Some culture and history in Prague

Thursdsay in Prague-

While Stu picked out a Czech gift to bring her grandmother when she visits Ireland this weekend, I wandered around the store. It's called Manufaktura, and there are several in Prague. Lots of traditional items to bring home as souvenirs.  

 some felt fairies that reminded me of nova toys

 

another traditional crafts shop

We also went to an English bookstore where I attempted to find a specific book that I've been looking for (Broken Harbour, Tana French). They have it in the U.S., but only in hardcover and it is just soooo expensive; sadly, this store only had the hardcover copy too. So instead, I bought Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy! I began reading it on my flight home to France and it's great so far! I just love how quickly suspense novels move - perfect for my short attention span!

 

reading in bed

the second wedding couple i've seen, and the bride had a fuzzy white coat both times! 

I got to tag along on Stu's Art and Architecture class in the afternoon. Basically, their class goes on lots of field trips to art museums and to see architecture (for, like, four hours), so it wasn't strenuous, and I actually ended up actually learning! We went to the Baroque Arts museum in the castle (hradčany) district, looking at paintings, armour, and artifacts in the basement. Some facts (from Stu's really crazy professor) to share with you all:

• the Renaissance was all about coming up with new ideas, and pushing the intellectual envelope; so architecture from the Renaissance has lots of small rooms where people could sit around, talk, and think without being bothered.
• in contrast, the Baroque period was about showing off, so much of the architecture from that period, like the Castle Square, is designed for people to be able to look at the royals' and nobles' wealth.
• the amount of religious monuments, statues, buildings, references, and relics is disproportionate to the amount of pious people in the Czech Republic. for example, only about 10% of people practice religion, but there are huge, attention-grabbing churches everywhere; in the U.S. closer to 70% of people practice religion, but our Separation of Church and State (and since our history only goes back so far, to simpler, Puritan times) makes it so that there is much less of these religious symbols in plain sight.
• whoever King Rudolph II was, he was crazy!
• Bohemia refers to the region of the Czech Republic that Prague is in. as a sovereign region, it has been around much longer than the country itself. historically, it is one of the three Czech Lands, along with Moravia and Silesia.
• Czechs had curved swords back in the day, too! like samurai swords, the shape of their blade was more "economical at killing people," as the professor said. in other words, more aerodynamic when slicing through the air to meet some poor guy's neck.

After class, me, Stu, and one of her housemates went to get dinner at a nearby brewery. The brewery is one of the originals in Prague, and is located near a monastery so that the monks could go there during their down time (naturally... why didn't I think of that?). My last night in Prague :( But I had good company, good food, and good drink! I ordered some traditional Czech beef thing (not goulash) in a creamy tomato sauce... and it came with whipped cream on top! Never would've thought to put sweet whipped cream on my meat! It was delish anyway, although I didn't eat it with the whipped cream. The house beer was good too. I had their IPA and Stu got their amber brew. Well, it better have been good since it was made right there!!!

 reminds me of the barrington brewery

After dinner, we walked back home alllllll the way down the castle hill and through Mala Strana and on the tram and down the street and up the stairs.

We collapsed on the couch, watched The Parent Trap (the Lindsay Lohan one, of course, such a classic), and went to bed.

xxo, S

Fabulous art en France

1) I take fabulous black and white pictures in my photography class. First assignment was light and shadow:

More about my class at: http://photographyinprovence.blogspot.fr/

2) I take fabulous pictures just for fun (aka, not school related). This was during my photo class's most recent shoot:

3) I write fabulous prose for my honours class (as mentioned earlier). Here is the original in French:

La Culture Invisible de ce Café

I.

Observer le café, de temps en temps. Boire un café allongé, probablement en commander deux. Porter des lunettes. Apporter un petit carnet. S’appliquer. Prendre son temps.

Noter le lieu : Brasserie de la Mairie sur la Place de l’Hôtel de Ville

l’heure : 14h10 et 11h05

la date : 6 oct 2012 et 9 oct 2012

le temps : beau, avec un peu de vent

II.

Qu’est-ce que c’est, de s’asseoir dans un café?

C’est le marché des fleurs le matin.

C’est quand ils emmènent plusieurs tables à midi.

C’est de glisser sur le sol après que le marché a été nettoyé.

C’est d’être dans « la mode du café » où il est facile de commander ce que je veux.

C’est l’homme qui joue de l’accordéon pendant le début de l’après-midi.

C’est la femme qui fume une cigarette en buvant son café. C’est l’homme qui lit le journal.

C’est la fumée qui passe devant moi et que j’ai apprise à apercevoir. Ca ne me dérange plus.

C’est quelques filles qui parlent et parlent et parlent. C’est deux garçons qui se sont assis, qui ont bu, et qui sont partis.

C’est les gens qui ne confrontent pas la Place.

C’est un groupe anglais.

C’est les touristes qui se promènent.

C’est un grand groupe qui s’assoit à côté de la fontaine.

