The IU Art Museum, recently renamed The Eskenazi Museum of Art in May 2016, is an extraordinary place on campus to visit. It is located on 7th Street between the Fine Arts Building and the Wildermuth Intramural Center. The huge triangle-shaped architecture, designed by I.M. Pei, is noticeable from any direction on campus. 

It is a great thing for IU students that the Museum has an enormous amount of collections and ranks as the second largest museum in the State of Indiana. On the other hand, it is hard for us to know what to look at among 1,400 displays. 

Don't worry! Here is a list of some coolest objects in the Art Museum that I highly suggest you look over when you visit. Some of them are absolutely beautiful, some are extremely rare, and some look so modern that you wouldn't believe they were made thousands of years ago. I hope there's one that you like!

1. Cute Tiny Glass Vessels 
   
   
   
   These tiny vessels were made between the 1st and 2nd century AD and were used by nobles to store cosmetics. Yes, ancient people put make-up on their face and body just like us today, but the ancient cosmetics were usually expensive, so only wealthy people could afford them. Though the museum has a variety of glass vessels, you should pay special attention to No. 16! It is so tiny and can only hold two drops of water. I really want to know how it was used back in Ancient Rome, don't you?
    
2. The Rock Crystal Salt Cellar 
   
   
   
   No, this is not glass! It is made from extremely rare rock crystal; the crystal is so pure and translucent that everyone thinks it's glass. This wonderful salt cellar was made in Milan during the late 1500s -- the age of Renaissance and exploration. It is a great object that perfectly combines the beauty of nature and the excellence craftsmanship. 
    
3. "Trump and Hillary?"
   
   
   
   Well, you may already notice that these two persons are not really Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but they look so similar, right? I pointed to my friends and shouted "Hillary and Trump" when I first saw it. This is a marble Roman urn made during the 1st century AD. The woman and man on the urn are a couple.
    
4. Animal-pattern Wine Pitcher
   
   
   
   This modern-looking wine pitcher with a series of repetitive animal patterns (lions, rabbits, and monsters with wings) is a typical piece of Corinthian pottery. The layers of animal patterns and the three color combination (tan, black, red) are attributes that were most popular in ancient Greece. The idea of repeating one, or a few, fixed patterns to offer viewers visual satisfaction has continued in today's design industry, e.g. the LV on Louis Vuitton products.
    
5. "My friends, here are some my-head-shape wine bottles for your Christmas..."
   
   
   
   People from the Bronze Age throughout ancient Greece loved vessels in the shape of human heads. However, these vessels look awkward to us now and most modern beverage companies don't really want to use this strategy to scare their customers. (I'm very glad that Trump Winery didn't exist in ancient Greece!)
    
6. Chef's Special in the Art Museum--"Seafood Combo"
   
   
   
   This plate, made in Venice during the 16th century, evokes the style of Bernard Palissy, a French ceramic artist famous for his earthenware products embellished with naturalistic reliefs of plants and animals. I recommend you to come see this artwork when you are hungry. The fish may look especially delicious.
    
7. Symbol of Beauty in Mende Society
   
   
   
   This is a wooden mask used by Mende women during religious rituals. It may not look very reasonable to us; the forehead, the five combs at the top, the small eyes, and the double chins are not the right sizes for an ordinary human being. All the extraordinary facial features reflect the ideological beauty for Mende women - smooth and clear forehead (nobility), small eyes (daintiness), downcast mouth (obedience), double chins (water spirit). 
    
8. The "that-would-look-great-on-my-girlfriend" necklace and earrings
   
   
   
   This is one of the many jewelry collections in the art museum (and also one of the jewelry pieces that may look good on your girlfriend). The necklace was made by Byzantine craftsmen during the early medieval era, 5th to 6th century. The three earrings were in Islamic style, made during the 8th to 9th century. These lovely jewels reflect the multicultural influences in the Near East during the rise and fall of empires. 

Planning to visit?

Be sure to visit the Eskenazi Museum of Art website to plan your visit! Admission is always FREE. If you are visiting at night (when the gallery is closed), don't forget to take a picture with your friends with your feet on the wall under the colorful light totem!

Related WeAreIU Blogs:
A Complete Freshman’s Guide To: Parent’s Weekend
Sophomore Year-An IU Photo Journal
Why I Chose IU: A Place to Make Memories

When I started thinking about what I could short list as the top foods of Bloomington, the list got longer and longer to the point where it wasn't even remotely a "short" list anymore.

Being a very ardent foodie, I have been able to indulge myself into the rich food cultures in Bloomington over the past three and a half years. I can recall spending most of the weekend nights in different restaurants through my first semester. I have always found it to be remarkable how such a small town in southern Indiana can have such diversity in food. The town has consistently  been put in the top 5 cities for "Best Foodie Cities" in the entire country. So one can imagine just how many choices there are, and can also not blame me so much for the freshmen 15!

My list is probably very subjective and also very situational based. Nevertheless, I would say the countdown for the best three places to eat in Bloomington are:

No. 3) Feast Bakery: This little bakery has everything you can imagine in such a small place. It has room for a small coffee meet, all the way to a full meal for lunch. The ambiance is so unexpectedly good, considering its such a small little place on the outside. Feast Bakery is always a nice place to dress up and go with friends or family. 

No. 2) Scotty's Brewhouse: Since I am very biased towards nice sit-down places to eat, where you can enjoy some times with your friends and not have the 'fast food' environment, I have found that Scotty's Brewhouse is a perfect fit for that. This is a good experience for an American food experience, with some great (albeit unhealthy!) food and drinks. However, the most overwhelmingly exciting part of Scotty's is their menu. They have a range of food and describe everything in such a appetizing way. I have wanted to order everything on the menu every time I've eaten there. 

And finally....

No. 1) Uptown Cafe: The Uptown Cafe is a nice, classy place for families to have a great gourmet meal for brunch, lunch or dinner. I have never had a bad experience there. Though it is upscale and costs a little more- I personally think it is worth every cent. The interesting thing about Uptown is that there is no actual distinguished or differentiating factor that makes it unique. But it is one of the oldest and most renowned upscale places, which gives it such a great reputation that it certainly lives up to!

I hope this gives you an idea of the better places to eat in Bloomington! I would love to hear other people's opinions on this as well. 

Let’s be honest...college is hard. No matter what school you go to, whether it is a big or small school, a public university or private university, you will face many challenges. Everyone will, at some point in his or her college experience, have a moment where he or she deals with stress.  In fact, I’m sure that whoever is reading this right now can agree that you have already dealt with stress so far in your life.  If you’re like me, you probably will experience stress on a daily basis.  Sometimes, the stress may even be hourly.  But I want you to know that, even though everyone has probably experienced stress, you and your experiences are unique to who you are as an individual. You have your own friends, routines, ambitions, worries and craziness and you know your life better than anyone. But I am here to tell you that you are not alone. Sometimes, no matter how amazing you are in school, your extra curricular activities, and staying in touch with your family and friends, life can become overwhelming. Life is a juggling act. What it all comes down to is your ability to use your time effectively and productively, while staying sane and taking time for yourself.  I am here to provide you with some insight about what I do to keep myself in check when my life feels like it’s spinning out of control.



I don’t know about you, but I am the type of person who feels incredibly relieved when I check something off a list. Writing things down makes me feel like I have some control in my life. Will you have assignments, tests and papers in college? Yes! Will you want to get together with friends and go out to eat? Of course! Will you have club meetings and group assignments? Probably. With all of these responsibilities, fun and maybe not so fun, your workload can become overwhelming. Because of this, I highly suggest you write down your responsibilities and plan in advance because this will help you remove pressure from your life. By doing this, hopefully you will no longer be surprised when you have a quiz and you won’t forget when you’re supposed to meet up with friends.

It’s never a good feeling when you feel unprepared. So prepare! If anything, even if you don’t follow your exact plan, it is rewarding to know that you have a plan. It also feels nice to know that you took 30 minutes or an hour out of your day to think about your future, whether it is the near or distant future. Not only will you have a better idea about what is going on in your life right now and in the coming weeks, but you will be able to gauge which points in your life will be the most stressful.  For example, you will know when a test is coming up. Knowing this will encourage you to make yet another plan for how to study for this test given the time you have to prepare. It will also make you feel less stressed right before the exam. If you know what is coming up and what responsibilities you have in advance, I guarantee you will feel better now and better later. So, even though the world may feel as though it is crashing upon you every once in a while, take a deep breath and take some time to yourself where you can write down all that you have to do. At the end of the day, you will have those responsibilities whether you do them or not. But life is so much more than just getting things done. Life is about doing the best you can with the circumstances you are in. So I encourage you to write. It will leave you feeling empowered in the present and happy in the end because you will know you tried your hardest. Worst comes to worst, things don’t go as you planned and you amend your habits. But don’t let that discourage you because life is all about learning how to better yourself after experiencing tough situations. 



So after you’ve planned your life out, you may experience some relief. But sometimes that relief just isn’t enough. It feels as though it’s only temporary because you are constantly looking forward and getting overwhelmed with how your responsibilities will never end. Even though you’ve been going above and beyond in all that you do, it still feels like you’re not doing enough, don’t have everything quite right, and still have more to excel in. But don’t let this chaos get you down. Take a breath, roll your shoulders back, and take some time for yourself. It is honestly frustrating when you feel like you are bearing the weight of the entire world on your shoulders and you don’t want to burden others with your stress because you know they too are overwhelmed with college. But remember that you are important and have worth. It’s okay to not be okay. Don’t feel bad for seeking help.

While it is awesome to utilize resources like friends or counselors, sometimes the best place to seek help is from yourself. When I have little time to get away, I go for a run or I workout for two hours. It allows me to focus on my body. Not only does it allow me to focus on something other than my responsibilities, but also it makes me feel like I have control. Plus, my body will thank me later. It is a win-win situation.  

