Spring Special Travel Section

Crusader Seward County Community College

Special Travel Section

Chris Guyer’s continental trek.

See Page 10

Dominque Apsley’s South American journey.

See Pages 4-5.

March 2016

Andy Otiz and Ruben Pando take over D.C. See Page 6

International tennis Saints See Page 8-9 Basketball Saints and Lady Saints traveling memories See Page 12-13 Save money, travel more See Page 14-15 Keep yourself entertained this Spring Break See Page 16

Cover photo by Jakub Stepanovic

Travel

2

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Travel

March 2016

3

Field biology trip to Costa Rica set for May Kathleen Alonso Crusader staff Biology instrustor Donald Hayes is making arrangements for an end of the year field biology trip to Costa Rica departing May 16.

This will be a nine-day trip including arrival and departure.

The trip will be for three credit hours at regular tuition rate. A passport will be a requirement, and can be obtained in town.

Those applying for a passport must allow approximately four to six weeks for passport arrival. Students must make arrangements with due time.

The trip is all-inclusive which means all flights, transportation, meals, hotels, and tours will be covered.

Students are encouraged to take personal spending money. Not only will the trip be a great educational component, it will allow for life long memories.

If interested, contact Hayes at 620-417-1505 by phone or email donald.hayes@sccc.edu for further information.

Costa Rica Itinerary Day 1: Fly to Costa Rica Arrive in San José Day 2: San José + Arenal Experiential learning: Visit InBioparque** Ecosystem exhibits and trails Visit Poás Volcano Visit hot springs Travel to the Arenal region Day 3: Los Chiles + Arenal Travel to Los Chiles Environmental activity: Take a boat tour of Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge ** Return to Arenal Day 4: Arenal Region + Monteverde Visit La Fortuna Waterfall Travel to Monteverde Day 5: Monteverde Lecture: Attend a lecture at the Santa Elena Institute** Visit the Santa Elena Cloud Forest

Distance: 3,058 miles*

Experiential Learning: Plant a tree Participate in a canopy adventure Day 6: Central Pacific Coast Travel to the Central Pacific Coast Lunch at Rainforest Adventures Park Visit the Rainforest Adventures Park Aerial tram ride Nature hike Butterfly garden Plant & animal life Day 7: Central Pacific Coast Visit Manuel Antonio National Park Take a tour of Crocodile River Day 8: Sarchí + San José Travel via Sarchi to San José Visit a coffee plantation Day 9: Depart for home

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Travel

4

Cayman Islands

March 2016

Dominque’s Journey

While stunningly beautiful, the Cayman Islands is a poor industrial place with a lot of small businesses, according to Dominque Apsley.

Jamaica

Cozumel

Seward sophomore Dominque Apsley and Lauren Mader-Cauble enjoy some time on the beach while on a family cruise in Jamaica.

Seward sophomore Dominque Apsley and his girlfriend Lauren MaderCauble spent time in December 2015 in Cozumel, Mexico.

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Photos provided by Dominque Apsley

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Travel

March 2016

5

Kansas native cruises Caribbean

Arthur Courbis Crusader staff

Beautiful blue ocean, delicious Jerk chicken, island music and the anticipation of a 14-floor cruise ship might have made it difficult for Seward sophomore Dominque Apsley to concentrate as he completed finals early last semester and prepared for a Caribbean cruise.

Apsley’s great grandmother passed away two years ago, so the entire family decided to organize a big two-week trip for his great grandpa. They left with 45 members on a family adventure from Dec. 6 to Dec. 21, 2015. The vacation was organized by the Apsley family. Everybody got a schedule, and on Dec. 4, they all drove to Galveston, Texas, which is a 13hour drive from Wichita, Kansas.

“I took care of everyone’s money,” Apsley said. “My parents asked me to because they did not trust themselves. I held it, and I bought 45 tickets.”

The tickets for two weeks were about $772 per person, including food and everything on the ships.

“I saved about $1000 from my work, and I ended up spending everything,” Apsley said.

Usually the ship leaves for one week, but the Apsleys left for two weeks. They traveled twice to the same places including Cozumel in Mexico, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

The Apsleys went to organized excursions the first week and the second time, they got to see the islands on their own, and see how traditional people live everyday.

During the time the boat was on the sea, they were enjoying the ship activities.

“I loved Cozumel. It is an island, and the most beautiful. The water is so blue and so clear, and the housing looked so much older. It is really different than the U.S.A,” Apsley said.

In the tourist section of Cozumel, locals speak English, the same as in Jamaica.

Jamaica has the strongest cultural change from the United States, said Apsley. When customers want to get in a shop, they have to clean their shoes on a rug.

“They were really formal, like if you cough, they will ask you to cover your mouth,” Apsley said.

According to Apsley, Montigo Bay, Jamaica, is really nice but outside the city there is trash everywhere, even though it is still

a nice place.

The best thing is to leave from tourism areas to see the real country, so the Apsleys rented a bus at 4 a.m., traveled around Jamaica, stopped in restaurants and shops, went to the beach and returned at 6 p.m.

Americans can buy a lot of stuff and customers can trade with merchants.

“I bought a bag, restaurant meals, hats, and you can buy way more stuff because of the currency exchange. It is really cool,” according to Apsley.

Courtesy photo

Dominque Apsley hangs out on the ship balcony in Jamaica.

“If you miss the ship, you miss it. The bad thing is that you do not need a passport on the ship. There was a lady who got left in Jamaica and the ship did not go back for her. They have strict deadlines,” Apsley said.

Prices are cheap in Jamaica, so

During his Jamaican tour, Apsley also ordered a pina-strawberry drink and everything was fresh.

“The juice maker took a pineapple, cut it, and he showed me how he did it. I had one for $1, and it was a big drink.”

In the countryside, Jamaicans accept the American dollar, but the Apsleys did not ask for money back because the Jamaicans do not have change.

The music in Jamaica is really what a tourist might expect. If you have a Bob Marley playlist on Pandora, in Jamaica it is the same music, Apsley said.

Apsley also noted that the churches are like school houses.

One room and that is it. He also added that the driving is crazy because Jamaicans do not use turn signals, the traffic is packed, and they drive on the left side of the road.

