Finally Back to Blogging!

Hello Everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been posting in a while. I've had a lot of problems with my blogger account, so I haven't been able to update my blog as often.

Just so you have a quick summary of what I have been doing so far in the past few weeks, I've had a lot of different exams, projects, and papers to write. Even though they were all very tough, I'm very happy because I got really good grades on all of them.

This weekend was a lot of fun for me. I went skiing to Smuggler's Notch with a bunch of buddies that go here too. I finally got to REALLY use my new skies for the second time, so it was really exciting, although I have to admit that today, in special, was a kind of frustrating day for me. I kept falling down on the snow over and over-- just like beginning skiers do (legit no difference)-- and couldn't stop it. Also to that, I have to add that I hadn't been getting enough sleep during the nights before, so I was very tired (which could've affected my balance and concentration). I should've probably rested more before even thinking of going skiing. However, I can't complain because I still enjoyed it a lot and had a great time. Now it's getting really late and I have a morning class tomorrow which I can't skip and/or be late for, so I am going to bed now. I will do my best in trying to keep you guys updated more often than before.

I'm thinking that maybe tomorrow I could post here some of the pictures and videos my friends and I took today and yesterday of Smugg's so that those of you who have never been skiing before in VT can have a clear idea of what this great snow mountain looks like!

Hasta la próxima!

Richi (my nickname)!

My @#$% Class (can't specify which). . .

My @#$%^ class is, once again, driving me insane. I like my professor. Actually I think he's pretty smart. Also, he makes the class really interesting, but I hate the fact that he gives us too much reading!!! I know it's an important class for me and that it's supposed to be reading-intensive, but it's just too much. I have been trying really hard to read the stuff that was assigned to us for today, but I think I'm ready to give it up--just can't handle it anymore. It's literally causing me a headache. Honestly, even if I were to read these things in Spanish, I'd still be complaining. It'd probably easier for me, although that wouldn't take away the fact it's tiring.

Alright buddies, my @#$% class starts in exactly 1 hour and 17 minutes, and guess where I am right now? I'm in my room, writing on my blog--in other words, procrastinating. Haha It wouldn't surprise me if whoever reads this post thinks I'm a lazy #$%^. But, the truth is, I am not. I tend to procrastinate every now and then, but I guess a lot of people do it.

-Don't be surprised if you see me doing something like this at some point during the semester!!!-

Ok, that's enough. I have to go eat lunch and then go to class-- can't be late!

I'll see you later.

Hasta la próxima!

My First Post - Third Sunday of the Semester

Hello everyone! This is Ricardo writing his first post as of 12:53 PM on a bright, calm Sunday afternoon [01-31-2010]. I guess it shouldn't be that big of a deal for me to be the first international student that has ever been asked to write for the Saint Mikes blog, but still it scares me! I mean, at least, I get to set the benchmark for other upcoming international bloggers. However, that doesn't take away the fact I will feel self-conscious every time I write something here. Just give me some time until I get used to it.

Today is my third Sunday of the semester. #$%^*! what a cold day! Like most Sundays at Saint Mikes, all that you do is either do the homework that you didn't do Friday or Saturday, or watch TV with your buddies if you didn't have any or your'e done with it. If it's winter time, you may go skiing or snowboarding like most students do here. I personally like to go skiing on the weekends although I've only done it twice this semester. Hopefully from next week on I will go skiing more often when my car is here. (can't wait until it's here!).

Anyway, going back to my Sunday "day" today, I expect that it will be one of the most boring ones I will have. I have no homework to do. Supposedly, I was going to go skiing with my friend Nikolas from Panama, but we were so lazy this morning (plus it was so cold out) that we decided not to go anywhere and stay at the school. I guess we would've gone if either of us had had a car, but we were too lazy to take the bus...! Anyhow, I think that's a good summary of what I've done so far today.

School's Cafeteria

Now I'm heading to my friend's place because we are going to watch a movie and we are really hungry. We couldn't make it to Alliot (the school's cafeteria) because we got up too late from our beds haha. Here's something you should know about the school's cafeteria: they close it at 1 o'clock in the #$%^& afternoon in the weekends and they open it again at around 5 but then it's closed again at 6:30ish! I know-- it's really disappointing, but that's the schedule. haha. Most international students usually have a really hard time getting used to it-- I personally am one of them. I've been here for roughly three years already and I still complain about it.

A Quick Suggestion

In the weekends when I miss brunch or dinner, I usually order food with my friends. Often times we order pizza or call Wings. If you're one of those diet-maniacs who want to be in shape all the time, then I would suggest that you don't do what me and my friends do: Alliot+fastfood = self-destruction-- definitely not a good combination haha.

