CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER...

10 TOP 10s of my Semester Abroad

5/8/2018

I've spent the past four months with my home base in Athens, Greece! Study abroad is an incredibly challenging, wonderfully wonder-full, beautifully complex, astonishingly FULL experience that I could never - so won't ever - try to capture in words. BUT! I still wanted to share a little bit about my semester, so I have decided to to 10 lists of 10 about the cool things I got to do, learn, and (most importantly) eat this semester. Check out my abroad Instagram @emily.in.greece for a more real-time version!
Yamas (cheers!) to Greece, Europe, and the gift that the last few months have been!

1. Ten of my very favorite places I went
I went quite a few cool places, but I fell especially head over heels for these 10.

2. Ten of my favorite foods
Was it the food or was it Megan Davey? Still TBD.

Tomato Basil Gnocchi-- Osteria da Fortunata, Rome, Italy
Zucchini balls -- Arachova, Greece
Baba Ganoush Falafel-- Baba Ganoush, Athens
Salmon arugula pizza-- Dar Poeta, Trastevere, Rome
Veggie Orzo-- Black Sheep, Athens
Fava with lemon and homemade bread-- Poros Island, Greece
Eggplant in the oven-- Tavernas, Greece
Paella-- Barcelona, Spain
House falafel-- Falafeland, Santorini, Greece
Tzatziki -- Taverna Saita, Athens

3. Ten of my favorite desserts
Yum. Yum. Yummmmmmmm.

Loukoumades (All time classic is the best-- donuts with warm Greek honey and cream ice cream, cinnamon, and candied almonds. Bitter lemon a close second. But all the others are so good too!) - LUKUMADES, Athens
Strawberry and rice gelato- Giolitti, Rome
Lemon/blueberry/strawberry/mango/melon/cookies/cheesecake (we went four times) gelato- Fregio, Thessaloniki, Greece
70% dark hot chocolate- The Dark Side of Chocolate, Athens
Yogurt with candied grapes and honey- Tavernas, Athens
Fig and mascarpone ice cream- La Greche, Athens
Pavlidis Sokolata Ygeias Pavlidou 72% Chocolate bar- Greece
Baklava- Kekkos, Pangrati
Tartufo- Tre Scalini, Rome
Baked farmer's market apples with Greek honey and cinnamon- my apartment!

4. Ten things I missed most
Little I wouldn't have given to be able to give a hug or boil the water for Hot Chocolate on a Wednesday!

My family and friends
The ESS and AMST departments at Notre Dame
Nazareth Farm
Hot Chocolate and Chat
Singing and dancing and acting
Geddes Hall
Cavanaugh Hall
Notre Dame Lakes
Target and Costco
The sounds and smell of lawnmowers (#citylyfe)

5. Ten things I have a new appreciation for
Honestly how did kids survive study abroad before FaceTime and Google Maps...?

FaceTime
Google maps
Trip Advisor
American crosswalks and traffic rules
My Notre Dame professors
My parents managing international travel with kids when we were little
Free checked bags on Southwest Airlines
Consistent and reliable power at home
Podcasts and audiobooks
Long bus rides/flights with good views, music, and reflection time

6. Ten Greek words I learned and actually used!
Honestly though, it's all still Greek to me.

Kalimera (Καλημέρα)... Good morning!
Yassas! (γεια σας)... Hello!
Efharisto (Ευχαριστώ)... Thank you.
Parakalo(παρακαλώ)...Please/you're welcome.
YAMAS! (υγειά μας!)... Cheers!
Yeetzis (γίτσες)... bless you! (sneeze).
Nei/Ohi (Ναί/όχι)... Yes/no.
Afto (Αυτό)... This. (Super handy at the farmer's market!)
Signomi (Συγνώμη)... Excuse me.
OPA!(Ωπα!)...(when, for example, someone drops their tray or pots go flying... definitely bringing this back to NDH.)

7. Ten moments I’ll never ever ever forget
Unreal and unforgettable.

People one by one breaking into sprints toward St. Peter’s in the Vatican after they let them through security, and then getting to do it myself (such Easter JOY!!)
When Pope Francis wished us a good Easter Brunch.
When I opened the email with my ACE acceptance in a room full of the friends that have become family this semester.
Listening to Multiplied inside La Sagrada Familia.
The rainbow on Holy Saturday after a huge thunderstorm and the following sunshine.
The first time I ever tasted loukoumades.
Seeing so many stars at Kylemore Abbey for the first time in a month.
The moment Megan and I were trying to go to Florence and realized we got on the wrong high speed train.
Seeing Ireland for the first time and feeling like I’d been there before.
Laying in wildflowers with warm breezes, sun on my face, and the faint sounds of guitar and laughter in the background on Pasquetta ("little Easter" in Italy).

8. Ten things that look different in Greece
When in Greece... nap like the Greeks do.

You can go to coffee in the morning and stay chatting for hours.
You put your toilet paper in the trash, not the toilet!
No kale!
Cats. Cats everywhere. Everywhere.
The four-hour dinner culture-- I will miss this!
Ideas about money-- it's just less important.
The cultural acceptance of eating a salad without globs of dressing. Olive oil for the win.
You can’t drink the water out of the tap on the islands, lots of water bottle waste!
It is 97% Greek Orthodox!
Naps. I didn't have much trouble adjusting to this cultural aspect.

9. Ten songs that made up my study abroad soundtrack
Gre[ec]e is the Word... and other study abroad hits.

Even If, MercyMe—study-abroad-month-one anthem.
Garden, NEEDTOBREATHE— Easter morning at the Vatican.
Multiplied, NEEDTOBREATHE— always there when I needed it.
Be Still, Luke Sephar— waiting for important application decision notification emails.
Testify, NEEDTOBREATHE— my favorite bus-ride-through-the-hills-and-mountains-of-the-greek-countryside song
May You Find a Light, Josh Garrels— I listened to this song so much in Ireland and now it makes me think of Ireland!
Found/Tonight, Ben Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda— I think I listened to this at least 700 times right after it came out, and it got me missing ESS, youth empowerment, and theatre more and more every time!
First Burn, Arianna Afsar, Julia Harriman, Lexi Lawson, Rachelle Ann Go & Shoba Narayan-- Another one on constant replay for a week.
Breakdown, Jack Johnson— my favorite beach day song!
30,000 feet, Ben Rector— study-abroad-month-four anthem.