C’est de ne pas le regarder quand il me demande l’argent pour la musique. Je ne le regarde pas, je secoue la tête, je dis « non » sans rien diré. Je suis méchant, je m’assois ici tout le temps. Je suis dans la mode du café.

C’est les autres qui, comme moi, portent des lunettes, qui regardent la vie, qui écrivent. Nous portons des lunettes parce qu’il fait soleil. Nous portons des lunettes pour que la vie ne nous regarde pas, mais la vie nous regarde toujours.

C’est remuer ma cuillère dans mon café, sans sucre, avec plaisir, lentement, lentement.

C’est dans la direction de l’horloge. C’est dans l’autre direction.

C’est les camions qui viennent du marché.

C’est les hommes néons qui lavent la rue.

C’est la parade de ces deux groupes !

C’est quand un couple passe avec des valises.

C’est quand je vois une camarade de classe. Et quand je ne lui dis pas « bonjour. » Je suis dans la mode du café.

C’est les mamans avec les poussettes, qui ses habillent très à la mode.

C’est les étudiants français que je ne connais pas. C’est leurs livres que je regarde.

C’est la tartelette que j’ai mangée la dernière fois et le sandwich que j’ai mangé cette fois.

C’est les petits miroirs dans la rue à cause de l’eau.

C’est les chaussures que le serveur porte.

C’est l’arome des cigarettes.

C’est les français qui fument et boivent et lisent.

C’est quand je me rends compte que le Starbucks ne me manque pas.

C’est un jeune homme qui souffle toujours la fumée vers le ciel, et sa silhouette contre le soleil.

C’est le son d’une tasse sur une assiette ; des cuillères ; de la conversation ; un éternuement ; des feuilles par terre ; des chaises ; l’un rit. C’est comment toutes ces choses sont près de mes oreilles pour que le son de tambour étrange ne puisse pas entrer dans la bulle de ces sons, cette bulle de ce café.

C’est quand je me rends compte que le monsieur devant moi ne lit plus son journal, il regard les gens.

C’est un oiseau à qui je donne un coup de pied ; je le fais encore.

C’est de savoir l’heure en regardant le soleil ; où en regardant l’homme devant moi qui est parti ; il y a un couple qui s’y assoient maintenant.

C’est de me rendre compte combien d’heures sont passées.

C’est la mode du café, et cette mode est ma mode.

III.

C’est c’est c’est c’est c’est c’est c’est. Et ce n’est pas.

L’espace du café est composé par toutes ces choses. Mais l’espace n’est pas ces choses.

L’espace est une table et quatre chaises, répété des dizaines fois.

Sans ces choses le café ne serait rien. Avec ces choses, ces gens, ces sons, ces aromes, le café est un espace où on peut s’allonger.

Donc je bois un allongé.

--

The Invisible Culture of This Café

I.

Observe the café, from time to time. Have a coffee, probably order two. Wear sunglasses. Bring a little notebook. Apply yourself. Take your time.

Note the place: Brasserie de la Mairie sur la Place de l’Hôtel de Ville

The time: 2:10pm and 11:05am

The date: 6 Oct 2012 and 9 Oct 2012

The weather: nice with a bit of wind.

II.

What is it, to sit in a café?

It’s the flower market in the morning.

It’s when they bring out more tables at noon.

It’s sliding across the ground after the market has been cleaned up.

It’s being in “café mode,” where it’s easy to order what I want.

It’s the man playing an accordion in the early afternoon.

It’s the woman smoking a cigarette and drinking her coffee. It’s the man reading the newspaper.

It’s the smoke that wafts past me and that I’ve learned to appreciate. It doesn’t bother me anymore.

It’s some girls who talk and talk and talk. It’s two guys who sit down, drink, and leave.

It’s people who don’t sit facing the Place.

It’s a British group.

It’s tourists walking around.

It’s a big group next to the fountain.

It’s not looking at him when he asks me for money for the music. I don’t look at him, I shake my head, I say “no” without saying anything. I’m being mean, I sit here all the time. I’m in café mode.

It’s others who, like me, wear sunglasses, who look at life, who write. We wear sunglasses because it’s sunny. We wear sunglasses so that life won’t watch us, but life is always watching us.

It’s stirring my spoon in my coffee, without sugar, with pleasure, slowly, slowly.

It’s clockwise. It’s counterclockwise.

It’s trucks coming from the market.

It’s the neon guys washing the street.

It’s the parade of these two groups!

It’s when a couple goes by with suitcases.

It’s when I see a classmate. And when I don’t say “hello” to her. I’m in café mode.

It’s moms with strollers, who dress very stylishly.

It’s French students who I don’t know. It’s their books I’m looking at.

It’s the tart I ate last time and the sandwich I ate this time.

It’s the little mirrors on the street because of the water.

It’s the shoes the waiter wears.

It’s the smell of cigarettes.

It’s the French people who smoke and drink and read.

