The Fluidity of Friendship

Every semester, people come in and out of my life. Friends study abroad, others graduate, and some just lose touch for no reason in particular. It used to make me really sad when good friends of mine left, whether it was just for a semester or forever. I selfishly wanted everyone I cared about to stay in Boston until I was ready to leave. I was also afraid that study abroad would change people and that when they came back they would be so different I would have nothing in common... Read More

Spontaneity

So many of my friends are travelers. Some have studied abroad in the past, some are abroad now, or some have just traveled a lot on their own. I try to live vicariously through them, as if hearing about all their adventures will transfer some of their coolness to me. As excited as I get to hear their stories, I feel pangs of jealousy when I think about how little of the world I’ve experienced. My way of coping is by trying to take in as many tips and recommendations as I... Read More

And How I Miss It All…

I’m currently on my grand adventure abroad. Sono a Padova — which means I’m in Padua, Italy. I think I’m somewhat shell-shocked, because of the huge shift in my day-to-day structure of life. I go from the lazy, hard-pressed-for-excitement month at home, to doing something pretty much every day, in a non-native language. My Italian improves daily, and my notebook of new vocabulary expands with each passing hour. The new life I lead here is so relaxed and... Read More

Dear Las Vegas,

I am writing to inform you that I will be visiting you this weekend. I have seen multiple movies with you as a main character—er, location—but no little about you otherwise. I figured I’d just make a short list of what I expect you to be like, based on my limited exposure to you. 1) George Clooney likes to steal money from slimy casino owners. Hell, he’s good at it in the Ocean’s Eleven series.  He’s so believable as a heist mastermind that I’ll be disappointed... Read More

The Griffith Observatory

They say there’s no culture in L.A. This city’s detractors will tell you that everyone out here is in it for himself and that if people are nice to you it’s merely a front. Furthermore, they’ll note that the city’s history is built on corruption—anyone seen Chinatown? The people who don’t like L.A. will tell you there was nothing fun to do and everything is extremely expensive. How’s a student supposed to enjoy it out here? Easy. Find the free things to do. My... Read More

School Again

My last entry I wrote a list of all the things I wanted to do before leaving Boston. I obviously had forgotten my school schedule. Maybe it is because I was abroad last semester and spent the last two months of my semester in an internship, but I really forgot how much homework I get assigned! What with work, school and adlab, I would be lucky to get two of the things on my list crossed off. That being said, I am actually interested in all my classes for the first time in my entire... Read More

Crosstown Traffic—And Lots of It

I never liked the way the maniacs on the East Coast drove. Especially New Englanders. Honestly, any time I took the green line on the T to downtown Boston and got off at Boylston Street I said three Hail Marys in the hope that I didn’t get killed trying to cross the street. You think I’m exaggerating? Go see Ben Affleck’s new movie, The Town, and tell me with a straight face that his portrayal of the way Bostonians drive is untrue. Okay, fine. Maybe I am exaggerating. But,... Read More

Back in Boston

So I am officially back from France and two weeks into my senior year. My semester abroad flew by and I cannot believe I am inches (around 6 months) away from venturing out into real life. Terrifying. Before I (maybe) leave, here is a list of things I still want to do in Boston: Go to a BU hockey game. Any game will do, but I feel like I have to go see one in order to say I was really a Boston University student. Go sledding down the fens on a BU food tray… yes I missed out... Read More

Teatime, A British Tradition

By Christa Finger sandwiches, pastries, scones… now I feel that I am in Great Britain. It’s 3 in the afternoon, high tea time, and I am about to attend my first tea party in about fifteen years. The last one I attended involved teddy bears and baby dolls. Friends and I have decided to take part in an English tradition this Sunday afternoon. What is more English than tea time? Well, taking teatime at Harrod’s, a grand symbol of London. Walking down busy Brompton... Read More

Flâneur

Much like famous author/drug addict/ people watching connoisseur Charles Baudelaire, one of my favorite activities in Paris is sitting on the metro and watching the constant flow of people moving around the city. Baudelaire sauntered (via sidewalk not train) through the city. In fact, his time “flâner”-ing (or strolling) around the city inspired his theory of the flâneur as a “gentleman stroller of city streets” (wikipedia). If I sound semi-knowledgeable... Read More