Welcome to our International Student BLOG!

Tell us how you feel about our Blog!

Dear Reader,

Welcome to our newest feature on the International Student  & Scholar Services (ISSS) office website! We have created a blog spot to provide Geneseo’s prospective students with more personalized information—descriptions and comments—on the different activities happening on campus. This, we hope, will give you a better sense of Geneseo’s student life inside and outside the classroom.

In addition we have 2 other very friendly student workers: Brad and Stephanie, who answer e-mail questions sent to iss@geneseo.edu. You can direct a question to any of us and we will gladly try our best to help.

Spring 2013

Blog by Shikha

Hello everyone!

The past few days have been gorgeous here in Geneseo! Flowers are in bloom, the sun is out and the campus looks beautiful! When you come here, watch the sunsets from the gazebo on a clear day; it is absolutely breathtaking as the sun sets over the valley.

The Indian Reality TV Show’s visit to Geneseo was very successful. I met the crew and the two students at breakfast on Sunday and got to know them. They interviewed alumni, were shown around the school, attended classes, met professors and also experienced working at the Chow Hound and Fusion Market. Whenever I met the students, they always told me they were having a good time and liked Geneseo very much. I knew they fell in love with Geneseo just like I did when I first came here. One special event that was put up for the crew was dance performances by Shakti and Bhangra. We danced on the stage and the crew filmed us and the students. After our performances, the two students also started dancing and everyone joined in and had a fun time. It was interesting to see the crew filming at different locations around campus over the past few days. I hope to find a way to watch the show, titled College Hunt USA, maybe Channel V will post the episodes on their website. Overall, the whole visit was a great success and ISSS worked very hard to plan the visit and help the crew. I really hope to see the two students at Geneseo next fall!

Blog by Ayumi

Today in the College Union there will be a Food Show. This event will feature free food samples from food items in next year’s on-campus dining menu! I can’t wait to see what new things we will have to eat on campus next semester. There are other events coming up such as a movie streaming of Oz, the Great and Powerful on Daga Field this weekend for the students to come and watch for free. There will also be a Holi Celebration next week on the last day of classes which will feature food, music, Bhangra performance, and of course throwing colored powder at each other! I am really looking forward to all these events that will be wrapping up the year.

There are only a few more days of classes left, followed by finals, and two weeks until this semester is over! I can’t believe how quickly my first two semesters here went by! Now I’m off to enjoy some sun and get some studying done for my finals. See you in my next post!

Blog by Ayumi

Hey everyone,

I cannot believe that it has been a week since I went to Washington D.C. Last weekend, the Japanese Cultural Club went to celebrate the cherry blossom festival. This year, we were lucky enough to see the cherry blossoms. The last few years, from what I have heard from the seniors, the cherry blossoms had withered before the cherry blossom festival. 25 of us went to D.C on Friday and came back on Sunday. It was a 6 hour drive and the school funded half of our expenses. It was around 7 pm when we got there, but the hotel we stayed at was beautiful. The first night we enjoyed spicy Thai food and we all loved it. Saturday was the Sakura festival. We got up at 6 am since we had signed up to volunteer for the event. Different people volunteered to help out with different events. I assisted at the information tent for 3 hours and for the rest of the day, you could enjoy the festival. It was crowded and I actually felt like I was in Japan. There were shops on either side of the road, selling foods and other accessories. There were many people dressed up as “Mario”,“Pikachu” and other characters from Japan. It was wonderful to see how people were very creative about their costumes.

For lunch, I had yakisoba – it is a kind of noodles with special sauce added to it. The Japanese Cultural Club also performed “Yosakoi” at the festival. Yosakoi is a traditional dance in Japan. However, the performers did not consist only of Japanese people. Japanese Cultural Club has people of different ethnicities and races. Therefore there were a few non-Japanese who learnt the dance and I am sure it was a great experience for everyone. After that, we got to see The Lincoln Memorial and the White House. Even though we had to walk for about 30 minutes, it was worth seeing The Lincoln Memorial. It was around in the high 20 degrees Celsius in D.C and we were all sun-burnt at the end of the day. But this weather was perfect and having to enjoy the warmth of the sun was the best. D.C was definitely crowded because of the festival, but I had the best time in D.C.

Time is flying by, and the finals are approaching. This semester is about to come to an end. In exactly one more month, I will be in Japan and I cannot say how excited I am to go home. But till then, I will spend my time here with my friends as college life will never come back to you. I will update all of you soon with some other interesting events next week. Till then, take care!!

Blog by Shikha

Hey everyone!