It’s when I realize I don’t miss Starbucks.

It’s a young man who always blows his smoke towards the sky, and his silhouette against the sun.

It’s the sound of a mug on a saucer; of spoons; of conversation; of a sneeze; of leaves on the ground; of chairs; of a laugh. It’s how all these things are close to my ears so that the sound of a strange drum can’t get into the bubble of these sounds, the bubble of this café.

It’s when I realize the man in front of me isn’t reading his paper, he’s watching the people.

It’s a bird who I kick; and who I kick again.

It’s knowing the time by looking at the sun; or by looking at the man in front of me who has left; there’s a couple sitting there now.

It’s realizing how many hours have passed.

It’s café mode, and this mode is my mode.

III.

It is it is it is it is it is it is it is. And it isn’t.

The space of the café is made up of all these things. But the space is not these things.

The space is one table and four chairs, repeated several times.

Without these things the café would be nothing. With these things, these people, these sounds, these scents, the café is a space where you can stretch out and calm down.

So I drink coffee.

--

As I predicted (hoped), my professor liked it. I also got a good grade, but that wasn't as much the point as that she liked it! And that I really did write something cool in French! :)

xxo, S

You won't believe what I did today

I wrote deeply profonde and abstraite prose - en français!
That's profound and abstract. IN FRENCH!

Dad would probably say something like, "Shouldn't you be drinking black coffee and smoking unfiltered cigarettes while wearing a beret and scoffing at Americans?"
Well, Dad, that's what I wrote about! I just was not actively portraying that stereotype while I wrote it. I was really just in bed editing a paper for class.

But still.
Can we all just take a moment and admire the fact that I wrote something cool in another language?! I get that I can write a pretty good sentence or two in English, but this is some decent stuff too and it's in French.

I guess I'm doing pretty well at this bilingual stuff :)

xxo, S

P.S. will post the cool french thing soon... like, after i get it all grammar-edited to perfection from my professor. hopefully with a good grade, too.

Academia

Dear all DU students/alumni; all Bronxville H.S. students/alumni; and my family,

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE!
By the good graces of God and the Universe, we are smart.

Why am I so thankful all of a sudden? And why did it take me so long to realize this? The second, I'm not sure. But the first one is why I am writing to you.

Studying abroad, I have come across more than just French culture; also Spanish, Italian, and other European cultures; plus American culture outside of where I live.
One of the things I've noticed about American culture is that not everyone is as smart as the people I've been surrounded by my whole life.

I'm not trying to be rude or insensitive here! No, no! And I've discussed this with other DU classmates of mine who are studying abroad right now, too. We've been smacked in the face in our encounters with students from other colleges who are having difficulty with the curriculum. Meanwhile, us DU kids are breezing by; working hard, yet barely working; playing hard (and hard to get).

Back to academia.
Today's lesson: accept the things you cannot change, and learn to accept such things early in life, because it will save you much frustration later on.

We won't always be surrounded by such great minds, as evidenced, by our abroad experiences. Now is the time to thrive amongst our like-minded peers and take pride in the fact that we can all intelligently discuss current events, literature, economics, history, chemistry, and culture.
Even when we go off to our eventual careers and settle in new towns with our families, our coworkers and neighbors may not fulfill our ever-inquiring minds. Thanks to our privileged education and upbringing, we are not ignorant; we are not easily placated; and we are not unintelligent. We are a small, but important group of people.

Don't let the pressure or pride of this gift go to your heads, though! Modesty is as important as ever, as I've learned. Bragging about how easy that quiz was; how little you studied; or how much you don't care won't earn you any friends. You can't alienate people, but you can offer to help as much as possible, and be especially understanding. Especially now that you are aware of your own brain power.

So cheers to us! Cheers to our futures and our fortunes, not just monetary! Cheers to the friends we've made, and the ones we'll meet, and let their range of knowledge not barricade the doors to friendship! And cheers to our ability to give thanks for all that we take for granted!

xxo, S

Start of week two!

Today I learned a few interesting things…

1. Aix is the most expensive city to live in France, outside of Paris.
2. When you buy a TV in France, you must declare it, and pay a tax to have it in your house every year.
3. The French know a lot more about American political history than most Americans. For example, I had never heard of Pinochet until today (could just be my education, but no one else in the class had, either).
4. When someone wishes you “good day!” in France (or “bonne journée!”) you can reply “you too!” by saying “également!” which literally translates to “equally.”
5. The Marchutz School of Art here in Aix (and part of the IAU) is named after Léo Marchutz who was the first to purchase a Cézanne painting.
6. Photography comes from the Greek words phos and graph meaning “light” and “drawing.” As you can see, I had my first photographie class today.

My photo class is Intro to Black and White Photography, and we will be using all digital cameras. So my little Lumix guy will do! While it only meets once a week (on Mondays), we have weeklong assignments. First up, experiment with b&w photos by taking some around Aix. Sounds pretty simple, but even when I was walking around today during the “Golden Hours” of the late afternoon, it was difficult to spot scenes that had interesting lighting. My eyes will be more peeled than potatoes this week!