Ok buddies, I have to go now, but I'll keep you up to date with what goes on here at any point next week!

Hasta la próxima! =)

About Me

Hello, Hola, Hallo, Genki, Salut, Selam,Γειά, Privet, Czesc, Ciao everyone!

For all of you who don't know me yet, my name is Ricardo Daher and I am an undergraduate student at Saint Mike's. I am originally from the city of Valencia in Venezuela. I'm 20 years old and am currently a Sophomore (2nd year student) here. A few months before coming to Vermont my family and I had moved to Caracas (Venezuela's capital city), but due to some circumstances and the various political problems that my country was experiencing at that time, we decided to move somewhere else. So, we figured out that Florida would be the best place to go. It was kind of difficult to choose the city where we wanted to live because there were too many options (also my parents are really picky). But guess what? Regardless of their pickiness, we were able to find one. The city is called Weston, and it's beautiful! Even though it's a small town, we absolutely love it! It's right on the Everglades area--just a few mins from the beach. My family still goes to Venezuela every now and then but not as often as they used to before. I bet it's been 2 years already since the last time I was there =(.

[This is me at my house in Weston]

What am I doing in College? O_o

I'm majoring in Business Administration and double-minoring in Political Science and International Business. If you think Poli Sci doesn't have anything to do with what my main focus is here, which is Business, and that the two shouldn't go together, I can give you a good explanation as to why my decision. The reason is that I'm planning on going to Law School here (still not sure between Boston and Florida) after graduating from Saint Mike's, and so I'm afraid that there might be things about the US political system that I may need to know for Law School. Even so, what if all those things I'm so unfamiliar with prevent me from excelling in my career as a lawyer? --Definitely can't let that happen. So, I'm thinking probably a minor in Political Science will make up for that lack of background that I'm going to need for Law School.

But why Business and Law?

Well, I'm interested in specializing in International Corporate Law. I like to learn about other countries, their cultures as well as to learn different languages. In fact, I can speak three languages fluently (well at least I think I can... heh), including, of course, my native language which is Spanish. This summer I'm planning on going to Geneva to study French, so I can get started with my fourth language. J'ai hâte d'être à Genève!!!

[This is the University of Geneva. If I end up going to Geneva, this is where I'm going to study French :)]

In case you ask yourselves why I came from so far away to go to school in such a small state like Vermont, there's also a reason for that--although it's kinda hard to explain. Actually it's been sort of a family tradition to come to Saint Mike's to study English. The first to come here was my uncle Humberto, who's like 76 years old now (I can't even remember the last time I saw him!). He came to Saint Mike's when he was my age in the 1950's--just a few years after the English Program was first founded. Like my uncle, there were others in my family who came here as well to study English (some of my mom's cousins, my brother Roberto, my sister Veronica, and ME). But there's an interesting fact about me. I am the first one in my family to stay at Saint Michael's to get his degree. Also, I am the only one who's been here the longest (since October 2006), although I took a few months off (between '07 and '08) in Italy as well as at lots of different places --I guess I needed a break.

[So yeah, this my sister Carolina and I in Isola Bella, Italy]

All I can say is that these last 3 years of my life have been the most productive ones I've had so far. My English improved significantly and finally I was able to learn Italian. I traveled to a lot of places I didn't think I would ever go (like Germany? I guess I never pictured myself there). I made lots of new friends and was able to learn A LOT about different cultures, especially the Asian culture. Actually the first Asian friend I made at Saint Mike's was a guy from Japan with whom I still am in touch with. Also, I met a girl from Venezuela (Marjorie Bacalao), who happened to be from the same city as me (what a small world!). Even though she doesn't go here anymore (which actually makes me really sad), we are still best friends. Now, she lives in Florida, so we get to see each other every now and then when there are breaks.

[Mayi and I at the back of Pontigny Hall)

When I first left Saint Mike's in May of 2007, I didn't want to come back because I didn't want to live so far away from my family. But as time went on I gained much more maturity and realized that sometimes we just have to live away from them. I guess I could say that coming back helped me become more independent. There are a bunch of things that I do now that I wouldn't have been able to do by myself before.

Here's a recent picture of me with my family on last year's New Years day. We had so much fun. I miss them a lot :(.

Haha... -Notice our hats and tiaras-

[From left to right: My sister Carolina (my future nephew inside her), me, my Mom, my Dad, my sister Veronica, and my brother Roberto]

Honestly, I can't regret having decided to come back to Saint Mike's. This is a great school. My English wouldn't have improved so much if it wasn't for this school and the great English teachers that I had here. 감사합니다! Danke! ありがとう! Спасибо! Obrigado! Merci a tous! Grazie a tutti! Gracias a todos! Thank you all!