Virtual DOTL part II

(note: I received an email from a girl yesterday who told me she read the blog and had other questions about UVa! I felt so relieved that there is at least one person in this world who is reading the blog.haha)

Anyways, continuing my Virtual Days on the Lawn for ya all out there!:



Hoos: Old Cabel Hall. A traditional-styled theatre where a lot of musical performances are held every week. The photo above features the Virginia Gentlemen, one of my favorite acapella groups here at UVa:) Today, Jeffery Sachs (renowned economist) just held a talk in here!

Boos: Old Cabel Hall has large columns at the back that block some of the audience's views. No idea who designed that.


Hoos: Painting Beta Bridge is one of the 109 things you need to do before graduation. Basically, its a bridge that is on Rugby Road (where a lot of fraternity houses are), and you paint on it to promote whatever event/cause that you want to promote for. It's fun and you can show off your non-existent graffiti skills!


Boos: Have to wake up at 6 in the morning so you can avoid being painted over, and that people will see it in the day time/ at night when they are out to party on Rugby Road.




















Hoos: Springfest! one of the annual carnival events organized by University Programs Council. One of the activities of the day is Gus-burger eat-off (on the left)(Gus-burger is a burger with a piece of egg and hamburger in it, the best thing to have when you're a little...) and also disgusting eating competitions like Vermonster eat-off(on the right) (a huge tub of Ben and Jerry's ice-cream shared with 4 other people, and people just chuck the ice-cream on the table and pass it around so as to get it finished asap!!)...it's so much fun to watch! We also had Sara Bareilles come perform!(woo-woot!)

Boos: Stomach not big enough to be in all these competitions.

Hoos: One of the tranquil days at the Ampitheatre when all is just so peaceful. One of the things I love most about here is just enjoying nature, something I would NEVER have the opportunity to do if I stayed in Hong Kong.

Boos: The weather is pretty sporadic these days, it could be really beautiful one day, then kinda chilly the next...but makes you appreciate the better days more!

Oh, and some clarifications for people who are concerned about the social life here. You do not have to join the Greek life (i.e. be in a fraternity or sorority, and only 30% of the student body is in one) to have a life. It is a good way of getting to know people and socializing, but there are SO many other organiztions, activities to do here that you do not need to worry if you don't feel like joining one.(There are more than 600 registered student groups here!)

Virtual!DOTL + List

I decided to combine the virtual days on the lawn with things I love about UVA.

1. Pretty:

.. like we need any more pictures of the Rotunda. The second one was taken at Pancakes for Parkinson's - which is free pancakes on the lawn for a good cause.

2. Sports:

I'm really more of a soccer (*ahem football) fan and our team is really good. The UVA soccer fan group is called Wahooligans and they are responsible for the most awesome atmosphere. I love it!!

But it's not like I've never been to an American football game.. it's a tradition to dress up with pearls and ties but wearing orange and blue is good too.

3. Music "scene":
for my fellow music lovers!! U2 and Muse are coming next semester!!!!!

Tim Be Told is one of the homegrown bands. Maroon 5 at JPJ Arena.

Melee at Satellite Ballroom and Jason Mraz at the Pavilion.

4. Spring Break Opportunities:

Interning for the Obama Campaign in Pittsburgh. Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans!

5. Living/Dorms:

I'm a second year living at Lambeth. I really like it. Lots of space!

6. Other Events:

Foxfield! I went my first year and I had a blast. And Taiwanese Food Night. Yum

Inside my dorm room

I liked Ella's post about virtual Days on the Lawn :) I was not able to visit UVA before accepting my offer of admission either... So don't be worried if you can't see everything in person before you get here! 

The admissions website has a place where you can "Take a look at UVA" through a slideshow of pictures. If you have other pictures that you want to see, let us know and we can post them!

I know one thing that I was curious about was my dorm room. There are a variety of dorm choices first year, but I lived in Lile in the Alderman Road dorms. Below are a few pictures of my dorm. Enjoy!

Me and my stuff on move-in day. I had to buy some more stuff in the stores afterwards.

The room slowly starting to get set up... Look how much stuff I fit under my bed!

My closet. It fits more than you think... but is still a little tight if you have lots of clothes.

My desk and chair (provided by UVa in every room).

Singing happy birthday to a suitemate on her birthday. 

Again, if you want to see pictures of something, let us know! We will do everything that we can to provide the best Virtual Days on the Lawn for you!

Virtual DOTL-Part I

I'm sure a lot of you (like me) won't have a chance to visit the school/go to Days on the Lawn (that is happening right now as I'm typing this entry), so I'm going to give you a little tour of the school, a kind of 'Virtual Days on the Lawn'(with pictures that are taken on my pretty crappy camera)


First of all, the Lawn during different seasons-


->During the summer, it can get pretty sweaty here in Charlottesville.

-> The University Programs Council has a 'Photobooth on the Lawn' during Halloween, and it's during the Fall when you can see the changing colours of the trees everyday.

-> Trick-or-treating on the Lawn! Where tons of kids and families from all over Charlottesville come to UVa and the Lawnies (the Lawn residents as we can them) give out heaps of candies to little kids who dress up as peacocks, a whole family of M&Ms, little fairy dogs that run around... and the Best Costume Award goes to a Dad in a surfing suit while with one hand he's holding a surfboard that has a huge bite-mark on it, and on the other, his baby is dressed up as a shark! (how cute is that?)


-> Lighting of the Lawn! An annual event that brings the students together for hot chocolate, acapella groups and basically waiting for that moment when the Lawn lights up....and then you're like 'OH...so that's it?'
But when you're sitting on the steps of the Rotunda at night looking at the lit up Lawn, you just can't help but think how lucky you are to be here.


-> When it snows, it's awesome....and no, you aren't allowed to sled on the Lawn but you can streak with you UGGs on.




Tired of the Lawn already? Want to see other parts of the school? Check back here later for another installment of Virtual Days on the Lawn and I'm going to take you to dorms, the Stadium and other things you won't see on the official school webpage!


--ella