Author: gccblogs

How is Batavia NY is Different from my Hometown?

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Batavia NY is much different from my hometown in East Asia. Even thought they have about same population size, they have a quite different characteristics.

At first, a climate between two towns was killing me! My hometown belongs to the Temperate Zone, so I never experienced such a crazy snow and freezing temperature until I spent a winter in Batavia. Otherwise, summer weather in Batavia is very enjoyable, but my hometown is not because of its humidity and seriously high temperatures.

Another difference is the topographical factor. There is no ocean in Batavia, but it is located right next to two large lakes; Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Plus, it is a flat field suitable for farming corn and dairy farms. My hometown has both mountain range and inland sea, and prospers oyster farming while making use of the terrain.

Without having my own automobile in Batavia, the limited transportation reduces range of activities I can participate in. The B-line Bus Service and taxis are the only ways you move in Batavia without a car. Those services are not enough for people who do not have an automobile. My hometown has bus, taxi, train, and bullet train. The train is very expedient for communing to downtown, and bullet train is the easiest way for traveling to all around an area.

The difference between living in these two towns gives is challenging to adjust to.

-Makoto Le

Returning to school at age 38

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I was nervous about starting Genesee Community College. As an adult I felt that I was a little out of place. I figured the students would make fun of me because I’m old enough to be their parent. I have grown a lot because of my experience returning to school as an adult.

Returning to school had me a little frightened due to not knowing how much academic work was expected of me. When I went to college the first time I didn’t have to study that hard because I was able to retain a lot of information without writing anything down. I didn’t know what to expect 20 years later. Half of the time I can’t remember my own husband’s name. How was I going to retain class lectures plus homework information?

Now that I’ve been at Genesee Community College for a year, I’ve learned that I’m smarter than I thought. The kids in my class like me and some admire me. I’ve learned that there are many different ways for me to study. The method that works for me is using flash cards as well as taking notes during class. I often set aside time on the weekends to study the flash cards or read ahead to have all the weeks reading assignments completed or at least attempted. These techniques have helped me assimilate to being a college student. These methods have also helped in my acquiring Dean’s List status every semester so far.

To conclude, the experiences that I’ve learned here at GCC as an adult student has prepared me to further my education. One thing that would help this school be more marketable to adult students is separate areas for 25 and older to hang out. Sometimes it’s frustrating sitting in the student union with younger students and not knowing where I fit in. If there was a designated area for adults than at least we could feel a sense of belonging.

– Yolanda Ransom

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math!

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The Career Services Department is hosting an Employer STEM Networking Event for students interested in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math on Thursday, March 6 from 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm in the Forum!

Register for this event to network with multiple employers, including:

  • RIT
  • Genesee Community College (IT & Media)
  • Liberty Pumps
  • GCEDC
  • Town of Batavia
  • Morton Salt
  • Genesee County Soil & Water
  • Xerox
  • Five Star Bank
  • Lapp Insulator
  • Oxbo Corp.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension
  • EMA Design

Dress to impress, and have your questions ready to ask employers about their career path, future internship and employment opportunities, and anything else you can think of!

Started from the burbs now I’m here

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I felt like Harry Potter when he first arrived at Hogwarts when I got to Genesee Community College. I never visited the school before coming and didn’t know anyone before I came. I hopped on the Metra train at Chicago Union Station in Downtown Chicago, Illinois around 11 p.m. on January 11th and arrived in Depew, New York the following morning. I was greeted by Coach Sherman who took me into Batavia for the first time and gave me a tour. This is where my journey began.

After living in Lansing, Illinois my entire life, it is very odd for me to call Batavia, New York my new home. Lansing is a smaller town in the South Suburbs of Chicago, located approximately 25 minutes away from downtown. It is on the border of Indiana with neighboring towns of Cal City and Munster. The weather is actually fairly similar but mostly everything else varies. Lansing Illinois has a population of around 28,000, whereas Batavia’s population is much smaller. Lansing is a south suburb of Chicago and Batavia is in Upstate New York. The demographics are definitely not the same but I would say that Batavia is more diverse due to the fact that it is a college town.

Batavia appears to be an older town than Lansing. The houses are contrasting, not only structurally but also geographically. A lot of the local businesses are unique to the area and are not found in Lansing. Laws, rules and regulations differ slightly in Batavia. Prices are higher out here than in Lansing but tax is higher in Lansing because it is in Cook County. There is a lot less crime in Batavia than there is in Lansing. The scenery differs from Lansing because there is a lot more open land here.

I noticed that the language, slang, and terms used out here are different from what I am used to back home. The lifestyle is one of a kind here because of the location. Niagara Falls is in the area, as well as Canada and Buffalo. Before coming to Batavia I never heard of a garbage plate, but I think it is one of the best discoveries I have made. The last difference is that Batavia is a little wealthier than Lansing overall.

