My keychain (holding my key, flashlight, whistle, and ID) has come apart three times today, each time because a completely different chain or ring of it failed. Basically all possible things have gone wrong with it, except that my flashlight hasn’t yet broken. I’m considering this a bad sign.

Actually, Olga and I decided we should all display our good work on the refrigerator.

Not Eugene’s English paper, though, sorry.

I’ve probably had plenty to post about in the past weeks, but I had been either preoccupied, tired, or too apathetic. Actually, I’d rate last week as pretty bad overall for assorted reasons, but I suspect the lack of natural sunlight had something to do with it.

So I was pleased about this:

On Saturday I went to Central Park prepared to read for Anthropology and my first year seminar, and carrying a camera as well. I actually spent most of the time just walking around and enjoying all the green and blue that I hadn’t seen in a while. I was surprised to find my mood so closely linked to the weather, but it reminded me that I need to spend time outside every day. Also, I like Central Park:

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Lured by posters claiming free bubble tea (and DDR), my roommate Olga and I met Richard and his friends for an organized study break in Lerner. Of course others had also seen the posters, so bubble tea ran out by 9:05 (ie, before we got there). I played once on an extremely simplified level, which I did indeed clear! I also observed something interesting:

People who actually know how to play DDR can’t resist dancing along even when they’re not on the pads. Olga and I managed to refrain, so take that as you will.

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So far I’d say I’m doing okay in regards to grades here, with “okay” being not too great but better than hopeless. In some ways that sounds misleadingly negative, as I often am about academics, but don’t doubt me too much.

Anyway, some good news: I did well on the Psych exam that we got back today. I considered putting it on the refrigerator using my Carli magnet, but I didn’t want to be obnoxious. Also, it wasn’t that good.

Further good news: while the first draft of my German Aufsatz (essay) turned out pretty crappy, I think the revision is significantly improved. It might be acceptable to put that on the fridge since my roommates wouldn’t understand the comments.

So I think college is kind of hard, but not too bad if I keep up and take things seriously. In other words, if I write papers before the early early morning of their due date.

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Did you notice that the title is in reverse order from the content of this post?

Tonight I decorated two breast cupcakes as part of a cancer awareness activity. I do go to a women’s college, you know.

There might be another update of more substance soon, when I get in the mood to write one.

Last night I met with friends after studying to decide what we might do for entertainment. We settled on walking around and exploring, especially since the closest Julia had gotten that day to outside was going down to the basement.

We took some photos.

Here’s a creepy one that looks a bit like the apocalypse:

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I finished and submitted an article for the bulletin at 5:30 pm today; it was due at 6 pm, so that was pretty close. It only took so long because I put off talking to people. I’m too shy to be a journalist, I think. Anyway, the issue should come out Sept. 21 and they publish new issues every week after that. I think I’ll send it home to my parents as a surprise, assuming there isn’t something terribly wrong with my article to keep it from publication.

I’ve been feeling strange about school and classes so far, like I’m not really prepared. I think I forgot how to write and analyze, not to mention the deterioration of my German. But it’s only been 3 days of classes, so I have time to settle in, I guess. Perhaps not settle so much as work harder.

Today I participated in Barnard’s First Year Reach Out (FYRO) program. I was with about twenty other girls who helped out with a “farmer’s market” in the South Bronx.

Going into it, I was like, “Yay, farmer’s market. I love fruit!” City Harvest actually “rescues” food left over from restaurants, caterers, and other markets and distributes it in areas that need the fresh produce. Of course, in certain urban areas residents have trouble eating well because fresh food is less accessible and more expensive and, I suppose, sometimes they don’t realize the benefits. City Harvest contributes to a greater initiative toward helping communities change themselves in appropriate ways, whether that means more nutrition education or opening new grocery stores.

That was the basic idea I was imagining, but the actual experience did not quite fit what I’d pictured. There were three developments surrounding a NYC Housing Authority parking lot that served as the location for the market, which today was distributing bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, red peppers, and bagged salad. The residents are pre-registered for a certain amount of food; they shop for produce at each table and then volunteers weigh the amount and check off the residents’ cards.

