Literature in Film

The Humanities seminar that focused on film in the Humanities was really intriguing! This was the first time that I had really considered film as a part of the Humanities since it isn't one of our main focuses, but it definitely fits right along with literature. I especially enjoyed listening about the creative license taken at the end of Westside Story when Maria does not kill herself. She lives on as a reminder of the tragedy that happened. I actually became so interested in the type of analyzing we did with literature to film that I decided to take an English class next quarter that focuses on the transformation of Shakespeare plays into film, English 398. Shout out to Ben and Daniel: Thank you for helping me further my interest in the Humanities!

Grammar Smackdown!

I was expecting some high-level competition going into the Humanities Grammar Smackdown event, competing against people who generally have such strong English and writing skills, but, despite my pursuing a more science based major, I was ready to put up a fight. I love English ad grammar, so I was so excited to put my knack for grammar to some fun use. I had such a great time at the competition, and I think that most people took it very seriously which made it all the more fun! I really hope that it continues as a tradition for the Humanities Scholars because I think we all had a lot of fun with it as well as learned a couple things to help us be better writers!

Volunteering: From Sarada Dhulipala

Volunteering:

I have been volunteering at the Northwest library for over five years now.  Even though its been a long time, it still is interesting to go help the library and see what the kids these days are up to.  I meet a lot of interesting people every time I volunteer.  For instance, one time a little boy asked me if there were any good books to read, I suggested Harry Potter, he asked me who that was, I smiled and walked away.  It is fun to see how media is so vital in getting information across an audience. The library is a key source in providing people with the information through books, videos, and magazines.  Overall, volunteering at the library can be related to the humanities,in that, it takes the service aspect of it. 

International Festival: From Sarada Dhulipala

International Festival:

Couple weeks ago, I went to the International Festival in Downtown. It was fun and exciting but, also very educational.  There were so many cultures that were represented there.  I have always gone to International Festival but this time there was so much more that was to be observed and learned.  For example, Spain’s majority is Catholic however, long ago they were actually under a Muslim rule (resulting the major religion followed at the time to be Islam).  At the festival, many people also perform a culturally significant art.  There was an Bharathanatyam (Indian Classical Dance), and Chinese cultural dance, and even the Tango.  It was a really good experience to go and learn about all these cultures and traditions.

The Help Discussion

Though I could not attend The Help book discussion, my English course content and literature greatly overlaps with that of the book. Thus, I have contributed to many discussions about servitude and the treatment of blacks and women in the south during the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, my History 152 course has greatly detailed the Civil Rights Movement and this particular time period in which the book takes place. This additional background information, coupled with the other literary works I have experienced that deal with the same subject matter, helped me to better gauge the true intent of Katherine Stockett and her work.

I greatly enjoyed how Skeeter followed her dreams and stood up against racism and domestication rather than seeking her mothers approval. I admired her boldness, as she took on the task of writing about women's domestication in Jackson, Mississippi. After reading a few of the blogs that pertained to the book discussion, I noticed that conversation occurred about whether the race of the author played any role in the overall meaning/impact of the novel. I do not think that the race of the author mattered at all, of the fact that Stockett was white. Every person possesses a different outlook on domestication and race, white or African American, and i believe that each outlook is important when learning about such strong subject matters.

Explore Columbus

Not knowing our precise destination, my roommates and I set off for down town Columbus on a terribly wet sunday afternoon. After some talk, we decided to make our first stop the art museum. With a mindset of just going in, snapping a few pictures, and leaving, we entered the museum. Once inside, I think all of our mindsets changed. We began looking around and ended up staying for about an hour, just appreciating all the art. Not being a very artsy person, it was actually a better experience than I thought it would be. (I hadn't been to an art museum since preschool.) After the museum, we trudged our way through the cold and rain to the Columbus Library where we learned about the history of Columbus with the help of a couple librarians. Despite the rain, I'm really glad to have had this experience. Exploring Columbus has helped me get to better know the area around which I now live as well as appreciate the Humanities within our city.

Book Discussion

I went to The Help book discussion which I really enjoyed. I loved talking about the book. I've done book clubs before and just getting to discuss that many others equally enjoyed or was interested in was great. I love reading and It was easy because I already read the book last year and really enjoyed it. It was a great book to read and I thank Ben for choosing it.

