Bishop's University Blogs

Hello all!

I apologize for my lack of posting. I haven’t had anything too exciting to say!

Lately I’ve been looking at the class timetable. I’ve been going over my pre-registered classes as well as my electives. I have one thing to say, wow! One thing I love about Bishop’s is the Liberal Arts program. Class choices are very liberal (ha ha). The faculty allows and encourages you to take classes outside of your major. How cool is that? Here in Saskatchewan, a lot of my friends don’t have much choice. They have to take a first year math, english, science etc. When I tell them that I’m conflicted between taking International Relations and Rock 101, their jaws hit the floor.

No matter which program you are in, it is so easy to venture outside of it. So for all of you who aren’t quite sure what you want to take, have no fear, advising is here! I’m also super excited for academic advising. One thing that makes Bishop’s really special is the one-on-one atmosphere. Not many school allow you to meet up and pick classes in person. However, it is a good idea to get some ideas in your head of classes you may want to take.

Personally, I am pre-registered in two Sociology classes. 1.) Canadian Society 2.) Research Methodology. That leaves me three classes! I have chosen French 1 just to get the feel of university French. I am hoping to take another Sociology class. Perhaps Family 1? So many options! I change my mind every day. At this point my fifth class is hopefully International Relations.

With the flexibility of choosing your courses, you don’t have to worry about being too bogged down. If you want to switch it up and take a class you’re really interested in, it won’t seem so hard. It’s really nice to know that even though there will be a lot of work ahead, I will actually enjoy the classes. Nothing like researching for an essay you actually give two cents about. What a novel idea.

What kind of classes is everyone else interested in? Any great ones you want to recommend for all of us newcomers?

3 weeks guys! Can’t wait.

Em

So last night, Bishop’s kids did what Bishop’s kids do best: threw a party. Just kidding – kind of.

This past year BU has thrown an amazing amount of highly personal receptions. Thanks in part to an awesome recruitment office, we’ve been hosting small get-togethers for prospective and incoming students across the country. If by chance you actually follow this blog (my mom) you will know that in April, Mark Lawson and I traveled across Western Canada, attending a rapid-fire round of Admitted Student Receptions. These receptions were small – tailored to our audience, and incorporated heavy hitters – Principal Michael Goldbloom, Director of University Advancement Dave McBride, and Director of Enrollment Management Jock Phippen. These nights were comprised of intimate venues, great speeches, and time to mix and mingle with alumni, current students, and the prospective students and their families.

This year, BU took it one step further. After all the applications, offers of admissions, confirmations and deposits – students were left with a bunch of questions, and a WHOLE lot of excitement. So Bishop’s decided to organize several receptions in our major feeder cities.

Last night was the first of these events. We were hosted by Cathy and Bryan McLean (alumni 81′ and 82′) in their beautiful home in Ottawa. With purple balloons flying, and BU ambassadors making the trip in from every corner of the city (and beyond), we met up at 5pm for a big round of hugs and summer updates from everyone. After a huddle and pep talk from Eddie Pomykala we put our hands in for a Gaiter cheer – and started preparing!

At 5:30, students and their families began arriving. The night was extremely informal – a quick kick-off intro from Eddie, introductions around and brief frosh-update, we were set to mingle. 23 new students and their parents, six student ambassadors and 2 Recruitment & Admissions officers rounded out the crowd, and everyone spread out, grabbed a bite to eat and started talking. We always say that a lot of Bishop’s publicity is word of mouth – and that was reflected in the reception: with students talking to students, parents of current BU students talking to parents of future BU students, and alumni talking to future alumni!

Parents, students, and ambassadors were talking every aspect of Bishop’s – from meal plans to laptops, and intramurals to academics.

It was a great opportunity to get questions answered, and for our newest Gaiters to meet some familiar faces before arriving on campus in several weeks.

It was so great to meet you all, and a HUGE “Thank You” to the McLean family. If you attended the reception last night, give us some feedback! And if you didn’t, perhaps we’ll see you soon at an upcoming event, or on the big Saturday move-in day!

There is a month left before I move in to BU!

I’ve been busy travelling much lately, my summer adventures taking me through France, and even over to England , where a friend and I walked from London to Oxford. A lovely project that we did manage, despite my knee not agreeing too much with it on the last day. With all the moving around I’ve been doing, I must admit I was less focused on the idea of BU, and more on that of just enjoying my vacation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still the same fanboy I was in the last entry, but unlike the previous months when I was working a mind numbing job, I’ve actually been living some fascinating and stimulating experiences, which allow me to take more pleasure in living in the moment.

