         | I feel like this has been my biggest week so far at Tulane, but I hate making you guys spend your time reading super long entries, so I'll bold the important words in case you just want to skim. Also, "a picture is worth a thousand words," so I'll post lots of pictures. That should eliminate the need for a lot of words to describe my week... Tuesday I took my first trip to the Student Health Center. The staff there at the SHC was very helpful, and I conveniently charged my medicine to accounts receivable. Wednesday is my longest class day, so after going to classes and doing work, I had my first retreat team meeting to plan the Catholic Center's fall retreat. Thursday night I attended my second Homecoming event... I saw Sister Hazel perform on campus, right on Newcomb Quad! (See picture at left...) Friday was really exciting - parents started showing up for Parents' Weekend, and Voodoofest began! Some of my high school friends Jason, Sydney, Megan, and Missy drove in and Betsy and I went over to City Park with them to see some bands - Kings of Leon (see picture at left...) and Rage Against the Machine. They were AMAZING! Saturday was one of the busiest days I've had here; my parents drove in and took Liz and me to brunch. I then went to our Homecoming football game with some friends (see picture at left...). Check out our Homecoming King, Taylor -- he's a blogger too! We lost by one point, but it was still lots of fun. We came back to campus, changed, and went to dinner with my parents at Drago's. The food was so delicious, and I enjoyed spending time with my family and a few of my close friends. (See pictures at left...) After dinner, we changed for a Halloween costume party. It was really funny seeing all the different characters at The Boot after the party ended! Sunday I went back to Voodoofest for another awesome music-filled experience. Emily, Brooke, and I saw Plain White Ts, Gym Class Heroes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Marc Broussard, and Paolo Nutini. I couldn't have asked for more perfect weather or a better experience. (See pictures at left...) Then my parents came with us to Mass on campus before driving back to Lafayette. After saying our goodbyes, I went with my friends to dinner at the Catholic Center, my Tulane Sunday tradition. When I came back to my room, I was sad to end my fabulous weekend with laundry, some "housekeeping," and lots of studying. After a few hours of studying, Liz and I rearranged our furniture... now it feels like a whole new room! I'll take pictures of it later once it's completely neat and tidy, so look forward to finally seeing my room! Now I absolutely have to study some more, because I have three tests tomorrow! Wish me luck, and I'll leave y'all with some links to check out...
Much love, |
Monday, October 29, 2007
Photo Post #2
Monday, October 22, 2007
I have no choice but to be a Night Owl...
I've realized that part of being a college student is becoming a "night person." Whether you're up late studying or having a night out with your friends, you become a bit nocturnal as you adjust to college life. This weekend has consisted of three different late nights for me: a late stay-in social night, a late go-out social night, and a late homework night. Tonight is unfortunately the hardcore study night; I expect to be up all night working on this architecture project (I'm just waiting for glue to dry as I write this).
So what else has been going on? As always, a lot! I spent most of Thursday night at the Catholic Center's weekly "study social." I took my Italian midterm exam Friday morning... I'm glad that's over with! After my studio class, I rewarded myself with a nap (yeah... naps are GOLD). I had dinner at Bruff with Anne and some other girls, and we decided to make it a Girls' Night In. Emily, Anne, and I borrowed our friend Joe's car for a trip to the grocery store, and we baked some delicious cookies while watching Bridget Jones' Diary with some of our Paterson (the dorm next door to mine) friends in one of Wall's social lounges. Sometimes you just have to take a night off to relax, even if it is a Friday! It was a good laid-back night with the girls, and it kept us well-rested for Saturday...
Saturday was a big day for us GWAs (Green Wave Ambassadors). It was the second of Tulane's fall Campus Preview Days, so prospective students from all over the country came in to visit campus and learn more about Tulane. I was very busy: I had lunch with some families (red beans and rice, yum!), chatted with a few prospective students, answered questions as part of a student panel, and helped out on a campus tour. If you're thinking about coming to Tulane and you have a chance to come to one of these preview days, DO IT! Also, if you have a friend who already goes here, stay with him or her for the night; you'll get a great inside look at life here. I met a few more prospective students when I was out with my friends Saturday night (Sig Ep hosted a "party bus" night for us - school buses brought us around to The Boot, Tucker's, and The Frat House)... but anyway, here's a shoutout to all the "prospies" that came to New Orleans this weekend!
Today/yesterday (this is such an odd in-between hour) was the kickoff of our Homecoming Week. Despite some dreary windy weather with a looming threat of rain, my friends and I attended the first event of the week: the lighting of Pocket Park, along with the announcement of the court, performances by Shockwave (our dance team), and a step show. Very cool! (There's a picture of some of my friends and I before the lighting -- me, Stacey, Bridget, Greg, Blakely, Cameron, Joe, and Lauren.)
It's sadly time for me to get back to my project, but I'll write again soon!
