Replace youthful idealism with pragmatism.

Here is a letter that I wrote but never needed to send to the university after I found out (a couple of months after it was written) that the Admissions Office has successfully applied for UChicago to become a Davis UWC Scholars institution. But it's one of those formal letters (the first one of its kind that I've ever composed) that I'm very proud of.

***

To whom it may concern:

We are current second-year students at the University of
Chicago. Having studied at the College for a little over one
year, it has come to our attention that due to limited
resources, the University of Chicago presently does not offer
financial aid to international students. Nor is it part of a
well-endowed foundation that provides scholarships that is
also open to foreign students.

We understand that this issue is not just isolated at our
University. However, by financially discriminating
international students (the majority who choose to study
overseas), the University undermines its efforts to increase
global diversity. Having been educated in an international
environment, interacting with peers from different parts of
the world, we have experienced first-hand the invaluable and
self-defining experience such an environment brings, and along
this parallel - the presence of international students on
campus is not only an opportunity for these students to
benefit and enjoy the academics of this University, but also
enriching that of the American student.

With regards to this we invite the University of Chicago to
become part of the Davis UWC Scholarship movement. Before we
continue further, we would like to introduce ourselves. We are
a group of United World College graduates now studying at the
College. The transition from high school to university has
been met with challenges, but nonetheless blending into a
college experience that has become highly rewarding,
self-sustaining, as well as an immense joy.

We are grateful that not only did we received an international
education but that we have the opportunity to pursue our
higher education at this fine institution. We also wish to
continue the UWC spirit in our future endeavors and
aspirations. It is our hope that the University of Chicago be
made more possible and accessible for future UWC graduates.
One possible way is for the University to become a Davis UWC
Scholars institution. In case you have not heard of the United
World College movement, it is a confederate of twelve schools
located around the world whose mission statement is to educate
young men and women to become socially aware and responsible
citizens. Shelby Davis, well-known businessman and
philanthropist, impressed by the values of a UWC education,
has committed to fund UWC graduates to attend colleges across
the United States, thereby promoting and extending these very
ideals. The Davis UWC Scholars program has since grown to
embody more than a scholarship fund for a particular group of
high-school graduates. More information about the Davis UWC
Scholars program (and its origins) is available on the
website: http://www.davisuwcscholars.org/html/about-story.html

By becoming a participating institution of the Davis UWC
Scholars Program, the University of Chicago becomes part of 76
(and counting) institutions across the country committed to
bringing outstanding students and excellent educational
institutions together. In turn, students who matriculate at
our institution go on to establish themselves as motivated
individuals and global citizens, playing an active role
(including cross-cultural understanding) within the college
community and beyond. With warm regards and sincere wishes we
ask that the University of Chicago seriously consider this
wonderful opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

[my name-

University of Chicago - Class of 2010, UWCSEA Class of 2006

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/religious-movies

So, on account of staying in Borders for a few hours, I decided to hang around the magazine racks. I picked up 'The Atlantic' and decided to read about an article on the latest children's fantasy adaption, 'The Golden Compass'.

An excerpt of the article with Philip Pullman interviewed is here:
“I think if everything that is made explicit in the book or everything that is implied clearly in the book or everything that can be understood by a close reading of the book were present in the film, they’d have the biggest hit they’ve ever had in their lives. If they allowed the religious meaning of the book to be fully explicit, it would be a huge hit. Suddenly, they’d have letters of appreciation from people who felt this but never dared say it. They would be the heroes of liberal thought, of freedom of thought … And it would be the greatest pity if that didn’t happen.

“I didn’t put that very well. What I mean is that I want this film to succeed in every possible way. And what I don’t want to do, you see, is talk the other two films out of existence. So I’ll stop there.”

Of course, it's possible that there are people who read too much into this kind of literature which is all the more talked about because it goes to so many levels. It's the same phenomenon with Harry Potter, only except The Golden Compass hasn't garnered the same amount of craze and zeal amongst kids and 'kidults' alike.

1. Un long dimanche de fiançailles (A very long engagement)
2. La môme (La vie en rose)
3.

From the Putamayo Series (International music CDs)

Swing Band
The Cool Crooners of Bulawayo - I Van Enkulu
Triton - Mari Niça Swing
Oscar Peterson with Clark Terry - Mumbles
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Pallin' with Al
Alfredo Rey e la Sua Orchestre - Foto Romanza
Duke Heitger and his swing band - Swing Pan Alley
Renzo Arbone e i suoi Swing Maniacs -Mamma Mi Place il Retmo
New Orlean Jazz Vipers - Blue Drag
Romane - Gypsy Fire
Ku'au Crater Boys - Opihi Man
Jambalaya Cajun Band - Hey, Rock
Children of the Revolution - Minor Swing: To Djano

France
Paris Combo - Fibre de Verre
Serge Gainsbourg - Marilon Sous La Neige
Barbara - Si La Photo est Bonne
Enzo Enzo - Juste quelqu'un du bien
Georges Brassens Je m'suis fait tout petit
Jane Birkia - Elaeudanla Téteïa
Coralie Clément - La Mer Opale
Matheiu Boogaerts - Ondulé
Brigitte Bardot - Un Jour Comme Un Autre
Paris Combo - On n'a pas besoin
Sanseverino - Mal ô Mains
Baguette Quartette - Endouce
Polo - La fée clochette

Paris
Thomas Fersen - Au Café de la Paix
Coralie Clément - Samba de Mon Coeur qui Bat
Karpatt - Dites Moi Tu
Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a Dit
Pascal Parisot - Je reste au lit
Karen Ann - Jardin d'Hiver
Tryo - Serre-Moi
Paris Combo - Lettre à P...
Presque Oui - L'ongle
Amélie-les-crayons - Ta P'tite Flamme
Myrtille - Les Pages
Aldebert - Carpe Diem

Caribbean Music
TaxiKréol - Mandolin
Ralph Thamur - Mi Se La
Michel Martley - Pa Manyen Fanm Nan
Kali - Parfum des îles
Haïti Twoubadou - Ki Demon Sa-a
Jean-Luc Alger - Man Bisuena
Emeline
Carimi Ayiti - Bang Bang

Just watched 'The Golden Compass' with M.S

It's such a good film.
Also, Oxford is wow. Gorgeous. I'm in love with the place and wish I could study there in the future.
Am finding the plot so wonderful.
Most terrifying suspense-filled scene: when Lyra approaches the usurped king of the polar bears and presents herself as a potential daemon. She could have gotten killed at any instant! And put Ioeryk's life at stake.
Lyra is one of the bravest child I know [in fiction].
The theme of religion and hearsay probably permeates the film, but I need an extra person to actually discuss this kind of topic.
Lyra's parents are both intellectually gifted, charming, and well-reputed people, interested in the same field, the same object, but with polarizing interest.

In the literary world, there are only two types of people: editors and writers. I belong to the second category. I don't think I can ever be so good of an editor, although having good editing skills certainly will benefit me as a writer.

I really care more about writing than most things, but I think I also enjoy reading other people's writings more than creating my own work most of the time.

Editing entails giving sound advice and tightening up an article, giving it a very good sense of direction.

There is also a big difference between creative writing and analytical, critical and factual pieces of writing.

And there's something different about personal writing, like posting on a blog.

Excerpt from Fall 2007 issue of The Midway Review, 'Allan Bloom's Closing Revisited' by Aaron Roberts

"Today, any child can flatter his hollow intellect by declaring everything to be culturally relative. But this is simply the "insight" of the lazy. It is non-philosophical and strictly dogmatic. Unwilling to confront difficult questions, they instead withdraw into their pseudo-intellectual cave. In zealously undermining all traditions of men, modern theory has created a void, which presently yearns to be filled. The truly educated and civilized strive for higher things."

This is so, so true.

From the Wall Street Journal Opinion Editorial:

"availability bias," roughly the human propensity to judge the validity of a proposition by how easily it comes to mind.

Their insight has been fruitful and multiplied: "Availability cascade" has been coined for the way a proposition can become irresistible simply by the media repeating it; "informational cascade" for the tendency to replace our beliefs with the crowd's beliefs; and "reputational cascade" for the rational incentive to do so.

***

It may seem strange that scientists would participate in such a phenomenon. It shouldn't. Scientists are human; they do not wait for proof; many devote their professional lives to seeking evidence for hypotheses (especially well-funded hypotheses) they've chosen to believe.
Less surprising is the readiness of many prominent journalists to embrace the role of enforcer of an orthodoxy simply because it is the orthodoxy. For them, a consensus apparently suffices as proof of itself.

With politicians and lobbyists, of course, you are dealing with sophisticated people versed in the ways of public opinion whose very prosperity depends on positioning themselves via such cascades. Their reactions tend to be, for that reason, on a higher intellectual level.

'The consciousness recognize themselves as mutually recognizing each other.'

'Self-Consciousness is at first simple existence-for-itself, self-identical through the exclusion from itself of every other. Its "essence" and absolute "object" is for it ego.'

-Readings on Hegel assigned in from SOSC 11100.

Out of all all the topics covered in my social science class this quarter ("Power, Identity, and Resistance"), one of which intrigued me the most (and I am confident to say that this topic was also the most abstract, perhaps even the most difficult to grapple with), but nevertheless any slight understanding of such concepts proved to be delightfully insightful, and intellectually satisfying, meaning that it was a good representation of the tradition of a U of C education, is one that I came across in one selected reading on Hegel.

