Studio Stroll

On Saturday, my friend and I visited the River Arts District for the semi-annual Studio Stroll.  During the two-day event, artists opened their studios to the public, displaying their art and giving demonstrations of their respective crafts.  We got to see artists work with glass, wax, and clay, among many other mediums.  The weather was beautiful Saturday--perfect for enjoying fall, friendship, and of course, art.  Asheville is a great place for artists; we have a thriving artistic community here.  There were a ton of people in the River Arts District today, and their energy was palpable!!  It was such fun to get a look at artists and their studios, and I cannot wait to go back again in 2012!  I hope you had a chance to visit, also.  If not, then you can enjoy my pictures!    

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Go Bulldogs!!

As many of you may know, Sunday afternoon was the UNC Asheville, UNC Chapel Hill men's basketball game.  This has definitely been one of the most anticipated athletic events this semester.  UNC Asheville students picked up our free tickets about a month ago, and then waited until Sunday afternoon to show our school spirit.  

Parking on campus was pretty congested, and by the time the game started, the Sherill Center was full to the brim!  The energy in the new Bulldog "doghouse" was tangible. 

 I think I've mentioned before that I am not the biggest fan of basketball, but on Sunday, I was proud to call myself a Bulldog.  Although we lost in the end, everyone had a really fun time supporting our school and just enjoying time together on a Sunday evening.  Best of luck to the Bulldogs for the remainder of the season!  Go Bulldogs! 

 

 

PS: I'm sorry I don't have any action shots!  I was having too much fun enjoying the game! 

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Pumpkin Chunkin'

What did you do this weekend?  I can guarantee you that my weekend was weirder.  Every year, my roommate and her family hold an event that has come to be known as the "Pumpkin Chunkin."  On the day of this event, we gather at my friend's house for food, friendship, and throwing pumpkins.  What do I mean by "throwing pumpkins?"  Well, several years ago, my roommate's father built a huge trebuchet.  They use this trebuchet to launch things (mostly vegetables, I think) into their field, trying to hit a specific target.  Since they have a lot of land and a general spirit of fun and adventure, any time they decide to break out the trebuchet, there is bound to be a small crowd of onlookers.  


The Pumpkin Chunkin' was on Saturday after the men's soccer game.  We carpooled to my roommate's house in Brevard just in time to begin feasting on the smoked pig her father had prepared, as well as other delectable dishes, including a variety of veggies, salads, and desserts.  While we were eating, our hosts brought out their potato gun.  Can you imagine that the family who built a trebuchet in their back yard would have a normal potato gun?  Exactly.  This potato gun is a huge, vacuum powered machine that has a pretty powerful kickback.  It's taller than I am, and it's a pretty interesting experience just seeing someone shoot it.  However, because it was not the highlight of the evening, we soon abandoned the gun for the trebuchet.  

While it was still light, we sent a few pumpkins flying from the trebuchet into the field where, upon impact, they exploded in orange chunks.  When evening fell, we set the pumpkins on fire and launched them.  Because I was so awed by the sight of the orange ball of fire against the night sky (and even more so by the subsequent fiery explosion in the field), I did not much pay attention to how they were able to safely light the pumpkin and throw it.  Needless to say, this was a pretty spectacular experience.  Although I've seen my friend's family throw pumpkins before, the flaming pumpkins were entirely new to me, and quite amazing to witness.  it's too bad that my post-graduation plans will take me far from Asheville because this is something I wouldn't mind seeing over and over again.  I took some pictures of the event, not that they can even begin to come close to what the experience was really like.  Enjoy!   

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Everybody Can-Can!

When my friends told me about the "Everybody Can-Can" dance event this past Friday night, I abandoned my rather lame thoughts of homework immediately and joined them.  Who does homework on a Friday night, right?   We simply had to bring four canned goods to be donated to MANNA Food Bank (or pay the admission fee of four dollars), then were free to enter Lapinsky Hall and enjoy the show.  What a great show!  We got to see performances from all of the beginning dance classes, witnessing an array of dance styles from stomp to belly-dancing.  The music and costumes were fun, and the environment was positive and relaxed.  I really enjoyed the stomp number and the tap dance from a group of older students.  There were also a number of individual performances that were quite well-choreographed and fun to watch.   Next time, I hope you all can make it out to campus to support our dance students.  A great cause and a fun time! 

