the Road :)

 

Last but not least, if you're like me and you enjoy being home and just relax. Here are some movies I got for Christmas and trust me, a day at home, wrapped in warm blanket, watching all these movies is like heaven :)

How is your J-term? 

It's ok if you're busy, just remember to take some times off for yourself to do something that YOU enjoy. 

What happens in J-term?

Dear Friends,

If you ever consider coming to PLU, you must know about J-term. J-term is a short hand for January term. Starting from January 2nd, the school starts and it will end shortly after 4 weeks, it then comes the Spring semester. J-term only lasts for a month, and it is optional.

While some students choose to stay home and relax for this month, others decide to take classes and be productive. There is also the option of studying abroad through PLU. I have a friend who is taking a ceramic class in England, some former classmates who are taking a trip to Australia, and another friend of mine is probably enjoying the delicious food in Italy now. In comparison, my Business Ethics class doesn't sound very fun. But I appreciate the new world I was introduced into. Although Business isn't my major, it is still fun to put on a different lens to see this world.

In a study session with Quyen

Also, there is an annual PLU singing competition, PLU Idol, happening in this short month. Apparently this is a musical tradition of PLU. Quyen, my favorite Vietnamese buddy, was forced (lol) to attend the audition for PLU Idol on Monday night by a bunch of his good friends. Quyen has the most beautiful voice. You won't be able to walk away once you hear him singing as each of songs he sings seems to have a soul.

It turned out that his friends did the right thing by pushing him upfront. Quyen was invited back to the competition soon after the audition!! Wish him the best of luck!

Although my break was over a long while ( just a week) ago, it is so nice to have only one class this semester; everything is manageable. How was/is your winter break?

My cousin learned to take selfies on my iPad

Love always,

ShiShi

Home for Christmas

I hope everyone's having a good start to into the New Year! For Winter Break, I went home to Japan to see family and friends. This was a special time for me because I haven't been home for over a year, and it was really nice for me to spend time with my parents for Christmas and hang out with friends. Furthermore since I became a legal adult in Japan, I wore a kimono, a traditional Japanese clothing and got some pictures taken. Usually, the Coming of Age Day happens during mid-January, but since I needed to be back at PLU for J-term, my parents and I decided to do this while I was visiting them.

All in all, it was a very packed 8 days in Japan. I visited my grandparents, spent time with my parents during Christmas Eve and Christmas, and spent time with friends both from high school and PLU. Although I was very busy during my Winter Break, it was refreshing to see some people who I haven't seen for almost 1.5 years, and it was what I needed before starting J-term. Some of you may have been in the same boat as me; you may not have seen the people who are important to you in a while. But remember to keep in touch with them, because it will be great when you see them again! Well, good luck to PLU students who have J-term, and let's make the best out of 2014!

Love, 

Loana

Christmas tree at home

Metting up with Ann, another PLU student from Japan

Merry Christmas Lutes!

Christmas break is a time to recover from dead week and finals week! Get extra sleep to recharge for a new semester. To see your family, relatives and your friends and in many cases for international students; to travel home for the holidays!

Many international students are invited to spend christmas in the states with other Lutes and their families. Many of them use this break to travel around the USA while they have a break from classes!

I went to visit my relatives in Portland, Oregon! 

It was nice to have homemade food and decorate our christmas tree. 

PLU Christmas Tree 

There are many Lutes from Portland! I met up with my friends Brenda, Chris and Ben for shopping and people watching downtown! Portland is so WEIRD, and they love it that way! We stopped by Voodoo Doughnuts and got tasty coffee at a cafe we had never been to! 

I also met up with my friend Thomas, who was my orientation guide my first year! How funny is that? We hiked 9 miles and went to Zoo Lights where we met two other Lutes!

Thomas and I at Pittock Mansion

Zoo Lights!

On the train back to PLU I befriended another Lute who I had never met before. I just love the Lute personality; so open and friendly!!! For J-term I am taking a skiing course and I am really looking forward to it! It will be so much fun! Hoping for lots of snow!

Still no snow! But pretty moss!

Luther is keeping warm!

View from Tingelstad! Snow is not far away!

Have a Happy New Year Lutes! 

Madeleine