1. It is important to know where the office is in your college, and in surrounding buildings. The office staff will know what to do and can contact help!
2. Assess as much of the situation as possible before running for help. You want to give as much clear and accurate information as possible.
3. If you have your phone give your cell number to someone in the office so that information can be relayed instantly
4. Make sure that someone stays with the person so they are not alone
5. When the police and EMS show up, give them room to work. They are professionals and know what to do, they will let you know if they need any further assistance or need to take a statement

There is a police station on campus and they are very quick to respond. If possible when calling for an emergency call from a landline phone, there are emergency call stations on campus, this way EMS can know the exact location. There are blue emergency telephones throughout campus, try to locate them during the first week of classes so you know where they are.

When asking my friend what was going though her mind she said “I didn’t know what to do so I ran to the nearest building to find help!”

She did exactly the right thing. You don’t have to know how to handle every situation, you just need to find someone who does. The person was okay, and the office staff handled the situation great, keeping everyone calm, and the first responders were quick to get to the scene!

The other evening we had all made plans to make dinner in one of the girl’s apartments, and since communication is not our forte over here (most of our phones don’t even work here, aside for wi-fi), we had set up to met in San Marco Cafe, which is 1/3 places I can get wi-fi over here. (The second and third being my apartment and the university).

However, as we made our way over there we saw that the street leading up to it was swamped by people, and the cobblestone had some colorful designs on it made with what seemed like confetti. Around the middle, plenty of nuns and children dressed in white gathered around. We totally didn’t know what was going on, so we asked around and it seems like some kind of procession was going on. One of the girls in my group was really happy and explained to us that it was a ceremony for first communion for the children. I am not Catholic, so I didn’t know about these events, but we decided to stick around to watch! It sure turned out to be a nice thing to watch!

Days have been so beautiful here. We decided to camp out in this open green space that’s Tuscania’s version of Central Park, which we creatively named “The Green”.

We visited a ceramics artist in Tarquinia and wandered around his yard taking pictures. This is my favorite picture that I’ve ever taken of Kelsey. She’s so beautiful!

My parents, brother, and I traveled with my grandparents to Hackensack, MN last week to relax and try to catch some fish. Try being the key word here. It ended up being about 50 degrees there most of the time, so it was chilllllllly! Apparently the fish thought so too, since I’m pretty sure they were all hiding at the bottom of the lake to keep warm. I spent most of my time inside the cabin reading. (I read two Nicholas Sparks books back to back, so I was pretty emotional and my expectations for men and relationships skyrocketed. Just kidding! …But really.)

Since the fishing wasn’t awesome, we took a couple drives to some surrounding towns, including Longville and Walker. Most of our time spent there was spent in random gift shops, and I bought a cute little necklace for only 7 bucks! What a steal.

As always, the scenery was my favorite part of the vacation!

You really can’t beat a sunset over the water. 

We saw some Northern Loons in action! It is Minnesota’s state bird, and I think they’re awesome! And pretty. Awesomely pretty.

We had a bonfire to end the week, as always. My brother, Brady, and I got the special honor of burning my father’s Iowa Hawkeye sweatshirt! (Yes, he used to be a Hawkeye fan, but those were dark times. I think I’ve allowed him to see the light since attending Iowa State.)

Okay, so I may have lied earlier when I said nature was my favorite part… This was pretty great, too. Go Cyclones!

Overall it was a relaxing week, but now it’s back to reality and the joys of Iowa!

You see, there are tons of thing for you to discover out in life. Trivial, nor trivial…they can help you. Even the minuscule discoveries. Here’s a mix of 19 interesting things you should know by the time you’re 19.

1- College is entirely your responsibility. I really hope you know this by now…you signed up for it. There are no parents or professors to tell you to go to class or to do your homework; unlike high school, attendance is not required for some of the classes…so people tend to just skip. You never know how those 50 minutes of lecture could help you. And if it doesn’t, just listen. We are progressive learners and we need an everyday push on our brains! Skip one day of class, don’t do your homework, and you will be in great disadvantage for what could come next! The future is in your hands–your hands alone.