So what else has been going on? As always, a lot! I spent most of Thursday night at the Catholic Center's weekly "study social." I took my Italian midterm exam Friday morning... I'm glad that's over with! After my studio class, I rewarded myself with a nap (yeah... naps are GOLD). I had dinner at Bruff with Anne and some other girls, and we decided to make it a Girls' Night In. Emily, Anne, and I borrowed our friend Joe's car for a trip to the grocery store, and we baked some delicious cookies while watching Bridget Jones' Diary with some of our Paterson (the dorm next door to mine) friends in one of Wall's social lounges. Sometimes you just have to take a night off to relax, even if it is a Friday! It was a good laid-back night with the girls, and it kept us well-rested for Saturday...Saturday was a big day for us GWAs (Green Wave Ambassadors). It was the second of Tulane's fall Campus Preview Days, so prospective students from all over the country came in to visit campus and learn more about Tulane. I was very busy: I had lunch with some families (red beans and rice, yum!), chatted with a few prospective students, answered questions as part of a student panel, and helped out on a campus tour. If you're thinking about coming to Tulane and you have a chance to come to one of these preview days, DO IT! Also, if you have a friend who already goes here, stay with him or her for the night; you'll get a great inside look at life here. I met a few more prospective students when I was out with my friends Saturday night (Sig Ep hosted a "party bus" night for us - school buses brought us around to The Boot, Tucker's, and The Frat House)... but anyway, here's a shoutout to all the "prospies" that came to New Orleans this weekend!
Today/yesterday (this is such an odd in-between hour) was the kickoff of our Homecoming Week. Despite some dreary windy weather with a looming threat of rain, my friends and I attended the first event of the week: the lighting of Pocket Park, along with the announcement of the court, performances by Shockwave (our dance team), and a step show. Very cool! (There's a picture of some of my friends and I before the lighting -- me, Stacey, Bridget, Greg, Blakely, Cameron, Joe, and Lauren.)It's sadly time for me to get back to my project, but I'll write again soon!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Sorry I left y'all hanging for over a week...
I feel like a lot has happened since the last time I wrote (last Tuesday afternoon), but I'm struggling to remember all of it - I feel like so much of my time has been devoted to work lately!
Tuesday night was amazingly fun but had somewhat of a bad ending. Since it was Hannah's birthday, a bunch of my friends went out to Friar Tuck's to celebrate with her. (There's Liz and I in our friend Meg's room before going out.) One of my friends got sick that night, so our friend Blake brought us back to campus in his car (he's a sophomore). We got my friend back to her room... and then I realized my cell phone was missing. Basically, I freaked out, because I couldn't imagine life without a phone. I looked EVERYWHERE and finally found it in the parking lot. It had gotten kicked under the car when we were getting out, and it was crushed under Blake's tire! What a sad night for my poor phone... the screen was cracked and I could no longer make or receive calls; all it was good for was funny noises that I hadn't heard before. For the next few days I felt really out of contact with my friends and family - I just had to hope they'd randomly run into me, email me, send me a Facebook message, or happen to call my room phone while I was there. You don't realize how VITAL communication is until it's not so accessible! Seriously... do pay phones even exist anymore?!
Wednesdays are always my longest class days, and last Wednesday was no different. After Italian, a four-hour Studio, and my TIDES class, my night ended with my flag football team's first loss of the season (7-6). Bummer...
Thursdays are much more relaxed. I shadowed a junior named Elizabeth for my first campus tour as a GWA; she let me be a co-guide so I got a little experience. After my Ebio class, I did some homework for awhile before going to the Catholic Center for our weekly "study social." We did some studying and watched some episodes of The Wonder Years... then my friend Anne and I went to The Rat for some deliciously bad-for-you chicken poppers and fries.
Friday morning I realized how hard it was to be without the cell phone I had become so dependent on. I got a call in my room at about 7:30am from my mom letting me know that she was in the hospital and hadn't had a way of calling me sooner; needless to say I was very worried and upset that THIS had to be the week that I was without a phone, because I really wanted to stay updated on what was going on at home - I've never been away from my family while something major was going on. That night, my TIDES class (New Orleans, Architecture, and Film) took a field trip to Canal Place theater for the opening night of the New Orleans film festival; we saw Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland. The movie itself was hilarious, and Vince Vaughn himself was actually there, so we had a Q&A session with him after the film! How awesome is that... a class taking me on a field trip to see a movie and meet a celebrity?!
My parents were supposed to come in for a visit Saturday, but since my mom was between hospital time and surgery, my dad came down to visit by himself. It was a really good dad/daughter bonding day for us - we had lunch at Superior Grill, got a new phone for me (helloooo, iPhone!), went grocery shopping, and watched some of the LSU together. After Dad left, I met some friends at the Catholic Center and we carpooled over to a parishioner's house; she had cooked dinner for all of us! After eating and hanging out there for awhile, we came back to campus and changed to go out. You may be confused by looking at what we're wearing in the picture... Zeta Psi was hosting a themed party called "Bayou Bash," so there were lots of plaid, camoflague, LSU apparel, "wife-beaters," cut-up denim, and trucker hats. I decided that since I'm from the bayou area, I would represent my hometown by wearing a ULL Cajuns tshirt. (A few people got it!) It was really fun and funny to see the house decorated and everyone in costumes. (There's a picture of Anne, me, Melissa, and Sara)
Sunday was my usual catch-up day... Monday was basically uneventful other than classes, homework, and studying... Tuesday I dissected a frog in my Ebio lab, attended my third USG (Undergraduate Student Government) meeting, and had an iPhone how-to session with my friend Joe... before doing more homework and studying. Yesterday, Wednesday, was my long day of classes. I got to watch some of A Streetcar Named Desire, one of my favorite old movies, in my TIDES, so that was a good last class of the day. My night had a great ending - another intramural flag football victory!
