It’s hard to think of one, single favorite memory at Hopkins. I have so many memories that I will always cherish forever in  my heart. But looking back at the past three years, I would have to say that my FIRST favorite memory was Convocation.

Convocation is a huge formal ceremony that officially welcomes the incoming freshman class of Johns Hopkins University. The ceremony takes place during the last evening of Orientation week before classes start. The students wear business casual attire and they are welcomed to the University by President Daniels and the Deans. The President and Deans are in fancy and traditional garb for the ceremony. While the new member class is seated, the President and Deans parade in with the new class’ banner.

JHU_Ruthie and friends before Convocation

Before Convocation, over the summer, there is a contest where the new students of the incoming class can enter ideas for the new class banner. Each year’s selected banner is displayed in the library for the next four years until Commencement. At Commencement, the banner finally leaves, marking the end of the graduating class’ undergraduate career at Hopkins.

Johns Hopkins class of 2013′s banner

During Convocation, just being there alongside with my new classmates, I felt so honored and lucky to be able to attend a school like Johns Hopkins. There, I realized that the next four years was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience with so many opportunities and adventures. If it weren’t for Hopkins, I wouldn’t have met all the wonderful people that I have gotten to know as classmates and friends over the years. If it weren’t for Hopkins, I wouldn’t have been able to take amazing classes taught by phenomenal faculty. If it weren’t for Hopkins, I wouldn’t have gotten three different jobs on campus – from TAing for the Bloomberg School to interning for an interdisciplinary environmental institute. If it weren’t for Hopkins, I would have never gotten the sisters I never had through Alpha Phi. If it weren’t for Hopkins, I would have never survived without the support from the school when my mom died. If it weren’t for Hopkins, I would have never met my best friend and boyfriend. And for all those reasons, I am so incredibly grateful to be here. It’s hard to believe, that in just a year, I’ll soon be on Homewood field bidding farewell to the class of 2014 banner.

Core four

The pham

My best friend

Today, I officially received approval for my application to graduate next year in the spring of 2014 as a double major in International Studies and Global Environmental Change and Sustainability! As I left the registrar’s building, I felt an immense amount of achievement and also, relief. To be honest, the past three years have been pretty difficult. Not so much academically, but emotionally.

Sophomore year, I suddenly lost my mom. Instead of taking the semester off, I decided to still stay. I really wanted to continue my studies because I felt that my mom would want me to keep going. During sophomore and junior year, there were many times where I felt like graduating on time wouldn’t be an option. To be honest, I’ve come so close to leaving and taking the semester off. The roughest time was this past semester. My family is finally selling our home; it’s been an experience that I didn’t really expect. It’s not like simply moving to another place. We’re leaving the place that my parents built with their own hands, the childhood home for more than twenty years where my brother and I grew up, and most of all, the physical memories of mom – her flowers, kitchen, and piano.

My advisors were slightly skeptical. They wanted the best for me – whether that would be taking the semester off or staying here at Hopkins. Obviously, I decided to stay. I had gotten the majority of my academic distribution requirements out of the way that I only needed to take a regular load of classes (about 12 – 14 credits/semester) for senior year and best of all, I no longer have any more major-specific requirements. I can take whatever classes I want now for my senior year! But most of all, I decided to stay because of the people.

As the new class of 2017 receives their admission decision tonight from Johns Hopkins, I hope they know how special of a place Hopkins is. Not only students can take amazing classes from world renowned professors across all areas of study, but they can be a part of an extremely diverse and wonderful community. When I graduate next year, it will be almost heartbreaking to not have my mom there to see me finally graduate. It will also be very bittersweet to leave another home again. But most of all, I will miss my Hopkins family.

Sending a text to Dad early in the morning saying “I HAVE TWINS!!!” was probably not the best idea. No, I’m not actually having real twins. Welcome to sorority life: where saying that you have twins is totally acceptable and totally understood by your sisters.

In a sorority, new members are paired up with an older sister. This is called the “big-little” system. The older sisters essentially become a mentor for their littles. The matching process is done so well that most bigs and littles end up becoming best friends. Because our new member class was the hugest ever this year (61 new sisters!), some girls took twins.

