ink

4 top things to do

5 stories of trips abroad

9 how to be a good roommate

10 cabaniss happiness

11 insight on student internships

15 students create art gallery

16 free stuff in richmond

we're there. you should be, too.

17 VCU basketball's hopeful

18 VCU + VCE

20 tips on healthy college eating habits

21 Does the fan have too many coffee shops?

we didn't think so.

22 VCU continues to go green

23 transportation information

Why wait to figure

things out the hard way?

Freshman, transfer

and even those who

have been here for over

five years, use this

guide to help make

the most of your time

in Richmond on and

off campus. Numbers

reflect top voted places

based on randomly

surveyed students.

24 view from the top

25 love reworked vintage?

then you'll love breconstructed.

27 DIY

photos + bulletin boards

know who the best AFO teachers are

what do they say about you?

GOODFOO

My story of traveling abroad begins with this almost unreachable goal, a lot of luck, and taking advantage of nearly every opportunity I could get. I was always interested in world history, cultures, and understanding the ways people interact, so studying abroad seemed natural for me. However, I had no idea how I was going to go about this or even where I wanted to go. Last October, I crossed my fingers and applied to two national scholarships because it was my best bet in traveling. I had several things going for me, but nothing is ever guaranteed. got accepted to an exchange program in Hong Kong, and I definitely hyped it up that I was leaving, but in the back of my mind I honestly wasn't too sure. The scholarship committees did not give any dates about when applicants would be notified, so for a few weeks I was a nervous mess. I'll never forget, on December 8.2008 I checked my email and it was a congratulations letter from the Gilman Scholarship Committee. Receiving that suddenly sealed the deal for me to go to Asia.

I hate to sound like one of those cheesy study abroad pamphlets, but studying abroad in Hong Kong was easily one of the best experiences of my life. Hong Kong is a completely different place from anywhere else. Imagine going to the commons during lunchtime and multiplying that business by a hundred. In Hong Kong, there are seas of people everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE. I almost forgot what it was like to have personal space and

the freedom to wave my arms around in public. Since moving out of Johnson Hall freshman year, I hadn't lived in a dorm and I didn't miss it at all. I lived in a triple in Johnson and I got screwed again, and lived in a triple all male dorm. However, I got really lucky with my roommates, and they become my best friends there. Edmond was really into photography and he had a girlfriend whom he had given a special ring tone, and would talk to her softly on the phone until the early hours of the day. Leo was really into "The Little Prince", girls from France, and the movie Big Fish. Leo was also a great cook, and when the only vegetarian dish (rice, tofu and mushrooms) that was sold at my schools canteen became old, one can only understand why we became such good friends.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself and say "I spent five complete months in Asia." While I was there I took advantage of everything I could do. As a kid from the suburbs of Richmond, there are some places that I never ever thought I would go or experience; and there I was standing on the beaches of Thailand, or walking across the Great Wall of China. Traveling to Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Shanghai, and Beijing was what I enjoyed the most during my time in Asia. Seeing how people lived and how welcoming people can be was surprising.

My greatest gain was learning how awesome people can be. I was treated like a celebrity and people did not hesitate to say hello, take pictures with me, or attempt to talk to me in the little bit of broken English that they knew. Also, while I was away, people from back home gave me so much support. I had never been away so this was my first experience of homesickness and feeling lost.

I gained a greater appreciation for the city I came from: the crappy sidewalks by the commons, riding my bike in the fan, and all the people that I love. My friend from Berlin would always say "sometimes you have to surprise others and yourself," and I totally agree.

We live at about a mile a minute. From gas cards and GPS, to Google phones and late night drive thru, this country is built on determined nine-to-fivers chasing that certain manifestation of merit; be it a Gucci suit, a 40-foot yacht or a green lot of cookie-cutter, suburban paradise. But what if you rather work to live instead of living to work?

What if there were a place where your corner store opened at 10 a.m., where 3-hour-long-dinners didn't, start until 9 p.m. and where entire city blocks shut down for local soccer matches and scores of summer soirffles?

Welcome to Barcelona, capital of Catalonia. Teetering on the edge of an identity crisis (ask a Catalan if Catalonia is part of Spain), this Mediterranean Mecca of 1.7 million people holds incredible allure for about 14 million tourists each year.

Two weeks prior to a summer study program at the Institute for the Education of Students Abroad, I found myself with VCU alum Josh Epperson wandering Las Ramblas wondering why this culture had so seductively struck me with its, breezy, hip swagger and late lunches.

