Fun before Finals

Hello everyone,

I hope you are staying warm with this colder weather hitting the Cedar Rapids area.  This is finals week, one week filled with exams!  This semester I only have 2 finals which I am thankful for.  Before finals week I always try to do something fun so I will not be as stressed out when the week arrives.  I got together with my brothers and we had a gift exchange for the holidays.  I also got together with many friends and we had an ugly sweater social.  Its always fun to meet up with friends and forget about school work for a while.  I attached some photos of my fun weekend!

Thanks for reading as always and I will talk to you once finals are over!

Justin

A step away from Coe

Hello Readers,

I hope everyone everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  It was great to see my family and eat way too much food! :)  I also worked in the emergency room while I was at home!  It was great to see all my coworkers also.  Before thanksgiving break my fraternity and I went on a trip to the Mississippi river museum and aquarium.  This was a great time to bond with my brothers and see some cool stuff.  We got to watch a 4D movie about the deep sea monsters.  I love seeing the sea animals and I haven't been to an aquarium in a while.  On board for this week is 2 tests and initiation for my fraternity.  I always love initiation week because we get to add new brothers to the bond!  I attached some pictures of the aquarium.

Thanks for reading,
Justin    

Thanksgiving with ΛΧΑ

Hello Readers,

Last night all the Brothers of my fraternity got together and we had a big thanksgiving dinner together before we all head home to our families!  This was a great bonding opportunity to just relax, eat some good food and clear our heads of school.  We do this every year and it seems to get better and better.  Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and even PIE!  Tomorrow Coe will host the first round football playoff game for the second time in school history.  This will be a fun game to be at  and we are still undefeated! :)  On tonights agenda I am going to the Cedar Rapids Roughrider hockey game with all the brothers of lambda chi alpha.  This is also an annual event we host and should be a great time.  I hope you all have a great weekend.  Enjoy my pictures from our turkey dinner! :)

Thanks for reading,

Justin Nylin

Looking back on the semester...In pictures!

Hello Readers,

Hopefully this post finds everyone having a great day.  With Halloween just passed, that means it's on to Thanksgiving then the final stretch til Christmas. You may have gone out and gotten your Halloween costumes and candy, and are now thinking about Christmas decorations, Ugly Sweater parties, and all holiday food.  Looking back on the semester it has been a great one! :)  I have picked some great photos that explain my semester thus far.  

TEA! I love tea and I drink it every morning before class. 

This is the night I was homeless.  My brothers of Lambda Chi and I built a cardboard box and slept on the quad for a night to raise awareness for Habit for Humanity.

This is a decoration on my apartment door and it brings in the warm feeling of Fall! :)

This is a picture I took on campus.  I love our campus and this shows why.

I got to meet Curt Menefee when he was at Coe.

This is one of my best friends Kelly.  We have a great time together and always enjoy watching Kohawk sports.

And last but not least the reason I'm here!  I love nursing and Coe is the place to be!


This semester is flying by and it's crazy to think Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away!  I am having the time of my life at Coe and I dread the day I have to graduate because I never want to leave this behind!  This has been one of the best chapters of my life so far and I cant wait to see what the rest of the year has to offer!

Thanks for reading like always!

Justin Nylin

 

Nursing Visit Day

Hello All,

This coming Tuesday November 6th there will be a Nursing Visit Day on campus.  This is a day for all students interested in the Nursing Major at Coe.  I am a little bias but I love nursing here at Coe. From the wonderful professors to the 3 semesters of one on one clinical experience.  I have had the best experience ever here at Coe.  You can also still be involved in other things at Coe when majoring in nursing and that is another reason I love the program.  We are steps away from the hospital and we can even go to the university hospital for clinical.  If you are interested in the visit day just go here and register. http://www.coe.edu/departmentalvisit_registration

Thanks,
Justin Nylin

Parents Weekend

Hello again,

Wow this week flew by.  A test, Nursing Careplan and Lab test out it is finally FRIDAY!  I am excited because it is parents weekend and my parents are coming!  Its always fun having them here because they get to see all the great things Coe has to offer and what I am experiencing at Coe.  We are going to the football game tomorrow and of course dinner :)  Its fun meeting everyones parents as well.  But I'm off to eat dinner with my roommate and her parents so I got to go.  Hope to see some of you blog readers around campus soon!  Go KOHAWKS!

