Spring Break Bliss

Hey everyone! This week, I traded study sessions for sleeping in and textbooks for tan lines. This can only mean one thing: it's spring break for Stanford University students! Since Stanford is a quarter system school, spring break falls in-between winter quarter and spring quarter. And no quarter is complete without its share of final exams. Last week, I was basically living in the library preparing for my final exams. But now, finals and winter quarter have passed and I have time to relax on my week-long break before spring quarter begins. Schools on the semester system have spring break in the middle of their semester, normally after midterms. However, an advantage to the quarter system is having no work to do and no classes to worry about while on break!

College students on spring break normally travel somewhere coastal and warm. For southern schools, Florida is a popular destination while Mexico, especially Cabo San Lucas, is the hot spots for west coast students. Most freshman, myself included, take this time to travel home and visit family and friends. While I may be at home this break, I am still enjoying sunny southern California! I really wanted to spend the week relaxing and rejuvenating after my stressful finals, and there isn't any better place to take time off then at home. Even though the weather has been cloudy, it hasn't stopped me from visiting my favorite restaurants or hanging out with my hometown friends!

Best friend dessert run to celebrate being home for break

Reading on the beach even though its chilly!

Beach trip with the family

What do you like to do on your breaks from school? How do you relax after big exams? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Live from Stanford Dining: Mardi Gras Spectacular

Hey everyone! Last week was Mardi Gras, a very popular holiday at American universities (and Stanford is no exception). To learn more about Mardi Gras celebrations all over the world, click here!

At American universities, Mardi Gras is usually celebrated through a themed party or event where everyone dresses up in masks or green, yellow, and purple attire. However, my school took Mardi Gras above and beyond through a special Mardi Gras dinner celebration at my dining hall! The entire facility was decked head to toe in decorations, all in the green, yellow, and purple color scheme of Mardi Gras. There was special food to represent New Orleans (the center of Mardi Gras celebration in the United States) along with entertainment from student clubs on campus, like a live band and performances from different dance groups. There was even a fancy cocktail station (virgin, of course). It was so great to celebrate this fun and festive holiday in my own dining hall. Check out some pictures with the highlights below!

Special Mardi Gras photo booth! Say cheese!

The dining hall fully decorated

My (virgin) mint mojito!

The student band preforming live music for hungry students

A student tap dance group preforming

Overall, the event at the dining hall was an amazing celebration of New Orleans culture through specific food, decorations, and entertainment choices. I had so much fun celebrating Mardi Gras at Stanford!

Did you celebrate Mardi Gras? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo