My experience in the PLU Dance team

 

Hi all, Nobita here. I hope you are all having a good day. I know finals week is coming, but WE GOT THIS, LUTES! Today I wanted to talk about my experience in the PLU Dance team.

How I first Joined ~

 

There would be an audition for everyone who wants to be in the dance team. Our captains mainly seek for someone who really wants to dance and enjoys dancing with passion and positivity. I had my first audition freshman year. I was so nervous and excited for the audition because I had no idea how would it be. I remember there were around 20 people for the audition and 3 captains who ere the judges and one of them taught us 1 min of choreography. I personally think that the audition was not that hard. Two days later the result came up and I was so happy to see that I got into the dance team. On my first day of dance practice, our dance coach told me that I was the first international student in the dance team which made me feel proud of myself. 

PLU Dance team - https://www.plu.edu/admission/blog/meet-the-plu-dance-team/

My passion for dance ~

I started dancing when I was 7 years old and have loved it ever since. I had my own dance team in my middle school and I was in the high school dance team. I used to go to lots of competitions in my country and also overseas with my team in high school. I used to think I would stop dancing once I got into college but apparently that didn't happen. I was so happy when I found out that PLU has dance team. Now I think getting into the dance team was my best decision I've ever made since I got into college. I felt homesick and lonely when I arrived, but dancing kept me so busy that I forgot about those feelings. I'll never loose my passion for dance and never forget hoe it built who I am right now. 

Now it's been 2 years since I got into the dance team. I've learned a lot from my team. We had 2 hours of practice for 3 days every week. Dance team is where I can be myself and let my stress out through all the sweat from dancing for 2 hours. It is actually so fun to be in the dance team. We had so much fun every practice and our team members are actually so kind and understanding people. We always support and take care of each other. there was a time when I was feeling so homesick and having a bad day, and I told that to my senior member and she took me to Target and we had Chick-fil-a which is my favorite fast food place. We had so much fun walking around target and laughing loudly. At that time I realized that if I wasn't in the dance team I would never meet her and we would never be going out like this. I cherish all the memories that we made together. Being in the dance team taught me time management, responsibility, team work, and respect. 

Group bonding activity ~

We went to the pumpkin patch together which I heard it is one of the dance team tradition. We had BIG corndogs, caramel apple, and took some cute pictures together. It was my first time going to pumpkin patch, which was very interesting. Because, I've never seen that much pumpkin and different types of pumpkins. I really liked the animal farm where there were so many cute bunnies, pigs, goats, and other birds. It was the one of the moments were our team members shared big laughter together. 




    

Halloween ~   

Winter Showcase~

Around the end of November or beginning of December, we would have a Winter Showcase where we show our family and friends what we've learned throughout fall semester. Last year we performed around 10 dances, which I was in  five of them. This year we had 12 performances. We would practice every day for a week for the showcase, usually preparing lightning, music, costumes, hair and makeup, and let ourselves get used to dance without mirror on the stage. I would say this week is the hardest week for of being in the dance, but also the most memorable because we are all together working on one big project. We had so much fun doing it but also all of us were so nervous at the same time to make the dance pieces look beautiful and make the showcase perfect. I am so proud of all the dance team members. 

The dance team also has a spring term during which you can audition. We have a spring showcase with theater team. 

More opportunities at PLU~

 PLU has lots of other clubs and sport teams that you can join. I realized the benefit of doing something off school is really important. And the great part is that you can do whatever you want. 

https://www.plu.edu/admission-first-year/campus-life/clubs-organizations/

See guys next time,

- Nobita 

Let's make more friends and have more fun!!!

 Hello everyone! Chau is here!

I hope everyone has a great start for your semester.  👏👏

I don't know if anyone feels like me, but I kind of have a mixed feeling when we are back IN-PERSON! I was so excited to be back in the classroom. I even pictured myself interacting with people, making friends, joining clubs, and having so much fun that I have missed for 2 years during the pandemic. BUT, I am not really feeling that when I am back to class 😕😕😵

I personally have a hard time to make friends💔💔.  Does anybody feel me???

BUT!!! I do not want to be alone forever hahaha, so I find out there are many ways for me to find a friend.

Let me show you how:

            Step 1. Finding your interest: it will be more fun when you do something that you enjoy, right? 

For me, I like body movement (most activities required moving, I know 😅).  SO Be specific!!! It's important! 

