What's My Wednesday? A Day in My Life

As you've (hopefully) noticed, all of my blog posts are on Wednesdays, so I thought I'd tell you a bit about what a Wednesday usually looks like for me. My schedule varies from day to day, but Wednesdays are usually pretty set in stone - as much as anything is in college.

9am (Really 9:05) - Every day, my amazing friend Emily waits patiently for me to finally get out of bed and shower so we can go to breakfast. Usually, by 9:05 we are on our way, by 9:08 my hair is frozen, and by 9:10 we are finally eating. Sorry, Em! My typical breakfast is eggs and potatoes, with strawberries if I'm lucky and iced coffee if I have time to make some. On the very rare day that we eat earlier, I spoil myself and have an omelette. 

9:45-10:50am - My first class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays is Principles of Microeconomics with Professor Walsh. 9:45 is a solid time to start your day -there's a 9:45 class on every day of the week, so it's a good way to get a routine set. If you're like me, you'll also have plenty of time to sleep in and still get a good breakfast. Curious about my classes? Check out my course schedule.

11am - Homework time at Einstein's! My goal this semester was to spend more time studying in places other than my room, to change things up a bit and keep me focused. Although I get less work done because I'm hanging out with friends, I have enough time to be slightly productive and still catch up on my friends' lives. A quick snack is also always welcome, and there is nowhere better than Einstein's for that. 

Einstein's has much more than bagels and coffee - try the sweet potato fries!

12:45pm - Lunch in Alliot can be hit or miss for me, as I am not really a lunch person in general. But I always find something to suit my mood, and on a really lucky day we have smoothies, which always make lunch worth it.

1:30-2:35pm - My only other Wednesday class is Effects of Climate Change with Professor Hope. Although science is far from my strong point, Professor Hope does a great job connecting concepts to current events, as well as expanding more on topics the class is more curious about. The class I was dreading has become one of the most entertaining and informative hours of my week. 

3pm - There is a 2:43 bus into Burlington that I can just make after class, so every Wednesday I go to Scout and Company in Winooski to do homework for a few hours. A Masala Chai or a Maple Cappuccino are my top choices; they also have some very creative ice cream flavors if you're feeling adventurous. When the weather's nice, I skip the bus and walk back, as it's only about a mile. 

Above: my first maple cappuccino with some awesome cacti
Below left: Scout's back counter and menu
Below right: A Single of Scout's storemade ice cream

5:30pm - Time for dinner and more conversations with friends. I work Monday through Wednesday nights, but on Wednesdays I have more time to chat because work starts an hour later. I rarely get everything from one station in Alliot, so dinner can mean a fairly eclectic plate sometimes. One of my favorite meals is getting shrimp and vegetables stir-fried, then putting that on pasta. As for dessert, everything is better with ice cream.

7-9pm - I am an attached tutor for an Economics class, which means I am assigned to a specific professor's sections in order to keep pace with their schedule. I have scheduled group hours once a week, and drop-in hours once a week as well. Drop-ins are on Wednesday nights, so I either spend some time helping other students with Economics or working on my own Economics homework. Not a bad deal either way, as helping students also helps me remember the material I've learned. My assigned tutoring room is in the Academic Enrichment Commons, which is one of the best study spots and resources in the library, in my opinion.

Durick Library, in all its winter glory

The AEC, where I work!

9:15pm - Although sometimes a night just has to be sacrificed to a homework assignment, I try to give myself at least an hour of downtime at the end of the day. Since my schedule can get so busy, having time to just be is equally as important as having assignments done and readings read. Depending on the day, you might find me watching This is Us or Superior Donuts, my new favorite shows, or just reading a book. A cup of tea is often necessary at this point. 

11pm - Time for bed! I've learned that I am just not my best if I have under seven hours of sleep - eight or nine is really better. While this may seem silly for college, going to sleep around the same time helps my body prep for the next day and leaves me more refreshed than if I had ten hours of sleep one night and six the next.

In case you don't follow VT weather: we still have snow, and it is still cold.

I hope you liked hearing about my typical day - reach out if you have any questions! I am not sure what my next post will be, but hopefully temperatures will warm up so I can share some proper spring pictures.

Until next time, 
Laura

Burlington on a Budget

Burlington, Church Street especially, is known for its food, from fine French dining at Leunig's to fresh pasta at Pascolo. But fear not - if you're really strapped for cash or just want something to try, there are plenty of options for you, too. 

1. Tastings
There are always free samples on Church Street - you just have to keep your eyes open. Lake Champlain Chocolates almost always has chocolate or fudge samples out. Besides chocolate, you can also grab a cup of amazing dark hot chocolate, or some really good ice cream if you're up for a snack. In the mood for something savory? Saratoga Olive Oil also lets you try literally every product in their store, which ranges from infused olive oils and balsamics to different types of salt. It's polite to buy something after trying all of those things, of course, but once you've tried them, if you're anything like me you'll wind up walking out with at least one bottle. 

2. Leunig's Petit Bijou
This is my new favorite place - everything is really good and very affordable. If you want a snack, I recommend the scones or the beignets, but they also have salads and other dishes that work as full meals. There is no seating as it is just an outdoor stand, but unlike Leunig's itself, nothing they serve requires a full set of silverware and a cloth napkin for your lap. 

If you know me, you know I love scones - 10/10 would recommend this maple one. 

3. Sweetwaters
I will always recommend Sweetwaters to anyone who asks for food recommendations, but it really is delicious and accommodates a variety of tastes, diets, and budgets. They even have a gluten-free menu - not just a gluten-free hamburger bun option. One of my favorite things to do when I go there with a group is to only buy appetizers (and dessert of course) and then split the check. We get to try a lot of dishes, there's plenty of food, and the bill for each person is much smaller than if we'd ordered an appetizer, entree, and dessert individually. Throwing a salad into the mix boosts the number of vegetarian dishes on the table, and everyone is happy. 

Molten Chocolate Cake and Maple Crème Brûlée - yum!

These are only a few of the places I have been to recently, but there are plenty of budget-friendly menus on Church Street, including Asiana Noodle Shop and b.good. Whatever you're in the mood for, Burlington has. 

Until next time, 
Laura