Apsley got to talk with some people. He also heard people speak Jamaican, and he had no idea what they were saying.

“It was really unique. I never heard anything like that,” Apsley said.

Apsley said that in Jamaican tourist places, there are a lot of people with items to sell.

Some Jamaicans had little packages of marijuana outside of their wallets. They offered to Dominque’s dad and said, “Pssst, do you want to smoke?” His dad declined the proposition.

Apsley remembered another funny experience. In Jamaica, when cars are at stop lights there

are people who sell oranges and fruits, and it was his first time seeing that.

Apsley was excited to go on his trip in December, but to be able to leave SCCC/ATS, he had to have all his finals done, so he took them a week and a half before the end of the semester. He had to catch up all his homework and everything that was assigned. The dean of academic affairs, Todd Carter, had to give his permission so Apsley could leave early. All his teachers had to sign and he had to set up a time to take his finals with each of them. He had to come back in January and finish one final. It was hard to fit inside their schedules, Apsley said.

Finally, Apsley got the opportunity to board the ship.

“It will be like 14 floors, and there is an elevator that takes you to all the floors,” Apsley said. “It is like the Titanic. It has a giant dining hall; it is extremely elegant.”

The ship had activities such as a mini golf, basketball courts, a water amusement park, a main swimming pool and a weight room. The ship also had comedians in night shows as well as clubs for each age.

For the food, the ship gave organized meal times. There was a buffet restaurant and an elegant restaurant where people had to dress properly.

“The food is extremely different from here because the ship adapts its food following the destinations.

In the islands, it is even more traditional. We had a Caribbean Jerk chicken, and it was amazing,” Apsley said.

In Jamaica, $2 can buy a lot of food, but in the tourist area it costs the same as in the U.S, according to Apsley.

“On the ship every meal is paid for, and there is only one paid restaurant, which is really good. I celebrated my anniversary with my girlfriend there. It was a pasta restaurant,” Apsley said.

Apsley and his family met together every day, but then rest of family did their own thing. He saw the rest of them maybe two hours in two weeks, and sometimes from the glass elevators.

After a trip celebrating family and his great grandpa’s cruise of a lifetime, Apsley brings his memories with him back on campus. “ We live in Kansas and there is nothing, so being able to see the ocean and wake up every morning to see beaches and clear ocean, it was beautiful,” Apsley said.

Travel

6

March 2016

Courtesy photo/Brenee King

Students who participated in a summer research program in Kansas State University qualified to travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in a conference. At left, Andy Ortiz with K-State students. At far right, Ruben Pando.

D.C. opens doors for student research Tania Valenzuela Crusader staff Representing Seward County Community College, Ruben Pando and Andy Ortiz qualified to travel to Washington, D.C., to present their summer research projects among thousands of other students and hundreds of science enthusiasts.

“When I found out I was chosen I was like, ‘Wow, out of all these thousands of kids and applicants, I was one that got picked,’” Ortiz said.

Both students attended a summer research program at Kansas State University called Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation. There, they, constructed their research topics and later were able to apply and submit their presentations to the Emerging Researchers National Conference and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

“I had to work hard over the summer. I put a lot of time and effort into my project to get it how I wanted, and, after I applied, it was a long waiting game before I found out I qualified, but it was worth it,” Ortiz said.

Pando was part of a group presentation, which in simplest words, consisted of identifying specific genes in Protostome Autophagy.

The job of this complex is to degrade proteins to make sure the cell is healthy; so, the point of their presentation was to identify what would happen if a certain complex were to degrade and not function correctly and with this, help determine how exactly a complex selfdegrades.

Ortiz did a presentation that focused on modeling light systems

using a program called AG132.

This program allows architectural engineers create a room that will help calculate and run tests that will give illuminance levels so the workers know where to insert lighting panels, fixtures, and light bulbs. By using this, Ortiz was able to create a 3D rendering to show a picture of what an actual room would look like before it’s constructed.

Although this was a serious conference, it did consist of more than just presentations. The ERN served many banquets, had keynote speakers, and provided workshops for students to attend when not presenting. Apart from this, Pando and Ortiz had time to explore the city as well.

“I was really excited just with the fact that I was going to D.C. and that I was getting in a plane for the first time,” Pando said. “I had never been to such a big city before, so it was exciting.”

Both these students have many things planned for their futures.

Ortiz, who is majoring in architectural engineering and plans to transfer to K-State, was benefited by his trip.

“I have learned a lot from this conference,” Ortiz said. “I have learned more on how to network, and I was taught to keep striving for my goals, and I also got information on other conferences held around the country.”

Pando, who is majoring in biology and also plans to transfer to KState, has also gained beneficial information for his experience.

“Since I’m going into medical research, I will probably have to do more presentations like this so it gave me experience on being in front of a lot of people and what a good presentation looks like,” he said.

The summer research program in K-State that both students attended is open to any student who is majoring in anything STEM related, and more information can be given by any STEM involved teacher.

Courtesy photo/Brenee King

SCCC student Andy Ortiz stands with his presentation board at a conference in Washington, D.C.

Ruben Pando, SCCC sophomore, is pictured with his research presentation on Protostome Autophagy.

Courtesy photo/ Brenee King

“I was really excited just with the fact that I was going to D.C., and that I was getting in a plane for the first time. I had never been to such a big city before, so it was exciting.”

— Ruben Pando

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Travel

March 2016

7

HALO students attend Chicago conference Tania Valenzuela Crusader staff Six Seward County Community College Hispanic American Leadership Organization members attended the 34th annual United “As a States Hispanic Hispanic, Leadership Institute conferUSHLI has ence in Chicagreatly motigo, Illinois. The vated me to members were able to network keep moving and gain inspion. It's really ration for their given me that futures in leadextra push to ership.

“I went to this get me conference last through the year and it was a great experisemester.” ence. You got to — Sindy do a lot of cool things, meet a Humaran lot of new people and do a lot of networking as well as feel inspired along the way,” HALO president, Sindy Humaran said.