            Step 2. Willing to be open: relationship is complicated, so prepare for it.

            Step 3. You can ignore 1 & 2, but you have to see my collection of resources on campus where you might find your soulmate 👻👻

 ➤ The CAVE:   

The CAVE is a great place to hang out, meet other students, catch up with friends, study, enjoy lunch, or rest between classes. Though it is called “The CAVE” the physical space is vibrant and the diverse community members create a warm and welcoming space for all. After 5pm and on the weekends, The CAVE hosts concerts, performances, and club meetings.

Hours: Monday- Thursday 9am-5pm & Friday 9am -2:30 pm

Location: The basement of Anderson University Center

➤ Clubs and Group activities: I strongly recommend you to have at least 1 experience with the clubs and group activities at PLU. I was a shy and “lazy” student who did not like to join any big event or crowded activities.  BUT I am in love with these clubs.  

👉Group X: (X for exercise😁 ) where you find some fun activities, classes such as Yoga, Zumba, and Boot Camp.  The BEST part is you don’t have to commit with it UNLESS you are in love with it. 

I have the link HERE, so check it out and you might see me in those classes.

    👉Outdoor Rec trips (like KAYAKING, HIKING, CAMPING) is more than a trip-  it is a wholesome experience.  Each weekend,  they come together and go off campus for a outdoors journey.  It's whether hiking in the cascades, kayaking on the Puget Sound, or exploring states near and far. That will be a unique experience for you! I promise👌

Outdoor Rec Trip

            👉Like sport??? Let me introduce you to Intramurals. Pacific Lutheran University Intramural programs provide students with positive social opportunities and are an outlet for good clean fun (well sometimes it’s muddy fun), exercise and relaxation, while encouraging team spirit and good sportsmanship.

If you like a little friendly competition you’ll love the PLU Intramural program. Whether it’s team sports, individual competitions, or live action role playing, intramurals are open to all current PLU students, faculty and staff regardless of athletic ability.  These programs are designed as a way for students to get out, have fun and stay fit! 

💪💪💪To register for intramural sports, you need to create an account on https://www.imleagues.com/ and select Pacific Lutheran University as your school. You should then be able to register for the sports under the Intramurals section.  

            👉Last but not least, MAKERSPACE.  This is the place that I just got introduced to.   MAKERSPACE is an awesome place for people who are interested in crafting, or being creative with different projects. 

Creativity in the Makerspace

Creativity in the Makerspace

During 2021-2022, our Makerspace is open again in the ground floor of Hinderlie Hall on upper campus. Please drop anytime (9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) to use the materials. We also have open Makerspace hours on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in which the space is curated by Innovation Studies intern Maddie Lamwers. Maddie can help you find a project to do and she’ll provide access to any locked equipment (such as sewing machines, electronics, paints, and so on). (Here is the link) ✋👋 Come and have some fun!

💞💕💞 Thank you for reading my post. I hope you will find some things that might be helpful and interesting to you. Stay warm and stay connected!!! 🍁🍂🍁🍀

See you soon!💋

Go Skiing/Snowboarding!!!

Welcome back to J-term!

And welcome to a new season of skiing/snowboarding!
I figure I can write something about these winter sports, since
1. It's limited time - Winter Only!
2. It's fun - and really addicting
3. An opportunity for you to try these is coming up - @Outdoor Recreation
4. I just went to Summit at Snoqualmie for skiing
But just to be clear, I am no expert of skiing too. The information I provide will be mostly based on my previous experience with skiing/snowboarding.

Why should I go skiing?

If you come from a southern city like me where the coldest winter is like 55 F/12 C, you will definitely be amazed by the feelings of gliding on snows. It's all about the unspeakable joy of speed and control that you get every time from skiing down the hill. Plus the view of the mountain is absolutely gorgeous. I think this is just one of the things you have to try at least once in your life. 

Should I ski or snowboard?

This is the question that you should definitely ask yourself before heading to the mountain. Skiing and snowboarding are different in many ways other than just how you head down the hills. In general, skiing is easier to learn for beginners, and snowboarding is easier in doing tricks. 

I will recommend skiing to you if you...

1. Have never skied/snowboarded before, and you don't have a good sense of balance and strong physical strength.

2. Want to pick things up faster and head up the hill earlier with your friends

3. Not particularly interested in doing tricks

4. Want to progress to harder slopes faster

I will recommend snowboarding to you if you...