Explore Columbus

In all honesty my roommates and I were not looking forward to doing the Explore Columbus project. To us it was just something we had to do and it took time away from our evening and homework. But we all found a time to meet and when the time came departed for the bus stop. It turned out that we all ended up enjoying the time though. We took the bus all the way to the Statehouse and began to look around. There were various shops but we decided to explore the Ohio State Theater, and the Statehouse. They were impressive buildings and I would love to attend a performance at the theater. We also got to see the building for the Columbus dispatch which I found very interesting. The building seemed to be a large symbol of irony. It was all decorated for Christmas and from a distance gave off the usual Christmas cheer. But once we got closer and could read the digital board on the front of the building that scrolled news headlines we noticed that all of the headlines were about murders and and people in the city being caught with child pornography. I didn't know whether the correct response would be to laugh or cry. All in all though it was an enjoyable experience and my roommates and I had fun hanging out and learning about the city.

English Conversation Partner

This quarter I had the opportunity to participate in the English Conversation Program. When I first heard about the program I thought it would be an amazing opportunity to connect with someone from a different country and to learn about a new culture. I am from a small farm town and have not had a lot of experience with people from foreign countries, soneedless to say I was slightly nervous when I first met my partner. Her name was Yijia (eeshya), and she was from Beijing. She had only been in the United States for a little over a month and when we began talking she had a list of questions for me. She asked me about football, and the difference between a university and a college, she asked about food, and when we went out to eat she even had to ask me how to use the menu. After that my partner and I met once a week and still meet. I have noticed a huge improvement in her English and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her and learning about her culture. I even learned a few Chinese words. The English Conversation Program is a great opportunity to make a new friend, help someone new to the country, and even learn a little something yourself.

Lecture on The National Endowment For The Humanities

On September 30th, 2011, I attended the lecture on The National Endowment For The Humanities. Prior to arriving at the Union for this lecture, I had the expectation that many of my fellow Humanities Scholars would also be attending, but to my surprise, the audience was comprised mainly of English and Political Science Department professors. I was one of four OSU students that attended, the others being upperclassmen.

Though I had high expectations for this lecture, it fell short. It was almost identical to the discussion held in Humanities Seminar that same Friday! Throughout the entire 2 hours+ of the lecture, the French words "Deja Vu" ran through my mind.

The most exciting part of the whole lecture had to have been the fact the President Gordon Gee greeted the audience and introduced Mr. Jim Leach! That made it worth the time it took to attend the event!

Treat the Hungry

Waaaay back in October, I participated in the Treat the Hungry food drive on Halloween. I was honestly surprised about the warm reception that we received. The people at Hillard gave my group so many canned and nonperishable goods that we had to unload all of them with Ben and Daniel twice before the night was over. I thought that it would be difficult to explain to the community that we were students at OSU and not weird kids pulling a prank or something, but it couldn't have been a more smooth or pleasant of an experience. It's really nice to think that OSU has the support of its surrounding communities no matter what the cause.

Explore Columbus

Two weekends ago Laura, Celena, Erin and I ventured out into the city of Columbus. Since Celena works at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland she really wanted to take us to Cosi. We were trying to figure out how to tie a science center in with the humanities when we walked to an exhibit called Progress and we found our answer. This exhibit was very interesting and was all about the history of our country and how it changed and evolved with technology and scientific discoveries. We started in a room that was set up as a street corner in 1898. Each room proceeding was the same street corner in a different era, all the way up to 1962. We observed how the carriages turned into cars at a gas station and how the Apothecary store turned into a pharmacy. It was really cool to see how Cosi tied science in with history. Not only was Cosi a fun experience in itself, but it was nice to take a trip off campus and a break from the busy college setting. We had a really fun time exploring Columbus!

Exploring Columbus Sparks Flashback to Population Ethics: Dinner and Dialogue

Today, my roommates and I completed the "Explore Columbus" assignment. While doing so, we venture to The Short North and walked passed a window advertising an extermination company. Though this advertisement was completely irrelevant to the task at hand, it reminded me of the deep, intellectual discussion from the dinner and dialogue on Population Ethics in October.

For some odd reason the business of extermination triggered a recollection of the focal point of the dialogue of the Dinner and Dialogue.

At the Population Ethics: Dinner and Dialogue with Don Hubin, the hot topic of abortion was discussed in depth. Professor Hubin explained that abortion affects more than just the fetus at stake and the mother. It can also affect the father, for obvious reasons, the siblings, or the grandparents of the unborn child.

While ethics is not an easy subject to grasp and/or accept, I found it very intriguing! Attending this Humanities sponsered event was a effective use of my free time.