Also related to film (of a sort) is my cinéma français class. We began our first movie today, Les enfants du paradis (Carné, 1945) and – boy! – do these French actors speak quickly! As difficult as it is to watch old American films, old French films are even harder. But I am determined to understand it all! Having picked up some film criticism knowledge from my class at DU, I am excited to apply it to a new series of cinema masterpieces.

Monday is my most packed day of classes, but in addition, I had an introductory interview for an internship that will be part of my studies here in Aix. So at 5pm (17h) I walked to the top floor of the IAU to wait to get my internship assignment and submit my schedule of hours. Approved by the IAU but not yet by the company, I will be interning (hopefully!!!) for an art events specialist, who works a lot with Italian clients, apparently. No italiano, per favore – I don’t speak any! But no time like the present to learn some! With that checked off my list, I’m just waiting for a second, official interview with my potential-future boss and I will be back to intern-dom.

After such a busy weekend and long school day, I’m glad to have some time to chill and write. It sure doesn’t take long to get tired around here! And now that we’re officially on week two of IAU school, it’s only going to pack my schedule tighter. Fret not! For the weekends are my playtime and I’m researching places to go and things to do. Can anyone say Bordeaux?!

xxo, S

The STUDY part of "studying abroad"

I’ve been to France before. A few times. But I’ve never gone to school in France. Alors, you see much more of the culture by engaging this way. This is a list of things I’ve noticed about going to school in France and some specific quirks about Aix.

1. The copy paper here is noticeably thicker and smoother. From the receipt from my SIM card to each syllabus, the way the papier feels is really different. Like woah. I guess the French have higher paper standards than Americans.
2. “Syllabus week” doesn’t exist here. You don’t walk in to the first day of class, get your syllabus, and leave. No. The professors here (all of mine are French) use the entire class time as an opportunity to monologue (in French) about the purpose of the class at is applies to the study abroad experience (in France).
3.  Politics is the national “sport” of France. They warned us about this on the first day, but it’s true – eventually, at some point in your conversations with Frenchies, you end up on politics. And you must have an opinion! (How could you not?)
4. If politics is the national sport, then smoking is the national pastime. French, and Europeans in general, and well known as heavy smokers to Americans, but it’s so engrained in the culture that you cannot just dismiss it as a dirty habit.
5. Bottled water may be controversial on some environmentally aware U.S. college campuses, but not in France! Disposable plastic water bottles are found in every bodega and boulangerie (bakery). Makes me wonder why more Frenchies don’t own reusable bottles because you always see them just reusing the disposable ones.
6.  Just because you are enrolled in many classes does not mean that you will have class all the time. In fact, many people have just one class on some days (like I do on Thursdays and Fridays). Good for spending long afternoons at cafés.
7. WEAK COFFEE! Still have not gotten to the bottom of this strange phenomène. Maybe I’ll just take my Dad’s advice and drink only espresso. Or move to Italy.

a.k.a. IAU street

I’m taking five classes this semester (weird to say “semester” since DU is on a quarter system). So far I’ve been to four of them; the fifth only meets once a week on Mondays. FRE 301 (just “plain” French class); FRE 411 is my Honors seminar; FRE/FLM 355 is “France as Seen Through Its Movies;” COM/JOU 307 is “Contemporary French Media;” and ART 108 is beginner photography.

My seminar and film professor is the same and she is fantastique! She reminds me a lot of my high school French teacher who I had for four years. They have the same intense, passionate energy to teach and learn from students. I am already excited to take another film class since I loved my last one at DU so much; plus a cool teacher? Even more excited!

The media class is similar to one I took at DU, too, but it’s more comparative. We’ll be looking at the differences between French and American media, as well as the many factors that contribute to why people from different countries think certain ways.

I am also looking forward to the photography class. I’ll be able to take pictures of obscure things and then declare, “Don’t judge me! Je suis une photographeur et je crée l’art!”

the streets (and streetlamps) of Aix

Tomorrow, my only class is my seminar. We have to read a chapter in French, the conclusion from a book about Franco-American socio-cultural relations and differences. The author brings up interesting aspects of each culture that I never would have thought would affect relationships between French and American people. Especially good to know all this since I am une américaine en France.

Unfortunately, my studies won’t take me to the Marchutz School of Art, which is out in the country and supposed to be absolutely beautiful. Looks like I’ll just have to venture out there on my own one day!

xxo, S

Orientation Day

As Orientation approached, I strongly believed that I wouldn't need the information they would give us and that it was a waste of my time. In a sense I was wrong; but note completely.

