Maybe these cat photos will cheer you up this finals week!

I'll admit it: finals week is getting to me. I've been spending hours watching videos on the Big Cat Rescue Youtube channel. I think my favorite one is where they play with Christmas trees and presents (seasonal!). It's not that any of my finals are particularly difficult (except my philosophy final but we're gonna pretend that doesn't exist for now). It's just that I've gotten lazy and tired and done with finals.

I mean, I only have one paper and two in class finals to go. So I shouldn't be complaining. I'm more than halfway through (3 papers down; 2 finals down; 2 classes totally completed). I just have an overwhelming desire to sleep and watch New Girl all the time now. I keep dreaming of my study abroad in Italy (just 2 weeks away!!). Right now I look like my cat Smokey who doesn't want to deal with responsibilities:

Mostly, I'm having writer's block for my last paper. I don't know how it happens, but each and every time that I have writer's block, I always end up miraculously pulling through with a paper, even when I've resigned myself to failure of the course because I won't hand in a final paper. Maybe my brain works best on adrenaline, short notice, and lack of sleep. A perfect combination for genius.

All I keep telling myself is to keep on keeping on and it'll get better in a couple of days. I find that a good way to think of finals (or presentations, or papers) is as a brief period of time in your life. Let's say you're super worried about your final exam. The way I like to think of it is that in two hours, this will all be over. I try to think of the future, past that exam or paper, either to right after the exam or a day after the exam. It keeps me from having tunnel vision about assignments. It's really easy to fall prey to the idea that this exam or paper is so important that it will stop time altogether. This is one of many exams or papers you will write. It's easy to fix a date in your mind, but life will continue after that date. Life will go on after you hand in your paper. It's just another day.

So I'll tell myself now: in 4 days, you will be done with all this craziness, on a train home to see your family and cats. You will be relaxed and happy and done with finals. And it will all be over. And you will be so close to going to Italy. And you will look like this:

Photos courtesy of my obsessive need to take pictures of my cats every single time I think they are doing something cute, which *hint* is always. Hopefully these cat photos will cheer someone up this finals week.

End of My 7th Semester

Hey, everyone!

So this is the end of my 7th semester. Oh my.

The first night of Hanukah was on Tuesday night, and for the first time ever, we had an electric menorah!

I took my Jewish history final earlier today. Not bad at all, thankfully.

Then, I spent a few hours with friends at Hunter. I had planned to go see the Rockefeller Center tree, but it was too cold so we just lounged around.

My friend got me a stuffed Corduroy! So adorable!!

Check this video out! It shows the restoration of a Renaissance sculpture that shattered to pieces 12 years ago when its pedestal couldn't support its weight. I have to go see it when I'm free next semester along with the Cubist exhibit that's going on right now.

The Met is just a must-see for anyone who wants to make a few hours of their day more beautiful.

What else to tell you all?

Some thoughts/lessons from this semester:

1. Whatever you want to do, start it!

2. Tomorrow doesn't exist yet. Only this very second exists. Do all you can with it. And yes, it's ok if that sometimes means taking naps. haha

3. Don't give up when things get tough. Ride the wave.

4. Don't be intimidated by difficult things. Break them down to make them easier to get through.

5. See the big picture. Yes, right now, you may be feeling miserable while studying, but you're doing it for a reason. Work hard now so that your tomorrow will be easier.

6. Find joy in learning.

7. Embrace creative/innovative thinking.

8. Give yourself well-deserved breaks from "life." And no. I don't mean taking Facebook breaks between working. I mean doing something that's good for you. Exercise, read a book (for pleasure), dance, listen to music, etc.

9. Plan out your time! So important so that you don't feel guilty that you never got around to something.

10. Have a regular bedtime and waking up time. (This is a hard one! haha)

I will be posting every 2 weeks until the spring semester begins. :)

S.

Quote of the Week

In graphic form.

Courtesy of Examtime.com

You're Halfway Through, Guys!

Just a quick note to say that you guys can do it, you've already gotten through two days (possibly three, as many professors seemed to have used the reading day to schedule finals earlier than originally planned by Hunter) and you've only got a few more, if that! You can do it! And then time for rest and going home, however you get home, is so close.

Going home means something different to everyone, this was me about a month ago.

PS - I turned twenty, on Wednesday!

One down, three to go?

I'm in the middle of finals week right now. I keep a running tally in my head of exams to take, papers to write, and classes that I'm 100% done with. So far, out of the four papers and four finals I have to take, I've written three papers and taken one final. Done with one class entirely. Just one paper and three finals to go. Woo.

My brain is starting to implode from all the editing and re-editing and reading and re-reading of my papers that I've been doing lately. Last night, I finished my poetry paper, only to stay up until 3 AM thinking of more ways to improve it. I had to scribble them on a piece of paper and decipher them the next morning. Apparently, my best thoughts come at 3 AM, after I've passed the tired stage of 1 AM, the loopy and everything-is-hilarious stage of 2 AM, and moved into the "obviously this is a great idea" genius stage of 3 AM. Let's just say, some of the stuff I wrote down was very confusing.

I finished my poetry paper and handed it in today. I'm sad to be done with this class (20th and 21st Century American Poetry with Amy Robbins). I took it on a whim, on the recommendation of someone who loved it. I'm not really a poetry person, and I had minimal experience/skills in analyzing poetry, but I ended up loving the class and my professor! She was so fantastic and dedicated and insightful. Truly a privilege to be in the presence of someone so great. It really goes to show that you can end up loving something you don't think you're very good at.

On the other hand, I'm glad to be done with my philosophy paper, since this class has been very difficult and stressful for me this semester. Unfortunately, I still have to take a final for this class. Who gives a philosophy final???

Last night I decided to treat myself and make a home cooked meal for myself. I made shrimp oreganata, and it was super delicious and easy to make. Here's how I did it:

1. This is usually better with very big shrimp (I think mine were jumbo ones). Deshell them; this is really easier than it looks. All you have to do is pull the shell and legs off with your fingers It's a bit of an icky job, but not terribly difficult. You can also get shrimp that are already deshelled. Place your shrimp in a bowl. 
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and coat a tray with a stick of butter. Make sure it's well-coated, because butter will burn away quickly if you don't put enough on.
3. Coat the shrimp in oil (or egg) and then dip them into Italian breadcrumbs. You can add more stuff to the breadcrumb coating, including different spices. The breadcrumbs will already have a lot in them, so check before you add anything. I just used the breadcrumbs and some pepper. You can also add garlic for extra flavor!
4. Place the shrimp on the tray in rows. They can touch each other, since they shrink when cooked.
5. Cook for 10 minutes. Shrimp cooks very thoroughly, very quickly. Make sure to flip them after 5 minutes! I didn't do this, and mine came out fine, but they might have been more even if I had. Shrimp is done cooking when it's pink. This may be difficult to tell through the breadcrumbs, but just check carefully and you'll be able to see.

I made a yam (sweet potato) and broccoli with my shrimp. This was one of the most delicious and easy to make meals ever (once I got into the swing of the recipe, that is). Cooking was relaxing after having finished two term papers (one was 13 pages, the other was 11). I ate and watched some Netflix and tried not to think about anything academic. Sometimes during finals week that's all you need: a moment to decompress.

Skirts and Cream Puffs

Hey, everyone!

The semester is just about over. Monday will be my last day of class, in which I have to hand in my final English paper of the semester. Then, I just have one final exam on Friday (for my Jewish history class). Woo hoo.

Last weekend was fairly busy. I took my mom to the doctor on Saturday in the pouring rain in Brooklyn. Then, afterwards, we picked up some presents for people.

On Sunday, we went to the mall, and I finally got myself a pair of tall black boots! And two new skirts. It's funny that this time last year, I owned only 2 skirts. In the last year, I've given away those 2 skirts (because of poor fit or because it wore out) and have bought 6 new ones. I also asked my mom to turn one of my dresses into a skirt so technically, I have 7. You might be wondering why I'm telling you all this, but I'll explain. haha. Skirts and I have a up and down history.

I owned a few skirts (that relatives had given to me) when I was in elementary school, and I would wear them in the summer time. I liked them, but I honestly don't know how good they looked on me. haha. Then, in middle school, I outgrew all of them.

When I was in 7th grade, we went shopping for a skirt to wear to an event, I tried one on that my mom said made me look like funny haha. It just wasn't the right style for me, but from then on, I kind of wrote off all skirts and told myself that I just didn't look good in them. I bought another skirt when I was a senior in high school and another one when I was a sophomore in college. But neither of them looked exactly "right" on me.

My skirt "revolution" came this past spring when I bought a black floral skirt that looked awesome on me. That made me realize that I could wear skirts so I started buying more in that style. I feel great in them, and I always get compliments when I wear them. So what I'm saying is that you shouldn't be so quick to write off something as "not for you." There are so many designs and cuts and colors out there. Find something that works for your body. Work with what you have. :)

The skirt that started it all (along with a matching top).

Ok. Style lesson over. haha.

I've been suffering from headaches all week long. I think it's a combination of the rain that we got earlier this week, school-related stress, and personal stuff. But I feel better today, thankfully. The best thing to do is to sleep it off if you can. Also, drink some tea, and listen to soft music. And definitely pop a pain reliever if your headache isn't getting any better and/or you need quicker results.

Lastly, I want to mention this bakery called Beard Papa's, which is known for its yummy cream puffs. Their NY location is just a few blocks from Macaulay headquarters on the UWS so if you're ever in the area, definitely check it out. I haven't been there in 2 years. Must get myself one of those creamy wonders soon...

S.

Quote of the Week

“I tell my students, 'When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.” 

~ Toni Morrison

Birches

Hey everyone!

It's finals time, and I'm freezing. I'm always freezing during the winter and I don't know why. It's more than just normal cold. It's freezing. I'm convinced my body is half a degree colder than everyone else's body. I walked outside yesterday in the snow for 5-10 minutes max, and once I got home I couldn't feel my feet. So I try to avoid being outside during the winter for this very reason.

Nevertheless, I really like Christmas/holiday-time. Technically, I'm Jewish, but I just love Christmas. I love the lit-up trees, the snow that falls in beautiful little flurry flakes, soft and magical (this is obviously before it turns into that gross, brown slush on the street). I love presents and Christmas music (although I can only stand it for about 2 weeks before I go a little crazy). I feel like the holidays are meant to break up the awful monotony that can grip us during the winter season. It ushers students out of the fall semester and into winter break. I can't help but feel jolly, even as I struggle to complete all my papers and exams in the next two weeks. *sob*

The other day I went to the Guggenheim for the ZERO exhibit. It's a really cool postmodern exhibit focusing on experimental European art of the 50's and 60's. I went on a Friday night when it was raining, an hour before the museum closed. With my Cultural Passport, I got free admission (saved like $22). It was a quiet and rainy night, dark and beautiful in the park adjacent to the museum. It's a truly introspective experience to see this exhibit. It encompasses the whole museum, and as you spiral up the walkway, you experience a progression of thematic expression by the movement, culminating in this beautiful mechanical light show that is just ethereal. It's haunting but really calming at the same time. I would recommend this exhibit for anyone who just wants a relaxing break from finals; it kind of helped me relax enough to confront all the jumbled tasks I had stored in my mind that week.

As I left the museum, it was raining and dark, very quiet on 5th avenue along the park. The UES is really quiet at night, especially when it's raining, since there's not much to attract foot traffic.The winter is a difficult time to take long, slow walks. I inherently rush everywhere just to get out of the cold. I walked slow and took some time to think. I don't really do this enough, but it was quiet and still enough in the city for me to slow down and take everything in. I walked parallel to the park for awhile.

Last night when it snowed, I walked a bit as well. I saw the trees lined in snow and just absorbed the beauty of that for awhile. This time of year reminds me a lot of Robert Frost's poems "Birches" and "Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening" (which is a personal favorite; fun fact: I memorized and recited it in second grade). Frost's poetry had stayed with me since I first encountered it when I was 7, and again in my senior year of high school. It is quiet and nuanced in its attention to nature's details. I really appreciate this type of poetry, as a break from the inherently political tone of most poems. Recently I've been reading Citizen by Claudia Rankine; the book is well-timed, what with Ferguson and the Garner case, but the weight of that narrative is heavy and painful. Sometimes I need to take a step back and read some poetry that talks about the beauty of the world and our place in it. Just looking at the snow on the trees can be curative. Being at home gives me this feeling; in comparison to the crazy energy of the city, it's quiet and there's a beauty in all of the small time pockets that exist there. Time is different at home than in the city. But I think it's important to find a curative place everywhere you go. Taking walks never seemed like my thing, but I think I'm getting the hang of it.

I'll leave you with "Birches" by Robert Frost, in the hopes that just reading it will give you the feeling I experienced when I looked at the bare trees coated with white snow.

When I see birches bend to left and right
Across the lines of straighter darker trees,
I like to think some boy’s been swinging them.
But swinging doesn’t bend them down to stay 
As ice-storms do.  Often you must have seen them
Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning
After a rain.  They click upon themselves
As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored
As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.
Soon the sun’s warmth makes them shed crystal shells
Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust--
Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away
You’d think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.
They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,
And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed
So low for long, they never right themselves:
You may see their trunks arching in the woods
Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground
Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair
Before them over their heads to dry in the sun.
But I was going to say when Truth broke in
With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm
I should prefer to have some boy bend them
As he went out and in to fetch the cows--
Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,
Whose only play was what he found himself,
Summer or winter, and could play alone.
One by one he subdued his father’s trees
By riding them down over and over again
Until he took the stiffness out of them,
And not one but hung limp, not one was left
For him to conquer.  He learned all there was
To learn about not launching out too soon
And so not carrying the tree away
Clear to the ground.  He always kept his poise
To the top branches, climbing carefully
With the same pains you use to fill a cup
Up to the brim, and even above the brim.
Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,
Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.
So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It’s when I’m weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig’s having lashed across it open.
I’d like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return.  Earth’s the right place for love:
I don’t know where it’s likely to go better.
I’d like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

Getting into the Holiday Spirit

From about December 28th-ish to December 18th mid-day, I am probably the worst person to try to spread the holiday spirit to. Especially in the first half of December. I celebrate Christmas, but I emphatically believe that seasonal products and entertainment should stay within the confines of their season. Plus, my birthday is the week before Christmas, and anyone who is in a similar situation knows my pain; however, I am here to talk about a few things that do, in fact, get me into the holiday spirit... Even when it's not yet Christmastime!!!!

Number One: Advent calendars! I love advent calendars. For those of you that don't know what these are, they are December 1-24 (sometimes 25th) specific calendars. Every day leading up to Christmas in December, you open the "door," or in the fancier ones perhaps a small present box, and you get a little treat. For me, advent calendars always mean chocolate, but one day I'd really love to treat myself to a nail polish one or a mini candles one. My mum usually buys my and my brother's advent calendars, or a relative sends money for her to buy them in their stead. Top tip: Trader Joe's always have really cute ones. 

Number Two: Making a Christmas/Birthday wish list. I don't usually make a super formal one, but I like to write down a few things that I would like. Mostly for my own entertainment, and so that after the holidays I remember what I wanted to use any Christmas money to buy, but I usually also let my parents in on one or two things that I would really like. Presents always make me happy, so this is kind of a given I suppose. 

Number Three: Twinkly lights! I hate early Christmas trees. Growing up, I always made my parents wait until after my birthday to put up the Christmas tree (wow, that makes me sound really quite bratty..). But (the point is) if I'm walking around the city, twinkly lights in the trees do actually make me feel pretty festive. Or at least, more willing to be. Further up 23rd, around where the Home Depot are, there are a bunch of trees with lights on and I was over there on Sunday evening, and it looked really sweet. 

Number Four: Hot chocolate. I mean, come on, do I have to write a paragraph.

With all that said, as the semester is winding down, I do wish you all the best of luck with your final exams and papers and presentations. You have earned a good relaxing few weeks, or closer to two months if you aren't taking any winter classes or working at all. And, if you have a little trouble getting into the holiday spirit - Christmas or other December/January holiday - maybe just stir up some hot chocolate and put on a fireplace ~mood background on your computer.

Ps. I tried to keep this as holiday-neutral as possible, but it's also personal and I celebrate Christmas, so of course that will show through. But, whatever you celebrate or don't celebrate, I do wish you all the best for finals, and for the New Year.

Black Squirrels and Quiet Fridays

Hi, everyone!!

It's one of the last Fridays of the semester so that means classes will be over by next week and then the rush to conquer finals will begin!

But for now, it's a quiet Friday afternoon, and I have Pandora playing in the background. It's funny because when I first turned on Pandora today, one of Sam Smith's songs was the first to play. I was thinking of him earlier today because he's been nominated for 5 Grammy awards this year! There will probably be a 6th nomination later tonight during CBS's Grammy special. I'm so happy for him! He is truly talented and deserves all of this success and more.

I submitted two poems to be published in the December edition of The 67th Street Scribe, and they were both published this week! Writing poetry is one of my biggest passions, and I love when I get to share it with the world. This club just started this semester, and they've been getting some great submissions so definitely check them out! And for you prospective students out there, this is a great way to get your work out there if you end up at Macaulay. :)

Speaking of getting involved, a club that I've mentioned several times on this blog is The Macaulay Messenger. My partner and I are currently editing the last batch of articles for the semester, and we hope to publish by Monday. Writing for The Messenger is another great opportunity to get your work out there once you're attending Macaulay.

On Monday, my friend and I went to Central Park and spent some time enjoying the unusually warm weather. I love that it's only 3 avenues from Hunter, and I can just head over there when I don't feel like being inside. It's beautiful this time of year in a haunting way. The trees have lost their leaves so the leaves are all scattered on the ground. The sky is filled with clouds and everything is in shades of gray with hints of green, brown, and orange/yellow/red.

Beautiful, right?

A black squirrel that we followed around for awhile. haha. 

Studying us from a tree.

S.

Quote of the Week

“Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment.” 