A Blast from the Past

At this time, I would like to take a blast into the past. By a "blast into the past," I mean discuss the scavenger hunt that occurred in late September, which feels like centuries away at this point. Due to my competitive nature, and that of my roommate Jen, the Scavenger Hunt was not a fun and laid-back endeavor for my group, and most notably myself. Yes, I made my group run to every location, scouring the premises to find the number that indicated our successful discovery. I even yelled "Wait for you at the finish line!" to fellow Humanities Scholars as we passed them at various points on campus. Yes, I was already trash talking people whom I had just met a week before. Anyhow, the event proved to be quite a fun adventure, as I had initially expected. I do not know how things would have turned out had we not placed in the top three, but...

Aside from placing, the Scavenger Hunt provided us some time to talk to our wonderful mentors, who answered many of my pressing questions, all suggesting I was a confused freshman. Thus, I am glad that I met some seasoned Humanities Scholars who could give me some insights into the dorm life and Humanities opportunities, as well as a perspective on the overall Ohio State University experience. In addition, this trek helped me to more efficiently learn my way around campus, as well as the locations of many crucial and relevant campus buildings. I hope to meet up with my mentors again, as they were a helpful and insightful bunch.

The Help Discussion

I just went to The Help discussion and it went well! We discussed several different topics, such as the evilness of Hilly and Elizabeth, Skeeter's on-and-off relationship with Stuart, and the controversy that surrounded the book when it was published two years ago. I read the book over the summer and personally really liked it. I liked that it was told from three different perspectives (Skeeter's, Abilene's, and Minny's) because it allowed the author to tell more of a complete story. I also liked how the characters were developed and the tense conflict between Skeeter and the rest of the wealthy girls throughout the book. During the discussion we talked about whether or not people would have reacted to the book differently if the author had been black instead of white. I don't really think people would have for the most part, but maybe some people would have preferred a black author. It doesn't matter to me. I was surprised to learn that the author based the book loosely on her own upbringing by black maids, but that definitely explains how she wrote the book in such an authentic and descriptive way. I would recommend this book to anyone, even people who don't like to read, because once you start reading it, you don't want to put it down! Such a good read!

Market at The Wexner Center

In Mid- October, I ventured, with Andrew, to The Wexner Center Farmers' Market, in search of locally grown fruits and vegetables. To my surprise, there was little there to see. There was one booth of organic vegetables, one of homemade, organic breads, and one marketing the student advocacy group, Oxfam. While I didn't spend much time there, I did stop to talk to the student group and the baker. I also bought some vanilla bean flavored bread and a chocolate croissant. Yum :)

Warren St. John's Talk

Warren St. John came to talk about his book Outcasts United towards the beginning of the quarter, and a lot of what he had to say was really interesting. He talked a little about the book and then left the rest of the session open for questions. He talked about how he had come to know several of the boys, and that he became close to one family in particular. He also talked about how he came to write the book. It was really cool to hear Mr. St. John talk because he is a successful author and journalist, and those are careers I want to go into. I also think diversity and immigration are controversial issues that need to be dealt with and talked about, so I like that he chose to write about how a small southern town was affected by the sudden diversity its population experienced. I feel bad for the refugee boys in Clarkston because they are caught between two worlds, but I think Coach Luma is an admirable and inventive person for using soccer to bring the boys together and give them something to focus on. After reading the book, I believe that the boys who went through Luma's program truly benefited from it because she taught them to follow rules, communicate with others who are different, learn to study English, and stay out of trouble.

Luma Mufleh

I'll admit, I had a hard time getting the motivation to actually go to hear Luma speak. But once I was there, I was so glad I went. There were a ton of people there and the energy was great. Though she said she got nervous doing public speaking, she did a great job. I could tell she was very passionate about doing everything she can for the Fugees. I could also tell she felt frustrated with the lack of help and support they've had, which I can totally understand. But despite her frustration, she still has a great attitude and sense of humor. Listening to her and her story was really inspirational. I enjoyed hearing the whole story in her words, not Warren St. John's. It was overall a great experience.

Potluck&Movie

I had a great time going to the Potluck with everyone. It was nice to get some free food and see what everyone brought. I had already seen Shutter Island, but thought it was a very good movie and wanted to see it again. It did not dissapoint the second time, either. I understood the movie a lot better the second time. The Potluck was a nice opportunity to relax and hang out with others in the Humanites program.

