Summer is Almost here-Becca from Bermuda

Hello again,

Only two more days left of class!  This year has really flown by.  For all of you out there who are trying to decide on what University to choose, let me give you some reasons why RWU is a great option.  Roger Williams University is an amazing university, the staff and students make you feel right at home.  If you have never been far from your home before, you wont be alone.  RWU has extremely small classes, making it easy to form relationships with your teachers and get help whenever you may need it.  The students here are so welcoming, and there are many international students so if you ever feel homesick, there is an intercultural center where the international students hang out and you can always talk to them.  If you’re not used to American food and you’re worried what It might do to your figure, there’s a great bunch of classes available at the gym for free, like butts and guts, my favorite.  The sports available are endless, from dance, to riding and rugby.  There is always something going on during the weekend, like ski trip getaways or shopping trips to the mall.  So whatever your deciding factor is, class size, location of the campus, what there is to do - you will find it all here right at RWU.  If you do choose RWU, I’m sure i’ll meet you and I’d be happy to help you out with anything once you arrive at RWU.

Hope to see you next fall!

Rebecca

Becca from Bermuda

Hello again,
You can tell the school year is winding down; everyone is lounging outside.  Final projects are nearly due and I everyone is started to study for final exams.  I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by- it’s almost been two years since I toured and decided RWU was the place for me.  The grass is green, al the flowers are blooming and the water is glistening in the sunlight outside my window.  I almost forgot how beautiful Bristol was until this week.  I went down into town the other day, as well as Newport today and browsed the shops and walked along the water.  I can’t believe how fortunate and lucky I am to be on such a beautiful campus with such great people.  To be quite honest, I wouldn’t trade this place for anything.

Becca
Bermuda

Bianca from the DR

"Hey guys, back for more? Well, today is an awesome day here at RWU. It’s one of those beautiful and warm days that make you love this place. I remember the first time I came to RWU with my high school, about a year and half ago...though it seems like yesterday! It was as sunny and warm as today. I love seating outside, it feels really good to just sit there while looking at the water .. if you’ve been here you probably know what I’m talking about.. it’s just so amazing that it’s hard to describe. When it gets nice here, everyone is usually outside playing games or just laying in the grass.I’m really excited for this weekend because it’s suppose to be even warmer! There are also fun activities going on almost every weekend, for example tonight we have Casino Night and Sunday is the BBQ for my building. We are going to have a big blow-up obstacle course so I’m really looking for that . Well, I have to go now; until next time!”

Bianca

Ziad from Lebanon

Hey everybody, my name Is Ziad Al Achkar, I am a freshman from Lebanon, what a year this has been!!! I can’t believe how quickly it passed!! The weather is finally starting to get warm and sunny. This week is going to be a very exciting week for me because it is the Inter-Resident Hall Association (IRHA) S.E.X Week (Safe Education Week), we have a ton of events throughout the week. IRHA is one of the Organizations I am involved with on campus. Friday night I am putting on an event called Condom Casino, It will be the first event I coordinate. I am so excited about it, we got all the prizes last week, ordered all the decorations, and in a couple of hours I will be meeting up with members from IRHA for dinner and later go and make some decorations. On Saturday, Bianca and I, who are both International Students, are going to be presenting at Leadership University about International Students on our campus and how to get them more involved. Stay tuned for my next blog, I will let you know how my event and the presentation went.