Today I've basically been studying and avoiding the rain. I did have sushi for lunch in the LBC with two of my good friends from high school, Jacque and Betsy. Sometimes it's really nice to have someone from home in the mix with all my new friends!
Alright, I have a Wellness meeting to attend, so Peace Out! Send an email my way if you have any questions or comments: ahollier@tulane.edu
Tuesday night was amazingly fun but had somewhat of a bad ending. Since it was Hannah's birthday, a bunch of my friends went out to Friar Tuck's to celebrate with her. (There's Liz and I in our friend Meg's room before going out.) One of my friends got sick that night, so our friend Blake brought us back to campus in his car (he's a sophomore). We got my friend back to her room... and then I realized my cell phone was missing. Basically, I freaked out, because I couldn't imagine life without a phone. I looked EVERYWHERE and finally found it in the parking lot. It had gotten kicked under the car when we were getting out, and it was crushed under Blake's tire! What a sad night for my poor phone... the screen was cracked and I could no longer make or receive calls; all it was good for was funny noises that I hadn't heard before. For the next few days I felt really out of contact with my friends and family - I just had to hope they'd randomly run into me, email me, send me a Facebook message, or happen to call my room phone while I was there. You don't realize how VITAL communication is until it's not so accessible! Seriously... do pay phones even exist anymore?!Wednesdays are always my longest class days, and last Wednesday was no different. After Italian, a four-hour Studio, and my TIDES class, my night ended with my flag football team's first loss of the season (7-6). Bummer...
Thursdays are much more relaxed. I shadowed a junior named Elizabeth for my first campus tour as a GWA; she let me be a co-guide so I got a little experience. After my Ebio class, I did some homework for awhile before going to the Catholic Center for our weekly "study social." We did some studying and watched some episodes of The Wonder Years... then my friend Anne and I went to The Rat for some deliciously bad-for-you chicken poppers and fries.
Friday morning I realized how hard it was to be without the cell phone I had become so dependent on. I got a call in my room at about 7:30am from my mom letting me know that she was in the hospital and hadn't had a way of calling me sooner; needless to say I was very worried and upset that THIS had to be the week that I was without a phone, because I really wanted to stay updated on what was going on at home - I've never been away from my family while something major was going on. That night, my TIDES class (New Orleans, Architecture, and Film) took a field trip to Canal Place theater for the opening night of the New Orleans film festival; we saw Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights - Hollywood to the Heartland. The movie itself was hilarious, and Vince Vaughn himself was actually there, so we had a Q&A session with him after the film! How awesome is that... a class taking me on a field trip to see a movie and meet a celebrity?!
My parents were supposed to come in for a visit Saturday, but since my mom was between hospital time and surgery, my dad came down to visit by himself. It was a really good dad/daughter bonding day for us - we had lunch at Superior Grill, got a new phone for me (helloooo, iPhone!), went grocery shopping, and watched some of the LSU together. After Dad left, I met some friends at the Catholic Center and we carpooled over to a parishioner's house; she had cooked dinner for all of us! After eating and hanging out there for awhile, we came back to campus and changed to go out. You may be confused by looking at what we're wearing in the picture... Zeta Psi was hosting a themed party called "Bayou Bash," so there were lots of plaid, camoflague, LSU apparel, "wife-beaters," cut-up denim, and trucker hats. I decided that since I'm from the bayou area, I would represent my hometown by wearing a ULL Cajuns tshirt. (A few people got it!) It was really fun and funny to see the house decorated and everyone in costumes. (There's a picture of Anne, me, Melissa, and Sara)Sunday was my usual catch-up day... Monday was basically uneventful other than classes, homework, and studying... Tuesday I dissected a frog in my Ebio lab, attended my third USG (Undergraduate Student Government) meeting, and had an iPhone how-to session with my friend Joe... before doing more homework and studying. Yesterday, Wednesday, was my long day of classes. I got to watch some of A Streetcar Named Desire, one of my favorite old movies, in my TIDES, so that was a good last class of the day. My night had a great ending - another intramural flag football victory!
Today I've basically been studying and avoiding the rain. I did have sushi for lunch in the LBC with two of my good friends from high school, Jacque and Betsy. Sometimes it's really nice to have someone from home in the mix with all my new friends!
Alright, I have a Wellness meeting to attend, so Peace Out! Send an email my way if you have any questions or comments: ahollier@tulane.edu
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Short and sweet, like Hannah's cake
You don't know this about me, but I'm a list-making kind of person. Today's entry will be super short - a list of things going on.
Since Sunday, I:
- enjoyed Red Beans and Rice Monday at Bruff
- saw lots of rain and splashed through lots of puddles
- wanted to nap... A LOT
- celebrated the start of Hannah's 18th birthday with a cake
- aced an EBIO lab quiz, dissected a crawfish, and got a craving for boiled crawfish (hurry up, crawfish season!)
I'm looking forward to:
- taking Hannah out for more birthday celebration
- continuing my flag football team's undefeated streak
- new episodes of ANTM, Gossip Girl, and Grey's
- Meet Your Senator Day for USG -- free snowballs woop woop!
- possibly meeting Vince Vaughn on Friday
- spending time with my parents this weekend
- better weather (please?!)
I'm not so excited about:
- my friends leaving for the weekend (goodbye roommate.. hello empty room?!)
- my Italian midterm next week (Io sono nervosa!)
