Where to Eat?

 Having your parents in town to help with the move in process in August is extremely helpful for the obvious reasons including doing the heavy lifting, organizing your closet, and helping you loft your bed. They are also good for treating you to dinner as well! So I have come up with three different list of places to eat ranging from the least expensive ($) to the medium priced ($$) to the most expensive ($$$). A little side note and something I always do, make reservations! Reservations are usually only needed at the more expensive places so it is good to go ahead and make them so you and your family have a certain time, place, and seat for dinner after the long, hot days of traveling and moving in. Anyone else have any recommendations as to where incoming students should eat? *This is not only for incoming students. If your parents come visit for Family Weekend or any weekend, definitely reference back to my list for some tasty recommendations*

    $ 

       – Fire Street Food

        – Caviar and Bananas

       – Verde 

        – Jim N Nick’s  

       – Sermet’s 

       – East Bay Deli 

        – Tasty Thai 

        – Bull Street Gourmet

        

       $$

       – CO 

       – O-Ku

       – Monza

        – Basil

        – 82 Queen

        – Leaf

        -Hank’s Seafood 

        – Hominy Grill

       – Muse

        – Fish

        

        $$$

        – Charleston Grill

        – Palmetto Cafe (GREAT brunch!)

        – Magnolia’s

      – The Ordinary

        – Husk

        – McCrady’s

        – Grill 225

       – Slightly North of Broad

       – Oak Steak House

        – Hall’s Chop House

 

 

 

Fighting the Freshmen 15

I am sure many of you have heard of the infamous “Freshmen 15”, the weight you might gain from eating out late after a long night studying in the library, drinking anything and everything but water, and just not finding the time or a comfortable place to exercise. But have no fear, I have created 15 easy steps for you to follow in order to fight the Freshmen 15! 

#1 – Go visit and take a tour of the Campus Center Apartments Gym. Free for any student with the swipe of your Cougar Card. Here’s a video showing everything the gym has to offer! 

#2 – Also stop by the gym in the Johnson Center.

#3 – Try to eat balanced meals while dining at one of the on campus dining options and out in restaurants. Most dining places on campus have a salad bar so hey, that’s a start!

#4 – Eating at reasonable hours (or aiming to!) will help avoid leaving food sitting in your stomach when you go to sleep. It is definitely tempting to have that slice of pizza or hot dog from the street after a night out, but try avoid it as much as possible.

#5 – Since most of you are already schedule for your fall semester classes, investigate into Physical Education courses for the spring. They offer sailing, swimming, a weight training course, horseback riding, and the list goes on! Most are two credit hours and usually an easy A, although there is work involved. I took yoga during my Sophmore year and tennis my Senior year both which I enjoyed because it forced me to do some sort of exercise for an hour and fifteen minutes twice a week. The teacher for my tennis class was the College’s Women’s Tennis Coach who was hysterical!

#6 – Walk down to the Battery and Waterfront Park. No extra transportation needed since it is downtown. 

#7 – Play in Marion Square. Bring a football, soccer ball, frisbee, kickball, or whatever to get your sweat on in the park.

#8 – Keep your drinking to a moderation. Whether your drink of choice is a Starbucks venti, double chocolate chip frappuccino, sweet tea, soft drinks, or beer and liquor, just remember you are basically drinking calories. So if you know you are going to have one of these drinks, pace and limit yourself since everything is good in moderation.

#9 – Invest in a Brita water filter. It is less expensive and easier to transport versus continually trying to lug a case of water from Harris Teeter or CVS. This can filter out the tap water in your dorm and be a healthy drink option. Even though eight glasses a day is ideal, try to fill up a water bottle throughout the day and keep it with you at all times!

#10 – Visit Lululemon and the Extra Mile, both on King Street, to purchase some workout gear as one way to motivate yourself.

#11 – Opt for the more healthy food choices from Starbucks (soon to opened in the library) when you’re studying away in the library. 

#12 – Read the weekly CofC emails that give more information on intramural sports and free yoga and Zumba classes. (Ask anyone in AEPi about their basketball skills!)

#13 – Try to sleep. Yes, there will be wild weekends and numerous late nights in the library, but your sleep is also very important for a healthy lifestyle.