Luma Mufleh: A Stand Up Chick

The other week, I got the privilege of hearing Luma Mufleh speak about her life and her experience with the Fugees soccer team. I was more impressed with Luma as a person, in comparison to a speaker, but none the less, I still enjoyed hearing her speak. Personally, I got the most out of her appearance when she answered questions from the audience. Although I had no questions of my own, I had no problem sitting back and watching her interact the with students asking questions. In conversation, Luma was hilarious, personable, and genuinely nice, which honestly impressed me. Seeing her in person, and watching her interact with others really made the story make even more sense to me. I was able to see first hand the qualities Luma possess that made it possible for her to essentially guide refugee families through American life. I could understand fully how her players had so much respect for her, and I am so glad I got to hear such an incredibly driven woman speak.

Potluck Move Night - Shutter Island

Shutter Island literally blew my mind last week at the potluck!!! It was my first time seeing the entire movie, so I didn't really know what to expect going into it. I think I'm still trying to decide whether Leo DiCaprio's character, Andrew/Teddy, was crazy or not, though I'm pretty he was crazy based on the last few minutes of the film. I thought it was interesting how the film started out from Andrew's perspective, but at the end of the film, we got to see the reality of Andrew's insanity from the perspective of the outside world. The way the film moved from his perspective to that of the outside world is really cool because it kept the story suspenseful until the very end. Also, I loved how Andrew faked his relaspe at the end in order to receive a lobotomy. Great movie!!

Chicago: A College Freedom

After scrolling down through the blogs, and even commenting on a Chicago- related blog post, I noticed that people touched heavily upon the second city comedy show, Gino's, and the Navy Pier. Obviously, I enjoyed said events very much, but I would like to focus this post more on the time in which we had to ourselves, or the free time in our busy daily schedule. I found this time to be extremely valuable, as I was able to freely walk the streets of Chicago, getting a feel for the city as a whole, and exercising my independence as a college student. Previous to college, my family and I took may trips to Chicago, though I did not possess the independence of maturity level to navigate such a big city on my own. Thus, I believe that venturing through the streets of Chicago amongst our peers, and not necessarily our elders, really showed us our true independence and growth in maturity as college students. I feel that Ohio State really prepared us for the trip, and the trip helped us to better understand the city feel that Ohio State evokes, as we are able to freely explore various destinations in both locations.

Potluck Movie Night

Had a great time watching Shutter Island with everybody. I had already seen it a few times before, but every time I've watched it I always pick up on something different, because it's just that kind of movie. The plot really messes with your head, especially when you are trying to figure out what's real and what's not, and who's lying and who's telling the truth. I really liked Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as the main character too, becuase the first time I watched it i was completely surprised by the twist ending, and Leo did a great job of playing a convincingly insane, yet very intelligent character.

History of Haverfield

It's a rare opportunity when you get to listen to someone speak about history who was there when the history was happening, so hearing about the story of the USS Haverfield and the man it was named after from people who actually worked on the ship was pretty cool. The ship was used during World War II all the way through the beginning of the Vietnam War, where it was involved in running aground a chinese trawler which was taking massive amounts of weapons to the Vietcong forces. Ensign James Haverfield was a great national hero, who served his country proudly, and died on the USS Arizona in the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Philosophy of Population Ethics

On October 26th, members of Humanities and I ventured to McPherson for a dinner & dialogue event that consisted of a discussion on population ethics. Population ethics is the philosophical study of the moral ramifications and decisions regarding reproduction and the overall well-being of a community. Professor Don Hubin, the philosophy department chair, led the discussion with both knowledge of and fervor for the subject. He had us consider total vs. average utilitarianism, or how happiness can be measured both by total happiness within a population and average happiness of each individual. By assigning "happiness units" to different people under given situations, he helped us weigh the pros and cons of bringing a child into the world and whose happiness such an act would affect. We discussed the moral considerations that go into decisions such as abortion and use of contraception, ultimately drawing the conclusion that sometimes it is better to not have a child if that child's life will be significantly difficult, resulting in a decrease in happiness for that individual. While this discussion seemed controversial on the surface, its main argument boils down to questions of moral obligation and life value, which are endlessly fascinating topics to me since I am a philosophy major. I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion, and I encourage others to consider ethical questions such as these in order to further examine the value of life and how decisions can be logically argued in order to favor the outcome that offers the most happiness.

Chicago!