E-mail me! ahollier@tulane.edu
Sunday, October 7, 2007
New Month, New Site
So I guess you've found the location of the new blog site! I'm welcoming the change as much as I'm welcoming October... but believe me, the new setup is just a little harder to get used to than this amazing fall weather. I've transferred all my old entries with only a few hiccups, but this entry is mainly a test to see how all this works... bear with me!
Monday I found out that I've been chosen as a GWA - Green Wave Ambassador. This organization helps "organize and execute informative and enjoyable on-campus experiences for prospective students and their families." Basically, that means I'll be interacting with prospective students: giving tours of campus, answering questions on student panels, taking students to Bruff, and attending on-campus programs and recruitment events. Prospective students - if you get the opportunity to come take a tour of Tulane, DEFINITELY do it! Hey... I might be your tour guide!
Tuesday afternoon some of my friends and I took advantage of the day's beautiful weather and had a study session in Audubon Park, just across the street from the front of campus. It was so tempting to take a nap on my blanket in the grass under the shade of a beautiful oak tree... but I was a diligent student and forced myself to do Italian homework. However, I enjoyed our study-picnic; what a refreshing way to get homework done!
Photo at right: Meg, Michael, and I studying in Audubon Park
Yesterday, I went with a group from the Catholic Center on our Freshman Retreat, which involved a mini-tour of New Orleans. We went to The Fly, Magazine Street, and the French Market, had lunch at Maspero's, and got to spend time in St. Louis Cathedral. I really encourage you to find organizations that suit you when you get here, whether it's a religious affiliation group, a club sport, or an interest club - getting involved with something on campus is a great way to have fun and make friends.
Left to right: Some of the girls at the French Market; our table at Maspero's; our retreat group in Jackson Square
The last big event of my week was GWA training this morning. I got to know some of the other members of Green Wave Ambassadors, learned more about Tulane, and got to see one of the best tour guides in action (Jeff!). Be on the lookout for me leading tours soon!
Alright, time for me to study again... until next time, ROLL WAVE!
Monday I found out that I've been chosen as a GWA - Green Wave Ambassador. This organization helps "organize and execute informative and enjoyable on-campus experiences for prospective students and their families." Basically, that means I'll be interacting with prospective students: giving tours of campus, answering questions on student panels, taking students to Bruff, and attending on-campus programs and recruitment events. Prospective students - if you get the opportunity to come take a tour of Tulane, DEFINITELY do it! Hey... I might be your tour guide!
Tuesday afternoon some of my friends and I took advantage of the day's beautiful weather and had a study session in Audubon Park, just across the street from the front of campus. It was so tempting to take a nap on my blanket in the grass under the shade of a beautiful oak tree... but I was a diligent student and forced myself to do Italian homework. However, I enjoyed our study-picnic; what a refreshing way to get homework done!Photo at right: Meg, Michael, and I studying in Audubon Park
Yesterday, I went with a group from the Catholic Center on our Freshman Retreat, which involved a mini-tour of New Orleans. We went to The Fly, Magazine Street, and the French Market, had lunch at Maspero's, and got to spend time in St. Louis Cathedral. I really encourage you to find organizations that suit you when you get here, whether it's a religious affiliation group, a club sport, or an interest club - getting involved with something on campus is a great way to have fun and make friends.
Left to right: Some of the girls at the French Market; our table at Maspero's; our retreat group in Jackson Square
The last big event of my week was GWA training this morning. I got to know some of the other members of Green Wave Ambassadors, learned more about Tulane, and got to see one of the best tour guides in action (Jeff!). Be on the lookout for me leading tours soon!
Alright, time for me to study again... until next time, ROLL WAVE!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Weekend in Pictures
Okay so my friends have requested more photos of themselves in my blog... so here goes Photo Post #1. I'll explain what's going on in the pictures, but this entry will basically just be jam-packed with photographic goodness from this weekend!
  | (left to right) 1. My friend Dayna came in from Baton Rouge for the Tulane-LSU football game 2. What a beautiful scoreboard! LSU 7, Tulane 9 |
  | 3. Meg, Joe, and Stacey celebrate our (short-lived) lead 4. No matter the score, Sarah and Michael have Tulane pride |
  | 5. Stacey says, "L S Who?" 6. Greg and I enjoying the game |
  | 7. Cameron and Liz show their Green Wave spirit 8. Cameron and I napping on the bus back to campus |
 | 9. My friends and I met up in my room before going out. (Shout out to Stacey, Katherine, Dani, Sarah, Cameron, Michael, Becky, Liz, Joe, and Meg!) |
Thursday, September 27, 2007
"The Sky's the Limit"
Hey y'all! Sorry it's been a little while since I've written; life has just gotten even busier (even though I didn't think that was possible)! I'll start with where I left off last week...
My friend Blakely's birthday was on the 21st (Friday), so we started our weekend with a celebration at midnight the night before. It was another great night out with the group starting with a party at a Fraternity house and ending at The Rat... Love you Blakes, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
After a really fun Thursday night, the excitement wasn't over. Recognize the song lyrics in my title? Thanks to TUCP (Tulane University Campus Programming), we got to see well-known rap artist Lil Wayne on Friday night, right here on campus! Seriously, how awesome is that?! Tickets were inexpensive compared to most concerts, and we basically got our own private concert right in McAlister Auditorium! This was the first of many TUCP-sponsored activities that I'll attend this year, and I can't wait to see what else they have planned...
