by Benjamin Hobson, senior in Civil Engineering **this is not Benjamin’s first ASCE travel blog! Read about the 2023 trip here
Hello again and possibly for the last time! My name is Benjamin Hobson. I am a Senior in Civil Engineering and have been a member of the Honors Program for all 4 of my years at ISU. I am graduating in May, so this may be my last time to share a little bit about my time at ISU. This is my second year as Outreach Chair for the American Society of Civil Engineers, and I want to tell you a little about our Spring Break Service Trip this year. This year we went to Denver, Colorado to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver. Six ASCE members went on the trip, and we all had a great time.
March 10th We left on Sunday to begin the 10.5-hour drive to Denver. If you have never driven across the midwest, I will tell you it can be boring. The drive is a whole lot of open fields and flat terrain. We passed the time, however, by playing driving games and listening to music. We arrived in Denver to the apartment provided by Habitat for the week.
March 11th We did not have to work on Monday, so we decided to go hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. None of us had hiked in the mountains before. We were all excited to see what views we could get with the elevation changes. We hiked up to Cub Lake because some of the other trails were snowed out. This was worth it for the view of the mountains and how far out we could see. Here is a picture of us at Cub Lake and a view from the trail.
March 12th On Tuesday, we had an orientation session to learn more about the mission of Habitat Metro Denver. This Habitat affiliate is one of the largest in the nation and they have multiple different types of work they do, including new constructions, renovations, and more. We got the opportunity to work in the ReStore on Tuesday afternoon, which is Habitat’s version of a Home Depot combined with a Goodwill. This was a unique experience to see how Habitat provides affordable home supplies to the community. We ended up organizing shelves, building furniture and helping to load and unload goods from people’s cars. Here is a picture of me (middle) and two others assembling a table:
March 13th On Wednesday, we went out to the building site for a new construction, the Mountain View Homes. We ended up working on one of the ten homes that will be built on the site. All the homes will be duplexes, so we were working on one half to install insulation on the second floor. Here you can see me (right) helping to measure and cut some pieces of insulation for the wall:
March 14th On Thursday, we were scheduled to work on the building site again, but Denver got around 8 inches of snow. We ended up getting a snow day because of this and spent most of the day in the apartment. We worked on homework and rested. In the afternoon, we decided to go to the Denver aquarium. There were many fish to see, and the aquarium also had a pair of tigers.
March 15th On Friday, we were back at the construction site. The snow and cold weather prevented us from doing much outside, so we spent the day painting. We ended up getting to work with people from the engineering/architect firm that designed the houses.
March 16th We left Denver to return to Ames. The drive back to Ames seemed to go faster than the drive out. We were sad to be leaving after the fun week in Denver, but everyone had a good time.
Thanks for reading. I am glad that I came to ISU and I am thankful for the opportunities I have had through both the Honors Program and the Civil Engineering Department. I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities ISU can provide and to give back to your community. You will never know what fun things you will experience by getting out of your comfort zone. It was a pleasure to share with you some of the experiences I have had at ISU.
by Fern (ME) and Ed (Aero E) Teixeira Want to read about previous Teixeira Brazilian winter break travel? See the 2022 saga here (it involved being stranded in the middle of the trip) and the inaugural 2021 trip (the first time we were exposed to lbs of Hot Tamales). Aline (’23, Chem E) has since gr
Hey! Welcome back to the annual honors blog where we recap our trip to Brazil. This year without Aline (mostly)!
She chose to go to Caltech (booo) in California for her PhD in Chemical Engineering! So she left from California and arrived in Brazil a bit earlier than we did, spending a good chunk of time with our cousin Luisa.
That means that I, Fernando, am the captain of the journey this year (meaning I have to write the blog 😦 )! The bright side is we can make jokes about Aline all we want 🙂 .
So alone, Ed and I sought out on our adventure of long airplane rides, and even longer layovers (my mom loves seeing us suffer I guess). Oh and we almost got robbed (more on that later)!
The Beginning
After I finished my 6 finals (5 really because I got to skip one) and 4 on Ed’s side, we left Ames on the Saturday evening after finals week. On the drive back to Johnston (45 min ish) we saw a fully flipped truck (“it was pretty cool” -Ed).
We got to Johnston and spent a good amount of time with our dog Nina; she missed us a lot. Nina has anxiety around being left behind (she really hates the kennel) so we keep her at home with a dog sitter where she knows we’ll come back. We also got some things ready for the journey (including the snacks…)
This year, I sadly did not go with the famous 2.4 lb bag of hot tamales (which I eat all of btw), BECAUSE THEY REDUCED THE SIZE!!! It’s the same price but 1.8 lbs now (so mad 😡)*. I chose to go with an almost 2 lb bag of sweetish fish and some Dot’s pretzels cheese curds (kinda taste like Cheetos but bougier). Ed went with massive bags of Hi-chew and Ritz baked sour cream and onion.
*Thinking about it I might be the only person who noticed or cared about the size reduction of the massive bag of hot tamales. I digress.
US Travel
We had our friend Nic take us to the airport again this year. We dispatched a suitcase, went through security and got to our gate in around 20 min.** Pro tip: download a million episodes of tv shows before you arrive in a new country so you have something to do when you don’t have cellular reception.
**My parents wanted us to arrive 3 hours before the boarding time but we, being smart, gave ourselves 1.5 hrs and still had to wait an hour at our gate.
The first plane ride was nothing special. I slept through all of it. We did get the extra leg room from sitting on the “help in case of emergency” seats. It’s a trade-off for non-reclining seats though.
Now in Georgia, we had a 6 HOUR layover between the first flight and the second (“just in case” -my parents). We spent the time downloading some movies and tv shows for the plane ride and because we don’t have cellular data in Brazil and Wi-Fi is sometimes scarce. I also FaceTimed my girlfriend, someone not well known in the honors program, Laura Branch (the UA). Ed spent most of his time watching shows.
While waiting we tried to eat at Panda Express but IT WAS CLOSED 😩. We had to settle for Arby’s and for a very inexpensive $16, I got 2 burgers (airport food is so expensive). We arrived at our gate only 2 hours before the flight flew off (I know, cutting it close) and boarded.
The plane ride was estimated for 9 hours.*** When we were all boarded the captain came on the speaker to speak of a problem with the communications system on the aircraft and it would be 10-15 min to get it fixed before we could depart.
20 min later he came back on saying that the problem was fixed but they couldn’t detach the plane from the gate due to a malfunction, another 15 min…
Half an hour later the pilot comes on the intercom and says we’re good to leave (YAY!), BUT the inflight personal tvs we’re not going to turn on for a “few minutes” because of a reboot need. Suffice it to say, I didn’t get to use the tv the whole flight. JK, I did, but slept most of the flight instead (dramamine is awesome).