But when I do have more time, I often introspect. I highly recommend that you try this too.  What I mean by introspect is that sometimes it’s good to just get away from life and people so you can truly think about how you are feeling. I, personally, love talking to others and being someone they can rely on. I love being a shoulder to cry on or a soundboard. I love giving advice. But sometimes, getting away from advice and the opinions of others can be beneficial.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I personally love going into nature. I love to just walk around and admire the beauty in life. I’m lucky enough to have a beautiful campus where I can do this on my walks to class, but sometimes it’s awesome to get off campus for a change of pace. Go on a hike. Or maybe just sit on a bench and look up at the trees. Go find a stream where you can listen to the water and leaves rustling. Doing this reminds me not only that there is beauty in the world, but that life is quite simple. Focus on your breath. This may sound silly, but focusing on your surroundings and your breath and heartbeat can divert your thoughts from responsibilities to just how awesome it is that you are a human being, here in this beautiful place we call earth.



So, even though college is a balancing act where you have so many expectations, responsibilities and things do to, I want to remind you that you have worth. You are important. When in doubt, think about why you are involved in all that you do. I hope that you are going to school so you can expand your interests, get a great education and go out into the world with the skills you need to make it a better place. I hope that you are doing what you are doing now so you can enjoy your life now and be passionate about what you do later. Time management is hard and, like anything in life, it is going to take practice. But just remember to take time for yourself and to never stop pushing yourself to be the best version of yourself you can be.

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett

Related We Are IU Articles:
Balancing Priorities in College
The Ups and Downs of College Life
A Healthier, Wealthier (maybe), Wiser You

I'm assuming almost everyone who gets an acceptance letter from college will immediately envision themselves out of their parents' sight and FREE. Sad story, though. That sense of freedom does not last long, especially during final exams week and when you are sick of all the junk foods in your dorm room. You might feel like you want to go back to your house, sit on a comfy couch, and eat your mom's homemade foods. 



As an international student, I lived with a host family with SIX kids last year in high school. It was quite a change when I first came to IU. It was no longer hectic in my room after I came back from classes. Most importantly, I didn't get to explore Bloomington. With a little bit of exaggeration, I felt as if IU was Bloomington.



A few weeks after I arrived on campus, I decided to find my own host family in Bloomington! I applied to a host family program that I found at one of the booths from a random event at Wells library. YES! GO TO EVERY SINGLE EVENT THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU LIKE!

Luckily, I got to meet the sweetest woman in Bloomington, Becky Hrisomalos. The program found my host based on my interest and personality that I put on the application. Sharing a great love of musicals, we have become best friends when we first met each other. Ever since then, Becky and I have had a host grandmother-granddaughter relationship. We meet every weekend and have lunch together. She took me to Lake Monroe once and showed me around. I never knew there was such a pretty place like that in Blomington.

She sometimes invites me for family dinner, since a lot of her family lives in Bloomington. Talking to some of her granddaughters who also go to IU makes me feel like I have found siblings on campus. This weekend, we went to watch the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". After the play, she invited me to the cast party that she hosted at her house. I had a chance to talk to the director, who was nominated for a Tony Award.

Thanks to Becky, I am able to get to know more of the pretty side of Bloomington and gain an even deeper knowledge about the events that are happening on campus.
If you feel like you need a family in Bloomington, do not hesitate. I am sure you can find a lovely family as I did -- but probably not the "best" one, since I have the best person in town!



I love you Becky, from the moon and back! ❤️

Related WeAreIU Blogs:
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Note to Prospective College Students
Top 10 Freshman Year Moments

On Saturday the 26th of November, an age old tradition will return to Memorial Stadium. The Boilermakers will be rolling into town to partake in the 91st annual Old Oaken Bucket.


 
It is true that IU vs. Purdue football games have occurred since 1891, however, the Old Oaken Bucket was established in 1925 to better celebrate the schools' rivalry. Two men, IU alum Dr. Clarence Jones and Purdue alum Russel Gray, believed the winner of the football game should be adorned with a trophy to showcase at their school. They did not want just any generic trophy: they needed something special. The two visited a rural Indiana farm in search for such a prize and returned with a wooden bucket used to collect water from a well. What other kind of trophy is most fit for Indiana football? 

The bucket was presented to the Presidents of IU and Purdue at the game in 1925. It was said that whoever won would have a bronze block in the shape of their school's letter attached to the bucket. Coincidentally, the first Old Oaken Bucket ended in a tie, so the letters "IP" were the first bronze decorations; they hang proudly on the handle of this treasured prize. 

Every year, a new letter is attached. So far, Purdue leads 72-40-6, however, IU has dominated the game for the past three years and is looking for another victory this season. So make sure you're either at Memorial Stadium or watching the game on TV on Saturday to see who will take home the Old Oaken Bucket this year! 

Related WeAreIU Blogs:
A Senior Looks Back: Football Games & Tailgates
My IU Picture Diary - See for yourself why I love IU so much
10 Reasons Why I Love Being an IU Hoosier

Do your days end like this?



