Student Blog

What are things to do near campus/what is close by

You're probably wondering if there is a lot of stuff to do near campus. Let me tell you, Burlington is the best place to go if you are looking for fun activities, shopping, and really good restaurants. My favorite place to shop is the University Mall in Burlington, they have almost everything you would be looking for! It is about 45 minutes away from campus, but so worth the drive. If you are into hiking trails, the Burlington Bike path is absolutely stunning! Very peaceful and quiet. The Waterfront is also really pretty and relaxing. There are often fireworks put off there! If you are looking for places closer to campus, TJ Maxx is in Barre! Its a 20 minute drive from campus. There is the Berlin Mall too that has places like Walmart, Bath and Body works, Claire's, JC Penny, etc. Now you are probably wondering what is CLOSE to campus, and by close, I mean walking distance. There is a Dollar General, Subway, Depot Square Pizzeria (the best pizza place EVER) and Cornerstone. My friends and I always like to go get food whether it is walking distance from campus or 3o minute drive. Northfield is a small town but there are many things to do near by!

Fun and Fitness in the Fall

This past week was spent in very humid weather. On Monday, we had the Labor Day parade, a huge event for Northfield, VT, and Norwich. Every year, tons of people come and watch the parade, where the Corps of Cadets forms and marches through town. It was a hot day, but afterwards a cookout was held in front of the WCC and everyone was invited to eat. Rooks were at ease and they enjoyed some qality time with their platoon's.

I'm still getting used to being an upperclassmen, as seeing rooks walk (or square for that matter) around campus like robots brings back a little nostalgia. I can still remember the fear I had walking on the UP and blowing off an officer by not saluting them.

This past Saturday, my rook brother Wagner and biked up Paine mountain and stayed on top for about an hour. It was a great workout and a relaxing way to enjoy the late afternoon as the sun was going down. Here's a picture:

In other news, I've added a concentration to my major: Neuroscience. The study of the nervous system and the brain. I have to thank Dr. Stefani, my Biopsychology teacher for making it sound so interesting, and so far, it's kept me quite focused and excited to learn.

I can't believe it's already another week down here on the Hill. I'm getting settled in well with a decent routine.

A goal I had for this year was to consistently go to the gym (mainly because I live right next to it in Crawford Hall). I've kept up with that goal, and even today, when the gym wasn't open, I ran laps around Sabine Field.

Fitness is an essential at Norwich. This is coming from someone who was "neither in shape nor out of shape". I am blessed (or cursed, if you ask some of my rook brothers) with a runner's body. I have skinny legs and arms, but I can run for miles. When I first came to Norwich as a rook, I couldn't pass a PT test and spent about a month and a half on Remedial PT, a system designed to get those who fail their Physical Fitness Test in shape. I've found that going to the gym daily is great for relieving all my stress and leaves me with a happy attitude towards the rest of the day.

If you want to be in shape, you have to keep working at it.

Always a hoot.

Easter Day

Nothing ever goes as planned here a Norwich, my rook family and I had planned to have a cookout but instead we decided to go to town and enjoy the Chinese restaurant in Northfield. Of course we all enjoyed each others company. Most of us dressed nice in Easter clothes because that is what our families at home were doing and it is a tradition. I took some photos however the computer I am typing on doesn't want to cooperate with me so maybe I will post them a different day.

Easter

Well yesterday was good Friday and general leave started after 1600. Life here is pretty boring when you and your rook family are some of the only kids on the campus. We went to Northfield and had dinner at the Cornerstone Burger restaurant. If you are ever in the area I would recommend trying it because it is defiantly worth it. My platoon has plans to spend time as a family tomorrow, for those of us who are still on campus, we are dressing up and ordering pizza or something. It is just a way to celebrate Easter and enjoy each others company. I may post some pictures of our Easter shindig tomorrow if I can convince my rook brothers to let me take some photos . So stay tuned.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

As the holiday cheer starts to spread the rooks from 4-1 start to arrive back to dorms. This past week has been a nice break from rookdom and was well needed. My holiday break consisted of me hanging out with my friends from high school, tons of well-needed sleep, and lots of southern food. My personal hope for this week is that we get snow, the privilege not to square, and better food in the chow hall (make your own breakfast burrito bar).

My roommate and I traveled down to the Northfield Wal-mart (Dollar General) and bought some decorations for our room. I have one six inch christmas tree on my desk and two poinsetta 3d stickers on my bookshelf. To top things off I have mistletoe hanging too!

I have definitely missed home and my friends and family. Seeing them made me happy and it wasn’t horrible saying goodbye because I will be going back home in just a few short weeks. In order to make my plane rides I had to stay up over 24 hours so once I got home I slept a full 13 hours to even things out.

We got snow, but it didn't lay on the ground so that was a catch twenty-two hope. We still have to square but maybe that will change in the future. I would really love a make your own breakfast burrito bar. That would be amazing! I would also love to make a snowman whenever the snow does come Thursday this week they are calling for 1-3 inches here! Maybe it will come.

This week's song is Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, just to bring in the spirit and start up the cheer. The more hope you have the better you perform so if I can sing christmas songs and be happy and make others happy I will.

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will not find it under a tree”

-Roy L. Smith