I have been to the Windy City twice now, and I can openly admit the second time was significantly more enjoyable than the first. The weekend seemed to fly by because of all the activities we had to choose from, and even the mandatory events were fun. Second City on our first night was hilarious - I think there were a lot of important topics brought up that were performed in a way we could all enjoy, but there were also a lot of goofy sketches to keep things from getting too heavy. Dinner with Ben and Daniel before the performance was also pretty cool... Even if they did get let in on my Canadian accent haha. We all had a lot of free time to explore the city, but walking together as a group to places like The Field Museum or Northwestern was also a great bonding experience, if you will. The last thing I have to mention is Gino's.... Wow. Best. Pizza. I. Have. EVER. Had. Overall, Chicago with the Humanities was a great way to spend my Veteran's Day weekend.

hitRECord at the Movies with Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Yesterday, my roommate and I traveled south to the Union to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt perform. We were't exactly sure what the thing was about but we liked Joe so it was ok. HitRECord is a production company started by Joe that focuses on group collaboration and short films. Throughout the night, we recorded his performance and watched various short films from his company and some lucky audience members were brought onstage. Even though this event wasn't specifically for the Humanities Scholars, my roommate and I definitely found that it coincided with our ideals. Art and Culture being the most prominent but there was some philosophic messages as well. It was a great time and we were both glad we had gone despite the fact that we didn't quite know what to expect.

Humanities Retreat

I am a camp girl. I started summer camp when I was six years old and today I am a summer camp counselor. The retreat made me remember how much I love camp and I was filled with enthusiasm for the experience. Apart from the fun of the outdoors and being with my fellow Humanities Scholars, I developed team-building skills with a great group of people. From balancing beams to trust falls, the day was a really great trip. I am very glad to have had such a rewarding retreat with my friends!

Treat the Hungry

I absolutely loved participating in Treat the Hungry on Monday night. Not only did it give me an excuse to dress up for Halloween, it was a great service project and an opportunity to learn my way around Columbus outside of the OSU campus. I was so excited about how well-received we were in Hilliard; people loved talking to us and were very generous about their donations. I couldn't believe that we got 555lbs of food! Treat the Hungry was an amazing opportunity to help out a local food bank, get to know my fellow Humanities scholars and spread the OSU spirit throughout the community.

Treat the Hungry

Tonight was a successful Halloween! I participated in Treat the Hungry and collected a ton of canned goods and non-perishable items for the Mid-Ohio food bank. A big group of us car-pooled to a nice neighborhood in Hilliard, and were generously greeted by many residents more than willing to contribute. In only about an hour and a half, my group alone collected several backpack loads. Treat the Hungry was a blast and it felt really good to be trick-or-treating for a good cause. I am definitely participating next year, and I recommend it to all Humanities Scholars!

Waiting for Superman

I attended the Doc and Talk for Waiting for Superman last Wednesday, the 26th. I had been wanting to see this documentary for a very long time now, but had always put it off....until now. This movie explores the public school system, and followed the lives of five families as they try to get their children into a better school. It really exposed how public schools have become a "system" and the reasons why they are failing. There were many things I didn't know, like the "Dance of the Lemons." This is when a school, instead of firing their worst teachers, transfer them to other schools, and in turn, other schools transfer their bad teachers to them; resulting in a "dance" of sorts.
This movie really struck a chord in me. I plan on teaching with my degree, and instead of being discouraged, this movie actually inspires me to keep pursuing it. It definitely pulled on my heartstrings (I admit, I teared up a few times). I feel this movie is really informative, and it was really good choice to watch it.

First Year Retreat

So, back on Saturday, I went to the First Year Retreat out at Recreation Unlimited with my fellow first year Humanities scholars. I have to admit, I wasn't to eager to get going. Maybe it was the fact that I had woken up about 30 minutes before I was supposed to be at Haverfield House and that I hadn't had breakfast. Anyway, we had started out with some get to know you activities, and eventually we separated into groups to do some low ropes courses. I think the culmination of m time at Recreation Unlimited was doing a trust fall with my group. This is a pretty big thing for me, since I'm generally terrified of heights. So, add the fact that I'm falling into the arms of people that I barely know, and it's not a good combination. In the end though, my group had caught me. Overall, I believe this was a great experience to go to with my friends in the Humanities Scholars.