However, this past week, BU has been reminding me of the imminence of Frosh week, with the arrival of useful information. I received my residence information with much satisfaction, becoming the proud co-resident of Norton 213. Be sure to come and say hey in September! Today, I also got my package from the SRC with all the info for orientation week, getting me really pumped for the upcoming fesitivites. Does anyone have any information about the mysterious Mustache Monday that was mentioned? While I’ll see what I’m able to do, I’m pretty dubious about growing a mustache over the summer.

The info for Gaiter Galaxy arrived just in time, as today was my last day at home, in Paris. I spent the past weekend here, getting everything together and getting my bags all ready. Tomorrow I leave home and while I’ve got a great month of traveling ahead of me before I hit the BU campus, I can’t help but feel sad this evening, as I say my goodbyes to my family and the place I’ve lived in for over a decade. Leaving home is not easy and I suspect many of my fellow Froshies will be going through the same experience before their arrival at college. The process is all the more difficult than I’m leaving my country behind as well and crossing an ocean. I suppose it doesn’t really matter whether you end up a province or a continent away from home (except for transportation costs) but psychologically, crossing borders does have a stronger impact for me, and though I’ve always been of an adventurous spirit, I think nostalgia and anxiety are inevetable on the eve of my departure.

Thankfully, amazing locations will come and distract me from homesickness very soon, as I fly out to Spain tomorrow, before continuing my travels in the US and Mexico. Quite a journey indeed. My bags are packed, I’ve given up my cellphone and computer, my wallet has been stripped of all the cards I won’t need and my room has been emptied out of those things I actually will need. I’m ready. I’m arriving.

People often praise the value of “going away to University”. One of the side effects of working in the recruitment office is hearing (and repeating) this phrase ad nauseum. In fact, it often spills out in other contexts – like when friends from home ask me if I like BU and I start to preach the Bishop’s Experience, because I really believe in it that much.

However, when I take a step back, I truly amaze my self with what I’ve gained from going away. Not to bash staying at home for your undergrad degree – let’s face it, it’s a pretty darn good way to save some money, but for me, it never even crossed my mind.

Bishop’s sits at a pretty cool intersection of elements that make the opportunities here all that much more interesting.

1. Small University –> Big Opportunities

It’s true. Because we sit nestled well below 2500 students, the opportunities here are available, tangible and achievable. You will not be competing against 40,000 other students just to get an on-campus job or internship. As a well-connected and competitive institution, BU needs the same numbers of students to fill positions – varsity teams, leadership roles, and jobs – that every other university needs, but you will bump heads with far fewer competitors to earn these positions.

2. Gaiter Go-Getters

For some odd reason, we have a network of insanely talented and ambitious students. When you arrive on campus your first day, you already feel like you’re behind, and like you’re not doing enough. Everyone you meet at BU is so involved, and so passionate about what they do, that you eventually start to become that way as well. This cycle breeds more and more involvement and ambition – a pretty common aspect of small, tight-knit universities.

3. On Campus = Off Campus

With 97% of the student body living easily, affordably and comfortably within a kilometre of campus, no one spends hours stuck in traffic, riding the bus route, or coordinating car-pools. BU students pack their backpack, step out their front door and arrive on campus before finishing the contents of their eco-friendly travel mug. This laughable “commute” gives Bishop’s kids a whole lotta free time – which generally gets filled with extra curriculars, and okay – maybe even the occasional afternoon nap. However, this element of “going-away” isn’t present at all universities, but it is a serious benefit to thinking small and thinking purple.

4. Where’s All The Grad Students At?

Probably filling internship and research assistant jobs at larger institutions. As a predominantly (read: almost all) undergraduate student body, students studying at BU get to hold coveted positions working closely with tenured profs, community leaders, and taking on big roles in their community and the big wide world. Because Bishop’s focuses on undergraduates studies, and enriching those studies, it has become a hotbed of undergraduate experience where 18-22 years olds are filling positions usually reserved for grad students.