This concept that we were introduced was none other than Hegel's concept of the Self, and the relationship between the Self and Self-Consciousness.

For basic understanding purposes I will attempt to demonstrate the extent that I understood Hegel (arguably the most difficult philosopher to read). In addition, the concept of how self-consciousness is established is critical, if not, elemental to the essence of my course reading. In an excerpt from Hegel's 'Phenomenology of Spirit', Hegel methodologically and systematically analyzes the thought process behind the struggle for dominance and power between two persons. He does this by examining the relationship between the minds of the two persons. Each encounter is presented with a struggle - this struggle, in its most extreme form, can only be resolved by the death of one, for none can survive if the other is alive (along the same lines, this is eerily reminiscent of the prophecy exemplified in Harry Potter).

This conflict is based on one fundamental principle: when two minds meet, they cannot both be in the state of existence-for-itself, because this is not only not possible but cannot happen by the very definition of existing-for-itself, since it requires that the other self recognizes its existence. By having a separate entity recognize your own existence, one can confirm their existence because it is validated by an external consciousness, thereby establishing for certainty that this existence is for-itself and not merely in-itself.

Grounded in rigorous definitions, what Hegel meant concerning the importance of existence and self-consciousness for itself is none other than what every philosophers aim to identify and reach: truth. Moreover, Hegel believed that the truth of independent consciousness (and no less than what is known as real existence) is the fact that one becomes self-conscious by establishing their existence through the acknowledgment of the same subject matter in another (and therefore, external) consciousness.

Thus, the dividing line between mere consciousness (to which one can ascribe analogously to nothing more complex than a 'vegetative state of existence') is self-consciousness.

Hegel further elaborates on this concept of truth, consciousness, self-consciousness, (and the difference between relating to oneself as the Thing, existing for or in-itself), by examining the extreme relationship of subjugation and subordination between the slave and the master. But my interest in this concept of consciousness stops here, for what really interests me about this establishment and the role of consciousness in society is just this: the unity of collective consciousness.

To put Hegel's reading into context: the course was aptly titled 'Power, Identity, and Resistance', and the objective of this course was to examine the role of society and the individual, investigate the relationship between the individual and society, and deduce, reason, or apply different methodology to conclude what exactly is the relationship between the two entities. We started with Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations', studied individualism, and moved on to Marx and his theory why Communism shall prevail as the dominant paradigm of social institutions, and how it will re-organize the relationship of wage-labour and wealth. Hegel's thesis on Self-Consciousness serves a role by laying the foundation for Marx's grand Manifesto of the Communist Party, in which Marx delineates the necessary social conditions under which the proletariats will rise and overthrow the existing bourgeois class and bourgeois rule which had been in power in society for so long. Marx knew that the proletariats can only stage a successful revolution if and only if they recognized themselves as a class, and recognized their common interest (this is what Marx refers to as a unity of collective consciousness; it has great implications for moral and social forces). The third text of the quarter is Durkheim's 'The Division of Labour in Society'. Durkheim presented a very different perspective - rather than applying individualism as a methodology to examine the social interactions by focusing on the individual and self-interest, he uses holism methodology to examine how society provides the social context in which the individual exists and interacts with other individuals.

Now, having established the premises of Smith and Durkheim, and establishing the role of social consciousness in Marx's dissertation, I will try to explain what it is about the role of consciousness, and self-consciousness that has struck me as particularly interesting.

Have you ever had one of those feelings where you realized the implications of a particular topic discusses or taught in class recently and seeing how this theory or concept applied to your everyday life? Well, believe it or not, this is exactly what happened with the reading on Hegel. Something eerie about the way societies are held together through social cohesion struck me as not only real but very true. I think part of the reason was having my second year in college becoming more definite in one sense and wonderfully challenged in another. I noticed how much harder second year was - courses are becoming demanding, many of us are finishing up with the core or taking interesting courses, either because they are part of our major requirements or relevant courses pertaining towards some part of our general interest (next year, I will be taking my first political science class). Anyway, each one of us are becoming specialized; we are gravitating towards what grabs us and interests us that we are willing to put in the time and effort to work for it. In a way, this is something that Durkheim mentioned in his 'Division of Labour in Society' - how by becoming specialized individuals, not only are we conforming to society's structure but we are in the process reinforcing the ties that links us together, this social solidarity that Durkheim places great emphasis on.

Unfortunately, at this institution, it isn't the degree of specialization that appears to be hindering social solidarity but the pace of it. What I mean to say is that more often than not, as each of us struggle and challenge ourselves academically that it's hard to find some common ground other than the fact that we are, in a very broad sense, experiencing the same type of struggle.

I see this a lot, mostly during problem sessions with the TA and office hours. Rather than an ample opportunity to go over any mishaps and misunderstanding (I like to think of it as clearing up any confusion, so that I would, metaphorically, walk out of that room as if the sky was clear again), it was a disastrous (okay, I'm exaggerating here, but only for illustration purposes) séance during which each student only compounded (this happens more than once) the confusion of other students, or, if not, made the allotted time for going over questions all the more inefficient.

You could say that our consciousnesses were not together at all.

I didn't know what else to do but to marvel at this new found discovery, at the same time, having to wring my hands in despair not knowing what should be done to alleviate the situation, given this knowledge.

Although, I do have to say that what I had also gleaned from my short reading assignment on Hegel's conception of Self-Consciousness as something iterated by external consciousness is that this is one of the distinguishing factor between small talk and great talk between strangers and close friends respectively.

In plain words, sometimes, even the difference between close friend talk and awkward social interaction is the ability to create some sort of connection - this connection is either instigated by the individual, or assisted by the other party.

When I moved on to Durkheim, I realized that social solidarity is a more empirical and sociological expansion on Hegel's fundamental principle of establishing hierarchical relationships between individuals in the society. As for fulfilling a personal responsibility on this academic discovery, I personally need to write about such thoughts in this journal. So hear it is. My relationship as an author with you, the reader, is a mild form of establishing my own independent thought and pensive consciousness through the reader. It cannot be established in any other way, not even by using this physical piece of work as evidence. Perhaps this is something that even Descartes fails to incorporate in his famous quote, "I think, therefore, I am".

1. The Black Dahlia
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3. Hotel Rwanda
4. Little Miss Sunshine
5. Unknown unknowns.
6. Six Feet Under
7. Sex in the City

Uncle Harry said to me:

Read books - open conversation.
Soloist role vs. managerial role
Beef up
Investment banking - leading role

Subjective empirical statement
Research writing
Portfolio management
Analyst
Economic finance - fast & smooth writer
Some qualities that they look for - outgoing, responsive, sensitive

Appropriate:
Seminar related to your department of interest; exposure
Economics finance
Expose judgment - company background
Know as much as possible about anything - develop social skill
Project profile - how to invest, what is good

Running a non-profit business according to a for-profit model ensre that she makes the most of the financial prospects available to her.

Articles andblogs about Gen Y suggest that recent college graduates are not content with simply sitting behind a desk, running numbers without a view of what their efforts are producing. The members of this new generation of talents want to be creative, see tangible results, and do something that exhilarates them. The social entrepreneur model is highly exciting for just that reason - it allows individuals to leave their mark on history.

The Schwab Foundation

Bornstein (Author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas) notes that traditional career paths may not cut it anymore, claiming, "If you're living in this cutthroat Machiavellian world of just connecting with people and building things for profit maximization as a pure motive, you're not going to actually have a really rich life".

"As I was in the final throes of getting my most recent book into print, an employee at the publishing company sent me an e-mail message that stopped me in my tracks.

I had met her just once, at a meeting. We were having an e-mail exchange about some crucial detail involving publishing rights, which I thought was being worked out well. Thens he wrote "It's difficult to have this conversation by e-mail. I sound strident and you sound exasperated."

He urges us to replace our opposition of individual interest and social interest with a recognition that personal and collective functions are intertwined and interdependent in the ceremony and function of giving. As he declares "the brutish pursuit of individual ends is harmful to the ends and peace of all...and rebounds on the individual himself" (p. 77). Instead, he suggests, the modern world should return to some extent to the dynamics of ancient societies, and acknowledge again the social power of what we now see as purely economic interactions. He urges each individual "to emerge from self, [and] to give, freely and obligatorily," (p. 71) finding a balance that can be struck only by tempering individualistic competition with social exchange.

Mommy loves you.
With love,
Thyself.
Love thyself
Good luck on your finals tomorrow and the day after tomorrow!
Much love,
Loads of love,
Heaping plenty of love,
Airflown kiss.

Print Article Outline for TTH:

Intro has hook
Well-organized information
Each paragraph has a point

Sources & references
lib.uchicago.edu
Nexis-Flexis

Interview strategies
Research on person

Abstract:
Introduction 200-300 words. Flesh out ideas.
Question
Relevance
Outline of argument/ article
Sources gathered so far

Broken down to more specific topics
Who do you want to interview?
What do you want to write about?
Article outline.

Abstract:
Introduction
Article Outline
Sources in full MLA format

Blog - origin - evolution
Or - news dissemination

Over Friday lunch with Clark and May Ying:

The best advice that I ever got from them is to build your resumé and to get new work experience. The more the better. I think that there is much to be said about how to make each work experience more enjoyable and more meaningful. The interview questions also show you how you should present yourself and to portray yourself as a dynamic individual, through your interest and how well you spend your free time.

Thanks a bunch!

And think about OPT during winter break...