Last night there was a "meet and greet" at the IAU where all the students and staff could come and mingle and meet each other. Afterwards, the students all flocked off to a bar that is quite visible from the front door of the IAU called Wohoo. As I followed a group of such students, I remember A calling out to us all, "Remember, Orientation begins at 9AM tomorrow!" and chuckling a little, as I'm sure he has seen many a student get too excited about drinks on their first night and then drag themselves to school in the morning.
Thankfully, that did not happen to me (or anyone I know). We had a fine time at Wohoo, both before and after dinner (yes, we went out on a Sunday, what Americans), but I'm sure more fun is to be had on other nights as the semester goes on.

Back to Orientation.
Me and my housemate walked to the IAU and sat with my good friend from home, K-bird, as we listened to welcome speeches and staff introductions. We got another presentation about what to expect from Frenchies, including being wary of maléfice, which is a way of describing how the French often treat foreigners. Also, there were a few housing horror stories... and regular horror stories, like one about a student who got attacked by two dogs in Italy. Lesson: avoid dogs in Italy. Then it was time for break and lunch!

front of the IAU (me and J last week)

fun fact! this building was originally built as a chapel in the 1600s

I have got to figure out where to go and eat during lunch because every time I have to fend for myself, I am clueless. Today we went to a weird bakery where the woman didn't really speak French and got bad croque monsieurs. Never again. Having met several people the night before, I now had a solid group of people whose names I remembered. I went with them to lunch but next time I might not mind going alone as long as I get to decide where to go and pick out some quality food.

After lunch, we had a series of different "classes" where some of the staff talked to us about "things to do in Aix" and "IAU excursions and activities." For the places that were suggested to go out (not suggestions from the staff, but from French students in Aix), I'll have to test them out first. And also remember them from the long list of places she gave! Sometimes I wish they just gave some to avoid instead, so that you know the others you find should be good.
For excursions, there is a weekend trip to Nice and Monaco/Monte Carlo this weekend. Everyone boards buses at 8AM, heads down the coast to the city of Nice with beaches and museums. Then we go to see the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo. And stay the night at a nice place where IAU students have been going for decades. CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TRIP!!!!!

I also received the books I'll be needed for my classes. Not as many as DU, nor as heavy! I carried them back home with me, even though I'll have a locker downstairs in "Le Cave" to keep them, too.
As part of Orientation, we go a free drink voucher at a café across the street, so me and my housemate went to chill for a bit. She ordered a Limonade, which turns out to be a lighter, bubblier version of Sprite. I asked for a café allonger and - finally! - got a big cup of coffee!!! I was so happy about it! Strangely, coffee here is not as strong as everyone thinks French coffee is. French Roast in the U.S? Psh, like you could ever order coffee that strong at a French café.

After drinks, we dropped some people off at the Orange (mobile) store. Then I rushed home to change into some gym clothes and go for a quick run before dinner. Before my faire de jogging, however, I got K-bird from the Orange store and we walked back to her homestay because I needed to borrow something.
Her homestay is fantastic!!! It's up in the neighborhood-y part of Aix and the view from their apartment is ah-may-zing. Also her mère d'accueil is so cute!!! She was very welcoming and wanted me to see the place and invited me back - I think I will sometime! This is the view from K-bird's homestay:

that's Mont St. Victoire in the background

Sadly, I had to leave this gorgeous place to go on my run. I was so caught up in the view and the hospitality at K-bird's that I didn't have enough time to go to the park as I intended, so instead I ran a roundabout-crooked-side-street way back home. On the way, I passed another IAU student, so maybe we can start a running club! Or I'll just make K-bird come with me :P

dinner table at my homestay

It was good to get to rest after such a busy day!!!

While there was a lot of information that I would have missed out on (like excursions and books, etc.) there was also a lot of redundancy. For example, the difference between a transformer and an adaptor for electrical outlets and where to buy them; what is Monoprix; the French like politics; how to get money from an ATM; your home bank will probably charge you for using a foreign ATM; speak French since you are in France; you breathe by opening your mouth and inhaling.... These sort of things!!! 

I just wanted to stand up and say, "I know all of this and can I please be excused?!" But, alas, being a know-it-all is not attractive and I don't really know it all so I just sat there and tried to soak up the few scattered words of wisdom (that I had also heard before). 

For example, travelling every weekend is nice, but having time to explore Aix and the towns nearby is a special experience, too; when you study abroad, you should go outside your comfort zone; try everything.

Eh, we can't always have our cake and eat it too.

But speaking of cake.....

TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!

I celebrated a little with my family before I left, but even though I am used to celebrating without them on the actual day since I'm usually at DU, I'm sad that I really don't have any close friends here yet to celebrate with. Also I didn't tell anyone, so it's partially my fault, but I don't want it to be a big deal. I'll just have a little extra pâtisserie indulgence :)

First day of school tomorrow. Somehow, the excitement never gets old...

xxo, S

Graduation

Last night, the BHS Class of 2010 said our final goodbyes as we graduated from high school.