10. Ten reasons I think everyone should study abroad
10/10 would recommend.

It’s hard. Like - guys - sometimes, really hard. And this is important.
You get to see so many things. Like a church that kinda looks like what I imagine as heaven.
It gives you appreciation of new things and gratitude for old. Like spring flowers and cool ruins. Like new friends to share the salad bar and old ones that figure out how to work around a 7 hour time difference.
You could meet some awesome people. Like #PinkLadies #squad.
You learn a lot about yourself. Like that I probably don't belong in the middle of a huge city.
"You never know where growth is going to come" --Stuart Greene. Like on the wrong train or in your heart.
It's a great exercise in understanding about the lives of people who have moved or been displaced to an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar language. Like, it's crazy to imagine their strength.
It's good to remember what's really important (grades vs. that island trip), and makes you think about what education is. Like, the island always wins. Always.
It's an opportunity you'll never have again. Like, seriously?! Four whole months?! YOLIGO. (You Only Live In Greece Once).
I'd do it all over again. The good, bad, beautiful, ugly, fun, lonely, chaotic, simple, incredible, and full-of-Grace. Like, this is me recommending it right now. 10/10 (<-- hah. get it).

FINALLY, the moment you've all been waiting for. Here's a glimpse at my semester with 1 second of video from every day! Enjoy!

Athens, Greece. Acropolis. Delphi, Greece. College Year in Athens. Farmer’s Market. Sunio, Greece. Piraeus, Greece. Dublin, Ireland. Kylemore Abbey. Connemara, Ireland. Galway, Ireland. Barcelona, Spain. La Sagrada Familia. Park Guell. Corinth, Greece. Peloponnese, Greece. Nafplio, Greece. Sparta, Greece. Olympia, Greece. Lycabettus Hill. Vouliagmeni Hot Springs. Hydra Island, Greece. Agora of Athens. Aegina Island, Greece. Rome, Italy. Vatican City. St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican museums, Sistine chapel. Florence, Italy. Duomo (dome!). Colosseum. Trevi Fountain. Poros Island, Greece. Santorini Island, Greece. Thessaloniki, Greece. Hydra Island, Greece. Athens, Greece.

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LIFE UPDATE! May 17th, 2017... Farms, Fun, Friends, and Far Far Away

5/17/2017

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Dear Friends,

In a few days I will be headed out to {almost heaven} West Virginia without much internet, social media, or cell access, so I thought I would do a life update before I abandoned screens for 8 weeks!
The past semester was an incredible and incredibly busy few months full of moments, experiences, and people I will never forget.

Grease was the word.

(Not to be confused with GreECE, which was a common confusion in conversations this semester as I also found out I would be studying abroad in Athens in Spring 2018!)
I performed in my 5th production with PEMCo this spring with the totally-high-energy totally-50s totally-fun musical Grease. I loved being able to dance again and being onstage with my friends.

What I Did For Love— Nothing Without You: A PEMCo Revue

A few days after the closing of Grease, I received notification that I would be directing the annual PEMCo Revue and that auditions would be “the day after tomorrow” (?!) (theatre never sleeps). Directing the revue was one of the most amazing/overwhelming/fun/important/exciting/rewarding experiences I have had thus far in college. One of the best parts was that I got to choose where the proceeds of the show would go, and I chose Engaging Youth, Engaging Neighborhoods— a program at the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture through the Neighborhood Resource Connection in South Bend I had worked with all semester, using art to empower youth voices in their communities. Below is my director’s note:

I want to sincerely thank you for supporting the arts in your community. With your ticket, not only are you ensuring that people like us get to perform and do what we love, but you are also contributing to an amazing program in the South Bend community that uses the arts to empower youth to speak up and make their voices heard.
For me, musical theatre is about putting an exclamation point on the fullest moments in life-- the most wonderful of which exist because of and in the presence of others. Our lives are all linked in the big and small things we do each day. Thank you to my beautiful cast and team for diving in on this journey to find our own story of interconnectedness by singing through the joy, gravity, heartbreak, love, grief, wonder, and inevitability of human connection. It is my hope that you can all walk out of this theatre asking yourself truthfully, what did you do for love? Are you sitting and waiting for your life to begin? Who has changed your life for the better? What is your favorite fruit? How will you bring on tomorrow? We CAN make a difference, it’s NOT too late, and I can’t wait.
Emily Okawara, Director

Ferguson, St. Louis, Chicago, Oh My!

This spring I participated in a seminar called Realities of Race through the Center for Social Concerns. For our spring break immersion, we traveled to speak and be with people in Missouri and Illinois to learn about how race functioned in the community and lives. We learned from lawyers working on the school-to-prison pipeline, leaders of movements like Occupy SLU, Catholic Worker houses striving for racial justice, and different groups, panels, professors, churches, and community members who helped us think differently, critically, and in a way that stems from relationships and experience with real people, not media, socialization, and dominant narratives (I’m an AMST major, did you really think I’d write a whole blog without sneaking in the dominant narrative??). Out of all the places we visited, to me, the site of Michael Brown’s death was the most powerful. Uncomfortable and extremely impactful, there was something about just being in the space, an energy of the concrete that I can still imagine down to every detail. Below is a poem I wrote as part of my final project for the seminar:

Fire and an Ocean
I've always admired
the fire that comes with an
intense sense of crisis,
the “fight this”
that's white and black
with might it cracks
and lights the hands in the air
the scare,
breathless prayer
A hood over hair that's
c.h.a.i.n.e.d...
to a head like the memory of women and men who
instead
of following signs and moving to the back
stood ground and started to crack
the oppression of metal bars and
Kold darK sKars
for which they continue to pray
to which they continue to pay
but which still just won't go away.