***Nerd Fern here: the ride is usually from 11-13 hours back and is longer because of the air currents around the globe. When going to Brazil we ride northwest to southeast. Around the globe there are jet streams that flow from west to east. Using the jet streams significantly speeds up our travel going to Brazil compared to coming back!
BRAZIL!!!
Hi it’s the better twin, Eduardo, writing now:
Once we arrived in São Paulo, Brazil, the wave of heat was immediately apparent. It was nice to finally be back though and we got off the plane and made it to customs. Fernando, like the mechanical engineer that he is, chose to wait in the longer customs line and have us talk to a customs officer instead of going through the shorter, and less complicated, electronic passport line, which I told him multiple times we shouldn’t do**** (shows how Aeros are so much better).
****It’s funny that Ed says that because we actually waited far less than the other lines. Yes, the electronic line is usually slower, but this line was shorter, I was just smart :).
After that, we picked up our bag off the conveyor belt (nearly the last one btw) and went to dispatch it onto the next plane. Fernando protested but I said we should do it immediately. Right after we dispatched our bag, the line to dispatch the bag grew tenfold, and I again stood corrected.
Right after, we changed our clothes in the bathroom and nearly lost the daily New York Times Connections (we both got it but it was tough). We then sat down by a little cafe and ordered insanely overpriced food. While we feasted on our Brazilian delights (including Pão de queijo and Coxinha), a man came up to our table.
Almost Getting Robbed
The man seemed shady yet he began to beg us for money. He did this by giving us a sob story and telling us that he needed to “buy milk for his kids” and that the “milk cost 170 reais.” For people who don’t understand currency in Brazil, 1 dollar is roughly 5 reais, yet food in Brazil is INSANELY CHEAP (an all you can eat pizzaria here is 40 reais = 8 dollars). So when he said that milk cost 170 reais or roughly THIRTY-FOUR DOLLARS, we knew he was lying. Fernando (the smarter twin) during the man’s entire sob story kept looking at our bags while I told the guy we didn’t have cash or PIX (basically Brazilian Venmo). This is a known 2 person scam that has one person snag the bags while the other distracts the travelers with some story. After he noticed we were being careful he walked very quickly away.
We thankfully didn’t lose any of our bags and we proceeded to wait another 4 hours for departure, getting many strange looks from people when we talked in English until we boarded the flight to Porto Alegre (the capital of Rio Grande do Sul).
The flight was pretty smooth and nothing much happened. I slept for most of the flight and I think Fern was awake for all of it (I was). After the flight landed we noticed just how much hotter it was (like 35 degrees Celsius (close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit)).
Reunited
After landing in Porto Alegre, we grabbed our bags. When we left baggage reclaim we found a really dumb face waiting for us: my short, really definitely stupid (I second this), most definitely NOT a Caltech doctorate, sister Aline. We greeted each other and sat down for a little while to get our bearings. When a bit had passed, we got in a taxi and went to the bus station. Our taxi driver was an older gentleman who cheered for Grêmio (the rival team of the team we cheered for: Internacional), so we engaged in nothing more than small talk.
After he dropped us off at the bus stop, we chose a restaurant inside the bus stop with air conditioning and sat down.***** My sister ordered a “X Bacon” (similar to a Bauru, a very common Brazilian sandwich, but with bacon) and I had an “A La Minuta” which is basically a full meal with Beef, Egg, Rice Beans, a small salad, and French fries. Fern had feijoada (which is basically the same thing as I had but the beans are fancier).
*****A lot of Brazilian houses and locations are open concept, meaning there is a lot of open space, natural light, and windows. BUT air conditioning is by room! This is great because the house is a lot cooler without having to spend a lot of money on air conditioning, however: when it’s blazing hot or really cold, we can start having problems.
We also ended up ordering a Guaraná which is a very common Brazilian soft drink based on the fruit with the same name (it’s really good and you can get some at Cafe Baudelaire). I also ordered a Pastel for myself, which is kind of like a fried empanada. We also bought some Picolés which are technically called “Deli bars” in America but are more common in Brazil than traditional Ice cream is.
After waiting an hour and a half, our bus arrived and we boarded it. It was actually really nice and we ended up pretty comfortable. I finished catching up to Invincible, which I had downloaded previously, and Aline sat there and did Old Victorian Wife things like read and look out of the bus window all sad and mysterious like. Fern sat there and watched the newest Summoning Salt video (IFYKYK) and we ended up having a pretty safe, but bumpy ride to our childhood home town Passo Fundo.
When we got there, our parents were waiting for us outside the bus, and we greeted them.
After nearly two full days of travel and countless hours of videos, sitting, waiting, and Fern snap chatting/video calling Laura, the trip was over and we were finally home.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Teixeiras! If you made it this far, I commend you. Thanks for reading :), we’ll see y’all on campus!
by Jazmin Terrell, senior in Integrated Studio Arts
My name is Jazmin Terrell and when I am not upstairs working at Jischke you can find me locked away in the College of Design. This is my fourth year in design, and I am nearing the end of my career at Iowa State. The legacy I plan to leave behind is the University Print Society (UPS for short). This is my second year running the club and I am going all out for it! New posters? Check! More members? Check! Carrying around large signs across campus and almost blowing away? Check!
Our members getting inky and making prints!
Well, what exactly is UPS? We are ISU’s printmaking club, a student organization dedicated to sharing, educating, and promoting the art of print! Printmaking is a form of art that gets interpreted through some mechanical process. Some examples include relief, screen-printing, cyanotype, t-shirt designs, and much more. The greatest legacy of our club is the Annual Postcard Exchange. This yearly exchange has been happening for decades and we have a loyal subscriber of artists. Anyone can participate in the club and submit postcards, many of which are Iowa State students. We receive postcards from around 200 artists around the world. They send in 13 identical cards; we take one and then give 12 random ones back based on the designs they entered—trying to cater to their personalities. Our theme for this year’s exchange is “Anarchy, mutual destruction, and rules we should break” — which means there will be an influx of black, red, and dark humor. We also hold an exhibit each year to showcase the cards. They are put on silent auction to raise money for the club and this year the exhibit will be held in the Memorial Union for the first time!
The cards I made for the exchange this year: a play on chicken beak pentagrams.
Like every other club, the University Print Society was hit pretty hard by the pandemic. It has been a challenge recruiting students and dealing with leadership changes. My goal for this year was to market hard, get more people interested in the leadership of the club, and above all else make wonderful prints! I could not do all of this work alone without my fellow Honors ambassador and partner, Aidan. He is the treasurer of the organization and deals with most of the nitty gritty financial problems that we are always getting involved with. He also makes fun prints such as “aloe you vera much” valentines’ cards and anarchist knife wielding geese.
About half of our club consists of Honors students and those of various majors outside the College of Design. One of the wonderful things about this club is our commitment to accessible art, including self-funding all of the supplies so students pay nothing. The only costs involved are buying stamps to mail the postcards!