Do you, however, want them to end like this?



If you answered yes to either of the above, it simply means it is time to move into an apartment or house. Unfortunately, finding the right apartment is not easy, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Apartment searches are hard and complex, as there are many small things that you need to keep in mind while searching. I used the following guide during my apartment search:

1. Distance From Campus
   
   
   
   The first thing you should do before beginning your search is decide how far from or how close to campus you want to live. There are IU buses that go around the entire campus and Bloomington Transit, which cover a major part of Bloomington. While deciding the distance, think about the travel time to campus and the mode of transport you are going to take. If you have a car, this shouldn’t be a problem, but look into parking permits and parking spaces on campus.
    
2. Your Budget
   
   
   
   After deciding on the approximate location, calculate your budget - how much you would, ideally, like to spend on rent. It is only after this that you should go online and officially start looking at houses and apartments. I suggest going online after you are familiar with locations and distances as well, so your search is more informed. Additionally, you will be able to understand the general price range of the different locations in Bloomington. You may also have to pay additional fees if you have a car (garage fees) or a pet.
    
3. Apartment or House
   
   
   
   Next, you should choose between living in a house or an apartment. Each of them have their own pros and cons. For example, in a house, you get loads of empty space, may get bigger bedrooms, and food deliveries would be at your literal doorstep. However, with a house comes a larger responsibilities like cleaning and safety. In an apartment, you get a small, cute, and compact space. They are easier to clean, but no literal doorstep delivery. Also, furniture is an important thing to consider at this time. Many property managers offer furnished apartments.
    
4. Roommates +Contract Clauses
   
   
   
   The next step in the process is figuring out who you want to live with. You can live with friends or, if you are adventurous, you can go random and meet new people. While picking roommates, choose people you know you get along with because you will be spending A LOT of time together. It is a good idea to go sign your lease with the people you are planning to room with (if you know them). It is also handy to know that there are two types of leases, joint and individual leases. In a joint lease, irrespective of the number of people actually living in the house, you are responsible for the full amount of rent. In an individual lease, you are signing for your individual room and are only responsible for your share of the rent. Only The Park on Morton offers the individual leases. (They have both houses and apartments.)
    
5. Facilities and Management
   
   
   
   It is a good idea to look into the facilities the management offers, like a pool, gym etc. Many property management companies also include thins such as water bills and internet in their rent. Others do not have any inclusions. It's important to look into that and to remember that utilities (gas, electric, water, etc) are usually an additional cost.

I hope this steps make your search easier, and I hope your living experience is like this:



Related WeAreIU Blogs:
Looking for Off-Campus Housing in Bloomington
Adulting is hard: finding the perfect place for your budget
Your Ultimate Guide to Bloomington Apartment Hunting
 

Bloomington is home to over 100 restaurants in its downtown area. Many of these restaurants are a part of franchises that are extremely popular in this college town. However, the rest are independent restaurants run by local owners. Here is a list of my favorite restaurants that I like to call "Bloomington’s Hidden Gems". I have given them this title as it, unfortunately, took me a year to find them. But that hasn’t stopped me from making up for lost time!

1. Bub’s Burgers & Ice Cream
   480 N Morton St.
   
   
   
   Bub’s Burgers offers one of my favorite chicken sandwiches. Their prices are college student friendly and service is great. It is a cozy restaurant where you will definitely enjoy your meal. They are also "Home Of The Big Ugly Burger". This is an eating challenge, where you have to finish eating a one pound burger within a certain amount of time. If you complete the challenge, you get your picture on the wall.
   
   
   
   These are just some of the people that have completed the challenge. 
   
   
   
   The restaurant also has its own ice cream store. They offer many popular and specialty flavors of ice cream and malt shakes. They also decorate their walls uniquely. In the picture above, my friend clearly approves of the llama indulging on Bub’s.
2. Scholars Inn Gourmet Cafe
   801 N College Ave
   
   
   
   The Scholars Inn is one of the more pricey restaurants on the list. Their gourmet café offers an amazing fine dining experience and an excellent wine selection (if you are of age). The Scholars Inn is a great place if you want to celebrate something, or simply want some great fancy food. The experience is unique, as they are located in a beautiful 150 year old mansion. Here's just a sneak peek of the reception area.
   
   
    
3. India Garden
   531 N Walnut Street
   
   
   
   There are three Indian restaurants in Bloomington, and India Garden is one of the newest. It was previously located on 4th Street with all the ethnic restaurants. India Garden now has a small, cute space and has personalized service. The very humble owner comes to take the orders himself and makes sure that the food is of the quality and standard you want. But don’t let its size fool you - their chefs are excellent and food quality can compete with the best Indian restaurant in Bloomington. Its location makes it very popular among the students, who live within a few blocks. 
4. Upland Brewing
   350 W. 11th Street
   
   
   
   Upland is my go-to place for when I’m craving some serious fish and chips. It’s got a great sports feel and environment and would be a good place to catch the game. The pricing is reasonable and they have cute outdoor patio seating at night. The patio is a great place to just go catch up with some friends over delicious fried foods.
5. 3 Amigos
   610 N College Ave
   
   
   
   Bloomington offers an extensive selection of Mexican foods, ranging all over the price scale. 3 Amigos has definitely become one of my favorite ‘go-to’  Mexican restaurants, not only because of its proximity to my present apartment but also because of the simple environment and awesome experience. 3 Amigos will always play popular, catchy Mexican music with killer beats. You can also hear the music when you walk past the store. Their upbeat environment always helps me get out of the worst mood. Their menu has all the popular Mexican dishes and their generous portions are definitely worth the price.