Saturday was shopping day for us. Since freshmen can't have cars on campus, Tulane has a shuttle system set up to take students to several important places including Wal Mart, Whole Foods, and shopping malls nearby. Sarah, Meg, and I started off by getting some necessities at Wal Mart; we dropped off our stuff at campus and then took the next shuttle to a mall where we got some great new stuff. We hopped on the shuttle again and rode over to Wal Mart, where we met up with some other friends. After all this shopping, we were about ready to drop - so we rested for awhile after arriving back at campus. But don't worry, we didn't sleep away our Saturday night! Once we were re-energized, a group of us went over to Friar Tucks, a popular hangout for both Tulane and Loyola students.
Sunday was (as always) my catch-up day, so I worked on my Architecture project and studied for my first big Diversity of Life (a biology class) test. I ventured out into the rain Sunday afternoon to attend my first Public Affairs Committee meeting. PAC is part of my commitment as a Senator in USG. We talked about ways to get students more familiar with the people and purpose of USG, including a "Meet Your Senators" day complete with free snowballs (something you'll get fairly often at Tulane.. yum!). After the meeting, I brought some friends with me to 6pm Mass and then had dinner with my usual group at the Catholic Center... before diving back into the books.
Monday and Tuesday were both packed days - a presentation of my second big Architecture project, a lab quiz, and my first big Diversity of Life test. Needless to say, I was pretty stressed, so I took advantage of those two nights to stay in and just relax before another big day Wednesday. I had an interview for GWA (Green Wave Ambassadors) Wednesday morning, so hopefully I'll be chosen to be part of this organization! If so, you might see me giving a tour on campus... wish me luck! That night, I played in my first intramural flag football game. I play for the Catholic Center's team, and we won against Public Health's team, 20 to 0! After the game, I spent a really relaxing night hanging out with some friends in my room, chatting over chips and salsa. We talked a lot about where we've come from and all our friends from home, and I really thought about how awesome it is to be here at Tulane with such a cool mix of people; the diversity is so refreshing and within about a month, I've made friends from all across the country. How cool is that?!
Okay right now I need to stop using this blog as a procrastination device and get back to studying for the Italian test I have to take tomorrow morning. Until next time, Ciao!
My friend Blakely's birthday was on the 21st (Friday), so we started our weekend with a celebration at midnight the night before. It was another great night out with the group starting with a party at a Fraternity house and ending at The Rat... Love you Blakes, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!After a really fun Thursday night, the excitement wasn't over. Recognize the song lyrics in my title? Thanks to TUCP (Tulane University Campus Programming), we got to see well-known rap artist Lil Wayne on Friday night, right here on campus! Seriously, how awesome is that?! Tickets were inexpensive compared to most concerts, and we basically got our own private concert right in McAlister Auditorium! This was the first of many TUCP-sponsored activities that I'll attend this year, and I can't wait to see what else they have planned...Saturday was shopping day for us. Since freshmen can't have cars on campus, Tulane has a shuttle system set up to take students to several important places including Wal Mart, Whole Foods, and shopping malls nearby. Sarah, Meg, and I started off by getting some necessities at Wal Mart; we dropped off our stuff at campus and then took the next shuttle to a mall where we got some great new stuff. We hopped on the shuttle again and rode over to Wal Mart, where we met up with some other friends. After all this shopping, we were about ready to drop - so we rested for awhile after arriving back at campus. But don't worry, we didn't sleep away our Saturday night! Once we were re-energized, a group of us went over to Friar Tucks, a popular hangout for both Tulane and Loyola students.
Sunday was (as always) my catch-up day, so I worked on my Architecture project and studied for my first big Diversity of Life (a biology class) test. I ventured out into the rain Sunday afternoon to attend my first Public Affairs Committee meeting. PAC is part of my commitment as a Senator in USG. We talked about ways to get students more familiar with the people and purpose of USG, including a "Meet Your Senators" day complete with free snowballs (something you'll get fairly often at Tulane.. yum!). After the meeting, I brought some friends with me to 6pm Mass and then had dinner with my usual group at the Catholic Center... before diving back into the books.
Monday and Tuesday were both packed days - a presentation of my second big Architecture project, a lab quiz, and my first big Diversity of Life test. Needless to say, I was pretty stressed, so I took advantage of those two nights to stay in and just relax before another big day Wednesday. I had an interview for GWA (Green Wave Ambassadors) Wednesday morning, so hopefully I'll be chosen to be part of this organization! If so, you might see me giving a tour on campus... wish me luck! That night, I played in my first intramural flag football game. I play for the Catholic Center's team, and we won against Public Health's team, 20 to 0! After the game, I spent a really relaxing night hanging out with some friends in my room, chatting over chips and salsa. We talked a lot about where we've come from and all our friends from home, and I really thought about how awesome it is to be here at Tulane with such a cool mix of people; the diversity is so refreshing and within about a month, I've made friends from all across the country. How cool is that?!
Okay right now I need to stop using this blog as a procrastination device and get back to studying for the Italian test I have to take tomorrow morning. Until next time, Ciao!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Prospective Question #1
"So I've kinda been wondering about safety in New Orleans. Last week on the news there was this whole series of stories about how unsafe New Orleans is right now. Of course, that could just be the media blowing things of out proportion but do you feel like Tulane and the area around Tulane is a relatively safe place to be?"