Epperson soon felt strange as an American getting used to the laissez-faire attitude toward everyday life.

In the States everything is very rule oriented. The ruleoriented way of Spain was not so much there. People were always (illegally) hopping the metro and basically doing whatever they wanted as long as it didn't affect anyone.

Barcelona's, ultra modern transit system, art nouveau architecture and wealth of diversity also bring life to a city that some residents would defiantly claim is not truly Spanish. Take the historic Raval neighborhood, teeming with cultures, languages and tiendas (stores) from all over the world, the most cosmopolitan of all the city, neighborhoods is not only home to Pakistanis and Indians alike, but also to two VCU alums who simply wanted something different. "It was quite random," says international relations alum Matthijs Maruanaya of what got him to Barcelona. Maruanaya, who ended up at VCU on a soccer scholarship from the Netherlands four years ago, considered moving to New York City with his girlfriend Audra Wrisley upon graduation. Wrisley, a photography and film alum, said the idea of living in

Barcelona began as a joke. "We should just move to Spain," Wrisley said in a text message one rainy day."lf it's Spain, it's got to be Barcelona," Maruanaya responded.

Six months later with visas in hand, they were ready to, well, stand around for awhile. "All that relaxed stuff sounds really cool but once you're in a store, you just want to buy something and leave. Sometimes it doesn't always happen," Maruanaya says. Their first day in the city trying to buy cell phones from air as the plazas, bars and police forces prepared for what was certain to be nothing short of glorious mayhem.

After being down by one goal, Barfflf3a came back, lighting up Atletic de Bilbao by netting four and securing its first piece of silverware in two seasons.

As we listened to fireworks go off from Plaffl8a de Catalunya, meters away, tens of thousands of Barcelonans began to flock to the mythical fountain, Las Canaletas, as per tradition. We were feeling or catching a brick in the head. With beer in hand and plugs in ears, I leisurely took shelter on a bench behind a news kiosk on Las Ramblas with three other locals who looked like they had done this before. Safe from the flying glass, we watched dozens of officers march past us, riot shields drawn and flanked by armored police wagons. Rubber bullets, noise grenades and batons dispatched the vagrants and contributed to hundreds of injuries according to news reports the

two clerks didn't exactly fit the notion of speedy customer service they were accustomed to.

"They just start talking about what they're going to do this weekend," Maruanaya said. "There was no one else to help us:'

Your native Barcelonan tends to generally chill out and not fret about haste, red tape or dispatch. So you adapt. "I had to keep telling myself, I'm in Spain, this is the way it goes here," Maruanaya said.

Never mind that I am a die-hard Fe Barcelona (Barfflf3a to its fans) soccer supporter or that I can't see myself ending up in a city where palm trees don't grow naturally, Catalan culture grabbed me much like it did Maruanaya and Wrisley. I also had a hunch I'd be witnessing history, for Barfflf3a was on the verge of accomplishing a feat foreign to any Spanish team winning the treble, three trophies from the top domestic league, the league cup and the top continental tournament in one season.

On my second night, FC Barcelona, was set to compete in the Copa del Rey final. The electricity was in the the heartbeat of the city, skipping with every chant and flare.

It took me under an hour to get separated from my VCU alums and I found myself huddling with the masses, cheering like a zealous Catalan, channeling the fervor of generations of antiFrancoist sentiment. "Madrid! Cabron! Salud al campeon!" we chanted for hours. Around 2:30 a.m. the police hit the streets to clear Las Ramblas and Plaffl8a de Catalunya of what was already an unruly mob, who tossed bicycles, fireworks and glass bottles around like limbs in a feeding frenzy. I decided it would be safer to take cover than risk being beaten by riot police following morning.

Twelve days, one trophy and one riot later saw the largest riot I'd ever witnessed after the 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the Champions League final. My temporary town was now home to the undisputed greatest club team in Europe. It was as surreal as a Salvador Dali masterpiece.

As I continued exploring the city, taking in the artwork and scenery while enduring the less-than-demanding coursework of my program, several students began to express their desires to return, either for another summer or to try their luck at living in the city on a more permanent basis. Familiar American faces kept popping up randomly and in showing them the ropes, I felt more comfortable with the idea of becoming a denizen. I met amazing tourists and ex-pats who were as enamored as I was and who all contributed to my exposure to the international community minus the airfare.

