#maymester

Pug Life - Claire Mauss

Hello! My name is Claire Mauss, and I am a sophomore studying Environmental Science and Health. My hometown is Irvine, California, which is about an hour away from campus. Growing up so close to USC, it has always been my dream school. Needless to say, I love it here and feel exactly at home.

In addition to being a die-hard Trojan, I am also a huge environmentalist. Currently I am involved in several environmental clubs on campus. The first is through Undergraduate Student Government, where I serve as the Assistant Director of the Environmental Student Assembly. ESA is a branch of Program Board, which houses multiple cultural and interest assemblies as well as several event programming committees. I am also involved in Environmental Core, an environmental activism club on campus. Through these two clubs, my peers and I work to drive forward environmental efforts on campus! Even though USC is a large school, I really do feel like I am able to make a difference here.

I am also minoring in Spanish. I really love the Spanish Program at USC; the professors are amazing, and the classes are fantastic. Studying a language at USC is especially awesome because you can earn credits toward your language major or minor (as well as with many other programs of study) abroad! Next year I am planning to travel to Bilbao, Spain to finish up my Spanish minor. I am also hoping to take a Maymester in Oaxaca, Mexico called “Food Activism and Food Culture” that would count towards my minor as well!

When I’m not out hugging trees or learning a foreign language, you can find me spending time with the amazing friends that I have made here, scoping out LA’s best eats, and thrifting in the fashion district. Not to mention, I am also a huge fan of pugs! On the weekends I volunteer with Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles, an organization that helps pugs find homes, and go to Pug Meetups with my pug! I love living in the heart of LA because it allows me access to tons of other cool activities outside of campus.

June 26

This was my last day of class. We had our final presentations and the latest copies of our briefing books turned in. Besides a few hiccups during presentation, they all went as I expected. During the presentations, I learned a lot, they were really long, and a little awkward (yes, even mine) -- all of which was to be expected.

Later that night, we had one final, group dinner. It was really awesome seeing everyone and being together one last time. The weather was beautiful, the food was delicious, and I loved laughing as I listened to stories of people’s favorite, or least favorite, memories from the month.

I got one last scenic picture overlooking the Seine, because of course I would. Clearly, I like the dress (so much so, I hand washed it and let it hang out my window to air dry). Unfortunately, I had to finish my packing once I got home.

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June 27

I said bye to my host mom as she dropped us off at the airport. We were her first set of students, and I think anybody else who gets her as their host mom will be really lucky.

The trip back home was long, and in my typical fashion, full of shenanigans. My first flight was delayed three hours and American Airlines gave me a 15 Euro food/drink voucher to make up for it, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep before we took off and woke up really disoriented at 30,000 feet, a young man in Chicago overshared his life story and wouldn’t let me eat my cheeseburger in peace, and I almost lost a toenail to my heavy luggage. Overall, I spent 24 hours either in an airport or in the air.

How to Survive Having Multiple Majors and Minors, Part 1 - Bowen Du

 Every once in a (short) while I’ll find myself wondering why in the name of all that is good I decided to take on two majors and a minor. College is stereotypically a battleground between academics, social lives, and sleep, and having any kind of major-minor combination can often compound the struggle. But take it from someone who’s been there (and still is there)—it’s manageable, and you can have it all! And here’s how:

1. Study what you enjoy. Pick majors and minors that you are honestly and truly passionate about. Your Dornsife experience will quickly prove to you that the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences all have their respective merits, often when they intersect. Different academic and career paths can all lead to success, and so long as you’re passionate about what you do, you’ll follow your path right down to its successful end.

2. Do your research. Go online and check out the prerequisites, requirements, and potential course plans for the programs you’re interested in. Be sure to take a look at other majors or minors that are similar to or even combine the ones you’re interested in (like these awesome interdisciplinary programs). If you’re in the process of applying, don’t be afraid to email a faculty or staff member with any questions you have—they’ll often be able to put you in touch with a current student who can give you valuable insight.

3. Talk to your academic advisers. With each major and minor comes an adviser who will help you fit all of your required classes into your schedule. They’ll also make sure that you’re on track to graduate in four years. Most importantly, these are the people you will go to when you’re ready to declare an additional major or minor. All of my advisers have been amazingly helpful, and without them I would not have been able to plan out my academic experience here. They’ve readily answered all of my questions about double majoring, studying abroad, graduate school, and career options.

4. Take general education classes that also serve as required courses for your degrees. This is an easy way to kill two birds with one stone. Some GE courses may also involve experiential opportunities—Problems Without Passports and Maymesters are travel classes that will take you to any of a number of amazing places in the world. Oftentimes they’ll also fill a GE and/or major requirement.

5. Look for scholarships and grants. Dornsife has a list of scholarships for continuing students on their website, and odds are you will qualify for one of them. Another thing to keep in mind is the Academic Achievement Award, which gives students with a minor or double major extra tuition money if they take more than 18 units during a semester. Other programs, like the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF), can supply money toward things like Problems Without Passports classes.