If you cannot tell, I am passionate about printmaking and the club in general! This art form is near and dear to my heart and a foundation for my career after graduating. Look out for more information about the club, I would love for everyone to try it at least once! 🙂
Some relief printmaking!
**Get involved with UPS by reaching out to Jazmin at jterrell at iastate.edu, by clicking here, or by checking out their Instagram.
We shared some FHP students’ reflections on their first weeks as Cyclone here. Our seniors have feelings too! What is it like for them to start the end of their Cyclone careers in 2023:
I can tell this was the most bittersweet last first day ever. I remember my freshman year: I had a 7:45 a.m. class that I was struggling to get through, and this year it was like muscle memory to get to my 7:00 a.m. shift. My freshman year schedule was packed with at least 2-3 classes daily, but my schedule now is more work than classes. It’s odd to look back to freshman year and see how much I’ve grown as an individual. Even though I’ve spent almost 5 years of my life at Iowa State, I am ready to graduate and step into the next phase of my life! More than the campus, I will miss the friends I’ve made here at Iowa State. I’ve made many connections I hope to keep in touch with for the rest of my life. I’ve made friends with people of all age groups and majors, from freshmen to people I work with in ISU Dining. These last 5 years at Iowa State have been amazing and will be missed! Sruthi Vijendran, Industrial Design
My “last first day” didn’t feel significant to me- going through the syllabus is easy! I wasn’t organized for the semester yet, but I also knew I had a couple more days before things started moving. As a freshman, I spent my first week with the marching band! I was so nervous about auditioning that I wasn’t worried about classes. I still feel so lucky that I had that chance to get outside and connect with other people since many on-campus events were suspended for the year. My first week has been consistent- band camp doesn’t change much. Interestingly, the beginnings of my first and last fall semesters had strange weather- the derecho and unusually high temperatures. The first class I attended in person (masked and distanced) was CL ST 275, The Ancient City, which I enjoyed so much that I added a minor in Classical Studies! I’ll graduate in the spring, so I don’t think feeling nearly finished will hit me until after spring break. I know I’ll miss hearing the campanile, watching the swans harass the geese on Lake Laverne, and the energy of Cyclones on game day. Julie Lennon, Global Resource Systems and Environmental Science
It feels like just yesterday I was a middle schooler watching Hulu and every five minutes I’d see that one ISU commercial with the people whispering “Enjoy your adventure at Iowa State. Visit chooseyouradventure.net”. You know exactly the one I’m talking about. Who would’ve guessed, all these years later, I’m entering the last year of an adventure I’ve enjoyed so much. They say college goes by in the blink of an eye, and it’s crazy just how true that statement is. One moment I’m a freshman who thinks they know their exact college plan hanging out with my friends in HON 121. And the next a global pandemic happens. And then I’m LEADING HON 121, next I’m starting some internships, and now I’m almost done?? The last few years have been anything but predictable, but they’ve been nothing but fulfilling. While I consider myself to be a very different person than I was all those years ago, I think both freshman Cameron and senior Cameron can be identified by a common attribute – being a dreamer. I still can’t believe how many dreams I was lucky enough to achieve at ISU. I scored my 3 dream internships while at Iowa State – first working for NASA, then for Disney, and now the one I thought would never happen: NBCUniversal! I dreamed of being in the audience of Saturday Night Live once before I died – I’ve done it 12 times now! I dreamed of screaming the bridge to Cruel Summer while in the same room as Taylor Swift (Lover dropped the first week of my first semester) – I’ve gotten to 5 times during my ISU adventure! I dreamed of seeing “Rogers: The Musical” if Marvel ever made it a real thing. Not only did I get to see it – I got to work on it! Flash forward to now, I have so many more dreams I cannot wait to go accomplish, and I know the skills I’ve gained at ISU will help me achieve them! This final last day can be summarized by lots of reflection, a feeling of gratefulness for everything Iowa State has given me, and an excitement to keep growing throughout these last semesters. *whispers* Enjoy your adventure at Iowa State. Visit chooseyouradventure.net. Cameron Bristow, Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship
My last first day of school barely registered as such – going to classes just feels like a normal part of your life you’re returning to. Early on, college felt like a distant place where you become educated, hang out with new friends, and then return to your real life back home (MN for me). Now ISU is such a central part of my life, and one I enjoy. I certainly do miss times in the dorms, and working through calc as a freshman community, but I wouldn’t choose to return to that stage of life. I feel much more confident in my academic abilities and life skills since coming here years ago, and I really hope younger students have those same great experiences, shenanigans and all. Iowa will hold a special place in my heart, but Minnesota will always be home. Noah Rudi, Construction Engineering
Monday (8/21) was my last first day at Iowa State and it was bittersweet to say the least. My first week at Iowa State was in the Fall of 2020, similar to my last week we experienced some climate issues just days after moving in. During my freshman year it was the derecho, while my senior year was obviously the heatwave and the power plant catching on fire. Despite the challenges this caused it is interesting to think that I started and ended college in such an exciting and memorable manner. Looking back at my freshman year I remember my first in-person class as French 101. There were about 15 people in the class, and we all had to sit very far apart in assigned seats because of Covid! Heading into my senior year all 7 of my classes are in-person and we are free to sit wherever we please! Every semester at ISU has been a little different from the last as we moved away from the pandemic and began a new normal. When reflecting about my time here at Iowa State, I think I am going to miss the community the most. Everyone is so welcoming, and I love that. My freshman year I had just moved to Iowa, I had no friends and Covid did not help; but people went out of their way to help me find my classes, eat lunch with me, and ensure my experience was worthwhile. Now I get to be that person for other students, showing them to classes, helping them figure out the Cyride, and being a resource when needed. It is crazy to think my time at ISU is almost over; so much has changed from my first year to now, and when looking back at these photos that is pretty evident! Arilyn Tegtmeier-Oatman, Global Resource Systems
I started my last week at ISU feeling pretty weirded out. I have never felt so calm and relaxed during the first week of class, and it feels like I am living on a different planet than how I felt at the start of my college experience. It has been bittersweet thinking about everything that has changed. I miss my friends I no longer talk to, I am incredibly grateful for the ones who have stayed close, and I am excited to meet more people before this chapter has closed in my life. Sometimes, I mourn the missed moments: clubs not attended, classes not taken, etc. Yet, this week has also been a moment for me to realize I still have a whole year to try new things and have the joy of embarrassing myself in new situations — such as wandering around State Gym by myself and being perceived in public (this would have made me faint three years ago). My life right now seems chock-full of “pinch me” moments and living life to the fullest. My start to college was filled with fear and anxiety with the pandemic and not really understanding who I was. Now, my brain and my body feel connected to each other in a way that I can only describe as adulthood? College really is a balancing act, and for the first time ever, I feel happily in control. I cannot wait to see how this last year leads me to my life after, but I hope I continue to grow as much as I have these last few years. Jazmin Terrell, Integrated Studio Arts
