New Year - New Blog Site

I would like to thank everyone who faithfully reads the Dominican University of California student blog. We've had a great time of it here using Google's Blogger platform as our publisher, but alas it is a new year and that always means changes.

This year's change is a brand new publishing platform! The Dominican Blog is now being hosted by Dominican University of California's very own website and platform. That means that means that the URL has been changed and this site will no longer be updated. Please visit http://www.dominican.edu/admissions/student-blogs.html in order to read what our 5 bloggers have to say.

Thank you Amanda, David, Brandon, Gretchen, and Monika for posting here and please come read what they have to say at our new site!

Winter break blues

So, apparently my services weren't needed at my previous job and for the past four weeks I've been brushing up on my sitting around skills. I'm now of the opinion that not doing anything for six weeks will drive anyone crazy. I mean, don't get me wrong a vacation is well deserved but now it just seems like its dragging on. I got a web-cam for Christmas which is really cool, now I can call home on the Internet, and talk to my girlfriend when she's at home. I got lots of books too, and or course the obligatory barrage of gift cards to various places.

Well, since we left school I have seen a few movies, and I've really cleaned my room, and did things usually associated with being very very bored.

Juno was my favorite movie of recent time. Atonement was so very good too; and No Country For Old Men was very very strange and I'm still not sure whether or not that I like it.
Basically break has been one long snooze fest of sleeping in and watching movies.
I cook a lot while I'm at home too, that's always nice.

I guess it seems weird that I want to go back so bad, its not that I don't like home, but school has really become home.

Well just a few more days left, before long I'll be packing up the car again and heading back up north, where I can get back into the groove of things.

Hope everyone reading this had a good break and a good beginning semester at school.

X-Mas---Here and now back to Winter Break!

Well, my Christmas was filled with happy moments with friends and family. I wish I could have shared some of these great times with my friend during this joyous holiday season but since we have such a long break, these moments can be only shared between a phones or the internet. But oh well, I am sure once we return to school, my friends and I will all live up as if it was holiday break. (In other words, make up for the lost time together).

My break is going good thus far. I am really getting the hang of not getting up at a schedule hour and just going to sleep whenever I feel like it. It's been lovely! Sometimes I find myself doing some school work but then remind myself that it's break and I really need to relax. I received my grades and I was really happy with them! I passed all my classes! All that hard work really paid off!

I really don't have anything to report from my end since it's just been sleeping and getting ready for Christmas but now that it's over, it's time to get ready for New Years! I usually end up at one of my friend's house but I am not sure what's going down this year. Maybe...a little get together at my house? Hm...Could be possible!


Well, I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and may the New Year be well for you!

Christmas Break

Hey everyone!

I hope you are all doing well and either enjoying your break or about to start the few relaxing weeks off! I'm loving being home with all of my friends and family, its so great to spend time with all of them again. The beginning of my break wasn't too great ... I had to come home early because I was sick and spent quite a while resting in bed before I began to feel better. But now I am feeling a hundred percent and enjoying sleeping in and home cooked meals!

All of finals went well, mainly presentations and now I am able to take a breath and enjoy the six weeks of doing whatever I wish. I don't have any big plans for the holiday, I already had a family get together since half of family is going on a cruise. Now we just are going to have a smaller Christmas dinner at home with close friends. I was able to spend time with my boyfriend and my best friends cruising around home and spending time at all our favorite spots here at home. Other than that, I'll probably be going to Disneyland once or twice over break as well as some day or weekend trips to Big Bear.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope your all able to relax and enjoy it!

Until Next Time,
Amanda :)

ah! winter break at last

Hi all!

I'm writing this blog from the comfort of my OWN bed at HOME!! yes that's right, Dominican is on break for 6 weeks! And let me tell you it feels so good to be done with school for a bit.

Finals weren't too bad for me....I only had one in class final; the rest were papers or take home exams! The papers were a little stressful since I'm not the biggest fan of writing but I got through them! Most students were done with their finals by mid week and with each passing day, our campus got quieter and there were definitely more parking spots available!! Since I am an RA, I had to stay until Sunday to make sure all of my residents had defrosted their fridges, unplugged everything and left. (Students are not allowed to stay in the dorms over break, unless they are basketball players)

My plans for break include: reading, watching movies, volunteering at a hospital, finishing up med school applications, and writing my thesis....and some dancing here or there :)

Well I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday season! See you next year!!

Monika :)

One Day Left!!!!

Well it seems that this semester has gone by so fast. It was just a few weeks ago that I was stressed about having so many projects and papers to finish but now I have one class to go to and then I'm done. Time flies when your busy. The sad thing about this whole experience is that I really liked some of my classes and I'm a little bummed they're over; still, I'm happy for a new semester.

Six weeks is a very long time to spend away from people you practically live with. Luckily I live near some of my friends at home, so I won't be a total loner all vacation. But vacation will be a nice break from school, I just wish some people would be there with me.

So I don't really know what more to write about, so, I think I'll tell you about my vacation plans (everyone else did.) So my grandparents are going to pick me up, sounds lame I know, but living the retired life and camping a bit on the way down is a very nice start to my break. When I get home, besides doing a mountain of laundry, I really am excited to hang some Christmas lights. Then work will start (hopefully), and that would take some time. Christmas of course is and will be fun. Then right when you finally get into the new rhythm you come back.

I'm done, so with that I wish everyone a Happy Holidays. Be safe, and party it up on vacation.

Ciao.

Brandon

Ready for break!!!

Good day friends!

I am so happy that finals are over! These last two weeks were exhausting. For the last month and a half I've spent almost every weekend in studying and doing homework, I know sounds lame right? Believe me it wasn't my idea of fun either, but luckily it paid off! Finals went smoothly and my presentations were great.

The semester as a whole was busy, but I learned a lot. My internship is over for now, it was a lot of work, but a positive experience for the most part. I think keeping busy is just part of the college routine, most students are used to having a packed schedule so free time is very precious. It will be fun to enjoy this so called free time during break!

I'm excited because I am leaving to Arizona tomorrow morning for two weeks! My best friend lives down there not to mention it will be warm. From Arizona I'm heading back home to Seattle for the holiday weeks. Christmas in Seattle is amazing! It's so pretty, unique like San Francisco but a lot classier. I love shopping uptown and occasionally there are light dustings of snowflakes it's the perfect way to feel the spirit of Christmas. The snow, lights and Starbucks all make it feel like home. I miss it, but most this time of year.

Cheers to painless xmas shopping and good park karma

-Miss Gretchen-

Last Week!

Alright! It's the last week of school and everyone know what's coming up...FINALS! Ah! I am not sure if I am ready for all my classes to end but I wish finals weren't comprehensive! I would do so much better if the tests were focused on what was learned before the last mid term. This whole week I've been studying my butt off trying to get all the information needed into my tiny brain. I feel myself overwhelmed with so much information that I take periodic naps throughout the day!

Well after finals is over...It's off to San Diego again! I am really excited to finally go back home for six weeks because that means...tons of rest! I plan to have fun and really get my body healthy for next semester. I hope my friends have something planned this break. Usually we go to Disneyland or Magic Mountain. We will see what we have in stored this time around.

Oh yeah! I HAVE to mention this. My recycling plan for the dorms was approved today by a committee that I sit on! Only two more steps before this is implemented into the dorms! It's been a month works for me but finally, it's all ready to go! Yay!

Tonight, I am off to see Kathy Griffin with another Ambassador. We are both excited for this because we bought the tickets three months in advance! We are 9 rows from the stage! WEE!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

-David