So, meet my fabulous pair: Lauren and Justine. Justine is a freshman all the way from Europe. In fact, I already knew her before she came to Hopkins. Her family used to live in New Jersey and we went to the exact same elementary school. I was best friends with Justine’s older sister. After they moved in 4th grade, I still visited them over the years. I was absolutely elated when I found out Justine was attending Hopkins and even more happier when I found out she was actually my little! My other little, Lauren, also lives in New Jersey like me. She’s a sophomore, unlike Justine. I already knew about her through mutual friends of ours. When I found out that she loves pickles – bam – I knew she was the one for me. When I got to know both of them more, I knew I had to have them as my littles.

Lauren and I at her first Alpha Phi date party before we were matched up!

Justine and I at the date party!

When I found out that I had both of them as twins, I was on top of the world. My twins fit perfectly in my small family of two – Anne Marie and I. Anne Marie is my big. She adores fashion, chocolate, and wine. Just like my littles. Both of my littles are spunky and sassy, just like me. But not so fast.

The family - my big and my littles!

They had to go through secret week first! Secret week is probably the best week of the year. All the new bigs plan out surprises and gifts for each day of the week. The littles have no clue who you are (well, my littles figured it out that it was me right away…). Bigs often decorate the littles’ rooms, send fraternity pledges to deliver the gifts (and do other crazy stuff), and have the All-Nighters, the campus’ male acapella group, serenade them!

Lauren in her newly decorated room!

I had one of Lauren's best friends deliver her flowers on the last day!

Justine's furry surprise!

Maybe I spoil Justine a bit too much...

Then, on the last day, is Revelation. On Revelation, the bigs hide in boxes and the littles finally lift up the boxes and find out who you are. Revelation could have not gone more perfect. Aside from the fact I nearly suffocated in that box, it was a great time.

Lifting up the box!

So happy!

Second round!

Yay

My family and I went to Iggie’s afterwards, which is the best pizza place ever in Baltimore. The pizzas are made with the freshest ingredients and the crust is to die for! We all stayed until closing time and the staff practically had to shoo us out.  We then went frat hopping for the rest of the night!

Dinner at Iggies! Nom

The fam

The next day, my dad came down to visit. He could tell I was absolutely exhausted from my fun night and he finally asked, “So…how is having twins?” Looks like someone gets the sorority lingo now! I never really realized how special having littles are. Having a family is truly the best part of Alpha Phi. I already have such a close relationship with my big and I’m so excited to share my family with two very special littles!

<3

The past two weeks have been an absolute blur. We just had sorority recruitment for the four Panhellenic sororities on campus. My sorority, Alpha Phi, welcomed 61 beautiful new members!

The new member class!!!

We want you!

Looking back, rushing and joining Alpha Phi was truly one of the best decisions I have ever made here at Hopkins. When I rushed, I wanted to join a sorority for the usual reasons – lifelong friendships, networking opportunities, the awesome date parties, the shopping trips, the cute t-shirts, and of course, the totes to carry around campus.

But this is actually my first year in Alpha Phi, even though I am currently a junior. I didn’t rush freshman spring because my mom was sick at home. After a rough summer, my mom passed away two weeks before I was about to return to Hopkins for my sophomore fall. I decided not to take the semester off – I believed that I could weather the aftermath with the support of my boyfriend and friends. But I still felt immense loneliness from the loss of my mom. I needed some sort of support network.

 Several of my friends, classmates, and roommates were in Alpha Phi. There, I saw the unique sisterhood and I wanted to be a part of it. So I decided to rush sophomore spring.

Anne Marie and I at Woodberry Kitchen!

While I lost my mom, I gained a family through Alpha Phi. Now, I truly feel a part of this sisterhood. Even better, my awesome and beautiful Big, Anne Marie, has truly become my big sister. Even before we got matched up as a Big and Little, she made sure I was okay when I was having a few rough times. Later on, she told me that she  too, lost someone close her sophomore year. We understood each other like no other. I am always able to go to her whenever I feel down or need a shoulder to cry on. I can call her up in the middle of the night, she’ll cook me meals when I’m sick, and we’ll splurge on restaurants and shopping trips together.