~ Rumi, Masnavi i Man'avi, the spiritual couplets of Maula

Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Mash

Hey everyone!

Last weekend I (and everyone in the populated world) went home for Thanksgiving. Since I was 14, my mother and I have made the turkey together. It was a point of pride for me, considering I had no idea how to cook then. Now that I'm at college and reasonably well-versed in cooking, I decided to take on some more responsibility for our Thanksgiving dinner. As in all of the responsibility. Thankfully I was only cooking for 8. Here's a short run-down of all of the stuff I made by myself this Thanksgiving:

• Turkey (17 pounds!)
• Acorn squash with nuts and fruit
• Rice pilaf (this is what we stuff our turkey with)
• Steamed and stir-fry broccoli in oil
• Haricots-verts in garlic and oil
• Salad (huge!)
• Sweet potato mash
• Stuffing (on the side)

It only took me 6 hours to do all of it. The hardest part was the timing of cooking everything so that it was ready and hot for when the guests actually sat down to dinner, but not overcooked and burnt. My point of pride this Thanksgiving was my sweet potato mash. I made it from scratch. Here's how I did it:

• I bought 5 sweet potatoes, peeled them and cut them into small square chunks.
• I boiled the sweet potatoes until they were soft/I could put a fork through them.
• I mashed them by hand with a large fork until they were smooth. You could also whip them use a hand blender, but only if you want them to be a little frothy.
• This was the fun part. Sweet potatoes are only mildly sweet on their own, so I had to add lots of spices and sweetener. I used cinnamon, nutmeg, Vermont maple syrup, maple agave, and rum extract. There are lots of options to sweeten your potatoes, from pure brown sugar and butter, to maple syrup, to agave. You can also add vanilla extract for some extra yummy taste. I've even seen mash with marshmallows. 
• I used healthy doses of each one of these spices, not really measuring, just tasting along the way. Make sure you have lots of people taste it as you go along. Too much nutmeg can ruin it. Too much agave or maple syrup, not so much.
• Another option once your potatoes are boiled and mashed is to bake the potatoes in a ceramic bowl, which brings out the flavor of the spices. 
• Last, you can keep the skins in there if you want to add a little extra crunch to your mash.

I was really scared about these sweet potatoes since I kind of winged the recipe from a couple different online sources, but everyone loved them. The other dishes I did well enough on. The turkey came out well, really juicy. I almost burned half of the vegetables, mostly because I couldn't figure out the timing or heat levels of my stove. It's weird cooking at home after cooking at the dorm for so long. I kind of got used to knowing what the heat levels on the stove at the dorm meant and was baffled trying to figure out what equalled a 6 on the stove at home.

Anyway, I really enjoyed cooking my Thanksgiving dinner. I really like hearing about alternative recipes and options for Thanksgiving dinners. Let me know if you guys have any you really like that you make in your family. New recipes are so fun.

The Big Rush

           Well, I've finally reached that time of the year when students start panicking. With there being only 2 weeks left in this semester and finals week coming up soon, I find myself meeting deadlines one after another. I have about 4 assignments due within the next two weeks and who knows why I didn't start them. But even so, I found my first semester at Hunter College to be very relaxing and fun. As a college student, I now get a lot of free time to plan out my own schedule each week. Is it just me or is college more relaxing than high school?
          Anyway, many of my friends have already begun to ask ourselves what we would like to do after college despite the fact we've only just started college! But I am also guilty of that myself. A lot of what we do in college determines how much opportunities we would get to do anything else after college. This prompts us to plan out the next four years of our college lives without considering how much we would change during those four years. Some people have already decided to limit the kinds of classes they take by doing a double major.
           But personally, I think we should all just enjoy the process of taking different kinds of classes in the beginning. We might find different interests due to one class we take and become inspired us to consider a career in a particular field. Although it is good to plan ahead, we shouldn't rush ourselves to finish college at the expense of our excitement. There is a lot that we can discover in college through classes, extracurriculars, and friends. So for everyone like me who is guilty of trying to make college a big rush, let's try to relax and spend the first year finding ourselves within these vast amount of opportunities we have.

~Justin

Our ears and eyes

Hey, everyone!

It's the day after Thanksgiving so I'm betting many of you went shopping earlier today. Brave souls. haha. My mom and I decided that we weren't going to shop today or this weekend because of the crowds. Actually, we made one exception. :p Tomorrow, we're heading for a bit of shopping in Brooklyn just to get some stuff that we need. The plan is to shop for clothes next weekend. Here's to hoping that I get myself some cozy sweaters and a new pair of long black boots. :)

Last weekend, I finished writing my second major paper for my English class, and it was definitely not easy to write. I picked two relatively difficult poems, which I had to break down and put together again in a coherent way. But I think the essay turned out good. It felt great to hand it in and know that I put my all into it.

I only had classes on Monday and Tuesday this week since my English professor cancelled class on Wednesday afternoon (bless his soul). My friends and I had planned to go out for burgers on Wednesday, but then two people said that they couldn't make it so I cancelled the gathering. It's ok though. It's hard to get people together these days. Everyone is on different schedules jam-packed with all kinds of things. It just makes me more grateful for the times that I do get to hang out with them. Here's to hoping we can do something in a few weeks.

On Tuesday, I had a terrible experience with some food I bought at an Asian place. I ordered pad thai because I had tried some at Whole Foods last year and loved it. I took one bite, and it was sooo bad. Omg. Too sweet and too nutty and the chicken had a weird texture. Ugh. I had to throw it out. Oh well. If I hadn't tried it, I wouldn't have known. Now I know to order my regular chicken and broccoli, which that restaurant does a great job with. haha.

That reminds me of something my bio professor said on Tuesday night in class. He said that if scientists didn't take the chance of being "wrong" every once in awhile, they would never get anywhere. You've got to take a chance even if you might be wrong because it can lead you to new and wonderful places.

On Wednesday and Thursday, my mom and I went grocery shopping and cooked. It was a lot of work but totally worth it.

Yummy eggplant rolls

We cooked half the turkey since the whole thing is too much for 4 people.

Levangee (a walnut and tamarind paste that we eat with turkey)

What am I thankful for this year? Good health, love, and peace of mind. 