In ten weeks I had lived a satisfying, though incomplete experience; riots, the seedy underbelly. local dives, beautiful people and the dayto-day routine.

Currently stateside, I feel like I've witnessed the beginning and end of my life. How and when to return, is the question.

Though unemployment is at an estimated 18%, Barcelona has more under-the-table options that any city in Europe. And while some Catalans may seem cold, some simply take longer to warm up to you. "That all depends on who you meet," Maruanaya said. Most things said about Barcelona are true, it's beautiful, it's relaxed, nobody's in a rush. People spend their money on the right things, I think.

Making connections is not difficult, even if your Castilian is less-than-stellar. If you can take a chance, get off the computer, apply for that program or pack your bags; and go try life at a different tempo.

When choosing a university after high school, I deliberately sought out those who offered study abroad and exchange programs. VCU has a lot to offer in both areas. Since freshman year, I had been waiting for the time when I would be eligible to travel abroad with the university. My chance came this past spring semester. I decided to do an exchange with the University of Westminster located in London, England. It was a six month program where not only was I able to take classes that transferred directly towards my major, fashion merchandising, but also an internship which was included in the program.

I arrived in London a few days before orientation was scheduled to get myself situated and allow enough time to figure out and locate where I would need to be going. It was a very hectic few days to say the least. You are completely on your own; it is all up to you to get yourself to your destination. London relies heavily on public transportation to travel throughout the city. Yes, there are taxis, but they are very expensive to take due to the congestion charges London inflicts on motor vehicles. Pretty much everyone uses the underground system or takes a bus. Due to my several pieces luggage, I opted to take a bus, thinking it would be much easier than maneuvering the tube (underground). After a long journey, in a direction I assumed was correct, I arrived at my hotel safe and sound and had the whole day to find my new campus and investigate the neighborhood.

The University of Westminster consists of four campuses; Regent, Marylebone, Cavendish and Harrow. Harrow, being the school of the arts, was the one \ was placed at. Harrow is also the only one of the four campuses that is not located directly in Central London. It was a 20 minute commute from Harrow into Central London, one which I made daily. I enjoyed having a quiet place to come home to, outside of the main areas with the convenience of it still being easy to get back and forth.

I actually had the opportunity to do two internships and get experience within two different fields within the fashion industry. My fi rst internship with was a Public Relations Firm located in Central London called Mary Lally Associates. With this PR firm I did a BBe photo shoot, the SSC is the American equivalent to CNN, and had the best time! It was so amazing to be a part of something like that. We spent all day dressing and fitting the models and moving to and from locations. The people were so nice and interested in me and my aspirations within the industry, it was really motivating. Unfortunately, while I was interning, their company went under due to the tough times of the economy. They had lost several clients and so , moved on, due to there being a lack of work for me to do. My second internship was with the buying department of the UK retailer KRISP. They are a fashion laggard retailer. They sell fashion that is in the late stages of the culmination stage of the fashion cycle. Yet, they still do as much research as innovators do. loved working for them; I was able to create color stories and merchandising plans for their 33 stores throughout the country and did background research for the fall which involved theme boards. I was also their fit model for all the samples that came in daily. Some days all I would do is tryon clothes. As a girl and a fashion major I never in my wildest dreams thought that would get tiring, but after three hours, trust me you are worn out! I learned a great deal from them though. It was nice to see all the theory I had studied put to real use and witness how the process really works. All in all my internship experiences were very beneficial and I strongly intend to take what I have learned with me in the future. I made tons of new friends while I as in London, a lot of which were exchange students, just like me. This was because at the orientation we all met one another and bonded since we were all in the same situation. Two of my best friends were Canadians from Toronto. I also made friends with lots of Australians, Europeans from everywhere

DON'T assume that because you share a space that you also share everything in it. Ask before using things that clearly belongs to your roommate. DON'T expect for you and your roommate to become best friends. You don't have to be good friends to be good roommates. DON'T expect for everyone to live the way that you are accustom to. No two households are run exactly the same. Be open to new ideas. DON'T date your roommate's friends, if you can help it. DON'T throw parties without at the least

DO clean up after yourself and your guest DO be mindful of your roommate's schedule. DO make rules and regulations when you first move in, this will avoid some of the issues that may come up later. DO keep lights, music to a minimum if your roommate is sleeping. DO strive to make necessary payments on time to avoid money conflicts. DO speak up If you are unhappy with something going on in your household, it will avoid or get rid of unwanted tension.