It has been warm here for the past week or so! Last week on a sunny day in the College Green, Chemistry professors made ice cream using liquid nitrogen to help students cool off. It was delicious! Something very exciting is going to happen in Geneseo next week: an Indian Reality TV Show is coming! Channel V’s show, College Hunt USA, chose SUNY Geneseo as one of the 3 colleges that their two Indian students will visit. A TV crew will come with the students and will film their journey and experiences. The two students have applied to the colleges already and will be receiving their admissions decisions once they arrive on campus. This is a very exciting event that ISSS has been preparing for. I will also be helping out by being one of the Hindi-speaking students who will meet the Indian students when they come to Geneseo; I’m very excited! The students will be shown the campus, meet current and former students, live in the residence hall for a few days, attend classes, be interviewed and receive their admissions decision. They will also visit Niagara Falls while they are here. Nobody really knows exactly what is going to happen, even though we have been preparing extensively, so we will just go with the flow once the TV crew arrives!

Last Tuesday was GREAT, Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement & Talent, Day. Many Geneseo students put up posters and presentations to show other students and faculty what they have been researching and working on over the year. There were posters and presentations from all areas of study including Physics, History, Dance, Communications, Chemistry, Art, Anthropology and more. There are no classes on GREAT Day so all the students head to the Union and other classrooms to watch presentations and see the posters. I went to four presentations on Biology and Mathematics and saw posters by Chemistry and Biochemistry students. They were very interesting and even though sometimes I did not completely understand all of their sophisticated methodology and terms, because they were all upperclassmen doing sophisticated experiments, I understood the main points of their research and projects. It truly was a great day!

Other things have also been going on around campus. A few weeks ago Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity, collaborated with MSA (Muslim Student Association) and Shakti to do a henna fundraiser to raise money for a charity. It was held in the College Union Lobby over two days and many people came and got henna done on their hands; we raised a lot of money. Shakti helped out by performing a dance in the middle of the Union. It was nerve wrecking at first because we were just going to start dancing in the middle of the Union while other students watched but once we started, I felt much more comfortable and just enjoyed dancing; it was great! Other clubs and organizations also perform in the Union Lobby sometimes; the flash mobs are a lot of fun to watch!

I wish I could study outside in the sun on the College Green, but I become too distracted by the sunshine and the nice weather. I guess the library is like my second home. Well, I’m really looking forward to the Indian Reality TV Show coming to Geneseo; I will tell you all about their visit in my next post!

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

I cannot believe that it has been a week since I went to Washington D.C. Last weekend, the Japanese Cultural Club went to celebrate the cherry blossom festival. This year, we were lucky enough to see the cherry blossoms. The last few years, from what I have heard from the seniors, the cherry blossoms had withered before the cherry blossom festival. 25 of us went to D.C on Friday and came back on Sunday. It was a 6 hour drive and the school funded half of our expenses. It was around 7 pm when we got there, but the hotel we stayed at was beautiful. The first night we enjoyed spicy Thai food and we all loved it. Saturday was the Sakura festival. We got up at 6 am since we had signed up to volunteer for the event. Different people volunteered to help out with different events. I assisted at the information tent for 3 hours and for the rest of the day, you could enjoy the festival. It was crowded and I actually felt like I was in Japan. There were shops on either side of the road, selling foods and other accessories. There were many people dressed up as "Mario","Pikachu" and other characters from Japan. It was wonderful to see how people were very creative about their costumes.

For lunch, I had yakisoba - it is a kind of noodles with special sauce added to it. The Japanese Cultural Club also performed "Yosakoi" at the festival. Yosakoi is a traditional dance in Japan. However, the performers did not consist only of Japanese people. Japanese Cultural Club has people of different ethnicities and races. Therefore there were a few non-Japanese who learnt the dance and I am sure it was a great experience for everyone. After that, we got to see The Lincoln Memorial and the White House. Even though we had to walk for about 30 minutes, it was worth seeing The Lincoln Memorial. It was around in the high 20 degrees Celsius in D.C and we were all sun-burnt at the end of the day. But this weather was perfect and having to enjoy the warmth of the sun was the best. D.C was definitely crowded because of the festival, but I had the best time in D.C.

Time is flying by, and the finals are approaching. This semester is about to come to an end. In exactly one more month, I will be in Japan and I cannot say how excited I am to go home. But till then, I will spend my time here with my friends as college life will never come back to you. I will update all of you soon with some other interesting events next week. Till then, take care!!

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

I hope everyone had a good spring break. Spring break flew by, but it was a good break from studies. Even though most of my friends left to “warmer” areas such as California and Cancun, Mexico, this break was one of the most memorable ones. The first few days of my break I was in my room, and slept for nearly 9 hours a day. Then I made my own food and watched plenty of movies. There were a few friends who stayed back in Geneseo, so every night, we would get together and make dinner. We made Japanese dishes such as “Katsudon” and “Nabe”. We can easily get the ingredients from either the Asian Market in Rochester, stores in New York City or we bring them from Japan. I am happy that I have such good friends who would invite me for dinner. Initially, we were planning to go to Montreal for 2 nights during the break. Montreal is about 6 hours away from Geneseo. However, it was forecasted that there would be at least 5 to 8 inches of snow, so driving would be impossible. So we changed our plans and decided to head to Toronto instead.