My last two years at Iowa State have been ones to remember… with many highs and lows, late nights and early mornings, and even some screaming into pillows. My third and final year at Iowa State will surely be more of the same with some spontaneity and memory making as we go. The longer I have been at Iowa State (be it the beginning of my third year), the more comfortable I feel during the first week of classes and the more dependent I have become on caffeine. I have my routine…look through the syllabi Sunday night and add all important test and project dates to my desk calendar, eat breakfast every day before class, no matter how early I have to wake up to do so (I find it embarrassing when I am the one in class with a grumbling stomach at 10:30 am.), and get to class a few minutes early if possible to make sure I don’t get lost in a new building on campus (yes, there are buildings I have class in that I have yet to enter thus far). I no longer get first day jitters or care what I wear for the first day of classes…does that mean I’ve been at ISU for too long, albeit only the beginning of my third year? My last first day of classes was definitely one to remember… walking to class in 76% humidity and a real-feel temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:00 in the morning, my shirt drenched with back sweat after a short five-minute walk from Freddy Court to Kildee Hall. It was by far the hottest first day of classes that I can remember. The afternoon brought a mental breakdown when I couldn’t find the assignment due dates for one class and a syllabus for another in my Canvas…freshmen, some things never change: as much as you think you understand Canvas, there will always be a class with a different layout and a Canvas page that might as well be written in a foreign language. And the night brought my list of assignments for the week and me feeling slightly better about myself and my classes for the semester, as well as my comfortable, warm bed. My goals for the year are as follows: attend as many football, basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, and hockey events as possible; study hard, but not too hard; be spontaneous and make memories with my friends and roommates, stay involved in clubs and activities, and don’t drink too (too) much caffeine. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my time at Iowa State, and Roll Clones! Madi Palmer, Animal Science
I went back before writing this and reread what I wrote for my blog post on my very first day of college and WOW have things changed and evolved! Life is getting back to the vision I had as a child of what college would look like and is exceeding my wildest dreams every day. I have grown so much, personally developed, learned about my passions, been involved in things that bring me true joy, and met some of the best people in the world. I remember how in awe I was freshman year, and I still am in awe as a senior. The awe has shifted from “I am so happy to be here – it doesn’t feel real” to “I am so happy to have so many amazing experiences here- look how far I have come and how much I have grown”. In my first day of freshman year blog post I wrote about how I woke up for 6:30am cycling class, which I certainly am not awake for now as a senior. Instead, I am now the one teaching the fitness classes and had my very first Aqua Agility class on the first day of classes! That cycling class freshman year was taught by my friend Moira (’21), who was the President of a female-focused fitness club called CHAARG that I joined my freshman year. Last year as a junior and now into my senior year, I have now filled her shoes and become President of that group, which freshman me would be in awe of. My first class of college was MUSIC 102, and it was online. My first class of senior year was KIN 372, which is one of my few remaining Kinesiology classes, and I have no more online classes. Freshman year me thought she was going to go into Physical Therapy, but during my time here at ISU have realized that is not my passion. I added my minor in Event Management during my Junior Year, and now want to combine my love of exercise and inclusive health with my passion and skills in event management. Freshman year, I wrote about how I loved my dorm – Friley Hall. I ended up living in Friley for 3 years and have become a STAR (Iowa State Tour Guide), where I get to talk about my experience living on campus to hundreds of potential students every semester. My first day of college freshman year, I took pictures with my friends Julia and Josie (’24), and now I get to see them every single day as they are my roommates (and took senior year first day pictures too!). We all met on move-in day freshman year, and I feel so lucky that I have had a constant throughout the many other changes during our time in college. I am going to miss living with them, being overly involved with as much as I can, having so many of my best friends close to me, and just existing on campus/in Ames. This truly is the happiest place on Earth (outside of Disney), and my time has passed in the blink of an eye. I couldn’t have thought of a better adventure, and I am excited for this last year to savor it all. Betsy Marlow, Kinesiology & Health
We asked First-Year Honors Program students to tell us a little about their first official week as Iowa State students…here’s what they said! Search around on the blog for what past freshman classes (during pandemic lows, high temps, and “normal” years) have said.
My first week was fantastic. I loved meeting my H2 section Sunday evening at the FHP kickoff. While the heat has been a challenge this week, I have been staying cool in my favorite study spot – the Parks Library – between classes. Many residents from Barton, including myself, went swimming at state gym this week, it was a blast! The heat also gave me an excuse to explore the Memorial Union, Beardshear Hall, and the Gerdin Business Building. I am looking foward to the rest of this semester! Luke; Mechanical Engineering, H2
Although it’s been very hot and chaotic, I have really enjoyed my first week here at ISU. By far, my favorite thing has been meeting people at Destination Iowa State, the FHP kickoff, and in my meteorology learning community. I enjoyed getting to know the people in my Honors section through the kickoff and through class. My first day of classes was a bit chaotic as I am directionally challenged and had to find all my buildings, as well as the classroom once I found the building, but after a week, I’m starting to get it down. So far, I really like Parks Library as it is a great spot to find a quiet corner, lay all my work out in front of me on a table, and dive into it. While it has been very hot, Maple, the dorm I am living in, has AC, so I have been surviving. Even though it’s been a unique week, I’m enjoying all the good things that ISU has to offer. Here’s to hoping for a slightly less eventful and a cooler second week of classes! Konner; Meteorology, L3
My first week has certainly been a change of pace! The hot weather and no air conditioning certainly are not a great mix together. Luckily, I escaped the heat by attending air-conditioned classes and fun kickoffs. I attended my biochemistry kickoff, the WiSE kickoff, and the Honors kickoff! These were all a great way to get to know people who shared my interests and classes with; I’ve already made many friends who I hope to keep in touch with! I’m still trying to get the hang of attending classes: so far, I have been way too early to every class because I’m afraid of being late. I love all of my lectures and classes so far! Kellian; Biochemistry, K2
FHP has been fun. I’ve met some really nice people and have gotten to know them. I have an actual sense of belonging, which is something I’ve lacked. FHP is giving me opportunities for friendship I’ve not had before. Nehemiah; Animal Science, F3
While I was terribly homesick and am still finding my groove in my classes and schedule, I have genuinely enjoyed my smaller class sizes due to Honors. The group feels more personable, and I can relax a little bit more. My parents have been a huge help in offering advice and encouragement as I make my own community here at Iowa State. Attached is a picture of a little gift they sent me on Wednesday. While it is still an adjustment, I’d rather be here making my future than anywhere else wasting my time. Autumn; Pre Diet & Exercise, H1
