Tuesday, October 25, 2005
where are you guys?
Hello...please don't leave me out alone on this blog. You're part of this circle, make yourselves known- komeleon
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
And the fortune teller said...
So Taylor (fellow isrc resident) posted the following fortune on my door, we actually taped it up together...it's in the blank circle on my door...the rest of the circle are filled with globes that symbolize other people's worlds...For exampls, Columbus' World has a compass, Elvis' World has a vinyl record, Armstrong's World (the astronaut) has a moon, and there was one world left that had nothing in it, but now the space is filled with the following message: Lucky #'s 05, 13, 16, 20, 27, 29 and says, "You may attend a party where strange customs prevail" Haha...although Taylor found the fortune, she gave it to me...this was following a discussion in which I told her I wanted to have a feast on a frozen lake in the dead of winter in which everyone attended in their winter garb, I think the image is precious. I am in a giddy mood at the moment; I just came back from my first capoeria class (Brazilian African dance fighting), it was amazing...I love it to bits, if any of you get a chance, please join, it's a lot of fun. I know the Yiran, Dena and Debbie are already on that bandwagon. In other news, I have to now write a paper and study for a midterm, so later alligators, Love Komi.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Headed to Geneva
Bonjour tout le monde -
Like Michelle, I don't generally go in for the mass email approach, but I figured this was a little different. I've just finished a four-week "orientation period" in Aix-en-Provence and am getting ready to leave for Geneva tomorrow to start the l'annee scolaire. It's been nice here, and being surrounded by fifteen some-odd girls has worked out well so far. The program is through Smith college, so it's me, Shannon, a couple of other girls from other universities, and a mix of "Flag-burners and trannies" (their words, not mine - sort of).
Classes here meant four days a week learning French grammar and culture, and alternating afternoons with a little seminar on the European Union and what they've been up to for the past few years - given by a rigid but smart French lady dubbed "La Petite" when she can't hear - as well as a litterature class where we studied a book by a local author, Jean Giono. Quite a change of pace from Chemistry and a Comp. Lit./film class this summer.
I don't quite know exactly where everyone is or when the weather changes there, so my apologies in advance if I piss anyone off when I say it's been warm here for just about the whole month. Not warm with a lot of wind or hot in the day and freezing at night, just warm/hot/whatever. We had half a week of hard rain and that's it. I can't say much more in particular since they tell me it's ten degrees when I wake up and twenty-three in the afternoon, and I say, that's nice. But despite having to do a conversion every time a look at the forecast, no complaints so far.
Winter's going to be another story, but Geneva really looks like a great city. We landed there the first day and spent the night before coming to Provence. I got the chance to walk around some and see the building where I'll be living. Lot of old buildings, lot of flags, and a big fountain on the side - what more could you ask for? And I move in to the Centre Protestante - only not necessarily for Protestants - on Sunday. I'll be living with six other students - typically the international crowd ends up there since the students from the area live at home - with my own box to sleep in and a communal living area/kitchen/bathroom?
Got to mention my host family here too. I've been living with a retired Catholic mother who raised four boys and a girl in large part by herself and now rents the empty rooms out to students. So also wondering around the house have been a Swedish girl studying the language here, and two students who attend the Sciences Economiques faculty here - one from Ghana and another French. Nightly activities have ranged from cooing at the hedgehog that wonders around the fence or watching goofy French comics to impersonations - good or bad I don't really know yet - of goofy French figures, on the tele.
French politics hit home the other day too. The peuple decided to faire un greve (go on strike), and I had to walk around everywhere until they decided to stop. Not really a big inconvenience for me, but apparently no one hear likes the wave of privatisation and capitalism thats rocking their world at the moment.
Now it's off to the land of chocolate and watches, where everything opens and closes on time I hear. Hope everyone's going fine for everyone, and I'll try to keep this blogging somewhat regular in Geneva.
A bientot,
Rob
Like Michelle, I don't generally go in for the mass email approach, but I figured this was a little different. I've just finished a four-week "orientation period" in Aix-en-Provence and am getting ready to leave for Geneva tomorrow to start the l'annee scolaire. It's been nice here, and being surrounded by fifteen some-odd girls has worked out well so far. The program is through Smith college, so it's me, Shannon, a couple of other girls from other universities, and a mix of "Flag-burners and trannies" (their words, not mine - sort of).