This isn’t an exclusive list of popular restaurants in Bloomington, but these are some of my favorite go-to restaurants. There are many many more restaurants around Bloomington that deserve to be on this list and I will inform you the moment I find them. For now, I’m leaving you with something from 3 Amigos.



Related WeAreIU Blogs:
Restaurants That Should Be On Your Radar (for When Your Parents Come to Visit)
The Best Eats in Bloomington, Indiana
Food in Bloomington Kicks Serious Butt - Indiana University

Happy Thanksgiving! Being from a completely different region of the US, this was my first time home since I began my freshman year at IU. With this photo journal, I was hoping to give a perspective into what my Thanksgiving Break looked like, from traveling to the airport and flying home to flying back. While not every moment was documented in pictures, I tried to take some that I thought were interesting and showcased my break.

Recently, my family moved into a house we had been building for nearly two years. This was really exciting, except that it meant a lot of my break was spent moving all of my belongings from one house to the next. The rest was spent with my family in my hometown of Doylestown, PA, which is about an hour north of Philadelphia. I was really excited to go back to where I've grown up and see my family again, especially my two cats (Alexander the Great and Oliver). I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that yours was just as relaxing as mine! 

After finishing up my classes on Friday, I hopped on a GoExpress bus at Willkie to take me to the Indianapolis Airport, so I could catch my flight to Philly.





The benefit of choosing IU is that traveling in the Indianapolis Airport is really easy. The airport isn't as complicated as some others I've been in, so I felt confident flying home.









As I mentioned previously, my family is in the process of moving. While our old house was only about 5 minutes away from our new one, we somehow still managed to make at least 25 trips between the two in order to bring over our belongings. I was really excited to see our new house, because I had been a part of the building process up until I left for college and my mom had been sending my updates for the past three months. If there was one thing I learned from this break it was this: I. Hate. Moving. I absolutely hate it. But between stressed out visits to pack more things, I had the chance to spend some quality time with my two huge fluffy cats. By Tuesday, the house was really beginning to look put together! 

On one of our outings, my mother and I stopped by this garden store called Terrain. We decided to look around for some Christmas decorations and this place definitely didn't disappoint. I probably could have filled this entire post with pictures from this place!​













I do have to admit that Thanksgiving isn't a very big deal in my household, in all honesty. We don't live very close to my extended family, so usually it is just my parents, my mother's parents, and my brother (although he decided to stay at Brown to finish up some of his schoolwork for grad school). We took this chance to use our new kitchen and dining room, though, and, with only a few mishaps trying to figure out how things worked, we had a delicious family dinner. I do miss some good home cooking while I'm at IU! 









The rest of my break was filled with relaxing, watching the Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix, and driving around my hometown. Eventually, Sunday morning arrived and my parents had to drive me back to the airport to head back to IU. Driving to the Philadelphia International Airport is one of my favorite drives because we take a route that goes around center city Philly and get a great view of the skyline!









Well, that concludes my Philadelphia Thanksgiving photo journal. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now...commence the holiday music and countdown to winter break!



Related WeAreIU Blogs:
Four Great Ways to Spend Thanksgiving/Spring Break
Top 10 Freshman Year Moments
A Senior Looks Back: Football Games & Tailgates

1. Where’s Waldo?
   
   
   
   I spent hours trying to find Waldo in the children's book series when I was young and now it looks like I've found him for real!
    
2. Super Villains
   
   
   
   Who doesn’t love the bad guys? 
    
3. Superheroes
   
   
   
   Who else will round up the bad guys at IU? Superheroes will never go out of style.
    
4. The Banana?
   
   
   
   I guess this is a Halloween classic? I literally saw four bananas, each on a separate occasion. To be honest, I don’t really get the costume. But, hey, it’s funny.
    
5. Clown Scare
   
   
   
   They hide in dark corners of the campus and scare all those that pass them. Let’s just hope Halloween is the only day we see them at IU. 

So what costume did you wear this Halloween? 

Related WeAreIU Blogs:
American Holidays in Peru: Halloween
October: The Busiest Month of the School Year?
Hoosier Halloween

This election was a big one, to say the least, and the one thing that I’m sure everyone can agree on is that it hit a nerve in each and every one of us. Unfortunately, political campaigns often stress the weaknesses of other candidates and it seems as though this emphasis on putting the other candidate down has been even more prevalent during this election. This election has been an emotionally draining process, regardless of which candidate you voted for, but it is important to note that the emotions, opinions and discussions should not end now that the election is over.   