Ziad Patrick Achkar
Freshman
Lebanon

Fatima from Kuwait

“Jam3a…” –I remember how that word use to be so intimidating back when I was in high school in Kuwait. E9ara7a, ma kint a3aref what to expect, where I wanted to go, with who, and most importantly, for what? I know what you guys are going through, I know there are so many options, so many universities, so many applications, the list is endless! But you know, after every long road is a light mo 9a7? I personally went through the exhausting application process and it wasn’t pretty to be honest. Kan jidamy KU, AUK, ACA, GUST, AUM, o madry shino. Bess tadroun to cut it short, since you’re already on this page, 5al agoulikum la titradidoun 3ala ederasa ib the US. Ederasa eb America is one you don’t miss out on! It is really a great opportunity for you guys to experience independence, a diverse culture, some fun, and most importantly, getting an amazing education! For those who are already accepted at RWU, ALF MABROOOK! You really, really made the right choice without a doubt! Roger Williams University is a great place for any international student. I don’t know but there is something about this university that makes you feel right at home. It’s not one of those enormous universities where everyone is in their own world and no one even bothers to say hi or hold the door for you, bil3ax! The community here on campus is really close-knit, everyone is really friendly, classes are small in size, professors are very interactive with their students, and above all, you’ll make friends immediately! Foug kil hatha, the campus is absolutely beautiful oo eb mokan strateejy. Ya3ni, it’s a 30-45 minute bus ride from Providence and Newport, an hour away from Boston, and a 3 hour train ride from New York City! It’s fairly a small campus but what makes it also beautiful is that it’s right next to the sea (7ag ely ye7iboun el ba7ar lol). Anyhow, maaby a6awil 3alaykum, congratulations again to those who have already been accepted at RWU. I am positive that your experience here will be one you carry with you forever!

E5itkum,

Fatima Bukhamseen
Sophomore
Kuwait

CT from Vietnam!

So 5 more weeks until the end of the semester. I was just talking to some friends that it felt like just yesterday, we just came to college. And now, junior year is almost over. I guess time flies when you’re having fun. For you guys recently accepted students, congratulations! It is a huge step. I was in your position three years ago, wow, I’m old! I know how overwhelming and stressful it could be. What school should I choose? Will I be homesick? What if my English isn’t good enough?
I chose Roger Williams partly because it responded to a lot of my questions and needs then, and because of the water front campus, of course. It has an ELS program for you if you don’t feel ready yet with your English. You can do that full time or be in the bridge program where you can take half ELS classes and half regular classes. My brother was part of this program when he first came in. It was really helpful for him.
How about homesickness? I have never felt that during my time here. No, not because I am piece of stone. I guess I kept myself busy, that’s the best way to get your mind off of things. When you’re busy, you’ll have no time to sit down and think of things. Accepted Students’ Days are coming up this weekend. I am partly responsible for organizing tour guides for the day. Plus, the musical is in the last week of rehearsal now. That means rehearse, rehearse and rehearse some more. Next week is opening night. We have eight showings. Tonight is the Multicultural Student Union Fashion. It is a benefit show for St. Jude’s Children Hospital. I will be sporting an ao-dai, our traditional costume. This sure will be an interesting night!

CHI-THIEN LAM NGUYEN
Vietnam

Bianca from the Dominican Republic

"International students should come to Roger Williams because it has an amazing campus and it is easy to make new friends, also because classes are small and professors know your name. For those of you that like to be over achievers , RWU provide students with great opportunities to get involved on campus, you can join a club, an organization, be on your class council and a member of the student senate all at once (if you balance your time of course). But that’s only a part of the million things you can do here. Remember:  “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result” - Gandhi until next time!!”

Bianca

Laura from Saudi Arabia

Hey Everyone! It’s Laura here! The past few weeks have been crazy! Just yesterday I finally registered for classes for next semester! I am very excited because I am taking Arabic, but I am also excited about not having class on Friday! Not only have classes been hectic, but also the campus has been buzzing with perspective students. Right now you are seriously thinking about where you are going to go to school next year. Believe me, this is a tough decision! I chose Roger Williams because this university was ideal to me. Being an international student I needed a school that would welcome me with open arms, and help me with the change of living in a different country. There are many clubs and activities at this school that help cater to these needs including the Multicultural Student Union. They sponsor different events and have meetings regularly. I also chose Roger Williams University because this school celebrates diversity, and I think this is very important. International Students who are thinking about coming to Roger Williams should seriously consider this school because of its great Academics, its great students body, and also the great location Roger Williams is at! I hope to see a lot of you perspective students next year! Peace.