EDIT: 11/30/2014

In my 11/21 post, I said that I would include photos from my Jewish museum visit, and yesterday, I realized that I totally forgot to do that.

This was my second time seeing their permanent exhibition, Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey. The first time was probably about 10 years ago or so. It's great to see how Jewish culture has evolved over time but has also held on to so many of the early traditions. I think this idea is best illustrated by the two menorahs that sit at the entrance to the exhibit. They both represent one of the most famous symbols of Judaism but are made at two different times in history with different materials and for a different purpose.

Burial Plaque, Rome, 3rd-4th Century CE

Utopia Menorah, Jonathan Adler, New York, 2006

I also saw the exhibition on Helena Rubinstein. She was a Polish Jew who became one of the wealthiest women of her time with her creation of a beauty empire. The exhibit includes several portraits of her as well as the many pieces of art that she collected during her lifetime. One cool thing that I found out is that she knew Frida Kahlo (who I adore). How awesome is that? The exhibit also includes her collection of miniature rooms, which are stunningly detailed and just so cool to look at.

The Rubinstein exhibit runs until March 22, 2015.

S.

Quote of the Week 

“Usually when we hear or read something new, we just compare it to our own ideas. If it is the same, we accept it and say that it is correct. If it is not, we say it is incorrect. In either case, we learn nothing.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation

In Response: Protests for No Grand Jury Indictment

The announcement that the grand jury failed to indict Darren Wilson for the murder of Michael Brown came in tonight. I just wanted to put a quick word about the aftermath and the protests that some may want to join in on, because I know that Macaulay students and Hunter students like to be active. This post is not about the grand jury's decision, it's simply a reminder for those who want to storm the streets:

Please be careful. Please be safe. Remember that Michael Brown's family has asked for nonviolent protest. Listen to those that are leading the protests, and try not to put yourselves or others at risk. Please do not make this about you and your friends doing something "cool," because that is not the point and that truly will not make a difference (I doubt this is really a necessary reminder). Please, please, please be safe. Remember that hate only breeds hate, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't protest injustice and move for change.

If you are not going to actively protest, please don't forget about Michael Brown. He was our age. He was a teenager. There are funds that you can donate to, if you want to help in that way and I can link you to some if you are interested. Don't forget about the countless others either. And don't just let this turn into a trendy hashtag.

--

For those who may not be completely sure what tonight's decision was about, I also wanted to add just a few words on that. The grand jury was not deciding whether or not Darren Wilson was guilty; the grand jury was tasked with determining whether or not there was any evidence that justified bringing charges against him. Generally, the grand jury is not asked to base their decision on the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt or even reasonable cause, but only that there was some evidence. This grand jury only needed 9 out of 12 people to indict. It is very rare for grand juries not to indict.

UWS Lights and Poetry

Hi, everyone!

A chilly end to a chilly week. Yikes. That wind was not kidding around today. But it was still so beautiful on the Upper West Side tonight. Lights and people everywhere. Straight out of a NYC movie but even better because I got to walk through it.

I was on the UWS tonight because part of my poem is published in this year's edition of Macaulay Press so I went to pick up my copy tonight. Poetry is something that I both enjoy reading and writing, and I hope to do it for as long as my creative juices flow.

Speaking of poetry, my English class (which focuses on the poetry of Dickinson, Moore, and Stein) this semester has been so different from any English class that I've ever taken. Most professors are very concerned with students having a concrete thesis. Professor Dow doesn't so much focus on a thesis as he does on questions. He asks us to include our questions and confusions about the poems in our essays, and let them be the framework. I think that this is a great way of reading poetry or any difficult text because often when you're able to put what's confusing you into a question, then you're halfway to finding some kind of answer(s) to it. He also encourages us to delve deeply into the difficulty of a poem and not be afraid to have multiple interpretations of a line or a stanza. Poetry is not like 2 + 2, which only has one correct answer. There can be many ways to understand verses because words and patterns of words can be flexible in their meaning. Also, interpretations of a poem vary from person to person because they are shaped by the personal experiences and literary background of the person who happens to be reading it at that moment.

Tomorrow, I'm planning on heading to the Jewish Museum on the Upper East Side for my Jewish history class. It will be my third time going, but my first time writing about it for a class. I'll include pics in my next post. :)

S.

Quote of the Week

“Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” 

~ Mark Twain

Update in the Brookdale Toilets!

This is probably a really weird post, but I went and took this picture especially for the blog because they've changed the toilet roll holders. And this is such a mundane thing, really, but if you've ever been to Brookdale you know that the loo roll literally ends up everywhere, so hopefully this will change that!

A Week of Indian Food

Sorry to be posting again so soon after my last post (which is right below this one, I bet). I just realized I totally have never told anyone on this blog about food and how much I love it.

Before coming to college, I was what you could call a picky eater. I always ordered the same thing at the same five restaurants. I didn't like spicy food, or weird soups, or whatever. Now, I am still a picky eater. I still get Caesar salad at every Italian restaurant I go to. But my culinary tastes have expanded since I've entered college, specifically because of Indian food. There is an entire neighborhood near my dorm that is entirely Indian. We call it Curry Hill (get it? Murray Hill?). Since coming to college, I have been exposed to so many different types of food, from falafel sandwiches to chicken curry that I never really thought I would like, let alone truly enjoy.

Normally, I eat at this takeout/buffet Indian place called Curry Express on 29th and Lexington. A lot of people at the dorms either order from here or from Curry in a Hurry, which is around the corner on 28th and Lexington. Depends on your preference (I don't like bones in my chicken, so I don't order from Curry in a Hurry; it's also a tad more expensive). But, I have never been to a sit-down Indian place. The takeout place is cheap and frankly very good, though the atmosphere is a bit lacking. I went to Dhaba on Tuesday night and it was crazy good; really nice atmosphere and delicious food. Then I went to Malai Marke on the Lower East Side, which I didn't even know was owned by the same company as Dhaba until I got there. Malai Marke is a much quieter atmosphere, and somehow the food is better than Dhaba (slightly less spicy, which is better for me).

