A Humbling Experience

Nine months ago, the island of Puerto Rico was devasted by Hurricane Maria.

Nine months ago, homes were destroyed.

Nine months ago, people were displaced.

Arriving back in the states after helping with disaster relief has allowed me to put many things into perspective. For one, it allowed me to realize how blessed and privileged I am as an individual and as a resident/citizen of the U.S.

Every day, people complain about minor inconveniences in their lives such as slow internet speed, missing their favorite show or even their phones dying. But, for the many homeowners that my service in Puerto Rico has impacted, small inconveniences such as the aforementioned, are laughable.

How can one complain about the internet without power?

How can one complain about missing their favorite show when the very room where you would watch that show, has been destroyed by water damage and mold?

Being in Puerto Rico was beyond humbling for me. It allowed me to see that whenever I feel as though things are uncomfortable for me, there are people who are living through far more serious and uncomfortable hardships.

Living in the states gives us many opportunities to seek the help we need in any situation while others get ignored. Comparing my service in San Juan, Puerto Rico to my service in Port Arthur, Texas, it is clear that one city received much more help than the other. For one, the traffic lights in Texas were up and running while many of the traffic lights in Puerto Rico still remain unrepaired- nine months later.

This trip has allowed me to step outside of my world and add context to what it means to be an American, living in the United States.

Hopefully completing service in Puerto Rico opens the minds and eyes of future students who are a part of the New York “Stand with Puerto Rico” initiative to realize how privileged we are here in the U.S. I hope that it opens their hearts to want to do more for others who are not as privileged and are often forgotten.

Nine months later Purto Rico still remains in need of recovery and yet, the people are so pleasant and welcoming. Truly, a humbling experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

 

 

All Things Lakers Have To Be Thankful For This Time of Year

The Lake

Obviously….hello Lakers! But really, watching the incredible ice sheets form and crack throughout the winter is pretty fascinating.

 

Hockey…GO LAKERS!

Hockey season is BACK! Grab a few of your friends and roomies and go to a couple games! They are what our school is known for and what this time of year is all about! A great way to get riled up with all of the Oswego student body is to come cheer on our Lakers in our beautiful hockey arena!

The SUNY Oswego App

The SUNY Oswego App is ammmmaaazzzinngggg. And it is so conveniently located on your phone! The app holds your class schedule, gives you weather updates, lets you know what each dining hall is serving, and more!

FANS Smoothies

If you haven’t been to FANS this semester I highly suggest getting there ASAP! Although it is cold out, their smoothies are so refreshing! If you’re sick of coffee head on down to FANS, located in Marano Campus Center. Also, try their amazing cupcakes!

 

The Ontario Bagel Shop

Get to class late and skip breakfast? No big deal, go grab a bagel at the Ontario Bagel Shop located in Lanigan Hall!

 

Oswego State Hoodies – Campus Store

It’s hoodie season! My favorite season. Bundle up in some of our college apparel! There is quite the selection at the College Store located in the middle of campus in Marano Campus Center. The store has sales and deals all the time and everyone looks great in green and gold!

 

 

The Geese Migrating

Aren’t we all happy about this? Yeah, they’re cute and all…but…they’re everywhere and so is their poop! Not to mention the squawking at 6 AM each morning. Ya, bye geese, see ya in the Spring!

 

The Gym

Our school has two gyms available on campus, Cooper, and Glimmerglass. Heading to the gym is a perfect way to work off your stress.

 

Chicken Patty Day

Of course. The excitement in the air on Campus is real every Chicken Patty Day.

 

The Cooper Creamery

Cooper’s own little ice cream shop with every topping you can think of! Also, some great flavors, try them all!

 

Lakeside Dining Hall Chinese Food

Pretty much as good as any Chinese food I have ever tasted. Available every weekday in the Lakeside Dining Hall.

 

Really Any of Our Dining Halls

We have some really good food here and you will miss it so much when you no longer live on campus. Finding friends with guest swipes is necessary.

 

Kitchenettes – Located in Each of Our Dorm Buildings

No matter where you live, East or West Campus, Riggs, Johnson, Waterbury, Scales, or Onondaga, each of our dorm building are equipt with kitchenettes. Great for the Holiday baking season!

 

Facebook SUNY Oswego Accepted Students Page

Where we met and future students will meet new friends and roommates!

