Thursday, October 1, 2009

Greek Festival This Weekend

The Houston Greek Festival is this weekend: http://www.greekfestival.org/

The food is wonderful and you should definitely make a stop if you are looking for some delicious baklava. The shopping is also better than average for a Greek festival, with jewelry, art, food products, pottery, and clothing for sale. My one complaint? There could be more spontaneous dancing from the festival goers, but the Greek dancing troupes are quite talented. Opa!

If you go, let me know how you do!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Message from Melissa Rosson, LSC-Cy Fair Advisor

Welcome to the fall semester 2009! I hope you are off to a great start. I would like you to share your tips for success and please let the LSCS International Team know what we can do to improve services for you. Your opinions are highly valued. As the semester is just starting, I would like to share a few sites that may be helpful:

Academic Advising:
· Meet with an academic advisor to ensure you are on the right track for your college goals. Advising resources are available at: http://www.lonestar.edu/advising.htm

Counseling:
· Tools are available for time management, note taking, learning styles, test taking tips, and testing anxiety: http://www.lonestar.edu/academic-counseling.htm
· Get to know your personality type. Being familiar with your personality type and learning styles will help you improve your study and social skills. You can begin by making an appointment with the career counselor at your campus. I highly recommend that you take advantage of this free service in our counseling departments: http://www.lonestar.edu/career-services.htm#Career_Counselors
· Personal counseling is available also.

Affiliation:
· Affiliation is very important for connecting to your college. Getting involved in activities at your college is a great venue for meeting friends and learning new skills. The best way to connect with others in college is through joining sports teams and clubs.
· LSCS Clubs: http://www.lonestar.edu/clubs-orgs.htm
· LSCS Sports: http://www.lonestar.edu/sports.htm

Let us know how your semester is going.

Melissa A. Rosson, M.Ed.
Academic Advisor-International & ESOL
LSCS-CyFair College
9191 Barker Cypress Road
Cypress, TX 77433

Monday, March 2, 2009

Spring break!

Spring break is next week! What do you plan to do?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Parking

As a student at the University Center, I have had a really hard time finding parking in the evening. I have heard similar complaints from other students, and want your take. Do you have a parking problem at your campus? Now that people are going back to school with the economic downturn, it may only get worse.



How do you cope? Do you have any solutions?

Friday, February 13, 2009

Valentine's Day

Ah, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. A day for flowers, chocolate, cards, and romance. Are you puzzled by the holiday or do you celebrate the day in your home country?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day


Do you have anything planned? Let me know! I will probably go to the grocery store.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The Economy

Alright, how about we discuss the topic on every one's lips: the economy. It is all over the news, the topic of many conversations, and impacting nearly everyone around the world.

What do you think? You think it is as bad as some are saying? Or it is exaggerated?

Monday, January 12, 2009

Classes begin!

Classes begin and it seems like yesterday Fall finals were wrapping up. The break flew by and the winter holidays have come and gone. Shall we begin the countdown to spring break?

Don't forget to catch the inauguration next week!

Monday, January 5, 2009

New year, new you

Ah, it is resolution time. This is the time of year most Americans pledge to lose weight, save money, complete projects, run a marathon, start a new venture, etc.

Do you have a resolution?

I am still not sure about my resolution..maybe I can get ideas from you!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Winter break (sigh of relief)

Oh the glorious winter break is almost upon us. I plan on sitting in my pajamas, watching movies, and relaxing. The semester was quite busy - paper upon paper and endless amounts of research and reading.

What do you plan on doing? Please share!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Final Exams

It is that dreaded time of year: final exams!

How to you cope? Do you cram? Drink a lot of coffee?

Do you have any test taking tips?

Monday, December 1, 2008

Monday, November 24, 2008

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

Time to eat! Turkey, gravy, stuffing (or dressing), cranberry sauce, pie...

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States and Canada, and springs from the harvest festivals of years past. In the United States, the holiday celebrates the assistance the Native Americans gave early English settlers after the first harvest of 1621. The Wampanoag tribe taught the pilgrims how to grow local crops (corn) and live off the bounty of the new land.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

The holiday, as known in modern times, is a day to give thanks and celebrate with family and friends.