2-  Even the smallest act of random kindness makes a difference. Holding doors, “good morning”s, smiling at others, stopping to help someone, leave slightly bigger tips…things like that make everyone’s days. They do make a difference. You never know what that person is going through, but you might just brighten their whole day. I personally want to do something bigger, but just to give you an idea of what a simple thing can do for someone, here’s a video that inspires me everyday.

I’m all for kindness, helping whenever I can–I even got a token for holding a door . It always comes back to you at some point, you’ll know what I’m talking about when it happens to you. Never forget, giving gets you more. Kindness never fails–ever!

3- How to survive out of your house. Now that you’re out, you might want to consider learning a few things about “living alone”. I can think of three key ones: first, how to do laundry. This one makes me laugh. I literally called back home and asked how to do it–guilty and not even ashamed! Now, the trick here is how to do it efficiently:

• Don’t put everything together. Guys, everything will get washed and dried, no rush!
• Separate your loads accordingly. Colors, blacks, whites…you don’t want your favorite white shirt to turn pink, do you?
• What causes wrinkles? A really big load, clothes left in the washer/dryer for too long, etc.
• How to avoid wrinkles? Smaller loads. Be aware of the time left in your washer/dryer. One by one, shake a piece of clothing and put it in the dryer, plus one or two dryer sheets. Toss a hand towel inside with your clothes…yes, it works!
• Respect other people’s things. I know it’s annoying when others leave their clothes in the washer/dryer, but that doesn’t give you the right to take it out. That may cause problems.

Also, cooking, or at least being able to make a decent meats with pasta/rice/vegetables dish. Let’s face it, not everyone knows how to cook at this point of their lives, but by reading instructions/recipes and doing it almost everyday…you’ll definitely learn. Well, you start out with a meal plan that will provide you food…but what about other times when you want to make something with your friends? Or when you get your own apartment? On the other hand, eating outside is expensive…especially for college people.

And for the last one of the bunch, how to dress appropriately. Interviews, special events, and just serious grown up stuff. The day will come, where you’ll have to get ready for your first official interview. But it’s gonna be okay, because you’ll have those go-to pants/skirt and shirt in your closet, right? Do your hair, iron your clothes, look for your lucky folder..trust me, once you get past that point, the rest is easy.

4- The people you meet along the way will help you in the future. When you’re in college, connections become a really important part of your progress. Either with an employer you meet, a professor, or just a friend–they will help you in many ways. Know that your path is entirely yours, but a little help never hurts, right? Keep in touch with that employer you had a good chat with at the career fair…they could remember your persistence in the future and highly consider you for next time! As for professors, they are always a good reference. Friends, they are your pillar when everything seems to go wrong; even though you may already have friends back home and have your family, your college friends will be able to do a little more from where you are…and what’s a college experience without a good group of friends to enjoy it with?

5- You should let people know you appreciate them every once in a while . I hope you should know this by now, but I repeat…don’t let your opportunity slip through your fingers–you never know. We sometimes need to get that out of our system, and that person sometimes needs to hear it; so look for your opportunity. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but you definitely should try it. What do I do? I write letters, e-mails, little gifts, one-on-one talks, pretty much anything I am able to do. Just remember that these people have shaped who you are, touched your life–let them know that. There’s never an enough. Need some inspiration? Watch the video below!

6- People stay in your life in different ways. “Why haven’t I heard from him/her?”…Everyone handles their relationships differently, including you. What I’m trying to get to with this is that you shouldn’t underrate these kind of people. Of course, there are the ones that really just don’t care about you anymore, and then the ones who–when you talk to them–will treat you as if they saw you yesterday…or drop whatever they’re doing to assist you even though you haven’t talked in weeks. You need to see the difference as you go. Believe me, being so far away and not being able to see my friends from back home for a very long time has taught me this…I guess I’m lucky, the majority have stayed. Know that a friend is not necessarily the one you talk to everyday, but the one who, regardless of time, talks to you as if you just talked the day before.