Toronto is only 3 hours away and if you come to Geneseo, it should be on your list to visit. It is a beautiful city, and I want to settle down in Toronto someday. Last semester, ISS took us to Niagara Falls and we saw it from the American side. I wanted to see it from the Canadian side as well, and this was my chance. When we crossed the border, we stopped at Niagara Falls. It was beautiful. And it is true when people say that the view of Niagara Falls is much better from the Canadian side. We went at 8.30 pm, so that was when Niagara Falls was lit up in a variety of colors. It was breathtaking. Red and blue lights were on the Falls and I wish I could see it again.

We spent one night in Toronto, and had the best pizza ever. It was indeed one of the best nights. The next day, we went to “All-you-can-eat” Japanese restaurant for sushi. There was a wide range of sushi and it was delicious. We could eat as much as we wanted to, and when we walked out, we could hardly breathe. Then before leaving Toronto, we did not miss the chance of visiting the CN towers. It was once known to be the tallest freestanding building. Since we drove all the way to Toronto, we decided to climb to the top of the tower. You would be taken to the top in an elevator and when we got off, we could see the ground through a glass panel. It was amazing to see all the buildings and the cars, as tiniest as possible.

So, that was my spring break in short. It was really sad to leave Toronto and come back to Geneseo, but I will definitely visit Toronto again. 

Blog By Shikha

The weather in Geneseo has been good and bad. We had a few days of beautiful sunshine but now it has been raining for a few days. Hopefully the warm sun will come and stay soon. Otherwise, there is only about 1 month left before the summer vacation!

I had to register for my fall 2013 classes this week. Each student gets a time slot to register based on their credits and that is when they go online to Knightweb and select the classes they want to take next semester. It can be difficult to choose which classes to take and that is why there is advising week before registration begins. Each student meets with their assigned adviser, a Geneseo professor from the student's major's department, and talks about his/her plans for the future. Meeting with your adviser is a great way to bounce ideas, ask about classes and find out about opportunities in your major and intended field of work. My registration went smoothly; I quickly chose the classes I wanted and the system enrolled me in them. Registration can be stressful for some people because some classes can fill up quickly, but you can always talk to professors, your adviser, and the registrar's office and work out any problems you run into during registration.

Students who have been admitted to Geneseo can visit the college and stay overnight with a current student and get a taste of the life of a Geneseo student. This experience can be very helpful for them to make their college decision. I signed up to host an admitted student for their overnight visit and had a great time. I met her on Wednesday afternoon and took her to my room to drop off her bags. I showed her the residence hall and then we ate dinner. We then participated in the Geneseo Amazing Race in which we had to follow clues to go around campus and finish at the Union and have ice cream. We then went back to my room and talked about Geneseo. A mattress had been provided for her on which she could sleep in my room. The next morning we ate breakfast together; I then took her to one of my lectures, and dropped her off at the Union by noon. I enjoyed hosting the admitted student and I hope she decides to come to Geneseo in the fall.

As finals start to creep up, I feel the need to study during the free time I have. I would rather study a bit every day for weeks before finals rather than cram all of the material in a few all-nighters. So now I am off to the library!

Blog By Shikha

Hi everyone!

Last week was Spring Break; we had a nice and relaxing holiday before coming back to finish the semester. I stayed in Geneseo for most of the break. Geneseo lets the international students stay in some of the residence halls on campus and if you do not live in one of those halls over the semester, the college makes arrangements for you to stay in one of them over the breaks. The dining services are closed over the breaks so we have to cook or buy food from elsewhere. Each residence hall has at least one kitchen which the students can use; some of the big halls have at least one kitchen per floor. Although the bus service does not run over breaks, Main Street has many great dining options and you can even walk to the stores if you need anything. The campus was very quiet as nearly all of the students had gone home but I enjoyed break with the few friends that stayed on campus.

The last day of classes before the Spring Break I found out that I had been hired as an RA, Residence Assistant, for the next school year. An RA is a student who lives in the residence halls but also has the responsibility of being a resource to their residents. Students come to their RA to ask about events on campus, where to find specific things, inquiries about the residence halls and also to talk about any issues that may arise in the halls. An RA also holds duty hours at the service desk in their residence hall, takes care of any incident that may occur in the hall, makes informative bulletin boards and holds activities for their residents. Most of the big residence halls have about 6 RAs. I have found my RA this year to be of great help and also a great friend so I wanted to become an RA well and give back to the students as well so I applied, went through the interview process and was finally selected. I am very excited to be an RA next year! There are also many opportunities to get involved on campus like I said in a previous post and residence life is a great option.