Classes here meant four days a week learning French grammar and culture, and alternating afternoons with a little seminar on the European Union and what they've been up to for the past few years - given by a rigid but smart French lady dubbed "La Petite" when she can't hear - as well as a litterature class where we studied a book by a local author, Jean Giono. Quite a change of pace from Chemistry and a Comp. Lit./film class this summer.
I don't quite know exactly where everyone is or when the weather changes there, so my apologies in advance if I piss anyone off when I say it's been warm here for just about the whole month. Not warm with a lot of wind or hot in the day and freezing at night, just warm/hot/whatever. We had half a week of hard rain and that's it. I can't say much more in particular since they tell me it's ten degrees when I wake up and twenty-three in the afternoon, and I say, that's nice. But despite having to do a conversion every time a look at the forecast, no complaints so far.
Winter's going to be another story, but Geneva really looks like a great city. We landed there the first day and spent the night before coming to Provence. I got the chance to walk around some and see the building where I'll be living. Lot of old buildings, lot of flags, and a big fountain on the side - what more could you ask for? And I move in to the Centre Protestante - only not necessarily for Protestants - on Sunday. I'll be living with six other students - typically the international crowd ends up there since the students from the area live at home - with my own box to sleep in and a communal living area/kitchen/bathroom?
Got to mention my host family here too. I've been living with a retired Catholic mother who raised four boys and a girl in large part by herself and now rents the empty rooms out to students. So also wondering around the house have been a Swedish girl studying the language here, and two students who attend the Sciences Economiques faculty here - one from Ghana and another French. Nightly activities have ranged from cooing at the hedgehog that wonders around the fence or watching goofy French comics to impersonations - good or bad I don't really know yet - of goofy French figures, on the tele.
French politics hit home the other day too. The peuple decided to faire un greve (go on strike), and I had to walk around everywhere until they decided to stop. Not really a big inconvenience for me, but apparently no one hear likes the wave of privatisation and capitalism thats rocking their world at the moment.
Now it's off to the land of chocolate and watches, where everything opens and closes on time I hear. Hope everyone's going fine for everyone, and I'll try to keep this blogging somewhat regular in Geneva.
A bientot,
Rob
Friday, October 07, 2005
Calling all aboard!
Alrite you guys, we are not doing so good at this group bloggin as a team...we need to step it up a notch. I decided to update you all on what is happening in terms of our friends.
Debbie: our blog founder, is in Italy. So far she has visited Venice, Rome and she has some fabulous pics. Always the photographer, we all should look forward to some beautiful pics from Italia. Ya...she will be starting classes in October, I believe and is living with a fellow Los Angeles girl with the T-schini family. We spoke last Thursday by phone at 3 am in the morning...Debbie it meant a lot to me...i miss you neighbor.
Brian: a pillar of strength, sometimes I don't think Brian realizes how appreciated he is. Karen and I would like to tell you that you are the bomb and one of the best people to be friends with. So Brian is living up North, on Noyes and I recently was near his apartment visiting the gelato shop that just opened in Evanston. Brian was a trooper and came with Julia, me and this freshman living in ISRC named Taylor, to the new gelato shop where between the four of us we had 4 different gelato flavored ice creams: Swiss White Chocolate, Apple Berry, Pumpkin and Cinnamon. It's something you guys can look forward to on your return to Chicago. He helped fix my computer so that I can communicate via internet from my room...a savior. Sometimes we will reminisce just a little about the times.
Rob butler delaney: world traveler meets the swiss abyss: Yes folks, I have not heard much from Rob yet, but here's what he has to offer. He was in Provence, France until October 6th after which point he worked his way to Geneva, Switzerland. He started his journey with an orientation and took some language courses, lit courses and a European history course. His company: Smith college girls. We'll await future developments from Rob. He has promised to post on the blog. I'll keep bugging him about it.
Yiran Liu: artiste, ocean walker. From Chicago to China to DC to England, our friend has been hopping planes like no other. Yup, her China trip sounded fabulous, she said she saw some relatives, did some traveling and I believe at one point met a lama (the religious kind I think) who wanted to exchange postcards with her. (yiran correct me if I'm wrong, I was going to ask you to explain in detail this incident, but never had the chance.) Anyhow, she is in London now, living with her "flatmates" (how English!) and looks forward to the dinners with wine she has with them. In other news, she just began her classes/seminars last week...we will await her response.