June 24

Following my long day at Dieppe, I figured the best use of my Saturday was to walk a lot again. That’s a good idea, right? I hadn’t seen the Basilique Saint Denis yet, and I was told it was beautiful. I also had a free ticket to go inside and see the heart of a mummified boy, but in true Lucero spirit, I was halfway to the basilica before realizing I hadn’t taken the ticket with me. And it wasn’t a distance I was willing to backtrack on, it took me around fifty minutes to get there by metro, as it’s actually not in Paris, but a bit north of the city. 

So I sat there on the metro with a baguette in one hand, my phone with tunes in my other hand, and a disappointed look on my face. 

Regardless, it was beautiful and I still got to see most of the inside, just not the mummified heart (which is fine, the concept creeped me out a little anyway). Their rosaries and other religious things were also way less expensive than Notre Dame, so of course I got more. 

While I mapped my route to the basilica, I noticed on Google Maps a little rainbow section that was the designated Pride route, and it was near the Louvre. I quite like the Louvre and wanted to go back and do more shopping in that area and figured, “hey why not go to Pride, too?”

Let me tell you, it was a crowded and wonderful time. I marched with everybody for about thirty minutes or so before I got too claustrophobic to continue. It was just such a joyful time! We danced and screamed and had a grand old time. It was a great first Pride parade for me!

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June 25

A bit of a lazy day, I finally took some time to rest my aching feet (who wears boots to Pride? this dumb girl). I also had to start thinking about dinner! Earlier in the month, our home mom asked my roommate and I if we would make her authentic, Mexican food. We said sure, well knowing that we had no real experience making Mexican food and that we were just good at eating it. 

Nevertheless, in the span of two hours, we cooked up homemade tortillas, taco meat and filling, and cilantro-lime rice. And our home mom loved it!

Bonjour!!

June 1

Today we had class and grabbed paninis at a nearby cafe. They’re quickly becoming my favorite thing, because they’re quick and cheap and can be taken on the go. I’ve also tried Orangina, an orange fizzy drink similar to Fanta. It’s quite nice. I’ve taken to trying every food and drink I can!

After paninis, we made our way to the metro and headed towards the Eiffel Tower. I’ve been here before, but it’s either been re-done on the ground floor or I completely misremembered it. Or both! The floor just beneath the tower is concrete, and I’m not quite sure why I remember grass.

Lines everywhere were really long (ha ha I don’t know what I was expecting!) which wasn’t terrible except for the fact that it was so hot! It’s important to understand that it never reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but the lack of air conditioning anywhere had made it difficult to cope. But we made it to the second floor of the tower, and a breeze picked up and it was nice. The sun helped the tower cast a really cool shadow over the trees.

So, I have a pretty strong fear of heights. It’s not quite a fear of heights, but more of a fear of falling. Roller coasters are fine, but going to the very top of the Eiffel Tower and then looking down through the fencing? Not as fine. Apparently she’s about 300 meters tall, which is substantial.

After waiting in line again for more tickets and to get to the top, we made it!! Despite my reservations about falling, I trusted the civil engineers who designed it and sat on the railing for a picture. It really is very necessary, as there are tons of people even at the top. Lots of oblivious tourists, poor parents with strollers, and loving couples sucking face. A little elbow push never hurt nobody.

And here’s the view! I’m not sure what was nicer, the view or the beautiful, cold wind swishing about. I had a heavy backpack with me and I’d smartly (not!!) worn a black shirt and jeans so I was quite sweaty and tired. But overlooking the Seine, everything was alright.

After stopping for ice cream and granitas, my roommate and I made our way back to our homestay for dinner. I originally wanted to do a bit more, but things take longer than anticipated and I tire out like a little kid. Besides, it’s nice to spend time with my home mom. She’s a retired English teacher and is incredibly intelligent, so she makes great conversation. Others are fortunate but not so lucky as I am, and can’t quite talk about more than basics with their home families. So, it’s nice.

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June 2

Today was my first full day in Paris without schooling! I definitely love the course so far, and have been learning a bit about ethics. I like the actual academics, I’m just not a fan of the building. It’s pretty warm and doesn’t have air conditioning.

Anyways! My roommate and two friends and I decided to hit up the Palace of Versaille today. It only took a two metros, a tram, and a bus to get there. It was also quite warm today (why am I surprised????) and also had the chance of rain. But as you can see, there were no rain clouds in sight when we arrived.

We were told to pick something to visit, rather than try to do the entire grounds. I think that was a smart thing to do! As you can see, the palace is very ornate and the inside was just as pretty. This chateau is where King Louis XIV had moved the royal family and stuff to, instead of keeping royal affairs in Paris. So, we just toured the palace.

From what I could gather (I’m not big on French royal history, or any royal history for that matter) King Louis was just really extra. I can’t imagine living in a place like Versailles. It’s so big, and looks fragile. It was very interesting though to walk around and look at all the paintings. I’m always up for making up stories for the people depicted.

I think this was my favorite part. It reminds me of the Vatican, and its Sistine Chapel. The dork in me is probably more excited about the Corinthian columns, though (shout out to Calvert!!)

After several hours of walking around, we decided to call it quits and look for food. I was absolutely starving. But it’s okay, because paninis never fail me (jambon et mozzarella = trés bien)! The Palace had also kicked up dirt, or otherwise had too many flowers because my allergies began to really be a pain. On my way back home, I practiced French and asked for allergy medicine. I’m not convincing by any means but I think the broken French inspires sympathy, which was really all I needed.

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