The first week has been great! I went to the Honors Kickoff and met my new classmates for the semester! The campus has been busy with many determined faces of students ready to take on the world. The honors department has made me feel ready and supported for the school year. I cannot wait for classes to get underway! Gage; Animal Science, G1
It was already a strange week since I had to be home on Monday for family. Then, going throughout the week was fairly smooth, but it did feel like I was melting just a bit. Classes have been straightforward and understandable. Additionally, I have been living in air conditioning since the beginning so I cannot complain about that aspect. I certainly wasn’t expecting the events that happened on Thursday. Overall, I think it made for a memorable first week of classes. Lydia; Animal Ecology, B2
First day of classes were really fun! I loved my chemistry with Dr. Venditti, he did an experiment to start the class + DuckTales before class. My favorite Spot on Campus would have to be UDM/Friley Hall since that’s where my friends and I typically hang out. And I did take a first day of school picture, after everything (including the heat!) Joe; Software Engineering, P3
My first week was a lot hotter than I expected, but the intense heat combined with no AC has led my house to hanging out a lot in the den. I’ve also been able to explore different study spots between classes and have really enjoyed Parks Library (I was there four different times on Thursday!). Mostly this week, with starting my classes and the FHP kickoff, have made me excited for everything to come and all the upcoming opportunities that I have to explore! Colleen; Electrical Engineering, E3
It has been a hot week. Last Saturday before classes started, I was playing Ultimate Frisbee with some guys from Salt, and we were very fortunate that we had water because we got hot enough to cook eggs while eating them! But for how hot it was, I think I have been hotter before when my family and I walked around in the Arizona desert landscape in the summer heat. My first week of classes have been very good and a bit easy because it is only the first week. I took the advice of my older sister to write the times and locations of classes on my phone calendar which was a lifesaver when I had internet troubles. I think my favorite place on campus is Park’s Library because I can easily find a quiet place to study and have access to seemingly limitless books on whatever subject I would be looking for, and there’s Big Chess! Thomas; History, B1
Being in the FHP has been great. Throughout the week, I learned about many different resources to help me succeed at Iowa State. Also, I gained a lot of respect for air conditioning systems!!! Tyler; Engineering Undeclared, J1
This last week was crazy, but I have had a ton of fun! My first day of classes went surprisingly smoothly, despite the heat already starting to set it. Sleeping in a non-air-conditioned room was really uncomfortable, but I still managed to get some sleep, surprisingly. So far, my favorite spot on campus is my house’s den where it is always a nice 60 degrees. Although it has been fun, it has also been busy. I already have had quizzes and homework, and on top of that I have had marching band to take a lot of my time up. Despite that all, however, I am having a blast this week! I have attached a photo of myself at a band rehearsal and Jack Trice right before classes started. Caleb; Mechanical Engineering, L1
I have felt really welcomed by my community in my dorm. We do so many fun things together, and I feel like I’m starting to make friends in my dorm and in a few of my classes. I’ve also been extremely busy trying to keep up with assignments. Jacqueline; Biology, G3
For me the FHP kickoff was amazing, I really liked my section. It’s been hot, but I have been managing to stay in places with air conditioning system often. I am genuinely looking forward to the next weeks and I am very grateful for my first week as a Cyclone. Eduardo; Mechanical Engineering, A2
I really enjoyed my first 2 weeks of Iowa State! Sure, it was a little rough at first living away from home but within my first night in my dorm I met a lot of really great people who really helped me feel at home and look forward to being a student at ISU. I have not exactly found my people yet but have interacted with quite a few people and really enjoyed the Honors Program kickoff which gave me a chance to connect with other Honors Students and the free food was good as well. The library and the Jischke Honor’s building are my favorite places to study because I feel really comfortable there with the great air conditioning which has really helped me get through the really hot days. Eric; Food Science, L1
My first official week as a Cyclone has been pretty good. It has mostly just been going to class, doing my homework, then walking around campus, with my friends, seeing if there’s anything going on. I mostly find Volleyball, which I have learned to enjoy in the last couple of weeks. My favorite spot thus far is probably Jischke because it has A/C, and all of my classes are on the west side of campus, but I live in the Southeast corner at Maple, so it’s a shorter walk than going back to my dorm, and it’s a nice spot to read, meet new people, and (sometimes) do homework. I’ll attach a picture from my first week of school, where I happened to be wearing clothes that matched my chair almost perfectly. Elliott; Electrical Engineering, E3
I would love to report that the last week and a half have been absolutely wonderful! I could not have asked for a better week in Ames. Sure there was a lot of heat, quite a few fire drills, and even a real fire, but the honors program has made my transition into college life much better. At the FHP kickoff, I met with my awesome honors group whom I clicked with immediately, and my marvelous leaders! Shout out to Hannah and Aryanna in H2!! I appreciate that my leaders care about how I am doing and how to make my first year at ISU just a little sweeter! Katelin; Animal Science, H2
My first week has been great but extremely busy, I am starting my 17-credit semester and I also am starting my work in my Mechanical Engineering research lab. I had a great time in the FHP kickoff as I got to meet my group and make some friends within the honors program. It was nice to get to know how honors worked and how the class would go. The first day of class was interesting as some classes I didn’t expect to be easy seemed easier than expected and some other classes who i didn’t expect to give a lot of work, gave too much work. I didn’t take a first day photo because I am not much of a photo guy unless it is important. I really enjoy being in the bio-renewables complex as that provides me with the space to work and relax if it is too hot outside. Yes, I miss air conditioning especially that I moved from Geoffrey to Lyon with no AC, it is certainly a change. I have been hotter in my life than this especially in Indonesia, a tropical country so I am more or less used to this. Gabe; Aerospace Engineering, A3
The first week of school was great! I figured out where all my classes were, discovered get and go meals (which are so delicious and convenient), explored some campus ministries, and made a lot of new friends! I am so excited to see how the school year progresses!! In regards to the heat, I am very lucky to live in Geoffroy, which has had AC throughout this entire week! The FHP was great! I loved being able to meet my section that I would be spending time with! Davis; Computer Science, A1
The first week as a Cyclone has been a whirlwind (pun intended :). Thankfully I got to my classes on time and met some great friends and caring professors. I’ve really enjoyed my FHP section (K3 for the win!). They’ve brought me a little sanity in this momentous first week of college. My dorm has been blessed with AC thankfully, but walking to classes has sure been a sweat! And I made my mom a promise that I would send her a traditional first day of school pic :). Emily; Biology, K3
I had a lovely time at the honors kickoff and I met so many new friends. What I love about Iowa State’s honors program is that it really feels like a community, and it’s a great way to connect with new people. I loved bagels and brew—the coffee was delicious! Lastly, my favorite spot on campus so far is the horticulture atrium—the mural is so pretty! Ella; Horticulture, G2
The best experience of my first week at Iowa State was hearing the music of the campanile on my was back from class.
