Memorable Spring Break (Part I)

I’m beyond relieved that spring is finally among us! I was getting pretty tired of this winter and the ever-present snow that accumulated on every sidewalk. Since I traveled down to Florida for Spring Break this past week, it was nice coming back to Holland with hardly any snow on the ground. I thought I …

72 Hours in Florence, Italy

What better way to celebrate the end of midterms than by spending a weekend in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance? Just being able to go on a plane and an hour later be in a different country is still so surreal to me. Visiting Italy has been on my radar since I have been …

Spring Break – From Florida to New Jersey

Hello Hope College! I hope you all had a VERY relaxing Spring Break and are ready to start back on classes…or at least start back on catching up with your friends! I’m not sure if you’ve read my blogs before, but if you haven’t I have a twin sister, Meg, and she and I are best …

I Found You at 5,000 Feet

We explored the world from a mile high. We free climbed giant rocks, learned to love like Jesus, met a professional fighter, obtained a free t-shirt, slept on air mattresses that didn’t inflate, took partially cold showers, and ate a lot of PB&J. We swept sidewalks, talked a lot, and learned the truth behind what …

Kultura Polska 2 / Polish Culture 2

Hey friends! I have another post about Polish culture. If you haven’t read my first blog post on Polish culture, make sure to check it out! As I have been traveling throughout Poland, there are other differences I have noticed in culture. As a “Westerner,” it’s fun to note these differences. It’s crazy how many differences …

Kultura Polska / Polish Culture

For those of you who don’t know, I am currently spending my #SB2K15 in Poland. For many of you whose last names end in a -ski, I am in your homeland! In the two days I’ve been in Poland, there have been very evident cultural differences in comparison to the United States. I once lived …

Why Drinking a Slushie in 7 Degree Weather Was Good For My Ego

I was drinking a slushie today in the parking lot of Holland State Park. I know that sounds kind of weird, but it’s actually an experience I take part in on a semi-regular basis. It was a 20 oz ICEE, to be exact, and it was one sale for only $1 from the Meijer convenient …

One of my Favorite Words

First, listen to this: Wow….So this weekend, I and members of the Hope College Gospel Choir and the Black Student Union had an amazing opportunity to go to a Black Sacred Music Symposium. This was an event hosted at the University of Illinois that focused on what Black Sacred Music was as well as putting that …

Mid-Winter Break Excursions

This week sure flew by! I’ve spent more time in Chicago this week than Michigan, mainly because it was our mid-winter break. Instead of sitting around Holland while all of my friends went home, I decided to make my own plans with friends and family. This was probably one of the most jam-packed weekends I’ve …

There’s Always Something New

I lived in the same small town in Illinois for my entire life until I came to Hope. I recognize so many faces out of the 7,500 that inhabit my community, I know every nook and cranny of the shops and restaurants on Main Street, I’ve memorized the churches and the best running routes (or …