#14 – Enjoy a homemade and healthy meal twice a week at JSU. Meet to Eat on Wednesdays and Friday night Shabbat dinners are great alternatives to always paying to eat out or eating something at Liberty Dining Hall.

#15 – Grab a buddy early in the year so the two of you can use these tips to manage and avoid the Freshmen 15!

 

Here’s a peak at the Campus Center Apartments Gym (free and open to all CofC students!)

 

 

How To Become A Smarty Pants

I will be at orientation today fro 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM to hopefully meet a few new students! For this post, I wanted to write on a few different topics relating to the academic side of college.

#1 – Schedule

~ Since some of you have already registered for your classes, share your schedule! Whether you take a picture of your schedule and post it to your Facebook or write it on here, it is always nice to know ahead of time that you will have at least one person you know in your class.

#2 – Ordering Books

~ As you may have heard, college textbooks are extremely expensive. There are so many options – buying used versus buying new, purchasing through the Barnes and Noble on campus, the University Bookstore on King street, or through your own way, eBooks versus good ole fashion textbooks, and so forth. I will give you information regarding all these options, and I’ll run through what I did my Freshman year.

 Buying used versus new

– The easiest way I think to buy books is through the Barnes and Noble website. 

– Once you are on the website, click on Textbooks then Find Textbook or Textbook Rentals.

– Then, select your classes and go from there! It is that simple.

– You also have an option to have the books mailed to your house, or they can hold the box of books for you at the Bookstore (which is on Calhoun street right around the corner from Berry and McAlister dorm)

– So you could have your parents unpack, and you could run over to the Bookstore, show them your Cougar Card, and pick up your books (they will most likely be a little heavy!)

– I also have friends who wait until they go to all of their classes and see which books the teacher are actually using and which they might have taken off the list – the only downside is that some of the Barnes and Noble books might be gone for your specific class. (If that is the case, you can also try the University Bookstore for new and used books which is on King Street across the alley Five Guys)

– If you buy used, you must return them to wherever you bought them at the end of the semester. If you buy new, yes it will be more expensive the day of your purchase but you can make some money when you sell your book back. (Booths will be up all around campus when the semester comes to an end where you can sell your books back)

Where to purchase textbooks from?

– Like I mentioned above, I really like the Barnes and Noble website and picking up my book when I return back to school in the summer or winter.

– When I can not find a book in the Barnes and Noble bookstore or the book is not carried there, I go to the University bookstore on Kin Street.

– I have heard of other websites where people can get books including Amazon.com, Chegg.com, and eBay.com

eBooks versus textbooks

– Yes, heavy textbooks are a pain, but most teachers do not make you bring them to every single class.

– I have seen a few people in the library who have their books on their iPads or an eReader since that is a more green and not as heavy.

– Definitely do more research into eBooks, but I think there is an app for eBooks where you can put in the authors name and title and see if the book you need is available.

– On the Barnes and Noble College of Charleston website, there is a section for eBooks.

– Many college textbooks might not be available in this option.

Laptops

– Some of you might already have laptops which you like and others might be in the market to buy a new one. Being an iPhone, iPad, and Macbook Air user, I definitely like Apple products! I remember when I was a freshman, Apple had this special for college students. If you bought a laptop from them, you would get a printer for free. Now, I think the deal is if you purchase a laptop from Apple, you will get money towards the App Store. (Again, check into those deals at our Apple Store, but if you purchase a laptop or iPad you will get some money off!) You will get a different amount of money for the App Store if you buy an iPad instead of laptop. I did not get a laptop for graduation or have a good one I used during high school so during orientation I got to buy a laptop right from the Apple Store on King street. Easiest way to do it! The college also might give you information on a Student Backup Program which backs up your documents and other information from your computer at a certain hour every day incase your computer happens to crash. You can log in with your information, for example, at home, and you can retrieve any document. Here is more information on that! I also had my own printer. CVS does have paper and some printer cartridges so whenever either one runs out, it is only a quick walk away to restock. I did not share a printer with my roommate since she had her own, but some people think it is easier just for one person to bring a printer, then ask when you need it! This might also cut down on cost when it comes to paper and cartridges.

