Study cove and gingerbread!

Hey all. Finals ended about a week ago and I think they went pretty well. I didn’t get a ton of sleep during the week of exams and papers (not surprisingly), but I got all my work in on time and studied hard. I’m hoping the hard work paid off, and now I’m back in NY to enjoy the holiday season with friends and family.

I don’t have any extensive plans for the vacation, but I’m looking forward to relaxing at home and catching up on a bit of sleep. It’s hard to imagine that this is my last winter vacation as a Bates student. If grad school is in my future than this may not be my final holiday break, but for now I’m approaching it as my last long college vacation. Besides relaxing and spending time with family and friends I do need to start doing some research and reading for my senior thesis as well as continue the job search. Tomorrow is Christmas so I think I’ll give myself a break until then.

As promised, I did take a picture of my study cove from final exam week. It doesn’t look as crazy this year because I didn’t have a single spot that I stayed in throughout the week. I cycled between several locations to keep the mind fresh and the inspiration flowing. The picture below is from a night I spend studying in the Ronj:

I also took the time (as always) to make a gingerbread house with friends. The structure was pre-assembled, but we decorated all on our own. I hope you enjoy the picture. Until next time… Happy Holidays!

A break from Commons

Hey all. As delicious as the food is at Commons, sometimes it is nice to take a break and grab a meal with friends. If you have a soft spot for Italian food as I do, I recommend Davinci’s Eatery. Davinci’s is only a few minutes from campus and has a friendly staff, a warm atmosphere, reasonable prices and, of course, delicious food. If you are ever in the Lewiston area, it’s the place to go for a good meal. There are plenty of other options if Italian food doesn’t float your boat. For Indian food, Mother India is the place to go. It’s also quite close to the Bates campus and is truly tasty. The Lewiston/Auburn area is full of food options, so check out the Bates local restaurant guide if you want to learn more.

Sometimes, even though there is an array of local options, it’s nice to seek comfort in some home-cooked food. Last week, some friends of mine (Caroline and Diane) made some pumpkin curry soup and home-made french fries. Carrots, celery and fresh bread were also served. The meal was excellent and the company even better. Check out the pictures of the meal below. Until next time, it’s back to studying!

Finals Time Approaches…

Hey all. After a wonderful Thanksgiving break, it’s time to start focusing on final exams, presentations and papers. Tomorrow marks the first day of the last week of regular classes. Finals week will take place Dec. 13th-18th. I have a 12-page Spanish research paper due this Friday which will be a bit tough, but otherwise my finals aren’t looking too daunting. I have a take-home exam for a politics class and then two in-class exams for my other classes.

In a strange way, it’s comforting to know that everyone else gets stressed by final exams and papers, too. Seeing other students studying into the late hours of the night while chugging caffeinated drinks, has a relaxing effect on me. It inspires me to be on top of my work, organized and calm. With that said, I’ve still stocked up on snack food and soda to prepare myself for the many hours of work and studying that are ahead of me in the next two weeks.

I will try to post a picture of my finals study area next week. I typically form a cocoon of books, papers, notes, bags of potato chips, soda, etc. around me. I just sit in the middle of it all, under the glow of one small lamp, and slowly plug away at all the work… I try my best to make studying an enjoyable experience.

Besides schoolwork, there’s a lot to keep me busy. On Saturday, the men’s basketball team played host to rival Bowdoin College. Bates students packed Alumni Gym for the game. As a means of intimidation, students dressed in all black clothes to represent a “black out.” The Bates Bobcats prevailed with a resounding 86-65 victory. The Bates supporters chanted throughout the contest and at times you could barely hear yourself think. I was fortunate enough to catch a great offensive posession for Bates that ended in a dunk and wild cheering from the crowd. Check it out below. You can read more about Bates Athletics here. Until next time… Let’s Go, Bobcats!