There comes a point in I think all students' lives at campus, where just about anything you do that is not dealing with the new novel you have to read by Monday, or the math homework, is fun! I have come the that point a few times, I would say, per week. It has gotten wuite cold here in Valparaiso and the snow has come down so beautifully. So what do we do when it snows and we want to walk to dinner? We take our cameras along and take pictures in the snow! I think it's importnant to take time out of your usual educational-driven day and enjoy the weather, or your friends, or whatever is most intersting at the time. For me, that night was the snow.
Another thing to do is to catch up on your old hobbies I have always been into drawing and painting, and earlier this year I have been fortunate enough to paint again. Drawing is something that I can do easier, yet I have had little time to do it. Now that I have new classes, Drawing being one of them, I have been playing around with pictures and drawings more and more. Sometimes i choose to draw people, or even better, on people. I spent about an hour and a half drawing a tattoo on someone's back for the simple fact that it was more fun than reading. *I did manage to get the reading done*
Attatched are a few pictures of my times NOT studying!

The L.I.V.E. girls dancing!

Me standing next to my paintings for the HHM opening ceremony.

It has been an incredibly busy couple of weeks. This past Friday was the Hispanic Heritage Monthh (HHM) opening ceremony that marked th beginning of Hispanic Heritage month. We celebrated by putting up poster boards that showcases the variety and diversity of Latin American poineers and their accomplishments. In the L.I.V.E. meeting, I was asked of I could display my artwork as part of the gallery of one of the walls. I was honored and agreed. I only had about a week to paint, but this was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I completed three paintings in total and titled them as a collective, "Dance: The International Language". I have linked the pictures for a visual.
While I was painting, I was also rehersing for a dance number with five other girls to perform at the HHM dinner the following Friday. I can honestly say that I have muscles in my legs I never knew I had until this week. The dance came together nicely. The other L.I.V.E. dancers and I performed right after dinner was served and it went off without a hitch. Again I have pictures attatched for a visual. The night was filled with great music, dancing and a lot of unity. It was also nice to see the Preident of Valparaiso dancing a little salsa on the dance floor. This past week was very tiring, but it was so worth it to bring awareness to the students and faculty members of Valparaiso.

Yesterday, I was invited to attend a meeting for the L.I.V.E. club on campus.It stands for Latinos In Valparaso for Excellence. This was the only meeting I have been to that didn't deal with the academics of everyday clases. I arrived with a few friends to a circle of chairs and eyes in my direction. I was a little nervous, but I took a seat and followed what they were dong.
We each wrote down a question on a piece of paper and put it into a hat. They were handed out againto all the people attending the meeting and we went around and took turns introducing ourselves as well as answering our mysterious questions. I was hooked! As soon as the whole group was finished, and they read their plans for Hispanic Herritage Month, they asked for volunteers for a perforamnce they would showcase at a dinner.I couldnt write my information on that list any faster.
Once the meeting was over, the volunteers for the dance portion of the dinner had a small talk. They were talking about rehersals and when it was going to be completed by. Being in love with all kinds of spanish music, I made a few suggetions about the music choice. Suprisingly, a senior smiled and nodded her head as soon as I finished my suggestion. She could tell I was excited about this performace and I knew that I would get along with her real well.
Our next meeting is next Thursday and it can't come any sooner. It would be great to be part of this club and to be surrounded with other Latinos at the same time. The leaders are extremely organized and dedicated to get all of the events on the claender done with success. I want the a same and I think being part of L.I.V.E. is going to be a big part of my time here at Valparaiso.

My name is Susana but mostly everyone calls me Susie. I am rooming with my twin sister Sandy, so sometimes I do get called Sandy but I respond to all three names. Anyways, coming from the southwest side of Chicago, Valpo does seem a LITTLE bit quiet, but it's kind of nice sleeping without the loud trains or the planes flying at odd hours of the night.
I've already gotten through the sad goodbye yesterday, which was so much easier to deal with having Sandy there. I knew I had to keep busy to destract me from being home-sick, so making friends was a MUST! Luckily I had kept in touch with my FOCUS group which made it easier to have a good time the first two days. The list that was given to new students for the fun events and goings-on of the night was so helpful. I think I did pretty much every event on that packet. It's important for me to do as many things as possible because I know at the end of the night I won't have " I shoulda' " thoughts.
As of now, I think I'm pretty set with my school supplies, room neccesities, and food. The only thing I am a little worried about is where all of my classes are. I think a little group of us girls are going on a walk to all of our classes so that when tomorrow comes around, we won't be completely clueless. I'm feeling pretty good about Valpo!