1. Have been playing skateboard, surfing, or any kinds of board sport. 

2. Feel confident about your physical strength and sense of balance

My first day skiing

3. Interested in doing tricks

4. Feel like snowboard is more interesting

For me personally, I started with skiing and changed to snowboarding later. On my first day of skiing, I registered for a skiing lesson in the resort. It took me only 1 hour to learn how to ski with no previous experience about skiing and I hardly ever fell. On the second day, when I confidently decided to learn snowboarding, it took me nearly 3 hours to learn how to snowboard, and I fell so many times that I couldn't feel my butt anymore that night. But, in the end, I love snowboarding because it offers me more sense of accomplishment.

How should I start my first day skiing?

For you first day on the slope, I absolutely recommend you to register for a class and learn from some experts, if you can afford to do so. Let me warn you that the cheapest beginner lesson that I found (for crystal mountain ski resort) was $128 for 2 hours of lesson, a beginner lift ticket, and rental equipment. I think it is still quite worth it, since the beginner ticket + rental equipment worth $101 already ($49 + 52). But I know not everyone has the time or money to do so.

So another thing you can do is to watch some Youtube videos online and try it out when you get there. It works for some people, but it is truly more difficult than it looks in the video. The youtubers are all pro-skiers already; they are used to the speed and they have perfect control over the skis. When you first get onto the skis, you will likely have no control of your skis and get scared by the speed and fall. It is going to happen multiple times before you are no longer afraid of the speed and learn how to slow down. So the big take away here is to be prepared to fall for your first day on the slope.

And for sure you can find a friend to teach you. Just warn them ahead of time that it takes time for you to learn and free them from time to time when you are learning how to "fall".

Equipments and Tickets?

Skiing is not always so affordable for everyone. It can be pricey if you buy the full ticket and get a complete set of equipment. What you can do to decrease the cost are: 

1. Buy beginner/discovery ticket

Slopes are arranged into different levels based on their difficulties. If you buy a full ticket, you will have access to all of the slopes. However, if you are a "noob", you probably won't get to the hardest slope for the first day and buying a full ticket can be a waste of money in this case. A discovery ticket will have access to magic carpet slope and a beginner slope. These are great places for you to learn, and the ticket is 40 dollars cheaper than the full ticket!

2. Buy tickets online ahead of time

Buying tickets online will save you at least 20% of the price. Visit their website for a link of online purchase!

3. Wear warm and water proof outfits

Swimming glasses works! @Masuda Yohei

You don't have to buy a 100 dollars ski jacket to be able to ski. The key features that ski jackets offer are waterproof and windproof. If you can find a warm and water proof jacket, you should be good for skiing. (Just remember you will fall for many times and it will get dirty)

For pants, also try to find a water proofed pants, since you will sit and lie on the snow very often. If not, find something that is warm and sporty and bring extra clothes for you to change later!

If you wish, crystal mountain offers ski jackets rental at $36.  

4. Buy ski gloves and goggles

Personally, ski gloves and goggles are the ones that are worth buying. Each can cost you around 45 dollars, but they are quite essential and can last for a long time. Skiing when it's raining is truly a pain if you don't have waterproofed clothes and goggles. 

If you decided not to buy one, a leather gloves can work. And, believe it or not, swimming glasses works too. My friend tried it and he gave a thumb-up to it. 

5. Rent a helmet

You will fall a lot, and you will fall on your head if you are snowboarding. Helmet saves life!

Where should I go for skiing/snowboarding?

There are three ski resorts around PLU. They are:
1.Summit at Snoqualmie

Summit at Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie is only 1.5 hrs away from PLU. It is relatively close and the tickets are a bit cheaper.
The downsides are the slopes are shorter and there are less beginner slopes. The beginner lesson there is also more expensive. 

2.Stevens Pass
I have never been to Stevens Pass, but I have heard a lot of good things about it.
It will be a 2-3 hours drive though, if you plan to drive from PLU.
I heard it has some very good slopes and it closes late in the season.
Just be careful about the bad parking situation. 