The sole fact of experience that demonstrates that life is generally good is that the overwhelming majority of men prefer it to death. For this to be so it must be that in the average existence happiness triumphs over unhappiness. If the relationship were reversed on would not understand either whence arose the attachment of men or life, nor above all how it could continue, threatened as it is at every moment by the facts. It is true that pessimists explain the persistence of this phenomnenon by the illusions of hope.

Roman, who teaches one of the Lindy Classes on Wednesday and the class of '99, recommended the following places to explore in Chicago:

1. The Metro (rock concert)
2. Flying Gayonas (they teach you how to fly the trapeze!)
3. Rainbow Cone (95th & Western)
4. Too Much Light Makes the Baby go Blind (neofuturists.org)
5. Superdawg
6. Hema's Kitchen (Indian food, Devon)
7. Maxwell St. Polish (hotdogs)
8. Music Box Theatre
9. Tango Sun (great steak place to go!) Both of them are near Wrigley's Field
10. Yassa (79th & Cottage Grove). Offers Senegalese food (order the Maffe)
11. Cyanois (French). There exist a French Restaurant near Big City Swing
12. Devil in a Woodpile @ the Hideout (21+ free great for balance)
13. The Green Mill. Jazz Club (21+)

Book that I want to read at some point over Winter break or whenever I get time off for such luxury:

1. The Closing of the American Mind
2. The Selfish Gene
3. Whatever Felipe or Richard recommended the other day, in class.
4. Paul Krugman's new book.
5. Possibly something else that Daniel will recommend because he's pretty sensible on such topics.
6. Atlas shrugged

The study of the concrete, which is the study of the whole, is made more readily, is more interesting and furnishes more explanations in the sphere of sociology than the study of the abstract.

The aim and principle of sociology is to observe and understand the whole group in its total behavior.

All societies with the exception of European socities are segmentary. Rules of friendship and contract are present to ensure the peace of markets and villages.

Societies have progressed in the meausre in which they have been able to stablizie, their contracts adn to give, receive and repay. In order to trade, man must first lay down his spear. When that is done he can succeed in exchanging goods and persons not only between clan and clan but between tribe and tribe and nations and nation, and above all between individuals. It is only then that people can create, can satisfy their interests mutually and define them without recourse to arms. It is in this way that the clan, the tribe and nation have learnt - just as in the future the classes and nations and individuals will learn - how to oppose one another without slaughter and to give without sacrificing themselves to others. That is one of teh secrets of their wisdom and solidarity.

Thus we see how it is possible under certain circumstances to study total human behaviour; and how that concrete study leads not only to a science of manners, a partial social science, but even to ethical conclusions - 'civility', or 'civics' as we say today. Through studies of this sort we can find, measure and assess the various determinants, aesthetic, moral religious and economic, and the material and demographic factors, whose sums is the basis of society and constitutes the common life, and whose conscious direction is the supreme art - politics in the Socratic sense of the word.

Since its first publication in English in 1954, Marcel Mauss's Essai sur le Don has been acclaimed as a classic among anthropology texts. A brilliant example of the comparative method, it presents the first systematic study of the custom - widespread in primitive societies from ancient Rome to present-day Melanesia - of exchanging gifts.

The gift is a perfect example of what Mauss calls a total social phenomenon, since it involves legal, economic, moral, religious, aesthetic, and other dimensions. He sees the gift exchange as related to individuals and groups as much as to the objects themselves, and his analysis calls into question the social conventions and economic systems that had been taken for granted for so many years.

In a modern translation, introduced by the distinguished anthropologist Mary Douglas, The Gift is essential reading for students of social antrhopology and sociology.

Ave Maria

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc,
Et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Let It Snow!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping.
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

When we finally say goodnight,
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

Oh, the fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still goodbye-ing,
But as long as you love me so,
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peep.
She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep.

Then i saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white.
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.

Text: Thomas P. Conner

Written 1952, 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' was originally sung by Jimmy Boyd, who was thirteen years old at the time. It reached no. 1 on the Billboard charts, although the song met with resistance from the more conservative forces in the Catholic Church in Boston for mixing 'lewdness and Christmas'. In 2001, the song became a movie starring Connie Sellecca and Corbin Bernsen. Santa, of course, turns out to be Dad.

Je crois que notre rencontre était écrite mais les Parques ont mal calculé quelque chose... Sans elle, je serais heureuse... mais je l'aime tellement que mon coeur - bien qu'il est blessé - ferais mieux de le voir content avec elle.

Si c'est pour lui, la douleur... ça en vaut la peine.

[I believe I was destined to meet him but the Fates have miscalculated something... Without her, I would be happy... but I love him so much that my heart - although it hurts - would be better off seeing him happy with her.

If it's for him, the pain... it's worth it.]

For the bookish ones:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/travel/escapes/16North.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Amherst, MA

Journalism

http://www.theatlantic.com/about/bosintern.htm

http://journalism.nyu.edu/currentstudents/careerservices/internships/postintern.html?id=120

Things to think at the back of your mind...
And to think that it's not easy finding your own niche.

Force is the midwife of every old society pregnant with a new one. It is itself an economic power.

Private property, as the antithesis to social, collective property, exists only where the means of labour and the external conditions of albour belong to private individuals.

Durkheim: Division of Labour in Society

Everybody knows that we like what resembles us, those who think and feel as we do. But the opposite phenomenon is no less frequently encountered. Very often we happen to feel drawn to people who do not resemble us, precisely because they do not do so. These facts are seemingly so much at odds that in every age moralists have hesitated about the true nature of friendship and have traced it now to the one cause, now to the other. The Greeks had already posed the question. 'Friendship,' says Aristotle, 'gives rise to much argument. For some it consists in a certain resemblance, and those who resemble each other like each other; hence the provers, "like goes with like", and "birds of a feather flock together", and other similar sayings. But on the contrary, according to others, all those who resemble one another grate upon one antoher. Other explanations are sought at a higher level which are taken from a consideration of nature. Thus Euripides says that the parched earth is in love with the rain, and that the overcast sky heavy with rain pours down upon the earth in a fury of love. Heraclitus claims that one only accommodates to what one opposed, that the finest harmony is born from differences, and that discord is the law of all becoming.

What demonstrates these opposing doctrines is the fact that both forms of friendship exist in nature. Dissimilarity, just like resemblance, can be a cause of mutual attraction. However, not every kind of dissimilarity is sufficient to bring this about. We find no pleasure in meeting others whose nature is merely different from our own. Prodigals do not seek the company of the miserly, nor upright and frank characters that of the hypocritical and underhand. Kind and gentle spirits feel no attraction for those of harsh and evil disposition. Thus only differences of a certain kind incline us towards one another. These are those which, instead of mutually opposing and excluding one another, complement one another. Bain says, 'There is a kind of disparity that repels and a kind that attracts; a kind that tends to rivalry, and a kind that tends to friendship...if what the one has, the other has not, but desires, there is a basis of positive attraction.

Thus the theorist with a reasoning and subtle mind has often a very special sympathy for practical men who are direct and whose intuition is swift. The fearful are attracted to those who are decisive and resolute, the weak to the strong, and vice versa. However richly endowed we may be, we always lack something, and the best among us feel our own inadequacy. This is why we seek in our friends those qualities we lack, because in uniting with them we share in some way in their nature, feeling ourselves then less complete. In this way small groups of friends grow up in which each individual plays a role in keeping with his character, in which a veritable exchange of services occurs. The one protects, the other consoles; one advises, the other executes, and it is this distribution of function or, to use the common expression, this division of labour, that determines these relations of friendship.

Grace Tsiang, and a CAPS advisor both mentioned the same thing: U of C students tend to be passive and do very poorly at interviews. Why is this?

There may exist between two adversaires some general synpathy which keeps their antagonism within bounds, tempering it. But this sympathy needs to be stronger than the antagonism, or else it does not survive. Or indeed the two elements confronting each other will abandon the contest when it becomes evident that it will be indecisive; each will content itself with maintaining its respective position. Not being able to destroy each other, they are mutually tolerant. The reciprocal toleration that sometimes marks the end of wars of religion is often of this nature. In all such cases, if the clash of feelings does not produce its natural consequences, it is not because it does not contain them, but because it is prevented from producing them.

Durkheim, from 'The Division of Labor'

Cambridge Associates: Advisor on asset management for non-profit institutions
Come up with investment ideas, evaluate portfolios, plead endowment's cause
Eric Mindich - Eton Park Capital Management
Emerging market analayst
Hedge funds and private equity

Diplomat:
Phrasing of statements in non-confrontational, polite manner.

Is there a job market for literary journalism?
Avant-garde - upfront [people or work] that are experimental with regards to art, culture, and politics.
Stereotypes, falsehoods, and insincere sentiments.
Is that what you are referring to???

Adam Smith once said "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merrimetn and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices."

What do you think?

I've been thinking a lot about what to do with my life in the next few years. But then again I sometimes wonder whether I should be one to enjoy life more and not have to worry over imminent things that will not be of great relevance (to say the least, that's thinking about things that you shouldn't be thinking about). So I also remember that J.H from CAPS told me that I will be just fine which is basically a sublimal message telling me *not* to worry.

On Saturday I spent the day with Liz and we travelled up to Lincoln Park to catch 'Lust Caution', the latest movie starring Tony Leung. What a fantastic movie. Afterwards we bumped into a third-year and chatted about what we understood and what we didn't get about the film. I might read the novella which this film was based on.