Wexner Center and Market

Today I attended the market by the Wexner center and took a little tour of the gallery inside afterwards. The market was nice, with a few tents that had goodies such as pumpkin bread, penut butter brownies, and chocolate croissants (I may have bought all three...) and various other things like flowers and vegetables. It was a delicious event to attend but I didn't end up staying long because I wanted to check out the gallery inside the Wexner Center. I was pleasantly surprised by the exhibit, which had recent work from a few artists. Normally when I go to art museums or galleries I end up looking around for 15 minutes trying to seem sophisticated and eventually leave because I'm so bored. This time, however, I actually was disappointed when I checked the time after 45 minutes and saw that I had to leave for work. All of the artwork was captivating, especially the pieces by Alexis Rockman. His work ties together the beauty of the natural world and the inhabited world we live in. My favorite painting was titled "Manifest Destiny," described in a museum brochure as "a fulcrum in Rockman's career, a summation of past work and a signal of things to come." It depicts New York City many years into the future, after global warming and human negligence have taken their toll. The city is mostly underwater, and is filled with animals and plants that appear to be thriving in the human-free world. The other paintings were equally intriguing. I hope that someday I will be able to see his work again, and would recommend that everyone visit the gallery before Rockman's exhibit leaves!

Study Abroad Expo (very late, I know)

Last Thursday I attended the study abroad expo in the Thompson Library. I've always considered study abroad and so I thought it would be an interesting event to attend. I was right! Apparently, you don't need to be a junior or senior to study abroad (which I guess I've always known, but going overseas as a sophomore or even a freshman seemed impossible before). I found several programs that are intended for any undergraduate, regardless of their year. Many of them don't even have prerequisites, like taking a million years of a foreign language. I was most interested in the summer programs they had to offer. Two in particular seemed like they could be possibilities for this coming summer- one takes place in New Zealand and Australia, doing fieldwork in the rainforests and learning about conservation and forest management techniques. The second on is on the Turks and Caicos Islands, which are close to Cuba in the Carribean. For one month I would participate in marine biology intensive research, which would include lots of scuba diving and snorkling! The only trouble is that both of them cost around $6000, not including airfare. I think I'll start saving my money because these would be too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Lunch with Warren St. John

On Tuesday October 11th I went to the lunch for Warren St. John. We got to have lunch from Panera along with hearing Mr. St. John talk about his experience before, during, and after writing the book Outcasts United. He told us about how he found Clarkston and Luma. He was actually eating dinner with a friend while he was in Georgia and this friend told him about the refugees in Georgia. With one question after another, Warren St. John got into the life of the refugees. He also gave us some information about how and where some of the Fugee players are now. He told us that a lot of Clarkston's citizens and refugees are very thankful to the feedback they have gotten from the book and the New York Times article about the refugees and the soccer situation down south. He also said that Luma was first skeptical of letting him into her fugees' lives as she wanted to protect them from criticism and the public who would read the book. One point Mr. St. John made that I found very interesting was the fact that we dont realize that we are different until someone else points it out. I loved how writing the book has connected Mr. St. John with all the Fugee families and he still stays in touch with a lot of them. The lunch was very interesting and made me like the book a lot more than i did before i went to the lunch.

Flag Football

Last Sunday was the first flag football game of the season. The team, comprised of roughly 8 boys and 5 girls set out to practice 2.5 hours before the actual game started. We believed this gave us a fair advantage to get a feel for the field and the competition. Practice went great, with the boys coming up with plays to run and the girls honing their skills, or lack there of in my case.

We were set to play the Engineering Scholars and we didn’t know how to feel about it. Once game time came around, the opposing team looked pretty intimidating. We were down three people due to a math review too so we were clearly the Underdogs, but we took it in good stride. The opening play was in our favor and we almost scored a touchdown, but then it went down hill from there. The Engineers took the game very seriously and knew all the rules, which we didn’t. They scored relentlessly, but we never gave up hope and eventually scored a touchdown ourselves.

Many lessons were learned on that sunny Sunday. First, always be prepared for the unexpected, such as a change in rules or missing players. Always keep your head up and good energy will follow. Always bring reinforcements and lastly, lose with grace and style. Although we didn’t win, we all had a great time and we look forward to having more people join the team and even more fans on the sidelines this Sunday.

Cocoa, Cookies, & Children's Stories

So, at this event (which was mostly comprised of English majors) we had cookies and hot chocolate (admittedly odd for such hot weather) and then Ruth Freidman (part of the English department) read some of her favorite short stories, including There's a Bird on Your Head (which was very funny), one chapter of Paddington Bear, I Will Never not Ever Eat a Tomato (or something along those lines), and Scardy Squirrel. We also talked a little bit about what the first few weeks have been like.

I really enjoyed this event. I love children's stories and I don't get down to reading them, let alone new ones, very often. It was also a really relaxed environment, as well as a great way to get connected with the English department and its happenings. I might have eaten too many cookies, but I figured I would allow myself that luxury tonight.

