Winter Adventures

You're in Vermont, February has just begun, the temperatures are dropping, and you don't ski. Now what? First of all, don't panic! While we may be outside less than we are in September, Saint Mike's does not go underground for the winter, and neither does Burlington. There are still plenty of things to do - you may just need to wear more clothes while doing them. As I said in my last post, a hockey game can be fun, but in case they are away the week you're looking for something to do, here are a few more options. 

In case you missed it - we are officially in snow season!

1. Adventure Sports Program 
If you don't ski but still want to get in some outdoor exercise, sign up for the Adventure Sports listserv or stop by their office (basement of Alumni Hall). We offer snowshoe hikes, ice-climbing excursions, and - if you're truly adverse to venturing outside - paddlesports practice in the pool. Adventure Sports programs usually cost between $5 and $15, and equipment is always included. If you don't mind some physical activity, check them out!

2. Burlington Winter Lights 
Church Street decorates for Christmas, but starting in February, Church Street lights up for the winter! This weekend is the official Winter Lights event, with the lights going on this Friday and other events happening Saturday, but the lights stay on past that. Another cool feature is that different stores on Church Street will sponsor ice carvings, which will also go out at that time. Even if you cannot make it down this weekend, the lights are worth the busride. While you're there, warm up with something from Leunig's Petit Bijou, which opened New Year's weekend and has quick kiosk service with excellent food.

Winter Lights - 2016

3. Coffee Shops 
You may or may not know this, but Burlington falls into that rare category of places where Starbucks and local coffee shops can coexist peacefully. I am still finding new places to visit and each offers something different. As you may know from previous posts, Uncommon Grounds is where I discovered my beloved maple latte. Last weekend's town excursion included my first visit to Muddy Waters, which takes a "zen" environment to another level. This weekend, I hope to make it to New Moon Cafe, which I am told has good breakfast. That's only three places; there are quite a few more that I hope to visit before I graduate. Whether you want a different place to do homework for a few hours or you just really need that caffeine fix, take your pick - they will all be good. 

A glimpse of the Muddy Waters aesthetic 

Latte art will always be classic.

Burlington has a lot to offer during the winter, and so does Saint Mike's! Take my short list and run with it; there are other sports to watch, places to visit, and restaurants to try. These are what I would recommend doing, but don't be afraid to go out and just explore - I found a free local cheese tasting that way just last week. 
Laura

Ice Hockey

My apologies for the delayed post - contrary to what some may think, "syllabus week" comes with a large amount of work attached to it. However, I still found time for some fun. This past Friday, I finally went to an ice hockey game. And I don't mean a Saint Mike's game specifically - I had never been to a hockey game before last week. Ever. In New Jersey, if your family isn't made up of hockey people, you will rarely encounter the sport. But I finally went to one, and it was definitely worth it. 

We play at local Cairns Arena, which is in South Burlington.

Saint Mike's may not be a major sports school like Penn State or Syracuse, but that doesn't mean we lack team spirit. Hockey and basketball probably get the highest attendance, but every sport has their group of fans. Except the football team. (See what I did there?)

For someone new to the sport, a college hockey game is the perfect place to learn. You get a good view without paying an arm and a leg - our home games are free - and (or so I have been informed) there is much less fighting than in an AHL game, which makes it easier to follow what's happening on the ice. If you go with friends patient enough to answer all your questions, you can definitely get at least a basic grasp on the game within two periods. 

Even though we lost, it was still a fun experience. I don't usually attend a lot of sports events, but I'm glad I went to this game and I will probably go to more. True to our northern location, Saint Mike's seems to bond best at cold events, and hockey is no exception. 

I'm keeping this post short, because while I may grasp the basics of hockey, I am certainly not a sportswriter. Stay tuned for more adventures to come!

Laura

Want to attend a hockey game yourself? Click here for the men's hockey page and here for the women's. 

A Cappella Season

For most college students, the last week of classes for the semester is a time of stress, exhaustion, and anticipation to go home - my congrats if only the last of those three applies to you. But at SMC, approximately Thursday of that week through Sunday of finals week is also home to a wonderful part of campus... a cappella concerts! We have four lovely groups that call Saint Mike's home - each of them with their own style and their own concert. I thought I would give you a rundown of who's who in the SMC a cappella world. 

McCarthy Recital Hall - where all the magic happens

In order of their concerts...

Sleepless Knights (@thesleeplessknights)
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend this concert - I was actually at a food/movie night with one of my classes! But I did make one Sleepless Knights performance this semester; they did a collaborative concert with UConn's a cappella group Extreme Measures. That was a dynamic experience. 