7- You should definitely not care about whatever people talk behind your back. Please, guys…this is something that is always going to happen–inevitably–the best way to keep on going is to just ignore it, even if it comes from your “friends”…you know better than anyone you’re not what they say you are.

8- Know when to let go. Either something you enjoy doing, a person, etc…you have to know when it’s enough. For example, if a “friend” is constantly bringing you down, belittling you…why in the world should you hold on to that so-called-friendship? He/she might be your best friend since first grade, but if his/her attitude is not compatible with yours anymore, don’t bother. If you love playing sports, or are on a team,  but you also are in a very challenging major or course, you might consider stop playing for a while…you can’t do everything. And also, prioritize those.

9- How to pack/unpack efficiently. I’ve moved in and out and traveled more these past couple of years than any others! I’ve had to pack and unpack my stuff to so many places. I really used to love packing because that meant vacations and traveling…now it’s just moving everything from your old apartment to the one in front. What items make your packing process easier?

• Of course, your suitcase.
• One or two duffel bags.
• Storage boxes/bins.
• A lot of reusable bags. Not only you should be thinking about saving the environment, but also about saving yourself some time and frustration while packing. These bags can save your life.
• Labels. You would probably want to know where everything is after the whole moving process.

The trick here is to have your things in order and together…if they are all over the place, it will be a pain for you to it–trust me. Also, double check when you’re packing to go out for spring break, you might not need 5 pairs of shoes.

10- If you don’t try hard, you’ll most likely never get it. This one is not obvious to everyone. There are some overconfident people who just think they don’t have to do much to get what they want in life, and when a challenge comes…they fail because they, in fact, didn’t try hard enough or at all. You should always try to stand out, try harder each time, AND be innovative and smart about it. Anyone can do what you do, but if you get to do it in a better and more efficient way than others–that’s when you shine.

11- Don’t let fear hold you back. This is probably really hard to overcome, but your fears can’t win every time! Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to tell that person what you feel. Don’t be afraid to change something you don’t like. Don’t be afraid to follow your instincts. Don’t be afraid to be a goof. Don’t be afraid to do something new. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Let this video show you what I mean.

12- How to control your shopaholic impulses–or at least most of them. It’s true that more independence comes in college, and it’s true that you will probably go crazy with it. Don’t buy that shirt when you could save your money to buy the books for next semester. Ordering online has got to be your biggest enemy when it comes to finances; it all seems so easy! But, always ask yourself: “is it a want or a need?” Breathe in, breathe out “is it a want or a need?” You’ll eventually have your answer.

13- Getting involved takes you places. Get with other people who have the same interests, join a club, volunteer places, participate in the community…it feels good, and it’s something different from your school work. When you participate in the community, you become much more likely to be noticed by others, and have some great ways to enhance that resume of yours. You might make the best friends there. I’ve met a lot of people who, with similar aims and principles, I know have made my college journey an outstandingly beautiful experience.

14- We all start out as strangers. Never be afraid to meet new people! But sometimes you might be afraid to approach the traditional way, right? Ice breakers are always good, but they don’t work every time, and that’s fine…you can find other ways to approach. I’m all about talking to random people, and I’ve got very, very interesting conversations out of those! If a simple and boring ice breaker doesn’t work for you, maybe you can try something like the video below! I’d be up for that, no question!

15- Know what gets you back to Earth. In a “chaotic” yet beautiful world like this, we sometimes find ourselves spacing out or wanting to run away…but we need to get back! Hey, Earth is calling you! You surely have experienced something like this, and you overcame it, right? How did you do it? Whatever got you back, a person, a group of people, your dreams, an activity, going somewhere else…hold on to that–it’s a very important thing to have that, because you’ll need it a lot.