Now that there is only about a month and a half left before the end of the semester, it’s crunch time before finals begin. But at least it is getting a bit warmer and I hope it stays this way.

See you in my next post!

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

It is me again. I hope all of you are doing well. My past few weeks have been great. I wouldn’t say I had a lot of time in my hands, but I was busy involved in different activities on campus. I am taking 6 classes this semester and a seminar, so my schedule is pretty tight. But I always want to be a part of the on campus activities since that is what makes up your “college life”. You will never get to come to college again, have the same friends or the same opportunities.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, I decided to dance for Shakti Night – Sangamum this year. Within 4 weeks, we had to learn our steps and synchronize with everyone else. Shakti night was indeed a success. Some people wore saris and it felt like home. We helped to prepare the dishes and everything went according to plan. We received numerous good comments about the food and the show, so I am glad I was a part of this event. I miss all the practices we used to have every weekend, since it was like a place where I could go to when I wanted to get away from studies. Next semester, I am looking forward to dance in Japan Knight as well, so I am excited about it.

Spring break is nearing, the weather is perfect today. Speaking of spring, the Japanese Cultural Club will be going to Washington D.C next month for a spring festival known as “Sakura Matsuri”.  It is organized by the Japan America Society of Washington D.C. It will be my first time visiting D.C and the past members have told me that there are many fun-filled events. We will be volunteering for a few hours and then we are free to do whatever we like. I am really grateful for the e-board members for organizing this trip annually, so even though we are in New York, we do not miss out on the opportunities of what is happening in Japan. I will definitely keep you posted on what happened in D.C in a month’s time.

Most of you must be on spring break right now, and soon we will be on spring break as well. We all deserve this break for all the hard work we have done in the past 8 weeks. 8 weeks have passed by and most of my friends will be graduating this semester. But I will talk about that in a later post. Till then, have a good break everyone. 

Blog By Shikha

Hi everyone!

It has been nice here in Geneseo, weather hasn't been too harsh and everyone has been busy studying for midterms. Last Saturday was Shakti's annual dinner and show: Sangamam and it went really well! It was great being part of the team and everyone worked together, cooked together, and rehearsed for so long to put on a great show. I really encourage everyone to get involved in clubs or organizations that put together an event in the school year because the teamwork and effort that goes into preparing for the event is a great bonding experience and you make many friends and just have a good time.

A great event that I went to last night was the 5th annual Women in Leadership mixer and dinner with Geneseo alumni. This dinner was organized by the GOLD program and students had to register in advance through the GOLD website. I did not know exactly what to expect from the event but was very interested. When I got to the ballroom last night and started talking to other female Geneseo students and alumni I was very happy that I had registered. Meeting these women and talking about their careers and choices was encouraging and inspiring. The keynote speaker of the evening, Dr. Gidget Hopf, shared with us her journey of going to school, studying at Geneseo, job decisions and life choices. She was a very inspiring speaker and a great role model. Geneseo students from various campus clubs and organizations such as GOLD and WLI, Women's Leadership Institute, also spoke at the dinner and the speeches made me decide to join WLI from next semester. I enjoyed talking to the other students and faculty sitting at my table during the dinner and found out more about things that go on around campus. I encourage everyone to go to such events and mixers because you really do learn a lot from other people.

Such events can be nerve-wrecking for some people because you have to make an effort to introduce yourself other new people but they are such great experiences that will help you build your confidence and leadership skills. Joining any club or organization is a great learning experience. Even if you don't know if you are very interested in a certain club, it is good to join and step out of your comfort zone because you build so much as a person and discover new interests!

Well, I'll keep you informed about more awesome events that go on around campus and I can't wait to attend the Women in Leadership dinner next year as well.
Till we meet again,
-Shikha

Blog By Stephanie

SUNY Geneseo is home to almost 200 different clubs and organizations that allow students to become involved in different volunteer projects, take part in professional development opportunities, and meet new people with similar interests and goals. Being involved in different extracurricular activities ultimately allows students to build a network, to discover new passions and strengths, and to feel connected to Geneseo outside of the classroom.

As a senior at SUNY Geneseo, I have had the opportunity to experience many of the clubs and organizations that Geneseo has to offer. During my four years here, I have made it a priority to be involved in many different clubs and organizations. I am part of a social-service organization called the Royal Lady Knights as well as a member of Autism Speaks, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, and the National Student Speech-Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA). By being involved in these clubs, I have been able to participate in volunteer efforts in the community, make lifelong friends, participate in recreational sporting events, and partake in different social events. As an active member of each of these clubs, I have had the chance to become a more diverse, well-rounded student while making the most of my college experience.