What do we do when there’s just
t o o m u c h
too often
When we can’t resign
but can’t assign our time to
things that take too long to fix
the stones and sticks that break our bones and
Our hearts
are too FULL with the broken
to remember that there’s no cure
but an ocean
into which we must fearlessly dive and
stroke by stroke by stroke by stroke
Strive
to never drown and always hope
that we’ll see the other side

Campus, Conversation, Classes, and Cool Opportunities:

Campus: I continued to give campus tours this past semester through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. My favorite campus spots: The lakes, Geddes Hall, and a point between the library and Cavanaugh where I can see Stonehenge, the Basilica, the dome, LaFun, and Cav— basically my life.

Conversation: Hot Chocolate and Chat (a weekly thing I started in the fall as a place for meaningful dialogue and conversations) continued to be strong and bring people together though the end of the year! Next year it will continue and be even better as a part of an initiative my friend and I are hoping to start across campus. This initiative will be moving toward pushing the culture of Notre Dame into one that breaks the small talk barrier, fosters meaningful dialogue, and promotes intellectual virtuosity. In the last few days of finals, Matt and I presented our ideas to faculty, staff, and student leaders across campus and are still working out ideas and things to kick off in the fall. Watch out for the question mark symbol ? on pins, posters, and other places across campus to be involved in the fall!

Classes: I loved all of my classes and professors this past semester. In order of my favorites, my courses were: Youth Empowerment; Dearly Beloved: The History and Culture of Marriage in the United States; Directing: Process; American Indian Education; and Religion in America.

Cool Opportunities: I have continued to meet with my Sorin Scholars advisors and have begun thinking about national fellowships, grad school, etc. Something cool and new I have been looking into is the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program. I also met with one of the founders of InterAction, a nonprofit that uses storytelling and the arts to build inclusive communities (born out of Show Some Skin at ND), to be a part of the Student Advisor Board this coming school year and report on the campus climate and social issues so that we can create performances and programs that spark important conversations and thinking.

“Summer fun"… I’ll "tell [you] more, tell [you] more”

This week I am at home catching up with people I love and getting things in order before a back-to-back summer. Mother’s day, Mariners game, getting blizzards and some quality time with Emily who will leave for India while I am still in WV (so I will not see until Christmas!), cuddling with my cat, and getting started on the tall stack of books I want to read this summer.
On Sunday, I will travel to Nazareth Farm in West Virginia for a Summer Service Learning Project through the Center for Social Concerns. Sister farm to the farm (Bethlehem Farm) I visited this fall, I am so so excited to live a life in simplicity, community, service, and prayer, for 8 weeks. This means bucket showers, energy fasts, and lots of community engagement, home repair, and beautiful reflection in the Appalachian Mountains. As I mentioned above, I will be away from screens, but will be sending lots of letters! Send me your address if you’d like to hear from me at the farm! You can also write me and I will write you back at
665 Nazareth Farm Rd. Salem, WV 26426.
I will return to Kent mid-July and go straight into directing At The Ridge Theatre (501c3) summer theatre camps for preschool- 8th grade kids. This has been my favorite part of the summer for the last few years, and this year we are going even bigger with Shrek in the land of Far Far Away!
After camps, I will have two days until I return to campus to lead Cavanaugh’s Welcome Weekend and welcome around 90 (holy guacamole) first years into the Chaotic fam.

More updates:

My current obsessions are: Dear Evan Hansen, No Matter the Wreckage, NPCA's #momentofnature videos, Trader Joe’s roasted flax seeds on yogurt and fresh berries,

What I’m looking forward to next year: Leading Cavanaugh’s Welcome Weekend in August, spending lots of time with friends, going back to Bethlehem Farm in October with the Appalachia Seminar, and studying abroad in Athens, Greece next spring!

I am living in constant amazement, astonishment, wonder, and gratitude at this incredible life I am so blessed to lead. Thanks for being a part of it!

With so much love,
Emily

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10 Reasons you need a best friend, as illustrated through text messages

7/30/2016

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Today is the International Day of Friendship. It's also National Cheesecake Day-- seriously, what a day to be alive. To my unbiological sister, thanks for always being there when I am deciding to change my major at 2 am and when I can't decide on what to have for dinner.
Here's 10 things a best friend is good for, shown through the great art form of text messaging:

1. To contemplate lifestyle choices.
While you need your BFF to help you from falling onto the deep, dark, path of cheesecake on National Cheesecake Day, it's nice to know she will be there even if you do make a wrong turn.

2. For inspiration and motivation.
Good thing the technology of 2016 has made it possible to share finals week motivation from 1,800 miles away.

3. To provide occasional political updates.
Who needs CNN when you have BFF, am I right?!

4. To have someone familiar with and tolerant of a crazy rehearsal schedule.
And super-duper grateful when you have the rare (and I mean rare) night off.

5. To tell catholic school jokes.
Blessed are the best friends who both attend catholic schools, for they shall inherit the most laughs.

6. To listen to your rambling, random thoughts.
I still don't know if the government would let me name my little boy Potus.

7. To share sweet memories with.
Oh the fashion. Currently planning a worldwide gaucho comeback. Brace yourselves.

8. To tell you when enough is enough.
It's important to always find a way to sneak in musical lyrics, especially if they are from the musical that you forced her to be in with you that one time. But also important to have a friend to cut you off when you just can't stop.

9. For positive affirmation.
I thought someone had taken her phone when she started quoting the musical that I forced her to be in with me that one time. But then I was relieved to find it was still her when she called Spring Awakening "Spring Sex."

10. To make you simultaneously cry and laugh and puke in your mouth at the pure sappy-cheesy-awesomeness of your friendship.
Through thin and through thick. (Da da da da da). Through sloppy and slick. (Da da da da da).

Happy International Day of Friendship to all the friends out there-- old and new, near and far. You make the world brighter.

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10 Worthy Western Washington Day Hikes

7/3/2016

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View on the way up to Lake Serene

Climb Every Mountain. Here are 10 beginner hikes that Maria and the von Trapp family would love.

10. Chirico Trail (Poo Poo Point)
With a stunning view of Mt. Rainier and a well-kept trail, Poo Poo Point offers a beautiful and easy hike to a parasailing launchpad and great view at the top.
3.8 miles, 1760 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Pack a lunch and watch the action at the parasailing launch pad at the top. Bring kids! The view at the top is especially good for kids afraid of heights because it is more of a rolling hill at the top instead of a drop-off cliff.