- Amanda, OK
To answer your question, I have never felt unsafe at Tulane. As long as you follow the basic safety rules for living on a college campus, you should be fine! Remember to always travel in groups, know where you're going ahead of time, take a cab instead of walking in sketchy areas, have a cell phone with you with important numbers programmed in it, etc. If something happens, TUPD (Tulane University Police Department), TEMS (Tulane Emergency Medical Service), and Safe Ride are always only a phone call away. While New Orleans has a reputation as a dangerous city, Tulane's campus is very safe. Seriously, as long as you don't walk around by yourself in the middle of the night or wander alone into bad parts of New Orleans, you should be fine!
- Amanda, OK
To answer your question, I have never felt unsafe at Tulane. As long as you follow the basic safety rules for living on a college campus, you should be fine! Remember to always travel in groups, know where you're going ahead of time, take a cab instead of walking in sketchy areas, have a cell phone with you with important numbers programmed in it, etc. If something happens, TUPD (Tulane University Police Department), TEMS (Tulane Emergency Medical Service), and Safe Ride are always only a phone call away. While New Orleans has a reputation as a dangerous city, Tulane's campus is very safe. Seriously, as long as you don't walk around by yourself in the middle of the night or wander alone into bad parts of New Orleans, you should be fine!
Monday, September 17, 2007
There’s No Place Like Home… But There’s No Place Like New Orleans Either!
Hi friends! It hasn't been long since I've written, but so much happens in a few days! I left you on Wednesday, in the middle of USG Elections and a threatening thunderstorm...
The rain didn't let up much on Thursday (I am definitely putting my rainboots to good use), so I stayed in most of the day working on a model for my Architecture project. I'm not going to lie... Architecture is really hardcore, but I love it already!
Of course my friends and I celebrated after the retreat; we had a party in my friend Lauren's room, walked over to one of the fraternity house parties, took a van from campus to a fun Indian place called Nirvana, and then went back to The Boot - all in one night!
This weekend was really special for me because I got to share my hometown with some of my new friends. My mom drove over from Lafayette on Saturday morning to get Liz, Joe, Cameron, and me; needless to say, we caught up on sleep during the two-hour drive back! We went to the mall, enjoyed some great food with my family at a tailgate party, saw a movie, and enjoyed midnight breakfast at a local diner. It was so good seeing some of my friends from home and catching up with my family (love y'all!), and I enjoyed showing my friends where I come from. (I think they enjoyed our local Cajun cuisine the most!) What's funny is that I was so excited to get home, but I was just as excited to come back to campus. It's not really a matter of being homesick for either place, but I feel like I have two homes now, and I love both so much in different ways.
Not much has happened so far today, but we are having the most BEAUTIFUL weather this morning! Sunny, 80 degrees, and a cool breeze - don't you wish you were here?!
Until next time, Go Tulane! Shoot me an email (ahollier@tulane.edu) or a Facebook message if there's anything you want to know, and I'll write about it here!
The rain didn't let up much on Thursday (I am definitely putting my rainboots to good use), so I stayed in most of the day working on a model for my Architecture project. I'm not going to lie... Architecture is really hardcore, but I love it already!
 at our USG retreat | The highlight of my Thursday was finding out that I won the USG election - I am a Freshman Senator along with four of my good friends (Congrats to Lauren, Greg, Joe, and Jack)! I don't think you can imagine my excitement or relief... I was so nervous through the whole campaign. Our first USG activity was a retreat Friday evening. It was a great way for us new Senators to meet the other officers and learn more about USG; Margaret, the Executive Vice President, had set up a workshop that was both informative and fun. Between "lessons" we played games, ate pizza, and learned some new dance moves... USG can "crank dat!" |
Of course my friends and I celebrated after the retreat; we had a party in my friend Lauren's room, walked over to one of the fraternity house parties, took a van from campus to a fun Indian place called Nirvana, and then went back to The Boot - all in one night!
This weekend was really special for me because I got to share my hometown with some of my new friends. My mom drove over from Lafayette on Saturday morning to get Liz, Joe, Cameron, and me; needless to say, we caught up on sleep during the two-hour drive back! We went to the mall, enjoyed some great food with my family at a tailgate party, saw a movie, and enjoyed midnight breakfast at a local diner. It was so good seeing some of my friends from home and catching up with my family (love y'all!), and I enjoyed showing my friends where I come from. (I think they enjoyed our local Cajun cuisine the most!) What's funny is that I was so excited to get home, but I was just as excited to come back to campus. It's not really a matter of being homesick for either place, but I feel like I have two homes now, and I love both so much in different ways.
| As soon as I got back to Tulane, I had to get back into the swing of things; I cleaned my room, put away laundry, finished homework, and planned my schedule for the upcoming week. I then walked over to church for Mass, followed by free dinner at the Catholic Center. I came back to my dorm, Wall, for a courtyard meeting; all the residents came out to the balconies on their floors surrounding our courtyard and we learned about each Wall committee. (Wall Residential College is very community-based, and we are all required to serve on at least one committee.) I chose Wellness, so I will help plan functions geared toward health and fitness. These committees are a great way to serve Wall while getting to know your neighbors! |  Wall residents gathered on balconies for the first courtyard meeting |
Not much has happened so far today, but we are having the most BEAUTIFUL weather this morning! Sunny, 80 degrees, and a cool breeze - don't you wish you were here?!