I had a very wonderful 20th birthday celebration. It started with my official birthday on Wednesday. L.C treated me to gelato at Café Istria. On Friday A.A graciously and wonderfully helped picked out three, excellent restaurants downtown. As fate would have it I chose bin36 because of its location, and its close approximity to the river. Why did I say fate? Because A.A and C.H found another remarkable restaurant downtown, which was part of bin36 and which opened a few hours ago. It was absolutely neat! I had Risotto, Cinnanom sliced salami, and an improvised vegetarian meatball pasta. There were names that I couldn't pronounce on the menu. L.M, also from my beloved Hoover House joined us, so it was a perfect joint celebration of my birthday and the housemate's anniversary. After that we caught a movie at AMC: Darjeeling Limited starring Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman in this wonderfully pointless and spiritually uplifting movie set in the gorgeous backdrop of rural train tracking country in Darjeeling, India. A wonderful film with cultural innuendoes and the likes.

On Saturday I went out for dinner again with a bunch of friends who all dragged themselves out of their time-crushing schedules. F.Y and M.P baked a cake that took them to 4:30 am in the morning! I was so surprised! I'm really happy and I know I can go back to work no matter what. That's what the weekends are for.

Lots and lots of love,

K.Y

I've decided what I would do once I retire. (As for now). My passions are colouring my thoughts, so please take everything that I write here with a grain of salt!

I'd like to be a stay-at-home mom with some sort of life goals. I will not be a soccer mom! I would probably be involved in some sort of club. Probably do volunteer work with Peace Corps or even teach the impoverished kids around the world. Some grand idea. But what I really enjoy doing is sitting in front of my computer and reading really interesting articles on the New York Times, The New Yorker, and stuff like that. I have no desire whatsoever to go beyond the call of duty and actually think and analyse critically what I have to say or discuss for my sosc paper. That's all for now!

It's been a pretty good summer. It had been both self-sustaining, relaxing, and thoroughly excellent through and through. I got a summer job which turned out to be a good work experience, which was what I wanted for anyway. I did read at my leisure, and I had a gift card to spend at Kinokuniya, which is possibly my favorite bookstore in the world.

'If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams.'
- Yann Martel, The Life of Pi

Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect. And whistle a happy tune, so no one will suspect, I'm afraid.

-The King and I

***

Whenever I feel afraid
I seek out my faithful companion
Since I was three
The little stuffed rabbit
Has traveled far and wide
No ticket, no passport required
Just its presence
Is enough to comfort me.

***

When I'm self-conscious
It happens now and then
The homeroom teacher wants me
To stand up in front of the whole class
I start chewing
Even when I have no chewing gum in my mouth.

***

I drew a fairly large crowd
I was their senior
I was quietly revered in awe
Or maybe I just made that up
Anyway,
I had something profound to say
Or give good advice
For want of becoming a role model
Been there and done that
So, it seems
That I have the legitimacy
To solicit advice
It's not a matter of age
But a matter of experience.

I once thought of doing my World Literature Essay on facial expressions. Below are quotes I collected specifically for this topic.

***

Govinda - as pale as a dried banana.

Siddartha - laughed in such a way that his voice expressed a shade of sorrow and a shade of mockery.

The old man (eldest Samana) became silent, his eyes glazed.

Your mouth is like a freshly cut fig, Kamala

His face is still more clever and intellectual than other people's, but he rarely laughed, and gradually his face assumed the expressions which are so often found among rich people - the expressions of discontent, of sickliness, of displeasure, of idleness, or lovelessness.

Weariness was written on Kamala's face.

Good-natured wrinkles

-From 'Siddartha' by Hermann Hesse

***

Darting black eyes both insincere and self-satisfied in expression

The expression on his face was one of spiteful mistrust and chronic ill-concealed anger.

Sad black eyes of the children.

Expressionless black eyes like the empty windows of a dark room.

You can tell these Americans of 1929 by their whipped-dog expression and gold teeth.

Large eyes and thin lips; their archaic faces do not stem from the Romans, Greeks, Estrucans, Normans, or anyother invaders who have passed their land, bt recall the most ancient Italic types.

Earthly, immobile, animal-like expression.

-from 'Christ Stopped At Eboli' by Carlos Levi

On writing essays:

Sometimes it's really easy to write what you want, when you feel like it. This feeling of creative flow is akin to having a jug of syrup pouring down beautifully. When it's hard, it's like trying to elicit a sliver of meat from the crevices of a crab. Sometimes it's just damn hard, like constipation.

"In those days I was young, and all sorts of fancies bright and dark tenanted my mind: the memories of nursery stories were there amongst other rubbish; and when they recurred, maturing youth added to them a vigour and vividness beyond what childhood could give." - Jane Eyre

I was like that when I fell into a blissful and ignorant reminiscent of my childhood. It was true that I had a memory like a roll of films, just like my Dad had said. I remembered playing in the grass, swinging on the swings, swooshing down the slides. I remembered inconsequential details like the tile arrangment of our neighbor's kitchen. I remembered the bumpy carpeting of my home. My best friend and I balancing on a bike. Watching the steam rise from the rooftop over the swimming pool. Stuff like that. Attention to detail, no? But I would forget the famed sights of Germany, sites of historical significance, places in China I visited with the family because I was too young to understand. Nevertheless, my mother still thought travelling at such a young age was an invaluable part of growing up and of parenting. But there were things I would remember for a lifetime because they had been brought up not long after whatever passed, salvaged from the vague recollections of 'Those Early Days'.

'The Life of Pi' (continued)

Let me tell you what's so special about 'The Life of Pi'.

Piscine Molitar Patel, the main character of this novel, is telling a very remarkable story about one's journey of the extraordinary. There is much to discuss about: themes, character development, and much talked about literary forms if one is to analyze it in a literature class, or even compare it to other similar 'Castaway' genre books such as 'Robinson Crusoe' and 'Lord of the Flies'. What struck me, leisurely and attentively in the lulling enjoyment of 'Reading for Pleasure', is the structure. This book is divided into three parts; the first in which Pi (no irrevocably nicknamed so, but nevertheless symbolically representative of the divine human being) narrates his childhood, a tone that of an innocent and curious young boy. The second part is his 227 days at sea, with a Bengal tiger in tow. The third is a written transcript of his conversation with two Japanese shipwreck investigators on the fate of the cargo carrier which sunk and consequently led to Pi's castaway life. It is in the second part of this novel which Pi narrates, in simple and eloquent language, of his maturation and understanding of humanity, and human's relationship with nature. The fact that he is able to survive a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger is testimony to his ability to discern how animals communicate and behave with the human race, which more often than not mistreats and misunderstood these vital communicative signs at a fatal cost (note that in Part I Pi explains the anatomy of zoos, and debunks self-proclaim nature lovers who do not really understand freedom in the wild on the animal's behalf with regards to the supposedly rigid confinements of a zoo). In the last part of the book Pi is shown to irritate his impatient investigators, and through this the reader once again is given an allegorical portrayal of his testimony at sea.

Below is my favorite part of the book; Pi has followed three religion, and this excerpt shows what is so baffling and so simple of practicing three religions altogether. Please start from the previous post.

****

Ravi had a field day of it when he found out.

"So, Swami Jesus, will you go on te hajj this year?" he said, bringing the palms of his hands together in front of his face in a reverent namaskar. "Does Mecca beckon?" He crossed himself. "Or will it be to Rome for your coronation as the next Pope Pius?" He drew in the air a Greek letter, making clear the spelling of his mockery. "Have you found time yet to get the end of your pecker cut off and become a Jew? At the rate you're going, if you go to temple on Thursday, mosque on Firday, synagogue on Saturday and church on Sunday, you only need to convert to three more religions to be on holiday for the rest of your life."

And other lampoonery of such kind.

An extract from 'The Life of PI'

The wise men seemed annoyed when they realized that all three of them were approaching the same people. Each must have assumed that the others were there for some business other than pastoral and had rudely chosen that moment to deal with it. Glances of displeasure were exchanged.

My parents looked puzzled to have their way gently bocked by three broadly smiling religious strangers. I should explain that my family was anything but orthodox. Father saw himself as part of the New India - rich, modern and as secular as ice cream. He didn't have a religious bone in his body. He was a businessman, pronounced busynessman in his case, a hardworking, earthbound professional, more concerned with inbreeding among the lions than any over-arching moral or existential scheme. [...] Spiritual worry was alien to him; it was financial worry that rocked his being. [...] Mother was mum, bored and neutral on the subject. A HINDU upbringing and a Baptist education had precisely cancelled each other out as far as religion was concerned and had left her serenly impious. [...] As for Ravi, if Lord Krishna had held a cricket bat rather than a flute, if Christ had appeared more plainly to him as an umpire, if the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, had shown some notions of bowling, he might have lifted a religious eyelid, bt they didn't, and so he slumbered.

After the "Hellos" and the "Good days", there was an awkward silence. The priest broke it when he said, with pride in his voice, "Piscine is a good Christian boy. I hope to see him join our choir soon."

My parents, the pandit and the imam looked surprised.

"You must be mistaken. He's a good Muslim boy. He comes without fail to Friday prayer, and his knowledge of the Holy Qur'an is coming along nicely." So said the imam.

My parents, the priest and the pandit looked incredulous.

The pandit spoke. "You're both wrong. He's a good Hindu boy. I see him all the time at the temple coming for darshan and performing puja."