Not only do I share that with Anne Marie, but I also have 120 other girls to hang out and do fun things together. I can call up Talia when I’m in an interview outfit crisis and she’ll drive me over to Towson mall. I’ve got my Monday nights booked with my sisters to watch and obsess over the Bachelor. I can spend all night making hundreds of chocolate covered strawberries with Bre and gladly have a horrible stomach ache from eating too much chocolate. Need to vent about my crazy busy admissions job? All I gotta do is hit Ruthie and Tess up. Need advice about my nonexistent major? Diane’s there. And Diane’s little, Jane, has always been my go-to girl for yummy cookies and tea. And I’m always bound to have an Alpha Phi in my classes. We’ve covered each other’s backs and have had countless study dates. The girls in Alpha Phi have been such great friends, listeners, classmates, and most of all, sisters.

Best friends and sisters

During the hardest time of my life, I felt incredibly alone after losing my mother – my confidant, my best friend. But after joining Alpha Phi, after meeting my big Anne Marie and getting to know 120 sisters, I have never felt alone the way I did before. I am home.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my adventures in Asia - I’m currently staying in Taipei, Taiwan with my boyfriend’s family and our friends. We’re leaving in just a few days to go back to the States. I’m sad to leave, but also excited to go back home and to Baltimore. I won’t deny that I’ve missed my family, friends, and of course American food and my favorite restaurants in Baltimore. In the last couple of weeks here in Taiwan, I’ve learned even more new things about Taiwan and their culture.

1. Noodles. Always more and more noodles!

Spicy beef noodle soup

Thai peanut noodles - another favorite!

2. Dumplings are also another favorite (and mine!). They have a bit of broth inside too. So yummy.

Dumplings!

Making the dumplings

3. There are lots of memorials to honor prominent leaders and people. The buildings are so beautiful!

We like being tourists

Chiang Kai-Shek memorial

Changing of the guards at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's memorial (the founder of democratic Taiwan)

4. Bridges. Lots of bridges!

Little bridge

Big bridge!

5. There are also many temples for people to honor their loved ones who have passed away. The temples are so beautiful and intricately designed. There is often incense sticks, so the aroma is also very pleasing. That’s the reason why Chinese people never leave their chopsticks in food because it looks similar to incense sticks, thus symbolizing death.

The exterior of a temple

A temple we stopped along our bike ride

Dragons on dragons

6. Biking is a fun activity to do in Taiwan; you can bike along the coast!

Before our bike ride

7. It’s impossible to find your shoe size in Taiwan if you’re a tall person. Jane and I had absolutely no luck!

See how tall my boyfriend and I are compared to the people?!

8. There are lots of versions of ice cream here. Gelato, Turkish ice cream, jumbo ice cream, shaved ice…

Jane and her jumbo ice cream!

Shaved ice - lime jasmine tea flavored!

9. Paper lanterns are a very special tradition here in Taiwan. People often go up to the mountains and write their wishes and prayers on paper lanterns. The lanterns are then lit up and float up to the sky, so high that you can’t see the little specks of light anymore. This was one of my favorite things to do.

Aaron and his dad about to let go of theirs

Jane and Rich with theirs!

Bye bye

10. The drinking age here in Taiwan is 18. It’s been a super fun month because I turn 21 right when we come back to the States too!

Enjoying freshly pressed orange juice!

Clubbing with my Alpha Phi sisters!

11. Many people get really excited when they see us, because we’re Americans (and blonde!). There have been several times where strangers have asked to take a picture with us!

Our fans

12. Tea time is highly valued in Taiwan. There’s lots of tea houses here, especially up in the mountains. The tea is often served in extremely tiny cups, because it is nice to take your time and enjoy the tea as well as company. People often take 5 or 6 hours sipping on some oolong and jasmine tea.

Tea time!

Sitting on the floor for tea...poor Aaron

Inside the tea house - we had to cross a fish pond on stepping stones!

13. Snake venom shots are popular here. You can take a shot of snake venom, snake blood, and snake gallbladder. I gladly abstained.

Lovely.

Heroic

And lastly, I’ve had so much fun with my boyfriend and best friends. I’m incredibly lucky to know them and they have made my trip a thousand times more fun and enjoyable. I’m going to miss Taiwan, but I’m especially going to miss the times we’ve all shared together. ‘Til next time!

Dancing in public

A five-year old

Don't fall off!

Often always too big for the average chairs in restaurants!