3.Crystal Mountain

Crystal Mountain

I have been to crystal mountain twice, and it gave me some pretty good experience.
It's a 2 hours drive from PLU, but it's definitely worth it.
The slopes are large and have quite some slopes available for beginners.
They also rent out ski jackets and give cheap beginner lessons.
Most importantly, Outdoor Recreation will host a trip to Crystal Mountain this Sunday (1/26)!
You can get a transportation to Crystal mountain and a lunch that OR will provide.
It will be a great opportunity for you to ski/snowboard and you will definitely have a lot of fun there!
So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and sign up for the trip online at www.imleagues.com
#NotSponsored

Best,
Bryan Yuan
1/23/2020

U.S.A. Club: Get to Know Vietnam Event 🇻🇳 🗺⛰🌊

Hello everyone!

I hope spring break was great for you all 😁. It has been a busy semester but I’m finally able to share about Get to Know Vietnam event that I hosted with my two other friends, Anna and Phylicia 🥰!

So Get to Know event series is a series that is organized by United Students Association (U.S.A.). It is a club to “promote international perspective within the PLU community, and to encourage connections between international students and domestic students for cultural and social exchange purposes.” (plu.edu) This series lets student share about their country with people on campus. It normally has a short presentation, traditional food, and games. Here are some snapshots during the event by Brian and Risa 🤗.

Phylicia presented the South of Vietnam😆

Caramelized pork🥢😋

Enjoy the food and chit chat with friends💃

Phylicia taught us how to play
one of the game😉

Food tasting - Approved!😍👍

If you are interested in hosting an event for your own country or you want to learn more about different cultures around the world, U.S.A. is for you! To join the club, you can do so by sending them an email at gsc@plu.edu, signing up during Involvement Fair (at the beginning of new semester), or submitting this online form here!

Now, go and subscribe to U.S.A. on Instagram (@plu_usaclub) for more events in the future!

Only two more months and summer for us all 🥳🥳! Good luck 🍀🍀🍀!

Guest blog series with Risa! U.S.A. event: Get to Know Japan 🎎🏮🎐🎏🇯🇵

On October 24th, U.S.A. (United Students Association) held the event “Get to Know Japan”. There are three students from Japan in PLU: Yohei, Ricky and Me—Risa! We introduced our home country and culture.

First, we explained our own home cities. Yohei is from Kobe, Hyogo. The city is the sister city of Seattle, it is connected with Seattle strongly. He explained the famous things in Kobe. Also, I talked about my home town, Osaka. It is the second biggest city in Japan. It is not only known as a sightseeing place, but it also has a bunch of delicious culture foods worth going bankrupt for according to CNN. I introduced a bit of them. Then, Ricky introduced about Tokyo. As you know, Tokyo is the capital, and there are many places you have to see! He talked about some cities with beautiful pictures he took before.

Second, we played a Japanese game called “fruits basket.” It is similar to music chair game, so everyone except one person takes a seat, and the person stands in the center and calls out a description such as “girls” or “who likes play basketball.” People who are applied have to move and find new opened chair. Then another person who can’t find the chair will be left in the center. It was way more fun than what we expected! Everyone enjoys the new game a lot and keeps laughing during the game!

Lastly, we served Takoyaki. It is a local food of Osaka, a ball-shaped made of flour and octopus in it. We had prepared 120 balls for 2 hours, but they finished all just for 20 minutes! Unexpectedly, we started making them and the event extended for an hour. We are so happy everyone enjoyed our Japanese food.

Thank you all who came to the event!!

I’d be happy if you are interested in Japan more through the blog! 

Best,

Risa

Debate Nationals in Denver!

This weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Denver, Colorado for the United States Universities Debate Championship! This is the largest British Parliamentary debate tournament in the country with 212 teams competing to be the national champions.

On Thursday morning, the PLU Debate team woke hours before sunrise to travel to Sea-Tac Airport for our flight to Denver. Since it is still spring in the pacific northwest, the weather has been stormy and not very warm. When we walked out of the airport in Colorado, the weather was the exact opposite. The sun hit our faces with warmth that most of us hadn't felt
for weeks which started the weekend off great!

Once we got to our hotel, we saw debaters for other schools in and out of our region. Some of our favorite teams
are Northwest University, Seattle University, and Willamette University, so it was exciting to see friends. After we settled into our hotel room, we headed to the Dessert Bar of Denver for ice cream, cake & cookies as a reward for a day of traveling.