Laura

Blog from Bermuda Student-#2

HI again!
I guess that warm weather last week was a little bit of a tease, as it got cold again.  It is Easter Weekend and my family flew up from Bermuda- so I get to spend the weekend with them!  I’m quite excited for some home cooked meals.  Although the food on campus is pretty good for college.  I just found that the spring concert is O.A.R!  I’m so excited to see them live, they’re one of my favorite bands.  All the girlies are getting together on Sunday night in our Easter Dresses and having an Easter celebration of our own.  I watched a tennis match over at a local high school - RWU played and defeated WNEC!  I’m really excited for next year because I’m going to begin Rugby.  It’s going to be so fun, I’m trying to get all my friends to join the team.  I’m just waiting for Danielle to get ready so we can go to lunch then class.  Then my parents are picking me up for the weekend!
Becca

A Student from the Ukraine

Добро пожаловать. Вы сейчас читаете первую запись моего нового блога о жизни в университете Роджер Уильямс. Университет Роджер Уильямс, он же РВУ, несмотря на агрессивную аббревиатуру, — место спокойное и душевное. Его кампус (родственник студгородка) состоит из главной улицы, лоскутков залива, иногда несуразных зданий, беседок для курения, двух прудов с рыбами, творчества наших дорогих архитекторов и скульпторов, целого леса с Кленом, Кедром, Ивой и богиней Никой (это названия общежитий, dorms) и страшного Севера (North Campus), который вовсе не страшный, но куда ходить никто не любит, потому что туда идти пешком целых десять минут. Позже, я, пожалуй, проведу более подробную виртуальную экскурсию нашего родного кампуса.
Обычно принято описывать людей, здесь обитающих, но как их опишешь? Люди и есть люди, приезжайте и смотрите сами. Про некоторых, впрочем, я вам все же расскажу, но попозже. Сегодня только об одном человеке, о вашей покорной.
Меня зовут Катя. Я живу в Украине, а учусь в Роджер Уильямсе, вот уже второй год. Моя специальность — классическая филология, то есть я изучаю Элладу и Древний Рим. Наверное, самая увлекательная из скучнейших наук. Также я президент клуба классической филологии. Как-нибудь я вам расскажу о, том что мы такое клубом недавно придумали, а что мы устраиваем каждый год.
Да, вот уже и примерный план развития блога складывается. Блог создан для новопринятых или пока будущих студентов университета, кому удобно и приятно читать об университете неофициально и по-русски. Разумеется, здесь приветствуются и давнопринятые студенты, и выпускники, и преподаватели, и родители студентов, и даже те, кто ни одной русской буквы не знает. Ждите обновления через неделю.

Kate Shevtsova
Sophomore
Ukraine

A Student From Honduras

Hola! Me llamo Claudia Elvir , soy una estudiante internacional de Honduras aquí en Roger Williams University. Este es mi primer año en la Universidad y igual que mi primer año fuera de casa. La razón por la que estoy aquí? Es algo muy raro pero aquí les va. Mi último año de colegio comencé a aplicar a universidades, compre un inmenso libro de universidades por Collegeboard. De casualidad me puse a ver universidades en Rhode Island ya que a todas las universidades que apliqué eran de la parte noreste de los Estados Unidos por su Buena reputación en universidades. Pasando por las páginas vi RWU y me llamo la atención, luego entre a su página web y seguí mi investigación hasta decidir aplicar. Cuando recibí la carta de aceptación no cabía de la emoción! Mi papa había organizado un viaje para poder visitar RWU. Tal como las fotos lo mostraban, la universidad era preciosa! Enfrente del mar, los edificios, las aulas, todo parecía perfecto pero esto no lo pude comprobar al 100% hasta ya empezar mis estudios universitarios. Tal como pensaba me enamore de RWU, las clases son pequeñas y mis maestros saben mi nombre, las personas que he conocido aun con diferencia de cultura se han portado súper bien conmigo y eh construido muchas amistades. La comida es muy buena y no eh tenido ningún problema con mi cuarto el edificio donde vivo. RWU es una universidad pequeña pero acogedora, la verdad que no lamento para nada la elección de RWU para mis estudios universitarios!