Throughout this election, I have heard numerous perspectives regarding our President-elect, and for that I am lucky. I think people often forget that we live in a country where we are blessed with the opportunity to share our beliefs. It is a privilege that every individual has voice. It is very easy for us to get lost in the chaos and swallowed by emotion, and this sometimes leads us to forget that we owe it to everyone to at least listen. This does not mean that our emotions don’t matter. In fact, it is the opposite. Precisely because our emotions, beliefs, and voices matter, we must listen to others. We cannot expect to be heard if we are not willing to listen to others ourselves.  
       
I have heard the voices of those who believe that this presidency will be a great thing because our economy will grow. I have heard that this presidency will be a horrible thing because we will only take steps backwards and our progress, specifically regarding social justice, will count for nothing. I’ve heard that it is a good thing that we have a business man in office because he will provide a new diverse perspective on how we run this country and it goes to show that everyone, regardless of your background, has an equal opportunity here in America. I have also heard people say that we need a person in office who has had previous government experience. I have heard people who are strongly pro-choice and I have heard people who are strongly pro-life. I have heard arguments from those who are influenced heavily by their religion and others who are not. I have heard the voices from both men and women. I have heard people say that they want us to have our first woman president and I’ve heard people say that, while it is great that we have progressed into a world where we have the opportunity to vote for a female president, now is not the time. But, while it is great that I was able to hear opinions from all across the board, I think the most important thing is that I heard at all. I listened. I wanted to know more. When I did make the choice to talk about the election, I asked people about the pros of their candidate. I wanted to get out of this vortex of negativity because I did not want to hear about all of the cons about the opposing candidate.

For some, it is a challenge to come to terms with the results of the election and for others this win is a step in the right direction. But, regardless of your beliefs, we first must acknowledge the fact that Donald Trump secured the necessary 270 votes within the Electoral College, despite losing the national popular vote. What matters is what we do now.  From his win, what are the pros and cons? Let’s have a discussion. In fact, let’s have numerous discussions. We cannot move forward by remaining stagnant. We can no longer place blame or hate our country and the people that live in it. We must educate ourselves about the issues at hand. Most importantly, we must listen and we must empathize. Although I cannot say that we are more similar than we are different, I would like to believe that we can connect with each other on more levels than we know.

It truly saddens me to see our people so divided. It pains me to hear that some people feel silenced. We don’t need to accept others opinions, but we do need to listen to them. We must accept the fact that everyone deserves a basic level of respect. We have all been through many different experiences, but let us use those experiences to bring us together rather than tear us apart. Relationships are the most important thing we have. So do not isolate yourself. This change we are making revolves around listening to others.

My theory is that people hate what they don’t understand and when conversations get tough, it is much easier to avoid talking than to calmly have a rational discussion. Unfortunately, conversations morph into heated monologues and, once again, the conversations end leaving people more opinionated than before and less willing to empathize and listen because they themselves were not granted the opportunity to speak their minds in the first place. So I urge you all to take a deep breath and just listen when someone has something to say. America is rooted in the Constitution and, as I’m sure many of you know, it begins with, “We, the people of the United States…” We may not always agree, but we are all human. We are all people who want to be heard. We want to progress towards a better America. Therefore, we must listen to others, assume responsibility and come together in order to better ourselves as a nation.
 

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Some of the best things IU has to offer to those who want to be involved are the more than 750 student organizations on campus. Personally, I was very impressed at my first Student Involvement Fair in the Fall semester of my Freshman year. There were philanthropy and community service organizations, various fraternities and sororities, club sports, academic organizations, student government organizations, and basically everything I could, or could not, imagine. 

The first student organization I was involved in was Briscoe Student Government, which is one of the branches of RHA Hall Councils. I served as a Diversity Director, aiming to provide and maintain a diverse and inclusive living environment at Briscoe Residence Hall. I, initially, wanted to try to run for this position because I wanted to use my international background to bridge the cultural gaps for people. While it was not a heavy daily duty to work for a student government, I did work a lot specifically on coming up with ideas and transforming them into programming events at the residence hall. Throughout the year, we successfully held larger scale events, such as the Latino Cultural Night and the World Religion Holiday. Meanwhile, we also distributed free recycling bins at student dorm rooms following our sustainability initiative, won the energy challenge, and raised money for Flint water crisis. 



The Spring semester is IUSA campaign season. I was lucky enough to be involved with the REAL campaign to help develop the campaign platform. The two policy focuses I was passionate about were sustainable transportation on campus and international student engagement. After being elected, I now work as one of the Co-Chiefs of Diversity and Inclusion for the current IUSA administration. For the first two months, my Co-Chief and I collectively set up liaisons for all cultural centers and included them as part of our committee. We also had conversations with culture center directors, student leaders, and the administrations to better understand the need for a more inclusive campus for all. 