Friday was our day of exploring while two PLU teams competed in America's Cup, which is an opportunity for teams to be constructed of coaches, former debaters, and individuals from different schools. While the PLU teams were debating, my debate partner and I explored the city of Denver. We walked the city and stopped at the Colorado capital building, the Federal Reserve, and Leela's Kitchen (which has amazing ranch dressing!).

The tournament started on Saturday morning and went late into the night after the fourth round finished. We debated topics like the privacy rights of American citizens, the power of social movements, and basic living income.

The national tournament is a great opportunity to connect with teams across the country. In any given round, Matt and I were debating against teams from New York, Florida, and California in addition to many other states. This is exciting because each region of the United States has different debate norms and styles and interacting with them gives us the chance to evolve into better debaters.

USUDC was our last tournament of the year, and will be my last debate tournament of my undergraduate debate career. It was a great weekend of sun, debating and friendship among Lutes!

-Brooke

Visiting University of Puget Sound with Alex

Spring Break!

I sincerely hope everyone is enjoying the Spring Break.


For my Spring vacation, Alex Lu and I went to University of Puget Sound and met up with their international office staffs in order to share our idea to enrich the environment for international students in Tacoma area. "I know it already sounds very nerdy, boring, and important, so you need to keep reading it over." As far as I am concerned, it is critical for international students to have a good international relations and connections with one's own country fellows because most of international students go back to their country. Thus, I believe better environment is necessary. This idea has been discussed in International Student Office and Global Student Club, and now we are putting this idea  into action.  

Alex and I think we had a successful conversation with International Office at University of Puget Sound. Alex is the event coordinator for Global Student Club, and I was so impressed by his passion and effort on that day. He is the legit event coordinator. The staff of UPS treated us to dinner at the student restaurant. The food was great, especially salmon cake was fabulous.

As soon as we left the university, Alex and I got hungry again. We went to a teriyaki restaurant and had another dish of food.

Anyway, we are going to see University of Washington Tacoma soon and work on an event for international students in Tacoma area. I hope you guys all join because I strongly believe this will benefit you. It is all for your success :)

Thank you for your time in reading all of this !

Cheong Wun Cho

Final Debate Tournament of the Semester

Round 5 Resolution

 Last weekend I had the opportunity to debate at Seattle University’s Seattle IV tournament as a member of the T.O.H. Karl Speech and Debate team (PLU’s debate team). Our team participates in British Parliamentary debate which is popular in the United States, Canada, and most of Europe. In this form, teams of two students are randomly assigned a position in the debate as Open Government, Opening Opposition, Closing Government, or Closing Opposition. If the team is on the government side, they will argue in proposition of the argument, meaning they agree with the resolution. Additionally, the opposition argues against the resolution.

              All teams are given the resolution 15 minutes before the debate will begin. The debaters cannot access any preparation materials except informational briefs that are printed before the round begins. At the end of the 15 minutes, the debate begins in front of three judges that decide 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place in the debate between the Open Government, Opening Opposition, Closing Government, or Closing Opposition teams.

One resolution that was given at the Seattle IV was “This House regrets the narrative at United States citizens must ‘support the troops’”. My partner and I were on Opening Opposition for this round and were expected to argue that US citizens should be obligated to ‘support the troops’.

Award for 2nd place in the Novice Finals

Debate is exciting because the resolution can be torn apart and put back together to help your team win. Important words that need to be defined in this resolution are ‘must’, ‘support’ and ‘regrets’. If a citizen ‘must’ do something, what does that look like? Is the ‘support’ monetary? Or just emotional support? And does ‘regretting’ something mean wiping away the history that comes with ‘support for the troops’?

All of these questions were answered and debated within the round. The winning team is expected to be the partnership that best defined these questions, had the most interesting and powerful arguments, and accurately defended the other team’s arguments.

While my partner and I didn’t win this round, we ended up in the Finals Round of the Novice section. Novice means that a team is in their first year of debating in collegiate debate. In that final round we got 2^nd place arguing that ‘the European Union was not a failed experiment’.

Receiving 2^nd place was a great end to the Fall semester and energized me for a Spring of more debate!


~Brooke

Top 10 Lute-tips 

Hey Lutes! Whether you are right off the plane or have been here for some time, these tips will apply to you. I am writing from my own experience and the goal is to give you the best college experience you can possibly have. These tips have helped me conquer the world of college life with all that comes with it. From academics to having fun, college is a great time. I believe these ten tips will increase your productivity so you can both nail the classes and see the newest episode on Netflix. I wish you all the best for the upcoming semester. Let`s rock and roll, we can do this Lutes! 