16- It’s okay to not know where you’re going right now. Look, I don’t even know what I want to do either! People constantly ask me “what do you plan to do with your degree?”, “where are you going to go after college?”…I. Don’t. Know. I still didn’t really know what I wanted to go to college for the beginning of my senior year of high school–what? I had no idea if I wanted to stay in my country or come to the US. It’s okay not to know what to do…I’ve been there. Life sometimes is kind enough to help me through this, so I eventually come to a conclusion or an answer. Also, don’t be afraid to change something in your life…like your major. If you’re not happy, you should be proactive and do something about it. Don’t stress yourself over this too much, concentrate on your present so you can have your currently indefinite future.

17- Pay your debts, keep your friends–or any relationship for that matter. I always picture my mom at the back of my mind saying this–she taught me that, and it’s entirely true. You probably didn’t have enough money to buy dinner and your friend bought it for you; pay him/her back, or buy him/her the next meal! And it’s not only about money, but things they do for you–favors. You may encounter two types of people: the ones who aren’t looking for anything in return, and the ones who are. Either person, you should know that it’s way better to have a balanced relationship–even when you hear the famous “don’t worry, don’t pay me back” or “I do it because I’m your friend”, be a good friend too and return favors.

18- Accepting failure and mistakes will help you grow as a person. I know a lot of people are afraid of failure and that holds them back from so many things…but you should know, it’s a good thing to acknowledged them. Blaming others will not solve anything either. When you accept you made a mistake or that something really didn’t work for you, you’re letting yourself grow a little bit. Experience is a whole process. You’re probably afraid to admit you failed at doing this certain thing, but the moment you do, trust me…you feel good. And then, your lesson is learned. Experience gained!

19- The word “wasting” shouldn’t be part of your “dictionary of life” by now. Huge no-no. You aren’t allowed to waste time, what if you miss out on something? Be aware of your surroundings and the things on your way. I know you want to rush a bit, but stop for a minute and stare to your sides. What do you see? You aren’t allowed to sit still and let life pass you by. No. As people get older,  they regret wasting time and wish they were younger to do that thing they turned their back on…don’t let this happen to you! Be awesome! For example, people say college life is one of the best chapters of your life…don’t spend your time locked up in your dorm room! Get out there and explore! Just let Kid President tell you!

Believe me, I thought this list was going to be difficult to fill out, but I found myself wanting to be older just to put more, haha! I have many other things for you guys, but here are the ones that I really carry with me and remember at all times; I also try to get other people to notice them, let them know there are so many things to learn in this world–experience is definitely one of your best friends in your journey of life. I hope you carry these with you!

Sources of my inspiration:

Life Vest Inside

SoulPancake videos

Personal experience.

For example, I had to get my passport renewed, although I managed to do that in April. I was also set on retouching my highlights before I left. My boss recommended I go to Finesse in Somerset. So awesome! I’m totally recommending them too. I also had to buy a suitcase because the one I had was way too big and uncomfortable for this trip. Plus, I also had to get a electricity converter, a bag for my camera. And, organizing freak that I am, I also wanted to plan out my outfits. And that, my friends, didn’t end up happening.

And the night before the trip? Chaos! I basically cleaned and scrubbed my apartment sore. The logic behind that was that I wouldn’t have to do it later when I came back in August Duh! And I also packed my entire suitcase that day, did laundry, cleaned out my fridge, etc. I didn’t go out of the apartment entirely until after dinner time to go visit a friend in her apartment and play with her cat.

Here’s a video of such chaos-ness. I thought it would be fun to later see this and be like ” WOW! Day before my life changed! (I hope!)