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Afternoon Soccer Game

Yesterday afternoon I attended a men's soccer game for the first time this season.  A few of my friends came up to visit and we decided to stop by the game to enjoy the beautiful weather and support the Bulldogs.  I regret that my first soccer game of 2011 came so late in the season because I had such a fun time.  Many other UNC Asheville fans came out to watch the game, so the air was full of excitement and school spirit, which definitely helped secure the Bulldogs' well-deserved victory.  Although we let in two goals, and had several close calls, the offense made some spectacular breakaways that had me on my feet.  The final score: 4-2 over Presbyterian College.  What a beautiful, adrenaline-filled afternoon!  Go Bulldogs~~

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The Asheville Reef

If I told you that on the way to class today, I found Nemo, would you believe me?  Well, on the main floor of Karpen hall, I did.  I usually enter Karpen hall from the basement floor entrance, but I'm so happy that I entered through the main floor because I was able to see the crocheted coral reef on display here.  I found the following information on the reef:
"The Asheville Reef" is a project of the UNC Asheville Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design in collaboration with the Institute for Figuring located in Los Angeles, CA.  It is a satellite of the worldwide Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, founded by Margaret and Christine Wertheim.  Crochet groups from around the western North Carolina region helped to create "The Asheville Reef," including crochet groups at the UNC Asheville Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, UNc Asheville, Handmade in America, Western Carolina University, and Appalachian State University." 
What a project!  At first, I couldn't tell what the reef was made of, but upon closer inspection, I realized that yes, it had been crocheted!  How cool.  Check it out!  What do you think?

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Study Abroad: Where Should I Live?

Happy belated Halloween, everyone!  Unfortunately, I had so much work this weekend that I could not enjoy the festivities, so I do not have an exciting Halloween-themed post to share.  Instead, I thought I would return to the subject of study abroad.  This time, I want to address the issue of where you will live when you study abroad.  When I studied abroad, I had three basic options for housing; I could stay with a local family, post up at a boarding house, or live in the school's residence hall.  I actually had a difficult time deciding where I wanted to stay because each option has its attractive points.

If I lived with a local family, I would have a chance to see how a real Korean family lived, and how a typical Korean college student would carry out his or her daily routine, including commute.  If I did this, and decided to avoid using English as much as possible, then my language-learning experience would be that much richer.   Also, and equally important, I would likely get homemade meals two or three times a day, which would help me save money on food and hopefully be very delicious!


If I decided to stay at a boarding house or hostel, I would have the opportunity to meet a variety of guests from around the world.  Perhaps we might spend time together exploring the city on weekends, and I feel that we definitely would have been able to learn a lot from each other.  There would also have been two meals provided per day, which, covered in the cost of boarding, would be helpful for my budget.


If I boarded at the school's residence hall, then I would get a chance to better know my classmates or even local students.  Further, I would be able to observe campus life in a foreign university, and could easily participate in events on/near campus.  I would also be able to use the laundry, dining, and exercise facilities.


As it happened, I actually had the experience of staying in a youth hostel as well as the school's residence hall.  When I arrived in Korea, I spent about a week and half travelling and meeting friends, and spent the night at at hostel in Seoul.  This option was exciting, because it offered me the freedom of being able to explore the city on my own, or with a fellow boarder.  However, it was also nice to settle down in the residence hall once classes started.   If I had any problems, I could contact my RA or program director easily, rather than having to more or less fend for myself.  


As with my time in the hostel, I also had a very positive experience living in the residence hall.  I enjoyed two meals a day in the cafeteria and felt very safe, as the security there was pretty high.  My roommate and I were placed in the same level of language class, and got to know each other pretty well over our time.  I also got to know well several other international students from places like Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, and Germany.  Looking back on my experience, I do not know which option I would choose if I studied abroad again.  I think it really depends on your budget, comfort level, and goals for your trip.  Think these over carefully before deciding, because your living situation can really define your experience away from home and country.  

Curious about where I stayed?  Here are some pictures of my residence hall! 

  

The view from our room!  

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