Fitting is a huge struggle for Aaron

Asian tourist

And again

And again

Grandpa Hsu's a Hopkins fan!

Greetings from Taiwan! Instead of doing intersession at Hopkins, I’ve been staying in Taipei with my boyfriend’s family. I’ll be here for a month and will be back before the spring semester starts. Even though I’ve only been here for just a week or so, I’ve already had incredible adventures. I’ve learned so many new things about a brand new culture. I’ve never been to Asia before, so this trip has been extremely exciting and fascinating. In just a week, I’ve learned that:

1. The Taiwanese love rice. Expect to have it almost every meal – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert!
   

   Rice "burrito" for a snack!

   

   Rice for breakfast! My favorite is to have rice with a runny egg. Yum.

2. Even more so, noodles are actually more popular and loved by the people.
   

   Having noodles for breakfast!

   

   Pig's feet, soup, and homemade noodles with cabbage

   

   Beef noodles for dinner. So good.

3. “Hot pot” is also really common. You basically boil meat, veggies, and bean noodles into boiling broth. It’s my favorite.
   

   Hot pot!

4. Like hot pot, you pick out what you want from the pot and put it on your plate. There is often a rolling circle in the middle of the table with lots of different dishes you can pick from.
   

   Lots of options!

   

   Us at dinner!

5. Taiwan is literally the country that never sleeps. The country is most alive at night – flashing neon lights, light decorations everywhere, and most of all – the night markets. At the markets, you can buy all the yummy food you want and do lots of shopping.
   

   One of the night markets!

   

   So excited to shop! (And eat)

6. Spas are really popular. There are even rooms for you to take a nap after you take a hot bath. I’m liking that.
7. If you drop your chopsticks, it means that someone will buy you dinner in the future.
   

   Haven't dropped my chopsticks yet! Having an Asian boyfriend who loves to eat gives you lots of practice.

8. Taipei 101 is the second tallest building in the world! It is called 101 because they want to strive to be more than 100%. The building has a unique shape – it is to reflect stacks of Chinese fortune boxes, to bring good fortune to the people. The building also has the fastest elevator, traveling 17 meters/second.
   

   Taipei 101 at night

   

   During the day

   

   View from the top!

9. There is a lot of respect for elders. Do what they say. Respect the word.
   

   Aaron's family, including his dad, uncle, and grandparents (and the cutest little cousins ever)

   

   With Aaron's grandparents

10. Mopeds. are. everywhere.
    

    Mopeds!

11. With that being said, the chances of me getting into a car accident if I drove on the hectic streets are 99.9%.
12. Badminton and basketball are the most popular sports.
    

    Badminton!

13. There are so many tropical fruits available. To only name a few, papaya, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, guava, passion fruit, Buddha’s head (it’s literally shaped like Bhudda’s head!), apples, dragon fruit, strawberries (the best strawberries on the planet), bananas.
    

    Fruits galore!

    

    Buddha's head and dragon fruit

14. You will find a 7-11 on every corner. Not joking.
15. McDonald’s is a huge deal and they’re actually kind of luxurious.
16. New Year’s Eve is a bigger deal than the Chinese New Year. And the people like to do the countdown in English, not Mandarin.
    

    Taipei 101 with fireworks on New Year's Eve

17. Christmas is also a big deal. There are always life size Christmas decorations for people to take pictures of. It’s pretty amusing!
    

    Igloo!

    

    Reindeer!

    

    Sleigh!

18. The license plates are really simple (nothing on it except numbers/letters) because Taiwan’s an island and there are no touching countries. So the people like to “decorate” their license plates by putting European license plates behind their Taiwanese plates. We’re from “Sweden.”

It’s been a blast and I can’t wait for more adventures. So stay tuned for my next blog!

Well, the semester has finally come to an end! It has been such a busy semester, possibly the busiest semester I’ve had so far. It was also the most difficult semester academically. I took a few quite challenging classes that weren’t exactly my strengths – such as Statistics. But I feel confident that I did well. My finals went smoothly and although I still have no clue how I did in any of my classes, I’m proud of myself. No matter what the outcome, I’m proud that I was able to tackle my most academically difficult semester thus far.

Suzy's finally back from study abroad!