Claudia Elvir
Freshman
Honduras

International Student from Vietnam

Yo yo yo, I mean, helo, how do you do. First, just some quick info about myself. My name is Chi-Thien Lam Nguyen. I am currently a junior Architecture student with a minor in French here at Roger Williams University. I am from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To your surprise, my first visit here to the school was kinda a last minute decision. It was April 30th and May 1st was the deadline for deposits. So we couldn’t find any plane tickets to get here so we decided to take a bus (Oops, don’t worry, from Washington DC where I went to high school for 2 years, not from Vietnam, it’s a pretty big piece of info that I forgot, huh?). So it was an overnight bus and we got here at 11AM. I love that the campus is right on the water, you just can’t beat a bayfront property! Plus, the community seems to be a small and friendly, tight-knit environment where everybody knows each other and I love that. Also, the classroom size is so small that professors and students are on first name basis. I mean, how cool is that? I think all those things made me decide to choose Roger Williams. I got here in Fall 2006. After 3 years here, I have never once regretted my decision. Here, I feel like you can learn so much just outside of the classrooms. I am now the President of the Student Country Ambassadors, the Admission Ambassador Leader, a Resident Assistant for Stonewall Terrace (the Architecture Living Learning Community). Oh, did I mention I got casted in the school musical “Little SHop of Horrors”? I love everything that I do and I know people are wondering whether or not I have a life but again don’t worry, it’s all about time management, a very valuable skill that I picked up along the way to organize my hectic schedule. Today, I just went and picked up my acceptance packet to go to Florence, Italy for next semester studying architecture with my brother. Oh, I forgot, my brother also goes here, his name is Chi-Thanh and we both go by CT. So more adventures of the CT’s to come!

CHI-THIEN LAM NGUYEN
Junior
Vietnam

A RWU Student From Saudi Arabia

Hey Everyone! My name is Laura Studebaker. I am from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and currently a freshman at Roger Williams University. Right now I am majoring in Elementary Education in hopes of becoming a teacher one day. I chose Roger Williams, first off for the Location! Not only is it near Newport and Providence, but it is also not too far away from Boston. On the weekends it’s easy to catch a bus or train to any of these fun locations. And secondly, I chose Roger Williams for the academics. Each of my classes are fun yet challenging, and when I need help with a subject I go to the learning center where one can get help from faculty and student tutors. Believe me, this helps very much! Spring Time here at Roger Williams is very busy! Right now CEN (Campus Entertainment Network) is hosting March Meltdown! They sponsor fun activities throughout the weeks. Last week they had an Indoor Ice skating rink! It was lots of fun, even though I fell down at least 5 times! CEN also had a sports pep rally where the Dance team Status Quo came and performed. They were Amazing! Peace.

Laura Studebaker
Freshman
Saudi Arabia

A RWU Student From Bermuda

Hello, my name is Rebecca Gregory.  I am from Bermuda and I am finishing up my freshman year at RWU.  I am currently majoring in psychology and chose RWU because of its tight-knit campus and its location (it’s right on the water, and in between Providence and Newport).  I love RWU and would suggest that any international, or any student for that matter, should come here! It’s been a very busy first week back from Spring Break.  The weather is starting to warm up and everyone is outside playing sports and enjoying the sun (and I’m a little jealous since I’m inside doing homework!) Globalfest is next week and I’m busy planning out my ‘Bermuda’ table, which hopefully will turn out well since I’m completely unartistic.  Sarah had to do an art project today; which included myself having to get dressed up in preppy clothing and having a photo-shoot outside, how embarrassing!  I also found out I get to live with my best friend, Danielle, in Baypoint and I am so excited!  Until Next time,

Rebecca Gregory
Freshman
Bermuda

RWU Dominican Republic Student

My name is Bianca Leonardo and I am a current freshman at RWU. I am from the Dominican Republic but I did my senior year of high school in Providence, RI. Roger Williams was the second college I ever visited. When I first came to Roger Williams it was love at first sight. I loved the campus, the people and the fact that it was located near the water.  I decided to apply here and when I got accepted I was really excited. My second visit to RWU was on Accepted Students Day and that’s when I realized that this was the school for me. Just listening to the experiences of others and walking around campus looking at the different residence halls felt awesome. On August 18, 2008 I finally arrived on campus as a formal Roger Williams student! How cool does that sound? I was more excited than ever and after registering I walked into what was going to be my home for a year.

Bianca Leonardo
Freshman
Dominican Republic