Warren St. John (again, apologizes for not commenting, but it's still doesn't like my account)

So, St. John reviewed some of the anecdotes in his book, including the first game he saw (as well as some additional information on how he was led to the game) and when he first went to visit one of the refugee families. He also talked about the themes and messages in his book, mainly being that, to accommodate change, we need to step outside our comfort zone and try to meet people who aren't like us. This will also help us better our own experiences.

I'll be honest, while St. John is covering some very important topics and themes that do need to be addressed in current day society (and I really support him for putting himself out there and writing this book to start that conversation), but I can't call him the most enthralling speaker. He's a good writer, so maybe he's just more of a written person than a speaker. Either way, this is a very important topic.

BBC Author Visit -- Warren St. John.

This evening I went to the Mershon Auditorium to listen to the author Warren St. John discuss the book Outcasts United that all of us read for the Buckeye Book Community. Mr. St. John was very engaging and spoke about how it was pure chance that he even heard of the Fugees in the first place. He went on to talk about how he became very intrigued by the subject of refugee resettlement, especially in the town of Clarkston, Georgia which had been a typical small southern town but had since expanded into a small world of many cultures. He met many generous and heartwarming families and listened to the many things they told him. These comments ranged from their cultures and past experiences to stories of mistreatment by police officers. Overall, the visit was very interesting and showed us the author's feelings on Outcasts United.

Italian Festival

My journey to the Italian Festival started with a cramped COTA bus, not the best impression. But as we ventured down cobbled stone streets (something I was unaware Columbus held), and the wafting aroma of pizza mixed with the humming of many voices, I knew my evening would be lovely. Whether the attendees were Italian or German, young or old, the Festival held a conglomeration of people. We were there to appreciate Italy - it's food, art, and overall culture. Off to the far side of the Festival was a children's play area with a bouncy house and rides. It seemed to symbolize what I had left behind before college, my childhood. But it also represented what each of us carries in our heart, the knowledge that even as we grow older we can always maintain the representation of youth. One of the most beautiful parts of the night, was standing towards the entrance of the church elevated above the ground. The warm night air, hundreds of roaming people, and with my friends close by, I knew that I was already in love with Columbus. The liveliness, friendly atmosphere, and fascinating events brought home an idea about the evening: loveliness. Everyday living with the Humanities Scholars of Haverfield teaches me new and wonderful lessons, and I know that through the struggles of my freshmen year, my "Hums of the Hav" will be there to support me. What a lovely thought to end such a lovely evening.

Columbus Fall Flea

The Fall Flea was so much fun today. I'm from Columbus so I already know and love the Short North, but I've never been to an actual event there like this or Gallery Hop. I loved looking at all the quirky, vintage booths. It was a great chance to see what more that area has to offer. Afterwards we explored the Short North a little more. It was definitely fun to see all the things there are to do only 5 minutes from campus.

haverfield cookout

The cookout was a lot of fun because I got to eat yummy free food and talk to people from the Humanities program. It was nice to have a chance to meet more people from Haverfield that I wouldn't normally see around the dorm. Also, talking to others in the program, you can hear what major and career path they're doing which is very interesting. I'm looking forward to more social events in the future!

House Divided

I will begin with what I didn't like about the play because I find it easier to criticize than praise, and also because I absolutely loved this play and so I'd rather end on a good note than a bad one. First, some of my favorite scenes were the modern day ones, but I didn't understand them. I'm not even sure where they were set. And they were so packed with numbers and banking lingo and housing and mortgage lingo that I had only a vague idea of what was happening. Second, it is so difficult to make a play that is a mesh of current day foreclosure and The Grapes of Wrath. So, not all the transitions were smooth. They have to go from techno music to country music, which is very hard. Third, in general, there was just too much. There was constant music, constant talking, lights flashing constantly and it's overwhelming. I remember there was one really, really powerful scene and I desperately wanted there to be about five seconds of dead silence after it where nothing was moving and no sound was playing. The scene was so powerful and I wanted a second for that to sink in. But then they just kept going without any pause.

