Water:the essence of life, cool and crisp, bubbling down the brook on a never-ending journey, lapping at the stones it encounters on the way, gurgling effervescently o’er hill and valley.

So it is surprising that in an age of “lattes” and suped-up energy drinks, that water, pure and simple, takes center stage as the beverage of choice.

When asked what her family thought about her studying in the States, Natsuko Okochi, a Salve junior from Tokyo, laughed as her expression grew with overwhelming pride. Back in the day, it wasn’t customary for families in Japan to be bilingual.

God? Present. Chaplain? Here. Congregation?… Congregation?

Nationwide, more and more students are attending mass less. At Salve Regina University, faculty and students have noticed the same thing: Only a small portion of the student body attends mass regularly on campus.

It is 8:30 p.m. in a brightly lit Cecilia Hall. Ten students position themselves in their seats as Peter Davis signals the start of rehearsal. The drums pound. Flutes and saxophones move the music number along. Davis stands in front of his group of students playing air guitar.

Forget about “Dancing with the Stars.” East Bay Ballroom in Newport teaches even beginners to tango, fox trot, and waltz. Click here for Kaylene Brennan’s look at the ballroom dancing craze on Aquidneck Island.