So far my “almost” first year of college has been quite the ride. First semester wasn’t too challenging because I was taking a lot of 2 credit classes and was 2 credit short of the maximum credit a student can take before paying for extra credits. My second semester, well, let’s just say it has been the opposite! This semester I am taking a total of 18 credits and on top of that, I am involved with Bomb Squad and the Student Dance Choreography Concert which will take place next weekend. This does not lighten my workload at all. So, coming into second semester with the classes I had first semester did not help me at all. 🙁 I’ve found myself spending more time on homework and studying than I did first semester. I guess I “slacked” too much first semester and it bled onto second semester. So my lesson for the semester is, DON’T SLACK AND STUDY UNTIL YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THE TOPIC! ^_^

The classes I am taking this semester are:
-Survey of Western Civilization
-Hebrew Bible
-Philosophy 201- Human Nature
-Intro to Statistics
-Intro to Literature
-Intro to sociology

Over spring break I had the oppertunity to help my cousin with a class project about Hmong by Hmong dancing for his presentation. Here’s a clip of the performance. This Hmong dance team is called Nkauj Hmoob Spokane, which in English translates to Young Spokane Hmong Ladies. I am the dance team captain and this team consists of all Hmong girls living in Spokane with ages in the range of 10-20. This performance is only a portion of our whole team and we perform at events where we can spread the awareness of Hmong in Spokane and we also for the Spokane Hmong events like the Spokane Hmong New Years and Spokane Hmong graduation. Coming into Gonzaga University, I hope to also find a place to spread Hmong awareness and show my culture and traditions off. ^_^

Today I just wanted to spend a little time talking about my amazing experience with the Gonzaga Bomb Squad. This year is not only my first year at Gonzaga, but it is also my first year on the Bomb Squad. You might be wondering, what is the Bomb Squad? Do they actually get to work with legit bombs? What do they do? Well, I am here to answer your questions. Bomb Squad is a hip hop dance team here at Gonzaga and we get to perform at most of the Gonzaga men and women’s basketball games during their time-outs, GEL weekend, and freshman orientation. The team currently consists of 16 girls and 2 boys and out of that there 5 seniors, 5 juniors, 4 sophomores, and 2 freshmen. Not only are we performers, but we are also student athletes coming from different backgrounds. There are girls who were originally cheerleaders in high school, boy and girls who have never danced in their life before, or those who had a different dance background other than hip hop. We are not only diverse in our dance backgrounds, but also where we came from. There are dancers from Arizona to California to Washington and even Korea! If any of you incoming freshmen are coming to GEL weekend, that is our last performance to watch us. Here are some pictures of the Gonzaga Bomb Squad. Enjoy. ^_^

This is a picture from our very first Bomb Squad dance put on at Gonzaga. Our theme was Welcome to the Jungle.

Gonzaga Bomb Squad.

About to perform!

Last basketball performance of the year. 8(

So, here is my last post about my winter break. Although I only spent two weeks in sunny California and did a lot of travelling, this is by far my most favorite part about it. This winter break I was fortunate enough to be a part of two Hmong news broadcasting team, one in California and another in Wisconsin. I got the privilege to interview many people who not only attended the Hmong International New Years in Fresno, but also the contestants who competed in the cultural dance competition, the singing competition, and the beauty pageant. This experience has taught me a lot of things about myself and my own Hmong people. I’ve learned that my English is overpowering my native tongue of Hmong, that the younger Hmong generation is changing a LOT, and that there are DEFINITELY Hmong people all over the world! While I was in Fresno, I also had the chance to see my most favorite Hmong band LIVE, Destiny!! Ahh. The concert was amazing and I almost got to touch the lead singer’s hand!! ^_^ Below are some pictures from my amazing second half of winter break.

Here is a picture of my sisters, my cousin, and me.

This is the second place winner in the singing competition, Kouser Yaj from Wisconsin.

This is the first place winner in the Beauty Pageant. Her name is Joua Xiong from Oklahoma.

This is the second place winner in the Beauty Pageant. Her name is Maiher Vang from Wisconsin.

This is the third place winner in the Beauty Pageant. Her name is Hli Yaj.

These are pictures of me interviewing random people at the New Years Celebration.

And here’s one of me ball tossing. ^_^

Here’s a quick link to the youtube clip of me interviewing. 8) The language I am speaking is Hmong.

Thank you!

Nikky Xiongxtoyed
Freshman
Political Science

Hello everyone!! I thought I’d should share my winter break experience with you all. I hope you guys had an amazing and relaxing break because I sure did!!

So, I pretty much spent two weeks of my break in sunny California with my mom’s side of the family and travelled around quite a bit. The scariest thing EVER happened to me my first night in town; I experienced my first earthquake ever!! It didn’t even hit me that an earthquake just happened until my mom came running into the room I was staying in. It just felt like a GIANT FART! Haha. I guess this was a great start to my break, NOT. But anyways, my first full day in Cali was spend in LA. I went to the Griffith Observatory and took pictures with the Hollywood sign and I had the chance to walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, here are some pictures of my amazing first full day!! BTW: I met Kobe Bryant!! Haha. That is, his wax figure! ^_^

Me with the hollywood sign!

HOLLYWOOD! I wish I could get closer to it. Haha.

Me with my sisters.

Griffith Observatory

Me with the awesome Albert Enstein!

Bruce Lee!!

Twilight cast.

So there was a shopping mall area at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in the center of that was this giant Christmas tree!!

Last but not least, Kobe Bryant. ^_^

Nikky Xiongxtoyed
Freshman
Political Science

Fall on Gonzaga campus is the most beautiful sight with all the colorful leaf colors ranging from green, yellow, orange, and red. One of the best times to visit Gonzaga’s campus would have to be the fall. During this time, you can capture the most breath-taking scenes on campus from any angle! The weather is also great with no snow fall on the ground yet and just sunshine and cold temperatures. What I love the most about fall is walking in/on the leaves and hearing the crunchy sound of the leaves being crushed below my feet.

This is a picture of how fall looks like at Marian Hall, a dorm at Gonzaga University. As you can see, most of the leaves on the trees have fallen, and all the leaves will soon be gone.

A great place to not only look for any campus activity going on during the week, but to promote or advertise your activity is the wall. The wall is next to College Hall, besides Desmet, and across from Crosby. The wall is something “hard to miss” while walking on campus. I’ve never really used the wall until Bomb Squad’s Welcome to the Jungle Dance. Advertising on the wall was one of the many way we spread the word about the dance, which was probably one of the most effective way because I know from personal experiences that whenever I walk by the wall, my eyes are glued onto it reading all the events going on that week. The wall is also another way of showing one’s creativity; many ads by clubs are really artistic. Usually the artistic ones are the ones that “attracts” your eyes first.

Hello everyone! My name is Nikky. I am a freshman and my intended major is Political Science. I am from Spokane, WA; so the move to Gonzaga was not far. I chose to go to Gonzaga because one, my mom wanted me close to home, two, I heard the Law program here was pretty good, and three, I wanted to be surrounded by a close knit community. Even though I am going to college in my hometown, I still feel independent because I live on campus and I only see my family on the weekends. My hobbies are dancing, doing outdoors activities, and playing all kinds of sports.