This is me doing a prime tourist selfie in San Francisco over Spring Break Last Year for those who are curious. P.S: travelling is lots of fun! 

This is me in Garibaldi Lake, Canada for those who want to like to Hike/visit new countries. 

(That was a little bit about me, if you want to know more see my other post on this site)

Here are my Top 10 Lute-tips: 

1. Get to know your school
• There is always an event on campus! Check calendars and be a part of newsletters to see when fun stuff are going on. Flourish in the academic realm of lutes. Engage with teachers and classmates who want to help you be the best you can be here. 
2. Get to know the area 
• Parkland and Tacoma offers diversity and an unique opportunity to get different experiences and learn from people from others cultures like yourself. A lot of people want to talk to you so emerge in our area and embrace diversity within Tacoma, from food to music and art. 
3. Get to know your classmates 
• Engage in activities at school and in the area and make PLU yours. A big component to making PLU home and feeling at ease with Lutetown is to make it your own, do what you like to do and engage with the club or group of your choice. College is so much fun and you have began your journey as a Lute. Start a club if you don't see your niche or interest taken care of or join or rigorous variety of clubs on campus. 
4. Grow as a leader
• A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. PLU has numerous ways to be a leader, at a club, in class or in talks with friends. A leader is within all of us so show your inner leadership here at PLU and have others do the same. 
5. Don`t be afraid to be different
• Often times you feel like you need to be different than you are to fit in, but be yourself and that is more than enough. Be yourself because everyone and every story is unique and everyone will respect someone who are confident in themselves and that they are good enough. If you have an idea at a club, say it, don't be afraid. 
6. Dream big 
• PLU is what you make it, so don't be afraid to dream big and make goals on what you want to get our of school here. Setting realistic goals is important but also goals that brings the very best out of you. 
7. Master your schedule 
• There is a lot of activities going on at college and a lot of people who want to engage with you. To succeed in various things, plan things and stay on top of your schedule to have the most fun. An example for me is doing homework in weekdays and then travel on weekends. I have done this thus far and have felt I have plenty of time to both succeed in academics, be part of clubs, work and emerge in fun travel experiences. 
8. Control your expenses
• It is important to budget and spend your money sustainably. The currency for a lot of you guys can be tough now, it is at least for me as a Norwegian. I need to budget food, fun, necessities and so on. Setting up a monthly budget is a great way to get the most out of your money. 
9. Take care of yourself 
• You are in a new country and it can be overwhelming. A good priority is to take care of yourself health-wise. I took the flu shot to avoid being sick for a week as I was my first semester here. Also, eat well and exercise. Food may not be the same that you are used to. Sleep is also quintessential. Though it is fun staying up late sometimes, do what you need to do to be at your best. Taking care of your body is crucial to being able to balance everything and to enjoy yourself to the fullest here in the states. 
10. Foster teamwork

• This is the summary of all the others. We here at ISS and other PLU workers want to help you succeed and to feel at home here at PLU and in the USA. We are here for you and want to have a good teamwork. Take part of our activities because they are really fun and don't be afraid to talk to us about anything. We are all together here, we all want to succeed, do well and have fun and enriching life experiences. Share your dreams and ideas on how to make PLU better and engage with others to help this come true.

• Harald F. A. Overå  `18 Business Major - Feda, Norway 
• 

Trying Something New: My Life as a Rower

Hi again, I hope everyone in Washington is staying warm! In my last blog post, I mentioned something about joining the rowing team. I wanted to reflect about my experience on the PLU rowing team through this blog post, and share my experiences during the five week pre-season.

Photo taken from the @golutes Instagram page

Some of you might be wondering why I decided to join the team so late in my college career. I had two reasons for this: I really missed being part of athletics and my schedule for my last semester allowed me to try something new. In middle school and high school, athletics was a very big part of my life. I participated in cross country for seven years, field hockey for four years, basketball for four years and track an field for a year. However, I decided not to join a team at PLU because I wanted to focus on my academics and music. During my senior cross country season in high school, one of my coaches suggested me to join rowing, since his daughter rowed at Seattle Pacific University and really enjoyed it. Even though I didn't join the PLU rowing team right away, I thought about this suggestion a lot throughout my first three years at PLU. 