I believe that participating in these clubs and organizations has helped me to step out of my comfort zone and has shaped the person that I am today. By participating in different extracurricular activities, I have had the opportunity to have the true "college experience" while making new friends and developing my own interests, beliefs, and morals. I have also found that by being involved in different clubs and organizations, I have more to discuss in job interviews and to write in my resume as well as a larger group of people to network with, I feel that a large part of my success as a student at Geneseo is a result of my involvement in different extracurricular activities.

Due to my experience during the last four years, my advice to you is: get involved! You only get to be in college once, so make the most of it. I always encourage incoming students to get involved in different clubs and activities that cater to their personal and professional interests. There are endless opportunities here at Geneseo so take advantage of them. Be sure to utilize these great resources and don't be afraid to try getting involved in something new. I owe many of my academic and personal achievements to the organizations I have been apart of and the people I have met through these opportunities. By taking a chance and keeping an open mind, you may find out something new about yourself while working towards achieving your own goals!

I wish you the best of luck!
- Stephanie Halvax

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone!!!

It’s Friday and I can’t wait for the weekend. On Monday, I was so stressed out with work and was wishing it would be Friday soon. But I am glad it is. It is time for some rest and spending time with my friends. Last weekend, I attended an event in the College Union Ballroom. It was called the Square Dance. I went mainly because of my music class I am currently taking to fulfill my general education requirements. I already took Art History in my first semester but you are required to take at least two fine art classes. Square dance was a great way to de-stress yourself even though I was sore already (I will let you know why soon). Most of my classmates were there and the Geneseo String band was playing as well. I love music, I used to be in the orchestra when I was in high school and I played the flute. I wish I could have continued playing the flute in Geneseo and I actually considered taking a class here, but right now, I don’t have enough time. But definitely in my last semester, I will take a one credit class so I can brush up on my playing skills. So, a square dance is a dance for four couples in a square with one couple on each side. The whole ballroom was packed with people and we were all dancing to the music. We were taught how to square dance and it was a great new experience. There were senior citizens from Geneseo as well, and they were thorough with the steps. We learnt from them, had a lot of fun and in return, I gained credit for my music class as well.

Okay, now to the reasons as to why I was sore. These days, we are practicing for our annual Shakti dinner. Shakti is a South-Asian cultural club, but everyone is free to join. This year, I decided to dance and since last weekend, we have been practicing. I have not danced since high school so it takes some time for my body to get used to it. In addition, there are intramurals taking place right now. Intramurals are where you can form your own groups and compete with other groups on campus. You can compete in different games such as basketball, volleyball and broomball. I am being more involved on campus since I realized I will be graduating next year and I can’t believe that time has gone by so soon. So I am making the best I have around me right now while balancing my studies at the same time. Junior year is definitely tough since I have started taking my first 300 level classes this semester. But I do not want to have any regrets next year when I am close to graduation, so I am enjoying my time here. I am happy I chose Geneseo, and I am sure you know why. Alright then, I hope you have a great weekend!! I am off to enjoy my weekend!!!

Blog By Shikha

Hey Everyone!

My name is Shikha and I am very excited to write for the ISSS Student Blog! This is my second semester as a freshman at SUNY Geneseo and I must say that I love my choice of college. I am a Biochemistry major and I am still exploring if I want to minor in something or not. I am from India but I grew up in Sweden and have been living in Japan for 6 years. Just a few years ago I didn't know that I would be attending college in the US and I am very glad to have landed in Geneseo for my undergraduate education.

The reason I chose Geneseo is because of its great education, relatively small size and population of international students. Geneseo is focused on excellence in higher education and because it is only an undergraduate college, many undergraduate students work with professors in research and can even be publish research before they even graduate. Conducting research is very difficult to do in a university which also has graduate students competing for research positions. Even though the college has about 5,000 undergraduate students, it has a very nice community of people and is very welcoming. I made friends very quickly in my residence hall, Wayne Hall, and in my classes. In a student population of 5,000, there is a large international student population, which shows how much international students like it here. I had talked to an international student from Geneseo while I was considering which college I should choose and he told me so much about how he liked the school and how open the people are.

The classes at Geneseo are rigorous and excellent. I have taken and am in Biology and Chemistry classes for my major but I have also taken a Comparative Politics class, which I really enjoyed, a Cultural Anthropology, a Computer Science and an Art History class. I got college class credits for all of the Advanced Placement classes I took in high school and was able to start taking higher-level classes starting in my freshman year. I am looking forward to taking more classes of my interest such as genetics (Biol-222) and others. I am very happy with the small class sizes because I can get to learn in a more intimate environment and get to know the professors, who are very helpful and supportive.

I am in many clubs and organizations on campus and love that I can get away from studying for a while and enjoy the college experience. Many events go on as well throughout the semester, many of them organized by GLK, Geneseo Lake Knight, and range from themed dances to tie-dying your shirts to taking photos with a tiger cub to exciting hockey games! I'll go into more detail about clubs and organizations in my next post. See you then!