Graduation at my school is unique because it is rife with traditions, the most obvious being the actual ceremony. Caps and gowns never make an appearance; instead, boys wear white dinner jackets and black tuxedo pants with red boutonnieres and girls wear floor length white dresses with red rose bouquets.

Class of 2010

The ceremony is also held outside every year. There have only been three instances since 1922 that the graduation has been inside. They block off the street in front of the school to minimize street noise as well, so its truly centered on the graduates and their families.

Afterwards, many families choose to attend the dinner at a country club in town for more celebration. But this is just the beginning. Although all the formal celebrations are over by 10p, there are more events of the evening. The All-Night Party starts at 11p and goes until 3a.

Blacklight theme lent to some trippy photos

Then at 3, we leave with a police escort and bagpiper to march to the next house for breakfast. Both the party and the breakfast are at houses of graduates and are pretty near each other so there isn't too much walking... but they made us take the long route so we could walk more and "revel in the experience." Really? At 3 in the morning I want to keep walking? No, I want to go to sleep. But it was a good experience anyway.

Bagpipe parade

Finally, at 5a, I went home to sleep. It was really cool to walk home from the graduation festivities and watch the sun rising on the first day of the rest of my life.

Standing in the middle of the street at 5a because we can

Being an official graduate feels fantastic!!!! I'm so excited for this summer and for college to start in the fall!

xxo, S

Yearbooks

I only have to go to school one day this week (today) and it's just fun stuff: getting yearbooks!

This year it is dedicated to my math teacher and the theme is the circus. I think it's the best yearbook I've ever had. The letters and some detailing on the front are raised, too, making it extra special.

The funniest part of the yearbook was the "Prophecies" page. One of my friends, Quiggles, prophecy was that she was gonna be sitting in the bagel store with her best friend... probably true, but very silly. Mine was "professional event planner," which I thought was more serious, though. I spent the better part of the afternoon getting my friends' and teachers' signatures. It's sad to think I won't be doing this a year from now, but it's also refreshing to go through all the pages with pictures from not only senior year, but middle school as well. I'm really excited to read all my signatures/well wishes and look at all the pictures!

Five days 'til graduation!!!

xxo, S

First college course

So, I've gotta pick my first college course (First-Year Seminar Courses [FSEM]) by this Wednesday.
I'm SUPER excited about this because, well, it's my first course in college! But I'm also really nervous: what if I pick a really difficult, or really boring class? What if I register incorrectly? What if the professor sucks?? The kicker is that your professor for your FSEM is also your academic advisor for your whole freshman year, and I want a class with someone who's going to be a really good advisor as well as a good teacher. DU has a wide variety of  to choose from, though, so I'm sure I'll find something.

I've narrowed it down to the following:
"Censorship, Free Speech, and Literature"
"Controversy in American Culture"
"The Fascination of Evil"
"Food, Culture, and Communication"
"Food Fights; Food Solutions"
"From Lyric to Lyrics: Poetry Then and Now"
"The Geography of Food: Eating to Live and Living to Eat"
"Globalized Religion"
"The Human Condition: Study of Emotion through Literature, Visual Art, and Music"
"Human Flourishing: The Art and Science of Happiness"

Discoveries Orientation at DU

"(Inter)National Queer Identities"
"Introduction to Forensic Science and Real Life CSI"
" 'It's Not Drawn on Any Map': Reading and Writing Travel"
"Justice, Morality, and Philosophy Go To The Movies"
"Personal Histories of Photography"
"Politics & Memoir"
"Social Problems in Cinema"
" 'Things That Go Bump In the Night': The Supernatural and the Popular Imagination"
"Utopia, Distopia, and the End of the World"
"Why and How South Africa?"
"You Are What You Eat: A Course in Food Chemistry"
"Youth Cultures: Inequality, Resistance, and Empowerment"

Whew, that's a heck of a starting point!
What do you think will be most interesting?
xxo, S

Review of Senior Week

Last Friday was the last day of classes for the Senior Class of 2010.
Although we haven't graduated yet, we also don't have classes. This free time gave us a whole week devoted to community service and lecture learning.

Monday kicked off with a special viewing of Traffic (2000) and followed by a discussion of drug trafficking and drug laws, including political issues and public opinions. A former special agent, who had seen drug violence first-hand and helped to confiscate drugs, also joined our discussion. In the afternoon, the whole class had lunch and a pool party at the BFC, which would have been nicer if it hadn't been so overcast and chilly (72 degrees!).
Tuesday began with a presentation on juvenile law. This was really interesting because it the scenarios were all relatable. They were situations in which we might find ourselves in as we begin college in the next few months. We learned about our rights as minors, and the responsibilities we will have once we turn eighteen. Then we spent a few hours teaching senior citizens about computers - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc. - and cell phones. Most of them weren't there for the computer aspect so much, so it was nice to talk to them. There was one lady originally from Wisconsin who was almost eighty-six and served in the Navy in WW2! She had really cool stories.
Wednesday took us on a trip to the Andrus Children's Center. We helped out in their field day activities: the morning had long jump, basketball, shuttle run, and other outdoor games; the afternoon had more indoor activities. I oversaw the long jump and, later, beading (made three really cool bracelets!). Andrus is a school and home for kids who can't live at home for any variety of reasons (i.e. abuse, emotional or learning disability), so this was an especially meaningful day.
Thursday was a Things-you-need-to-know-that-no-one-ever-taught-you Day. The morning consisted of two one-hour safety sessions. The first one taught us how to make sure our possessions, friends, and selves are safe on and off campus. And we got really cool whistles... The second was a crash-course in self-defense. In the afternoon, we had six stations at Village Hall which taught us various other aspects of safety (fires, first aid, and cars) and general things-you-never-knew-about-college information (nutrition, professors, and dorms).