1. If your interview is over Skype
   1. Make sure you have a good internet connection… seems obvious! There are some great spaces on campus available for students that have plug ins for your device, provide a great space so there is nothing in the background, and allow for privacy. Just talk with your Career Services office within your college to find out more!
   2. Make sure you have on interview attire. You want to feel as though you are interviewing in person, it helps to keep up the professionalism level!
   3. Have the website pulled up. This way if you have some questions about products, you can direct the interviewer to the exact page.
2. If your interview is over the phone:
   1. The same rules about dress and being in a professional setting apply. Interviewing is serious business and you want to put your best foot forward.
   2. Ask if it is okay to put the phone on speakerphone. If there is an echo it will sound weird. Also, this allows your hands to be free while taking notes.
   3. Don’t use your computer to take notes. Depending on how loud you tap the keyboard it could be distracting. I know it’s rough, but you can always transcribe your handwritten notes later.
3. If your interview is in person:
   1. Make sure to be on time. If something comes up with traffic try to call ahead that way everyone knows what is going on.
   2. Suggestion: If you are going to be wearing a watch, wear it for a week ahead of time, that way to you are not constantly looking at it. Also, get an analog watch! It is much more professional.
   3. If your pants have loop holes, wear a belt. Whether you need one or not, I always recommend this, especially if you have those pants that fit great in the morning and by the end of the day get a bit stretched out!!

And remember, ALWAYS send a thank you.  Best of luck!!

2. People don’t kid around about eating gelato at least once everyday.

3. People don’t kid around about electricity here. Italy’s actually the most expensive country in Europe for electricity because they buy it from France.

Hence,

4. People don’t kid around about their front door entrances, or matching their windows to their doors.

5. People don’t kid around about their coffee in the mornings, or their afternoons, or their evenings….

6. People definitely DO NOT kid around the flowers in their gardens. Oh sweet heaven!

7. People definitely do not kid around about looking at you like your a foreigner, but still trying to speak Italian to you.

8. People definitely do not kid around about their eating times. Restaurants are only open at certain times for lunch and dinner. If you missed it, you missed it. But you better not miss it.

9. People do not kid around about being present in the moment. Forget all the wi-fi everywhere. Only one place in town offers free wi-fi.

10. People don’t kid around about their religious activities. There’s about 7 Catholic churches in this small town alone!

The group and I have been spending some really chill days here in Italy. Since it’s just 12 of us, we’ve made it a point to stick almost always together. There isn’t too much rowdy-ness going on, though. Most of us are actually pretty quiet and relaxed people. We’ve enjoyed having breakfast, lunch and dinner together. I already feel like I’m going to gain weight on this trip! But at the same time, we’ve been walking so much that I feel like maybe I’ll end up even more toned.

Yesterday was really fun! Our group from Iowa (5 out of the 12 that we are in total) took a day trip to the nearby city of Tarquinia. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Tuscania. Upon our arrival we met with a lady, who will actually be teaching one of our classes this summer, who served as our “tour guide” for the day. We visited an Etruscan Necropolis where we learned a lot about how Etruscan people did their burials. It was super interesting because it’s actually a process very similar to how the Egyptians built their tombs.

We got to see an amazing view from where the Etruscan Necropolis was located. After the Necropolis we visited an museum where we got to see all Etruscan archeological findings, like the stuff these people put in their tombs, etc. Unfortunately I didn’t get pictures of this, we weren’t allowed to!

Before heading back to Tuscania for the day, we stopped by the Mediterranean Sea, which was minutes away from Tarquinia, and obviously took some jumping photos! You haven’t been to Italy if you don’t have one of these classics to back it up, right?

It’s been quite the odyssey trying to get wi-fi around here!!! You know in the States there’s a Starburcks anywhere you go? Or not even just a Starbucks! Pretty much anywhere you go you can easily get wi-fi like it’s the air you breathe. But around these place wi-fi is a little bit more of a rare invention. I’m thinking it’s the whole small town thing, but it’s been quite the event every time there’s a place that says wi-fi available! We make a bee-line to it like there’s no tomorrow. Kind of sad, right? Lol.