I also joined the team because I had a less intense course load for my last semester. Throughout college, I took the maximum number of credits that I was allowed, had on-campus jobs and participated in music and research for psychology. Since I am only taking three classes during my last semester, I thought it was a good time to try something new. After talking to friends at PLU and other universities who participated in rowing, I decided that it was something I wanted to do. 

Rowing practice at America Lake. Photo taken by Ticia Hackney

Overall, my experience on the team was very positive. Though the full season does not start until February, I got to row in two regattas (boat races) and participated in practices. I enjoyed doing a physically rigorous sport, and it was rewarding to be able to challenge myself and see myself improve every time I rowed. I also got to meet a lot of wonderful people and make new friends! Even though I wish I'd decided to join rowing earlier, I'm really thankful for the chance I got to join the team even for a short time. I'm hoping this is something I can do again in the future after I graduate.

Go Lutes!

Loana

Team picture after our first regatta!

The PLU Bucket List

This is my third and final year as an undergraduate at Pacific Lutheran University, which had me thinking about all the things I still have to cross off my PLU Bucket List! The last year has gone by so fast and I will have so many fun memories to look back on, but there are still a few things I would like to do! If you are graduating or your stay at PLU is ending take a look through the list below to make sure you don't miss anything!

Here are 55 things to do before you graduate from PLU:

1. Go to President Krise's Gonyea House
2. Get a gold nametag
3. Get your picture on the PLU website or flyer
4. Skip a rock across Red Square to hear music
5. Declare a Major/Minor
6. Have a class in every building on campus (MBR, Morken, Admin, Xavier, Hong, Ramstad, Olson, Columbia Center, Ingram)
7. Befriend a student from another country than your own
8. Take a class just for fun
9. Perform on campus
10. Study away with PLU
11. Pull an all-nighter in the library
12. Put gum of the "gum tree"
13. Have coffee/lunch/dinner with a Professor
14. Join a club on campus
15. Start a club on campus
16. Study on Garfield street
17. Shop at the Garfield bookstore
18. Volunteer through PLU
19. Explore with Outdoor Recreation
20. Attend a PLU Sports Event
21. Hang out in the D(iversity) Center
22. Attend a concert in Mary Baker Russell
23. Perform on Stage
24. Play Tennis in the courts
25. Run on the PLU Track
26. See Mount Rainier from the 9th floor of Tingelstad
27. Have a sleepover in the dorms
28. Go on an all-hall retreat
29. Attend office hours with your professor
30. "Study"/Sunbathe on Foss Field or Redsquare
31. Learn a new language
32. Eat in the UC
33. Make dinner in a dorm
34. Visit every single dorm
35. Swim in the PLU pool
36. Participate in the PLU Color Run
37. Go to the Women's Center
38. Participate in Relay for Life
39. Attend LollaPLUza
40. Eat at every restaurant around campus
41. Attend a Career Fair
42. Buy something at BizVenture
43. Check out the Keck Observatory
44. Go to the Writing Center for help
45. Play with therapy dogs during final's week
46. Attend a PLUtonic and HERmonic concert
47. Buy a PLU sweatshirt
48. Take a picture infant of a PLU sign
49. Take a selfie with President Krise
50. Pull an all-nighter in the library
51. Read an issue of the Mooring Mast and the Daily Flyer
52. Rent a bike from the Bike Co-op
53. Attend Open Micc Night at Northern Pacific Coffee Co.
54. Play sand volleyball outside Pfleuger
55. Spin the sculpture in Red Square

I'm excited to say that I will be returning to PLU in the Fall to do my Masters which will give me a little more time to complete my list! Good luck everyone! See you next year!

Madeleine

Experiencing Different Cultures with Around the World

Around the World is an event that happens every year during International Education Week. In this event, students have the opportunity to share their home culture or the culture of a place they have studied away in the past. This allows PLU students to be immersed in different cultures and experience new things such as food and music, and even learn new things about a country that they may not have known about before.

This year, we had students representing Denmark, Norway, France, Morocco, Sweden, China, and Thailand. The Danish table was teaching students how to make Julehjeter (Christmas hearts) and were jamming out to Danish music. The Swedish table introduced students to some facts about Sweden through a short quiz (this wasn't easy!). The Chinese table served some dumplings, which were very tasty! The Moroccan table served a mint tea that smelled and tasted really good. Each of the tables brought a unique aspect to the event. I'm really glad that I got to spectator to  Around the World this year again, and I'm excited to see what will be done for this event next year!