Evan; Aerospace Engineering, P1
Between band camp and the first week of classes, it’s been an absolute whirlwind, but a fun one nonetheless. It was a little overwhelming jumping into band camp the week before classes start, but the upperclassmen were always there to support me and answer any questions I had. Between band, the FHP kickoff, the Center, and the learning community I’m in that’s associated with my major, I’ve been able to meet so many cool people. I look forward to getting to know the people I’ve met more(even if sometimes all I want to do is hibernate in my dorm and play video games). As for the campus itself, the heat has presented some obvious challenges, but I’ve enjoyed taking in how beautiful it looks on my walks between classes. I’m excited to eat more at the Union Drive Marketplace and study in Parks Library; the room with the fireplace looks so cozy! I’m so excited for my next few years as a college student. Go State! Brady; Meteorology, A1
I had a great time at the FHP kickoff and my first day of class as an Iowa stater was a lot of using google maps to get around and getting lost in buildings but somehow still getting to class on time. I did take a first day of school photo, but I am only sharing it with my mother. My favorite spot on campus so far is the Ebbers dorm den because we always have a puzzle going or people playing games in there and it’s a great little community. We’re an honors cluster so the majority of the hall is in honors and that certainly helps with the comradery. The best part about Geoffroy is the fact that it has not lost AC the entire time and coupled with the fact that I lived in Texas before I moved here, I am honestly good with the heat. Jessica; Chemistry, E1
My first week went great! The FHP kickoff was fun; I also enjoyed the WiSE welcome earlier that day. I can’t relate to not having AC since I live in Martin so the heat hasn’t been too terrible except when walking to classes. My first week of classes went great even though they had to get moved online. Emilee; Biology, A3
Well, its been an interesting week to say the least. I did take a first day of school photo in front of the Campanile before I began classes. The first day I realized I couldn’t eat lunch with the way my schedule is laid out but I made do with that. Other than that I made it through my schedule free of issues and was able to meet a lot of new people which will be valuable later on. The FHP kickoff was a very good event. I believe there is a lot of potential within c3. We got along well and have a good plan set for the year ahead. My favorite spot on campus so far is probably the student innovation center. There are numerous opportunities to hone skills and learn new ones which I appreciate. I also enjoy that it isn’t too far from my residence hall. As for the heat, it was certainly an experience. I am very grateful I landed a residence hall that came with AC. It would have been unbearable without it. Nick; Mechanical Engineering, C3
Ever wonder what Honors students do during the summer? Honors Ambassadors and students will be taking you into their 2023 summer routines via photos. Your future BeReal friend Fernando Milach Teixeira (junior in Mechanical Engineering) takes you into his summer in Omaha:
Hi, my name is Fernando, and I am an Honors Ambassador, a Junior in Mechanical Engineering, Comedy College alumni, and past FHP leader here at ISU! Here is a snapshot of my summer!
I worked in an internship in Omaha Nebraska with CED, an electrical automation sales company! It was an absolute blast.
In the first weeks, I worked in the warehouse and in the front counter learning the basics. I also went out on deliveries with my boy Ron! He’s lived so many lives, from McDonald’s regional manager to a railroad job then to an owner of multiple Subway restaurants, and finally to a delivery driver!
After the first few weeks, I worked closely with the other intern, also from ISU, @joesteffl_ for the rest of the summer! I didn’t know him before the summer but now he is my CED partner in crime!
I got to go to so many cool places during my time as an intern at CED. Since we were outside sales interns, Joe and I got to tour so many cool facilities like massive robot arms in Acieta or getting to see a chicken from live to fully packaged in Lincoln Premium Poultry! We also got to go to the College World Series! I had a blast with my manager Steve, Joe and an intern from the Lincoln CED location, Josiah.
During the summer I stayed in a dorm in the University of Nebraska Omaha! I got 4 roommates, Brandon (far right) who is a banker also from Iowa State, Michell (far left) who is a dedicated Christian from Nebraska, and Holden (middle right) who is from China and is getting his second master’s at Harvard!
When I wasn’t working, I would spend a lot of time at the gym! I talked to and met so many cool people like Sid (in the picture) and Marcos. There is an incredibly fun and welcoming gym culture in Scott Campus Omaha!
Some highlights of the summer! I was able to come back to Ames a couple of times to see my beautiful girlfriend, and UA, @laurabranch21! I even drove up to Minnesota to go to her sister’s grad party (@sarahbranchsk8) (welcome to ISU honors Sarah!). Meeting Laura’s family was kind of (very) terrifying but really fun. Laura and I kept up while we were long-distance through face time and this app called Cappuccino! Glad to finally be back in Ames!
Holden and I also went to the Omaha Zoo together! It is MASSIVE! We walked all day and barely had time to see all the animals, from gorillas to tigers to even sloth bears?! PS I have a 5 min video of a sloth bear doing tricks on my phone if anyone wants that.
Holden and I also went to a soccer game in Omaha and had a ton of fun! There was even a red card and some pretty fantastic goals. Omaha won!
Occasionally (a lot of weekends) I went back home and hung out with the family. My mom, twin brother (@eduardo_teixeira127), sister (@aline_teixeira14), and I are really big into board games and card games (sadly, my dad isn’t). It’s a great family bonding time and is a required Teixeira family tradition.
As a family we also took our yearly trip to the boundary waters! It’s always a great time to get off the phones, chill, and read. I read more than 4 books and overall had a great time though I sadly did not catch a fish this year.
That’s all from me! Thanks for reading my summer snapshot!
Ever wonder what Honors students do during the summer? Honors Ambassadors and students will be taking you into their 2023 summer routines via photos. Liya Mooradian (junior in Genetics) has had a terrific summer of exciting scientific research capped off by spending two evenings with Taylor Swift:
Hello there! I’m Liya Mooradian, your 2023-2024 Honors Student Board Treasurer! I’m a junior studying Genetics and pursuing the Science Communication Certificate. I’m from Massachusetts, but I’ve spent the last 10 weeks completing a summer internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. I was one of twenty-three interns at different institutions nationwide in an NIH program called the Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP). During my internship, I had the honor (pardon the pun) of working with UPenn grad student Po Hu in Dr. Liming Pei’s lab on a project called “Single-Cell Genomics Guided Understanding of Human Cardiac Biology & Disease.”
Top left: Lab photos with my Principal Investigator, Dr. Liming Pei, and my lab mentor, Po Hu. Top right: Working at the fume hood. Bottom: Lab photos of the complete Pei Lab.
We used single-cell genomics and multi-omics technology to define what a “normal human heart” looks like from a molecular point of view and investigate the molecular mechanisms and pathways that lead to Fontan Associated Liver Disease (FALD). I got to attend lectures by world-renowned scientists and learn about a vast amount of medicinal science, grow in my wet lab techniques and expertise, experience what it’s like to be a full-time researcher, and even attend multiple human heart procurements. Attending and learning from the human heart sample procurements was especially exciting. These hearts are viable for organ donation and transplantation but cannot be matched to recipients, so they go to scientific research!
