Hi all!
So I'll begin with the most uninteresting part, so you can skip this if you like. BUT I NOW HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN I GET TO MEXICO! This is EPIC because I really had no idea before and I was starting to worry about it since I leave on SUNDAY! But we are spending a few days in Cuernavaca and Tepoztlan before heading over to Hidalgo. While we will be herded around like cows for these few days, based on the schedule I was sent, it will be good to see it again after all these years. I'm excited for some very controlled wandering time (dont worry people who told me not to do anything stupid, I dont plan on doing anything stupid). We'll stay with host families for a few days there, and then head into Hidalgo for the program there. I think I'm living on Hidalgo's campus, which means I will have a better chance of finding internet there on a regular basis, and thus assuring you that I am in fact alive and doing well. SO EVERYONE, I LOVE YOU TO DEATH BUT YOU ALL NEED TO CHILL OUT! I'll be fine. And I'm going to make sure that my phone works, so if you are really concerned, you can text me. Skype is a good option too (d.enriquez)
(This is a photo of Tepoztlan that I liked, it's not mine and I dont make any claims to it)
I have been lucky to see many lovely people while I've been home, and that's been really nice. I cant say that I've really been home for any extended period of time except for while I was unpacking, but thats ok with me. I like being busy. I saw Sam of both Yale and Newton today (rather than Harvard and Newton, or Yale and Bethesda... I need to stop making friends with people named Sam...) and we wandered around Coolidge corner (I forgot how awesome it is). I made the usual fatal error of going into a bookstore and left with two new things to read... well whatever I'll read in Mexico while I'm avoiding danger, right? Exactly. Or maybe I'll just read a lot in August. Whatever.
Then Mom and I went into Cambridge to visit our favorite imports store.. and I found some LOVELY silver hands from various countries that I am going to use this evening. As soon as I saw them I cam up with a design in my head. It's going to be good!! They even packaged them in these little paper bags with beautiful green hands stamped on them. So gorgeous. Maybe I'll try my hand (haw haw) at drawing again and see if I can do some cool prints by the end of the summer? In fact, I will. It's decided.
On other visits I went to Class Day at Yale yesterday and saw my dear Sass, before spending the day with Luis and his family. It was actually a very cool ceremony. I had NO idea that all the seniors come wearing really interesting hats to the event. So that was really fun to see. There was honestly, everything you can imagine. From bubble blowers attached to people's heads, to the construction helmet that my froco was wearing, to Luis's "cowboy" hat, viking helmets, etc... all with their very official looking black graduation robes. All of the class of 2010 gathered on cross campus before they came into Old Campus, where we were all sitting. I watched them gather while I waited to get my ticket from Luis, and it was VERY entertaining. People watching at its best.
So that was nice. All the seniors filed in and you could see their hats when they were blown up on the mega tvs. Along with the few unfortunate and clueless parents who got way too close to the cameras while they were fighting to find seats. But everything worked out, and we saw students who were truly incredible receive awards for their achievements. One girl won several awards for her work in paraplegic swimming because she was international recognized for her talents in the sport and I actually had shivers going up and down my spine every time they talked about what she had accomplished. It was amazing, because I had definitely seen her many times before, and she was SO INSPIRING. I had no idea she was so talented! Good for her!
Clinton had a really interesting speech. He basically did shout outs to everything that I really care about, and this is probably part of the reason I found it so awesome. To be fair, other people I talked to also thought it was epic. So maybe it's not my own bias. He started off talking about how quickly science has moved in the past 10 years. He cited his the fact that the internet was about 50 websites at the beginning of his presidency... and today well... Then he went into genetics and gave Craig Venter a shout out (!) He talked about the immigration issues and the explosion of ideas that was possible. He cautioned us from surrounding ourselves with too many people who think like us, because that is dangerous if one is trying to make progress. He did stress the importance of being open to things, and new ideas and people, which I thought was really important. He said much much more, but this was what stuck with me the most.
Afterwards there was a reception at Pierson college, which I went to with Luis and his family. I cant say that I have spent much time in Pierson, apart from the recent few months when I visited a few more times than I did the previous semester. It had me thinking a little bit, because I like a number of people in Saybrook, and I love the building, but besides that I do not feel a really affinity for it. (I know this is blasphemous, sorry fellow Saybrugians. I love you as people but I dont have the super throw-myself-in-front-of-a-bus-loyalty that I see in some people for their colleges. It's more you as individuals that I love than the fact that we are in the same college. But maybe this is better? It means its more worthwhile!) The college system is brilliant, and I have found many people I would probably not have ended up meeting otherwise by living in the confines with ldub with them, but I found Pierson very lovely as well. I guess I dont bleed blue and gold yet? Sorry Saybrook. There is still time for me to consider your stone and grass courtyards the be all end all of the world.
You know, it could be in theory like living in a small town.
Through experience, I have discovered that living in the confines of a town is not for me.
This has benefits and consequences.
Benefits: I can go to a number of places and know that I will have friends there. Within Massachusetts, across the country and slowly, across several continents. There is a lot of opportunities for discussion, places for me to crash when I'm visiting places (like Jorg in Frankfurt last year), and a real opportunity to ask questions.
Consequences: I know very few people from my town. Is this so bad? probably not. Or at least I dont really think so. And this is somewhat negated by the fact that living so close together means that you still spend a good deal of time together anyway, and end up meeting some characters... Besides, you'll always have the location in common, so there is something to talk about, right?
It's much harder to get to know people from different worlds at first. This is true, but I have always found it worth it. I learned my lesson from being an exchange student and not taking enough time right away to befriend people with different backgrounds from me. I had it in line by the end of my time there, but before hand... not so good. The benefits were especially visible when I was beginning to speak German with a decent accent. Good things come to those who try...
Also, Luis introduced me to a middle eastern place near Campus that I had not yet been to. SO WONDERFUL. EMILY WE ARE GOING NEXT YEAR!!
And tomorrow Thwaites is coming to stay with us for a few days. He'll do his million year long runs on heartbreak hill and I'll not join him. Sorry thwaites :D But its a good excuse to continue my wandering around Boston expeditions. Such fun. I love this city.
Also, people going to exciting places, i want to cover a wall in my room next year with Postcards, and this wont be possible without you! So if you go somewhere cool, will you bring me back a postcard? You dont event have to send it to me, though I would love that! Thanks in advance! it's going to be SO COOL!!!!
And now go on your merry ways. I plan to go and read about the plague for a while longer on this very hot evening.
Much love, D
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