My parents, the imam and the priest looked astounded.

"There is no mistake," said the priest. "I know this boy. He is Piscine Molitar Patel and he's a Christian."

"I know him too, and I tell you he's a Muslim," asserted the imam.

"Nonsense!" cried the pandit. "Piscine was born a Hindu, lives a Hindu and will die a Hindu!"

The three wise men stared at each other, breathless and disbelieving.

Lord, avert their eyes from me, I whispered in my soul.

All eyes fell upon me.

"Piscine, can this be true?" asked the imam earnestly. "Hindus and Christians are idolaters. They have many gods."

"And Muslims have many wives," responded the pandit.

The priest looked askance at both of them. "Piscine," he nearly whispered, "there is salvation only in Jesus."

"Balderdash! Christians know nothing about religion," said the pandit.

"They strayed long ago from God's path," said thhe imam.

"Where's God in your religion?" snapped the priest. "You dont' have a single mircale to show for it. What kind of religion is that, without mircales?"

"It isn't a circus with dead people jumping out of tombs all the time, that's what! We Muslims stick to the essential miracle of existence. Birds flying, rain falling, crops growing - these are miracles enough for us.

"Feathers and rain are all very nice, but we like to know that God is truly with us."

"Is that so? Well, a whole lot of good it did God to be with you - you tried to kill him! You banged him to a cross with great big nails. Is that a civilized way to treat a prophet? The prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - brought us the word of God without any undignified nonsense and ided at a rip old age."

"The word of God? To that illiterate merchant of yours in the middle of the desert? Those were drooling epileptic fits brougth on by the swaying of his camel, not divine revelation. That, or the sun frying his brains!"

"If the Prophet - p.b.u.h. - were alive, he would have choice words for you," replied the imam, with narrowed eyes.

"Well, he's not! Christ is alive, while your old 'p.b.u.h.' is dead, dead, dead!"

The pandit interrupted them quietly. In Tamil he said, "The real question is, why is Piscine dallying with these foreign religions?"

The eyes of teh priest and the imam properly popped out of their heads. They were both native Tamils.

"God is universal," spluttered the priest.

The imam nodded strong approval. "There is only one God."

"And with their one god Muslims are always causing troubles and provoking riots. The proof of how bad Islam is, is how uncivilized Muslims are," pronounced the pandit.

"Says the slave-driver of the caste system." huffed the imam. "Hindus enslave people and woship dressed-up dolls."

"They are golden calf lovers. They knee before cows," the priest chimed in.

"While Christians kneel before a white man! They are the flunkies of a foreign god. They are the night-mare of all non-white people."

"And they eat pigs and are cannibals," added the imam for good measure.

"What it comes down to," the priest put out with cool rage, "is whether Piscine wants real religion - or myths from a cartoon strip."

"God - or idols," intoned the imam gravely.

"Our gods - or colonial gods," hissed the pandit.

It was hard to tell whose face was more inflamed. It looked as if they might come to blows.

Father raised his hands. "Gentlemen, gentlmen, please!" he interjected. "I would like to remind you there is freedom of practice in this country."

Three apoplectic faces turned to him.

"Yes, Practice - singular!" the wise men screamed in unison. Three index fingers, like punctuation marks, jumped to atention in the air to emphasize their point.

They were not pleased at the unintended choral effect or the spontaneous unity of their gestures. Their fingers came down quickly, and they sighed and groaned each on his own. Father and Mother stared on, at a loss for words.

"If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends." -Jane Eyre

"Life appears to me too short to be spent nursing animosity, or registering wrongs." - Jane Eyre.

"The most disappointed are the most Americanized, a curious consequence of frustrated enthusiasm."

Currently reading: Beyond the Age of Innocence

That sentence pretty much explains even the most mildest form of anti-American sentiments. "Frustrated enthusiasm" resonates with the early excitement, anguish, disappointment and frustration when I first moved into college. I had high expectations, so there was much to anticipate; yet equally there was much to discover. This was a major reason why I was more than surprised once I arrived, that I would be experiencing some first-hand culture shocks, despite the fact that I had been schooled in an American system. In reality, there were thousands of aspects of American culture that I have not yet been acquainted with. The most funny thing about the cultural flabbergast was that over here, of all places, stereotypes were actually reinforced, not undermined. I felt like I was trapped in a daytime soap opera (well, kind of). Despite the fact that America is one of the world's most influential and powerful country in the world, it still contain pockets of suburban ignorance to the world at large. Specifically, international affairs especially in which the majority of America's political presence played decisive roles, if not, overwhelming and subtle influences.

***

I remember a conversation that had taken place during house meeting between two housemates. One of them is pretty interested in American something (I don't know quite how to describe it - American culture?) and he asked his friend ,"Do you know what America needs more?", and his friend shakes his head sadly (of course, they were discussing the plight of the country candidly) and replied, "More suburbs".

***

Notwithstanding, there are plenty of 'the best of the world' categories from this bewildering and paradoxical country. And the best part of reading this particular book is coming across this phrase that best describes how I feel about going choosing to study in the U.S: Americans know what it means to have 'the best of communities': "A common sense of identity based on shared values".

American exposure

I guess the it started in 1990. I was almost three years old, and my dad was transferred to Shanghai because his company had secured their bid to build the No. 1 metro line. So my dad relocated his family and we left Hong Kong. We lived in a very nice, luxurious service apartment at NanJing Xi Road (that would be similar to say, living in an apartment flat in downtown Manhattan). This service apartment was part of the larger entity of the complex called Shanghai Center, which was literally full of prime lots and apartments for rent all rolled into one (today, it's possible that most cab drivers still refer to the place as 'Portman'). It was built by an American company and, upon its inception, became a center for foreign exports as well as the then small and tight-knit expatriate community. The shopping mall included various restaurants like Tony Roma's, it had stores like Watson's, Starbucks, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, and office spaces for major airline companies. At the center was the Portman Shangri-La, where former President Clinton and President Bush have stayed during their visit to Shanghai. Today, it's replaced by the Ritz-Carlton. Shanghai Center formed a big part of my early childhood. It had an impressive lobby flanked by two gigantic arches (they served as entrance and exits) along a sloping square. There were various elevators leading up and down. It even housed a theatre which was known for bringing shows, back then, the Hong Kong Ballet Troupe, and a convention center. I haven't been to any other apartment which is as impressive as this. On the eighth floor was a wide garden terrace, and here I spent countless hours playing with my friends, roller blading, and attending various dinner functions held by the Management, as well as the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

We lived in Shanghai during the early 90's, when there were not yet as many expatriates living as now (of course - I say this because it's a known fact that Shanghai has transformed dramatically since 1996, the year we left, moving to yet another growing and developing city, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia). Most of the foreign residents stayed at the Shanghai Center, and most of their kids were my age, so it's no wonder that I loved living there. There were many friends. Most, if not all of us, attended Shanghai American School, (which was also one of the few international schools in Shanghai back then). I also grew up with my German childhood friends (family friends; both are dads worked for the same German company), and we both traveled around China together and had dinner together, often at the Hilton, and Tea Garden which, I vividly remembered, had the most delicious looking display table for the Christmas season with gigantic gingerbread houses, a little mini steam engine train and delightful pastries.

It's possible to say that we were living in a pretty much accessible Third World Country (I'm using this anarchic and politically incorrect term for metaphorical purposes) with all the perks and benefits of living an expatriate life, in a cocooned world.

Shanghai American School was my first real exposure to the American life. Most of the staff were Americans. We sang songs, played tag, eni-mini-miny-moe, and other playground games. I made my first paper-mâché. My first grade teacher creatively came up with the idea that we should go on a holiday to Hawaii, so we made passports and suitcases out of construction paper, turned up the heater so that it was warm enough to wear T-shirts indoors. Once, she invited the whole class for a cooking session at her place - we made 'Crocodile Soup'. I listened to the older and taller middle-high school kids sing 'We Will Rock You', stomping at the back and deliberately making it coincide with the famous hump that we had to cross just before we reached our stop home (most of us lived in the same apartment complex, so we all got off at the same place). The other distinctively American school feature was the yearly Scholastic Book Order. I would pore over the thin pages full of colorful prints and blurbs. My Dad helped me order many with audios, science experiment books, etc. I also ordered one or two 'Baby-Sitters Club' series (but one of my teacher told my Dad it was poor reading material, so I never got into it; my second grade teacher, on the other hand, was a 'Boxers Children' fan but I never got into that either).

Every summer and Christmas holidays we went back to Hong Kong. We would also bring back supplies to Shanghai (that's the extent to which its stark and early stages of China's new policy towards the outside world looked), like the 'Laughing Cow' cheese, milk powder (when Wellcome, a supermarket chain from Hong Kong decided to open at Shanghai Center, the entire expat community rejoiced), and toys - lots and lots of boardgames because I always went to Toys "R" Us every time I went back to Hong Kong.

That was pretty much my happy childhood in Shanghai. It's not hard to tell that it's made a deep impression on me. Nor is it hard to tell that I'm sort of raised up in the American system. America has also some of the best universities in the world. I'm finally living in the U.S which was one of my far-fetched experiences that I always wanted, and it's been an amazing journey. Of course, the American expatriate community experiences something, included in their lifestyle, much more different than the average, and provincial, or even metropolitan American in the States.