Our day didn’t end there! Because right after we got back to Tuscania we decided to take a hike to visit the old Basilica in this picture:

AND to visit the nearby Necropolis….which we didn’t really find after walking a couple of miles! Fine, maybe not miles, but it certainly felt like we walked forever! A cute hitchhiking dog joined our little trip all the way there and back. All this walking made us feel a little bit better about all this gelato and pizza!

Classes start this Monday! EEEEEEEP!

Something interesting to note, is that here in Tuscania we’ve been really feeling how foreigners may feel in our country. Kind of like..we’re used to feeling like we’re the majority when I’m in Puerto Rico, or I’m in the States, but then here most of us do feel like the minority. Almost all the town knows us already, knows to watch out for us Americans strutting through town and speaking really, really bad Italian.

Anyways, not everything is classes of course…it would be terrible. While it’s true that there’s not as many things to do in Ames over the summer, there are still adventures for you to experience here! Here’s what I’ve been up to these past few days…and it’s only the beginning of the summer!

1- I’ve been walking on campus a lot, appreciating the weather while it’s nice-ish. I might also bring out my camera one day and take some cool pictures like last year!

2- The gym is all to ourselves. I’ve seen more people around this summer, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to go to the State Gym. I’m starting my routine, which will go throughout the whole summer. I’m excited for the outcome!

3- Hanging out with my friends who are still here. We stumbled upon the newly opened Wiseguys (yummy burgers) and had a great time walking/”longboarding” around campus. This brings me to my next challenge, I need to learn to ride a longboard…it’s on!

4- Cooking…some delicious chicken, “arepas”, and more to come!

5- Rollerblading! It was impossible the last couple of weeks before summer when I finally got my pair. Too many people out, but now it’s all cleared for me–and I’ve been out there!

6- Raise some money! Some of the Dance Marathon folks and I volunteered for the Lil’ Cyclone Movie Night selling the food and drinks at the concessions stands. It was packed, so we got a really good amount of money for our fundraising accounts. I’m really happy about that! Just look at the stadium!

7- Again, walking a lot! I walked through Main Street and explored a bit, which I never really had time to do before. Well, let’s say I walked all the way from my apartment to Main Street. Why? I wanted to buy cupcakes at the Cupcake Emporium. Totally worth it, but I also probably ate the calories I burned walking there…shame on me.

8- Movies! I finally have enough time to go to the movies. I’ve seen Start Trek and Fast & Furious 6–both really good! I’m really happy that the “movie freak” part of me gets to be alive again!

9- Go for a walk/run or rollerblading on the several parks I didn’t know Ames had. Seriously, I feel really dumb by not knowing this. It first started when my roommate accidentally went straight ahead through our turn…we ended up at Ada Hayden, a beautiful, beautiful park. We decided the next day we wanted to go for a walk there!

Now that the weather is semi-decent, I’ve been trying to explore a little more. I’ve been to: Ada Hayden, Brookside, Emma McCarthy Lee (EML) and others. Dance Marathon also held an event for the Miracle Families at the EML, which I thought was a really great way to get to know and play with the kids and talk to the families.

10- Random events. This was totally last minute, but I ended up going to Daniel Tosh this week at the Stephens Auditorium. Did you go? I surprisingly enjoyed it, haha.

People think there is nothing to do in Ames over the summer…but really, what you need to do is look. It’s just been a month and look at everything I’ve done already! I’ll be here all summer, so I’m for sure looking and I’ve found many things to do. Of course, I will post more as they come to me as well and share it with you. I want to show you Ames can be fun over the summer!

Hey friends!

Before I left for Italy, I decided to visit Reiman Gardens on a beautiful, sunny day. The nice thing about summer in Ames is that everything is really relaxed and quiet and you can stroll around town without much fuss.

For those of you who haven’t seen Reiman Gardens yet, here you go!