 

Heat in the Dorms

And boy do they crank it up! It is amazing coming in from a blizzard in the Oswego Tundra.

 

Long Jackets With Big Hoods

As I said before, the Oswego Tundra. The wind is crazy here people. Do not forget to bring back your winter jackets!

Boots

Oswego Tundra…need I say more.

 

Headphones

Whether you are walking to class or studying in the library, headphones in – world out.

 

Crossroads Eatery

Looking for a quick bite to eat at any time of day? Crossroads is the place for you! Great breakfast sandwiches and lunches. Great prices – plus – they accept dining dollars! They also carry chicken patties every day! Try one of their cookies, delicious.

 

GET Food

GET Food is a new way to order food for delivery from Domino’s Pizza, Oswego Sub Shop or Wonzone Calzones. Take the time to create a GET Food account and download the app so you will be ready to start placing orders! This service allows students to use dining dollars to order!

 

The Blue Route

Getting us from Onondaga to Shineman every day, all day. Amazing in the winter, you do NOT want to miss the bus!

 

 

Oswego’s Snow Removal Team

Whoever these people are we thank you so much. Every snowy day, every snowstorm, every time we think our cars won’t survive out in the Daga Parking lot, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

 

The Compass

Helps a lot with job searching, resumes, and cover letters.

The Center for Experiential Learning

Internships, internships, INTERNSHIPS!

 

The Writing Center

So helpful when submitting final papers to have an extra eye correct it for you.

 

The Tutoring Center

Sometimes you just need a little bit of one on one extra help and we are so grateful we have this service available to us.

The Library

Finals….Midterms…Papers…the library offers you a sanctuary to do all types of work. The library is a great place and a lot of students find it to be their second home.

The 24-Hour Room

Believe it or not, a lot of us are procrastinators and wait until the very last minute to do anything. Also finals week, it is PACKED!

Starbucks in the Library

Because we need it.


 

Hot French Vanilla Cappuccino in Shinemans Fusion Cafe

Very specific, I know, go try it. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Fall is on Campus!

Fall has landed on SUNY Oswego’s campus and boy is it beautiful. You can feel the autumn spirit in the crisp air as soon as October hits. Temperatures are dropping, students are bundled up, the line is longer at the campus’ Starbucks, and we are surrounded by beautiful color all around! Although our campus is beautiful at all times of the year, in my personal opinion, Fall is one of the prettiest.

Throughout the year, you can see that some of our buildings are cloaked with gorgeous vines. No matter the season, Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall the vines stand out significantly from the background of the gray buildings. Every time I am walking by Hewitt Hall, I enjoy seeing what phase the vines will be on that day. From the green leaf to the yellow, to the red and orange. Eventually, the vine is bare and covered in frost and maybe even inches of snow. Then back to budding again. It is a spectacular transition to watch!

No matter what is on your Fall Bucket List, please take the time and appreciate the beauty of fall around you right here on campus! Take the long way to class! The colors are vibrant, it won’t last long, soak it all in before we get the first Oswego snowfall.  I took some time photos for you all to experience it with us! Enjoy!

Laker By The Lake

In college, we can all get caught up with the stress of assignments, due dates, group projects, meetings, and graduation right around the corner. Sometimes we all just need a little break and home is a little too far away. I have found that a good release of stress for me is going down by the lake. We all miss home, we are all on the same page, and I feel that everyone that is down by the water gets a feeling over them of serendipity. Since being in Oswego, I have found a new love for being alone with nature and finding beautiful things to surround myself with. It is a very peaceful process to go out and walk down to the lake instead of being caught up in the many curveballs college can throw at us. I utilize the lake as sort of a self-therapy for missing home, being stressed out and overwhelmed. Whenever I need a break, I walk down to the shore and explore. Generally, even if its just for a second, I forget whatever I was so stressed out about, to begin with.