Sleepless Knights is one of our two mixed a cappella groups on campus. Some things you can always count on: their duets will always be perfectly in sync, and their harmonies will never miss a beat. 

Mike Check (@mikechecksmc)
You know a Mike Check concert is coming when they start singing everywhere. What better self- advertising is there than singing your way around campus? From an SMC dorm life perspective, few things are as cool as being able to push up your window and hear live music from the quad below. 

Our all-men a cappella group, Mike Check is always unpredictable, always entertaining, and always a good show. Case in point: among the features of their concert this year were a poetry slam, a Christmas medley, and some very unique dance moves. 

My two favorite songs from their concert: "Oh Shenandoah," because the harmonies are beautiful, and "God Only Knows," because I'm a Beach Boys person (and the harmonies are wonderful). 

Of course, I do have to give a shout-out to my fellow POW alum, Owen Freeman. Awesome job with "Wagon Wheel!"

Acabellas (@acabellas_smc)
The Acabellas are our beautiful ladies' acapella group! They do an awesome job at showcasing everyone's voices by having an eclectic variety of songs, from Sia's "Chandelier" to Ed Sheeran's "I See Fire" (from the 2013 Hobbit movie). My favorite song from this semester's concert? "Telescope," by Hayden Panettiere. To add another genre, a classic Acabellas song is Ingrid Michaelson's "The Chain." The Acabellas cover a lot of musical styles, and they cover them all well.

I must confess that I pay a little more attention to the Acabellas, because my wonderful friend and floormate Meghan is a proud member. For that reason, I can say that although the Acabellas do not have a beatboxer like the previous two groups, you would never notice - they are always in time and their singing is purely enchanting.

Soulful Harmony
Soulful Harmony is the other mixed a cappella group at Saint Mike's. For some reason, McCarthy was not as packed for Soulful Harmony - I have absolutely no idea why. With a smooth 50s-60s vibe, that 2pm concert the Sunday of finals week was a moment of calm before the week became chaotic. 

As the name might suggest, the group's best feature is their pitch perfect (see what I did there?) harmonies that stayed perfectly in tune the entire concert through a number of chord progressions. My favorite song of theirs, for that and other reasons, was James Taylor's "That Lonesome Road." 

Soulful Harmony had a slightly shorter concert than the other three groups - but considering their performance time slot was during finals week and not before, that's not exactly a bad thing. Especially if you consider quality over quantity.

Snowy campus pictures make good section breaks.

As you could tell, I give rather high reviews. I love a cappella music, and as someone who has sung in groups and played instruments, I have a lot of respect for what these singers do. They work extremely hard, and it shows; the least I can do is watch them perform and rave about them afterwards. 

This will most likely be my last post until classes resume in January - tragic, I know. I may post about break, I may not; we'll see. But regardless, enjoy the holidays, however you choose to spend them, and may your year end on a high note.*

Laura

*Couldn't help one last music reference!

Why a Double Major is Worth It

At any Saint Mike's admissions event, they will tell you that a double major is entirely doable - and it is! You may want to think twice (or even three times) about some combinations, but I definitely recommend considering it as the College's academic requirementst really make it an option. The planning is the most complicated part, and there's plenty of people who can help with that. At least in my experience, my two majors complement each other very well, and I feel like I learn more in each discipline because of what I have learned in the other.

I declared an Economics minor last semester; I officially became an International Relations and Economics double major in September. When I started at Saint Mike's, I knew what type of classes I wanted to take but had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do afterwards. I'm still not entirely sure, but supplementing International Relations with Economics (and vice versa) is getting me closer, even if only because I periodically learn what I do not want to spend my life doing.

Being a double major will mean that your class schedule is more defined, as the number of required courses goes up. But course requirements can overlap, especially in my case as International Relations includes several departments outside political science. Topics will be repeated, but from different perspectives, which really helps define your interests. This intersection also means concepts are covered more in depth, which has made me much more interested in the material. That really enriches the learning experience - if you like that sort of thing, and I do!

Really, the benefits of being a double major come down to the classes you take, and the professors. The two disciplines can stay as separate or as interconnected as you want; likewise, what you discuss with professors can be strictly class-based or can pull in what you've learned from other subjects. Personally, I feel like I have made much better connections with my professors this semester - that may be a natural consequence of having spent more time on campus, but at least part of it is because I am more informed about what I'm studying, and have more specific interests this time around.

If you are willing to push yourself for that extra experience, and there is another subject calling to you, maybe it's time to have a conversation with a professor or two.

Good luck with exams; December break is almost here!

Laura 

Picture credit: http://www.eubulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/TRADE-MAP.jpg