The SCCC/ATS HALO students

who attended this year were Sindy Humaran, Jessica Guerrero, Jennifer Rodriguez, Jasmine Macias, Odalys Martinez, and Tania Valenzuela The conference consisted of many different activities throughout the day. Everyday fancy meals were served, speeches were given by keynote speakers, and there were a wide variety of workshops the students could attend. For each workshop there was a different well-recognized speaker ready to present their speech or activity.

The HALO members attended a workshop presented by Gabe Salazar who is the number one Hispanic motivational speaker in the nation. His workshop was titled Wishing vs Dreaming; it was a workshop that was full of laughs as well as inspirational stories. If there was one thing I took out of this workshop, it was to surround myself with successful people that will help me change my wishes into dreams that I can accomplish.

“As a Hispanic USHLI has greatly motivated me to keep moving on. It's really given me that extra push to get me through the semester,” Humaran said.

USHLI is a great way to come in touch with your Hispanic roots. I enjoyed attending this conference because when you're here you're surrounded by so many other people who share your culture.

Attendees learn so much about themselves and about how to be a successful. Not only do members meet hundreds of new people from all over the nation,but they interact with Hispanic leaders who are senators, CEO's, reporters, and many other important positions.

“The fact that we got to interact with people from Google was really cool because Google is such a big thing,” said Vice President of HALO, Jessica Guerrero.

USHLI is a very well put together conference. It's a great combination of fun and motivation. Students who attend the conference learn many things that wil be useful for their futures.

“If anyone is considering going to this next year, you should definitely go. It's a fun time, you get inspired, you learn etiquette, you learn all these things that you wouldn't think of on a regular basis. Don't hesitate, just go,” Humaran said.

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Courtesy photo

HALO students pose with, motivational speaker, Jimmy Cabrera at a national conference in Chicago. From left to right, Jessica Guerrero, SIndy Humaran, Frances Brown, Jimmy Cabrera, Tania Valenzuela, Odalys Martinez, Jasmine Macias, Jennifer Rodriguez.

HALO ladies took a little time to explore the Willis Tower in Chicago.

From left to right, Frances Brown, Odalys Martinez, Jasmine Macias, Jennifer Rodriguez

Courtesy photo

Travel

8

March 2016

Przemyslaw Zielinski Szubin, Poland

I came here because my goal was to connect college and tennis.

In Poland it was impossible to do that. Here, I found these conditions. I hired an agent who looked for an American university.

My first impression was, “Whoa I’m in America.” I spent the last year to prepare myself to be in America, and I finally I was there.

The people were really nice and helpful, especially the first day of school.

I knew that it was the time to grow up. No matter how tough a person can be, when it is time to say goodbye to your family, it is always difficult. It was hard to leave, but I wanted to go, so I was ready for that.

While traveling I agreed that I would send a message at each stop, so three times.

What I miss the most about Poland? I think just sitting with my family every day. Simple moments like that create a lot of memories. I also miss my mother and grandma’s food.

My mother and I are really close, and she is always here when I need help. I miss my family tradition, which was that every sunday we ate together. I really like people and how they solve problems. The language barrier was everywhere at the beginning, but now I understand better. It took me two months. During practices I did not understand exactly what coaches were saying, so I just watched the others.

People here, they try to be nice and ask about Poland, and it is funny when I said some differences between countries and see their reactions.

I think we are lucky because we have a new tennis coaches and a new president. They are bringing energy and new ideas. I like what is happening here, and it is really nice.

from around the world

Saints and Lady Saints tennis players discuss travels and living in the U.S.

Alvaro Peces Madrid, Spain

I came here to learn English, and I tried to get a sport scholarship.

Before I left my country I was sad and nervous.

For my travel, I took a plane from Madrid, Spain, to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Denver and from Denver to Liberal.

It was August 2014, and it took 24 hours.

For my first time in an American airport, I found that there were a lot of check controls, and I also was impressed by the average of obese people.

I miss my family and I really miss my friends. The Spanish ham, which is dried for months following a step-by-step production, is the food I miss the most. I also miss drinking a good beer with my friends in a bar, which is a tradition in Spain because the drink limit age is 18.

The way people dress, it is really different, a lot of people look like cowboys.

When I came to America, I really had to think in English, which is not natural, but English helped me to improve my understanding and my pronouncing.

I have a few stories about the times I misunderstood what was being said in class. The last one was “guys making up” instead of “guys use make up.”

I remember that with my friend Arthur Courbis, who was also a tennis player, the first times we told English the word we used the most was “What?”.

In America, some people think Spain is in Mexico or in Kansas.

Carlos Anez

Valencia, Venezuela My trip was 24 hours long, and I took so many flights. I flew from Venezuela to Miami, and I waited five hours there. From Miami to Dallas I also wait three hours. From Dallas to Wichita, and finally my coaches picked me up and we drove to Liberal.

My trip was so funny because I got lost in the Dallas airport for 1 hour 45 minutes, but finally I found the gate.

It was a really difficult decision to leave for the U.S. because I know that it is a different life style.

My family was scared because I

would be in another country. I felt good because I knew that I will be fine and that it is an incredible experience.

I miss my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister and my best friends. The tradition I miss the most from my country is Christmas and Holy Week.

In Liberal, the people are amazing and the food is good.

Well, English is another language, but here there are so many people who speak Spanish and all my new friends speak Spanish and this is amazing.

At Seward, I find the college amazing and I like it a lot. The city is pretty good and pretty different from my country, but I like it.

Yennifer Delgado Venezuela I came here because of Carlos Anez, who is a tennis player for the Saints.

He helped me to get a scholarship as I got in touch with the coach.

My first impression at the U.S was that it is really bigger than my country. Everything works really good, but I feel that the people are different compared to the people in Venezuela.

I miss my parents and my mother’s food. I also miss hanging out with my friends and dance.

At Seward, I like to be on the tennis team, and I’m getting better at English. The people are really nice to me and they help me if I need anything. I do not like this city; it is too small. The food is bad and made with a lot of grease, and the meetings are boring.

The difference in the way I dress is that now I need to wear winter clothes.

In the U.S, I have to pay attention when people talk because their accent is really fast and so many times I answer “yes, yes” when a person is asking me a question because I do not understand.

When people learn I’m from Venezuela, they tell me “ Oh, Venezuela, too far.”