Thanks for reading,
Justin Nylin

Fall Break

Hello All,

Hope everyone is having a great day.  This week has gone by so fast! Monday and Tuesday we had Fall break.  It was great to have a break but feels awesome to be back.  Thursday night was the closing program of our capital campaign.  It was great to see all the support the college has gotten in raising over  $90 Million.  I also got to meet alumnus Curt Menefee who was back on campus.  It was a great time to get together with everyone from the college and celebrate such an amazing accomplishment.  Now for the weekend its Football and Soccer games.  Lets hope we can remain undefeated for the football season! Thanks for reading!

Justin Nylin

Watermelon Fest

Hello,

Every year my fraternity put on an event called the watermelon fest.  This is an event where we get a ton of watermelons and various groups on campus come and do olympic style events with watermelons.  I was with a team of basketball girls because they needed some expert help since this was my 4th watermelon fest.  Of course we won! :)  We all get to go out to dinner together as our prize.  All of the money raised from this event goes to Waypoint which is a women and children's center right here in Cedar Rapids.  It is a fun event with a great cause and at the end we get into a huge watermelon throwing fight, which is awesome. I attach some pictures for you all to see!

 Me practicing my watermelon seed spitting

After the watermelon fight!



Campus Visit Day

Hello Readers,

Hopefully some of you reading this I met on Saturday!  Saturday was campus visit day where students look at Coe and decide if it right for this.  I worded this campus visit day and got to meet a ton of cool potential KOHAWKS!!  I also went to the Coe football game on Saturday which me WON!!!  I love the atmosphere at sporting events here at Coe.  All the support makes you proud to be a Kohawk.  Today I am going to study because I have an exam on Tuesday.  I love days where you can just sleep in and wake up knowing all you have to get done is some studying with a cup of coffee in hand of course. 

Remember if you ever have any questions you can e-mail me at janylin@coe.edu!

Thanks for reading,
Justin  

Fall and Homecoming

Hello again,

This past weekend was homecoming!  It was amazing!  Kohawk football won 51-0 and the dance was a great time to forget about school for a night and have a great time with friends.  Coe is all about traditions and homecoming is a long one!  There is a parade the morning of the football game and a pep rally the night before.  It a great time to show off your kohawk spirt and have pride in your school.  I have attached some pictures from the weekend.  

Thanks for keeping up!

iPhone 5

Hello Readers,

Hope everyone is having a great beginning to Fall!  On Friday morning at 3am I went to the local Verizon store and waited in line for the iPhone 5.  What was I thinking you ask?  I'm in COLLEGE!! :)  It was a fun time and a story that will laugh a lifetime.  My friend Hayden and I waited in the cold with a blanket and a cup of joe.  Around 7am we got a number and then got to go in our cars and warm up.  They let us in around 8am and I was the 7th in line.  I got my iPhone 5 in no time and have been in love since!

Thanks for reading!

Week 4

Hello Readers,

Well its week 4 and I have already had 2 tests and one of the best years yet.  This year I have decided is going to be the best year yet.  After all I am a SENIOR and need to make this a great year.  Last week my  fraternity had a bonfire for all the brothers to attend to bond while the year get off to a great start.  This was a fun event because it set aside time for us to hangout where we might not always find time ourselves.  This week is rush wee for all the fraternities and Lambda Chi Alpha has a ton of events planned to meet the new guys on campus.  Kohawk football is still undefeated and I am looking foward to homecoming in 2 short weeks!  I also got to see 2 of my best friends from high school this weekend as they came to see me.  I have class tonight from 5-8 and need to get some reading done so I will talk to you all soon!

Thanks for reading!

Justin Nylin

 At the bonfire

Tuesday :)

What a great weekend! Kohawk football and Soccer took home a  win this weekend.  It is always great when we do that because you can hear the victory bell across campus.  This weekend I also wen to my first Iowa game ever!  It was one of the funnest things I have done, even though they lost :)  Last week was the Organizational Fair.  This is where all the student orgs on campus have tables set up outside the cafe so students can get involved.  There is also a ton of free stuff and best of all CANDY!  I was stationed at the Nursing table where I promoted the Student Nursing Association.  In my planner for this week I have a test and nursing care plan due Thursday so I will be working on that until then.  I also have clinical tomorrow during the day.  These weeks are flying by and I am taking a ton of pictures so when I graduate I have something to look back on!  I love Coe and all it has to offer and am proud to call myself a Kohawk each and everyday!

Thanks for reading,
           Justin Nylin

 Friends!

 Hawks game!