Now, I can't list everything I liked about the play, because there were so many things, but I'll give a few. I will start with the two most powerful scenes. The times when both The Grapes of Wrath and current day scenes were going on at the same time were always fantastic, but the best was when the man in current day was having his house foreclosed. As he talked on the phone with someone, people were in his house, throwing all his stuff out on the curb. At the same time, the characters from Grapes were moving out. The second scene had no dialogue from the characters (which is always beautiful), but we were listening to an announcement on the TV about the stock market crash (again, the problem of not fully understanding the situation) and the two main characters from current day were watching and just despairing. They never said anything, but they showed it through their motions. One of them ended up at the very edge of the stage, crouched down with his hands on his head. It was gorgeous. Other things: they did really well with the multimedia. It's really hard to do that because it often looks fake (and it definitely wasn't perfect), but they pulled it off. The set was also amazing. Having the lower and upper level of the house, which was in pieces and had screens so you can see characters while they’re in the house. This creates such a strong effect because you can have characters in so many different places.

I don't want to make this too long, but the play was really emotionally attached to the foreclosure movement, and even if you don't agree with that, it was so well put together that it was amazing to watch anyway.

The Italian Festival (because I can't post comments)

Last night, I went to the Italian Festival. It was definitely an experience. There was so many people and so much food! There were plenty of food vendors, each with lines of people reaching far out into the midway, waiting to buy their goods. However, there were not many art dealers there, which I found to be disappointing. Overall, the experience was worth it, even if only in the aspect of getting off campus for a little while and getting a little taste of Columbus.

House Divided (Because you can't comment on the other one...)

I thought that the House/Divided performance was very interesting. I had never seen a play that relied to heavily on multimedia before, so that struck a chord with me. Having read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck before, I thought that the juxtaposition of the Joad's situation and the mortgage crisis was an apt one. The actors engaged me, as did the set design, but when the intercalary chapters were read, I started to lose interest. I felt like more could have been done to make those sections--the ones where the generalities of the conditions of the Dust Bowl era were described-- more engaging.

I've seen a lot of plays in my life and so I'd have to say that overall it was an alright performance. I did learn a little about the mortgage crisis and the process of one losing their home, but to me I didn't think it was that easy to follow coming in with very little background knowledge as the to nuances of the crisis and its causes.

The Italian Festival

The Italian Festival was held in the Short North last night. We took a packed COTA bus down to Hubbard Street and walked to the festival, which was crowded by the time we got there. Most of the booths were full of food ranging from loaves of bread to “superbolis” to wine and beer. We ended up having strombolis for dinner and cannolis for dessert, both being expensive, but equally tasty. One of my favorite booths though was one belonging to an artist who did oil paintings. The paintings were so vivid and real looking. It was cool to see and talk with the man behind the paintings as well. Other things worth mentioning was the bronze knight statue that was standing by the Church. It was actually not a statue, but a real man, dressed in a knight outfit with his skin dyed copper! Overall, the festival was a great event to attend. The Italian culture was brought to life: kind people, great food, and fun times.

House/Divided

Last night was the first performance of House/Divided. The performance was amazing. The actors performed as so many diferent characters through out the length of the performance and maintaned the integrety of each seperate character. The highlight of the play was the criticism on the current economic situation and how it got to be this way. Another very interesting part of the performance was the discussion afterward. Especially the one very rude person, who Derek stood up to, and stormed out.

Haverfield Cookout

Today was the Haverfield Cookout. It is my understanding that this was the first time that this event has been scheduled and performed. So in consideration of this I believe the event to be an overwhelming success consedering the untested nature of the event. Getting together with people in the same dorm as you and getting to meet people who you do not see on a day to day basis was on of the very best aspects of this event. Thanks to all those who helped to make this event a reality.

English Conversation Partners

Last Thursday, I went to the English Conversation Partner Orientation. There I met my partner, Mengqiu, whose American name is Wendy and is a graduate student studying Logistics. She is from Suzhou, China, a city just north of Shanghai. I was so happy to be partnered with her, mainly due to her kind personality and excitement for meeting me.

We talked for over an hour about both Chinese and American cultures. She wrote her name in Chinese and explained to me all the different symbols. I explained the naming process most Americans use and the fact that my parents picked my name out for me, which she found very interesting. When we exchanged phone numbers, Wendy explained to me why she has so many 6’s in her phone number. In China, 6 and 8 are two very lucky numbers so when she picked out her phone number here, she included as many 6’s as possible. Wendy looked flabbergasted when I told her what 666 represented in America! When we departed for the night, she gave me Chinese bookmarks, which were full of Chinese characters representing several Chinese proverbs.

We hugged goodbye, both of us equally excited for our next meeting! Look for Wendy on Hav 3 sometime. I have a feeling she will be visiting a few times because we are already on our way to becoming great friends.