Interlude # 9 - College Euphoria

Hi all,

I was speaking to my cousin today. She graduated high school a year early and this is her first semester in college. Since Thanksgiving is in a few weeks I reminded her midterms were around the corner. She said that she'd already taken a few. I remarked that there is such a difference in the atmosphere around colleges during midterm and finals week. And it's not just in the library and study rooms. It's the whole school. There is a hush that can't be broken easily, and if it is, people give you the “evil eye” until the stoic mood is regained.

I told her normal people become truly weird during this time. They say things like "I can't talk" even though they're eating lunch alone and staring into space. Other common midterm and finals week phrases are "we have got to study because Professor X doesn't give extra credit" or "do you have a group" or "I didn't sleep until 3am last night trying to finish Professor X’s paper." Now that I'm reminiscing of my college days, I recall how stingy I'd be with my notes. In most classes, I was an avid note taker and since I took many science and math classes I was more sought out at finals week than pictures of TomKat's baby. People who I’d last seen on the first day of class came out of the wood works to ask me for my notes. It was one of my pet peeves at the time, that people had the audacity to miss 15 classes and then ask for the notes so they could photocopy them. I think it's funny now though - who knew I could morph into manical note hoarder? But the best thing is that when I declared English as my major I didn't have to take too many notes because the best way to take notes for my major is to write all over the literature being studied and for a majority of exams for English classes, if you have a textbook, the professors let you use it. Not all of them, but a lot of professors allow you this small kindness - I think it's because they don't want you to butcher their favorite quotes. :D

Still, the worst thing about college for new students is the stress level. Stress is so high for freshmen at this time of year that the suicide rate (for all students but freshmen in particular) actually rises. I remember at my Alma Mater the roof top cafeteria and other balconies were closed during midterm and finals week because a few years prior to my going there and at a few other (and might I add Ivy League) schools more recently, people jumped from at least eight stories up at their universities because they were stressed out, or had failed tests. These may have just been unfounded rumors but the closed off balconies were real enough. I’ve never felt that pressured in school, and I can't imagine what that must feel like in that situation, but people, killing yourself isn't the answer. You're in college to better yourself, not to let it get the better of you. And remember, college is only for a few years. You have a whole lifetime afterwards to look forward to.

There are so many new experiences in college - I don't think there is another time in your life that you network so well and are exposed to so many new things - things you'll find out you love and things you won't like. I remember being exposed to workshop classes for the first time. I absolutely hated them in the beginning. I was always one of those people that hated group work because I always ended up being the one doing the bulk of the work and other people's work not meeting my standards. It's not that I'm a control freak, but random group assignments make it a high likelihood that you'll be placed with someone who is taking the class because they have to and not because they want to. It wasn’t until I took workshop classes that they turned out to be my favorite. You get real feedback from 90% of people who have a similar passion for what you're writing and even the other 10% is still helpful because you can learn what is distasteful about your work from people who don't like it.

This is true in all majors, even science and math classes which usually have one correct answer. People break down formulas and solve equations in different ways. Having someone break down PV=nRT (The Ideal Gas Law) and explain it's relevance to Boyle and and Henry's Laws using a hot air balloon - is a mind blowing experience when you fully understand the implications. Comprehending iambic pentameter after someone has used colloquial language to explain it is equally amazing.

So to all those new freshmen out there who are struggling I have two things to say to you:

1. Stay in school, the information you learn is worth ten times whatever your tuition costs.

2. Remember to temper your workload with your fun intake. Keeping even a few minutes in between study sessions helps. I heard that when studying you tend to remember the beginning of the study session and the end of the study session. So taking frequent breaks say a 5-10 minute break every 45-60 minutes is ideal for your memory capacity. It worked for me. It's also a great tension reliever when you're study a very heavy topic like Marxism or say.... trying to prove your thesis in Chemistry :D.

Hoping Thanksgiving comes quickly so you college folks can get a break-edly,

Davi

Interlude # 7 - Happy Diwali

Happy Diwali friends,


It is with full heart and glowing soul that I greet you tonight. I am basking in the peace that faith affords me this night, whether the goddess visits my home or not. Truthfully, I hope she will come, whilst we slumber, prayers of reverence and hopes for guidance upon our soft lips, in the hush that falls with dusk.

Tonight is the festivals of lights, when all over the world Hindus light dias and pray for the Goddess Lakshmi will come to our house and bless us, bringing her light of wisdom, healing and love. We pray for those who have gone in darkness before us, like our Ram, king of kings, Vishnu and Krishna incarnate. We ask the Goddess to lift illness and despair from our lives as only a mother's love can.

Tonight there is nothing to write about except the tenderness with which she will cradle us, a succor to our tears, the endless mother whom we children reach out for when we fall.

I have lit the incense but my soul is aflame with scented wonder. My skin prickles as my senses realize there is more than can be seen in the room. I can feel the tension, the love, the energy and it is a blessing that I should share these moments another year with my mother sitting beside me.