Organizational Fair

Hello

Hello Readers,

Wow, where has this past week gone?  I feel like I have been on campus for a month and I once again am loving every minuet of it.  Living in the apartments is going good and I love to cook for myself.  This semester I only have class on Tuesday and Thursdays.  This is nice but also it can be easy to get behind because you think you have more time than you do.  But my planner is my best friend.  Yesterday was the first Kohawk football game at home and we won 33-3!! I love football season and cheering on the Kohawks to a victory!  But i better get back to reading so I can enjoy my day off tomorrow!

Thanks,
Justin Nylin

Back to Coe again! :)

Hello Everyone,

I'm back on campus and could not be more excited. Yesterday I moved into Morris, which is an on campus apartment. One of my roomies is already moved in and I am awaiting the other 2 who come tomorrow.  I am very excited to get the ball running this year with new student orientation starting Wednesday.  This is always an exciting time to see all the new faces and help them experience the best time of their lives with the best decision they have every made! :)  I can't wait to meet all the new students and get to know them but for now i need to keep unpacking and organizing my place. Pictures to come!

Thanks for reading,
Justin Nylin

Hello

Hey All,

Sorry I didn't post the last part of my trip.  There was no Internet but that ok because it was nice to get away from all sorts of communication!  We went on a 3 day safari and saw all kinds of animals.  Loin, giraffe, zebra, hippos, crocs, elephants, rhino, and cheetah to name a few.  This was awesome because they were so close to us!  We made is back safely to Iowa after spending 37 hours in airports and on the planes!  Now my real summer will begin and I start my Nursing internship in the Emergency room on Tuesday!  I will be working nights from 5pm-5am 3 times a week.  I am excited to gain a ton of experience.  This should be a fun filled learning summer and I can't wait!  Only 70 days until everyone is back to Coe! :)  I can't wait!  Thanks for reading!

Justin

Cultural Village and National Reserve

Hello Everyone, Yesterday we went to the cultural village where we saw a traditional village dance as well as a traditional homestead. This was great to see because only about 12% of the Swaziland is still living like this. There was also a waterfall in the park. It was beautiful! Some of us even rock climbed over to it! We had to even take off our pants so we wouldn't get soaked with water! :) After the village we went to a national reserve where we ate lunch in the picnic area. It was great because animals would even come right up to our tables. When we went on a drive through the park we got to see Zebra, Impala, Wildabeast, Warthogs, and even Crocs. This as great for us to see and we were so close to them! Today we are going with the parish nurses again! Before we know it we will be on our way to Kruger National Park for our 3 day safari!! Remember if you are picking one of us up from the airport next Friday we are scheduled to land in Cedaer Rapids at 5:57pm! :) Thanks for reading, Justin

School Nurse Visit

Hello readers, Yesterday I got to visit a 1st grade rural community school where we did health assessments on 40 students! This included eye, dental, general, and height and weight assessments. This was a great opportunity to see the poverty in the school system. Almost every kid had ring worm. Some with eye infections, many under weight and a lot with cavities! They even pulled kids teeth in the back of the classroom, done by a dental hygienist. I thought this was crazy and the kids did not even cry! Once the assessment was done the kids lined up at the "pharmacy". Here they gave the prescription medications that were written by the nurses. Medications for pain, cream for ring worm and even eye drops. The 1st graders would just put the baggies of mess in their pocket and hopefully they take them regularly. This was a great experience to see how school nursing works. The kids were so happy and it made me feel good that we were there to help! It is a cold morning in Sawziland! Only 37 degrees! My shower this morning was cold too so I am going to have to have some hot tea fork breakfast! Everyone is doing well and we can't wait to share stories and pictures with everyone! Thanks for reading! Justin

Cultural Experience

Salbona from Africa, Last night I got to stay with a family that lives in the rural area! Getting there was a challenge because the roads were very bad! Once I got there and met my host mother I was a little nervouse because I was staying alone, with no other Coe student. It ended up being an experience of a lifetime! No running water or pluming. We cooked dinner over a campfire, and I even got to try Millie meal, which is a corn pourage. In the morning I got up to watch the sunrise and see the kids off to school. Then we made 5 house visits with the nurses walking a total of 10 miles which seemed all up hill in very uneven ground! It sure was an experience I will never forger and I loved my awesome family! Everyone on the trip is doing great! Today we will hike and go zip lining! I can't wait! Breakfast is waiting for me so I better go eat! Thanks for reading, Justin

Update! :)

