Luau Barbecue at Collins

To help get students ready for summer vacation, Collins Residence Hall held a luau.  Originally it was schelduled for outside but due to the rainy weather it was moved inside.

The luau had all th best elements of summer including snowcones, barbecue, and grass skirts.  You could also get your picture taken infront of a faux water wave.  When the food was close to being gone, they ended the night with a movie.  They watched 50 first dates to continue with the Hawaiian spirit.

Spring has Sprung at Indiana University

My favorite seasons at Indiana University are spring and fall.  The fall is so bright with burnt orange and reds.  You can't help but to walk around and enjoy the falling leaves.

Spring is full of pinks and whites.  Plus, every smells so great.  Not to mention spring is the season that leave for the summer.

Playwright written by students

Indiana University has some of the most talented people that I've ever seen.  When I want to unwind at the end of the semester, I go to a student theater production.  Theater majors write, direct and star in productions they put on during the last weeks of the semester.

April 22, I had the pleasure of viewing Stephanie Moore's production of 4:48 Psychosis.  It's a play about a young woman that suffers from depression.  She attempts many solutions such as various medications and therapy but she only seeks refuge in the arms of her handsome doctor. 

To be honest I was blown away by the talent that the actors possessed.  The emotion and connection felt from the actors was undeniable.  When I took an acting class freshman year, it was to break me of my shyness but I gained so much more than that.  Not only did I gain acting skill, and friends but also the ability to understand why people react in certain ways and what body language really tells you.  Watching this play brought back those memories.  I would advise everyone to take an acting class!

Yarn Dying Workshop in Collins

The best feature in Collins Residence Hall are the different artistic rooms in Brown.  There is a darkroom for photography, a video production room, digital editing room, and many more.  April 7, Collins held a yarn dying workshop.  I was very excited to attend the workshop because I will be taking a weaving workshop next semester.

The yarn was provided and because it was a small group, we got a large amount of yarn.  After bundling our yarn we picked the colors we wanted to dye them.

 We mixed the dye with water and then soaked and cleaned the yarn.  After lying the yarn out, we poured the dye over the places where we wanted the color.

When the yarn is completely covered with dye, it is to be wrapped in plastic wrap.  For the next twenty-four hours the yarn marinates in the dye to lock in the color.

The Chesh has Easter Egg Fun

The best pat of Easter is dying eggs to enjoy later.  The Chesh had an egg dying session for all to enjoy.  They also provided the eggs and the colorful dye.  You could dye your eggs green, yellow, orange, pink, and blue.

For many of you who don't know what the Chesh is, I will explain it.  The Chesh is a cafe located on the last floor of Collins Residence Hall.  Many students go there for the expresso but stay for the friendly study atmosphere.  It is a nice change of scenery, if your looking for a change in your study routine.

Foreign Language Game Day

My favorite class for the past two years has been my foreign language class.  Indiana University offers several foreign languages from spanish to sign language.  There is defiantly something for everyone.  Many students take advantage of these classes by learning a new language or expanding on one they already know.

Every week, the Twi classes get together and have conversation hour.  I look forward to meeting with them  because it's always so much fun.  Typically we play games like Apples to Apples but we only speak Twi.  Since the advanced and beginning students play together it can be difficult if you don't know how to say something.  We all work together to make sure everyone is learning and developing their speaking skills.

Even if you aren't taking a foreign language you can still join a foreign language conversation hour.  New comers are always more then welcome to join in the fun of learning a new language.  Check the Indiana University website for more info.

Inside Collins: Bathroom Edition

Many new and incoming college student are so wrapped up in picking classes and making friends they don't think about the simple things.  Living in a resident hall with several other girls can be scary.  A lot of people are also intimidated by the thought of sharing a bathroom.  If you grew up in a household with plenty of siblings then your more prepared then most.  For people like me, who are accustomed to having their own bathroom, the change can be hard.

Each floor has plenty of bathrooms to accommodate the amount of people on the floor.  I've lived in the resident halls for four years and I have yet to wait for a bathroom or shower.

 
The unique features of Collins Brown Resident Hall is the salon sink and men urinals.  Normally, in a woman's bathroom there are closed stalls that are gender neutral.  On this floor, in addition to stalls there are also men urinals.  The best thing about this bathroom is the salon-style sink.  Finally, I can wash my hair without submerging my whole body in water.

Sharing a bathroom is not the worst thing you will experience living in the residence halls.  It's actually a humbling experience to share such an intimate space with new and different people.  Since living in a resident hall is mandatory for most freshman, have a open mind and I'm sure you will see it's not so bad.