Today we had the day off, so I've been chilling with my baby brother. We got some coffee (at least, I did) and cool balloons.

Isn't that the coolest shape ever?

Only eight days until graduation!
xxo, S

A distinguished group

So for those of you who don't go to school in New York State, the NYSSMA [n-ISS-ma] Festival is where  school orchestras, choirs, or bands go to perform musical pieces for judges who then give them a score.  Groups can earn either bronze, silver, gold, or the highly-coveted gold with distinction.

I have been in my school string orchestra for four years, and I began playing the viola in second grade. But when my orchestra went again to NYSSMA last week, I was unsure about how we would do. I didn't feel like our pieces were as strong as they could be - but I knew we would do our best.

So we showed up, played our three songs, and then awaited our score. To our surprise, we snagged gold with distinction! Our director, DL, couldn't have been prouder, and neither could we. This was my third time receiving the distinguished honour (the fourth time we only got silver) and I'm so glad I can leave school with that sort of flourish. I have a lot of confidence in the underclassmen who will take over the orchestra next year, too.

String Orchestra 2010

Last night was our concert for the parents. We went on after the sixth/seventh grade orchestra and the eighth grade orchestra. When we got on stage, our performance was like we said, "Okay, this is how it's really done." Today, in celebration of our two excellent performances, DL made us cupcakes (her other award-winning talent) and we listened to the recording of our performance and the judges' comments. The cupcakes were dee-lish! as always. And the judges' comments were "nice" (one guy said nice ninety-two times in his comments!).

Who knows when I will play the viola next, but it certainly won't be the same as the past ten years I've spent learning and performing with my peers.
xxo, S

Prom

Last night was prom night - not the super frightening horror movie, but my actual prom.

My school has a lot of traditions, one being Promenade. Promenade takes place on the front lawn of the school. All students have to show up with their parents because that is where we sign in and also where the buses leave from (to prevent substance abuse, my school orders buses to transport students between the school and the prom location; :( limos are not allowed). This is when everyone takes their pictures - teachers, parents, underclassmen, extended families. Everyone shows up to take pictures and, somehow, the universe (almost) always manages to provide excellent weather for picture-taking. My friends and I all looked really gorgeous and downright stunning, if I do say so myself.

Promenade (note the buses - I'm not kidding)

After Promenade, we all loaded up onto the buses to go to the Rye Town Hilton for dinner and dancing. It was a lot more fun than most other school-sponsored functions. The DJ even played good music for once!

Last year I missed my prom because I went to Breadloaf (they were on the same weekend). And I'm soooo glad I had that experience, but I'm also really glad I got to go to prom this year. There was no pressure, mostly because there are only two weeks left of classes for seniors, so it was just an outright P A R T Y !

And the party of the end of high school has just begun...
xxo, S

P.S.: there is a difference between prom and Promenade, I hope I made that clear-ish.

Why May is the best month

As everyone knows, the summer solstice is June 21st (if you didn't know this, well, now you know. I'm glad I could inform you). The days will get progressively longer until this day, so contrary to what you would expect, summer days get shorter and winter days get longer. This means that all the days in May also get longer because they lead up to June.

May is not yet the heat of summer, however. Therefore, these longer days are more easily enjoyed: you can still go for a walk at 7 in the evening, play baseball until 8, or (if you're into waking up really early), watch the sunrise at 5 in the morning. You can do all this without angry July humidity or severe August heat. The sun still shine, you just don't sweat as much.

Also, school isn't over yet either (even though we all wish it was!), so activities in May give you an exciting after-school life. The killer about May, though, is that students are always preparing for final exams and still (unfortunately) have homework to do. School's evil plot ruins a perfect month yet again!

But not this year.

This year, being a senior, I have no final exams to take. I have very little homework to do.
I have a lot of time on my hands.
So what shall I do?
I shall go out and enjoy the best month of the year - MAY!

xxo, S

Sayonara, CollegeBoard!

I finished my last AP exam today!!!! That means I will never. ever. ever. EVER! have to take another AP exam or deal with the giant monster that is CollegeBoard.

that is absolutely incorrect.

ah, there we go.