8. Margaret's Way
We did this hike at the end of winter, so we ran into snow after a bit of climbing, turning the trail into a magical winter wonderland. Green, green, green-- what the trail doesn't offer in view, it more than makes up for in beautiful scenery and trees.
5.5 miles, 1500 ft. elevation gain
Tips: The trailhead is a bit confusing, but it starts at the Squak Mountain Lodge and goes through parking and camping areas before really getting to the trail (you're not on the wrong path, just keep going!).

6.Little Si + Boulder Garden Loop
Together these trails make for a great day hike and allow you to enjoy huge boulders as well as magnificent views.
(together) 7.2 miles, 2100 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Around 0.2 miles in, duck off the trail to a small ridge that has a nice view and preview of the view from the top. Read signs and make sure you know where you are going, as there are multiple break off points to other trails!

4. Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls is a stunning view (scroll over image to see the view) for such a short trail. About 1.5 miles into the Lake Serene trail, the path forks and leads you up to the glittering, misting, 100 ft. rock face of waterfall.
4 miles, 1000 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Be prepared for stairs. If you are feeling really unstoppable, do Bridal Veil Falls on the way up or down from Lake Serene!

9. Rattlesnake Ledge
Rattlesnake is a not-too-tough climb with a great view at the top. Great for beginners and kids, the trail is popular and well kept, making for a safe and beautiful way to get outside and enjoy the PNW!
4 miles, 1160 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Go in the morning to get parking and avoid trail traffic. Pack a snack or lunch for the top to enjoy alongside the view!

7. Oyster Dome
Located in Bellingham, the Oyster Dome trail has both beautiful forests of trees and great views of the San Juan Islands.
5 miles, 1900 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Go on a clear day for the best view of the water. Do Chuckanut Drive while you're here for more spectacular views of the bay!

5. Twin Falls
Twin falls has been one of my favorites since I was little. An easy hike, the trail is perfect for a day when you don't feel like climbing a mountain, but still want to get outdoors. The falls are beautiful and it's a great hike to take with a group of friends!
3.5 miles, 500 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Last summer part of the trail was washed out, so we had to drive up a little ways to an alternate trailhead that led us down to the falls. If you want to see the falls but try a new trail, check it out! Also, make sure you see all the waterfalls... there are three!

3. Snow Lake
I've hiked Snow Lake in the Fall, Spring, and Summer-- all of which were absolutely gorgeous. While the lake at the top is glamorous, I love the views and the surroundings on the way up too. Stretches of the trail are green, while others are filled with rocks and you can see down the side of the mountain, which makes for stunning colors and contrast. Dipping your feet in the lake is heaven after the hike, and the water is crystal clear.
7.2 miles, 1800 ft. elevation gain
Tips: You can also follow the signs for a quick detour to visit Source Lake, a cool lake that I once happened upon by accident (read the signs well). If you are going to wade in Snow Lake, beware of very slippery rocks!

2. Ape Caves
Just AWESOME. If climbing through caves is on your bucket list, Ape Caves is the place to do it. Armed with a headlamp, fleece leggings, and adventurous friends, you will climb under, through, and over the rocks in the longest lava tube in the continental US. The lower cave can be done with kids in about an hour, while the upper cave consists of climbing over 27 boulder piles and scaling an 8 foot high lava fall. The upper caves finish by opening up to a trail with wildflowers that you will hike back down to get to the car.
Around 2.4 miles for the upper cave, highest point (exit of cave) is elevation 2450 ft.
Tips: It is chilly down there-- wear warm clothes. When I go next time, I think I might wear some light gloves, both for the cold and to protect your hands while climbing over rock piles. Definitely wear a headlamp as there are times you will want both hands for climbing and it is pitch black without your own light. Bring extra batteries/flashlights just in case! Be prepared to scale the 8 foot wall (only one foothold and slippery) in the middle... there was a rope there when I went through but my brother said it wasn't there when he went!

1. Lake Serene
My #1 favorite. So many amazing memories on this trail, and I always want to go back. The views are breathtaking. The lake at the top is so clear (also freezing), and it's so much fun to go swimming after the long hike. There's no way I could capture the beauty of this trail in photos, so you will just have to go and see for yourself. Seriously. Go.
8.2 miles, 2000 ft. elevation gain
Tips: Wear a swimsuit so that you can take a dip at the top! A little ways in, there is a stopping point with a little waterfall you can play in (different than Bridal Veil Falls) and big rocks to climb and sit on for lunch! There is also a little Mexican restaurant in Gold Bar called La Hacienda that I love to go to for dinner on the way home!

Happy Hiking!

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DORM SHOPPING: A guide to saving your wallet now, and your sanity later

6/14/2016

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There's nothing like the excitement and satisfaction of scanning items with the Bed Bath and Beyond "Pack and Hold" handheld gun. But while Pack and Hold (where you choose items at home and pick them up at a BB&B by your school) is great in theory, don't fall into the trap. I found that Target had most everything I needed, in cuter styles and at a fraction of the cost. Going crazy with the Pack and Hold scanner is just one dorm shopping don't... like don't use the department store checklists. Don't try to buy everything at once and don't get hung up over an exact color scheme. Don't go dorm shopping with friends. Don't overestimate the amount of space you have. Don't underestimate the amount of hangers you will need. Don't make your mom try to carry everything at the store (see left!).
So, here's my list of things to bring and not to bring-- Keep in mind I am a girl living in extreme winter climates without my own bathroom. Other than that, I hope this list is pretty extensive!

3 Best Buys:

My Beloved Macbook Pro 13” Retina Screen… It is awesome and holds my whole life together. You definitely need a laptop... choose wisely.
My parka… I would have died without it. Like literal death.
My Amazon Prime Membership... If you don't have a car or parents or a target on campus, this is a must. Free shipping, so it's just like going to the store without ever leaving your dorm room! I also used it to send gifts to my friends on birthdays, and it's a great way for your parents to do the care package thing without the hassle! :)

Dusting off a Little Shop of Horrors sign in my trusty parka on my way to do a show

Room Things:
GET/BRING IT:
#1) Mattress Toppers (this is a necessity-- I have memory foam, egg crate foam, and a mattress pad. I love my bed.)

