Living Like a Local: Thriving through Winter

East Tennessee is beautiful, and a lot of that beauty is accessible here in Maryville. The Smoky Mountains surround us, and this month we’ve gotten to experience the highs (and freezing lows) of the season! Winter can be exciting in this way. This month, we saw freezing temperatures, snow days, brisk walks to class, and spent our free time searching for additional layers as we tried to keep warm. After so much cold and little sun, the season can feel a bit…frigid. Whether you are in a new or familiar place, winter can be difficult. Here are some tips and tricks for making your own joy within this winter season!

Get moving!

Getting active has many benefits, and can help improve your immune system, help you sleep better, lower your blood pressure, and reduce anxiety. While you may not be motivated to spend all day in the cold, there are a lot of ways to get moving. Try an indoor activity, like working out at Alumni Gym, trying yoga with Camp 4 on Wednesday afternoons, or taking a barre or jazzercise class at a local business here in Maryville. If you’re willing to bear the cold, try going for a walk in the campus woods, jogging around campus, or walking around with friends. Interested in meeting new people in the community? Workout groups offer a great place to start. Start small and take it step by step. You never know where a new hobby might take you. I find my mind is quietest when I’m walking, so I join hiking groups whenever I move to a new place. Facebook groups can be a wonderful resource for finding similar interest groups. I’ve made some great friends along the way. Put yourself out there and do what works for you!

For more information about Fitness Options at MC, visit: https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/campus-life/student-services/wellness/

Try New Foods!

The U.S. is known as the land of fast food, and for good reason. An estimated 83% of American families eat at fast food restaurants one time a week (at least). McDonald’s is an American stereotype, but it is also the most popular restaurant in the fast-food industry. With the convenience of fast food and long work/study hours with limited time to cook, the popularity of fast food is not surprising. Finding balance in the food you eat will ultimately make you feel healthier and happier. So, take the opportunity to try new foods like biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, Tennessee barbecue, or visit McDonalds! These are all delicious. But, when you get the chance, have a healthy breakfast, eat more leafy greens, and stay hydrated. This will help you stay healthy and excel in your classes too.

Watch a film!

Yes, watching films can be good for your mental health! Films can help provide emotional relief, connection, and help you reflect on challenges and recognize your own resilience. Coincidentally, films are also an excellent way to learn about the world around us.

Around the world, movies offer an invaluable insight into the people, places, and events they depict. Whether pure fantasy or inspired by reality, films offer a window to explore another culture, perspective, and way of life. The U.S. is a diverse country. To give you an idea, over 350 languages are spoken in the United States alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the most widely spoken languages aside from English are Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Arabic. With so much rich diversity and history in the U.S., a lot can be learned about the U.S. through cinema. While I absolutely encourage you to go see One of Them Days or Nosferatu at the movie theater this weekend, I also encourage you to look at films highlighted in the National Film Registry. Films listed in the National Film Registry are highlighted by the Library of Congress because they are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to American cinema. See more descriptions about the films here. Some of my favorites are: American Me (1992), Spy Kids (2001), Iron Man (2008), Charade (1962), La Bamba (1987), Love & Basketball (2000), Real Women Have Curves (2002), The Dark Knight (2008), and Shrek (2001).

Local Movie Theaters:

AMC Foothills 12 (2.9 miles from campus)

https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/knoxville-tn/amc-foothills-12?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=local

Parkway Drive-in Theatre (3 miles from campus) - A car is needed; Carpool with a friend!

https://www.parkwaydrivein.com/

Fun Fact: Did you know that in the movie Spy Kids, director Robert Rodriguez named the movie’s characters after his children?

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Community Events Highlight

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Here are some events to help you get active!

1/24/25 6-8pm Family Owl Prowl at Ijams Nature Center https://www.ijams.org/calendar-of-events

1/26/25 Mountain Challenge Wanderer’s 5k https://www.mtnchallenge.com/open-trips

1/29/25 3:30-5pm Mountain Challenge Fire Building 101 https://www.mtnchallenge.com/open-trips

2/01/25 9am-12pm Mountain Challenge College Woods Work Day (email for additional information) https://www.mtnchallenge.com/open-trips

2/03/25 Ladies Night at the Climbing Center at River Sports Outfitters in Knoxville ($12, plan in advance) https://www.visitknoxville.com/event/ladies-night-at-the-climbing-center/7735/

2/05/25 3:30-5pm Mountain Challenge Urban Walk https://www.mtnchallenge.com/open-trips

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Here are some events to help you engage in the community!

1/24/25 1-3pm MLK Wakanda Lego Build at the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (free)

1/24/25 4-6pm Women’s Basketball Game at the Cooper Athletic Center (free)

1/24/25 6-8pm Men’s Basketball Game at the Cooper Athletic Center (free)

1/24/25-1/25/25, Times vary, Knoxville CholateFest https://www.visitknoxville.com/event/chocolatefest/28318/

1/25/25 9-1pm Knoxville Market Square Winter Farmers Market https://www.nourishknoxville.org/winter-market/

2/01/25 9-10AM Maryville Farmer’s Market https://www.farmersmarketmaryville.com/

2/01/25 10-2pm Knoxville Market Square Winter Farmers Market https://www.nourishknoxville.org/winter-market/

2/03/25 7:30pm-9:30pm Comedy Night at Central Cinema in Knoxville (free) https://www.visitknoxville.com/event/comedy-night/25352/

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Here are some events to help you learn something new!

1/25/25 12pm-2:30 pm Foreign Film Club at Blount County Public Library https://downtownmaryville.com/event/foreign-film-club-the-housemaid/

1/26/25 1:30-3:30 pm Japanese New Year Celebration at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville (tickets required, purchase tickets in advance!) https://www.visitknoxville.com/event/japanese-new-year-celebration/29269/

1/28/25 12:30-1:30 pm GCO Global Showcase: Lebanon with Sirine at the PDR (free, deserts available)

1/28/25 4-5pm at the CCM (Center for Campus Ministry) What in the World Cup Coffee (free, drinks provided)

1/28/25 7pm Clayton Center for the Arts, Dr. Bill Swann’s faculty piano recital (free) https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/calendars/fine-arts-events/

1/29/25 12pm in Anderson Hall 130; Celebrate Lunar New Year with Chopsticks v. Mini M&Ms Championship featuring Dr. Di Bei and Dr. Christina Seymour

1/30/25 7:30pm-10:30 pm Clayton Center for the Arts Presents: Chanticleer (need to purchase tickets in advance!) https://claytonartscenter.com/event/chanticleer/

1/31/25 3pm in BH 101 Japanese Daruma Doll Making (free)

1/31/25 6-9pm “States of Becoming” Opening Reception at the Knoxville Museum of Art https://www.visitknoxville.com/event/states-of-becoming-opening-reception/29052/

2/01/25 “A Feast for Eyes: An Evening with Peter Cook” (free but RSVP required) https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/news/2024/deaf-storyteller-peter-cook-to-perform-at-maryville-college-feb-1/

2/04/25 4-5pm CCM (Campus Center for Ministry) What in the World Cup Coffee (free, beverages provided)