These a just some of the tips I have for when school starts, but I hope this gets you thinking about the academic side of college!

Eating Right

Crazy to think that already two orientation sessions have passed! When you come back in August and settle in,  you will have to start to cook for yourself in those oh-so-lovely tiny dorm rooms whether you are fortunate enough to have a tiny kitchen or not. Kayla, a current JSU/Hillel Executive Board Member and I have come up with some easy meals and also cool gadgets you should look into purchasing before move in that can help with your meal making!

* Microwave Snack Mix : This amped up, homemade Chex Mix does sound pretty delicious.

* If you can’t make it all the way to Harris Teeter, definitely stop in Caviar and Bananas for some already made tasty food you can store in your fridge and heat up. Be warned though, some of their food can be expensive, but can also last you maybe for two meals like dinner one night and lunch the next day. Freshmen year I also used to buy sliced turkey and cheese from there to make sandwiches or even a turkey and cheese roll up to bring to the library while studying.

*When you can make it to the grocery, pick up some of these ingredients for this Mediterranean Chickpea Salad.

* Although they may seem expensive, survey those in your room who likes coffee or other warm breakfast time beverages and possibly think about investing in a Kureg coffee maker. I have one now, and I love it. I don’t drink much coffee, but I do drink the chi teas, green teas, and hot chocolates that it also makes. Think about even splitting the cost if more than one person will be using it. They can be found at Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

* This is a creative idea and having a rice cooker could help you make tasty rice dishes that can be made into meals such as this Lemon-Basil Rissoto with Tomato Topping. (Check to make sure you are allowed to bring a rice cooker!).

* This might not be the best lunch or dinner, but Lunchables are great. I often eat them when I’m in a rush between classes or don’t have much time to eat. Another great and easy snack is any sort of bar that you can pick from CVS up and take to class. Same goes for cereal and milk that you can pour into a cup, grab your spoon, and be on your way! (Individual servings of chips or cereal is also good and not wasteful)

* I also realized towards the end of my Freshmen year, instead of hand washing all my utensils and being worried if they were really clean or not (since we did not have a dishwasher), I began to invest in some nice looking plastic silverware. Although it is not as visually appealing as having nice, shiny silverware, it will assure you that every fork, knife, and spoon you use are clean.

Here are Kayla’s ideas!

* An air popper : $20 on Amazon and saves so much money (you buy your popcorn in a bottle at Costco) and you cannot ever burn popcorn. (I also have seen the popcorn kernels at Harris Teeter)

* After you’ve popped your popcorn, mix it with marshmallow Fluff and a tiny bit of butter in a bowl for a fun afternoon snack or even a tasty treat around Halloween time.

* Macaroni and Cheese : Go to the grocery store, buy shredded cheddar, parmesan, and other bold flavor cheeses. Mix with heavy cream (or milk) and serve over any type of pasta. Feel free to add thyme or oregano to make your mac and cheese more flavorful! It is way healthier than the box macaroni and cheese and this ensures you have meals all week. (Also, think about investing in this cool gadget to help you cook pasta in the microwave)

* Keep peanut butter or almond butter in your room. It’s a great snack with pretzels, plain, or with celery. Same with humus (but don’t forget humus needs to be refrigerated!)

* Buy a bread box to keep your food items fresh and away from any potential unwanted visitors.

Please comment and add any tips of your own! Would love to hear what everyone has to say about this topic!

Orientation is Here!

Welcome College of Charleston Class of 2018! We are all so happy to have you on campus for orientation! My name is Caroline Eichholz, and I will (virtually) introduce myself as the new Jewish Student Engagement Coordinator at the Jewish Student Union/Hillel. I am from Savannah, Georgia and I walked across the Cistern (also known around here as graduated) this past May from the CofC as a Communications major. I look forward to sharing more about myself later and hopefully meeting many new faces at the orientation sessions this summer! Marsha Alterman, the Jewish Student Life Advisor, and I will have a booth during the orientation fair to hand out information, goodiess, and answer any questions you might have. The orientation fair is the second day of all orientations from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM, and the orientation interns will direct you to where the fair is!