Why Michael Moore's films have a silver lining

A couple of days ago, I met up with two college friends, enjoying the waning days of summer. We have less than half a month to go before class begins, which would herald the start of our second year. It was a nice day out. We had lunch at a tiny café tucked behind the red marble-stone building of Takashimaya, one of Japan's flagship store (like the American Macy's). Of course, none of this is necessary detail, unless I was trying to set the scene or attempt an attention to detail. Whatever. Half-way through our lunch bite we discussed politics and semi-touched on America's relationship with the world.

The reason why I titled my post 'Why Michael Moore's films have a silver lining' was because the topic of discussion prompted me to think about how Americans sometimes take pre-emptive security measures for safety reasons. Prior to that we were discussing the difference in job perks between the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Singapore. The Prime Minister of Singapore earns a salary that is at least three times the salary of the President of the United States, and has a much smaller country to govern. [ed. note - The Singapore government says that the reason civil servants have such high paying jobs is to prevent corruption - that's debatable]. The latter gets to live in the White House, which is part of the prestige of being President, whereas the Prime Minister of Singapore does not have a state-owned residence; the Prime Minister, upon taking office in the political sense, resides in his (or her, to show that I am gender-equality conscience?) private property. Moreover, even though the President of the United States is paid less and has more to manage on his agenda, as the sole important representative of a superpower, as the leader of the world's most influential country with regards to politics, policies, and even the environment, the President rests on a significantly larger share of the global stage than the political leader of a fairly developed country (especially relative to neighboring countries within its region). In colloquial terms, the President of the United States has a bigger limelight. Also, the perks of his job are more prestigious and fancily served (if the word, 'fancily' is appropriate, I do not know), that are not personally charged on the President' expense, such as Secret Service, Air Force One, and whole staff of personnels running the day to day operations of the White House (the White House Press, Housekeeping, speech writers, campaign aides etc.). Let's not forget it is also this country that is able to employ best brains and intellectuals working as members of the Cabinet, as part of the administration in the name of the President, and working as his advisor.

Sure, the Prime Minister of Singapore is also entitled to a team of advisors as part of his job, but everything is operated on a much smaller scale.

My friends also argued that the President of the United States has plenty of money earning possibilities, giving speeches and guest-lecturing at various institutions across the country. Then there is also the possibility of writing a memoir, or have others write a biography of you and thus play a pivotal role in determining your legacy. I don't think the prime minister of Singapore has as much post-office opportunities as the President of the United States.

Speaking of autobiographies, we discussed various less-educated group of elites, namely celebrities who have also marketed themselves through the personal medium of the autobiography (after writing the last sentence I was eerily reminded of somebody's humanities essay on St. Augustine's The Confessions). I don't believe that young stars like N.R, in her early twenties would have something significant or wise to say about her relatively short life so far, even with the aid of ghost-writers. Of course, in the case of Bill Clinton he had a definitive chapter of his life closed and post-presidencies often leaves the former President a period to reflect his time in the Office.

But back to my thesis: I believe that Americans have often neglected to ensure world peace (not intentionally, of course). We have a revelation that 9/11 could have been avoided if the FBI and the CIA had cooperated rather than keeping vital information from each other. I don't accept the argument that these governmental institutions are so swamped with leads, of which (I'm not so sure on the statistics) 90% of them are false, so this makes it likely that vital and real leads are buried and glossed over. It's possible that these clerical error happen, but its the technology and the capital at the disposal of these giant bureaucracies that suggest otherwise. True, Michael Moore's films should be taken with a grain of salt, but I sincerely believed that he would never have lied, as a film maker, to the American public. He exaggerates more than he does to distort the truth. In my book, the distortion of truth is a more serious felony of misrepresentation than the exaggeration of the facts at hand. Distortion of truth misleads, whereas exaggerations are best used to emphasize Moore's political message and to emphasize the social commentary of his films. Distortion of truth undermines the potential to analyze and understand the failings of society, either through poor policy implementations or neglect of social values and welfare. For this reason, Michael Moore's films contain a bigger grain of truth (the silver lining) than the grain of salt (or precaution) taken on the part of the viewer.

Why Facebook is Bad (or Good)

I got my Facebook account over the summer. I was only a handful of people from my graduating class that had a Facebook account that early in July, well before Orientation and the start of our first year in college. Because of this, I could somewhat stalk and check out the profiles of my other future prospective classmates (from the proud Class of 2010), and concluded that yes, these are the people to whom my university attracts. We are going to rock the year, and revel in our new-found friendship. Indeed, we would discover immense happiness in the discovery of knowing so many talented and unassuming individuals all wanting (and evetually, chose) to study at the same institutions. Facebook is definitely the best social network utility to come out over the years (mine began with, considering the expansive scope of Internet connection, from ICQ, MSN, Friendster (which I don't personally use), hi5, and myspace). I think, out of the most meaningful type of online activity, (other than the possibility of high-quality www. surfing), I prefer blogging.

Right away, I looked up Facebook on Wikipedia and found that it was the brainchild of a Harvard graduate. It was initially used to keep students in touch (within the Harvard community). It has since expanded for all registered college students in the United States, as well as other universities abroad. Most recently (and sadly for us existing users), Facebook broke its exclusivity by extending membership to anyone who has an email account.

There are a lot of cool stuff about Facebook. But before that, and more precisely, a year ago, it was much more different. It was the dream-site for stalkers all over the country. Facebook allowed you to glimpse through a slice of personal life your friends, acquaintances, and even the cute guy in your chemistry class. It was easy to find out what your friends have been up to lately from their wall posts, an attractive feature of the profile that resembles virtual Post-It Notes. It's possible to guage how popular a particular individual is, take a guess at their social prominence (or lack of), check out who their acquaintances are (with possible relevance to your own circle of acquaintances), and see how many people they know and have connections to from top colleges around the world. In addition, it's even possible to look up their high school educational background. So, it's partly due to Facebook that I have heard about U.S preparatory schools such as Phillilps Exeter, Phillips Academy, the Cate School, Cransbrook Kingswood, Chouate, Chadwick, and other private boarding schools in the United Kingdom like Sevenoaks and the Harrow School.

The downside to Facebook's distinct feature and huge popularity, appeal, and addictiveness was, ironically, exacerbated by its transformation. This began with the Mini-Feed. Horror to horrors, it displayed every single possible story that would be of some use or interest to the rest of the people to whom you are connected through a common network. Thankfully, the privacy setting allows you to choose what you want to disclose. Unfortunately, and, I suspect, loopholes do exist, such as the granting of permission for Facebook to give away information about you to business organization. Why? That's because Facebook does not run advertisements the way Google does. But it has an enormous database and immense potential of consumers, mostly teenagers and young adults, that firms can target. It is the ability to determine how important that individual is (imagine a map with dots and lines to represent people and relationships) - the most connected have plenty of friends, and therefore, their influence and distributive power, which these firms can tap into and promote their products.

The biggest detriment from using Facebook is its procrastination factor. The Mini-Feed is the first page to appear when you log-in to Facebook. Such prominence helps to distract and compel you to browse through your friend's profile, and basically stalk other people, as much as hours on end. It's a big waste of time. I can make an analogy by saying that for every hour one spends time on Facebook, that's a one-hour loss (in terms of opportunity cost) of say, reading up on news report (for this, I deliberately do not have Facebook on my web browser bookmark, but instead news bar such as Time, The New Republic, BBC, the New York Times, as well as Project Syndicate). There comes a time when spending one hour informing yourself of world affairs is a much better use of retrieving information than half-guessing that your high school classmate is coming back for the holidays and can't wait to party it out. I personally feel much more at ease, peaceful, and more successful to stay away from Facebook, and engage in more meaningful activities. So I guess Facebook is starting to annoy me and impede on my intellectual development.

Don't get me wrong though. Facebook has also contributed to my ability to discern good gossip from bad gossip. Coincidentally, I'm much more fluent in writing notes, love-notes, and friendly posts to people I know. As much as I benefit from Facebook, so much that I'm becoming a well-versed individual, so too has my social skills. I'm not kidding*. However, I feel like the time has come to relinquish its duties, and do myself a favor and enjoy the more tangible aspects of life.

*I'm getting other people's wit and humor rubbing off on me.

"We cannot talk meaningfully about the motivations and intentions of any institution, only of those who constitute and govern it." - Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and Its Discontents

Even in this day and age, it's clear that not every institution of any kind sucessfully carry out their agendas while staying true to their espoused values and missions. It's a lot easier to steer a boat in the rough sea than it is to direct the boat to a specific destination under the same conditions. Because of this, it's important not to dismiss and ridicule people like me (I do have this tendency) who have received an education that emphasises on social awareness and responsaibility. I just don't think it's fair to dismiss people who others have condemned for their childish visions and naivety. In fact, it's these people who have inspired great films, poems, and compelling stories that have captivated and positively influenced many others, and who give us hope and optimism of the future. Forget about existentialists; they were practically insisting on a completely different clause!

"It's the economy, stupid"

Currently reading: 'Globalization and Its Discontents' by Joseph E. Stiglitz

To become a learned economist, it's important to be up to date with world news, increasing one's knowledge of economics, globalization, and social trends and phenomenons from different perspectives. For this reason, I am reading one of the currently best selling non-fiction books hitting all major bookstores. I want to be more informed and learned about international affairs, with the purpose of avoiding stuff happening, such as this: politics and policies harmlessly, ignorantly, and caressly tossed before me.

