University of New England: Emma Bouthillette

Alright, so finally, I think it is spring.
Yes, spring technically starts March 21st on the equinox, but in Maine that doesn't really matter.

In my 21+ years now living here, growing up here, there is one thing that I know for sure. Winter can be fun if you keep busy with skiing, snow shoeing, snow mobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, etc. BUT there comes a point that you can only do so much of that, and it gets annoying when you haven't seen the sun for a week, you have to wear jackets just to cross campus, and then there is the funky sleet/freezing rain/snow storms.

However, grudging through the not so great always pays off this time of year when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, flowers are blooming, the trees will be green soon and everyone has something to do outside. Yesterday I got to go chill at the beach for 2 hours. My plan was to do some much needed reading for class, but I just fell asleep. It felt almost like summer!

Most of you will be here to experience fall, which can be just as beautiful as today, winter and spring. If you get a chance though I would highly suggest taking a summer course or working on campus during the summer because, while I love all my seasons, there is just something amazing about summer. I can't even put it into words, its just something you need to find out for yourselves!

View from Fortune's Rocks to Biddeford Pool...the best stretch of beach I've ever seen!

Bree...my family's puppy...guarding 77 Fortune's Rocks Road. She's on look out ready to attack any sea gull. Or at least bark at them til the fly away!

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all!
I'm sure everyone gets excited to have snow days during the winter. Well thanks to this nor'easter UNE had a rain day due to power outages. Being from this area I have seen many hurricane's and terrible rain storms, but this was definately the worst I have witnessed. It was nice to have a day off from classes, but nerve racking to think what the mighty ocean was doing to my 82 year old grandfather's cottage on Fortune's Rocks Beach...just down the road. My dad compared it to the storm of 1978 when the cottage ended up in shambles. There was sand up to the kitchen counters, the toilet was in the pond behind the house and the curtains were scattered over the beach. Compared to that, we were lucky this time.

All of these photos were taken in front of and around the cottage close to the time of low tide. I went to the beach earlier today, about two hours after high tide, and the ocean waves were still hitting the sea wall. Some cottages suffered more damage than others and there was planks and logs of wood, parts of stairs and lobster traps scattered all over the road and across the street. Luckily, I believe that most of the houses that UNE students rent were not damaged to badly. Along the beach, these houses are further set back from the ocean front or in the Biddeford Pool area. I just thank god that the cottage survived. I've grown up there, my father has grown up there and my grandfather built it with his own hands. It would be something very hard to loose.

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 6:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a new event brought to campus by the Study Abroad Office with the goal to heighten awareness of cultures across the globe and excite students to explore the world.

Here is the intro to one of many events during the first Passport to Culture Week!


Earlier in the day I joined a small group in a workshop with Doug focused on his career as a travel writer and his guidance on how to become a successful travel writer. Doug had great stories of travel do's and don't's. He had us rolling on the floor laughing and wishing we too could travel the world and see everything he has.

If travel is what you are interested in, visit the Study Abroad website and ask some questions. Study Abroad is rather new to UNE, but it is growing strong with more and more students spending semesters in foreign countries and returning with the experience of a lifetime.

Another option for travel is the route I am taking. There have been many courses offered which culminate in a trip to foreign lands. There has been one to Argentina, Ireland, Greece, Belize and coming up is Morocco, Trinadad & Tobago and the trip I will be on in May to France. These trips incorporate a semester's worth of class and a trip of one to two weeks. I can't wait for my French experience and I know that others who have traveled with classes aren't sorry they did!

Posted by University of New England at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi all!!!
The past week has been a whirlwind of activity...and I don't think it is going to slow down until the semester is done!

I'm just going to share with you tid-bits of information and a ton of photos! I just bought a new camera so I'm taking pictures wherever I go...

One of the first stops is Gallery 265 ... found at 265 Main Street Biddeford. It is home to a florist, gallery for local artists, venue for a jeweler, place for a spot of tea, and a great stop to find a small gift for anyone!

Then there is this super-cool-new coffe house ... Union House Coffee.
Amazing coffee....

Plus comfy chairs...

...and free wi-fi!
I'm definately excited to have this little spot to meet up with friends, study or just take a break.

Then throughout the week, the study abroad office held "Passport to Culture"...which will be detailed in it's own special blog.

Of course, Friday was Semi!!!
This is probably the biggest event for UNE undergrads and it is held off campus for that extra flare. This year it was at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. I went with Amanda and Camille (of course).

Since the theme was Bella Noche, we had spaghetti and meatballs courtesy of my grandmother and of course a late night dance isn't complete with a late night snack...so we finished at Denny's!

Then, I volunteered on behalf of Bufflehead's Restaurant at the 20th Annual Chocolate Lover's Fling in Portland. Bufflehead's has won "best brownie" in past years (unfortunately not this year....although I argue that) and the whole event is to financially assist the Sexual Assult Response Services of Southern Maine. It was a fun time to see the crowds wind through the room with their plates overflowing with delicious chocolate of all shape and form!

The line up included chocolates of all shapes and sizes from
Chocolate Falls in Maine: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
Buffleheads Restaurant at Hills Beach: Super Fudgy Brownie
Old Port Candy Company: After Dinner Mint Fudge & No-Bake-Cookie Fudge
MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery: Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Cupcake with Chocolate Ganache, Little Tiger Baking : Aztec Chocolate Dipped Tortilla Chip
Southern Maine Community College - Culinary Department : Grand Marnier Ganache Brownie
Cinque Terre: Lavender Thyme ChocolatesSweet Marguerites
LLC: Fleur de Sel Caramel
Holiday Inn by the Bay: Double Chocolate Macadamia Cake
Izzy's Cheesecakes: White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake & Chocolate Praline Terrine
The Daily Thymes: Chocolate Won-tons
Corsetti's Market: The Zebra & "Choclified"
Geo's Patisserie Cafe: Chocolate Othello Torte
Pepperclub: Double Chocolate Vegan Custard
The Great Lost Bear: Snickers Pie
Natasha's: Chocolate Covered Monkey
Bintliff's American Cafe: Chocolate Truffle
Jonathon's: Chocolate Mousse with Almond Tuile Elderberry Crème Frieche
...and they were alll amazing in their own rights!

It has been jammed pack fun, I haven't rested much other than crashing to sleep, but that is the way to do it. Life's more fun when you're making plans!

Posted by Emma Bouthillette at 7:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)