A little bit of this, a little bit of that.
The choices at CBU seem bottomless. What do you choose?
Brisco’s vs. ADC
Food: one of the great loves of my life. I could practically be majoring in taste tasting considering the quality of the food we have. From Fresh N Fit to home-cooked classics, I love it all.
Brisco’s is probably one of my favorite places on this earth. The “grab and go” style suits the busy student life where we have 10 minutes to spare before our next class and just need a little nibble to keep our energy up. Between the three and sometimes four entrée choices, a wide spectrum is covered –from fresh sandwiches or burgers with specialty bread and soups to favorite Mexican or Asian dishes to fresh salads and wraps. Fresh fruit is always available as well as bagged chips, some sort of sweet like cookies or Jell-o, plus french fries or a specialized vegetable dish. Water bottles line the shelves in the refrigerators and a fountain soda machine sits next to a cappuccino maker, leaving no room for an unquenchable thirst. A cozy indoor eating area has plenty of work space for a late night study session plus comfy chairs and sofas. I frequent Brisco’s almost daily, sometimes swiping my card multiple times to stock up on water, fruit, or– let’s be honest– chips and cookies to keep me going throughout the day.
(My favorite Soup & Sandwich: Rosemary foccacia bread, chipotle mayonnaise, turkey, lettuce, onion, salt & pepper with cream of celery soup. My mouth is watering and I just ate…)
I have seen the inner-piglet work its way to the surface as a newbie walks into the ADC (seniors, faculty and graduate students are not immune, either), looking upon the glory that is the buffet. Every place you turn your gaze, some delicious dish is beckoning with a home-cooked aroma. Italian, Mexican or Asian, Southern style, pizza, and burgers and fries offer diversity almost daily, on top of the fully-stocked salad, fruit, soup, and dessert bars with occasional specialty choices as in Black History Month’s menu of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, lemonade, and jambalaya. You want a specific type of drink? It’s there – teas, soda, coffee, juices, milk, frozen slushies – you name it, we’ve got it. It’s impossible to leave hungry, or without grabbing a handful of cookies on the way. Before I got to CBU, I told myself I would not gain the Freshman 15 and I didn’t – Freshman 20 all the way!
(Must-try: Two cookies of your choice placed in a bowl, heated in the microwave, with your choice of soft-serve ice cream in the middle. Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, nuts, or all of the above, and share with someone, or eat it completely on your own. Sharing is caring, right?)
Recreational Center vs. Intramural Sports
I grew up cheerleading for basketball and football and played softball for 11 years, so I am a thorough supporter of team sports. Recently though, I joined a gym and learned how to work out on my own without a team rallying me on. If I had to choose which I would prefer to do, I wouldn’t be able to. Either way alleviates stress and keeps the body active and healthy. Apart from our competitive sports, we have two easily-accessed means of athleticism.
Watching the Rec Center being assembled wall by wall for the past year and a half, I must say that I was afraid –out of sheer anxiousness and desire—that it would never open. It looked and sounded too good to be true; a floor-to-ceiling glass front wall, three stories, every machine you could ask for, several rooms for classes, and a multiple-courts basketball court. Little did I know that it also included an astro-turf soccer field on top of the roof, a twenty-foot rockclimbing wall, and racquetball courts. “Overwhelming” isn’t a sufficient word; I want to do it all. Classes are offered throughout the day including Cycling, Glutes & Guts, and 20-20-20, led by experienced students interested in physical training or kinesiology. State of the art equipment lines the walls with plenty of physical trainers to give tips and advice to aid your workout.
(Tip: reserve a racquetball court for you and a friend to challenge your agility, concentration, and coordination. The six-surfaced playing field gives a whole new meaning to “footwork.”)
There’s nothing like playing a team sport. The bonds created and constant companionship contribute to a unified body of teamwork. I have to say, I haven’t ever been a part of an intramural sports league due to the fact my music schedule is pretty demanding, but I have seen plenty of games and had many friends be a part of these very popular activities. Football, basketball, volleyball, and soccer are some of the many rosters that beginners and all-state athletes can sign for. Each team plays all the others, constantly working to get to the championships at the end of the season. Each team is student-led, sometimes consisting of a core of returners that invite worthy candidates to fill the open spots left on the roster, or most often, a group of friends decide they want to play for funsies or to hold the trophy at the end of the season as champions. The league generates a healthy competitiveness across the campus, uniting underclassmen and upperclassmen together over a sport each athlete enjoys.
(Remember: Football leads to the school-wide Fortuna Bowl, where the winners travel to Biola University for an inter-school championship. AND at Fortuna, the school brings in Chick-Fil-A or In-n-Out!)v
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