5. Positive Staff, Admin & Profs

Fact: There’s nothing worse than letting someone down who believes in you. At Bishop’s, this fact is only magnified. When you feel like you have an entire community supporting everything you do – profs who go out of their way to help, admin that work tirelessly to give you every opportunity, and friends, classmates and acquantances that believe in your success, you really want to make them proud. You want to do everything you can to make them feel that their commitment and time spent on you was worthy. By going away to a small university, you inevitably become part of a community like this – and you want to do them proud. This desire to fulfil the potential they see for you only makes you work that little bit harder, study that little bit extra, and go that extra mile – even when no one is looking.

6. Stress Relief

Okay, okay, you all knew it was coming. However, I am a firm believer in the positive value of a boisterous, inspired and happy community. There’s nothing better than staying up all night to finish that last paper of the semester when you know that the last revision, final printing, and handing in will be followed by a memorable night of frosty local pitchers of Lion’s blonde beer,  a couple pounds of hot wings between friends, and the knowledge that you’ve made it through another year as a hockey game plays on the big-screen in the background.

Attending a small school where you live amongst friends and colleagues and are, at most, a five minute walk to the local pub means that you won’t be overwhelmed, stressed, or lonely. Even when school gets tough, you know that you have a great community who is always up for a celebratory beer at the close of a tough week, semester, or year. You just don’t get that living with mom and dad in the suburbs.

7. That Whole “Resume” Thing

The combination of available positions, a community that gets involved, ample free time (compared to our peers at other commuting institutions), and the type of students who aspire to be bigger and better everyday leads to some stellar resumes. I know for a fact that had I stayed at home, my resume would look just about the same as did in grade 12. Going away to Bishop’s has made all the difference.

Every time I step onto the rugby pitch in Gaiter Purple, every time I open the door of ancient Tomlinson hall for a student council meeting or every time I step out of my apartment for the short and scenic stroll across the lush McGreer lawn on the way to class, I know. When I give a tour to a prospective student, catch up with a prof at Tim Hortons between classes, or run to my on-campus job after my Accounting class, I know. Saturday afternoons, when I work on my tan with the rest of the student body on Optimist field, or road trip to the ski hill with a bunch of other students, I know. During the summer, while working at the internship in my field that BU helped me get, and preparing for another year, I know. I know exactly why I came to BU. I came to BU to learn, to grow and to chase the opportunities that I knew I was worthy of.

So why do BU students get so many opportunities? Why do they deliver killer resumes to employers year after year, and why do they attend grad schools world-wide and find interesting and inspiring work across the globe – fresh out of Bishop’s doors? Why are BU students and grads happy, fulfilled and amongst friends the world over? Why does Bishop’s have an amazingly strong alumni connection and why, oh why, do students pour in every September????

Now you know.

For people who have been keeping up with my earlier entries (probable total population: 3), I feel the need to justify why I already love Bishop’s so much. It’s true, it can seem disconcerting to see me rambling on about organizing classes, and displaying purple pride, when I’ve spent a total of 3 hours on the Bishop’s campus in my life (and moreover, 3 hours on an empty campus, with many locked doors).

No, I am not a crazy purple alien, who doesn’t go out much and spends his life dreaming about going to college… at least, not quite. What you have to understand about me, is that I found Bishop’s at the end of a long search entitled: “What should I do for the rest of my life?”. For a long time, I was lost in imagining what life after high-school would be like. The idea scared me, and I couldn’t find one thing which was of actual interest to me. However, midway through my teenage years, I discovered a passion for writing fiction. Writing stories became my favorite pastime and was the first activity which made me think: “I could do this forever and never get bored”. To this day, that statement stays true.

You might think this revelation was the happy ending to a not so harsh story, but quite on the contrary, it became the source of my orientation crisis. As explained in an earlier entry, writing is not a discipline you can study in French univeristy, and besides, I’ve always written in English – studying writing in French would not be as fun for me. All of this came to a great dilemma, in which I had to find something else to study, while knowing I could not dedicate myself to what I truely loved.

So, I’m making this all sound like some great epic love story, and believe me, at times that was what it felt like, but I’ll spare you my teenage emotional drama. Suffice it to say that I tried a variety of different study paths through and after high-school including: a science major (with maths, physics, chemistry and biology), applied arts and languages. All had interesting points, in which I found fascination, but they also all had reasons for which I failed to fully commit to them.