Risa and I started off working at salad, which seemed cleanest and easiest–it was just, “Good morning!” “Two bags [smile]!” “Have a great day!” Then we transfered to the red pepper table because they needed help. And, yes, they really did need help. At the red pepper table I lost all illusions of a quaint market where farmers sold their rosy, locally-grown apples and so forth. Half of these peppers were rotting. Not, like, kind of bruised and oh I’ll just cut off this side and it’s all right. Rotting as in mushy, dripping liquid, and displaying strange white puss like I’ve never seen on produce before. Luckily, we had gloves (my hands still smell like latex, though). We volunteers tried to sort through and get out the gross ones and put up new, fresh boxes as often as possible so the residents didn’t get frustrated with them.

Does this sound awful? It was actually a good time, overall, if not what I’d expected. I don’t mean to say that all the food had gone bad; there were plenty of good fruit and vegetables, but I think this load of peppers was particularly bad. The tomatoes looked appealing, and they were the ripe on the vine kind. The residents were very kind and friendly and appreciated the good peppers that did turn up. We talked about what they were going to do with all those peppers; some were allotted 8 or 10 pounds. Sometimes kids who couldn’t even see into the boxes showed up, and I liked to help them find the good ones. It’s something I’d be interested in doing again, and most other people I talked to said the same thing. Eventually they’ll phase out the market in that area, hopefully having made an impact of helping the community educate itself and become healthier.

This is a photo taken from the doorway on move in day (hence the handtruck and bareness).

My desk collected most of this stuff the first day I moved in, but this photo was taken more recently.

A collection of assorted friends and family members.

We like the magnetic poetry on the refrigerator.

I’m in New York City and at Barnard now. I arrived Monday for move-in day and this week has been filled to varying degrees with orientation activites and other social things. I’d like to get into all the interesting details and stories here if I can since it’s hard to tell everyone over and over! I want to post photos, too, but unfortunately Columbia or Barnard or I don’t know what is making it very difficult for my ftp connection to work. When I get that figured out, there will be photos and, soon, a new theme.

The week started off a little uncertain because I talked to a lot of people but I didn’t really feel like I was meeting anyone. I wanted to just hang out with Ricky and Ally and not worry about making new friends, but I didn’t want to miss some great opportunity here, either. Both times we’ve heard Anna Quindlen (Barnard alumna, novelist, journalist) speak she told us her first year felt only mediocre, and it wasn’t till after that that she settled in. So I suppose that’s all right for a while.

Since then, though I’ve gone out and had a nice time with some girls from the floor below. We even interacted with–yes–guys. After that I feel like I can get some of the party and going out life when I want to, but I know it’s there so I don’t have to do it all the time.

On Thursday I went to some required (but not attended by most) play of contrived scenes about first year issues like alcohol and roommates. It was mostly ridiculous, but I met a girl from Queens and afterwards we walked really fast down Broadway and talked and found out we have a lot in common. Both of us were feeling uncertain about meeting good friends, but we actually got along very well together. Recently I’ve met some other great people through her.

I don’t think there was anything I started doing differently to meet people. I guess it just happens eventually.

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I’m mostly settled on my classes now. I only have four–Psych, Anthropology, German, First-year seminar. I might add a 1 credit “Introduction to the Social Sciences” class, which is just a lecture and discussion on Wednesday nights. Tuesday they’ll begin! I’ll start off with German and my seminar that day.

I’m getting involved in other groups and activities, too. I’m thinking of joining the bulletin, even if only as a copy editor for now. I’ll also be doing some community things, like volunteering at a farmer’s market next Saturday. I might babysit sometimes for extra money and perhaps take a non-credit class at the fitness center like yoga since I don’t have PE till spring.

And now, I’m doing laundry.

Mike has helpfully set me up with this Wordpress thing, so once I figure out how to use it properly and conjure up some fascinating topic to discuss, we’ll have something interesting here. And, in time, maybe even useful.

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