Extra blankets (for sitting on the quad and snuggling on the futon. I brought my heated blanket, which is a luxury, but was amazing to come back to after trekking through the snow)
MORE hangers! (Mom made two extra trips after realizing and realizing AGAIN that I needed more)
Surge protectors and extension cords
Pictures/Wall decoration (Naked walls are ugly)
Hanging full length mirror
Water filter
Air freshener (I have the wallflower from Bath and Body Works- a seasonal smell changes the whole room!)
2 reusable plastic cups (great for both refreshing glasses of water and catching cockroaches in your 1936 dorm!)
Box fan for the window
OTTOMAN! (Storage AND seating? You can’t go wrong.)
Lap Desk (These are great if you have a comfy futon or chair, or even if you want to eat lunch on the couch without making a mess. You can take it to study on the floor, in a lounge, or really anywhere! A staple to my study routine!)
Paper towels (We ran out in the last days of school and I thought the world would end. Papertowelmageddon.)
Bedside storage (esp. If you are in a top bunk or a loft! Mine hung off the side of my loft and held my journal, book, phone, water, etc. so as to not have to make the climb down the loft at 3am)
Command strips/hooks
Lights (Okay… you don’t NEED these, but they sure are nice and give a great vibe for a movie night)
Electric water kettle (This is a personal preference, I love tea and used mine a lot)
All of the regular bed things, which and how many is personal preference! Good pillows are a must.
Laundry basket (I like the standing ones so I can just throw in my dirty clothes and easy to carry down to the laundry room)
A futon (space allowing)
A small refrigerator
Plastic drawers

DON'T GET/BRING IT:

Extra purses
Desk lamp (I guess this depends, mine had a built in light)
Small desk fan
Bed bug protector (depends on your school and dorm/mattresses, but I saved $60)
Trash can (check to see if they are provided by the room. We had trash and recycle provided.)

School Supplies:
GET/BRING IT:
#1) Planner (I have a Happy Planner- get a monthly/weekly one to stay organized week by week and big picture!)

A good backpack
Cards and stamps (I love sending/receiving handwritten notes and cards!)
Staples/stapler (lots of research papers to staple, staple, staple!)
Scissors
Tape
Microsoft Office for your computer (Some professors require it and don't accept pages)
Plastic folders (so they won’t rip)
Flash drives
Desk storage (I have an upright magazine holder that I just throw misc. papers/letters/brochures in!)
Paper clips (I mostly used for resumes and headshots for auditions, but they came in handy a few other times)
Highlighters

DON'T GET/BRING IT:

Loose leaf paper
Binders
Glue sticks (Why I thought I needed these I’ll never know)
Index cards (Use Quizlet! Save the earth!)
Calculator (If you’re like me and never have to take math in college, the one on your phone will do just fine)
Rubberbands (maybe bring like 2)
Printer (the fact that I thought about trying to fit a printer in my room is just comical)

Clothes:
GET/BRING IT):
#1) Scarves and jewelry (You can use these to dress up and dress down your wardrobe, and double the outfit possibilities you have with the same clothes!)

Clothes for any weather (you don't need your whole wardrobe)
Dresses that you can wear in hot weather or pair with scarf/tights/boots in the winter (more outfits, less closet space!)
Pajamas (Don't need that many, mostly t-shirts and shorts will work)
Lots of underwear (less laundry)
PARKA (make an investment and get a good one. You will thank yourself when you’re walking to class in the blizzard. And get one with fur on the hood-- I didn’t understand why everyone had it on theirs, but it catches the snow when you are walking as to not get it in your face!)
Hats, gloves, wool socks, snow boots, rain boots (basically be prepared for anything)
Slippers (Great to go downstairs to print or microwave, or to just go to your friend’s room!)
Running shoes, flats, "going out" (comfy and nice) shoes, sandals, casual shoes (converse/keds)

DON'T GET/BRING IT:

Excessive business/professional clothes
Excessive heels/wedges
You get the point-- don't be excessive :)

Shower/laundry/cleaning:
GET/BRING IT:
#1) Towel wrap (This is one of my very best purchases-- you can wear it to the shower, and then wear it back while you use a regular towel to wrap your hair up! So handy.)

Towels (you only need 2)
Hard plastic shower caddy
Laundry soap and dryer sheets
Flip flops
A cup or jar to keep your toothbrush/toothpaste/floss/retainer in
hairbrush/dryer/heat tools
your personal toiletries

DON'T GET IT:

Laundry soap pods (This might depend on the washer, but twice I took my clothes out with melted plastic from the pod)
Special shower shoes with holes (I never really understood why these were better? But you don’t need them. Plus, my friend at a different school stepped in puke wearing them and it went through the holes… yuck)

Misc:
GET/BRING IT:
#1) Journal (you should do it, especially in a time of so much change! Journaling gave me something routine to do when I was trying to establish stability and schedule in chaos, and forced me to sit down and reflect once in a while. It is great to be able to look back on all of the memories-- of excitement and joy and of difficulty and triumph. When I didn't know many people yet and my family was far away, the journal was a way for me to talk out my thoughts whenever I needed to. Anyway, you get it. Journaling rocks.)

Umbrella
A mini-wallet/lanyard for your ID and keys
Vitamins, Advil, Zyrtec
Playing cards and games
Water bottle without a straw
A personal thermos (you will save $ at Starbucks and you can stick it in your pack without spilling!)
Ziploc bags
Extra pair of headphones (I don’t know how they do it so well, but they just get lost.)
Lint roller (I didn’t bring one, but ended up needing one a few times! They sell mini-mini ones)
Sticky notes (I didn’t include this in school supplies because I mostly used them to leave notes for my friends and decorating!)
Clorox wipes (for when you need to dodge the dorm mono, pink eye, strep, etc plague)
HDMI cord (I don’t have one and borrowed ALL THE TIME… I will definitely be bringing one next year)
Tissues
Personal steamer (clothes get wrinkled.)