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

It is so good to be back in Geneseo. I am back after my winter break but I have no words to describe how good it was. I left the day I was done with my finals and reached Iowa within a couple of hours. It was nice to be with my high school friends from Sri Lanka. It felt like I was in Sri Lanka since we spoke in Sinhala and we made Sri Lankan food every day. We went out for dinners, went for bowling and played laser tag as well. I did not want my break to be over, but time went by so fast. If I get another chance, I would definitely visit them again!!

So that was the first three weeks of my winter break. I came back a little earlier than the others. Since the residence halls are open to all international students, I had no problem of coming back early. During my winter break, I got to know that I got selected for Real World Geneseo. It is a retreat funded by the college where we promote awareness of critical social issues, for example classism, racism and gender orientation. It was a four day retreat in a business hotel in Rochester and all the expenses were taken care of by the college. There were 30 of us, from different cultural backgrounds, expressing different perspectives on these issues. After that retreat, I have started to view life in a different way, become more open- minded about different issues in life. I have made new friends which I had never met before that retreat but we created this strong bond where we trust each other greatly. It is amazing how close we became within a span of four days. We get awarded with 2 credits for taking part in this program. Some of you may think it was only a discussion based retreat, but they were all supported by different activities that were organized by the facilitators and the instructors. In addition, we have a 2 hour class for eight weeks and then we complete this 2 credit class. I am glad that I applied for this retreat since I have started appreciating life more and more each day.

School started this Tuesday and first week of class has been great so far. I met the new international students during orientation and helped them to move in to their respective residence halls. I hope all of you had a good Christmas break like I did and I will keep you posted on other upcoming events. See you in my next post.

Fall 2012

Blog By Ayumi

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post. December means finals' month and it was crazy. I am so glad I am done with this semester and I can't believe it went by so fast. I had so many papers to complete, and just now, I completed my last paper for the semester. And before I head out for winter break, I thought I should update you all on what has been happening on campus.

So it's the end of the year, and the feeling of Christmas and New Year keeps heightening each day. Two weeks ago, we had a Christmas event called the ‘Holiday Jubilee' and it was a great way to de-stress. I was literally in the library from 9 am to 10 pm, trying to finish my papers and study for my exams. But this event was great as there were so many things you could have done. Painting, make gingerbread houses, make your own Christmas cards and so many other fun activities. And then on top of that, huskies were brought in by different families. We spent more than half an hour, stroking these little fluffy huskies and it was amazing. Thanks to them and of course, Starbucks coffee helped me to get through this stressful month. There were free massages available as well, so the campus does everything they can to make you feel less stressed, and in turn help you to ace your exams.

Winter in Geneseo has not been harsh yet. But did you know that most of the campus buildings are interconnected? I love using these secret ways to get into different buildings so I don't need to get frozen during winter. I remember how I used to explore these buildings in my first semester and I ended up getting out from unexpected places. But they are all useful now. I can get to class easily rather than taking the normal, longer route while avoiding the wind and the snow at the same time.

Anyways, I'm excited for winter break. No more studying for another month. I will be heading to Iowa and will do some traveling before my next semester starts. I have been to New York City and Rochester, so I thought a change would be good, so planning on going out-of-state this time. So I will update you with all the exciting news in a month.

Be safe everyone, and have a good break.

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

The intercultural dinner was great. It was a nice to have dinner in the ball room with the other people, and it was not ordinary American food. Different cultural clubs had prepared different dishes. The Japanese Cultural Club made green tea flavored ice cream as desserts. They were delicious and I loved every dish that was available. After the dinner, there were dances and skits performed by the students. Everyone gets a chance to perform so it is a great way to spread your culture. Last weekend, we had China night and it was basically the same as the Intercultural Dinner but organized by the Geneseo Chinese Cultural Club. Only Chinese food was available and dances related to Chinese culture were being performed. So as you can see, there is a variety of dinners and activities being held on campus from time to time. You get to enjoy food other than campus food and have a great deal of fun. It is all worth the time.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner so college will be closed for 5 days. The best thing about residence halls for international students is that we can stay in our room during breaks including winter break which is around one month long. This was another main reason as to why I chose to attend Geneseo. I did not want to be homeless every time the campus closed down for breaks and I know a lot of friends in other colleges who have to rent an apartment for breaks. This is money consuming and a very troublesome job. So it is very generous of Geneseo for offering us this opportunity of staying in our rooms during breaks. I cannot wait for Thanksgiving, which means sleeping in. No more classes at 8.30 am and no more walking around campus in the cold weather. 