International Education Week!

Hey everyone! I hope you're all feeling awesome today.

You might begin to realize that:

1) We are already past midway through the semester 

2) The leaves around us are all falling and changing colors beautifully.

3) Thanksgiving's just around the corner!

However, you might not realize that we have some cool things going on at PLU in the next few weeks. I want to HIGHLIGHT one particular event which is going to be amazing!

International Education Week!!!

Picture Source: http://www.plu.edu/wang-center/news-events/international-ed-week/images/homebanner-01.jpg

International Education Week is an opportunity for the PLU campus to celebrate the benefits of international education to our community. This event will be held from November 17th to the 21st and different offices and departments at PLU are hosting events throughout the week.

Monday, Nov. 17th

1) Taste of Tacoma 

Explore Japanese cuisine and embrace insightful conversations about foreign cuisine in Tacoma!

Bring  around $12-$20 for food. Transportation is also available upon reservation at mendexla@plu.edu.

Hosted by the Diversity Center.

Tuesday, Nov. 18th

1) A film titled "Speaking in Tongues" 

Runs from 7:00 PM-8:15 PM at the PLU Language Center. 
Hosted by Language Resource Center.

Picture Source: http://speakingintonguesfilm.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/blog_banner.jpg

2) BUSA Abroad

These programs have been handpicked for you by the Wang Center for Global Education and are supported by the School of Business, so there is bound to be an option that caters to your academic needs. This is an informal event, and light refreshments will be provided.

BUSA Abroad will be held between 7:00 PM-8:00 PM in Morken 103.
Hosted by Wang Center for Global Education and School of Business. 

Picture Source: http://www.plu.edu/wang-center/news-events/international-ed-week/images/spread-busa-abroad.jpg

Wednesday, Nov. 19th

1) Around the World

Travel the world without leaving the PLU campus! PLU international students and students who have studied away will host country-themed tables full of displays, hands-on activities and mini-lectures. Countries represented will include Norway, China, Mexico, Thailand and more! 

Hosted by International Student Services from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at Hong International Hall.

Photo Source: http://www.gosselingroup.eu/sites/default/files/Gosselin_Moving_Around_the_world.jpg

2) Study Away 101 

If you want to learn more about studying away, come speak to the Wang Center Sojourner Advocates about program options, funding and credits.

Event will be held on November 19, 2014, from 6:00 PM-7:00 PM at AUC 201.

Hosted by the Wang Center for Global Education.

Thursday, Nov. 20th

1) Student Mixer 

Come to meet and talk with other students at PLU. Join everyone on campus to share stories and experiences with students from all over the world while enjoying desserts and hot beverages.
Hosted by Hong International Hall

Photo Source: http://www.plu.edu/wang-center/news-events/international-ed-week/images/spread-student-mixer.jpg

Friday, Nov. 21st

1) Global Getdown

Photo Source: http://www.plu.edu/wang-center/news-events/international-ed-week/images/spread-global-getdown.jpg

Global Getdown will be held at the Cave from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Event is hosted by the Diversity Center.

2) Hong Discotea

Right after the Global Getdown event, we will have the Hong Discotea from 8:30 PM - 11:00PM at The CAVE!
This year's theme is Masquerade. Get ready to mingle with masked students from all over campus while enjoying foreign music and tasty refreshments. There will also be a photo booth to capture fun moments and prizes for best costumes.
Hosted by Hong International Hall.

On Campus Events

Tuesday, Nov. 18th - "Speaking in Tongues" & BUSA Abroad

Wednesday, Nov. 19th - Around the World & Study Away 101

Thursday, Nov. 20th - Student Mixer

Friday, Nov. 21st - Global Getdown & Hong Discotea

Off Campus Event

Monday, Nov. 17th - Taste of Tacoma

Credits to the Wang Center for all the beautiful pictures and information. I'm just sharing this with all of you so you're not left in the dark!

International Education Week will be full of fun so be sure to show up at the events listed above! If you want more details, visit http://www.plu.edu/wang-center/news-events/international-ed-week.

I hope to see some of you at these events. Have a great rest of the week and take care!

Yours truly,

Joel Goh.