Come to think of it, the world is becoming acutely aware of how small it actually is (think of Thomas Friedman's 'The World Is Flat'). We are virtually connected to anyone else who has access to the Internet. Chinese is becoming one of the most popular foreign languages taken by college students. Steven Levitt helped gained worldwide attention and interest in cconomics with his thought-provoking book (Levitt has his own 'Freakonomics Blog' featured on the New York Times website). Even before the Freaknomics craze, Malcolm Gladwell, staff writer for The New Yorker (who I personally admire), wrote about the fascinating relation between people and phenomenons. Social phenomenons, that is. It is the one distinct and generous umbrella under which many categories of lifestyle and society lie. Malcolm Gladwell, coming from a literary magazine background, discussed this beautifully in his first novel, 'The Tipping Point', and later topped it off with his second novel titled book, 'Blink'. Some of the interesting anecdotes that Gladwell uses to illustrate his main thesis are related to pyschology, the third domain which connects society with the individual. Speaking of which, pyschology has also become a popular degree.

***

Once I started college, my biggest fear, oddly enough, was fear of failure. I hesitatd to declare the I was going to major in Economics. I avoided saying a solid, 'Yes' when people asked whether that was my intended major. Why? For a long time, I saw it as a stepping stone into the financial world, of which I had very little idea of. Or so I thought. I kidded myself a lot, not really exploring the subject first-handed. Today, I have discovered that this is not at all true! Over the summer, I have been entertaining the idea of going into academia. My ambition is to work at a global institution such as the World Bank, or an NGO or think tank for which I share the same values, or possibly work as a top advisor. It would also be nice to get some work experience in the world of journalism, either as a freelance writer, or contributor for some featured column. Any of these are good ideas or goals to have, but it's equally important to know what is achievable. And college helped me to expand my horizons; this is one of the reasons why I know I hadn't disappointed myself, not from the very beginning.

Anywhere But Here

Starring Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon

A funny and poignant tale of a mother and daughter relationship. Susan Sarandon plays Adele, a small-town girl from Wisconsin (with a head full of big cities names), who's dream was to leave home and live a bigger life, which included the aspiration and possibility that her daughter might become an actress. Dragging her reluctant daughter, Ann, they set out for California in a cute vintage Mercedes. The Mercedes has cost her a fortune, if not, a substantial amount of her savings. Once they reached California, Adele improvises along the way as they move from one apartment to another (it is implied that she is unable to pay the utilities bill sometimes), all the while making ends meet in Beverly Hills, (where Ann attends the famed Beverly Hills High School), teaching at an impoverished section of L.A and, being unsuccessful at finding a suitable and rich father for Ann.

There are times, during her strained and endearing relationship with her mother, that Ann thinks about running away. Her mother is a lovely yet flighty women, who knows best for her daughter. Unfortunately, her daughter knows better? Oftentimes, while conversing with well-to-do strangers from their environs, Adele passes off lies about their lives so that mother and daughter would not be looked down upon based on their economic background. Ann grudgingly keeps silent. Her mother found a newspaper advertisement for an audition; Ann reluctantly accepts, making sure that her mother does not come. Not wanting to miss out on her daughter's opportunity to land on a show, Adele shows up at the studio, only to learn that her own daughter is using her mother for inspirational improvisation material, in a demeaning manner. Although Ann is clearly a wonderful girl, the audience is left slightly hesitant about whether Ann really wants to run away from home. This opportunity presented itself, but more because Ann is about to graduate from high school, and, at the start of the film, it was known that she always wanted "to go back East for college". Her mother had already planned her to attend UCLA. Ann finally confronts and explains that this is her only chance to finally do what she wants and to become independent. In the end, including the help of a generous police officer, Adele decides what is best for her daughter by supporting Ann's dream to go away from home for college at Brown University.

I love this indie film.

***

I sometimes wonder why I'm the only child. Of course, there are pros and cons to being the only child. Sibling-less. For one, I'm left with a lot of freedom to do pretty much whatever I want. I get to spend a lot of time with myself. I get to read a lot of books, and study quietly. At the same time, I also get a lot of my mother's love (my mother's love was imprinted quite obviously on my clothes, my hair, my shoes, and my sense of self when I was a little girl. Everyone could tell). But there are times, especially in the middle of 'A Personal Conflict', when I feel smothered by maternal love. Don't get me wrong though. I know that I'm a very, very lucky girl. On the other hand, I also know that when it's my turn to start a family and have kids I want at least three. (Three is a good number, because from two to three you cross the size threshold from ideal family to large family). Whenever me and my Mom don't see eye to eye with each other (we butt heads a lot; she and I have different views on many things), again I very much wish that I had an older brother to talk to, and to talk to me, share his point of view, and yes, tease me so that I don't have to be by myself all the time, with my mother's words stirring in my head like a toothache.

Where I was Then

During my fall quarter at the University of Chicago, I was greatly disappointed with this place. Now, in my spring quarter, I'm beginning to think whether I was right all along, or whether I was being highly idealistic and naïve. Maybe it was that that got me accepted to this fine institution, famous for its highly gifted faculty, minds, and research. I am just a lowly undergrad, who will graduate with a B.A in Economics, and move on to bigger and better things in life. However, in a sense, I always feel that there wasn't much in it for me, and that I lacked a lot of contact with outside sources regarding getting the best out of my academic and social life. But, in a perverted manner, there was no doubt in my mind was there an ounce of ingenuity in that I still hold dearly to these somewhat half-assed ideas that this place was really a 'dream school'.

Harry Potter (with spoilers)

I have finished 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'! It is very, very good. J. K. Rowling has dedicated this book to all her readers, "and to you, if you have stuck with Harry until the very end". By the end of the sixth book, much more is known about the history and nature of Lord Voldemort (or Tom Riddle), who, like Harry was also an orphanage and who found his first home at Hogwarts. Tom Riddle has had a deeply troubled and abused childhood, and as a result, became one of the most evil and self-destructing wizards of all time. He has been under patrol and care of Albus Dumbledore, himself a great and wizened wizard of all time. An interesting storyline is ensued, revealing a very intimate and guided relationship between Dumbledore and a very young and handsome wizard on the verge of surrendering himself to the dark forces. Whereas Harry's life was piqued with a longing to found out more about his parents (who died when he was just a baby), Tom Riddle's parents did not lived up to a very happy marriage. In fact, Tom Riddle came from a very noble and old wizard family (he is a descendant of the Slytherins), except his ancestors had unfortunately squandered away their wealth and fame. Added to his greedy and selfish nature, it's not hard to tell that while Riddle and Potter grew up from similar background, this similarity only stops there. Harry Potter was imprinted everywhere with his mother's love. He was not only the Boy Who Lived (much of his adolescent years were spent evading the fame associated with his famous scar), but also the Boy who must grow up to love selflessly and avoid getting hot-headed (many of his adventures from Book One show Harry's character development and increasing knowledge of the fate the ties himself with the dark lord).

By Book Six it is known of Voldemort's dealings with the Dark Arts and his task of immortalizing himself through the creation of six Horcruxes. Dumbledore has also been collecting information on Voldemort's whereabouts and tracking his progress, at the same time, fearing that his fears were true. Snape is misleadingly revealed as Dumbledore's murderer. Through so much deaths presented in this book, the series get darker. But we know later that Severus Snape, (also a one-time headmaster of Hogwarts), was also the bravest wizard Harry would ever know. Added to this captivating story is, time and time again, Dumbledore's wisdom and his hasty (and not to mention fatal) mistakes.

Voldmort's plan backfires, and Harry once again emerges from his troubled, (and sometimes, potentially and irritatingly egoistic self) displaying his remarkable ability to comprehend the flaws of those who had the power but not the heart to use magic for the greater good. It takes a lot of courage to discard the Resurrection Stone and the Elder Wand for the greater good of both the wizarding world and the Muggle world in pursuit of peace. Harry Potter grows up (but not of course, without the support, help, and love of his two best friends).

I've been reading the final book of the Harry Potter series, and I must say that it is very good. Possibly the best second to 'The Prisoner of Azkaban'. I remember a while back reading articles on the Harry Potter series in Time magazine discussing the immense appeal and popularity of the adventures of a boy wizard and the thralls of the wizarding world. Without a doubt, J. K. Rowling has done a wonderful job creating a thoroughly imaginative world. The fact that it is so well made-up (and not forgetting that there are numerous themes underlying it, involving Harry, his friends, Hogwarts, the wizarding world as well as the Muggle world) is a note-worthy appreciation of children and timeless literature. I'm sure that in the near future our course catalog will reveal a study of Harry Potter from the English Literature department, as well as the famed Committee of Social Thought.

A couple of things that I'd like to mention out of my 18 years of formal education. This includes studying the stories of 'The Simsons', 'Lord of the Rings', and of course, 'Harry Potter'.

A lot has happened over the weekend.

Friday was my last day day at work. My colleagues, who've become some of the best of friends, took me out for lunch. We chatted about many things that would probably not have been possible in our office, either because we were swamped with work or because there wasn't the right opportunity to do so.

After work, I went to Womad and enjoyed the evening hanging out with friends.

Two days later, I was shocked and in disbelief to find out that two of my high school classmates were killed in a devastating car crash.