As an international student, you may be a long way from home and unable to gather with family. There are many things you can still do you celebrate the holiday, such as:


You may have heard people talk about 'Black Friday'..but what is it? It is the day after Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping day in the United States. Where does the name come from? Retailers typically used red ink in ledgers to show shortfalls and black ink to denote profit. The Friday after Thanksgiving was typically the day retailers made huge profits and could use black ink. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

Look for the ads in the newspaper on Thanksgiving and you may be able to score some deals. Black Friday ads are also listed online: http://www.blackfriday.info/


Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 17, 2008

International Education Week 2008

It is International Education Week! There are events happening all over the Lone Star College System, so be sure to check them out: http://www.lonestar.edu/31433/

Monday, November 10, 2008

New President

As many of you know, Americans elected a new president last week. As an international student, was it exciting to watch the election process? What is it like in your home country?

Monday, November 3, 2008

Cold and Flu Season

I was sick over the weekend (and still sniffling) and thought I would dedicate the post this week to staying healthy!

How to stay healthy:
  • Wash your hands frequently and often
  • Exercise
  • Eat a well-balanced diet
  • Consider a flu shot
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Manage stress

How to recover if you catch a bug:

  • Know the difference between a cold and the flu http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/
  • Drink plenty of fluids
  • Get plenty of rest
  • See a doctor if you are experiencing flu symptoms or your cold gets worse after a few days.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Christmas Already?

I took a trip out to the stores this weekend (to pick up some Halloween candy) and was shocked to see shelves already stocked with Christmas decorations!

Ornaments, trees, gifts, wreaths, wrapping paper galore! But Halloween and Thanksgiving aren't even here yet....

Do you have any highly commercialized holidays in your country? Do you think holidays are too commercialized in the United States?

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Saving money and watching the budget!

As a graduate student, I am juggling different ways to pay tuition each semester and buy costly books. International (F-1) students are usually not allowed to work, and paying tuition can become a more difficult task.

Here are some tips for cutting spending and doing more with less:


Prepare meals at home. Buy groceries and turn on the Food Network! Experiment with different cooking techniques and styles, and go easy on pricey ingredients.



Buy in bulk. Have a friend with a Costco or Sam's Club card? Tag along and stock up on items you use regularly. Be wary of buying perishable items that you may not use before the expiration date.


Comparison shop online. Did you fall in love with a pair of expensive shoes at Macy's but cannot afford them? Carry a pad and pencil with you and write down the brand, style, and sku of the item you are interested in. Hop on the computer and comparison shop at home! You would be surprised the deals and steals you can find on the Internet! If you are going to purchase an item online, make sure to look for coupon codes first!

Websites to try:

Plan your purchase! The end of summer is the best time to buy a discounted swimsuit, a jacket at the end of winter, etc. Black Friday is usually the best time to buy electronics http://www.blackfriday.info/.


Hit the outlets! Outlets can be a great place to snag some deals. Check out the outlet malls in the Houston area and don't forget to get a coupon book from customer service:


Frequent the yard sale or flea market in your area. You will be surprised what people are selling or giving away! Don't forget resale or consignment stores.



Scan online classified ads for great deals.

Look for student discounts! Some movie theaters, museums, and stores have student discounts!


Share some of your tips and tricks with me!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Halloween!

I love when Halloween rolls around! Candy and costumes galore, even though I am not really into the blood and gore.

Halloween is a fascinating holiday, with Celtic, Christian, and Pagan roots http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween. In the United States, the holiday was not introduced until the 19th century and the commercial mayhem did not begin until the 20th century.

If you like to be spooked, check out haunted houses: http://houston.citysearch.com/roundup/38068.


Are you dressing up for Halloween? What will you be? I am not sure what I will be yet!

Monday, October 6, 2008

International Events this Weekend

Splendid China III - Discovering China
Oct 10-11
www.milleroutdoortheatre.com
Miller Theater, In Hermann Park, 100 Concert Drive
"A showcase of the cultural riches China has to offer in history, dance and music, featuring Dance of Asian America and special guest artists from the Shanghai Dance Company. 8:00 p.m."


Indo-American Association Concert - The Ultimate String Jugalbandi
www.iaahouston.com
Oct 11
Wortham Center, 501 Texas
"Featuring Sitar Maestro Ustad Shujaat Khan, Sarode Maestro Pandit Tejendra Majumdar, and Tabla Maestro Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. 8:00 p.m."


Festa Italiana
www.houstonitalianfestival.com
Oct 11-12
Houston Farm and Ranch Club
"Enjoy a feast of sight, sound and wonderful tastes. Share the heritage, culture and the romance of Italy. Rain or shine, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. SAT and 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. SUN."


Asian American Festival
www.asianfestivalhouston.com
Oct 11-12
Downtown, In Front of City Hall
"Annual festival at Hermann Square, in front of City Hall, fromm 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. both days. Featuring free entertainment, delectable cuisine, and international Asian arts."