Gopher Blog

Land of 10,000 Lakes

Friends at Lake Calhoun

It’s hard to believe that in less than a month I’ll be back in school! I’m excited for my senior year to start, but I’m not ready for summer to end. I plan to spend the last weekends of summer at the beach swimming and enjoying the sun…because before we know it, the leaves will be changing and then snow will be on the ground.

 

There are plenty of beaches from which to choose in the Twin Cities. My personal favorites are the beaches on the Chain of Lakes, which consists of Brownie Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, and Lake of the Isles. It is located on the Grand Rounds, which is a well-known National Scenic Byway.

 

The Chain of Lakes is surrounded by beautiful homes and natural scenery. In the distance you can see the skyscrapers of downtown Minneapolis. Two of the lakes (Calhoun and Isles) are located near Uptown, one of Minneapolis’s most “happening” business districts, filled with many unique shops and restaurants.

 

There is so much more to do at the lakes than bask in the sun. You can play beach volleyball, rollerblade, bike, or jog on the Grand Round paths. There are several spots that rent kayaks, catamarans, and sail boats. People even enjoy the lakes during the winter! When the city puts hockey rinks and warming shacks on Lake of the Isles, members of my intramural hockey team and I go there to play pick-up games!

 

 

The U of M is in Twins Territory

I am a huge fan of the Minnesota Twins (our major league baseball team) so naturally one of my favorite things to do in the Twin Cities during summer and fall is go to Twins games. A couple weeks ago I went and saw the Twins beat Cleveland six to nothing! It was awesome seeing the team playing under the stars at the brand-new stadium. Target Field just opened in May and has been buzzing with excited fans ever since. It is located in downtown Minneapolis and is only a 10-minute bus ride or a 20-minute walk from campus.

On Wednesday nights, it is common to see University of Minnesota students catching a bus from campus in their Twins gear for Student Night at Target Field. With a college ID, students can enjoy a ballpark hotdog and watch Joe Mauer hit a home run for just $10! Other specials that I enjoy are Dollar-A-Dog day and Dairy Queen's Sensational Saturday (a free blizzard with ticket purchase).

Go Twins!

A Surprise U of M Performance

While April Fool's day may be over, people are still talking about the stunt performed at a local grocery store by U of M student actors from the School of Music.  They burst into a song called, "Mealtime Hero" in the middle of the store! Check out the YouTube video below:

Also, read an article about the performance from local news source, Kare 11, here. Audience members definitely enjoyed it!

~ Trisha

Spring Break in the Twin Cities

The weather in the Twin Cities has been beautiful this past week—just in time for spring break! I decided to head home to Brooklyn Park, Minn. to spend time with some extended family that I haven’t seen in a couple of months.

While many students do choose to take a trip to places outside of Minnesota, there are plenty of ways to vacation in the Twin Cities:

• Head over to the Walker Art Center for free gallery admission on Thursdays.
• Check out the Science Museum of Minnesota and its latest exhibit, the Dead Sea Scrolls.
• Enjoy warming temperatures and sunshine with a jog or walk around Lake Calhoun on the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes.
• Get a healthy dose of retail therapy at the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in America.
• See a play at the world-renown Guthrie Theater.

I'm pretty low-key when it comes to breaks from school. And since last week was hectic for me, I'm just glad to have a chance to slow down and enjoy spring!

~ Trisha

p.s. The Gopher Men's Basketball team kicks off their run for the NCAA Championship this Friday at 11:25 a.m. Go Gophers!

U of M Job and Internship Fair

Last week, the U of M held its annual Job and Internship Fair downtown at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Since I’m graduating in May and looking for employment, it was the perfect time for me to scope out job opportunities. Representatives from over 200 companies and organizations were there to meet with students and answer questions—from Target and Cargill to Land O’Lakes and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)!

Since I am pursuing work in the field of marketing and communications, I researched employers that are hiring students in these areas on the U of M Job and Internship fair website. Then I sought out those particular companies at the fair and had conversations with their recruiters. I learned about some exciting opportunities at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Padilla Speer Beardsley, a marketing and public relations firm in downtown Minneapolis. Some employers took resumes, while others handed out information on how to apply for jobs online.