Before college, I was not involved with any student government clubs. However, by talking to peers and utilizing campus resources, I found my new passion as a student leader and I look forward to the upcoming years.​

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While the end of summer may signal the end of careless days by the pool, it also means that Bloomington is coming back to life, as thousands of millennials flood the city to turn the page to the next chapter of their IU experience. As a sophomore, I can't even begin to explain how different I feel from this time last year - I finally know my way around, I have a (not so) swanky apartment, and luckily I've picked up a few insider tips that I only wish I'd known during my freshie days.

Take it from me: even though your freshman year can sometimes be a big hassle, it also holds some unique experiences you definitely don't want to miss out on! Here are a few things I wish I'd known during those magical days of community showers and meal points:

1. Go to Late Nights at Orientation. Attend monthly IMU Late Nights and First Thursdays at the Showalter Arts Plaza and play some corny games--the point is to make friends! I wasn't able to attend Late Night during my Orientation and I remember feeling jealous of everyone on my floor who met tons of people there. 
   
   
    
2. Take advantage of the Block Party. Freshies get to go for free, and yet still I didn't go last year. I literally only had to click a button to say I wanted a ticket, and I really regretted not going. 
   
   
    
3. DO EVERYTHING DURING WELCOME WEEK! People are trying to meet people during this time, and this is where you can meet lots of potential friends for the year. Don't sit in your dorm by yourself, or even with your roommate (who happens to be your high school bestie). 
   
   
    
4. For the love of Yogi Ferrell, buy the football/basketball ticket package! I know it's a lot of money, but I always thought I'd buy individual tickets--it ended up being such a hassle that I barely made it to any games (and we all know that basketball is the lifeblood of the IU experience, right?). 
   
   
    
5. When choosing classes, don't pick 8ams. I know lots of people say this, but really: if you have the choice, don't. It's college--you are going to stay up and take advantage of all your new freedom. Accepting this before you schedule will only make your life easier. 
   
   
    
6. Keep your dorm door open. It's such an easy habit to keep your door closed, but you miss out on lots of potential friendships this way--if your dormies decide to have a marathon hallway round of Cards Against Humanity, you will have no idea. 
   
   
    
7. Netflix will always be there--this sort of goes along with the above, but again, it can be really easy to hole up in your room with your favorite rom-dram instead of taking advantage of all the awesome things happening every single minute at IU. Seriously, check out a student comedy show! See a movie at the IU Cinema! Take a walk and see what you find. 
   
   
    
8. Don't give away all your meal points. Now, it's true that many people end up with a lot left over. But don't think of this as a reason to buy all your high school friends a three-course meal when they visit every month! I assumed my standard meal plan would be more than enough, and I bought my family half of the C-store every time they came down. Needless to say, I ran out. And, if you do have points left over, you can use them the next year when you have to buy your own groceries (assuming you don't buy a meal plan the next year). 
   
   
    
9. Branch out from your high school friends. It's easy to use them as a crutch--and I'm not saying it's a bad thing to stay close with your high school BFFs, but keeping the same friend group you've had the last four years can keep you from meeting some cool people. Keep it balanced. 
   
   
    
10. Go to office hours. I know everyone says this, but you never know when you'll need a faculty recommendation (plus your profs are usually really cool people to talk to). Also, going to office hours shows you are trying, which will make Teach grade a little more leniently come finals time. 
    
    
     
11. Please, please, please don't let your academic habits fall apart and party more than you study. Don't get me wrong, partying is awesome (with the right people), but I've seen so many bright kids fall behind in their grades or even drop out because they didn't take school as seriously as they took their Saturday nights. It's really sad when that happens--don't let it happen to you. 
    
    
     
12. Above all: give IU the chance it deserves. A few weeks is not enough to judge a school, and those first few weeks (the first semester, really) is a time of change and scary transition. You are learning how to live on your own terms, and that doesn't always go right the first time. If IU isn't living up to your expectations, don't transfer as soon as December rolls around. Give it a chance for at least a year--sometimes you get the raw end of the stick the first semester (that doesn't mean great things aren't right around the corner!). It can (and does) happen at many schools. With that said, IU isn't for everyone, and sometimes the best option is to try out something else. But, at least you will know for sure. 
    
    

Basically, all these tips sum up how to make your freshman year the bomb: Take advantage of all the special things IU has to offer, and you will start off your college career with a bang! Good luck, freshies, although you're already lucky enough to be at the greatest college on earth.

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If you are a Kelley student, you will hear that “I-Core is the most dreadful semester” in your four years here at IU. Unfortunately, as an I-Core survivor, I have to second that. I-Core is a stressful semester that every student at Kelley has to go through. You don’t have a choice! It is a difficult semester, mainly because Fall Semester is always a busy semester for Kelley students. With job fairs, interviews and extra-curricular activities, getting through I-Core becomes a nightmare. But don’t worry too much; there are always ways to TRY to make this semester better.

Don’t Cram!