Here are the orientation dates :

Session 1 : Monday and Tuesday June 23 & 24

Session 2 : Thursday and Friday June 26 & 27

Session 3 : Monday and Tuesday June 30 & July 1

Session 4 : Thursday and Friday July 10 & 11

Session 5 : Monday and Tuesday July 14 & 15

Session 6 : Thursday and Friday July 17 & 18

Session 7 : Monday and Tuesday July 21 & 22

Session 8 : Thursday and Friday July 24 & 25

Session 9 : Monday and Tuesday August 11 & 12

Session 10 : Thursday and Friday August 14 & 15

Look out for our faces all summer long!

Caroline

Marsha

 

 

Many Thanks to Mollie

A special thank you to a good friend of mine and freshmen Mollie Selmanoff for helping me with this week’s post! 

      “My transition to college was not easy to say the least, and it continues to be challenge but I can say for a fact that I wouldn’t be nearly as happy here as I am without Hillel/JSU.  I thoroughly enjoy going to many events that they have to offer, and I have made some of my closest friends through JSU.  Not only am I welcome to come to events, but the doors are always open for me to come in, chat with staff members and enjoy a good laugh.                                                                                                  

      Before coming to CofC, I wanted to be in an A Capella group.  I thought college would be the perfect place to explore that passion of mine.  Since we didn’t have a Jewish A Capella group, I decided to start one with a couple friends and Dara Rosenblatt.  Kol HaCougarim is the first and only Jewish A Capella group on campus.  One of my highlights every week is going to rehearsal and whether we accomplish anything or not, we always are sure to have a good laugh and a fun time. Though we may only be 4 singers, we are strong and determined to continue our love for music through this group.”

Want to share what your experience has been like at CofC? Comment on here and let me know! I would love to feature anyone in a blog post. 

The Klaper Fellowship in Jewish Studies

Our very own Andrew Spector was awarded the Klaper Fellowship Scholarship in Jewish Studies this past summer. On Tuesday evening, he gave an incredible presentation on his time spent exploring Jewish spirituality in Israel and also the Buddhist meditation retreat he attended in his home state of Massachusetts. 

He explained how in Israel it was all about Judaism, spirituality, the Talmud, and trying to be the best person you can be. He seemed to have a great group of individuals who also attended the program and a mentor who had a major impact during his time there. I could  tell he learned a lot, became  in touch with his inner self, and even embraced his inner yogi to meditate every so often while there. 

Andrew’s summer journey took a turn when he returned to America and attended a Buddhist spiritual meditation retreat. He told us that he was nervous and not looking forward to the experience which was the complete opposite of Israel. He sang, dance, drank, prayed, studied and connected with his religion while in Israel. Yet while in Massachusetts, he had to do a complete 180 of not speaking to anyone, looking them in the eye, smiling, and ultimately being just an organism living amongst other organisms. When he shared the challenge he faced of not feeling comfortable bowing down to the Buddha at the front of the room before each meditation session, it reminded me of my time at Catholic high school in Savannah. It was mandatory for all students to attend mass once a month. Although I did not sing the songs,  read and recite the prayers, and kneel during the service (we were even required to kneel during graduation, but I chose to just slide down in the pew to make it look like I was kneeling) , I took it as a learning and reflection experience. I took in a different culture, different way of looking at religion, and speaking to G-d.  From my interpretation and his presentation, I feel that Andrew had the same experience. He even said in order to show respect, not necessarily Buddha, he would bow down to his teachers before he meditated.

Andrew has been a good friend of mine for the past couple of years. I have seen him grow as an individual, and this year turn the corner in moving forward and being more open with what seems to be a passion of that is meditation,  spirituality, and sharing that with everyone around him. I am extremely proud of him and seeing the room Tuesday evening full of his friends, mentors, and the Klapers , I know I am not the only one who feels this way! Way to go Andrew! 

If you are interested in the Klaper Fellowship in Jewish Studies program, contact Dara for more information! You can choose an “internship” you take either in the US, Europe, or Israel and essentially make the program exactly what you want with the help of the generous funds offered by the Klapers. 

Are you Jewish by religion or culture?

Thank you to another guest blogger, Senior from Atlanta, Georgia Nicole Lubel, for writing her thoughts on the question “Are you Jewish by religion or culture?” Nicole’s approach to this question was from the culture aspect and how a visit to Israel made this connection between Judaism and our culture even deeper. 