Sophomore year, especially the fall, was really difficult. Not difficult academically, but emotionally. It was difficult having to cope with losing my mom all the while trying to maintain a decent GPA, be social, do clubs – basically trying to balance everything that comes with college. I didn’t want to take the semester off. I knew my mom wouldn’t want me to and I was determined to take on sophomore year. And it was a success. Not only was I able to finish my sophomore year, I also earned a 4.0 GPA for the year as well as Dean’s List. So, this fall, after everything that has happened in sophomore year, was pretty do-able. Regardless of how academically difficult it was. Sophomore year made me stronger and better. And now, I can finally rewind, and enjoy a well-deserved break.

Congrats to my big for graduating early from JHU!

I’ll be leaving home sweet Homewood tomorrow and driving back home. My family and I will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas together for the first time since my mom’s passing. I have mixed feelings, but I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to share my family’s Christmas traditions (and cookies) with a new friend – my boyfriend. We’ll also be heading up to the Big Apple to enjoy the tree and pretty lights. Then, on the day after Christmas, we’ll be celebrating Aaron’s 21st and then hopping on 18 hour flight to Taiwan (eek).  I’ll be in Taiwan for an entire month!!! My boyfriend’s immediate family lives in the capitol and we’ll be staying with them. Our best friends are also coming with us, so we are unbelievably excited. I’m ready to enjoy some new culture, yummy Chinese food, and good company with our friends and family.

So by the time I write my next blog post, it will be a new year in a new place. To everyone at JHU and on Hopkins Interactive – have a wonderful, healthy, and safe holiday with your loved ones. Cherish the times you share and hold close the memories to your heart.

While I was trying to think about how to give a recap of my entire fall semester (this blog entry is my very last one of the semester), a thought popped up – Instagram! Over the summer, I started using the popular photo application, Instagram. I absolutely love it. I’ve always had a thing with photography and toying around with Instagram’s filters makes me feel like a pro (I wish).

So, here goes…

Right before the semester, I went to West Glacier in Montana with my dad and brother. It was so beautiful.

Before the beginning of fall semester!

Chocolatea is right near my apartment. They serve delicious coffee, tea, chocolates, noodles, and dumplings. What more can you ask for?!

My boyfriend and I at Hopkins' rugby game - my puppy came down for a visit!

The perks of living off-campus - having a large kitchen to make yummy food!

Alpha Phi-esta date party! I guess I went as a blonde Mexican? I don't know.

My favorite JHU alumni and best friend comes to visit!!!

I went home for Fall Break and did some pumpkin and apple picking!

One of my favorite places to have brunch on the weekend - Golden West Cafe!

My sorority, Alpha Phi, held a mini "Thanksgiving" - that's my Big carving the turkey!

Nom

The reason why I could potentially have so many more instagrammed pictures but no....

Thanksgiving at home - it was my boyfriend's very first Thanksgiving too.

My brother's puppy also came home for Thanksgiving - she's only 7 months old!

Snagged a good deal on these pants on Black Friday! I have an obsession with animal print

Ra - one of my favorite sushi places ever.

And finally, Happy Holidays from our apartment!

One of the classes I am taking this fall is Designing for Sustainable Wellness. It is taught through the Earth and Planetary Sciences Department by Dr. Alexios Monopolis.

The class has been incredibly fun so far. We’ve done a wide array of things, from hikes to potluck dinners! At the last potluck dinner, we all each made delicious homemade meals for us to share, from homemade baked bread to butternut squash muffins (Zoe and I made them!).

Potluck dinner!

Dr. Alexios Monopolis has an unbelievable amount of experience in the field of sustainable design as well as social wellbeing:

• Harvard University, M.T.S., Environmental Philosophy & Positive Psychology (a.k.a. “the Science of Happiness”)
• University of Oxford, M.Sc., Biodiversity Conservation & Management
• Dartmouth College, B.A., Senior Fellow in Environmental Diplomacy
• University of California, Ph.D., M.F.A., M.A., Environmental Science/Management & Psychology, Photography & Filmmaking, International Affairs

Like a boss - our professor during power yoga after our run in Fell's Point!

