Things you absolutely should not miss if you are studying abroad at Boston College

One of the best things about Boston College is that there is always something or other going on. If you do end up here, you’ll see it all over your Facebook; every day, there seems to be a new stream of Facebook events being posted and shared and liked, to the point where you’re actually having to make a decision between going to classes or going to one of these events (I would advise you to do the former…). The fact that there is always something happening makes for a very exciting university culture. Campus is almost always buzzing, and if you ever find yourself bored, there’s a very easy solution. Below are some of the highlights of my year, that I definitely don’t think you should miss:

The Sports – The BC Eagles are a nationally renowned brand more than they are a team. The name spans over the football, hockey, basketball and myriad of other sports teams that exist on campus. Football season usually takes place as soon as the school year begins. Every Saturday for the first few months of the year, students, alumni and locals will buy tickets to the Alumni Stadium (located on campus!) for these games, pretzels and hot dogs in hand. American Football takes a while to grasp, as does the concept of tailgating (I like to explain the latter as people eating elaborate barbeque lunches out of the trunks of their cars, but that doesn’t make for a particularly appealing explanation.) My insider’s hint would be to snag a ticket to one of the televised games; they are slightly more expensive, but also way more exciting. Who doesn’t love the opportunity to be on ESPN?

Public Lectures – As I’ve probably mentioned in one of my previous posts, the wide array of public lectures that I’ve had the opportunity to attend has been magnificent. I listened to psychologist Amy Cuddy speaking about self-confidence, journalists from the Middle East discussing media-related issues, and Palestinian-American comedian Amer Zahr shedding light on the Israel-Palestine conflict. These examples alone demonstrate just how wide the variety of speakers is. Tickets to these events are usually free for Boston College students, and it’s a great networking opportunity as well. In this case, my insider’s tip would be to attend events held by Agape Latte, a campus organisation that puts faith and spirituality at the centre of their conversations.

Culture Shows – Over 70 different countries are represented at Boston College, and there is a culture society to complement each and every one. The culture societies become a tight-knit family, hosting events and cooking food together in a way that makes BC feel like a home away from home. Particularly for international students, these culture clubs can be a sense of security as well. Every year, the major culture clubs host culture shows, showcasing dance, drama, music and the arts of that particular culture. They’re not only really impressive, but also an opportunity to learn about the culture. Insider’s Tip: would highly recommend the culture show hosted by the Organisation of Latin American Affairs (OLAA).

The ALC Showdown – Kind of along the same lines as the culture shows, but also very different. The ALC Showdown is a big deal. Each year, all the dance teams on campus, including the dance teams of the culture societies, all compete to win the annual showdown competition. What I loved about this was the fact that you could literally see how much hard work and dedication each team had put into their performance. I knew people who had been working towards their Showdown piece for two months, staying up practising till the early hours of the morning. Go to honour their hard work, if anything. Insider’s Tip: Showdown tickets are limited. Whatever anyone tells you, buy one as soon as possible. The 2016 Showdown sold out in less than 48 hours.

The ample volunteering opportunities –One of BC’s signature mottos, and what they hope for their graduates to be, is to be ‘men and women for others’. Service-learning and volunteering are an integral part of BC culture, and you’ll see this in the wide variety of volunteering organisations on campus, such as 4Boston, Arrupe, Appalachia and various others. The best part about volunteering at BC is that you reflect on your service afterwards, and by result almost become incredibly close to the people you serve with. So if you want to meet a new bunch of people, or even if you’re just looking for an alternative to the classic American spring break experience, go and volunteer. Insider’s Tip: Join the Dominican Republic Service and Immersion Program run by the Learning to Learn Department – the best choice I made.

Retreat Opportunities ­– As BC is trying to build holistic, well-rounded ‘men and women for others’, they also recognise that students need time away from the relentless work schedule. Therefore, student-led retreats are also a common part of life at BC. These retreats are times when students can just take a break and reflect on what has happened in the year so far. They therefore provide ample opportunity for self-critique and improvement, as well as bonding. Best part? Most of them are free of charge! Insider’s Tip: Retreats are more fun if you know the people you’re ‘retreating’ with. Try to join a team or club at the beginning of the year that will become like a family to you.

Commencement – A synonym of graduation, commencement is a blast, and also bittersweet. As you watch your senior friends graduate, you not only realise how quickly university goes, but also how quickly your study abroad year has gone. You may not be in a cap and gown, but in a sense, you are graduating from your host university too. The 2016 commencement ceremony featured a speech by the U.S. Secretary of Energy, inspiring words from college deans and a few teary-eyed seniors. Insider’s Tip: give your senior friends a big hug after graduation, because they leave their dorms at 8pm that night.