To all those freshmen, sophomores and juniors who have yet to experience the superior angst which CollegeBoard can impose upon you: so long, suckers!

xxo, S

Countdown to freedom

Today was full of accomplishments. Not only did I wake up at 7a (very early for me), but I managed to take a shower, get dressed, walk to school, and grab coffee all by 7.35 - just in time for the 8a AP English literature exam. My exam went well, I think. But, I won't really know until mid-July when they mail out the scores.

When I got home, I went shopping for prom shoes... and got a bonus - some super cute sandals, too :) I can't wait 'til my dress arrives!

Only one exam left and I have pretty much total freedom! After next Tuesday, it's Purple's birthday on Friday, then prom the next week. Just a few weeks until graduation - forty four days, actually!!!

Where you can find me...

xxo, S

Hysteria: looking back on my school years

Everyone considers my hometown to be a very safe place to live. There's a cute little town with cute little houses and a cute little school. Except today, that school had a two hour-long fire drill because there was a gas leak scare.

For two hours, students stood outside the school building, wondering A: what was going on and B: when would we be allowed back inside because C: lunch was in about twenty minutes and we are hungry teenagers!

This isn't the first time we've had such hysteria. In sixth grade, there was a bomb scare because someone found a doodle in the boys' bathroom... from eighteen years ago. In 2007, the entire school flooded after forty eight hours of nonstop rain and the school was closed for two weeks.

"The Flood" of 2007

During those two hours, my friends and I sweated (and tanned) in the hot, cinqo de Mayo sun. We didn't have out lunch money because we had left all of our belongings inside when we left for the "fire drill." In the end, we borrowed some from a mom (that reminds me, I've gotta pay her back!) and grabbed some bagels. It wasn't the worst day to have a two-hour break from school. In fact, the weather was so beautiful, who wouldn't want to be  outside?
It could have been raining, and then we would have been pretty seriously screwed.

So I guess my town isn't perfect. But who's really perfect anyway?

xxo, S

Some past & future stuff

One down, two to go.
(Those are AP exams I'm talking about.)

Today was French - and I could not be more glad that it's over! After nearly four hours of painstakingly filling in little bubbles, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief that my seven years' study of the French language might be worth something in the end.
We started the day a few hours before the exam at another student's house with some petit déjeuner - um, breakfast - which was actually quite a delicious way to start an otherwise drab day. Not only did I have to sit through an exhausting exam, but torrential rain was blowing around all day.
Yuck.

But that's all over now! And all I've left is English literature this Thursday and environmental science next Tuesday. The best part about AP exams is that, at my school at least, once you've taken the exam for your AP class, you don't have to go to that class for the rest of the AP exam period (May 3-14 this year). Those are some excellently placed bonus frees I'm getting :)

So I used this afternoon to relax, like I haven't been able to do in about a week. I plopped down on my bed with a lime popsicle and let my fan attempt to cool me in 85 degrees (plus humidity!). By dinnertime, the sky had cleared up and it was sunny again. When I went outside, it smelled like the middle of summer.

For some reason, that smell reminded me of a time when I wondered if everyone - all grown-ups, all settled-down-people, all suburban adults - once had a wild youth in which they traveled around, having the adventure of their life. A time when they went to Thailand just for fun, or Germany to see what it's like. When they rode camels and elephants because they could. Does everyone have a past like that?
And do they all come to rest in a dull bubble town?

xxo, S

One long, quiet week

Not much new. Mercury went retrograde on the 17th, so needless to say, things have been pretty technologically nutty. For example, my replacement phone that I got three weeks ago decided to go berserk. However, my stubborn iTunes purchases finally decided to download.

Last Saturday, I began the search for a prom dress. Much like finding a college, it takes a lot of time and energy. Great...
This weekend, however, I have the added bonus of spending a quality Sunday with my lovely biffer and fellow Virgo, S.R.S. [name censored for privacy].

This week has gone by particularly slowly because there are only two weeks left until AP exams (May 3-14). Today, my math teacher announced that we were done learning for the year - a very welcome treat. Today, my AP French teacher also announced that we were kicking into high gear until the exam - not-so-welcome news. I'm only taking three AP exams this year (French, environmental science and English literature). Hopefully I can place out of some boring freshman level courses at DU in the fall!

One last update: my first (of many future pieces) DU apparel arrived today, a super-cozy sweatshirt. It's getting me super-pumped for September!!! All my friends are getting their respective college apparel - it's so spiritful (not a word)!

xxo, S

The right to sleep

For at least two years now, I have been actively arguing that teenagers are among the most sleep-deprived people on earth. This month in National Geographic, an article by D. T. Max backs up my suspicions.

"The natural sleep rhythms of teenagers would call for a late morning wake-up—but there they are, starting high school at 8 a.m... Yet he or she has no choice."

Read for yourself at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/05/sleep/max-text

Sweet dreams,
xxo, S