Ngonidzashe Makambwa

For more player profiles, go to Facebook.com/ CrusaderNews.

Photos and page

Harare, Zimbabwe

I came here because I wanted a good education and to improve my tennis.

I traveled from my country to South Africa, from South Africa to Germany, from Germany to Chicago. It took me 24 hours to get in the United States. I took a lot of flights.

My first impression in the United States is that people are really friendly.

I was really excited to come in America and experience another culture.

I sent roughly 13 messages to my family while traveling.

I miss my parents and specially my dad. I also miss the Saclza, which is the food I miss the most. I really miss to speak my language (Shona).

The dress code is really different than in Zimbabwe because I used to wear uniforms but here people do not.

I think that people here talk too fast, and it took me few weeks, which is pretty fast because in Zimbabwe we also speak English.

I feel good about Seward because it provides a safe environment where I can excel in my studies and tennis.

by Arthur Courbis

Alex Mosehle Lesotho I came to pursue my tennis career while getting a good education at the same time. Ronzai Saurombe, who was here last year, connected me with the coaches.

I took a car drive from Lesotho, which is in central South Africa, to Johannesburg-South Africa, for five hours. I flew from South Africa to Germany, and from Germany to Washington D.C., and from Washington D.C to Kansas City. I took an eight hours bus drive from Kansas City to Garden City. The whole trip was three days long.

When I arrived in America, I did not have a paper that allowed international students to come in the American territory, the I-20, so I had to get it before I can go anywhere.

My first impression was that people speak weird, especially the black people.

Before I left my country I was sad but at the same time excited.

I miss my parents, the language and the food. I miss my dad, my ex-girlfriend and I also miss walking around in my Sotho blanket.

At Seward, I do not like the town because it is dead, but I like my team.

When people learn that I was from Lesotho, they asked me, “Do you have a lion as a pet” or “Whoa, Africa, do you guys have cars?”

It is a very great school, but I do not like Liberal because it is very small.

I live in a big city more like in Florida, all green and alive.

Nthabiseng Mogopodi

9

Botswana

I came here to play tennis and study, and I got recruited to play for the Saints.

Oh, Lord! It was a pretty long journey. I traveled from Botswana to South Africa, from South Africa to Europe, from Europe to the United States. It took me 32 hours.

My first impression when I got in the United States was white people everywhere, lol. It was like in movies.

I was so happy to come to the U.S. I miss my family, my church and my friends. Our traditional food is the food I miss the most.

I just miss everyone, and I also miss speaking my language.

The American dress code is the same than in my country, but in Botswana a little more respectable to the public eye.

I did not struggle with English. I just had to get to use a lot of English and I have to adapt my English to the American English as I come from a British English speaking country.

In class, I often misunderstood what was being said.

When people talk to me about Botswana, they tell me, “I do not know where it is,” or, “ It is an undeveloped country.”

At Seward, I found a very friendly place with very welcoming people.

People are awesome. There are good Christians, and I love being around an environment where people actually care about each other.

Thalita Rodrigues I came here because I wanted to study and play tennis. The company that was managing me helped me to find Seward.

I traveled from Brasilia to Miami, from Miami to Chicago, and from Chicago to Wichita. My travel was around 22 hours, and I arrived at Brasilia airport two hours before my flight.

For my first time in the United States, I had a very good impression. An organized country and people were willing to help me.

While traveling, I sent messages when I found wi-fi connection.

I miss my parents and I miss

Ondrej Nice

Rapotin, Czech Republic Before coming at Seward, I was looking for a full scholarship in some universities, but I did not pass the required exams to get there. I think that I got lucky that my coach recruited me at Seward.

I did not want to miss my first flight, so I was at the airport 3 hours before.

My first impression in the United States was amazing. I felt like being in another world. I was happy.

I was so excited to come to the United States, but when I realized

Brasilia, Brazil

the Brazilian barbecue. I also had a good time in Brazil when I went to night clubs with my friends. I miss that.

Here at Seward, I like the deserts but I do not like the breakfasts.

The dress code is the same in Brazil as in the United States.

I think that people talk really fast when they speak English.

It is difficult to understand.

For the moment, English is still difficult to speak, and I do not feel comfortable.

When Americans hear me speaking English, they say that they like my accent.

At Seward, I really do like the people.

that I will be gone for 10 months out of my country, I was a little bit sad and nervous.

I miss my parents, my language, my friends and the nature.

I miss traditional food and soups as well as spending time with my family for Christmas.

In Liberal, I like the people because they are so friendly and happy all the time. The food is so different than in my country. It is unhealthy food.

In U.S.A, you can wear whatever you want and nobody cares how you look.

English was hard to speak, and I was nervous to talk to teachers, but I’m getting better every day.

In my opinion, Seward is really good for international students.

I’m happy here.

Travel

8

March 2016

Przemyslaw Zielinski Szubin, Poland

I came here because my goal was to connect college and tennis.

In Poland it was impossible to do that. Here, I found these conditions. I hired an agent who looked for an American university.

My first impression was, “Whoa I’m in America.” I spent the last year to prepare myself to be in America, and I finally I was there.

The people were really nice and helpful, especially the first day of school.

I knew that it was the time to grow up. No matter how tough a person can be, when it is time to say goodbye to your family, it is always difficult. It was hard to leave, but I wanted to go, so I was ready for that.

While traveling I agreed that I would send a message at each stop, so three times.

What I miss the most about Poland? I think just sitting with my family every day. Simple moments like that create a lot of memories. I also miss my mother and grandma’s food.

My mother and I are really close, and she is always here when I need help. I miss my family tradition, which was that every sunday we ate together. I really like people and how they solve problems. The language barrier was everywhere at the beginning, but now I understand better. It took me two months. During practices I did not understand exactly what coaches were saying, so I just watched the others.

People here, they try to be nice and ask about Poland, and it is funny when I said some differences between countries and see their reactions.

I think we are lucky because we have a new tennis coaches and a new president. They are bringing energy and new ideas. I like what is happening here, and it is really nice.

from around the world

Saints and Lady Saints tennis players discuss travels and living in the U.S.

Alvaro Peces Madrid, Spain

I came here to learn English, and I tried to get a sport scholarship.