Because the fair is so large, going in with a plan definitely helped me have an enjoyable and productive experience. The recruiters were helpful and gave me some tips to help my job applications stand out from the crowd. I’ve already applied to one internship that I learned about through the fair, and plan to apply for more in the coming weeks.

Until next time…

~ Trisha

The Great Minnesota Get Together

What’s better than food on a stick?

On Tuesday, I had a chance to enjoy one of my favorite activities of the year… a trip to the Minnesota State Fair! I can’t really pinpoint what makes the fair one of my favorite times of year. Maybe it’s tradition—the fair has been around for over 150 years. Or maybe it’s the plethora of farm animals from all over the state—the biggest pig in the state tipped the scale at over 1,000 pounds. When you combine tradition, farm animals, and the widest variety of foods on a stick in once place, it’s bound to be a great time!

During my day, I made sure to stop by the University of Minnesota building. They had posters for U of M enthusiasts, sports memorabilia, an exhibit about the TCF Bank Stadium, plus smaller exhibits showcasing what U of M students are discovering as well as learning in classrooms.

The TCF Bank Stadium Exhibit


The Golden Gopher Memorabilia Wall


The “Driven to Discover” Wall


Here’s a picture of me at the stadium exhibit (with ice cream and souvenir cup in hand). I don’t think the “Ultimate Homecoming” slogan can truly express how excited our community is for football to return back to campus.




Here’s a photo of one of my friends who participated in the Department of Surgery’s exhibit featuring medical technology. He was able to try out the same device that medical students use for making stitches during surgery practice.


After meandering through different exhibits and enjoying my favorite fair delicacies—a breakfast crepe, cotton candy, a foot-long hot dog, and Nitro ice cream (ice cream frozen with liquid nitrogen on site)—I ended the day with my fair tradition: all-you-can-drink milk and Sweet Martha’s Cookies!





All in all, it was a fun-filled day and the perfect way to end the summer. Stay tuned—fall semester classes started this week at the U of M, and I’m embarking on my senior year!

~ Trisha

A Saturday Afternoon Trip

Minnesota History Center: A Journey of Discovery



This past weekend, a friend and I ventured to the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul for an afternoon of history and exploration. Since high school, I’ve always enjoyed history so a trip to learn about the history of Minnesota not only seemed like a fitting activity, but also a great way to spend an afternoon in the city.



The Greatest Generation
The History Center is part of the Minnesota Historical Society, an organization dedicated to archiving Minnesota’s history through different historic sites and museums located throughout the state. One of the current exhibits at the History Center is “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” showcasing the lives of Minnesotans during World War Two. In the exhibit, there were artifacts from Minnesotans who were soldiers; newspapers and magazines from the 1940s; and even military equipment used in the war. It was really interesting to learn about Minnesota’s connections to a war that changed the world forever.



An Extraordinary St. Paul Home
I also enjoyed an exhibit called “Open House: If These Walls Could Talk.” It featured a house modeled after a local St. Paul home and followed the history of the families that have lived there throughout the years. From the first German immigrants, through Italians, African-Americans, and Hmong residents that succeeded them, this exhibit showcased the different struggles that each family faced while living in the St. Paul house. Everything from how family members dressed to letters they sent to loved ones were included in this exhibit. There were even college transcripts from a Golden Gopher who attended the University of Minnesota during the early 1900s. (As you can probably tell by now, I really enjoy historical artifacts!)

A University of Tradition
Another exhibit features past research by the scholars at the University of Minnesota! It was a small reminder of the important role that the University has played throughout Minnesota’s history with its commitment to research. (Not to mention it gave me a small boost of pride for the place I’ve called home for the past three years.)

I’ve always liked learning about history because information about the past (even though it doesn’t always seem relevant at first) can help us discover more our individual passions and our purpose for the future. And finding our purpose, or at least deciding what we want for our lives after graduation, is what college is all about!

~ Trisha

Sweet summertime

With the conclusion of the spring semester already over a week behind us, I think it’s safe to say that summer has arrived! If you are new to this blog, welcome! You can learn more about me by reading my first Gopher Blog entry here!