When I wasn't eating at a restaurant, I was eating leftovers. So this week has been a week filled with love, beauty, and naan.

P.S. Just ate the Curried Butternut Squash Chicken soup from Hale and Hearty and almost cried because it was basically Indian food and it was equally delicious.

The Dreaded Seminar Registration

Hey everyone!

So this past Tuesday I had my first registration that didn't involve the stress of registering for seminar. As a Macaulay student, you're required to take four seminars, one each semester for two years. Since every Macaulay student MUST take these seminars, naturally there's fierce competition for the best professors (or the easiest ones). Though Macaulay students register before most of the general school population, there's a hierarchy within the students based on number of credits. If you have more credits, you could be registering 15 minutes before someone else. And let me tell you, those 15 minutes are the most important minutes of existence in this case. Those 15 minutes can be the determining factor of whether you get your preferred seminar professor or time, or whether you're stuck with a terrible time; or worse the dreaded staff. It could determine whether you even get into an honors-only class. It's so intense. Unfortunately, some people have to take a certain class based on their schedule and get shut out because of the competition.

For people who still have to deal with seminar/honors class registration, here's a couple tips:

1. Vet the professors, if you have their names. Sometimes not all the names are announced ahead of time (though they should be). Look the person up on ratemyprofessor.com and on Hunter's OWL teacher rating's system. Sometimes the professor doesn't work at Hunter at all, or isn't technically a professor (this happened to me twice; once with my seminar 1 professor who was a professional postmodern dance choreographer; again with my seminar 4 professor who was a retired journalist and writer). When this happens, just google their names. Often, you can find what their focus/interest is in academia. Determine whether you'd like that type of class. Not all seminars are the same, or focus on the same things. My seminar 3 class, though it was about Science and Technology, was actually an Environmental Philosophy class (which was perfect for me).
2. Non-professors can sometimes be better than professors. My seminar 4 professor had so many connections with people in the city, and he brought a lot of interesting people in to talk to us. Not every professor can do that.
3. Once you've decided who you like/what subject you'd be interested in most, see which seminars fit best into your schedule. Have a first choice (I call this my perfect schedule). But also have at least two other choices, because odds are your first choice is the most popular professor. Format schedules around multiple seminars, if you can. Be prepared to get shut out of your first choice.
4. Add all of your classes to your CUNYfirst shopping cart BEFORE your registration appointment. I cannot stress this enough. Last thing you want to be doing is searching for classes while people are taking the spots in your seminar. Once they're all in your shopping cart, you can just click one button and be registered, just like that.
5. If none of the seminar times work for you, there's always a cross-campus option at the Macaulay building. It's kind of a pain to get there, but it's better than having no seminar at all or having to change all of your classes around to accommodate one of them.
6. Don't choose a seminar professor based on what everyone else is doing. Although it's fun to have friends in seminar, since there are a lot of group projects, it's not as important as enjoying the subject. Choose the professor and subject that will work for you.
7. Also realize that if you can't find this perfect fit, and there's only one seminar class that fits into your jam-packed schedule, it's not the end of the world. Seminar should be an enjoyable experience. You will get something out of it. I walked into my seminar 1 class and was bombarded with tons of postmodern dance theory reading. That week, when I met up with my dad to talk about how my first week of classes was going, I determined that this class was too much work for me and that I wouldn't be able to do it. I was totally wrong. It was a lot of work, and it was hard, but I got a lot out of the class. I learned to appreciate a subject I never would have thought twice about.

That's about all the tips I have for seminar registration. I'm so glad I no longer have to go through this. Fortunately, I got all the classes I wanted for next semester: WGS 201 (Classics in Feminist Thought), PHILO 218 (Revolutions in Modern Philosophy), ENGL 320 (Multi-Cultural Literature), an honors course called Hysteria, and WGS 200.11 (Feminist Perspectives on Pornography). This will finish off my English major (except for the honors thesis), move me along in my Philosophy major, and make my WGS minor three-quarters complete. Moving along!

November Chills and Bloomingdale's

Hi, everyone!

So on Tuesday, I finally did that bio presentation that I've been telling you all about for the last few weeks. I'm happy to say that it went well! When I'm nervous, I have a tendency to speak quickly, but this time I was able to keep my composure so that my voice sounded strong throughout the 15 minutes. Win.

The same day that I presented, we had some glorious weather. It felt like we were in the middle of spring! Sunny, warm, and just generally fun to be outside. Now, it's cold and windy. But it's ok. We've been blessed with a mild fall thus far so I'm ok with temperatures dipping down. As much as the cold can be unpleasant, my mind also associates it with the holidays. So when that bitter wind comes knocking, I always think about the warmth of Thanksgiving at home and the lights on the Upper East Side during December.

Tuesday was also the day of my LAST EVER CLASS REGISTRATION at Hunter. OMG. No more anxiously looking at the clock as I stress about whether I'll have technical issues with CUNYfirst or a particular department. But I'm also a little sad that I won't have to register for classes ever again. I don't know how the process works in med school, but I imagine it doesn't involve the same procedures.

Like the last few semesters, this registration went smoothly, and I got all of the classes that I wanted. One less thing to worry about.

Today was great because I finally got myself to Bloomingdale's again. The first and last time I went there was in Fall 2011 (my freshman year). I remember being dressed in a hoodie and jeans and just walking in and ogling the pretty clothes for awhile. haha. I looked down at my clothes and found myself underdressed. I remember thinking: "OMG, everyone is probably wondering what I'm doing here. I don't look like I belong here."

I've been meaning to go back all of these years but never got around to it even though it's just a few blocks from Hunter. So today, my friend was looking for a blazer and when I mentioned that I hadn't been there for 3 years, he said that we should go. And there we were among all of the beautiful clothes. This time I was more appropriately dressed. I had on a beautiful red coat and a printed dress. But I realize that it really has nothing to do with my clothes at all. Yes, my style has evolved over time. If you ever see me outside, 9 times out of 10, I will have on a well-thought out outfit. But it's not about the clothes. The clothes help, but the attitude is what matters the most. You can easily walk into Bloomingdale's or down Madison Avenue in workout clothes or jeans and a tee and still look like you belong there. It's about how you carry yourself. That's what is wonderful about this city. You don't have to be rich or have fancy clothes or a fancy education. You just need to walk with confidence, and you will feel just as comfortable in a Dolce and Gabbana store as you do at your local bodega. That's what I would tell my 18-year-old self if I could.