If you are anything like me, last minute cramming is your style of getting through college. But, trust me, this will not work for I-Core. With I-Core exams four days in a row, you have no time to even breathe, let alone cram a whole new subject into 24 hours. So plan out your semester to, preferably, try to keep up with everyday material. I know this might be a new concept to you, but trying to study each day’s material on the same day actually helps.

Find your Study Buddy!



If you are the kind of person who enjoys studying alone, think twice about that strategy during I-Core. With four different subjects exploring a business from four different angles, having a study buddy might actually be helpful. Not everyone understands or is interested in every area of a business. Having a study buddy/buddies might actually help, as you will be able to learn from each other and benefit from each other’s strengths.

Drink your way through I-Core!



Don’t be confused...I mean caffeinated drinks. By this point in college, many students live on caffeine to get through classes. However, if you aren’t used to caffeine yet, you better start drinking because guess what? Caffeine is going to be your best friend during I-Core. The number of caffeinated drinks a student consumes during I-Core would surprise you. Midterms and Finals week, specifically, are the most popular times where you will find a lot of I-Core students at Starbucks.

Thank the person who discovered the 26-minute power nap!



The word "sleep" does not exist in your dictionary during I-Core, especially during exams and the case. With so much happening on campus and in Kelley, students tend to forget that sleep is a part of their schedule. If you are one those students, then power napping is your simple solution. As tempting as pulling all-nighters during exam week sounds, power naps might actually benefit you. Taking power naps as study breaks might increase your retention level, as well as help you stay awake during the exam. On the topic of taking naps, the 26-minute power nap actually works. As a very skeptical person myself, the 26-minute power nap proved beneficial. Try it sometime!

HOPE!



No matter how much you work to get prepared for your exams, you are always going to be a little nervous. You will walk out of that exam hall so uncertain that you might think you failed it. But that’s not true - at least 99% of the time. After the exam, all you can do is hope. Hope for the best. Hope that you remember and that everything you studied is still fresh in your mind. And who knows? Those random answers you chose might be right after all.

I-Core is a journey on its own. Yes, it is difficult. And, yes, it might be your worst nightmare. But that I-Core survivor shirt at the end is totally worth it!

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As an international student at IU, there are a few things I've discovered about living in America that have caused me quite a bit of confusion. 

"Chai Tea"



“Chai” literally means "tea" in Pakistan. When people in the United States use the term “Chai Tea”, it basicallytranslates as “Tea tea”, which I find quite amusing. If you were to use the term “Masala Chai” or “Masala Tea”, it would make sense to me. This redundancy continues again with “Naan Bread”. You see, “Naan” is a type of bread, thus the word itself is enough to describe what it means. 

Opening Doors



It really is a good habit to open doors for others out of common courtesy. Back home, you can leave the door open if someone is directly behind you, but to wait for someone to get to the door is unusual. Every time someone opens the door for me, it becomes a race. The timer is set at 5 seconds and if you fail, you end up feeling guilty for having let somebody stand longer than usual.

Space around bathroom doors



Why? WHY? I just don’t get it. It’s not just one bathroom, but all of them. What possible utility do you derive out of that small space around the stall doors? I have made eye contact with so many people in the mirror and just don’t know what to do next.  It’s not only awkward for the one inside the stall, but also for the one outside. Don’t get me wrong...it’s not like I enjoy peeking into stalls. It just happens accidentally while you’re looking for open stalls.

Food Portions and Variety



Before arriving, I already had an idea that food portions would be big, but they are HUGE. Hey, the more food the merrier. I’m not complaining. Also, the variety is AMAZING. I’ve never had so many options for a single loaf of bread. Kroger is probably one of the most intimidating places I’ve ever been.

Just thought I'd share part of my culture shock experience at IU. Don’t worry...there’s still a lot more left to add :P

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Basketball, an intense sport played by passionate athletes who show drive and determination to improve and win. It is one of the central sports played in America and everyone here at IU loves basketball. The IU basketball experience is phenomenal, where Hoosiers gather at the prominent Assembly Hall to cheer on our loved basketball team. But more on that later.

What is it like for a normal college student who just loves to play basketball? Look no further than the SRSC (Student Recreational Sports Center) and the Wildermuth Intramural Center. These two buildings provide polished basketball courts, where students can go and ball it out against other students. You are bound to meet someone who you can play ball with because so many people in IU are passionate about this sport. It is the most popular and loved sport on campus.

A Home Game. Nothing beats watching a game live at Assembly hall and cheering on for the talented basketball team. The thundering cheers that rush throughout the hall while the thump of the ball is being echoed is truly a magical moment. You can feel the emotions of the players when they make a big play or even when they get that crucial point on the board.

Even watching it live on television with friends is a crazy experience. Everyone loves and respects the sport and the hype gets real when fantastic plays are made or when a player sinks in a 3-pt shot. People scream of the top of their lungs, especially when the game is against our rivals, Purdue.

Overall, its madness when basketball season starts, and hopefully you will experience this madness. Enjoy and experience moments of greatness, because at IU, these things happen.

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Being a Hoosier: Is IU the right place for you?

Ohh, so this is Indiana!