Getting assigned to Cabaniss Hall does not mean instant banishment from VCU and the city of Richmond's social scenes. When I first transferred from a tiny liberal arts school to VCU for the top-notch art and creative writing programs, Monroe Park's campus housing was completely full. Not especially familiar with the area and without the time to research apartments, I knew that renting would be a bad idea. So I signed up for campus housing with the naive hope that I would get a spot in GRC, where I stayed for the Summer Governor's Japanese Language Academy during high school. At first I was disappointed to live so far from all of the other office in a tank (black and gold for emphasis) and demanding a room change. Maybe then they would listen. But the pacifist in me defeated the thespian. If I wanted to be happy and make the best out of my first year at VCU, logic would have to trump my penchant for drama and I made sure that's what happened. After looking at maps, reading Richmond tourist books, and simply talking to people, I forced myself to explore everything Cabaniss had to offer. By November, I began to love Cabaniss; as would have surprised my early transfer year self, I even missed it when May finally rolled in and I had to move out.

undergraduate dorms, and the prospect of boarding the bus Here's how you, too, can make the most out everyday hardly thrilled me. I considered storming the housing of living in "Canabiss Hall"

I know. Especially during Welcome Week and the first few days Every Cabaniss student complains about living ten minutes away of class, it's annoying that most of your freshman and first-year from campus during the first month, That's not only normal, it also transfer friends live right on campus. They can easily walk back opens up the chance for new friendships. At the very least, even to their dorms right after class while you have to wait for the bus, if you have nothing else significant in common, you can whine endure the bus ride, walk from the MCV bus stop to your dorm together. If the friendship is meant to last, you'll still crave each building, and then take the elevator. Even if you're not a Math other's company once you have all come to accept Cabaniss. Then major, you look at their two minutes versus your twenty, and realize Cabaniss pride blossoms. When I was there, Cabaniss always had that you're spending a lot of time in transit. There are, however, activities going on. Sometimes there were organized philosophical! advantages to the extra travel. intellectual discussions on controversial topics; other times there

Waiting for the bus truly becomes a social activity. You can were movies nights or ice cream parties; often RAs rallied together chat w ith other Cabaniss students: chances are you'll meet MCV their hall to bake cookies together. students, VCU faculty, and anyone else who simply has to get from Point A to Point B, too. If you're shy or a total misanthrope, view your waiting time as an opportunity to read, catch up on homework, 4 Make MeV your home listen to music, or think without I felt somewhat amiss amongst all of the MCV graduate students a professor's voice blaring in the background. The bus ride itself is when I first lived in Cabaniss but I soon became accustomed to it, an excellent time to cram study or just close your eyes after a especially when I found out the pluses of living on the MCV campus. long day. The hospital is nearby and that translates into access to late-night

If the forced gel time that the bus ride provides doesn't convince Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, A lpine Bagel, and Subway--a privilege the you, consider this: since you take the bus everyday, you have a average, car-less freshman living on Monroe campus can't enjoy. You better understanding of the how the GRTC Transit System works. can also eaSily attend MCV's guest lectures, which should be useful I Find out how to take the bus anywhere around the city at no cost if you plan to go on to medical school or are simply interested in the to you (Hint go to the VCU Parking and Transportation Office on life sciences. There are MCV social events you can check out every Broad Street for a bus pass and map.) once in a while, too

It's a mistake not to visit Shockoe Bottom and Churchill when you Cabaniss is the number one undergraduate study hall at VCU. live in Richmond, but it's even more unforgivable for you not to Why? Because it's quiet enough for you to actually study, read, check it out when you live downtown. Cabaniss might not be in and write your papers. Granted, you may get stuck w ith the heart of the Fan, but it's close to plenty of fun and fascinating rambunctious neighbors but the hall as a whole is relatively silent. sites that people on Monroe Campus don't necessarily see. The only places it normally gets loud are the Community Rooms Suggestions? The Edgar Allen Poe Museum (find out about their and the basement--but, then again, those rooms are supposed to monthly "Unhappy Hour"), Havana '59, The National. White House serve recreational purposes. of the Confederacy, Fall-Out, the Virginia Holocaust Museum, Market at Tobacco Row, Libby Hill Park, River City Diner, 17th Street Farmers' Market, Valentine Richmond History Center, Papa Ningo, John Marshall House Museum, Taylors Hill Park. .. to start. Google any of these places and you'll gather the what-whenwhere-how much that you need.