Tag: Winter

College Life

Tips to Start the Spring Semester Right

Esther Tokognon

Before you know it, the holidays season will be over and Spring semester will start at full speed.  Whether this is your first semester in College or not, there are actions you can take now to ensure you are ready to start the new semester. Below are some great tips to start the Spring semester right:

Register for your classes

Most universities or colleges will require you to go through an orientation program if the Spring semester will be your first semester in college. During this orientation session, you will meet with your advisor and register for your classes. However, if this coming semester will be your second one, you have less support. My advice is that you schedule some time to meet with your advisor as soon as possible so you can register for classes. It’s very important to do this as soon as possible because classes fill up quickly. 

Meeting with your advisor early on increases your chances of registering for the courses your major requires. If you do not register on time and all the classes required for your major fill up, your advisor will have no other option but to put you in classes that are available in order to help you maintain your F-1 visa status. Those courses may not be related to your major. 

Buy or rent your books:

Once you’ve registered for classes, look on your university’s website so you can get the list of the required textbook for the classes you register for. Once you have the list, do some research online. Unless the book you need is specific to your school, I do not recommend buying books from the school bookstore. I have spent hundreds of dollars on books I bought from the school bookstore whereas I could’ve spent way less by renting or buying online. These are the 2 websites that I often used throughout my college years that helped save me tons of money: Amazon and knetbooks. Valorebooks is also a great place to use when looking to rent or buy books online. Most of these websites offer free shipping and free return.  

Buy school supplies

Now that you have your books, make sure you buy general school supplies like pens, pencils, sharpies, notebooks…etc. or any school supplies you might need. Amazon and Walmart usually have the cheapest school supplies. By the way, if you are a regular reader of my articles, you will know how much I love Amazon. Amazon has made my life so much easier and that of many people around the world. 

Now that you have your books, make sure you buy general school supplies like pens, pencils, sharpies, notebooks, eraser…etc. or any school supplies you might need. Amazon and Walmart usually have the cheapest school supplies. By the way, if you are a regular reader of my articles, you will know how much I love Amazon. Amazon has made my life so much easier and that of many people around the world. 

Get ready for winter

I hope that you are by now ready for winter! However, if you’ve just arrived to the United States, I recommend you read my article about how to get ready for winter. It contains helpful tips to survive American winter. Like I recommended in that article, get a small heater if you will be living on campus and will have roommates or suite-mates, . This will save you so much trouble or roommates issues.

Plagiarism: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines plagiarism as “the act to steal and pass off the ideas or words of someone else as one’s own or to use an article without crediting the source”. American universities are very strict about plagiarism and punish it when it occurs. In most universities, plagiarism will automatically result in you failing that class. Some universities will even spell you. Although some teachers will quickly go over it with you when classes start, I recommend you take some time to research about plagiarism before school starts. 

College Life

Fun Inexpensive Outdoor Winter Activities

Esther Tokognon

So… it’s freezing outside. You’ve been spending the majority of your free time inside and are starting to run out of things to do. You’re probably asking yourself how anyone can possibly enjoy this crazy weather? The good news is, there are fun activities that you can do outdoor to remain sane. However, these activities require some preparation. Check out my article 7 Tips to Survive American Winter to learn more about how to survive American winter. 

Now that you have that down, let’s dive into the fun activities you can do during this freezing season: 

Photography: I personally think pictures of snow are the best. If you are into photography and own a camera, then this simple outdoor activity might be great for you. This article that I found has some tips on capturing the best winter photos: http://mycanvasblog.com/5-secrets-best-winter-photos/

Build a snowman or snow angel: A snowman is a sculpture made out of snow that resembles a man. You can make a snow angel by lying on your back in the fresh snow and moving your arms up and down and your legs from side to side. This will create the shape of an angel. You can get even more creative by painting the snow using food coloring mixed with water. Very fun activities for kids, young people and really anyone!  

Go ice skating: Ice skating can be intimidating, especially if you had never done it before. The first time I went ice skating was December 2012. Before getting on the rink, I was extremely nervous. I was worried I was going to hurt myself. However, seeing kids have fun even when they fell gave me the courage to let my guards down and enjoy the time I was spending on the ice. Beyond all the fun that you can have ice skating, this activity also has some surprising health benefits. Ice skating helps build stronger leg muscles, improve balance, endurance and better cardio vascular health. It also helps relieve stress, and we all know that college can be quite stressful. 