S.

Quote of the Week

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

It's Been A While; and Top Tip: Registration

Sooo..... It's been a while. This is where I could embed a photo of me trying to be all cute and hiding behind my hands in embarrassment. I won't, but we can say I did. I do wish that I could say I have been doing something amazing, like skiing the Alps (I don't know how to ski) or writing a novel (I do have an idea that I love, but the actual writing part of it...). Really, I've just been busy with school and my internship; which, I suppose, is actually pretty good too. I am continuing with the internship that I started in the summer, and I love it so much. My job has changed quite a bit, become less about the legal and hands-on work and more about graphics and design, but that is totally okay with me. I am still working with some clients and still getting to see the inside of the court, but the focus is different now that the organization has more lawyers on staff and law research interns as well.

Top Tip: Registration

Now that spring registration is approaching, however, I just thought that I would come and say something that I think everyone should think about. This semester I'm taking a computer science class, and I'm really enjoying it (for the most part, part of me wishes I'd chosen the more advanced option because I really don't need to learn about how to install software). That combined with my recent work with my internship has really got me thinking that if I had taken compsci earlier I might have been able to turn it into a minor (or even a triple major). It's a little late now, unless I want to be at Hunter forever, but I think it's important that people who do have a little more time stop to think. If there is something that you think you may even have the slightest interest in, do it. Just take the risk and take the class. Or, outside of class, take the risk and do whatever it is that you think you may be interested in. I knew that I wanted to take compsci to complete the non-lab science since I started at Hunter, but didn't take it until this semester and I am regretting it a little. Don't do that. If you get the opportunity, jump on it and maybe you'll discover something that you love.

Missing Movies

So I haven't written a post in awhile, mostly because I've gotten caught up in midterms and whatnot (midterms month!). I will write more after some craziness has subsided, but here's a small snippet of what I've been doing lately:

• I went home last weekend and remembered what it was like to watch a great movie. For those of you who know me, I am a movie junkie. When living at home on Long Island, I used to go see a movie almost every weekend at my local cinema. My family is actually hugely into seeing movies together, and our tastes usually line up, so we go to the cinema quite a lot to see indie films. It's a nice family bonding experience. Living in the city has starved me of this experience, since I have neither the time nor money to go see movies regularly. This weekend, even amongst all of the midterm prep I had to do, I got the chance to go home and see two amazing movies (one for my brother's birthday, the other just for bonding time with my dad): Birdman and Gone Girl. Birdman was a crazy, surrealist, magical realist masterpiece. Really great performances all around, but especially Michael Keaton and Edward Norton. Gone Girl was another David Fincher thriller--again, amazing performances all-around. I've been meaning to read the book by Gillian Flynn. A lot of people are saying this is a misogynistic movie and I completely disagree. Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne kills it (no pun intended); there were a lot of moments where my (not so) inner feminist screamed with joy. A lot of passages are spot-on, but I'll save my inner glee for the book itself, which is unfortunately checked out of every single NYPL location and also every library in Suffolk County!
• I had two midterms this week. I cried a lot and my hands hurt from writing.
• After my intense day of midterms, I had two days off because two of my teachers cancelled classes. So I had a mini break/weekend in the middle of the week to relax and regain my strength (and feeling in my hands). I'm proud to say that I did absolutely zero work during this time.
• I went to see two of the exhibits at the FIT museum. One was a history of lingerie, the other of dance costumes. It was a gross and rainy day but I wanted to make it out of the dorm for some culture to reward myself for all my hard work. That night I went to the Open Mic at the Brookdale dorms. The first open mic was nearly 3 hours long because there were so many acts. Probably because the freshmen were excited about being part of the community. There was a noticeably smaller lineup this time, whittled down to just the dedicated handful of musicians and performers who weren't overwhelmed by midterms and work. It's always nice to see the talent of my classmates, and to just relax and listen to some music.
• It's always good to have passive interests in college because they give you things to do outside of school work. I love reading poetry as much as the next person, and academic interests are nice, but sometimes I just want to go to a concert, or read a non-academic book, or look at clothes for a couple of hours. These are the things that keep you sane, keep you from becoming your workload.

This will have to suffice for my post for now, since I have so much work to do. I'll leave you with part of a poem I read recently. I strongly suggest you look up the rest of the poem, since these parts really don't do it justice:

V

I do not know which to prefer,

The beauty of inflections

Or the beauty of innuendoes,

The blackbird whistling

Or just after.

...

XIII

It was evening all afternoon.

It was snowing

And it was going to snow.

The blackbird sat

In the cedar-limbs.

-Wallace Stevens, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird"

Teach a man to fish...

Hey, everyone!

I spent last weekend writing up the first draft of my paper for my gene regulation class. It definitely required a lot of reading and patience to get through enough of the material to have a solid first draft. But I did it! Yay! haha.

Our second draft is due on the 25th so my plan is to actively work on the paper till then.

The same day that I handed in my draft also happened to be Election Day. After editing the draft in the morning, I voted and then headed to class. I know that many people choose not to vote because they feel like they can't make a difference, but they're wrong. If there are low voter turnouts, then politicians will feel like they don't need to campaign so widely and strategically. But if they see that voters are educated and that they will speak up, the politicians will step up to the plate as well. Basically, if we, as voters, become cynical and lazy about voting then politicians will think it's ok for them to be vague and do whatever they think is best instead of listening to their constituents. So what I'm really saying is "Get out there, and vote!" There are many people in the world who don't have the right to vote, and we should be grateful that we do. This country isn't perfect, but I like to think that we're progressing all the time.

We're currently studying Marianne Moore in my English class, and on Monday, we'll be reading some E.E. Cummings because Moore wrote an essay about his work.