Until next time, Go Tulane! Shoot me an email (ahollier@tulane.edu) or a Facebook message if there's anything you want to know, and I'll write about it here!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Senate Race, Raindays, and Prospies... OH MY!
Hi again! It's only been a few days since I wrote last, but I figured I'd stop by and blog while I have a little down time. Don't worry, this entry won't turn into a borderline epic novel like the last couple!
This has been such a busy week for me, because we're right in the middle of USG Elections. USG (Undergraduate Student Government) holds five seats for Freshman Senator, and I am hoping to win one of those spots! I have been campaigning through Facebook, flyers, and chalking on sidewalks around campus - three very effective methods. Well, two and a half very effective methods; it's been raining just about every afternoon, so the chalk keeps getting washed away! Voting is going on right now through our school website, so I'll let y'all know the results once the polls close and the winners are announced. Wish me luck!
On the subject of rain - a daily afternoon summer shower is to be expected here at Tulane. When it is to be expected during the day, I couldn't tell you. I honestly don't look at these showers as a bad thing; to me, all this rain is just an excuse to buy cute rainboots and umbrellas (which are sold in our bookstore, by the way)! I would definitely invest in some rain gear before you arrive at campus. It's fun to buy that stuff, but not so fun getting soaked walking to class.
I've been seeing tour groups walk around on campus; I believe this week is Louisiana Week for prospective students. It makes me so excited to see you guys looking at Tulane, in the exact same position I was in a year ago. If you see me on campus, say hi! I've already chatted with two girls about how much they love the campus already. I can't wait to see more of you guys!
Well, that's all for now! Let me know if you have any questions or comments. My email is ahollier@tulane.edu ... and you can always look me up on Facebook! Go Tulane!
This has been such a busy week for me, because we're right in the middle of USG Elections. USG (Undergraduate Student Government) holds five seats for Freshman Senator, and I am hoping to win one of those spots! I have been campaigning through Facebook, flyers, and chalking on sidewalks around campus - three very effective methods. Well, two and a half very effective methods; it's been raining just about every afternoon, so the chalk keeps getting washed away! Voting is going on right now through our school website, so I'll let y'all know the results once the polls close and the winners are announced. Wish me luck!
On the subject of rain - a daily afternoon summer shower is to be expected here at Tulane. When it is to be expected during the day, I couldn't tell you. I honestly don't look at these showers as a bad thing; to me, all this rain is just an excuse to buy cute rainboots and umbrellas (which are sold in our bookstore, by the way)! I would definitely invest in some rain gear before you arrive at campus. It's fun to buy that stuff, but not so fun getting soaked walking to class.
I've been seeing tour groups walk around on campus; I believe this week is Louisiana Week for prospective students. It makes me so excited to see you guys looking at Tulane, in the exact same position I was in a year ago. If you see me on campus, say hi! I've already chatted with two girls about how much they love the campus already. I can't wait to see more of you guys!
Well, that's all for now! Let me know if you have any questions or comments. My email is ahollier@tulane.edu ... and you can always look me up on Facebook! Go Tulane!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
"Only at Tulane, Only in New Orleans"
I have officially decided - to be at Tulane is to love Tulane. There's always so much going on here! If I had the time, I'd write every day... but I've been doing so much and having so much fun! I'll try really hard not to make this post too long, but so much has happened in a week! Some highlights:
SUNDAY: Some of us went to do laundry at a friend's house in Metairie, and then we went over to the Riverwalk, a well-known New Orleans mall along the river. You should check it out! We came back to campus and went to evening mass at the Catholic chapel, followed by dinner at the campus dining hall, Bruff (which is AMAZING, by the way!).
MONDAY: We still haven't had a full week of classes yet, since Monday was Labor Day... but I'm definitely not complaining about our day off! It was a relaxing day, but I also took advantage of some free time to work on homework.
TUESDAY: I met up with my Big Sis, Raven, for the annual Newcomb Big Sister/Little Sister Pinning Ceremony that evening. Girls, I encourage you to sign up for a Big Sis! It's a great opportunity to make an older friend - someone to show you the ropes and tell you about the ins and outs of Tulane and New Orleans. After the ceremony, my friends and I went to The Boot and then The Rat (in the basement of the LBC). It's become a late night tradition for us to go there after a night out for chicken poppers... so good!
WEDNESDAY: Arch. students have studio time every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On that particular day, my group spent some time in the woodshop downstairs learning how to use power tools for an upcoming project. That night, some of us decorated my friend Michael's door for his birthday and celebrated with him at midnight.
THURSDAY: I only had one class so I spent most of the day working on my architecture project and my campaign for Freshman Senator. Later, a group of us went over to Friar Tuck's to celebrate Michael's birthday. When we got back to campus, my friend Cameron and I went back to the studio (which is open 24/7) to work on our projects. It was a really late night for us, but learning to balance work and play is KEY in college.
Alright, this has become a REALLY long post! I'm about to go watch a movie with some friends, but I'll post again soon!
| SATURDAY: Some of my friends and I acted as extras in a Tulane commercial... we're mini-celebrities! It was so exciting seeing it for the first time, even though we were only featured for a second. You can see the commercial at Tulane athletic events, so look out for us! It seems that there is always something to celebrate here. My friend Lauren's birthday dinner was that night. A bunch of us went out to eat at The Italian Pie and then went out to The Boot. Every night with my friends is so fun, no matter where we go! |  Still shot from the scene we're in. That's me in the front row! |
SUNDAY: Some of us went to do laundry at a friend's house in Metairie, and then we went over to the Riverwalk, a well-known New Orleans mall along the river. You should check it out! We came back to campus and went to evening mass at the Catholic chapel, followed by dinner at the campus dining hall, Bruff (which is AMAZING, by the way!).