Hello everyone! Internet is very poor here and down almost everyday! We are having a great time! Yesterday we got to explore the city and it was a huge culture shock. This is a very poor city and there is a ton of poverty. Everyone seems very happy even in the poor conditions! The weather is cool in the mornings with it getting up to 80 in the middle of the day! I have been working out every night before bed which makes me feel great! Today we will vist a clinic here as well as a hospice house! I am very excited to see how healthcare works here! Thondie, who is the director of parish nursing will be showing us around! This is going to be a great day! I love Africa! The food here is good for the most part but very different. There is a ton of small lizards around and frogs as well! Thanks for reading! Justin

On to Sawziland

Hello all, What a beautiful day in Africa! The sun is out and we are enjoying the nice weather. This morning we had breakfast at the club house. We had a fried egg, bacon, toast, fresh fruit, cereal, and hot tea. The food was delicious! I slept fairly well and got up around 9 am. We are traveling to Sawziland today! About a 5 hour van ride. The trip should not be too bad because we will be able to look at the land. Enjoy reading! We are hoping we get wifi in Africa so I can keep you updated. Justin.

Africa!!!

We made it! We touched down in Johannesburg, Africa at about 9pm local time. Getting thru coustoms was not hard at all! After getting thru customs we exchanged our American money for the local currency here, the rahn. That was a little stressful because we had no clue what was a good deal or a bad deal, but we figured it out and I only has to pay about $10 to exchange my money. We made it to our guest house and it is a vey nice place! There is a spot where a bunch of us are sitting under the stars. We are all showered up and ready for bed. I can't wait to see this place in the day light! All is well and everyone is happy we are here! :) Thanks for reading! Justin P.S. Pictures are to come!!

Amsterdam

Hello Readers, We made it to Ansterdam and all is well. The flight seemed to go by really fast. I only got a couple hours of sleep and it is now morning here! This airport is awesome! Everything from Starbucks to wooden shoes. We all decided todo some shopping here on our way back. We have about an hour until take off and then we will be in flight for about 11 hours until we hit johanasburg. I will try to blog whenever we have wi-fi. Keep tuned to reading as we take this journey of a lifetime! Thanks to all the readers! Justin Just a reminder if you are following we are 7 hours ahead! :)

Africa Bound

Hey Readers,

Finals are done and I survived!  Today we had Day 1 of our May term class before we leave on Friday!  I will be blogging while in Africa, when we have internet access, so be sure to visit!  Campus is a little quiet but I am busy packing and cleaning up my room to move out.  My parents will be here Friday morning to see me off and pick up the last of whats in my room.  It will be a 21 hour flight with a 12 hour layover total.  I will blog as much as possible!  I am very excited and I can't wait to share this once in a lifetime experience with you that Coe has offered me.

Thanks for reading!

Justin Nylin

Walk-a-Mile, Formal, and Finals

Hey readers,

This past Saturday was jam packed with fraternity events.  In the morning we did Walk-a-Mile in her shoes.  This is an event where the Brothers of Lambda Chi Alpha get in heels and walk a mile to Waypoint family services.  Waypoint is a women's shelter which we raise money for every year!  Lambda Chi formal was Saturday night.  Formal is a dinner and dance that you brig a date to.  It is always a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year.  This weekend finals start.  It is bittersweet that school is coming to an end for the summer.  It is always nice to have a break but leaving Coe is sad.  But my Summer will be jammed packed with Africa and my internship in the Emergency Room.  I will be continuing my blog over the Summer and when in Africa (when I have web access).  I attached pictures from this weekend!  Thanks for reading!  Talk to you soon!

Justin

Desi and I at formal

Me in my heels

The group when we made it to Waypoint

Easter leading to a crazy week!

Hello Readers,

This past weekend I went home for Easter and it was great to see all my family and friends.  Its always fun to sit and laugh with all your family you haven't seen since Christmas!  The weekend home was a much need break but this is going to be a busy week.  Yesterday I had a test in Nursing Research.  I think I did well and now that is off my chest.  Today is the softball game and I am excited to go support the team while serving popcorn for the student alumni association.  The weather is beautiful.  Tomorrow is Research Symposium Day. Research Symposium Day is a day where there is no class scheduled but students present their research all day long all over campus.  It is always fun to go see what my peers have been working hard on this semester.  Friday night I will be at Clinical.  This Saturday I am teaching a Boy Scout Merit badge class on first aid on campus.  This is am opportunity I got through Lambda Chi Alpha.  This should be a fun day because I was a boy scout myself!  Its crazy to think there is only two weeks of school left, then I will be Africa bound for May Term!  Thanks for reading and e-mail me at janylin@coe.edu if you have any questions!