“Growing up in a conservative Zionist household, I always was surrounded by thoughts about “the Holy Land” and was very knowledgeable about the meaning of the State of Israel, but it was not until I experienced the Holy Land through my own eyes that I really felt a connection. During the summer of 2010 (after my freshman year) I went on a Birthright trip to Israel through The College’s JSU/Hillel. Even though I had been to Israel before, it was this trip that made the connection so much deeper. I was able to experience the Holy Land with people my age and of the same faith. Not only did I see all the contributions that Israel has made to the world, but I came to appreciate the importance of the Jewish State to the continuation of the Jewish People. I saw how important it was that we as Jews should always have a place to call home. To this day I try to do my part in advocate for Israel to insure that we always have a homeland. “

Thank you to Nicole once again! How do you feel..do you feel that religion plays a large role than culture in identifying yourself as Jewish? Or vice versa? Comment on the post and let me know! 

 

Being Jewish at the College of Charleston

First, a special thank you to Dara for many new blog topics! She came up with the topic, “What does being Jewish at the College of Charleston mean to you?”. I decided to take a short walk down memory lane and figure out an exact answer to this question. 

Ironically enough, one major reason why i chose to not only apply to the College but also come to school here was because I was very involved with BBYO during high school. Dixie Council was the council I was in within the Southern Region of BBYO. Dixie included Jewish, high school students from Charleston, Columbia, Augusta, and Savannah. Every Labor Day, all of Dixie would meet in Charleston for their annual Labor Day Beau Sweetheart dance. So, for the last almost eight years (four from high school and four from college), I have celebrated Labor Day in Charleston! Throughout those dance weekends, I familiarized myself with downtown and other areas in Charleston. It really felt like a second home for me as soon as I arrived on campus for my Freshmen year. It was also a fun shopping excursion for my mom and I during middle and high school since it was only a two hour drive away. 

I knew coming to the College would be an easy transition from not only my Jewish roots and friends in Savannah, but also in joining another student led organization such as the JSU/Hillel. I enjoyed having the consistency of BBYO in my life and attending meetings, helping with fundraisers and volunteering, and the social side such as the out of town weekends. The JSU/Hillel has offered me the same outlets through the weekly meals, executive board meetings, and the social action & student engagement events. 

Ultimately, I believe being Jewish at the College is definitely a unique experience. Joining board about two years ago felt natural for me. I was not nervous to be on board or felt I would be looked at differently for taking an executive board member position. I love the close knit feeling that comes along with being a Jewish student here since there are not that many on campus.I feel as though I know a good amount of the Jewish student here on campus. I reconnect with familiar and new faces each and every Wednesday and Friday evening for our two free meals. I also enjoy sharing with others on and off campus that I am part of the JSU/Hillel as one of their executive board because I believe it gives credibility to the fantastic Jewish Student organization we have here on campus! 

I’m interested to hear what it’s like for you to be Jewish at the College of Charleston? Have you had a similar situation to mine or have you been faced with something different being a minority on campus? Comment here and let me know! 

What’s New This Week and Next

This rain has not been nice but the cooler weather has been! I am looking forward to the weather staying consistently cool and not hot for a week then cold for maybe one day.  Moving on from the weather, tonight (Tuesday, October 8th) there will be an Ice Cream Study Break at 8:00 PM in Arnold Hall! Tomorrow night (Wednesday, October 9th) we will have an Italian feast at Meet to Eat! 

Luckily, Friday begins our fall break (Friday evening everyone…don’t get too excited!) Unfortunately, there will be no Shabbat dinner or services, but if you are interested in celebrating Shabbat and will be in town, contact Dara.

Looking ahead to next Friday, it is Perspective Student’s Weekend! Jodie has been working hard to promote this event and get current students excited about those who may be interested in attending the College. It is a great way to show how strong the Jewish community is on campus and also include them and their families to our Shabbat celebration. Friday night will also be a Lock In at the JSC with games, food, and fun outings all night. If you are interested in helping or getting connected with a perspective student who may be coming from your area, get in touch with Jodie Singer via Facebook or her email : singerjm@cofc.edu .