The idea of going abroad, far from home and living on my own was something I was not ready for out of high-school. I had been conditioned to consider all of my options were in my home country, France, and that potential exchange years would come later. I lacked the proper information to go looking for what I wanted. But, eventually, it was suggested that I look into Quebec Universities, which would be suitable for me for a number of reasons. Bishop’s proved to be an answer to everything I was looking for. By the time I arrive in the fall, this whole crisis I’ve gone through with my orientation will have started back from five years prior, so it has really lasted a long time.

I have no certainty that I will find my place at Bishop’s, because you can never know until you get there. I can’t pretend that my study path there will be easy or obvious. But if it does live up to what I’m expecting of it (and in all fairness, I am expecting a lot), then I couldn’t have dreamt to come across a better school. I’ve been waiting to find my path for a long time, and so, I think you can now understand why this upcoming experience means so much to me. I feel like this time, it’s going to work and so, I can’t help but be excited and celebrate with anticipation in every way I can. Am I still risking diapointment? Of course! But I can’t help from taking a head start, with high spirits.

My training camp for Bishop’s Varsity Soccer is just about a month away from now, so on top of stressing about sprints and the max amount of pushups and lunges I can do, I also have the Bishop’s University Charity Fashion Show invading my thoughts. This event which occupies most of my life in January has begun to spill into my thoughts, so not only am I jogging and concentrating on beating my old running time, my mind wanders to, ” I wonder if we can get that store? Or, What can we improve in the show?”. Recently, I had a nightmare where Micah (the co-ordinator that works with me) and I had to put on the fashion show out of the blue and nothing was organized at all. In my dream Micah literally called me in class saying the show was that night. I woke up in the morning with my heart pounding, then breathed a sigh of relief, but shivered at the thought of being disorganized. For now all I can do is plan some of the smaller things and get them out of the way then hope for the best in September when the ball starts rolling.

Howdy y’all! Ever since my parents moved to the American Southwest, I have felt like I have earned the right to say things like “Howdy” and “Y’all”. So maybe I’m a born and bred Canadian girl, but for those 6 weeks a year when I make Albuquerque, New Mexico my home I take it to the max: pulling out my cowboy boots, throwing around my beloved southern jargon, and maybe even once in a while imagining that I am a real cowboy… (don’t laugh at me.. I can hear you laughing)

The truth is, I wanted to write this post to give a shout-out to all of Bishop’s international, semi-international, or lost-in-the-travel-mix new students. I’m going to take a moment to be honest here, our beloved BU is not the most simple place to get to. It’s not in a downtown metropolis, and you can’t land in an international airport and walk out the front door onto campus, but you already know that. It might even be one of the reasons why you chose Bishop’s. Our beautiful university is in a small town, away from the hustle and bustle of overheard cargo jets or people strutting in sky-high stilletos mid-January. The fact is, it takes a little bit of planning and effort to get here – well worth it, I promise.

The easiest way to get to Bishop’s if you’re travelling alone (or for the first time!) is to fly into Montreal International Airport (YUL). Flights in and out of Montreal happen around the clock, and the staff are fluent in both English and French. From Montreal, hop on a Greyhound bus bound for Sherbrooke, QC. This bus trip will take about two or three hours and is actually a nice chance to get caught up on your reading list, or chill out with your iPod. If it’s not your first rodeo (rodeo, another new word I can use!) then you’ll probably recognize one or two friendly BU faces in the airport or on the bus as well (or if it is your first time, try wearing a Bishop’s shirt – it’ll do wonders!). From the bus station in Sherbrooke, you will probably run into your first Francophone experience – as most of the cab drivers primarily speak French. Not to worry, by pointing south-east and yelling “AU BISHOPS!!” with an Anglophone accent, they will know EXACTLY where you’re heading. After a quick ten minute cab ride (and lots of smiling and nodding along with the cab driver’s stories -  if you’re not bilingual) you will find yourself at our beautiful little campus. Ivy-covered 19th century brick buildings, sprawling lush green lawns, and gaggles of laughing students traipsing over the bridge and across McGreer lawn await you, and once you’re here, you’ll know you’ve arrived home.

[NOTE--> If you're coming in on your own you'll want to continue past the first couple exits to Bishop's and turn right at the first set of lights after the bridge to take you closest to all the residences (And make unloading all those monster suitcases a little bit easier).]