And another exciting event that goes on this semester is the hockey games. We played against Elmira last week. Even though it was on a Friday night, many people came to support Geneseo. The whole arena was packed with Geneseo students. Time flies when you are watching the ice hockey games and I always wish it was longer. There is another game tonight, so I am definitely going for that. You nearly lose your voice after the games but then it is the weekend, so I can hopefully rest and restore my voice.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone (if you are in US), else have a good week. See you soon in my next post.

Blog By Ayumi

Hey again everyone!!

I hope all of you had a good Halloween. I sure did have a good one!! Last weekend, we all got dressed up and went out. It was fun walking around in crazy costumes and for the past week, I went to two haunted houses. One on Friday and one on the 31st. Even though it sounds mean, it was so much fun watching my friends screaming and hesitating to go further in the haunted house. I would have been like that if the ghosts and all the other creepy people touched me, but since touching was not allowed, I was not that scared. But still, it was good to have the adrenaline rush and it was a good way to warm yourself up in this cold weather. Each time we came out of the haunted house, we were all warm because even though they did not touch us, there were certain ghosts who would just appear in front of your face, and that would scare you. I had three exams this week but despite everything, I enjoyed my Halloween. Halloween is only once a year and if you had studied regularly, you do not need to cram up everything in the last minute.
It has started to get really cold and yes, there was the hurricane this week. Because of the hurricane, most of the Halloween events either got cancelled or postponed. It was a crazy week even though we had school. But we are all safe in spite of the strong winds we experienced.

And this week is the Cultural week in Geneseo. All the cultural clubs are holding an intercultural dinner this weekend. They will be dancing and acting, and on top of that, we will be served with dishes from their countries. The students will be cooking and I am looking forward for this weekend. I love trying out new things and this weekend will be my chance.

Okay then, in a few hours I have to head over for an ice hockey game. We will be playing against Cortland and all the Geneseo supporters will be wearing white. Fingers crossed, I hope we win!! Take care then. Have a great week everyone.

Blog By Rakesh

Hey Everyone

I wish I had written this post earlier. I could have been able to share my feelings of wonder and excitement at experiencing a new college, especially so in a whole new country that I have never been in. Now it is near the end of October and I have been in my new home for about two months. I have enjoyed every moment so far and in fact, I've nearly stopped feeling homesick. Living in Geneseo has certainly given me an exhilarating sense of freedom and independence, away from my parents. I love my parents very much, just to make it clear. But now I have the freedom to eat what I want, sleep as late as I want, and play as much as I want. One time, I actually went to sleep at 5a.m. in the morning, something that I would have never done at home.

However readers, these new -found liberties should not be abused as I am beginning to discover. Your parents do want what is best for you and so they want you to eat right, sleep on time, and be serious about your future. For me, I need to have my eight hours to stop dozing off in lectures- and the college custom of thinking the evening actually starts at 10 p.m. did not go along with my sleep schedule. It is my fault that I did not go to sleep on time and I have gotten some difficulty in making up for missed work. Right now, I am trying to revert back to my old timetable and just be on time.

I have to mention my trip to the Niagara Falls during the fall break. The good people from ISS (which stands for International Students Services) in SUNY Geneseo took a bunch of us for an excellent trip to the US- Canadian border. The descriptions that I used to hear about the falls were not exaggerated; the beauty, speed, and sheer volume of the cascading torrents of water was just breathtaking. The fine mist surrounding the steep falls produced an elusive arch of a rainbow occasionally when the sun was strong and it just added on to make the scenery even more stunning. We were all overwhelmed by what we saw in our trip, something I am sure we will never forget.

The fall trip was certainly a refreshing break from studying. I mean, I do not find studying refreshing. I have to say however that not everyone shares my view on studying. It can get competitive in classes and many people here are pretty into studying. A couple of my friends surprised me when I saw how seriously they took their studies. A rather close friend in particular told me he wanted straight As in his classes. That is pretty scary to me because it means I have to up my ‘game' so that I am not at the losing end of the race. It is definitely more competitive here than in my high school, something I have to get used to.
I would have liked to write more because there is always so much to write about college life but I'm writing a blog post and not an essay. So, I'll keep updating and I hope you readers had as much fun reading this as I had writing this. ‘till next time.

Blog By Ayumi

Hey Everyone,

It is the week of horrors!! Halloween is just around the corner and there are so many activities going on around campus. Most of our dormitories are decorated with Halloween decorations and last weekend, there was a fall festival in our residence hall where they held different activities in addition to painting pumpkins. My friends and I carved and painted pumpkins, took them to our rooms and all of us have one fancy pumpkin in our rooms. It was so much fun especially since I was raised in a country where we did not celebrate Halloween. Yesterday, there was an activity which was called ‘Fright at the museum' where we were taken to the Livingston County historical museum on a horse. This weekend, there will be haunted houses, face painting, costume contests and free food. Prizes will be awarded to the best costumes. I know certain friends who plan Halloween for weeks. So every year, the college holds these activities so that we balance out our lives. It would be so exciting to walk around college even if you do not want to go off campus, because I am sure many people will be dressed up in amusing costumes. I will let you know what I see tonight in a later blog.