I grew up in a small town on the lake and it was a huge part of my life. No matter the season, you could find my friends, family and I using the lake in any way possible. Growing up you could find us boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, ice skating, playing hockey, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice-fishing, canoeing, kayaking, having campfires by the lake, or just hanging out on the dock. The lake is an all-around huge part of my life which is why when I was choosing where I would go to college I only looked at schools which were near bodies of water. Finding Oswego was exciting. You can look at pictures all you want but you really need to visit to see how beautiful it really is. I can honestly say the main reason for why I chose Oswego is because of the beautiful Lake Ontario. It’s so fun seeing other people utilize the lake, swimming, hanging out on the rocks, making campfires, or walking along the shore. Whenever I am not in class you can catch me hanging out at the flat rocks or studying down by the water. Even walking, going for a run, or just being near the water gives me a sense of home. Although my peers may not have had the same experiences that I have with water, I feel like we can all find a sense of calm and peace in the water that surrounds this school. I am so thankful for the lake which surrounds Oswego. It really makes this town my home away from home and I am happy to have spent the last four years at such a beautiful campus.

 

Australia Bound

After a nice meal and a few tears, my family sent me off to the security checkpoint. My heart is pounding out of my chest. The day has finally come; I will soon be boarding my plane to Australia.

Hello everyone, I’m Lydia and I will be studying and interning through CAPA, The Global Education Network, in Sydney. I am filled with excitement and prepared for the unknown. Yes, living in a foreign country for five months may seem daunting. However, in order to grow as an individual, one must be pushed out of their comfort zone. The next post you read will be posted from the “Land Down Under.” See you soon America, you will be missed!

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The Perfect Oswego Sunset

Whether it’s hot, cold, windy, or even sometimes cloudy, the Oswego sunset is always a fascinating sight to see. As a SUNY Oswego student for a little over a year, I have witnessed hundreds of sunsets so far. Being a meteorology major, sunsets come as second nature to me. I’ve had countless memorable sunset runs, many of which I had my camera in tow.

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I’ll start with the basics – shown here is the sunset from Sept. 20, 2015, taken from the lakeshore behind West Campus. Calm waters, still-warm temperatures, and a crystal clear sky made for a relaxing evening. When the lake’s very calm, the sun can take on an appearance that it is “melting.” Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

 

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Dec. 6, 2015 – the Sunday of finals week during the fall 2015 semester. The temperature was unusually warm for the time of year, and the sky was fairly cloudy. All of a sudden, the clouds exploded into color like a fireball. Students came rushing down to the lake to capture the beauty of the pink post-sunset sky. Several of these type of sunsets occur each year, but this one was particularly notable for its intensity and duration of strong coloration. Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

 

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March 16, 2016. The day before St. Patrick’s Day. A bright rainbow, or should I say THREE rainbows, appeared in the sky opposite the sun. It’s a sight I had never before seen. The third rainbow (the fainter one in the middle), known as a “reflection rainbow,” is formed when sunlight bounces off the (calm) lake water first, then refracts through the falling raindrops. [P.S. I assure you there was a sunset here, despite the actual sun not being in the photo.] Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

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Finally, one of my most recent sunset photographs, from Oct. 6, 2016. Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

As you can see, no 2 sunsets are alike!

So, you’ve seen and heard about the sunset. You ask now, where on campus can I see this for myself?

Based on my experiences, anywhere where you can see the lake as far out as possible is a great sunset-watching spot. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Anywhere along the lakeshore. Now, if you prefer flat stones (with a few large boulders sprinkled in) as your shoreline choice of rock, head to East Campus behind the lakeside dorms. Round cobblestones, head to West Campus. (Either way, it rocks!)
  • The 3rd and 4th floors of Shineman Center have great vantage points.
  • If you’re lucky enough to live in the upper floors of a high-rise dorm, these spots offer more-than-adequate views of the famous sunset.
  • Off-campus: Areas such as Breitbeck Park, Rudy’s, and the Oswego Bluffs are excellent choices.

That does it for me today. Happy sunset chasing!!!

When thunder roars…

…Go indoors! (But really, that’s how the saying goes. Practice your lightning safety, folks.)

Hello everyone, and Happy October! What has the wonderful weather of Oswego been up to lately, you ask?

Well, the month has come in with a literal bang, as campus experienced a rather noisy late-season thunderstorm on Oct. 2.

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Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Around 5:15pm on Oct. 2, this massive-looking cloud formation, known as a shelf cloud, appeared in the western sky. This cloud is commonly found at the leading edge of thunderstorms, and can signify incoming strong winds. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, the wind became gusty and rain began to come down in buckets. So, if you see a shelf cloud, better run for cover!