I'm coming to terms with what happened and how difficult it is to say goodbye to the people with whom I was not necessarily close to but whose memories have touched and live on in the lives of so many others. From all the memories and last words that friends and family members have posted it's not hard to tell that they were two great individuals. They will not be forgotten and while their deaths have greatly saddened the Class of 2006, they have left us with invaluable memories and life lessons to be cherished. A big thank you to the Class of 2006, their friends and famillies for their grace and condolences. Peace.

[ed. Thank you - for being so considerate of this post, and for understanding the sentiments. ]

***

Your absence makes us all grieve, [name witheld], because you affected our lives, in both big and little ways. Though I didn't know you too well, my thoughts and wishes are with you and your family.

To [name witheld], who was a genuinely compassionate person who held such a contagious smile. A truly unecessary and tragic death. I wish you all the freedom you should find, in a place absent of pain and full of repaid kindness that you always showed to others. May your soul rest in peace.

[Name witheld],
Your celebration for life will eternally be embedded in our hearts and minds. You were indeed a person who could brighten up someone’s day. I myself never experienced a negative/depressing moment with you. We will remember your laughs, jokes and your benevolence which made you special amongst others.
Your shocking passing away proves God is Short of Angels in the Heavens.

Your Death leaves a Heartache no one can Heal, but more importantly your Love leaves a memory no one can Steal.


***

Love and remembrance always.

There were a few post topics that I was itching to write down. Unfortunately I've been lazy, so this is the consequence of missing out on moments of inspiration. But I will try to write down what it was.

I had a few things in mind that I wanted to write down, and I even called it "verbal diarrhoea", but I've forgotten what it was...

"We wear T-shirts that say ‘U of C: Where fun comes to die,' and we're proud of it," explains a first-year student. Undergraduates must complete an intense "interdisciplinary" core curriculum that "teaches them how to think about literature and philosophy and science." Naturally, "courses are tough." "Once you're out of the fire," though, "you realize how much more enriched you've become intellectually, with respect to how to learn and…knowledge itself." (from the Princeton Review).

This, in fact, is very true. Since the quarter system goes pretty fast, everything at UChicago comes intensively. Ask any student to describe the academic experience and you'll get the response, "It's intense". Likewise, this pressure-cooker studying leads to extreme gratification at the very end, something that not all students appreciate for its packed-punch delivery. What's the worth at the very end? I think this question is too immature; again, I'm making a reference to the veterans of the school, and the well-trodden path. Everything here is, naturally "tough". But the key rule is knowing that one should not "buckle down" or "tough it out". The first informal achievement is getting a knack. The second achievement is understanding that one never stops learning, and that once you finish a course, you are intellectually enriched with respect to learning and knowing. You come out with a deeper respect for knowledge, and will, as time goes, be able to think about literature, politics, and philosophy with great insight.

Milton Friedman famously said, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch". That's quite remarkable, isn't it? At the dinner table today, I prodigiously observed, "Life is equal share, but life isn't fair". Wow. This is probably the most meaningful phrase I've ever uttered in 19 years. Allow me to elaborate: there's no such thing as a free lunch. In the literal sense, a free lunch was probably earned through hardwork, reputation, and social networking. Most people practice the third through luncheon. Hence, being a good host requires the dexterity of charm, wit, and knowledge. It is easy to acquire knowledge, but to execute it with charm and wit is seemingly difficult. And since we are talking about luncheons, this reminds me of the term 'brown bag lunch', a way of holding discussion panels and seminars at the University, usually featuring a distinguished guest. But enough of that, I'm getting sidetracked...

As the academic year rolled ahead, so did my dorm adventure. It began with wandering into people's room. But it really started with house meetings and house activities. People generally come to house meetings, or, as is the status quo, the regulars usually come to these weekly meetings. There was free food, ocassional midnight breakfast (a concept I have never understood, and probably never will), important announcements made here and there, the more memorable about 1) campus-wide mafia-style detective games, 2) winter-madness, and 3) the arrival of the infamous and extremely popular Scavenger Hunt (which turned the lounge into a cross between a junkyard and a war camp). I learned that living in a dorm almost gaurantees you access to guitars. Everyone had some kind of hidden talent that you wouldn't be "in" on about it, certainly not from those early ice-breaker activities. A history-buff owned a reputable vinyl record collection. There were cool posters to admire, and wardrobes to gush over (if you're a girl). Another house-mate owned a classy poker set. The fourth floor boys pulled off an amazing Thanksgiving study break (extremely popular food gatherings), so you paid them a visit during the weeknights (unless they were out because it's Wednesday, also known as bar-night, courtesy of some fraternity), discover that they owned almost every imaginable kitchen appliance (at your disposal; everyone appreciates your cooking skills), immortalize their wall, etc. Somebody, out of humor, had wedged a Bible into the hinge of their door, using it as a doorstopper - and why not? It probably came off the 'Used Book' racks in front of the Library entrance. There were rooms incredibly messy beyond my own standard. It was a great experience.

Another universal truth about college is college is what you make of it. And there's no better example than this: at a summer send-off, I asked an upperclassmen, out of curiousity, what the college experience at that particular university gave us. After a thoughtful silence, he replied (pensively), "It teaches you how to think". If I must elaborate, it's a combination of sharp analyzing skills, being able to communicate through the fourth wall, understanding social structures and phenomenons with keeness, and, in a complacent kind of way, being "intellectually snobbish". Those who did not get the college experience at this school can easily dismiss this "It teaches you how to think" comment easily, by virtue of its lameness (or whatever that quality is). It's too vague, they would argue. Moreover, the term "intellectually snobbish" sounded as if we were defending our academic reputation, should anyone suspect that our institution is, in a perverted manner, academically irrelevant. What's even more interesting is at a Career: 101 workshop at our career-advising office, one of the counselors related the same line (from graduates on their college years) back to us. This is clearly what the life of the mind is about. No, in the setting of the career-advising office, it was more like the real gem we were endowed with to embark into the real world: the University of Life.

With the best of a meaningful and well-intentioned college experience is grasping universal truths. One fundamental truth is knowing that everything is relative. The second fundamental truth is knowing how important being involved with student activities is. The third fundamental truth is understanding the value of a continued life-long passion for learning. My university is famous for turning students into ambitious, self motivated, enthusiastic individuals with a unique streak. This streak is the trademark Socratic method, which is a characteristic of a 'typical' student from my college. There is a general consensus that such things exist: a collection of characteristics thought to occur naturally and consistently among a student body from the same college. College seemed less like cookie-cutters; rather, they are built on a school of thought, so choosing a college is in one sense determined by 'fit'. I was slowly acquiring a character trait of my from my college and academic experience. It was rubbing off on me.

That didn't mean that I was unhappy. In fact, I was very happy in college. I was socially happy, but not very satisfied academic-wise. For this reason, finding out classes and researching professors became a priority, a task I carried out diligently, wanting to ensure that I got the best possible academic experience. It helped that I asked around, getting advice from upperclassmens who had the experience (I've been through this before) and advice. I very much liked the college atmosphere. Likewise, today, I have "the key to this kingdom" (albeit this is probably not the best analogy), and in a sincere way, I've become more ambitious. I am beginning to figure out what I want for myself; college life has endowed me with many possibilities and opportunities to explore. My circle of friends grew and, with it, my knowledge of several social dimensions. As cheesy as this sounds, college is also about many "firsts". I broke my sleeping records, late-night studyings, shots, guitar lessons, skating, and concepts of numbers. Additionally, I found out that I absolutely love swing-dancing, progressed in French, amongst many more to come. I was coming out of my shell, but at the same time became more defined, but not in a restricted sense. And as bizarre as it sounds, college made us get used to people - a real paradigm shift. The world lay ahead of us, and we were lucky to figure this out in the sanctuary of college.

My family surprised me: my mother called me to tell me dad she and Dad are going to visit me for two weeks late October. Family Weekend was coming up, so this was also an opportunity for parents to see how their kids are doing in college. Prior to this unexpected but pleasantly surprising news, I had been calling Mom and Dad back and forth, breaking them with sorrowful news: I needed an extra comforter because the nights are getting long and the days were getting cold; I was uneasy with how much I was spending, and whether they were all mere impulse purchases. I regretted not having studied the course catalog over the summer - and let's not recall that they were the least pathetic. I was on the helpline and my parents were thousands of miles away, listening to my pleas and desperation. I broke down and cried a lot. Maybe too much, because rather than getting settled, I was becoming less settled, and more disorientated.

Course registration went smoothly. Except I was having a great amount of difficulty choosing which Humanities course to take. Should I take 'Readings in World Literature' because I loved writing commentaries? Or should I choose a more interesting and traditional course like 'Human Being and Citizen' which sounds absolutely amazing from all perspectives? Do I want to read contemprorary novels or Aristotle? In the end, I chose 'Human Being and Citizen,' not exactly sure that I was following my gut feeling, or that my instincts were clouded by other, less relevant conflicts. I regretted the choice on my first day class. My delightfully friendly Bulgarian graduate student lacked the critical skill needed to teach a basic core class: facilitating class discussions. Needless to say, this lack of enthusiasm quickly dampened any hope of being wowed and inspired for the remainder of the quarter. Those who listened to my disappointment explained to me that part of this let down stems from a lack of college class experiences. I needed to adapt to learning, college-style, and let go of my high school remniscents. Part of this problem was a lack of preparation and poor class structure. Essay assignments were handed out on a poorly designed topic that reached out too much and didn't focus on pertinent issues. There was too much to write about and too little to discuss. In the end, I ended up forfeiting an opportunity to pink-slip into another class, to my dismay.