Nothing can replace Lansing because it will always have a place in my heart but Batavia is a really cool and unique place to live. I have met so many cool people and really look forward to living here for this whole semester and baseball season.

-Bobby Colantuono

All You Can Bowl at Mancuso’s

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Head over to Mancuso’s tonight from 6-8pm to support the GCC Softball team!

The event costs $12, paid to a Softball team member or at the door. This will cover your bowling and shoe rental, which means unlimited bowling for two hours!

The money raised will support the GCC Softball team for their spring training trip.

 

Mancuso’s Bowling Center

214 E Main Street, Behind TF Brown’s

(about 2 miles from the Batavia campus)

Phone: 585-343-1547

Dansville vs. Batavia

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My hometown of Dansville compared to Batavia is so much different. Where I come from there are more things to do and way less traffic. In Dansville there are about four traffic lights and in Batavia there are more than ten. Also the police know you by name and are nicer compared to Batavia.

On the typical weekends I’m usually out sitting around a fire talking with some friends and laughing. In Batavia the only thing you can do is sit in your apartment because there are no woods around here, it is mostly swamps. I’m used to the mentality of being country and I like that. There’s nothing better than to know how to survive off the land and get a little dirt on your tires. Can’t do that in Batavia!

When in high school, I never really thought I would want to go back to Dansville, but I miss it greatly. I’m really looking forward to this summer and getting ready to go home but most importantly spending time with my family and friends that I never get to see that often. When I graduate from college I want to move to Colorado and live in a country town just like Dansville.

– Colin Vogt

Soup’s On!

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Stop at the Forum for some hot soup to beat this cold weather on March 5 from 12:00 – 1:30! There will be four different soups to choose from, and each bowl costs $2. All proceeds will benefit the Cougarettes Dance Team.

The Cougarettes have qualified for EACADA/Ameridance/CollegeU Beach Bash Nationals on April 27. Good luck, ladies!

The Cougarettes at the 2013 Beach Bash

The Cougarettes at the 2013 Beach Bash

March at Arcade

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The Arcade Campus Center has a lot of great activities planned for March! Everyone is welcome to join in the fun. If you have any questions, contact  Arcade@genesee.edu

Tuesday, March 4 
12:30 – 2:00
Computer Lab 1
Bring any questions you have about Microsoft Office, Blackboard, email, or anything else you can think of to the Information Technology Workshop. Dave Sink, our tech expert, will answer any question you bring!

Shamrock

Monday, March 17
All day
Feeling Lucky? Paper Shamrocks will be hidden around the community areas of campus.  Find a shamrock and take it to the main office to get your pot of gold!

Tuesday, March 18
12:30 – 2:00
Our monthly Student Activities meeting include discussions regarding the end of semester student picnic and April common hour events.

Tie-Dye-2

Thursday, March 2012:30 – 2:00
Get a free t-shirt and tie-dye it!

Thursday, March 27
12:30 – 2:00,  and 5:00 – 6:00
The Lounge
Is your birthday in March? Come celebrate! Even if your birthday isn’t in March, stop by for hotdogs and chips.

Feeling Hungry?

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Hungry? Head to Tully's Good Times on Main Street on February 27, bring this coupon, and 10% of your bill will be donated to the Women's Lacrosse Team!

Hungry? Head to Tully’s Good Times on Main Street on February 27, bring this coupon, and 10% of your bill will be donated to the Women’s Lacrosse Team!

Buy a Duck – Not a Real One…

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Not many people can say that they have a collection of rubber ducks, but at GCC, it’s not unusual to find students, faculty, and staff members sporting these funny rubber toys.

The Business Forum Club will be selling decorative rubber ducks in the cafeteria from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm on Wednesday February 26, Thursday February 27, Tuesday March 4, and Wednesday March 5.

Ducks are $1-$5, also earning you a chance to win 10-50% of the funds raised that benefit the United Way of Genesee County.

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$1 Duck – 10% of the funds raised
$2 Duck – 20% of the funds raised
$3 Duck – 30% of the funds raised
$4 Duck – 40% of the funds raised
$5 Duck – 50% of the funds raised

GCC will host the sixth annual Ducky Derby on Thursday, March 6 at 12:30 pm in the pool at the Batavia Campus. Numbered ducks are set free, and with the help of a ‘current’ created by members of the Swim Team, the first duck that makes it to the end of the pool wins.

The race has become a fun tradition on campus with the Cougarettes cheering and helping celebrate the race while students, staff and faculty turn out to root for their favorite duck and support the worthy cause.