Justin

Here is my moms' wonderful Easter idea! :)

 

Greek Week

Last week was Greek week.  Greek week is a week full of fun with all the Greeks on campus.  Events ranging from a bonfire and bowling to Greek Olympics and a cook out.  Greek week is always a blast because it gets the Greek community together on campus.  During this week we also have a can food drive for the local pantry and we also ended the week with an event called Spring 500.  Spring 500 is an event where the Greeks give back a total of 500 hours to the community by doing work for the elderly at their home.  The work ranged from window washing to yard work.  This event is always fun because we get to hang out with each other while helping people in need.  Greek week was a success and I can't wait until next year!

Thanks for reading!

Justin

Flunk Day 2012

Flunk Day is one day in the spring semester that the outgoing student body president and vice (Kelly and I) choose to cancel classes and take a day to relax.  This year flunk day was on Monday March 19th! :) The day was beautiful and there was a ton of stuff going on out on the quad including photo booths, foam party, bouncy horse races, a DJ and a ton of food.  Kelly and I woke up flunk day committee (FDC) around 5am so they could get ready and we woke up campus at 7am.  The quad opens at 11, but FDC helps set up the days fun activities on the quad.  It is just a great day to relax and not worry about a thing! This years flunk day was just that.  It was a beautiful sunny day for campus to have some fun!

Until next time,
Justin Nylin

Kelly and I on the bouncy horse races

Me in Kellys room about to go wake up FDC

Klly and I

St. Paddys Day Fun!

Every year on St Patricks in downtown Cedar Rapids more than 10,000 people from the community gather for the annual St. Patricks day parade.  This year I got the pleasure to be in the parade as the Charlie Kohawk.  It was a ton of fun to see all the people and get them excited about the day.  There was green everywhere and the streets were flooded with green as well.  The weather was beautiful and we handed out green toosie rolls! :)  It was great to get out into the community and show off our Coe pride.

Back at it!

Spring Break was a much needed time to rest and have some fun!  I went to Las Vegas with my friend Kyle and we has a blast!  The week flew by but I'm excited to be back at Coe with everyone again!  I will use this week to get back in the swing of things because we only have 7 weeks left until summer!  That is crazy to think about.  This summer I got an internship in the Emergency Room back home, I can't wait to start.  I am also looking forward to traveling to Africa this May.  My future is looking exciting.  The weather this week is looking beautiful, who knows it might even be Flunk Day tomorrow! ;)  I have also started working out again and cutting out the junk food!  My friend and I pledged that by the time we graduate next year we will both have a six pack, so I can't let them down :)  I better get running in this beautiful weather.  I also attached some picture from my Spring Break trip!

Until next time,

Pirate Ship at Treasure Island

View from our room

Volcano at the Mirage

Chumlee from Pawn Stars

Justin

Well it's Thursday!

Hey Readers,

That's right, it's Thursday. :)  Last weekend I had a blast.  It was Coe night at the Roughriders, which is the Cedar Rapids Hockey Team.  That was a blast to see so many Coe peeps there!  This Friday is $5 Prom.  $5 Prom is an event put on my Lambda Chi and Alpha Sigma Alpha each year and you must spent less than $5 on you full outfit.  It's always fun to see what people find!  Then we have a dance on campus until 1am!  It should be an action packed night!  Tonight is the first game of the conference tournament for the Men's and Women's basketball teams.  It's a blackout event so I have my black shirt ready!  Next week is going to be crazy because I have three exams before heading off to Vegas for Spring Break but it will be a much need break to relax!  The weather is weird here!  One minuet it will be 40 degrees and the next its snowing!  I can't wait for it to be 60 degrees all the time!  But i better get to doing my homework so I can go to the game tonight!

Thanks for reading!

Justin Nylin

Recap

Hey Readers,

My weekend was amazing!  Friday night I went to Prez Ball, and had a blast!  I thinks its always fun to see your professors outside of class and get to know them better.  Tonight I got voted in as the treasure of Student Alumni Association.  This is a group of students on campus that connect with alumni of Coe for career advise as well as just have a fun time together!  I am very excited about this because I get to work with some amazing people and it will be one more thing for me to experience while I'm here at Coe.  This Saturday I am going to the Coe night at the Roughriders.  The Roughriders if the hockey team in Cedar Rapids.  I am very excited to go watch them as well as hang out with all the awesome Coe people that will be there!  Below you will find pictures from the Prez ball!  Thanks for reading!

See you soon,
Justin

Me, Hayden, Anna

Me and Lindsey

Christina and Me

Desi, Hayden, and Me

Beth and Me