Attending doctor and author Nick Lane’s lecture for Dr. Doug Wallace’s Lab
Outside of the lab, I’ve also been having a blast. Summertime is the season of exploration, travel, good food, concerts, etc. Being accepted into a prestigious program in a fast-paced city environment was the best outcome I could have hoped for. I quickly formed a close friend group with fellow interns in both my program and one of UPenn’s. Together, we explored the vast urban sprawl that is Philadelphia.
Top left: Out and about at the year-round Farmers Market in University City’s Clark Park, Top Middle: Delicious brunch at Green Eggs Cafe, Top Right: Inside an ostentatious room at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA), Bottom Left: Outside the Rodin Museum, Bottom Middle: Seeing “Barbenheimer” on release day, Bottom Right: Views of Philadelphia’s skyline from PMA’s entrance
And because of Philly’s proximity to other huge cities, I was able to take the Amtrak train to New York a few times. I went with a friend and had a girls’ weekend trip. Being a patron of the arts is very important to me, so it was sublime to attend not only one but two Broadway shows while there. My friend chose The Book of Mormon, and I chose Wicked. I also have family in Brooklyn, so I also made plans to see my millennial cousins and their two kids, who are three and five years old. I actually spent more time in NYC than back home in Boston this summer, which was a pretty crazy realization that I had.
Lastly, if you know me, I must mention how amazing and spectacular it was to see the one and only Taylor Swift twice this summer at her history-making The Eras Tour. I was at her rain show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA, and celebrating the release of Speak Now(Taylor’s Version) at her second show in Kansas City, MO. For the latter, I got to go with fellow Genetics major Dani Cortés, which was a real treat!
Top Left: New York City aesthetics, Top Middle: “Wicked” at Broadway’s Gershwin Theater, Top Right: UPenn student, Caroline, and I at the New York Museum of Arts and Design, Bottom: Snapshots from fellow Genetics undergrad, Dani Cortés, and I at Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” in Kansas City, MO right after the release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) a couple days prior
Time flew by super fast this summer. As of July 31, 2023, I’m back in Ames, completing Fall Resident Assistant training. I’m really excited for this upcoming semester! I look forward to being an upperclassman and becoming more heavily involved in my activities, and all that campus life has to offer.
Ever wonder what Honors students do during the summer? Honors Ambassadors and students will be taking you into their 2023 summer routines via photos. Elena Knops (senior in Chemical Engineering) cannot stay in once place, so after studying abroad in Ireland and doing a National Student Exchange at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa it only makes sense that she would check Iceland out and…make hot pockets:
Hi everyone! My name is Elena and I’m a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Sustainability. I have had an amazing summer so far with a few different experiences!
I started my summer off with a fun little two week adventure to Iceland! During these two weeks, nine of the days were spent doing a sustainability program. I did this through The Green Program, which I had actually been looking at doing since freshman year. This included a few lectures from faculty at the Iceland School of Energy at Reykjavik University, tours of a geothermal and hydropower plant, a capstone project, and a variety of fun outside activities!
I got to meet so many amazing people during this trip. There were about 14 other students with me from a few different universities. We had two of the most amazing guides on this trip. One was from Iceland, Mummi, and the other was completing his master’s degree at the Iceland School of Energy, Matt. Mummi is an adventure guide for Midgard, which is a family business with a hostel, restaurant, and adventure guides who guide tours/outdoor activities. I’m so grateful for all of the unique things they both taught me about Iceland.
This was definitely one the best experiences I have ever been a part of. I absolutely love being in nature and the ability to explore different areas. We got to do beautiful hikes, some that even led to geothermal hot springs that we could go swimming in!
We got to play in the snow! This is something that I haven’t gotten to do in a while but reminded me so much of playing in the snow growing up. Most of the students were from California and had never seen snow before, so that was a fun experience!
I had never seen a glacier before coming to Iceland. We got to go hiking on it and even drank the water (and if you know me, you know I absolutely love water)!
I came across a few horses, which I obviously had to pet. Iceland actually has its own breed of horses. They’re smaller, but you will get in trouble if you call them a pony. We also baked the best bread I have ever tasted on a stick over a campfire. I highly recommend this next time you go camping 🙂
We also went camping at Þórsmörk which was towards the highlands. The only way to get there was by these super jeeps that could drive on dirt roads and across rivers. ride in super jeeps that were capable of crossing a bunch of rivers.
The food in Iceland was amazing! There are a variety of unique dishes that (luckily) I didn’t have to try because I’m vegetarian, such as fermented shark, puffin, and smoked sheep head. Because of Iceland’s climate and landscape, all of the fruits and vegetables have to be grown in greenhouses, which are powered by geothermal energy. We got to go to a restaurant in a greenhouse where they grow all of the tomatoes in Iceland. They had unlimited bread and butter and the best tomato soup I’ve ever had! I also got to try a vegetarian version of the famous Icelandic hot dogs and it was so good 🙂
I had a few days outside of the program where I got to do some sightseeing on my own. I also got to meet a few fun people in the hostel I stayed in, which was right around the corner from the rainbow road (the one in downtown Reykjavik, not to get it confused with the one in Mario Kart…). A few of the places I visited were the glacier lagoon, diamond beach, Snæfellsnes peninsula, the Geysir, Blue Lagoon, and lots of waterfalls.
I got the amazing opportunity to snorkel between two tectonic plates in the Silfra fissure at Þingvellir national park. The water was 2 degrees celsius and we had to wear dry suits to keep us sort of warm. I was actually in a snorkeling group with a family that had two ISU alumni and a current ISU student, small world!
After Iceland, I started my internship at Nestle as a Technical Applications Group Intern in Solon, Ohio. Nestle’s TAG group consists of a variety of people, such as product developers, category specialists, marketing, etc. My role is on the product developer side on the Pizza and Snacking team where I’ve been able to help with product reformulations, ensure supply, and competitive analysis. I’ve really enjoyed getting to understand the food industry and everything that Nestle has to offer!
I’ve had the chance to travel to different Nestle factories to help run trials and get tours. One of my favorite ones was the factory where hot pockets are made! I also got to help run a trial at a factory in Little Chute, WI which is 15 minutes from my hometown. I got to spend the weekend with them and catch up with some friends!
Outside of work, I’ve gotten to explore with the other interns. There are a total of five interns in the TAG group: two in Pizza in Snacking, two in Meals, and one in beverage. It’s nice having other interns to spend time with in and outside of work. We had a few beach days, watched Moulin Rouge which was amazing, went to an alpaca farm and got to pet a capybara!!, and went to the Ohio state fair (don’t worry, the Iowa state fair is wayyy better). I also went to a music festival and saw Khalid, Sasha Alex Sloan, Coin, and Tai Verdes!!
My mom and aunt came to visit me for a week and we got to explore a few places! We did a tour of the prison used in Shawshank Redemption, hiked at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and ate some delicious food at the West Side Market!
The interns and I also went to the Cleveland art museum, Candytopia, and played trivia at the local breweries! I also made it to four Guardians games while I was there (I got to see the Milwaukee Brewers play, and they absolutely crushed!!). Of course, I ate a ton of amazing food in downtown Cleveland. I thought I’d get sick of pizza since I eat it almost every day at work, but it actually made me enjoy pizza even more.
