REPRESENT
Wow. I owe all of you some major catch-up. Life abroad is indescribable; and even keeping up with social media can be difficult when visiting a new country every week! I want to drop you all a quick “Happy Easter” note, though, and briefly tell you about the best Easter Sunday I have ever had.
I spent my spring break abroad traveling across Italy: From Venice to Florence to Sorrento to Pompei to Capri to Praiano to Rome and finally to Vatican City for Easter. Yes, the Vatican for Easter Mass with the new pope, “Papa Francisco” as we call him here in Spain!
Oh, and did I mention that I had a seat in the fourth row!? The mass and experience was overwhelmingly beautiful. I cannot even begin to describe the peace, pride and joy I felt along with the other 250,000 faithful present that morning in St. Peter’s Square.
Ah, and I almost forgot to mention that I got published by the Vatican News! I brought my American flag to the square and waved it with pride to represent my home country - a tradition of the crowd at the Vatican. One of the Vatican journalists snapped a quick photo of me and the news service posted it on Facebook and on “The Pope App.”
What an amazing, amazing Easter morning! I look forward to sharing more of my spring break with you soon.
Be Global. Be Proud. Be A Billiken.
Experience the world with Saint Louis University.
- Luke -
AMDG
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva was the first weekend-away trip that I took this semester while studying abroad in Madrid.
I traveled with Kyle and Eamon (two of my housemates in Madrid) and my best friend, Elizabeth. We stayed in a quaint motel in France since it was remarkably cheaper than staying in Geneva. Geneva is on the border of Switzerland and France, so the commute to/from the motel was an easy bus ride and then a quick taxi. Every day we walked freely around the streets of Geneva enjoying the beautiful architecture, gazing at the crystal clear lake, and consuming endless Swiss chocolate. I actually bought a Swiss watch (Swatch brand) since Switzerland has been known for centuries for being the best watch makers. Check out the picture above, it’s pretty sweet!
We took a boat tour of Lake Geneva, which allowed us to stand in awe beneath the snowy Alps. A tour of CERN and the United Nations were also on the agenda. We stopped by a little French parish Sunday morning that was having a breakfast celebration, and I got to taste Nutella for the first time ever… inside a crepe!
Geneva has so much history and beauty, and I could talk of my travels there for much longer, but I’ll share with you just one more short story before concluding this blog post:
On Sunday afternoon we went to the church that John Calvin preached in, and climbed up to the bell towers to capture the best shot of Lake Geneva in the whole city. Once we came down, we sat outside on the church’s front steps. It started to rain very lightly. A young man in his twenties then started playing his guitar and singing across the little plaza, having just opened his case for passerbys to leave tips. For no reason, Elizabeth and I both stood up and went to the middle of the plaza, stretched out our hands and just looked up at the sky together. We stood there for a couple minutes, then danced in the rain just a little before running over to the guitar player to thank him with a couple Euros. I don’t know why, but that moment was so profoundly peaceful and perfect. Even though I’d done a dozen amazing, unique and fun things in Geneva that weekend, that one moment will stick out above all others for the rest of my life.
To be able to stand in the rain, arms outstretched in the middle of Europe, and to feel that rush of peace and consolation… that is what adventure feels like!
BE Adventurous. BE Global. BE a Billiken!
AMDG
- Luke -
BE Global. BE Here.
As much as I miss the beautiful St. Louis campus, life abroad in Europe is wonderful and a constant adventure! I’ve been here just over four weeks, and have already visited four countries… and have every weekend from now through April booked with travel plans. So far I’ve been to Segovia, Toledo and El Escorial in Spain; and I have taken two weekend trips to Geneva (Switzerland/France) and Brussels (Belgium). The photo I posted above is of my mini-Billiken beneath the Triumphal Arch (Arc De Triomphe) in Brussel’s most famous park, Cinquantenaire.
Expect more pictures of the traveling Billiken featured in many more countries that I’ll be visiting this semester, including, but not limited to: Scotland, Morocco, Portugal, The Canary Islands, Italy, Vatican City, Ireland and plenty more of Spain!
Being a Global Billiken couldn’t get any better than this!
AMDG
- Luke -
REAL Madrid Football!
What better way to experience Madrid than attend a REAL football game? That’s exactly what was going through my mind my second day abroad when I learned Madrid would be playing the Celta team at home. My new housemate Kyle and I grabbed a metro to the stadium and scalped some tickets for the experience many only dream of or try to relive on Fifa Xbox games. Madrid — led by Messi, of course — dominated the “soccer” game with a 4-0 victory. I got to see my first professional red card and cheer on one of the best teams in the world. As a SLU-Madrid student, I can officially say that Real Madrid is “my team.” How cool is that!?
