What is there to do?

<p>Today, my Euro History teacher advised me not to go to Notre Dame, calling his experience at ND the "worst 3 years of his life" and that "the only thing to do is watch football games" and "to get some Chinese food, you would have to travel to the next State."</p>

<p>I will probably visit ND before I make any decisions, but what do you guys normally do for fun at ND? I am from Boston and I have lived there almost my entire life. Will I find ND boring?</p>

<p>Honestly, your Euro teacher probably was not the type of person who would be best fit to go to ND. He most likely did not care much about sports, community, and religion. Those are the three things that make ND unique, and if he did not appreciate them, there is nothing to separate ND from any other school.</p>

<p>Yea, he told me it wasn't a good fit for him. I'm trying to figure out if it's a good fit for me...</p>

<p>So what do you guys do there for fun?</p>

<p>okay for the chinese food....well he's wrong. There's the following options: Great Wall (kinda sketchy, never any cars on their lot...), Golden Dragon (their brochures were printed for a while saying "we delivery" - but the food is good for takeout chinese) and I know of several other chinese buffets...</p>

<p>I just had to put the rumor to rest about the lack of chinese restaurants. That having been said I'll try to be serious and answer your question...</p>

<p>I don't know about Cninese, but Hana Yori is a pretty good Japanese steak house.</p>

<p>i can cook good chinese food if anyone is looking for some. just kidding. i am chinese though, probably one of the few chinese catholics that will be going there. </p>

<p>ive been reading a book that collects student accounts of universities. nd is full of campus activities and while south bend isnt full of life and things to do, many students take weekend excursions to chicago in the winter and spring. </p>

<p>what can you domers tell me about meijers? ive been reading and it seems like a hip go-to place for grocery shoping. hehe.</p>

<p>There is at least a movie theatre, a variety of restaurants, and other "necessities" at South Bend right?</p>

<p>I mean I know you guys do more than just watch football. I just want to know what some of those things are.</p>

<p>we even have an airport and a train depot...."is there a movie theatre?" what kind of question is this? Do you honestly think this place is the "sticks"? Okay, quite frankly I am sick those who complain there is nothing to do here on campus. You've got the generic 14 screen movie theatre with 5 miles of campus. There's a 6 screen dollar theatre fairly close, several bowling alleys. South Bend even has a performing arts center in the downtown area and has an orchestra that plays there. To be blunt those who say there is nothing to do here are a) either lazy b) the lazy slobs who only go drinking every weekend. Although it is necessary to have a car to get around the city. Unless you can figure out Transpo, since students can use the bus system for free. Hope this helps</p>

<p>I am amazed that no one has mentioned that having to go to the next state isn't bad (even though it isn't true) as Michigan is about 5 minutes from campus. God bless northern Indiana</p>

<p>Meijer is a 24 hour store where you can find anything you need. Its comperable to a Super WalMart. I think their grocery section is better. Both WalMart and Meijer are open all the time, and conveniently are located within 2 miles of each other on the same road. </p>

<p>Don't forget the fact that we even have a SAM's club - it shares WalMart's parking lot, and a super Target. I mean, all your shopping needs can be taken care of. </p>

<p>Further evidence that South Bend = civilization is the fact that we even have a MALL <em>gasp</em>...</p>

<p>How do you guys get to Notre Dame if you live far away?</p>

<p>Do you guys fly to South Bend via connecting flights or do you just fly to Chicago/Indianapolis and take a bus? I'm assuing there are school buses right?</p>

<p>if you're asking does the school own buses that transport between O'Hare or Midway and campus. The answer is NO. Personally I had a car on campus since second semester Freshman year and I drive to and from campus for all breaks. It's only about 420 miles for me to get home, a simple half day drive. </p>

<p>On the few occassions that I have flown home, I used the South Shore Line, a train that runs between South Bend Regional Airport and Chicago. The train lasts about 2 hours to get to Chicago. It comes in under State street near Michigan Ave. Costs about $11 for one way. I then use Chicago's "L" to get to the airport. Did this perhaps take a little longer than a direct shuttle, yes? But I preferred it because I stopped to see a friend or two on these occassions from HS who went to school in Chicago.</p>

<p>if you really care use this website to find out some info about one shuttle option to get from ND - yes this shuttle picks up on campus and will take you to the airport.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.anthonytravel.com/ND_Limo.cfm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.anthonytravel.com/ND_Limo.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It looks as though a one way ticket will cost you about $33 and round-trip will run you aroun $57.</p>

<p>There is the Coach USA shuttle that goes to both airports in Chicago directly from ND's campus (or you can fly there from SBN but that usually is expensive) so it really isn't that hard. It has never been a problem for me (and I live 1,100 miles away). I do drive out for the start and end of school and have a car here.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice! I'll probably visit the week after the next. Hopefully I could still arrange something with ND for me to stay overnight with students and attend classes.</p>

<p>Driving is not an option because sadly, I have yet to take driver's ed. :(</p>

<p>i've yet to take drivers ed too....do you recommend getting my license in ny, or in indiana? does anyone know if indiana is easier? </p>

<p>thats actually a good idea nemo. my best friend is going to u of chicago, so those stops in chicago would be an awesome time to visit him. </p>

<p>it also seems that no one wants to stop in gary lol. who wants to go to gary? no one.</p>

<p>There is also a mall in next door Mishawaka with many restaurants and shops, pretty large I'd say. Probably about 10? minutes from campus, not too far.</p>

<p>There are plenty of things to do if you make an effort. Many students play intramural sports, I think ND is like the #1 ranked school for sport participation or something.</p>

<p>Yes, football is the big ticket at Notre Dame, but I've been to a hockey and basketball game there and they were just as fun, especially the hockey game against Michigan (the basketball was only an exhibition against a small school, but the students were still there and supporting the team and it was an enjoyable time). I'd venture to say other sports such as baseball or soccer would be just as fun.</p>

<p>If you take playing sports and attending sports, in addition to your studies and time spent at the mall/movie theatre/bowling alley/etc, I doubt you'd have much time for otehr activities.</p>

<p>If you want to go out and party every night and go to clubs and do that whole thing, well then I think I'd recommend someplace else. However, Notre Dame is a wonderful place and if you are able to connect with their values and lifestyle you will have an absolute blast in your four years.</p>

<p>Hey, if I have a Learner's Permit from Massachussetts, can I apply for a Driver's License in Indiana or do I have to take the stupid Learner's Permit test all over again and then wait a year before I can use my driver's license...?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>you would probably have to look at the Indiana dmv website for that information.</p>

<p>you can always just get a massachusetts license, and drive in Indiana with that.</p>

<p>hmmm let's put our thinking caps on and reason through something that high school government or a simple US history class ought to have cleared up. The individual states control what goes on within their boundries; they are relatively autonomous from each other; they each have their own DMV's; and each one has its own drivers license designs and information the state includes on the license. Now thanks to the federal government there will be standards that all states must comply to in terms of information that is put on the license or risk losing the funds earmarked for their highway and transportation depts; but that is digression that is irrelevant.... </p>

<p>Now then, how logical is it that if your permit is from one state that you can apply for a license in a different state? Not only that, in order to have a license you must produce proof of residency within the state. Thus, you get licenses in Mass since that is where your permanent residency is. As a student you are allowed to live within a separate state without having to get a drivers license for that state. Besides it is actually illegal to have licenses from multiple states, you're supposed to surrender your old license to the DMV when you apply for a license in the new state after you move. After all many states use your driver's license as proof of residency within a specific county when you go to vote at a polling place.</p>