Here is a Cummings poem that I love:

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;

wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world
my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
- the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids' flutter which says

we are for each other; then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph

And death i think is no parenthesis

Today was great because I got to run some errands, and unlike the majority of the population, I LOVE running errands! For me, they always feel like an adventure.

Then, my friend and I headed to Central Park, and took some beautiful photos. It was definitely chilly outside, but the trees and water were beautiful. And that made walking through the cold wind worth it.

S.

Quote of the Week

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

~ Maimonides

My First Post!

Hello everyone!

My name is Katherine, and I am a freshman here at Macaulay Hunter. This is my first blog post here on the Macaulay Hunter Blog, and I’m glad to be here. I really love reading blogs, and I think the idea of the MacBlog for prospective freshmen is absolutely brilliant.

I apologize for not posting on this blog before now. It’s been a stressful first two months of college – but it’s better now (more about that in later posts!).

Anyway, I want to start off by introducing myself! 

Some random facts about me:

• I am from Queens, and went to a large private high school with a graduating class of 652 people.
• I’m most definitely a social media junkie. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Snapchat – you name it, I probably have it. However, I am notorious for deactivating accounts or deleting apps on my phone during midterms and finals – and definitely suggest to others on doing the same! You get so much more done.
• Eating, shopping, and running are all therapeutic to me.
• I love going to zoos and aquariums!
• I am currently an Undeclared major, but am considering majoring in Economics and minoring in Chemistry, or vice-versa.
•  My hobbies include trying new restaurants, listening to and going to Spoken Word poetry shows, doing makeup and spending endless hours watching YouTube beauty gurus, and reading blogs (Ironic, isn’t it?).

Like most other freshman in the Macaulay Hunter Class of 2018, I live in the Brookdale Residence Hall. It’s free for the first two years with your Macaulay scholarship, guys! I grew up in one of a suburban area of Queens bordering Long Island, so going from an area of green grass, tall trees, and gingerbread-like houses to living in Manhattan was quite a change. The first week of living at Brookdale was sleepless to say the least. No worries though; you get used it. Don’t let that scare you.

As mentioned before, each room here is a single -- and personally, I love that. I actually have more privacy here than I do in my house back in Queens! For me, having a single is awesome. You have the privacy of your own room to sleep in, study in, and take care of (No worrying about smelly or disorganized roommates!), but can easily text your friends who live in the same building as you to come to your room or meet in the dorm. It’s ridiculously convenient.

Here's a shot of my room:

I really enjoy living here. Because we at Macaulay Hunter have guaranteed dorms for the first two years, we have a great sense of community that other campuses may not have. Almost everyone here in our program knows each other. That’s rare, especially in a commuter school.

After my first two months being here, I am proud to say that I made the right college decision in choosing a program that challenges me, has a wonderful support system of advisors, and has a great community.

That’s all for now, and I’ll definitely be updating you all soon on what’s been going on with me! :) 

- Katherine

Sinai, Chills, and Gotham

Hey, everyone!!

Happy Halloween!

It's been a chilly end to the week, and I can finally feel hints of winter nipping at my heels. As much as the cold can be bitter and make it hard to go out, I also find myself liking it every once in awhile. It wakes me up and helps me clear my head. But ask me again in 2 months, and I'll probably be complaining about how cold it is and how I want to see sunshine and pretty spring flowers again. haha.

In my last post, I promised that I would tell you about the event that I went to last Saturday. I spent a majority of that day at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai's annual open house. I'm glad that I went because I learned some good information through the Sinai admissions officers as well as through current medical students. Everyone there was warm, welcoming, and honest about the medical school applications process and the medical school lifestyle. The big takeaway for me was that I need to continue putting in hard work so that I can be at a school as great as Sinai one day. After all, dreams don't become reality just by wishing for them to come true but by putting yourself, fully and truly, into achieving them.

On Tuesday, I found out that I got an A on my Jewish history midterm (the one that I mentioned last week)! Getting that exam back was definitely a good way to start the week. Now here's to killing the rest of my assignments during the semester.

Tuesday night was the first round of presentations in my gene regulation bio seminar. My professor gave critiques to the presenters right on the spot so that the entire class could learn what we should all do better in our own presentations. The great thing is that he's not grading these presentations (at least not at first). He's giving us the opportunity to revise the presentations, and he'll grade those revised versions. Super nice of him. He understands that this is a difficult class so he's trying to make it manageable for us. I'll be presenting on the 11th. Wish me luck!

So let's talk about non-school related things like TV!

I've talked about Grimm a number of times on this blog because I just love the stories that are shown every week. It's fun to see what kinds of "creatures" the writers will come up with next. Last week, they featured a guy with an octopus head who was able to steal people's memories. Yikes.

I've been following this show since the beginning of my freshman year, and I can't believe it's already in its fourth season. How quickly time goes by.

So if you have time over Thanksgiving or winter break, catch a few episodes from the first season. You might get hooked. ;)

A new show that I've been following lately is Gotham. It tells the back story of the city that a young Bruce Wayne will eventually grow up to protect. But the show doesn't focus so much on Bruce as it does on Jim Gordon, who will eventually become police commissioner. In Gotham, he is a young idealistic detective who is determined to help restore order in a corrupt and decaying city. Ben McKenzie is perfect for this role! He knows how to portray the young Gordon's idealism along with his struggle to keep that idealism in such a difficult environment.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The show has been fantastic so far. The writers have introduced several characters that will eventually become important in the Batman storyline. It's fun to see how the writers re-imagine some of the origin stories of characters like the Riddler, the Penguin, and Poison Ivy. Gotham is also great at talking about issues within the criminal justice world as well as the various issues that come up in dense urban environments.

It's also beautiful to watch because it depicts characters and settings that have a 1940's feel even though the audience knows that the show takes place during modern times (there are cell phones). Some of the clothes are typical of the war period, and others seem to have come straight from our own closets. The police station looks like it could be from the 40's, but the apartments look like fancy modern-day ones. I think this interplay between two time periods adds a layer of complexity that makes the show aesthetically rich.

If you have time on Monday nights, check it out.

A photo of the rose that I got last week. Stunning, right?

S.

Quote of the Week

“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” 

~ Confucius