Summer 2008
While fall and spring semesters are the busiest time around campus, summer brings many opportunities for U of M students. For example, last summer, I went on a three-week study abroad trip to Cape Town, South Africa.





In Cape Town, I traveled, walked with giraffes on a safari, studied at a local university, and participated in a home-stay experience in the township of Gugulethu. It was a truly amazing and once-in-a-lifetime experience. (Read all about it here!)

Summer 2009
This summer, I’m focusing on my internship here in the Office of Admissions. During my internship, I’m able to put my University education to work in helping to manage and coordinate communications for multiple admissions events. Plus, I have the opportunity to improve my writing skills by giving you an inside look at my life here on campus and as a university student with this blog. My internship is a great way to stay active on campus during the summer as well as prepare for my career after graduation.

An oasis in a metropolis
The summer season also gives university students some time to take a break from studying and enjoy the endless opportunities that come with warmer Minnesota weather. One of my favorite places to go in the Twin Cities is Lake Calhoun, part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. To me, it’s like an oasis within the metropolis of Minneapolis. There are paths that surround the lake for people to take a jog or a leisurely stroll on the lake. You can swim, sunbathe, rent paddle boats and kayaks, or simply lie on a blanket and read a good book.

Summer in the Cities
I also enjoy visiting galleries like the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, or the Weisman Art Museum (which is right here on campus). Many of my friends enjoy going to Minnesota Twins baseball games as their stadium is a short bus ride away from campus. The Guthrie Theater has wonderful performances, and the Minnesota Zoo always has fun exhibits with animals from all over the world. I love the Twin Cities during the summer because it is always an alive and active place—no matter what your interest, you’re bound to find something you’d like to do.

The University of Minnesota is alive and buzzing with activity on campus during the summer. It’s a great time to visit and discover what it is like to be a U of M student. In fact, we have some special Sneak Preview events happening over the next couple months. Each event showcases a different U of M college and the majors that it offers. Read more about Sneak Preview events here!

Stay tuned for more entries about what’s happening on campus and my summer adventures!

~ Trisha

A Guthrie Afternoon

Since my decision to come to the University, I have always wanted to see a play at the world-renowned Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. This past weekend, I finally got my chance!



On Saturday afternoon, a friend and I went to see the romantic comedy “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” at the Guthrie. The Two Gentlemen is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s earliest works dating back to the early 1590s. I wanted to see this play in particular because the director adapted it to take place in 1955, about 365 years later!

Another unique aspect of the production was that the play was “taped” on the set of a fifties television studio and the people who had come to see the play that afternoon served as the live studio audience. There were two television screens on either side of the set that broadcast the play the way that people in the 1950s would have seen it. For me, this added a little more fun to the whole experience.

The Guthrie is about a 10 minute bus ride from campus, making it a venue that’s easy to get to. If you’re looking to explore downtown Minneapolis, the Guthrie should definitely be on your list!

I think a reason that I am intrigued by plays is because I was an avid fan of plays in high school. Many of my friends were involved in school productions like Grease, Romeo and Juliet, You Can’t Take it With You, and Beauty and the Beast, and I loved to go and show them my support.

Are any of you involved in plays or musicals at your high school? Do you like to go and see productions? Click on the “Comments” link below to share your thoughts!

~ Trisha

Saturday Volunteering

One of the reasons that I joined a sorority is the opportunity to become more involved in volunteering. This past weekend, a group of my fellow sisters and I went to Goodwill Easter Seals in North St. Paul to volunteer for their Bridal Showcase event. The showcase event isn’t until February 21st, but we went to help in the organization’s preparation efforts.

The goal of the Bridal Showcase is to provide new and gently used wedding gowns, mother-of-the bride dresses, bridesmaids dresses, and special occasion dresses at reduced costs. Our main responsibility involved sorting through dresses that had been donated so they could be prepared for steaming. Looking through multiple dresses gave all of us the opportunity to have fun while giving back to the local community.

Check out some pictures from the event! (Click photo to enlarge)











~ Trisha