The funny thing about all of these travel directions is that you probably will never see the inside of a cab or bus. Since most BU students aren’t “from around here”, almost everyone makes the west-ward voyage to Montreal, where most of us split up and exchange big hugs before setting off in separate directions.  That being said, many of your trips back to your hometowns will consist of cramming into a friends car with four other students after a balanced breakfast at Pizzaville. You will probably have way too many suitcases, and the iPod adapter will probably break somewhere near Rock Forrest, and you’ll have to listen to an old Backstreet Boys CD that someone found under their seat the rest of the way. You’ll probably have cramped up legs, and your butt will go numb, but I promise you – these trips back “home” will be some of the most fun of your life. So even if that first trip to BU seems a little bit overwhelming, don’t worry – every trip after will make up for it.

See you all in seven weeks!

Lennoxville, like much of central Canada is in the middle of a heatwave. I much prefer being overly hot than overly cold, so I shouldn’t be complaining too much. That fact still doesn’t stop me from stating the obvious “IT’S HOT!” whenever I go to the fridge. Regardless, after a few days of relative inactivity in apartment 301 due to the fact  that the roommates all left Lennoxville except for me, is now playing host  three-sevenths of Da B’ys Players. (Okay, host to two-sevenths since Shawn lives here.)

It’s nice to have others to swelter with and down Keith’s and ice cream sandwiches for a short spell. Why a short spell and just who are Da B’ys? Da B’ys (Newfoundland slang for “the boys”) are going across Canada on a fringe theatre tour. Stopping at Winnipeg and Edmonton festivals, Shawn, Robert (Tracey), Robert (Dawson), Kyle, Jesse, Viviane and Allie, are driving across this great country to present the story of Little Dickie Milburn. (Check out their blog for cast and crew bios, video, photos, Twitter feed and tour dates.) If you’re in Lennoxville this Saturday, be sure to check out a preview at 2 pm in Studio Theatre. This is a by-donation event which is going towards the ‘Bear repellent and other general survival needs fund’. You won’t be disappointed.

While they’re rehearsing, packing up the van and plotting their journey, I am working across campus getting things on the go for the fall. At Centennial, we’re in full-on maintenance mode as we clean, build,  store and fix just about everything in the theatre for the upcoming season. While on the SRC side of things, editing the student handbook and agenda, committees and meetings are keeping in the SUB and McGreer. Recruitment also has me in McGreer, part of the time. When I’m not answering questions on the Incoming Class Facebook page, or working to help update new student information for the website, I’m giving campus tours to prospective and incoming students. When I’m not on-campus, I’m in and around Lennoxville, including on my orange coloured float on the Massawippi. The summer is a slightly slower pace at BU but there is certainly no shortage of things to do or be done.

This is the first summer that I’ve spent since high school working close to home, and my full-year round Townships experience. It’s nice being able to be home and getting supper on the go 15 minutes after I finished work for the day. Another bonus is the option to catch up on podcasts and television shows. Having worked at a summer camp for the last three summers, my media and technology intake was low. I recently started watching season one of Mad Men and I’m hooked. I finally got into How I Met Your Mother in June and I’m another successful convert. CBC Radio 3 is broadening my Canadian music repertoire and presently on my reading list is “The Beats: A Graphic History” (a graphic novel depicting the history of the Beat Generation), Tom Wolfe’s seminal classic, “Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”, and “The Act of Fact: A Historical Anthology of Literary Journalism” along side my yearly summer re-reads of “Anne of Avonlea” and anything by Bill Bryson or PJ O’Rourke.

While I might be nibbling on frozen grapes and cuddling with ice packs until the heat breaks, Lennoxville is treating me well. The change of pace is welcome but I am looking forward to September when everyone is here. The buzz of energy that comes with all of BU reuniting is amazing and after a summer of relative quiet on-campus, it’ll be most welcome.

So on Tuesday I graduated. It was a lot of fun. However, for most of the night, all I could think about is BU. As I left a chapter of my life, I was already itching to start the new one. Grad is a very exciting day. From when you get your diploma, to the dance. Also, my dad got married lat night! It was awesome. There is nothing like love.

As summer passes us by, very quickly, we prepare for the fall. I speak for myself when I say I am nervous. Lately everyone I have come across is asking me when I move, am I excited etc. I feel like yelling, I still have 2 months! It’s hard to leave the ones I love most. I’ve never been very good at saying good-bye. On the 12th, my boyfriend and I will be celebarting our one year. Ooohh. . I am very thankful to have 2 families, the one I was born into and the purple one, that supports my move. Thanks for reading my ramble. Back to the sunshine!