DON'T GET/BRING IT:

Flashlight (I never used it)
Tupperware
Mini speaker
Laundry drying rack (I never needed it! If I had to hang dry, I just did it in the laundry room)
Alarm Clock (I just used my phone)

I've already said many things you shouldn't do when dorm shopping, but I haven't forgotten the things you should. Do research on what is allowed, talk to people from your college, have fun, and GET EXCITED for this amazing journey you are about to begin. Happy shopping!

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Everything I actually want to say when asked my favorite musical

6/2/2016

Whenever I tell someone I love musicals, the question of which is my favorite arising is inevitable. I've tried to have one answer for over ten years, but I have never been able to narrow my favorites down to one that I love over the others. Asking me to choose just one favorite musical is like asking me to make and put new sheets on a lofted bed-- nearly impossible and just plain unfair. This post is mostly for my reference, so I can use it to provide a much better response than my usual, "It's complicated."

The musical I love that everyone else loves too:
Hamilton: An American Musical
Lin Manuel Miranda is everything. CHICKA BLAST.

The musical I love that one no one else even knows exists:
Jasper in Deadland
I saw this at the Seattle 5th Avenue Theater three times. The musical is Ryan Scott Oliver and One More Day of Snow is one of my favorite songs ever. They just released the World Premiere Recording, check it out here (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jasper-in-deadland-world-premiere/id1113084608)!

The musical that makes me want to change the world:
Spring Awakening
I had to watch this a few times before I really understood and appreciated what was going on and the message it was trying to give, but the piece and the message are brilliant. It's on my bucket list of shows I want to do.

My favorite musical of firsts:
Little Shop of Horrors
My first lead role, my first college show, and my first time being eaten by a giant man-eating plant, among other firsts, all came with the total eclipse of the sun (*ding*).

The show I have to see on stage before I die:
The Light in the Piazza
I've exhausted all YouTube versions and bootlegs.

The show that holds my #1 dream role:
In the Heights
When I was a child I stayed wide awake, climb to the highest place on every fire escape, restless to be Nina.

The best experience I've had doing a musical:
Jekyll and Hyde
The summer of 2014 was the best of my life so far. The show was real and incredible and fun, and magic happened both onstage and offstage. It was the most talented, dedicated, close, and drama-free cast I have ever worked with.

My favorite Golden Age musical:
Carousel
Actually, to be honest, I'm not a big fan of Rogers and Hammerstein works... Even though I can recognize how great they are, it's sometimes hard for me to stay awake. But I love Carousel (long as it is) and I think that the musical and message itself is often misunderstood. I particularly love the ballet and the character of Louise Bigelow.

The most beautiful musical I have ever seen:
Waterfall: A New Musical
The sets, costumes, lights, dancing, and visual presentation of this musical are just spectacular. In my favorite setting, there is a waterfall and a creek/pond onstage that they splash around in, dancing with a beautifully flowing lavender dress against the luscious green and stone set (see picture below). It closes with a watercolor painting of the scene. The actual book and score are good, but I almost feel like they didn't do the set justice!

The musical that captures my love for theatre, the art, the experience, and the life:
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is about growing up-- it’s about young people with dreams and the struggles of the theatre universe and of our society. The characters were all created from true stories of actors and dancers who sat down to talk about their experiences. The young adults in the line (many of which come from broken homes and difficult childhoods) look to the stage for an escape-- not looking for stardom, but for a place in the background, for a home and a place to fit in. It is an honest and intimate picture of desperation, insecurity, passion, and togetherness-- everyone knows what it feels like to love someone or something so much that you have no idea what you'd do or who you'd be without it. This is one that's on my bucket list to direct.

There aren't actually too many musicals that I don't like. My top favorites can vary on a day-to-day basis, but I have always -- and will always -- love the amazing pieces of art I have mentioned here.

Waterfall

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50 Documentaries to be obsessed with. (I am).

5/25/2016

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I LOVE DOCUMENTARIES. There's just something about a real story that makes them better than movies, and something about watching the actual event, listening to the actual people, and seeing the actual places that makes them better than textbooks. I have two hopes for this blog-- my first hope is that you'll be as captured, moved, entertained, enlightened, and inspired by these films as I was. My second hope is that I haven't just ruined your life with 100+ hours of great film to watch... OOPS! :)

My Top 5
1. Every Little Step
A Chorus Line is one of my favorite musicals, but it doesn't have to be one of yours to enjoy this documentary. Following the process of creating the musical from gathering the true stories to casting the revival, Every Little Step gives an inside look into the life of an actor-- from desperately auditioning to working to tell a story and the impossible thought of the day when it all might disappear. Every time you step onto the stage, "it's opening, it's closing... it's everything." Love love love.

2. The Mask You Live In
The Mask You Live In examines the society, expectations, and stereotypes into which we raise our boys. A sequel to Miss Representation, the documentary looks at media, education, and culture, and the issues that America's narrow definition of masculinity can create. I think the work does a great job of creating understanding and provoking thought without being too cynical or critical.

Learn more about the Representation project here

3. Living on One Dollar
These guys are awesome. They travel to rural Guatemala and live on $1 a day, struggling with and learning about hunger, inconsistent income, parasites, and extreme poverty. The film started as little youtube videos and has since won many awards.

Learn more about the project and how to take action here

4. It's A Girl
I think the most accurate word I can use to describe this film is mind-boggling. That, or horrifying. All over the world, girls are aborted, killed and abandoned simply because of their sex. The United Nations estimates as many as 200 million girls are missing in the world today because of this so-called “gendercide”. This violence is rooted in tradition and culture, and accelerated by government policy.

Here's the film's campaign against gendercide

5. Winter On Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
I think what struck me most about this film was the currentness of it all-- and the fact that I wasn't even aware of the calamity and tribulation in Ukraine as I stressed over which song to sing at my auditions or how many pencils to bring to the SAT. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015, the documentary looks at the Euromaidan protests, demonstrations, and revolution, creating a portrait of terror, anger, desperation and resolve.

Honorable Mention: The Imposter
This is an incredible piece of art. An unconventional documentary, the film uses bits of real footage in combination with actors to recreate the unbelievable story of the 1997 case of the French confidence trickster Frédéric Bourdin, who successfully impersonated Nicholas Barclay, a Texas boy who disappeared at the age of 13 in 1994. As entranced as I was with the film making and the story, that didn't stop me from admiring the incredible acting-- so honest that at moments I forgot they weren't the actual people. I encourage you to read about more about the case before/as you are watching... seriously crazy.