Before I left my country I was sad and nervous.

For my travel, I took a plane from Madrid, Spain, to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Denver and from Denver to Liberal.

It was August 2014, and it took 24 hours.

For my first time in an American airport, I found that there were a lot of check controls, and I also was impressed by the average of obese people.

I miss my family and I really miss my friends. The Spanish ham, which is dried for months following a step-by-step production, is the food I miss the most. I also miss drinking a good beer with my friends in a bar, which is a tradition in Spain because the drink limit age is 18.

The way people dress, it is really different, a lot of people look like cowboys.

When I came to America, I really had to think in English, which is not natural, but English helped me to improve my understanding and my pronouncing.

I have a few stories about the times I misunderstood what was being said in class. The last one was “guys making up” instead of “guys use make up.”

I remember that with my friend Arthur Courbis, who was also a tennis player, the first times we told English the word we used the most was “What?”.

In America, some people think Spain is in Mexico or in Kansas.

Carlos Anez

Valencia, Venezuela My trip was 24 hours long, and I took so many flights. I flew from Venezuela to Miami, and I waited five hours there. From Miami to Dallas I also wait three hours. From Dallas to Wichita, and finally my coaches picked me up and we drove to Liberal.

My trip was so funny because I got lost in the Dallas airport for 1 hour 45 minutes, but finally I found the gate.

It was a really difficult decision to leave for the U.S. because I know that it is a different life style.

My family was scared because I

would be in another country. I felt good because I knew that I will be fine and that it is an incredible experience.

I miss my dad, my mom, my brother, my sister and my best friends. The tradition I miss the most from my country is Christmas and Holy Week.

In Liberal, the people are amazing and the food is good.

Well, English is another language, but here there are so many people who speak Spanish and all my new friends speak Spanish and this is amazing.

At Seward, I find the college amazing and I like it a lot. The city is pretty good and pretty different from my country, but I like it.

Yennifer Delgado Venezuela I came here because of Carlos Anez, who is a tennis player for the Saints.

He helped me to get a scholarship as I got in touch with the coach.

My first impression at the U.S was that it is really bigger than my country. Everything works really good, but I feel that the people are different compared to the people in Venezuela.

I miss my parents and my mother’s food. I also miss hanging out with my friends and dance.

At Seward, I like to be on the tennis team, and I’m getting better at English. The people are really nice to me and they help me if I need anything. I do not like this city; it is too small. The food is bad and made with a lot of grease, and the meetings are boring.

The difference in the way I dress is that now I need to wear winter clothes.

In the U.S, I have to pay attention when people talk because their accent is really fast and so many times I answer “yes, yes” when a person is asking me a question because I do not understand.

When people learn I’m from Venezuela, they tell me “ Oh, Venezuela, too far.”

Ngonidzashe Makambwa

For more player profiles, go to Facebook.com/ CrusaderNews.

Photos and page

Harare, Zimbabwe

I came here because I wanted a good education and to improve my tennis.

I traveled from my country to South Africa, from South Africa to Germany, from Germany to Chicago. It took me 24 hours to get in the United States. I took a lot of flights.

My first impression in the United States is that people are really friendly.

I was really excited to come in America and experience another culture.

I sent roughly 13 messages to my family while traveling.

I miss my parents and specially my dad. I also miss the Saclza, which is the food I miss the most. I really miss to speak my language (Shona).

The dress code is really different than in Zimbabwe because I used to wear uniforms but here people do not.

I think that people here talk too fast, and it took me few weeks, which is pretty fast because in Zimbabwe we also speak English.

I feel good about Seward because it provides a safe environment where I can excel in my studies and tennis.

by Arthur Courbis

Alex Mosehle Lesotho I came to pursue my tennis career while getting a good education at the same time. Ronzai Saurombe, who was here last year, connected me with the coaches.

I took a car drive from Lesotho, which is in central South Africa, to Johannesburg-South Africa, for five hours. I flew from South Africa to Germany, and from Germany to Washington D.C., and from Washington D.C to Kansas City. I took an eight hours bus drive from Kansas City to Garden City. The whole trip was three days long.

When I arrived in America, I did not have a paper that allowed international students to come in the American territory, the I-20, so I had to get it before I can go anywhere.

My first impression was that people speak weird, especially the black people.

Before I left my country I was sad but at the same time excited.

I miss my parents, the language and the food. I miss my dad, my ex-girlfriend and I also miss walking around in my Sotho blanket.

At Seward, I do not like the town because it is dead, but I like my team.

When people learn that I was from Lesotho, they asked me, “Do you have a lion as a pet” or “Whoa, Africa, do you guys have cars?”

It is a very great school, but I do not like Liberal because it is very small.

I live in a big city more like in Florida, all green and alive.

Nthabiseng Mogopodi

9

Botswana

I came here to play tennis and study, and I got recruited to play for the Saints.

Oh, Lord! It was a pretty long journey. I traveled from Botswana to South Africa, from South Africa to Europe, from Europe to the United States. It took me 32 hours.

My first impression when I got in the United States was white people everywhere, lol. It was like in movies.

I was so happy to come to the U.S. I miss my family, my church and my friends. Our traditional food is the food I miss the most.

I just miss everyone, and I also miss speaking my language.

The American dress code is the same than in my country, but in Botswana a little more respectable to the public eye.

I did not struggle with English. I just had to get to use a lot of English and I have to adapt my English to the American English as I come from a British English speaking country.

In class, I often misunderstood what was being said.

When people talk to me about Botswana, they tell me, “I do not know where it is,” or, “ It is an undeveloped country.”

At Seward, I found a very friendly place with very welcoming people.

People are awesome. There are good Christians, and I love being around an environment where people actually care about each other.

Thalita Rodrigues I came here because I wanted to study and play tennis. The company that was managing me helped me to find Seward.

I traveled from Brasilia to Miami, from Miami to Chicago, and from Chicago to Wichita. My travel was around 22 hours, and I arrived at Brasilia airport two hours before my flight.

For my first time in the United States, I had a very good impression. An organized country and people were willing to help me.

While traveling, I sent messages when I found wi-fi connection.