MONDAY: We still haven't had a full week of classes yet, since Monday was Labor Day... but I'm definitely not complaining about our day off! It was a relaxing day, but I also took advantage of some free time to work on homework.
TUESDAY: I met up with my Big Sis, Raven, for the annual Newcomb Big Sister/Little Sister Pinning Ceremony that evening. Girls, I encourage you to sign up for a Big Sis! It's a great opportunity to make an older friend - someone to show you the ropes and tell you about the ins and outs of Tulane and New Orleans. After the ceremony, my friends and I went to The Boot and then The Rat (in the basement of the LBC). It's become a late night tradition for us to go there after a night out for chicken poppers... so good!
WEDNESDAY: Arch. students have studio time every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On that particular day, my group spent some time in the woodshop downstairs learning how to use power tools for an upcoming project. That night, some of us decorated my friend Michael's door for his birthday and celebrated with him at midnight.
THURSDAY: I only had one class so I spent most of the day working on my architecture project and my campaign for Freshman Senator. Later, a group of us went over to Friar Tuck's to celebrate Michael's birthday. When we got back to campus, my friend Cameron and I went back to the studio (which is open 24/7) to work on our projects. It was a really late night for us, but learning to balance work and play is KEY in college.
| FRIDAY: Our Architecture projects were due, so we pinned up our final products on the wall for discussion and critiquing. It was a relief to be finished and to get good feedback on our work. Later, a bunch of us got ready together and went to a few parties on Broadway before stopping at The Boot... another fun night with my friends! |  Pinning up our map projects |
| SATURDAY: The first-year Architecture students went to the French Quarter for the morning to look at the site inspiration for our next project. Then I came back to campus and my friends and I got dressed in our Tulane garb for our first football game. We got on a bus and went to the Superdome (yes, we play in the Superdome!) for tailgating. In New Orleans tradition, there was plenty of good music and delicious food. We watched the game from the Wavepool, our student section. We had so much fun at our first football game! What a great experience... |  Liz and I at The Boot |
Alright, this has become a REALLY long post! I'm about to go watch a movie with some friends, but I'll post again soon!
Monday, August 27, 2007
SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE I LEFT HOME!
I have so much to tell you guys about in my first post! I feel like I've been at Tulane forever, even though I'm still a very fresh freshman. My official house move-out date was August 19th and Tulane's official dorm move-in date was August 25th. Between those two dates I was a participant in the most awesome freshman-only experience I've ever heard of: NOLA. Seriously, if you're an entering Tulane freshman, please put "NOLA Application" at the top of your to-do list. In N'awlins Native Style (my NOLA track), we packed about a month's worth of activities into six days - camping, eating at some great local restaurants, skating, scavenger hunting, bowling, and touring some really interesting places such as an alligator farm, a New Orleans cemetery, Destrehan Plantation, and Mardi Gras World. NOLA was such a cool way to start college because it got me acquainted with some of my classmates and the area around my school before I ever set foot into a classroom. Definitely sign up to go to NOLA before orientation. You're missing out if you don't!
Since NOLA and move-in, we've also gone through Orientation and started classes. I'm an Architecture major, so I was very nervous about starting the massive studio-centered schedule, but as soon as I got to Richardson Memorial and met the professors, I felt right at home. That has become a Tulane tradition for me in lots of situations -- I'm always a little nervous about change at the beginning, but as I experience Tulane, I know I'm right where I belong.
A few of us went over to the Activities Expo yesterday at the LBC and got information about lots of different organizations. I'm so pumped to get involved on campus! I'll let you guys know what I join as I figure it all out.
Okay I think this is long enough for my first post. I'm going to do some laundry now (yes Mom, I'm doing my own laundry!), but I'll keep you guys posted about my Tulane life. Until next time, Go Green Wave!
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| A few of us NOLAs by the lake at Camp Istrouma | Our table at Muriel's |
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| Yes, I am holding a real live alligator! | Me, Blakely, and Joe in costumes at Mardi Gras World |
| So enough about NOLA... there is so much else to tell you about! It was awesome seeing the rest of the freshmen come in on move-in day. After being with 100 NOLA participants for a week, we saw campus fill up like crazy very quickly. My roommate and I were already moved in to our dorm because we had come early from NOLA, so move-in day felt more like "relaxation day" for us. (Side note about the whole roommate situation: I was a little apprehensive about living in a dorm with another girl since I'm an only child, but I really LOVE it! I feel like Liz and I are the perfect match, and I love our room in Wall... more about Wall later. I think you'll be seeing a lot of Liz in my blog!) |  Liz and I in Jackson Square |
A few of us went over to the Activities Expo yesterday at the LBC and got information about lots of different organizations. I'm so pumped to get involved on campus! I'll let you guys know what I join as I figure it all out.
Okay I think this is long enough for my first post. I'm going to do some laundry now (yes Mom, I'm doing my own laundry!), but I'll keep you guys posted about my Tulane life. Until next time, Go Green Wave!
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