Here's one article

Here are the rest of my favorites in approximate ranked order:
Categories (some fit in multiple):
Arts/Media
Health/Nature/Travel
Culture/Society/History
Education/Development
Crime/Justice/Conspiracy

In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams (workshopping and opening In the Heights)
Jonestown (Jim Jones' mass suicide cult)
Half the Sky (girls in 3rd world)
Miss Representation (Girls and portrayal of girls in society)
Hitler's GI death camp (American GIs in a concentration camp)
Propaganda game (North Korea)
Hitler's Children (Descendants of Nazis, one hugs an Auschwitz survivor... incredible)
Making a Murderer (Netflix series on justice system and innocent incarceration)
Inside North Korea (Eye doctor and reporter allowed in)
The Man in the Machine (Steve Jobs)
Ubuntu (Street theatre in Ghana)
Sweet dreams (Ice Cream Shop in Rwanda)
Waiting for Superman (American education)
Race to Nowhere (Modern education and stress)
Crossing borders (Moroccan student exchange)
E-Team (Human Rights Watch emergency)
Stuck (orphanages and adoption)
Maidentrip (14 sailing around the globe)
The Source Family (hippie cult)
Five Broken Cameras (war and protests on West Bank)
The Dark Matter of Love (adoption)
The Seventies (series: best ones on terrorism, crime and cult, there is also a Sixties series)
Playground (sex trafficking)
India's Daughter (Gang rape in India)
The Falling Man (9/11 suicide jumper)
Cropsy (Real life boogeyman)
The Hunting Ground (College campus sexual assault)
Escape from Alcatraz (He carved his decoy out of soap!)
Fame High (LA County High School for the Arts)
Hungry for change (Health and diet)
Happy (around the world)
Babies (4 from around the world)
Acceptance (Ivy League college admissions)
Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State (about the concentration camp)
Forgiving Dr. Mengele (Nazi doctor)
Ugly (taboo, modeling agency)
Myanmar (life in Myanmar)
The Dancing Boys (Afghanistan)
A Sloth Named Velcro (Uh, it's about sloths... what more could you ask for?)
Tiny (living in a Tiny House)
One day on Earth (footage from the same day around the earth)
Chicago Girl (Syrian rebellion & social media)
Nine at Little Rock (Education/desegregation story of Little Rock Nine)
The Great American West (Lots of beautiful images and video of America)

And here's the link to Netflix so you can get started. #sns. Happy watching!

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My first year at Notre Dame through 10 things I've learned

5/18/2016

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It’s been almost two weeks since I finished my freshman year of college, so I figure I can’t put off the “end of freshman year of college” post any longer. I think I avoided it so much because subconsciously there was something about writing it that would mean it was really over. I did a lot of things in my first year of college, met a lot of humans, wrote a lot of words, sang a lot of notes.
So, in order not to bore you, instead of an itemized list of everything I did this year, here's my first year though ten things that I learned:

1. To get connected
I dove in and I’m so glad I did. My favorite this year (and I predict for the next three years) has been PEMCo, the student musical theatre group on campus. I think it is so important to be able to find a small(er) group of people to create community and family with. I am so SO lucky to have something that makes me so sad to say goodbye to the seniors or even leave for the summer!

2. To ask for help and advice
College builds a sort of humility because you are no longer top dog like you were in high school. But the cool thing is that everyone is going through the same realization, and it was cool to figure that out with my friends. I learned to GO to the spanish tutoring center, GO to the writing center, just ASK your professor for help. But I think the most valuable thing that came from this lesson was asking the current seniors for advice. Talking to upperclassmen opened my eyes to so many things, gave me clarity on others, and essentially made me change my major. (Lesson 2.5: make friends with upperclassmen and force them to share their wisdom muahahah)

3. To be open to new experiences (and take risks and study what you love!)
Speaking of changing majors… be open to it. Be open to trying new things, living new ways, and thinking new thoughts. My major switching story is loooooong, so I won’t share it all (ask me if you want to hear it!), but basically I applied to college as a psychology major, and that’s just how it was. I never even really considered studying something else, because, duh, I was a psych major. But through a lot of thinking and midnight crises and meetings and praying, I knew that I had to switch to American Studies (I know you want to ask what the heck American Studies is so I have put a description at the bottom). I only have three more years at this incredible university to learn from some of the best and brightest professors in the nation-- so I have to take advantage and study something I'm truly passionate about.

4. To relax
Okay so this is one I’m still working on. But I have gotten so much better than I was in high school! In the past year I have learned that grades definitely aren’t everything, and not getting something you wanted is not the end of the world. Everything happens for a reason, and you just have to go where life takes you-- most often it will lead somewhere great!

5. Open communication rocks
Seriously-- it’s the best thing ever and makes life so much easier. Yes I learned this in the random roommate situation, but also with my professors, cast mates, and friends. JUST SAY IT (if it’s kind and appropriate hah). Apologize, forgive, thank, love, ask, tell. Say the things that are important, like how much your friendship means or what you are grateful for.

6. About people who are different than me
I've met people who have never been in public school and people who've lived through China's one child policy. I've sat down to dinner with people who have a passion for engineering and with people whose families have gone to Notre Dame for generations. I've studied theology with people who don't believe in God and performed with people who had never been on the stage. I still have yet to find someone at the university who knows the Sleep Country USA jingle (WHY). On the other side of this, some of these people are also scarily similar to me-- they love theatre and sloths and documentaries, they want to talk about politics and religion and life until 3am in the hallway, they agree with my core values and beliefs. I also found my soul doppleganger (@Róisín) but that’s a blog for another time.

7. Of my love/appreciation/obsession for Washington and the PNW
I love it where people ask me where I’m from because I love the answer. South Bend is great, but I also have missed hiking and trees and the west coast. I listen to rain sounds when I study and my room is full of pictures of the Pacific Northwest. And the Starbucks in La Fun didn’t even know how to make my drink.