I miss my parents and I miss

Ondrej Nice

Rapotin, Czech Republic Before coming at Seward, I was looking for a full scholarship in some universities, but I did not pass the required exams to get there. I think that I got lucky that my coach recruited me at Seward.

I did not want to miss my first flight, so I was at the airport 3 hours before.

My first impression in the United States was amazing. I felt like being in another world. I was happy.

I was so excited to come to the United States, but when I realized

Brasilia, Brazil

the Brazilian barbecue. I also had a good time in Brazil when I went to night clubs with my friends. I miss that.

Here at Seward, I like the deserts but I do not like the breakfasts.

The dress code is the same in Brazil as in the United States.

I think that people talk really fast when they speak English.

It is difficult to understand.

For the moment, English is still difficult to speak, and I do not feel comfortable.

When Americans hear me speaking English, they say that they like my accent.

At Seward, I really do like the people.

that I will be gone for 10 months out of my country, I was a little bit sad and nervous.

I miss my parents, my language, my friends and the nature.

I miss traditional food and soups as well as spending time with my family for Christmas.

In Liberal, I like the people because they are so friendly and happy all the time. The food is so different than in my country. It is unhealthy food.

In U.S.A, you can wear whatever you want and nobody cares how you look.

English was hard to speak, and I was nervous to talk to teachers, but I’m getting better every day.

In my opinion, Seward is really good for international students.

I’m happy here.

Travel

10

March 2016

Chris Guyer seeks shelter while waiting for rain showers to pass at Picketwire Canyon in Colorado. Guyer notes that weather played a big role in his adventure through Picketwire.

Courtesy Photo

Seward Instructor treks Continental trail Kathleen Alonso Crusader Staff

Most think of spring break as relaxation time where you can catch up on your very needed sleep and Netflix binge all your favorite shows, there are others though, that like to go on thrill seeking adventures.

If you Google the Continental Divide National Scenic trail, you will most likely come a cross a map of giant line crossing between the United States. Starting at the Canadian border and ending at the outskirts of Mexico, it is largely visited 3100 mile long hiking trail. Known as one of the largest conservation efforts in history, it is very well known hiking trail. Although popular, not many will hike longer than a few miles on it due to rigid terrain and wild life.

Avid hiker a Seward County Community College/Area Technical School employee, Chris Guyer, plans to take on 82 miles of the Continental Divide Trail this spring break. Guyer plans on hiking the southern part of the trail, from the southern terminus (the south end at the border of Mexico and New Mexico) to Lordsburg, New Mexico.

His game plan is to park his car in Lordsburg, find a shuttle to the southern terminus, and hike back. If everything goes as planned, Guyer will finish his hike within five days and enjoy a nights rest at Econo Lodge.

Guyer has hiked a couple of thousand miles over the years. With a majority of his experience in day hiking, this will definitely be something new for him. He likes to spend time in the national grasslands west of Liberal,

such as the Cimarron National Grasslands near Elkhart Reese Whitherspoon’s character hiked on in the movie and the Comanche National Grasslands across the border “Wild”. “The Continental Divide Trail is longer and hardin southeast Colorado, “at first glance, grasslands don’t er than ether of those, and I feel like I’m going to be part seem as awe-inspiring as mountains or caves or oceans, of that exclusive club. Although, admittedly, I’m hiking but if you spend enough time here, look close, and open the least difficult part of the 3100 miles. But still, it’s a your mind, there are sights to behold,” Guyer said. good feeling,” Guyer said.

Guyer chose this particular Guyer plans to follow Dory’s sage adarea to hike due to weather convice throughout this whole adventure: ditions. Since most of the trail “Just keep swimming, just keep swim“Look close, and open ming”. He has been physically preparconsists of mountain scenery, it is still snow-covered around this ing for this long journey by doing long time of year. “This is going to be hikes on the weekends. Recently, he has your mind, there are hard enough without snow!” been hiking between 10 and 20 miles Guyer exclaimed. The southern each day on weekends, which he estisights to area, which is lowest in altitude, mates will be about how much he will is the warmer and snowless area be hiking each day on his trip. As for behold.” of the trail. emotional preparation, he says he has A big hiking experience in a rebeen smiling on the outside while re-Chris Guyer mote are caught Chris Guyers atminding himself that it is going to be tention to the Continental Divide grueling. He admits this is going to be Trail. He shares he wanted a big the first time he hikes these long dishiking experience in a remote area. His excitement also tances for that many days carrying the weight of a backspills over to the fact there will not be any phone signal pack. “I fully expect the trail to bring me to my knees at and the possibility of not seeing anyone throughout those times,” Guyer said. “But as awful as that might make it few days. “I like that its just going to be me and the Chi- sound, that’s part of the thrill and the joy! That’s what’s huahuan Desert, with all the glorious beauty and potential going to make memories. That’s what I’m going to tell hazards that come with it. I also like that its part of some- stories about later. And what gives me the gritty determithing much bigger,” Guyer said. nation to see it happen. I’m taking things to the limit, and Other well-known trails are the Appalachian Trail and hopefully I’ll come back with an unforgettable experithe Pacific Coast Trail. The Pacific Coast Trail is the trail ence. Or, as others might, hopefully I’ll just come back.”

Travel

March 2016

Hiking 101 R

FO DUMMIES

Hiking can be a pain in the butt.

(Literally) But with this easy guide, you should be able to hike any trail like a champ!

11

Research. Reasearch REASEARCH. Do research on the trail and the potential hazardz you might encounter. Especially on foreign grounds.

Monitor Weather.

Keep a close eye on the weather and bring the necassary clothing

Have First Aid Training.

Self explanatory.

Have Enough Food. And Water!!!

Always keep extra just in case you get lost or encounter delays.

Know How To start a FIRE. Something we dont appreciate as much when we are not indoors is heat. Knowing how to start a fire can be the difference between a chewy raw fish (yuck) and a nice crunchy dinner.

The 2014 spring Camping/Backpacking class taking a quick stop before heading to Hellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Half Acre, an area with numerous rock formations. this year the trip will be to the Oklahoma grasslands and the New M e x i c o mountains.

Courtesy Photo

Backpacking class learns in the wild Tania Valenzuela Crusader Staff

. .

Guyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hiking trail Starting at the south end border of Mexico and ending in Lordsburg, New Mexico.

Despite the usual classroom setting of desks and a white board, not all Seward County Community College/Area Technical School classes take place in a traditional classroom. One class that breaks the idea of a traditional class is the Camping/Backpacking class taught by Biology instructor, Don Hayes. This class provides students the oppurtunity to try something new and interesting.

"My hope is that students will develop a deep respect for nature; that they enjoy the outdoor experience and continue spending time in a wilderness environment in order to pass their knowledge on to others," Hayes said.

This class is all about experience and this spring semester students will travel and camp in Picture Canyon, Colorado and travel to the mountains of New Mexico to experience the life of a camper/backpacker. The destinations of these

trips are different depending on the semester. In the fall, students were able to go camping in a pristine grassland environment in Oklahoma. Along with this, they also traveled to South Padre Island, Texas for a four day camping trip on the Gulf of Mexico.

According to Hayes, the students in this class are taught about the Biomes and Ecosystems of the world while focusing on plants, animals and interactions that relate to the habitats they visit during their trips. Outdoor skills and Ecofriendly habits are taught as well with focus on respect and preservation of the environment.

"As a Biology major, the fragility of our environment is very important to me," Hayes said, "I am thankful that I can share my understand of biological ecosystems with students who may not have the opportunity to learn such important topics."

For students interested, the course will be offered during the first eight weeks of the semester.

Hayes plans to travel to the Oklahoma grasslands as well as the New Mexico mountains.

"This is the perfect time to see the fall foliage turning colors on the Aspens," he said.

This is a class that has grown in popularity. The camping and backpacking class gets booked and closes early because so many students are interested in it.

"Don't hesitate! Many students take course more than once just for the opportunity to experience the outdoors over and over,"Hayes said.

For more information students can contact Donald Hayes and look on the Science and Math Division Facebook page for pictures of past trips.

"Join the fun on our trips," Hayes said, "experiencing is the only way for the novice to gain tips and for the veteran to share their knowledge as a camper/backpacker."

Travel

12

March 2016

I enjoyed traveling with the team all year, we really bond with our pregame meals. My favorite memory with the team was our Plainview win.

My most memorable trip of the season was coming back from beating south plains. That was one of the best experiences I have had so far in my basketball career.

Callie Millsap Pathways president

Pathways Club

Matthew Lewis Niem Stevenson

Activities What are some of the activities Pathways has planned for this Spring?

For the spring semester in general we’re planning on promoting the Love Your Melon campaign.

It’s a website that promotes research for children with cancer and what they do is they sell T-shirts, beanies, coffee mugs and all kind of stuff.

We have just become a campus that promotes that and if we get enough sales under our name we’ll get the chance to go and deliver beanies to kids with cancer within our community and surrounding areas.

The way you do that is you log onto the Love Your Melon website and right before you check out theres a drop down menu and you select our name. We don’t get any money for it but we’re accredited that a sale went through our community.

We are also continuing our recycling from different parts of the building.

For more information on the Love Your Melon campaign visit the website: loveyourmelon.com

I feel like when you travel with your team you become like a family.

Going on trips and having them by your side is a cool experience. You have them by your side for good and bad when you don’t know what is going to happen. Not knowing if you are going to win or lose but we go out there together and battle for the win.

One of my favorite trips was when we went to Texas. On the way there we shared some funny stories with Coach Z they were fun. We bonded through that and after that we had a good tournament.

James Byrd

Jeromie Simmons

The most memorable trip was our trip to south plains and we beat them. They were number 4 in the country at the time and no one thought we would win. They were way bigger than us and we beat them at the buzzer. All the trips were memorable. I have not been this close to a group of guys in a while.

Saints on the road

Marcus Mathieu

Saints reminiscent about their team travels The Saints basketball team traveled various places around the midwest this school year. They faced many different opponents and made many memories. These are some of the memories that these Saints found most memorable.

LISTEN TO “THE SPORTS GUYS” Gregory J. Bird H ome to Lib eral H igh School & SC C C Sports ST D A RN “IT ’S T HE BE EV ER. ” W O SH S RT SP O

Travel

March 2016

13

Well for sure the trip and stay at the region tournament this year and the trip to Arizona because it took us so long to get there because of the bad weather, and I got the flu the first morning I was there.

And, on the trip to and from Arizona, it was funny listening to coach Wynn try to guess music artist of the songs that were playing on the radio.

Yvette Vasquez Sigma Chi Chi president

Leslie Speer

Sigma Chi Chi

It was fun being able to go to beautiful Arizona during Christmas break. I had never been there and it was cool. I'll also never forget how it legitimately took all day to get there because of the snow. Lots of laughing and hanging out with the girls just made it fun.

Lady Saints recap roadtrips

Club Erin Richardson

The Lady Saints basketball team traveled many places over the course of the school year. The furthest trip being to Phoenix, Ariz. Here they shared some of their favorite memories from the traveling season.

Axelle Bernard

Your home loan professionals

What are some of the activities Sigma Chi Chi has planned for this Spring?

Sigma Chi Chi is preparing for their trip to the Larnard State Hospital.

The Arizona trip was very memorable. I got to see my parents and my brother. I had fun with the girls; we had great chemistry at that trip.

The trip to Arizona sticks out a lot considering the weather on the way up was so bad; I wasn’t even sure if we were going to get to play. Then when we got to Phoenix our hotels were so nice!

Activities

Sca cantlin’s ntlin’s Shania Liggett

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S

Mayra Sanchez Enactus member

Enactus

Activities What are some of the activities Enactus has planned for this Spring?

Enactus is getting ready for regionals in Washington D.C. We are going to practice the presentation we are presenting in Washington D.C.

Travel

14

March 2016

Travel cheaper by planning ahead Daisy Torres Editor Have you ever traveled on a budget? Of course you have, you’re a college student. Since we have to pay for our education we don’t really have much money to spare on expensive trips.

I know that I have to plan a weekend trip for months in advance, and I always look for a cheap way to travel.

Hopefully these tips will make your adventure a little less stressful and more affordable.

These tips will guide you on a budget friendly spending journey.