The Tweet you see above is from my friend and fellow SLU classmate Ari. She was watching the game on her TV back at SLU-St. Louis and was obviously quite envious I got to actually be there! Sometimes I don’t realize just how lucky and blessed I am to have such an experience like this through Saint Louis University, and it takes my friends back home to remind me!
Oh, and something interesting that I learned: fans don’t “boo,” they whistle really, really loudly when there is a “bad” call by the referee or poor sportsmanship. So every time the crowd didn’t like what was happening, people would start whistling and chanting. Very different than my beloved Cardinals baseball games back in St. Louis! Talk about an international culture experience, right? Hah! Don’t worry, I’ve had many, many more social and cultural experiences while abroad in Madrid over the past four weeks. Stay tuned to hear about some more of them!
AMDG
- Luke -
Hola! And greetings from Madrid, Spain!
Alright, so I owe you all some major catching-up. As of today I have been in Madrid, Spain, for four weeks! Time has flown by, and I apologize for it being so long since my last post.
As some of you may know, Saint Louis University has its own campus in Madrid. This semester I am taking classes through SLU while living in a host family and enjoying everything Europe has to offer me. I’m taking world history, philosophy and photography courses, as well as a class on volcanoes that will include a trip to Canary Islands in March!
This picture above was taken in Segovia, Spain, which is (so far) my favorite little town in this beautiful country. I’m with my best friend over here, Elizabeth, whom I met on just my second day abroad. Many more friends have been made since; some from SLU, some from other American universities, and many from Spain and other countries of world.
I cannot wait to share this semester with y’all! I promise to fill you in on all the highlights that have happened so far. Keep up-to-date with my blog page to see pictures and preview some of the amazing experiences YOU could have as a Billiken abroad with Saint Louis University!
AMDG
- Luke -
The Engineering Learning Community Commercial
Check out the YouTube video above (or follow this link) to view the 30-second commercial that I made this past semester to promote the engineering learning community at SLU.
One of my assignments in the video production (CMM 293) course that I took required me to create a commercial about something at SLU. I chose the engineering learning community for several reasons…
(1) I lived there as a freshman! That’s right: Even though I am a communication major, I found myself living on the engineering learning community, located on the third floor of Griesedieck and Clemens. Several of my best friends from the floor still live there this year and serve as learning community mentors, hanging out and helping the freshman engineers.
(2) Learning communities ROCK! If you’re not familiar with what a learning community (or LC) is at SLU, you can read more about them here. In short, it’s a designated floor that students of a certain/common major or interest live together on in one of the residence halls. There are LCs for anything from engineering, to honors, to “diversity and unity.” Students can work on homework and study for tests together, walk to some classes as a group, and immediately connect with others in their same field of study or interest. As a product of a learning community during my freshman year, I cannot talk these up enough!
(3) It was the perfect opportunity to show my old floormates what a communication major can do! My friends on the engineering learning community last year and I would always engage in playful banter about me being the only “comm” major on the floor. They would tell engineering and advanced math/programming jokes that would go way over my head, and I would constantly show them up with any essay writing, media, public speaking and salesmanship. With such a playful rivalry between majors, I knew that using my skills and talents with media to promote the floor I love was all too perfect.
After a day of shooting and a couple weeks of editing, I introduced the LC commercial to the floor. They LOVE it. The staff member that oversees all the learning communities has actually requested permission to use the commercial on the website for prospective students to view.
The commercial may seem just a wee bit cheesy, but the engineering learning community really is, well… home!
Be a Billiken. Be and Engineer. Be a Communication Major!
AMDG
![“Happy Birthday, Dad!” & Being a St. Louisian at SLU
Once you leave for college, you’ll quickly realize [if you had not yet already] how much you value and love your family. Although Saint Louis University is my new home - and I could not be happier nor feel more at home there - no college campus or graduating class can replace your siblings, parents and house in which you grew up.
Many of my friends at SLU travel across the country (and even the world!) to come to this wonderful University. But I, being a native of St. Louis, must only drive 25 minutes to reach this beautiful campus. I will admit that as a senior in high school I was very wary of going to college in my home city. I convinced myself that I needed to “get away” and “experience the world.” However, once I finally opened my mind and heart to what Saint Louis University had to offer me as a student, friend, Billiken and man for others, no distance (or lack thereof) could keep me away.
