Month: February 2015
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Learning Other Cultures
My professor, Yong Tang showed us how to write our names in Chinese language today. My name ‘Caitlin’ translates to ‘Kai’ ‘Te’ ‘Lin’. Each part of my name has a different meaning.
‘Kai’ means ‘victorious’
‘Te’ means ‘special’ or ‘unique’
and ‘Lin’ means ‘gem’
I never knew an activity about the meaning of names would be so uplifting. This is a mid-week confidence boosting activity for sure!
This is my name in Chinese language
Picture from yongtang2015‘s blog
These are the names of some students in my class. We got to practice writing our names on the board. I don’t know how I could remember to draw these symbols!
Avoiding the Winter Blues
It’s almost March. It’s been a long winter in Illinois (as most winters tend to be). As a college student, it is hard to stay motivated with summer in sight, but not close enough. I try every day to do something new or exciting to avoid the winter blues as much as possible.
We do not see the sun very often in the winter, but on the days where it decides to make an appearance for just a little while, I’m sure to step out and feel the warmth.
I try to avoid living my life in the same routine every week and on weekends. Recently, I’ve decided to do things that I’ve forgotten about or haven’t done in a long time. I recently went bowling with a few friends. I also caught up on television series that I have been neglecting. For a little extra cash, I recently began babysitting again because I love kids. With the money that I’ve earned from babysitting, I’m going to go on a shopping spree this weekend for a little retail-therapy.
There isn’t much I can do in the Midwest during the winter to escape the cold (other than vacation down south… I wish this was an option); however, I can control my attitude and make the most of each day by having a little fun!
Benefit from not having a “Home Gym”
As a college student, I do not own my own home. I do not have room in my apartment for gym equipment. I also do not have money to afford to purchase expensive gym equipment. Fitness is important to me, so I find little and inexpensive ways to get a good workout in each day.
I take advantage of all of the free services that WIU offers. Our campus recreation center is free for students to use. There are many free fitness classes offered each hour throughout each day. I frequently attend yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also love using the weight room and fitness equipment.
For people that do not have a free fitness center to utilize, want to save money, but still want to work out, there are many ways to do so. Take advantage of stairs. Never opt. to taking an elevator when you’re traveling up/down 5 or less flights! You’ll be cheating yourself out of a free mini-workout. Also, choose to walk a more inclined route to work or class. The extra inclination will be a good workout for your core, glutes, and legs.
Finally, stand up more. Standing burns more calories than sitting down does. Avoid that comfortable suede couch and take a stand more often!
A great way to track fitness is by using fitness application on smart phones. Most are free, and easy to use. Simply being knowledgeable about how many steps you’re taking each day may make you more likely to take an extra flight of stairs if you notice you’re behind one day. 
30 Minutes a Day…
“Zumba Dance Class” by Edson Hong is licensed by CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
I used to see exercise as something that took up too much time and effort. I also disliked it because it “hurt”–really bad sometimes!
After I got to college, I realized I had more time on my hands than I knew what to do with. Once I finished classes and homework for the day, I didn’t want to sit and watch TV all evening. I started using our student rec center because it was free and walking distance. Little did I know, I would become a regular at the rec by my junior year.
Exercising gives me energy. It helps me to get to sleep at a reasonable time at night and wakes me up feeling refreshed in the mornings.
It makes my clothes fit better! I definitely notice my pants fit a little tighter when I take a couple of weeks off from visiting the rec. There is no better feeling than trying on a smaller size of pants and having them fit like a glove.
Exercising on a regular basis also helped me to boost my immune systems. This equates to fewer sick days and fewer trips to the campus’ medical center.
All of these are reasons why everyone should exercise on a regular basis. Thirty minutes a day keeps the doctor away!
Posture=Pain
“Baseball and Posture” by Terry Bain is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
During the cold-weather months, I find myself hunched over trying to maintain body heat. This reflects on my back hurting after a long day. I am surprised when my back hurts worst in the mornings after a long rest. There are things that I try to do to correct my posture and eliminate back tension in the winter.
Yoga is a huge aid for getting rid of back pain. I attend yoga classes twice per week. Poses like cat/cow, downward dog, forward fold, and balance poses help straighten out the back and tighten the core.
Another thing to get rid of back problems is to carry around a lighter load. This is difficult for me because I’m typically away from my apartment for 8-10 hours at a time. Sometimes, I have to carry more with me. On the days where I have more time to stop back at home, I pack lighter. I know that I can switch out items when I am at home.
Lastly, it is important for people to be aware of their posture. This is not something that people think about (sort of like breathing). It amazed me how much better my posture became once I became aware of it. Sit up straight at a desk. Try to limit the time in front of a TV or computer. Pull your shoulders up and back while walking. All of these will alleviate tension. Find more advice from this cool story on allwomenstalk on how to fix your posture.
Mental-Heath Day
This week I’m focusing on mental health. I have been so busy over the past couple of weeks. With the semester almost 1/4 of the way over, it’s time for a little TLC. I’m taking some time to do things that I enjoy. I’m continuing to practice yoga. I’m also allowing more time to catch up on my favorite TV shows this week. I decided to find a recipe that appealed to my senses this week. I found this pasta recipe on my feedly account today. Pasta is one of those foods that can comfort anyone after a long day. I personally love pasta. It sits nicely in one’s belly and is good for the spirit. Pasta gets a bad reputation because people think that carbohydrates are terrible. Even if carbs are not the best choice, I think that everyone needs a cheat day With Valentine’s Day coming, I think I am going to give this recipe a try. Any of these recipes would be great for a Valentine’s date!
Bleed Love this Valentine’s Day
Today my sorority hosted an on-campus blood drive. We partnered with another fraternity on campus, and a local blood center. The turn out was great! Sometimes, people have a hard time trying something new. The hardest part of giving blood is getting through the door to the donor center. Giving blood takes a lot of courage, but when finished, most people say “That wasn’t so bad.” The process after that is easy. I encourage everyone to try to donate blood at least once during a lifetime.Valentine’s Day is all about love. Why not show love by donating blood that could potentially save a life.
Make a Difference
I recently got involved in Dance Marathon during college. Dance Marathon is a 12 hour event. Participants raise money to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. WIU’s DM benefits the CMN hospitals in the Greater St. Louis area. Each participant has his/her own fundraising page. WIU’s goal this year is to raise $40,000.
Participants stand on their feet for the entire event because this period represents the work shift of a nurse or doctor. The thought it, if a doctor can stand and take care of sick children for 12 hours, that I can stand and have fun for 12 hours.
This is WIU’s 2nd Dance Marathon. I believe that it is going to be an even bigger hit this year than the 1st. I am participating as a morale captain for the second time. It is my job to keep the crowd pumped up during the event. I have to encourage participants not to sit down, even when their legs hurt the most from standing and dancing. Over the next few weeks, I will be learning the 8-minute choreographed morale dance, which I will teach during the event.
caitlinrmeyers 