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Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Today, Oct. 3, started out cloudy in the morning, with the sun shining by the time afternoon rolled around. But, something else was in the air – I almost mist it. (Ha ha) A thin layer of fog rolled in off the lake during the early afternoon. This fog likely formed due to a relatively humid air mass moving over the cooling lake waters. But more striking is the appearance of a faint white arc, known as a fogbow. Fogbows are formed in a similar process as rainbows, however in this case, the sun’s rays refract off of fog droplets instead of raindrops.

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Photo credit: Matthew Seymour

Additionally, the sunsets continue to impress. Shown is the sunset from Sept. 29, as I viewed from the second floor of Shineman Center.

Be on the lookout for my next post, which will tell you about some of my sunset experiences, and where to go to get the best views and best photographs alike. Until next time, folks!!

Rice Creek!

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Hi!!! I am Ye Jin Lee from Cheong ju, Korea. I am majoring in Public Relations.

I am a new transfer student in Oswego also i am a new student blogger!!! When i first came in Oswego, i fell in love with the lake and also Lakers. Oswego is a place which i really want to recommend not only American but also Korean. I realized there are many Korean students and also there are many American students who are interested in Korea.  If you have any questions about my country or my posts, you are more than welcome to email me:)

Sep,25th!

Ikakaotalk_20160926_143322862 went to the Rice Creek with Taegundo club members. I didn’t know there is a hill near campus but thanks to my friends i got a chance to walk the hill.

 

 

 

 

 

It waskakaotalk_20160926_143340861 a nice weather(it was not cold at all ) to walk under the sun. i follow the Orange line first and then continued with the Green line. I want to explain how to go there in detail. But unfortunately, I am a person who is bad at remembering the way to go somewhere. I just followed my friends and came back. I saw the sign which says Rice creek at the main entrance of campus.(hopefully, i can be a hint)

 

 

 

Can you see the sky in my pictures? It was a perfect blue sky. That is why we jumped on the grass like we are flying.

 

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I took 3 hours total by walk. It is a nice way to work out and get some fresh air. Come out from your dorm and be healthy!! It is secret but i folded up for 1 hour after i arrived my dorm.  I highly recommend to everyone to go there and enjoy the sun before winter come!!

Welcome to Autumn!

Hello everybody! It’s that time of year again…

Autumn!!! Or fall. Or pumpkin spice everything season. Whatever you prefer to call the three months between Sept. 22 and Dec. 21.

Here in Oswego, that means a few things. Swimming season at the lake is coming to an end. Temperatures begin to drop, and windy days become more numerous by the week. The green trees will soon become adorn in red and orange fall colors. And before you know it, well I won’t mention the dreaded s-word just yet…

So far this season, we haven’t really experienced true “autumn” weather in Oswego. A warm pattern, a continuation of the hot and dry summer Upstate NY experienced this year, carried over into September. Here in Oswego, the daily high temperature reached above 70ºF everyday this month through Sept. 23, even on a few occasions eclipsing 80º. Doesn’t sound like autumnal weather to me!

Meanwhile, the low temperature has dropped below 55º only four times so far this month, and did not reach the 40s until the morning of Sept. 25.

A tranquil sunset on Sept. 21 at the campus lakeshore. [Photo credit: Matthew Seymour]

A tranquil sunset on Sept. 21 at the campus lakeshore. [Photo credit: Matthew Seymour]

Keep in mind that, on average, high temps drop from the mid 70s on Sept. 1, to the mid 60s on Sept. 30. Lows normally go from the upper 50s on Sept. 1, to the upper 40s by month’s end.

Just this past Friday, a strong cold front finally pushed through the region, putting an end to Oswego’s extended summer weather. Temps the past couple days have been right around where they usually are, if not a little below normal. What a relief!!

A large wave crashes into the lakeshore the evening of Sept. 23, during strong northerly winds that followed the passage of a cold front in the morning. [Photo credit: Matthew Seymour]

A large wave crashes into the lakeshore the evening of Sept. 23, during strong northerly winds that followed the passage of a cold front in the morning. [Photo credit: Matthew Seymour]

The autumn-like weather looks to stick around this time, with cool temps continuing for the next several days. Have a great week!!

#LakerTakeover: 24-Hour Theatre Festival

Our most recent #LakerTakeover on Instagram featured Spencer Ventresca showcasing the theatre department’s 24-Hour Play Festival, which saw writers, cast and crew hastily create, assemble and stage a new production.