And upon move-in as a freshman, I immediately realized the numerous benefits of being a St. Louisian at SLU. I could go on and on about how phenomenal this city is! Y’all already know that the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals have my heart! St. Louis has everything a city can offer a college student: professional sports, night life, a dozen concert venues, the nation’s largest city park and one of the best zoos in the world, free museums, theaters and sightseeing, and a climate that allows you to enjoy every season… sometimes even in the same week!
But the greatest benefit of being a St. Louisian at SLU has been the time I’ve been able to spend with my family. The picture above is of my brother, sister and I celebrating my dad’s birthday at the beginning of December. Had I been in any other city, I would have missed this birthday, and so many more. I don’t live at my St. Louis south county house, nor do I visit too often, but at least once I month I have the opportunity to return home for a good meal or to hang out with one of my siblings around the city. Whereas some of my friends must wait months before being with their their loved ones, I can constantly look forward to our next meeting… Something I didn’t think I would want as a senior in high school, but now something, as a college student, I could not cherish more.
My family respects that I am “away” at college, and they are never overbearing, clingy or expecting that I spend a lot of time of them. While on campus, they consider me “six hours away,” at least until it is time to meet up, have something dropped off at school, hitch a ride for a haircut, or spend an afternoon with some quite-missed relatives — then I am once again only 25 minutes away!
So if you are a senior in a St. Louis high school and uncertain about SLU being so close to home, do not let that deter you at all. I thought that being close to home was going to be a “sacrifice” of going to SLU, but I now know it is truly a benefit. Give SLU the shot it absolutely deserves of being your University.
Be a Billiken. Be Here.
AMDG](http://24.media.tumblr.com/04ba8127b8f1eee37b59e2df20803e91/tumblr_mexknveuCL1r4uomfo1_1280.jpg)
“Happy Birthday, Dad!” & Being a St. Louisian at SLU
Once you leave for college, you’ll quickly realize [if you had not yet already] how much you value and love your family. Although Saint Louis University is my new home - and I could not be happier nor feel more at home there - no college campus or graduating class can replace your siblings, parents and house in which you grew up.
Many of my friends at SLU travel across the country (and even the world!) to come to this wonderful University. But I, being a native of St. Louis, must only drive 25 minutes to reach this beautiful campus. I will admit that as a senior in high school I was very wary of going to college in my home city. I convinced myself that I needed to “get away” and “experience the world.” However, once I finally opened my mind and heart to what Saint Louis University had to offer me as a student, friend, Billiken and man for others, no distance (or lack thereof) could keep me away.
And upon move-in as a freshman, I immediately realized the numerous benefits of being a St. Louisian at SLU. I could go on and on about how phenomenal this city is! Y’all already know that the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals have my heart! St. Louis has everything a city can offer a college student: professional sports, night life, a dozen concert venues, the nation’s largest city park and one of the best zoos in the world, free museums, theaters and sightseeing, and a climate that allows you to enjoy every season… sometimes even in the same week!
But the greatest benefit of being a St. Louisian at SLU has been the time I’ve been able to spend with my family. The picture above is of my brother, sister and I celebrating my dad’s birthday at the beginning of December. Had I been in any other city, I would have missed this birthday, and so many more. I don’t live at my St. Louis south county house, nor do I visit too often, but at least once I month I have the opportunity to return home for a good meal or to hang out with one of my siblings around the city. Whereas some of my friends must wait months before being with their their loved ones, I can constantly look forward to our next meeting… Something I didn’t think I would want as a senior in high school, but now something, as a college student, I could not cherish more.
My family respects that I am “away” at college, and they are never overbearing, clingy or expecting that I spend a lot of time of them. While on campus, they consider me “six hours away,” at least until it is time to meet up, have something dropped off at school, hitch a ride for a haircut, or spend an afternoon with some quite-missed relatives — then I am once again only 25 minutes away!
So if you are a senior in a St. Louis high school and uncertain about SLU being so close to home, do not let that deter you at all. I thought that being close to home was going to be a “sacrifice” of going to SLU, but I now know it is truly a benefit. Give SLU the shot it absolutely deserves of being your University.
Be a Billiken. Be Here.
AMDG
The Blue Santa
Saint Louis University has many Christmas traditions. From the annual Christmas tree lighting in Samuel Cupples House, to the garland, wreathes and holiday lights strung around campus, to the red bows hung on every lamp post, SLU is decorated and ready for the season! Minus the 70 degree weather we had this weekend (which was amazing and most welcome!) it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here!