1

GROUPS

Ruben Pando

3

Travel in groups, it’s the best way to reduce the cost of a trip. Split gas and hotel room, usually a hotel room with 2 beds can fit at least 4 people.

PTK co-president

PTK Club Activities

TRAVEL

Take a two-days & two-nights trip to Kansas City for four people: 2 beds hotel room: $163.82 (hotels.com) Round-trip gas price: $70.04 (fueleconomy.gov) Soccer game prices per person: $38.96 (sportingkc.com)

What are some of the activities PTK has planned for this Spring?

Total cost per person: $97.43

Take a 2 day trip to Oklahoma City for 3 people: Room:

We're helping Liberal Springs, they're doing a St. Patrick's Day celebration, we're going to help out with their district hunt and I think we're doing a dance for the residents.

We're doing a Quiz Bowl here on campus for students that want to participate in teams of five. It's supposed to be fun, there will be prizes for the top three or the top team, we having decided yet.

There's the Bowl for Kids’ Sake. The organization has come through PTK to get their information out and so basically you just make a team of six, each person fund raises $165 all the proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters. There’s another up-and-coming Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser.

$0 (couchsurfing.com)

2

Round-trip gas price: $45.06 (fueleconomy.gov) Concert ticket prices per

HOTEL

You can even save your money by not staying at a hotel, check out airbnb.com to see rentable houses all around the world.

Another website to check if you want to save hotel money is couchsurfing.com where people offer to host you free of charge unless discussed with your host. It is also a great way to meet new people around the globe.

person: $17.25 (ticketstorm.com)

Total cost per person: $20.75

Right now would be the best time to take a road trip. Gas prices are still relatively cheap and there are tools to find the cheapest gas prices like gasbuddy.com Consider applying for rewards cards from Dillons, Hutch’s or Toot ‘n Totum the cards can save you a couple of cents from per gallon.

If you’re not an applying type of person, charging Walmart gift cards can save you 3 cents a gallon at their gas stations.

4

SURF THE WEB

Check websites to get cheap flight packages or hotel deals. Here are some websites to check out: travelocity.com hotels.com priceline.com expedia.com These websites offer deals ranging from flights, to hotel bookings and even flight, hotel and car packages.

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Travel

March 2016

“Depending on where I go, I sleep on my car the first night. I take my own snacks and coupons for restaurants.

I also try to find vendors that give you discount tickets for events or places like amusement parks and museums”

15

Breanna Francis

Jevyn Dean Voss SGA president

Ana Moreno “Find a car that can go more miles for less gas.

Also carpooling and estimating the cost then dividing thr how much it is between everyone”

SGA Club “Try to go as a group to split some of the cost of the trip. If you know you’re going to make a big trip try to save money before the trip, try to do some research to limit your spending and if you’re eating out at a restaurant maybe just do it for one night instead of every night of the trip.”

For all SCCC Up-to-date coverage on News, Sports, & Events

• Look in the Leader & Times • Look us up at www.leaderandtimes.com • Download our Leader & Times App

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Your daily news & views for 126 years

Leslie Salais

Activities What are some of the activities SGA has planned for this Spring?

At this point SGA is not hosting any events but we do have events we are participating and helping.

Student Life has scheduled Funny Ts March 10, you can go an make a funny TShirt.

On april 5 we’re having Totally Tattoos which is a spray paint tattoo parlror.

On april 16 Phi Theta Kappa is hosting Bowl for Kids sake and SGA will have a team for that. Each person should raise $165. We have a team goal of $990 and all of the money goes to helping Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Along with that we still have our $1 bowling night every monday night from 8 to 11 pm at Billy’s Ayr Lanes.

Travel

16

Reading to adventure

By Robert M. Pirsig

Wild By Cheryl Strayed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle

15 hrs 58 mins

12 hrs 37 mins

Estimated novel reading times

Music for the road

Trzaska to launch weekly blog

By Arthur Courbis Crusader staff

Justin Bieber’s single “Sorry” is an up beat song that will get everyone in the car dancing.

On the Road By Jack Kerouac

7 hrs 9 mins

Into the Wild By Jon

Krakauer

13 hrs 6 mins

March 2016

Maroon 5’s latest hits Sugar, Animals and Maps are all songs that are have energetic beats that will make the journey much more bearable.

Rihanna’s single “Work from her new album “Anti” quickly became popular. It will probably show up on your travel playlist more than once.

The 1975’s second album “I like the way you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” released Feb. 26th made it to number one on Blillboard’s Top 200 chart.

Formation by Beyonce is definely a new anthem. The song is powerful and catchy.

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Dr. Ken Trzaska plans to create a blog starting March 18 where he will talk to the community about his thoughts, ideas, and travels.

Trzaska’s blog will be at www.scccnews.com.

“For the blog, the idea is to provide everyone with a weekly update on what’s happening in my life related to my work, my travels,” Trzaska, the president of Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, said.

The idea for the blog came from Rachel Coleman, who is the marketing director at Seward.

“It gives everyone, both students and folks that work at the college, and community members, opportunity to stay connected with what’s happening with the work that I’m doing for the college.”

“Plus it will be fun, and I’ll always have something unique, something that people can look forward to,” he said.

Trzaska hopes that people will soon expect, every Friday afternoon, for “Dr. T” to post an update that’s short and to the point but interesting, and keeps them connected to the campus.

And then every Friday and every week, he will try to make something different. “Maybe sometimes video, sometimes writing, maybe sometimes a picture with some thoughts, like, ‘I was driving in, you know, Chicago and saw this.’”

He plans to keep the blog unique. “Something that keeps the connection so I’m not sort of up here, but I’m, like, with everybody else, working hard, trying to stay positive and do good things,” Trzaska said.

“It’s part of my style, wanting to create an interconnectedness between all of us, so then having the blog is another tool to use to help promote me, my style, and my personal wish that everybody is working together and connected.”

He said if he can post a message every week that brings people together, it’s another way to promote an inclusive team with the community, on campus, with students, and college employees.

“Check out the president’s blog and things happening with the direction of the institution, travels that I might be making that are relevant to the college’s future,” Trzaska said. “It’ll be good.”