8. How to think like Thomas Aquinas and how to tap dance and how to nap
I put these three all on the same item number because I think they are more or less of equal importance ;). I’ve learned so many intellectual, fun, health, and life skills. For example, napping. I have become a serious professional napper-- lay down and set the timer for 23 minutes, fall asleep within one or two, and wake up as soon as the alarm rings, refreshed and ready for anything. It's a valuable life skill.

9. Of things I need to work on
I’ve realized that I still have much to improve on, like listening, going to bed at a good time, and making time for important things like reflection and yoga. I don’t think there is any place in the world better for working on yourself than in college, though, and I’m excited to grow even more as a human being.

10. That I made the right college decision
When I got my acceptance letter to Notre Dame, I came in the door and said, (I kidd you not-- these were my exact words) “Mom I got into Notre Dame! Wow that’s cool. I’m not going to go there, but it’s still cool”. And then I proceeded to throw my full acceptance envelope/letter on the couch and went upstairs to do homework.
It’s safe to say that my position on the university has adequately changed. There’s no way to express what an amazing place this school is, so I’m not even going to try. I will just say that I feel so INCREDIBLY blessed to have made this freak decision to go to a school I knew so very little about, because it is the perfect university for me.
I have already made friends that I know I will keep for life and learned so many invaluable life lessons. In the less than two weeks that I’ve been home, I have already had three dreams about moving back in.

And all this in just one year. I’m so grateful for the past 10 months, and I cannot wait to see what the next three years will bring.
Happy summer, and GO IRISH!

What is American Studies?

American Studies focuses on one big question: what does it mean to be an American? This is not an easy question to answer and the stakes are high. As a nation of natives and immigrants, the United States has always encompassed diverse racial and ethnic groups. Throughout rapidly changing historical and global contexts, Americans have forged various cultures expressing the diversity of American experience as well as an ideological heritage shaped by the ideals of democracy and equality. American Studies examines those cultures, societies, and politics from multiple critical perspectives. How do we express, institutionalize, celebrate, and contest American identities?
One of the signature strengths of the department of American Studies at Notre Dame is transnational American Studies, which explores the movement of people, products, and ideas across nation-state borders and studies the cultural and political impact of such shifts. Our research and courses focus on key issues in transnational American Studies, including immigration, imperialism, globalization, and the image of the United States abroad.
Like all majors in the College of Arts and Letters, we emphasize research, analysis, writing, and communication skills. Because American Studies is inherently interdisciplinary, we employ the tools of history, literature, political science, journalism, media studies, visual and material culture studies, and more to answer these questions.

More about AMST!

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Choosing a College- What I Should Have Thought About

4/30/2016

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Tomorrow is National Decision Day-- and what an important decision there is to be made-- one that will not only impact the next four years of your life, but also shape you into who you want - or don't want - to become.

It's late in the process, and if you've already made your decision, way to be on top of the game. I trust that you made a good one and that you'll be able to create a great experience at wherever you end up.

If you haven't made your decision yet, I thought I would write about some things that I love about my school but didn't really think about considering when I signed and sent in my commitment form.

If you were accepted to the University of Notre Dame, I have only one piece of advice for you-- COME.

If not, here are some things to think about:

1. DO NOT choose a school based on your major.
I, and the majority of my freshman class, have already changed our majors at least once-- not to mention adding and subtracting minors and supplementary majors. DO look at the offerings of the university (variety of course options, instructor ratings, class sizes, department size), but choose a university that will allow you to explore and find your passions, and that will be supportive of you doing it at every step along the way.

2. Don't think too much about the weather.
The weather here is anything but a tropical paradise, but it's really not so bad. One thing I think I wan't thinking about is that it is acceptable to wear a parka and snow boots and use an umbrella here-- you will survive, and appreciate good weather when it comes around.

3. Choose a school that will CHALLENGE you.
In all ways-- academically, but also that will help you to grow by introducing you to people who come from a different background, new cultures, activities, opportunities, and ways of thinking. Please, please, PLEASE don't shy away from a school that has a heavy course load and high academic vigor. My academic year has been the hardest, but also the most positively challenging, rewarding, and amazing, time I have ever been through.

4. Really look at the community of the school.
It may seem like college is all about independence... it's not. It has been SO important to have the community I have here in my dorm, PEMCo, and on campus. Look for a school where the biggest competition is going to be against yourself. Even if you can't find a community that will put their arms around each other and sing the alma mater, find one that will cheer you on and be there for you though times that college is sure to bring. I thought the only way to find this was through a greek system, but I wouldn't trade my Cavanaugh sisterhood for anything.

5. Think about safety.
There's not much I can say about this except that it's so convenient to be able to leave my laptop at a desk in the library and have it be there when I get back. There are so many things to worry and stress about in college, don't make your safety one of them.

6. Don't worry about going far from home.
You will be so busy in college, you won't have much room to dwell on the thousands of miles between you and your cat. I will not lie, it is hard at first-- really hard. But going though it makes you a stronger person, teaches you to be independent and resourceful, and forces you to rely on your school community. Not only this, but I think it's good to venture geographically farther away from home. You will experience a totally different culture, population, and part of the country or world.

Finally, I want to tell you to choose a school you love.
Choose one that you will be so proud of that your whole wardrobe is revamped with it's gear and colors (mine was). Choose one that you can rave to your family and friends about, and smile when you think of all of your fun times (I do). Choose one that you are jumping up and down to go back to in the fall (I AM). And choose one that you can't imagine leaving after four years (I can't).

Think hard. Choose well. And get so excited for all that the next four years will be.

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10 TOP 10s of my Semester Abroad

FINALLY, the moment you've all been waiting for. Here's a glimpse at my semester with 1 second of video from every day! Enjoy!

LIFE UPDATE! May 17th, 2017... Farms, Fun, Friends, and Far Far Away

10 Reasons you need a best friend, as illustrated through text messages

10 Worthy Western Washington Day Hikes

Happy Hiking!

DORM SHOPPING: A guide to saving your wallet now, and your sanity later

Everything I actually want to say when asked my favorite musical

50 Documentaries to be obsessed with. (I am).

My first year at Notre Dame through 10 things I've learned

Choosing a College- What I Should Have Thought About

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