Sledding: Sledding consists of using a sled – flat plastic or aluminum discs – to travel down a snowy hill. Sledding was very popular when we had snow days in college because it is fun and very inexpensive. All you need is to purchase a sled, which can be done on Amazon or other stores. Sledding is a great activity as it also helps you socialize with those around you. Just be careful as sledding can cause some injuries, especially for very young people.  

Don’t stay inside, go out and have fun!

College Life

7 Tips to Survive American Winter

Esther Tokognon
American winter and snow

Temperatures are dropping and the coldest weather is around the corner. Winter can be hard for immigrants, especially those of us coming from warm environments. Those of you living in the southern states probably don’t need to worry, but any of you living in the green or blue states on this map… pay attention! Here are few tips that you can use to survive this winter, especially if it’s your first winter ever.

Get your flu shot

Winter is the time of the year when influenza infection is at it highest. It’s recommended to get vaccinated to help prevent against as tens of thousands of people die from it every year. If you just arrived to the United States and don’t have a physician yet, I encourage you to go to Walmart, CVS, Walgreens or your local pharmacy to get vaccinated. Most international student insurance plans cover the flu vaccine. If you aren’t sure, reach out to your international student advisor. Click here to learn more about the flu vaccine.

Increase your intake of vitamin D

Winter tends to be a depressing time for many people. Shorter days and less sunlight contribute to that. Our bodies rely on vitamin D to properly function, and our bodies need sunlight to produce Vitamin D. Increasing your consumption of foods rich in Vitamin D can be helpful. Salmon, Tuna, Oatmeal, Milk, and Mushrooms are all rich in Vitamin D, but a more convenient option is to buy a Vitamin D supplement. You can buy those at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens or your local grocery store or pharmacy. This is especially important for people with darker skin, since it’s harder for us to absorb sunlight.

Invest in good winter clothing

You probably already know that you need winter boots and a jacket, but the type of winter clothing that you buy will have a huge impact on your enjoyment of the season! For those of you that have never experienced winter, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. I recommend you invest in good winter boots and a good winter jacket and expect to spend $100+ for each. The best deals can be found in malls and outlets. Nordstrom Rack, Marshall’s, Ross, and TJ Maxx are great places to look. I wouldn’t recommend buying winter clothing online if you aren’t experienced.

When searching for good boots, look for ones that provide the most warmth, comfort, are waterproof, and have good traction on the soles. When it comes to a good jacket, ensure that it has a weather-proof outer shell, pockets, adjustable hood and most importantly, that it keeps you warm. The North Face is a great brand, especially if you’re living in one of the northern states. One important thing to keep in mind when shopping for winter apparel is to go a size or two up, to leave some room for the extra clothes you’ll wear underneath.

Invest in good winter clothing and layer up

Other than a good winter boots and a good winter jacket, you will also need warm sweaters, jeans, thick leggings, hats, scarves, socks and gloves. Wear leggings under your jeans and a sweater under your winter jacket. Hats, scarves, gloves, and thick socks are also essential. 

Use the weather app on your phone

Winter is the time of the year when checking the weather forecasts, whether it’s on your phone, computer or TV. You need to know what the day is going to be like so you can plan and dress accordingly.  You never want to be stuck outside due to a snowstorm or icy road conditions. Frequently checking the weather forecasts will help you stay safe and allow you to change your plans as needed.

Leave your house ahead of time

If you have to be somewhere when road conditions are less than ideal, leave your house ahead of time and give yourself plenty of time so you don’t find yourself rushing on the road. Don’t ever feel rushed when ideal driving conditions are not met. Your life is important!

Invest in a small heater

If you live in a building that is always cold even during the winter or if you have roommates that like the apartment/or dorm room a little cooler than you, get a small space heater! This is a problem that most international student face when they share campus rooms or apartments with American students. As most Americans are used to winter, getting your own personal heater will reduce conflict. You can get affordable ones at Walmart or Amazon.