That pretty much wraps up my summer! I absolutely loved getting to travel, learn about food development at Nestle, eat a ton of really good food, and am so thankful for all of the amazing friends I made along the way. I hope you all had an amazing summer as well!!
Ever wonder what Honors students do during the summer? Honors Ambassadors and students will be taking you into their 2023 summer routines via photos. A big part of Arunadee Fernando’s (junior in Biology) summer has included a stunning ancient rock fortress:
Hi everyone! My name is Arunadee Fernando. The first part of the summer I was working in my research lab (the Wellbeing and Exercise Laboratory) as well as playing tennis and giving tennis lessons! In July, my family and I embarked on a 30 hour plan ride trip (consisting of 3 plane trips-one of which was a 15 hour stretch!) to come to Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka is where all my extended family lives. While here, we have been spending time with family and going on a series of trips to explore this beautiful island. I am going to give you a look into our trip to Sigiriya and Kandalama, Sri Lanka!
Behind me here is the Sigiriya rock which is over 1,000 feet above sea level. It is a historical monument in Sri Lanka that dates back to the 5th century! This huge rock and the vast surrounding site was home to a large empire. The palace was built right on top of the rock (woah!!!)
My dad and I were the brave ones to embark on the journey up the rock. The rest of my family stayed behind and explored the ground site which has so much to see as well! Below is me standing at the halfway mark up the rock. To the sides of this rock staircase are paws of a lion. Originally, a full lion structure sculpted out of brick was the only entrance to the empire on top of the mountain! Today, only the paws of the lion remain.
Once on top of the rock, my dad and I were absolutely amazed of the view! On top of the rock, there were multiple ponds, trees, as well as monkeys (fun fact that monkeys carry their babies on their bellies with the baby monkey holding on by giving the adult monkey a hug!) Looking out from on top of the rock, you can see the beauty of the land of Sri Lanka-from mountains, trees, and rivers!
After visiting Sigiriya, my family and I went to Kandalama, Sri Lanka to spend time at the Heritance Kandalama Hotel. This hotel was built on top of hills and cliffs to be immersed in nature. The hotel was specifically built to be able to be in line of sight with the Sigiriya Rock! In the picture below, you can see me standing on the outside part of the hotel and to the side of me, you can see part of the structure of the hotel covered in green!
One of the best parts of the hotel was the food! Sri Lankan cuisine is amazing. Some of my favorite staple items include rice, appa, iddi appa, and different side items such as chicken and fish curries!
A favorite part of the hotel for me was the three pools! The pool below is an infinity pool. What I’m “holding” here is actually the Sigiriya Rock which can be seen in the distance:
This has been such an awesome experience for me! Getting to spend time with my family, seeing (and climbing!) the Sigiriya Rock, and exploring the beauty of Sri Lanka was incredible!
Thanks for reading about my summer and I look forward to seeing you all this Fall!
Ever wonder what Honors students do during the summer? Honors Ambassadors and students will be taking you into their 2023 summer routines via photos. Recent Trader Joe’s and Costco veteran Sean Kluesner (senior in Mechanical Engineering) has been enjoying the heck out of his Pacific Northwest summer, and ranking the natural beauty much higher than the fireworks:
Hello, my name is Sean Kluesner, and I am going into my senior year at ISU majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I am from the eNVy of Iowa, New Vienna, which is approximately 7 cornfields away from the Field of Dreams. I know pretty cool but just hold on I got more. This summer I am in the Seattle area interning for Boeing working on a sustainable flight demonstrator plane in being studied in partnership with NASA. Here is a quick overview of what my summer has looked like:
Yes, that is the only Boeing plane I have a picture of. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to take pictures of most stuff at work. If you would like to see more let me know and I will do my best to fingerpaint what I saw. Don’t worry though I have pictures below of a lot of other cool stuff. As for my thoughts on work, I have loved it. Boeing is such an exciting company with so much that makes my engineering brain go wild. From getting to fly in the most realistic flight simulators on the planet to touring the world’s largest building where most of the Boeing commercial jets are assembled, I have loved everything I have gotten to see and work on. Learning about what it all takes to design and manufacture an airplane makes me appreciate the work that Boeing has done and is doing for the future of flight. Also getting to meet so many new people from all over the country has been awesome. Don’t worry I make sure to let everyone I meet know how amazing Iowa actually is.
First, summer started by driving 27 hours over 3 days to get from Iowa to Seattle. Although it was very long it was fun to see all the parts of the western US along the way. From the real cattle ranches from my favorite show Yellowstone to a random canyon (above) lots was out there to see in the land of no cell phone reception.
Seattle has been a great city to explore. From the famous Space Needle to Pikes Market and the gum alley, I have enjoyed seeing all the city has to offer. This summer I have also made it my goal to try new things. My favorite being piroshky and my least being oysters. Seattle is fun to explore as it has so many diverse areas with so much to offer, from seeing huge yachts on Lake Union to playing Bocce Ball at a German Bar in Capitol Hill. Special shoutout to getting to experience Trader Joe’s and Costco for the first time as well.
In addition to Seattle, I have tried to experience the nature around the Puget Sound. I know you are probably waiting for the mountains but just wait a second. Yes, the mountains around here have given beaches a run for their money in the whole question of beaches or mountains, but it has not won yet. Considering the above picture was taken at my favorite place only 5 minutes from my Airbnb I still have to give them the crown. Also shout out to the water you see in these pictures in which that one submarine everyone was talking about was founded and tested in. Yes, I lived 15 minutes from Oceangate the whole summer. Pretty interesting.
As for the mountains, they have definitely been some of my favorites too. Mt. Rainer is by far the coolest hike I have done. The views are incredible and once at the top you can see for what seems to be hundreds of miles. Highly recommend that national park for anyone looking to visit the area.
Some other things I have experienced are a few Mariners games throughout the summer, a food festival with probably the best slice of pie I have ever eaten, and the worst fireworks show in existence. Yes, you heard me right. Seattle’s fireworks had nothing on those small-town Iowa shows. Not one Toby Keith USA-themed song was sung and there was absolutely no finale.
Well that about wraps it up from her in the PNW so far. I can’t wait to get back in Ames to enjoy my final year of football games, hanging around Jischke, and seeing all my friends. Before then though with the couple of weeks I have left I plan on going out of the country and exploring Vancouver. Also coming up is the best weekend in Seattle called Seafair where daily airshows and all sorts of events will be happening all over the city. Once that is all over, I look forward to beginning the journey back home while making some pitstops along the way. As of now we plan to spend some time in Yellowstone National Park and check out the mountains in Wyoming. I hope you enjoyed my summer as much as I have. If you want to hear more about anything let me know if you ever see me around.
life in ISU HONORS 