Struggles

Loch Raven Reservoir hike

The class focuses on promoting “sustainable wellness,” which is defined as the convergence of social and ecological sustainability within the built environment. The built environment is the space, structures and systems humans generate for living, working and playing. It has been such an interesting class so far. We’ve covered a wide array of topics, from the fundamental concept of sustainability, the science of happiness, designing and planning practices as well as metrics.

A huge aspect of the course is designing and executing a community-based project that incorporates the two foundations of this course – sustainability and wellness. My group and I are working on a proposal to get a rain garden implemented on the Homewood campus. It’s been a lot of work, but also very enjoyable. We’ve learned so much through research and fieldwork. We’re really excited to see the end result of our project.

All in all, I’ve enjoyed this class so much that I plan on doing research with my professor in the spring, so stay tuned!

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Hopkins student? Check out what my day has been like!

8:00 AM - Too early. I have to get up extra early (yes, 8 AM is extra early) to let my dog outside and feed her breakfast. She’s taking a vacation and staying with me in Baltimore. Luckily, I’m a junior so I live off-campus and the apartment I live in allows dogs! She’s made several new furry friends already.

Lulu

10:00 AM - I meet with one of my advisors, Dr. Steven David. He’s one of the best professors I’ve ever had at Hopkins. He is also the vice dean for undergraduate education. He’s extremely friendly and so resourceful. I finally have my spring course schedule all figured out. I have to register extra early (even earlier than the seniors; when we register for classes, seniors get to go first, then juniors, and so on); I have priority registration through the disabilities office in order to secure interpreters early for next semester. Here’s what my courses look like!

• AS.270.322 – Fieldwork in Ecuador; 3 credits
• AS 270.502 – Independent study with Dr. Alexios Monopolis;
• AS 100.445 – African Fiction as History; 3 credits
• AS 270.403 – Environmental Policymaking and Analysis; 3 credits
• AS 100.424 – Women in Modern Chinese History; 3 credits
• AS 180.243 – Economic Memorandums of Misunderstanding; 3 credits

I’m a double major in International Studies and GECS (Global Environmental Change and Sustainability – what a mouthful), hence the quite unique schedule!

11:00 AM – I have Ecology with Dr. Grace Brush. She is an amazing professor from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. She has done so much research that it’s incredible – check it out. Unfortunately, I had a test today so not too exciting. (But my interpreters were happy! They don’t have to interpret today!) I think I aced it though, so I’m feeling pretty good about it.

12:00 PM – Running on two cups of coffee already. The new cafe in Brody Learning Commons, The Daily Grind, has really good coffee. I’m pretty pleased with their selections. I had pumpkin spiced coffee – yum! I head over to Stony Brook Run  to do my weekly field work research for Ecology. I’m looking at a specific plot’s ecological changes over the course of the semester. What’s really cool about it is that Stony Brook Run completely dispels the myth that Hopkins is located in the city. It’s not at all! Hopkins has its own campus, and half of the campus’ boundaries are surrounded by woods, streams, and wilderness.

Wait, this is Hopkins?

Where my plot is - see how Hopkins is surrounded by all that green?!

12:30 AM - Work in Mason Hall! I work for Admissions_Laurin as a student worker. I help with a wide range of things, from open house preparation to Laurin’s New England and North Carolina college visits.

2:30 PM - Just noticed I put “AM” next to 12:30 up there. Clearly I’m too tired.

4:00 PM - Good work out. I only have Ecology on Mondays, so I have lots of time to get some homework done and cook dinner. But I don’t feel like making dinner tonight. Chipotle is the way to go.

7:00 PM - Got some work done. Finally. I’m taking Social Statistics with JHU_Ruthie and let’s just say it’s pretty challenging for both of us. Huge problem set due tomorrow – so far, my homework is 10 pages long. Oy. But it’s all done!

7:30 PM - Chipotle.  I drove back to Baltimore from New Jersey last night, so I didn’t get a chance to watch my current favorite tv show, The Walking Dead. Going to watch the episode now. Apparently it’s supposed to be the best episode yet.

Nom

9:00 PM – Holy crap. That episode…

9:30 PM - Have to get my interview outfit ready for tomorrow morning. I have an interview for the Workforce Recruitment Program tomorrow bright and early at 9:30AM. Sadly the thing I’m most worried about is which shoes to wear with my interview outfit.

I think those shoes will do

10:00 PM - Bedtime! Night world.