I must say, for those who have faith and can sit and pray, even but for a few moments, it is a feeling that is always welcomed. To feel so full and aware - to mentally breathe in the essence of something larger than you and be humbled and feel utterly beloved is a gift I pray each of you experiences many, many times in your lifetime.

Inspir-edly,

Davi

Interlude # 6 - Hallo-whoareyougonnabe?

Hi readers,

One of the best things at this time of year is Halloween. Those who enjoy dressing up - be it their kids or themselves - this is the perfect time to go shopping for outfits we can't wear any other day of the year. The only issue I have is with all the "costumes" available to teenage girls that scream "hooker" or "cheap and easy." It's a time to dress up, not necessarily dress less. In New York City, Halloween has become a reason for girls to look like they are legal to work in the adult film industry. It's a shame really. For those who take part in the costume only aspect of the day, it's supposed to be about wearing something that makes you feel like someone or something else for a night. To be able to express what you think is fun and interesting and earning some chocolate or candy in exchange for your time and effort spent on applying make-up. How this translated in 90% of the costumes being mid-drift baring, three inch length skirts and thigh high boots, I don't know.

For those who hold this as a spiritual or religious holiday, All Hallows Eve, it must be a great travesty to see so many dressing people dressing up to get some candy, but it's become a division between American culture and religious belief. It's not something that was done to insult religous worhippers, it's how time evolved and compartmentalized one day into religion and culture. I liken it rather to the Easter Bunny on Easter. Explain that one folks. :D

In any case, all I'm hearing is "who are you gonna be?" Since I'm 25 and this might be the last year I really do Halloween, I want to go all out. I went shopping and it's come down to an Angel (which is my fav because it has wings), a female Robin Hood outfit, forest nymph, or the ever popular pirate wench.

My best friend and I were going to go together as Peanut Butter and Jelly, but the hilarity of this would be hard to explain at the party we'll be attending... especially if we get separated. How do you explain a poo colored outfit without receiving a disbelieving look from the person who asked you what you came as? Picture it - "I simply can't find my jam." Indeed. But you sure are in one.

In any case, I'm favoring the Robin Hood outfit because I'm simply smashing in its shade of green, especially with my caramel complexion (I'm not making that up, Maybelline has designated me caramel according to their foundation, haha). The pirate wench look might be nice as well. I need to see how much all the accessories cost, what with the sword, hat, boots, and makeup not being included in the set it makes me wonder how they can sell the dress and still call it a "pirate costume." I'll make my decision in the next couple of days and let you all know how it turns out.

What are you going to be?

Still undecided,

Davi

Interlude #3 - The Weekend Slosh

If you were in New York this weekend, you knew it was a waste of time to do anything other than finding a good book, good movie, and good Cup O' Joe and settling into your quiet space. Even Sunday, which turned out to be okay was a day to spend inside because of the tone Friday and Saturday had set.

Saturday, I had three classes, so venturing out into the torrential rain and heavy winds was not an option, it was necessity. I wore my heaviest blue jeans skirt and a nice blue lace blouse and made a run for the car. In the time it took me to walk from the garage to my car, place a bag into the trunk and then jump into the drivers seat - a grand total of 15 yards - I was drenched. Granted, I didn't use an umbrella. I am a firm believer in calling a spade a spade, and using an umbrella for 4 seconds is completely useless, especially when entering/exiting a car is concerned. You get more wet trying to maneuver an umbrella around the door of the car than making a dash for it and hoping to stay dry.

I was doomed either way. Luckily, only my head and neck got wet, thanks to a combination of things (my trench coat, my thick blue jeans skirt and an inclined driveway (no puddles). But joy of joys, we all know what happens when our head and neck gets wet. I was sniffling all through my first class, but thankfully, I had a dose of cold tablets in my bag. By the time my last class was over, unlike the rain, my sneezing had eased up. I came home, changed into sweats and grabbed my parrot, Soma, and covered up under a blanket in the den. We both slept for three hours, cheek to cheek, before I realized I was supposed to be at a friends house for a girl's night out. I put Soma in her cage, who for once did not become a ball of shrieking terror because she was too drowsy to complain) and called up my friend telling her plainly that I fell asleep. In true best friend fashion, she said to come over anyway, that I could sleep there.

That's exactly what I did. I lasted a total of two hours before knocking out on her bed until the next morning. I left pretty early, if you consider 10:30 early on a Sunday and for about two hours at home took care of whatever needed attending. I took Soma again from her cage and rough-housed with her for 20 mins but we were both yawning, so I grabbed a blanket and put her underneath, and we both napped again, this time for about four hours. Did I mention that she snores? Must be because she's only 11 months old. Who knows? It's just one of those surprises you only discover when you're spending the weekend being an absolute bum.

Snuggled up under a blanket-edly,

Davi