Last week, I got inducted in to Phi Eta Sigma. This is an honors society where freshmen are recognized for their outstanding performances. Members are nominated according to your grade point average and if you have a grade point average of 3.5 out of 4, you are eligible to join. This is a great way to expand your resume and get more involved on campus. If you continue your great work, you will be eligible for more scholarships and awards. So once you come here, there is always a chance to get more scholarships, not only in academics but if you do volunteer work as well.

Okay then, I got to get ready for Halloween now!!! I will definitely keep you posted. Till then, Happy Halloween!!!!

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone!!!
It's the weekend, again!!! And last weekend, it was fall break!! So we had only three days of classes and it was good to have 4 days of break so you could catch up with sleep, go out more often and of course, catch up with your classes if you were behind. This fall break was one of the best memories of my life. The International Student & Scholar Services took us to one of the wonders of the world - The Niagara Falls. It was my very first time visiting it and it was breath-taking. So 15 of us left Geneseo at 9 am and it took around 1.5 hours to get there. It was cold but what we all experienced cannot be explained in words. Visiting Niagara Falls should be on your priority list if you do come to Geneseo. You could also see Canada since Niagara Falls is considered to be the international boundary between United States and Canada. People usually say that the Canadian side is much better than the American side, so my next trip in mind is Canada, so I can personally compare it and decide which one is better. We also took the Maid of the Mist boat and being that close to the falls, hearing the roar of the water and feeling the mist was amazing. My hands were frozen by the end of the boat tour but it was all worth it. We were all drenched due to the mist of the falls but I would love to visit Niagara Falls again. Then we drove to Hard Rock Café and had lunch. Having warm food after being in the frozen weather was wonderful. I met new international students and it was a great day away from college. So the ISSS usually organizes these events during breaks so we do not feel homesick and we could travel more and get to know more about the American culture. So this is another reason as to why you should consider coming here - I am here and I do not regret a single day. Let us know if you have any questions. Have a great weekend everyone. See you soon.

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

It’s the beginning of a new semester and I am glad to be back in Geneseo. The weather is nice (well, not too hot compared to what it was in Japan) and it feels great to meet new friends. I came to Geneseo, three weeks ago and I got to move-in early to my residence hall. I volunteered to help the freshman and the transfer students to move-in to their dorms and it reminded me of my first day in Geneseo – the orientation and how we were all excited to be in college. I can’t believe one year has passed by so soon, and here I am, in my second year. So far, the classes have been good. It hasn’t been too stressful yet, but I know that the upcoming weeks will be hectic. Last weekend, my friends and I went to one of the picnics organized by the AOP department. It was a sunny day and it was nice to sit outside and eat with the others. After that, instead of returning to our rooms, we borrowed bicycles from the union and went all around campus. The union is a great place to hang out, and people mainly go there because of Starbucks. When you enter the union, you will always get the smell of coffee and it is indeed hard to turn back and go to class without buying a cup of coffee.

So, basically, it’s been a great first week and I have started to attend GOLD (Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development) programs. This is an excellent way to build up your leadership skills and there are nine different certificates you can earn by attending various GOLD sessions. Moreover, it is an ideal way to build up your resume and to show that you are a balanced person. I have attended three seminars already and the amount I have gained for this short period of time is tremendous. So I recommend everyone to join the GOLD program if you come to Geneseo. I hope everyone had a great summer and I will keep you posted as much as I can.

Till then, have a nice weekend. 

Blog By Ayumi

Hey everyone,

TGIF!! I'm looking forward for the weekend as this week was hectic. But, I have exams coming up next week, so I am not able to sleep or enjoy it as much as I want to. In the last two weeks, I joined many new clubs and organizations. There was the Student Expo, where all the freshmen and the new transfer students had a glimpse of all the clubs within Geneseo and they were able to join if they were interested. The Accounting Society is a great club for any business major students, since they organize a trip to New York City every fall. It is a three day trip, where you will get to meet some of the top finance and accounting firms in the city. This way, you can expand your network, making it easier for you to get employed at a distinguished organization after graduation. And the best thing about this trip is that there are no restrictions - even if you are a freshman, you can join and it is a great opportunity for international students. Moreover, the Accounting Society brings employees from other companies to Geneseo during the semester, so you can always hand in your resume and it is an ideal way of networking. There are various cultural and religious clubs as well, so you will be able to meet new people and maybe, get to taste some delicious dish from another country. So, you should definitely consider applying to Geneseo, since each day is a new experience. Fall break is nearing and I am so excited. But now I have to head out to the library to complete my paper and study for my upcoming exams. I will see you again in my next post. Have a great weekend!!