The University of Blog

Thai food is delicious and we found some at the Regency Hotel Thai Kitchen.(1111 E. Broadway) The food is reasonably priced ($8 for pad Thai) and we got a mountain of noodles on our plates. Thai food is like Chinese, but it has more spices and is lighter. Bangkok Gardens downtown also has the option for Thai, but so far the Thai Kitchen is where those wanting value go.

Spice factor is a force to be reckoned with. The spice factor goes from 1-10. I got a 2, which was very full of flavor. I couldn’t handle a three.

I wrote on this before, but I went there to listen to Ann Driscoll on Friday night at the Artisan. She lives at Lathrop and I know her through my roommate, and she is a phenomenal artist who writes her own music. I was very impressed with the show, and there were so many people there to provide support. The Artisan provides a great atmosphere to chillax and listen to great tunes. Yes a good study spot, but check out the calendar of events. I know there are other local treasures there too.

The biggest, most important thing that a college student needs is money. One way to achieve this easily is to have a job on campus. Every job on campus is within walking distance and is very convenient. Some options include the Recreation Center. They have meetings a couple of times each semester to hire students.

Another good option is through work-study. This goes through the financial aid office. Many journalism majors have work-study with the Missourian or other Journalism departments. This is a great opportunity for them to get to know many people whom they will be working with later on.

Several other opportunities include calling alumni through the Alumni Association as well as being a tour guide. Also writers for The Maneater get paid after they write a certain amount of articles. Good for experience and a bit of cash.

If you would like to branch out of the campus, there are many opportunities available. Shakespeare’s Pizza advertises about how they need people, and it is within walking distance to campus.

All of these are reasonable options for students looking for jobs. Check one out and make some money.

I went to my first Basketball game on Saturday against Texas Tech. So exciting. I got there fairly late so I sat up high, but still the game was very engaging. It lasted only a little more than 2 hours, but was very school-spirity during that time. The thing that took a long time was parking- we waited about fifteen minutes to get out. However, it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. And with an All Sports Pass, there are many games to choose from.

And if you decide to become a member of Zou Crew (for $10) you will get a t-shirt and sit in pretty close seats. However, there are no bad seats, and the higher up, the more perspective. Also you are able to get all student tickets at the same time. Otherwise, there are certain pickup dates for the group of tickets.

For a complete Columbia experience, the Ragtag (23 10th N.) is one of the coolest movie places that I have ever been. The Ragtag plays independent films for $8. Last night I went to see Notes of A Scandal for one of their special preview nights (on Wednesdays). For $4 it is possible to see a show before anyone else.

What makes this theater so special? One, instead of normal seats, it has couches and comfy chairs. This means seating is somewhat limited, so go early! Also, in addition to regular movie-fare, coffee, alcohol, soup and other food is served. Go there and chilax in a very-Columbia theater.

Looking for a good show? Visit the Blue Note at 17 North 9th St. for a good local or a touring band. The website has a list of upcoming concerts and events.

And on Saturday I went to the Waka Winter Classic. The road to the Wakarusa Music Festival was made shorter for the East Ash Street Band Saturday night. Listed as “ the chance to transform your dreams into reality” on the Blue Note website, the Waka Winter Classic gave one lucky band from Columbia the chance to play at the June Festival in Kansas.

Read the rest of the article that I wrote for the Maneater (student newspaper)!

Each semsester a student pays about $80 each semester for the use the Student Health Center. Many students do not use it. It seems silly to waste so much money. Therefore, it is a great idea to go to the Heath center… a lot. For the flu, go. For a scratchy throat, go.

Last semester I got strep throat when I had never had it before. Living in the dorm exposes students to a host of new germs. Thus going to the Heath Center for sickness is a good idea. I’ve gone a few times and it is all included. It just takes a call for an appointment (a good idea to avoid the wait). It’s not just when sickness hits either. I’m not afraid to admit (just a little embarrassed) for going for having a few too many pimples.

In the infamous words of infomercials: BUT THATS NOT ALL! The Student Heath Center offers classes in stress management and relaxation. Then there are classes on living a healthy lifestyle. So for the fee, it’s worth it to go.

I have a very crafty roommate. She knows how to make earrings, necklaces, weave, color, and much more. My friend next door knows how to crochet, scrapbook and cute little magnets. Being surrounded by such crafty people raises my craft-skills by ten points. It is so incredible. I never thought I would learn so much in the dorms.

I learned how to crochet and made great homemade presents for Christmas. It was a cheap way to make gifts, and my family and friends LOVED them! And it is not hard. At all. However, it is much easier to find out how to do it with the help of a person. It is much harder to try to do this by the internet.

And making earrings is not difficult either. It takes one tool, beads and a couple of metal parts. Also they make great gifts.

Crafts are quite great to do while watching Grey’s anatomy. I either blog or crochet while watching TV (I’m a notorious multi-tasker). Learning a craft and taking advantage of the knowledge of those around you is a great idea to create something unique and totally you.

Beside the funny ad sheet ads, Shakespeare’s is a cornerstone of Columbia. This great hangout place with tons of history has huge slices of delicious pizza. Coupons can be found online or in the through the yellow ad sheet. Secret passwords with great deals are sent through email.

Yummy. Eating there is an experience. The walls are decorated with old ads and the walls are natural brick. Beer and salads are served in addition to the pizza. And the huge slices of pizza are pure deliciousness. It is understandable why they make pizzas, freeze them and send them through the mail. So you can have Shakespeare’s wherever you may be!

This weekend we had a movie night. It is cold outside and no one feels much like going out. Therefore, it is a great thing to do to take advantage of a roommate’s extensive movie collection. DVDs are the staple here.

I haven’t started collecting DVDs because of the price: once I have one, I will have to have ALL of my favorite movies. On a college budget, that is not really possible. However, since many people come in with movies, it is great to share them with people on the floor. And there is nothing better then watching a good movie surrounded by friends, drinking hot chocolate and seeing it snow outside.

AND we were able to buy 5 DVDs for $20. Movie Gallery was closing. Talk about a discount. Need ideas? Try a best movie list.