As I was walking through the Busch Student Center this morning I came across a very special visitor - The Blue Santa! After snagging a picture with him, I knew I had to share with y’all what exactly The Blue Santa is and why he’s such a big deal here at SLU.
Every December The Blue Santa goes to all the faculty and staff offices at Saint Louis University and collects new, donated toys. This coming Thursday, local inner-city kids who may come from more impoverished families will be invited to SLU for a big Christmas party, where Santa will give them each one of the donated toys. This year The Blue Santa has already collected 2,000 toys! All toys leftover from the big St. Nick’s Day party on Thursday will then be donated to local shelters, schools and non-profits that also assist families during the holiday season.
In case you were wondering what it means to be a “Jesuit” institution… This is one of the best examples as to how our mission here at SLU is lived out daily. Generosity.
Saint Louis University. Always in the spirit of giving.
AMDG
Wild Country!
My friends and I went line dancing for my friend Michelle’s 20th birthday. Only about fifteen minutes from SLU is the greatest (and only) line dancing club in the St. Louis area. Known as “Wild Country,” the venue welcomes professionals and amateurs from near and far to come and dance the night away. Cowboy boots, jeans, flannel and huge belt buckles flood the dance floor as the die-hard line dancers and nervous wanna-be’s (like me!) move in unison to the country songs.
I’m not completely sure why, but college students LOVE Wild Country. It’s definitely more “country” than anyone in St. Louis could even pretend to be, but, nonetheless, students from SLU and all other area colleges flock to Wild Country for good times and good tunes.
College students get into Wild Country for FREE on Wednesdays! They play the regular country songs and everyone gets a good fixin’ of line dancing, but then they also hit the lights and turn on the lasers, playing contemporary pop music. While there this past week for Michelle’s birthday, I kicked my boots and clapped my hands to Zac Brown Band, I slow danced to Kenny Chesney, I “Wobbled,” and I even learned how to do the Gangnam Style dance!
Wild Country is perfect for a mid-week break, and a great place to meet other students that go to other colleges in St. Louis. It’s where we can all come together to socialize, dance, look stylish and/or foolish with our “country git-up,” and to leave our stress at the door. I can’t wait to go back soon!
Wild Country offers free line dancing lessons on Thursday evenings… I may need to hit one or two of those up before I return to the Wednesday night dance floor again to try and impress the prettiest “cowgirls” around! ;)
- Luke -
AMDG
Jesuits are awesome. For those of you who may not be familiar with what a Jesuit “is,” the short answer is that they are members of a specific order of priests within the Catholic Church. SLU is a “Catholic Jesuit” university, which means that it was/is founded upon the principles of the Jesuits. Although only about 50% of the student body identifies themselves as Catholic, everybody on this campus loves a good Jesuit because, let’s face it, they’re down to earth and hilarious!
The Jesuits at SLU teach many classes - from history to sciences to theology - and are very active through various student organizations. They are most noticeable, however, at the 9:00 PM student mass on Sundays.
Yesterday, one of my favorite Jesuits - Fr. Collins - gave the homily at mass. The Jesuit priests always make it a point to make their messages specifically applicable for college students, and Fr. Collin’s words of wisdom last night were no exception. He spoke of “letting go” of the things in life that we try to grasp for our own glory, but ultimately take us prisoner and bring us down. In his homily, to better illustrate his message, he told a story about a monkey catcher. Apparently if you place a banana or some sort of nut or fruit in a cage with a hole that is just big enough for a monkey to get its arm through, you’ll catch a monkey.
Here’s how: The monkey reaches his hand into the cage/hole and grabs onto the fruit; however, the monkey’s clenched fist is too big to get out of the hole… meaning his arm is now stuck unless he lets go of the fruit and thus ceases clenching his fist. But monkeys are stubborn and don’t want to do that. So they will stand there and tug on the cage for hours - even days - and become “self-trapped” until the monkey catcher who placed the trap arrives.
The analogy was great, but Fr. Collins ended it in a very quirky way. Sort of spontaneously and with a HUGE smile on his face he goes, “… and then you have a dead monkey.” And the way he said it, so matter-of-factly and all, just made the church erupt in laughter.
I know, it’s a weird thing to blog about… but it just reminded me of how much I love being at such a lively and outgoing school. And, of course, how much I love a good Jesuit!
Come check out our 9PM Sunday night mass for yourself!
- Luke -
AMDG