Michelle Edelman: certified prankster: Michelley has landed on Oxford soil by now. She said she was looking forward to the "odd and interesting traditions." So far, all I know is that she is taking a Victorian Lit class and must wear robes to dinner, How Harry Potterish! Write more Michelley.
Justin Tackett: J-man and I keep missing the boat with each other. I e-mailed, then called, then he called...it's a long game, but as soon as I hear from him I will update all.
Jeffrey Katz: Spoke to the man today after a long time and he updated me on his summer in India. It was filled with many travel experiences, stopping at some of the many picturesque sites that India has to offer. He lived in a youth hostel and worked with a group reporting on Burmese refugees in India. In the future, he may have plans to continue the study abroad experience by perhaps hitting up areas of Latin America...I await details
Karen Chong: Chong Kong and I just had dinner at california pizza kitchen with Audreen last nite. She's doing great and is currently on a retreat in Wisconsin. She'll be back Sunday. Her cultural exchange-type trip to China this summer was fabulous, she had a great time visiting some of the smaller cities in China. Today she helped me make a grilled cheese sandwich in her sandwich maker. It was delicious; it was dinner.
Audreen Louis: Currently living with Karen in Allison, this little one is up to all kinds of things. Now a senior, Audreen spent the morning moving all her art supplies to her newly acquired studio space in Kresge. She helped finish making my grilled cheese sandwich and fed me a chocolate cookie and cucumbers when I visited her and watched her make a desconstruction art piece with black and white photos a friend gave her. It was looking good when I last left.
Allison Bruce: Our Allie is in London right now. She traveled there for the big Harry Potter midnite party although i haven't heard the details. I spent some time with her at Camp Kesem. She finds London fascinating and is overwhelmed by the amount of things to do there. I have to get back to her and then I will write more.
Julia Merryman: Julia, Julia. is the cutest and is my new ISRC neighbor. The lady is very busy and I look forward to getting to know her better this year. She recently was nominated for a post as ASG senator, exciting.
Dena Trugman: Dean Bean. the deanster and I met up randomly at the library. Her trip to South America sounds definitely like it was a winner. She did blog during that time, so you can check out the details of it on her blog. In other news, dean bean is currently working on trying to figure out how to start a capoeira class at Northwestern. Her new roomie's name is dilpreet and she really likes living with her.
ME: Alrite you guys, the hi-lite of me week has been receiving e-mails from some of you guys, thanks for the replies, going to the gelato shop with brian and julia, eating cpk pizza, watching U2 on Conan. We'll have to watch it as a team when you guys get back. They were great you guys, I was screaming in the Allison lounge where I watched the show with Audreen and Clare on my cell phone. I just declared myself a legal studies minor and am currently taking a class on wrongful convictions, it is so interesting. In addition, I am doing some research stuff with a pysch professor and have been planning events for international awareness with Globe. Other than that, I have been putzing around campus, doing random things and have met up with my family a couple times. Also, I have begun a project on forming a bowling team at Northwestern. Oh ya, for Debsta, eric and I have contacted each other, I might be going to his Harvest Feast, if and when he has one...I haven't seen him face-to-face yet, but will definitely give him our present when I do.
Anyone heard from Mariell-O? It might be difficult for her to e-mail and such, i understand.
That's all folks, keep in touch, please post!!!
Love, komi!
Debbie: our blog founder, is in Italy. So far she has visited Venice, Rome and she has some fabulous pics. Always the photographer, we all should look forward to some beautiful pics from Italia. Ya...she will be starting classes in October, I believe and is living with a fellow Los Angeles girl with the T-schini family. We spoke last Thursday by phone at 3 am in the morning...Debbie it meant a lot to me...i miss you neighbor.
Brian: a pillar of strength, sometimes I don't think Brian realizes how appreciated he is. Karen and I would like to tell you that you are the bomb and one of the best people to be friends with. So Brian is living up North, on Noyes and I recently was near his apartment visiting the gelato shop that just opened in Evanston. Brian was a trooper and came with Julia, me and this freshman living in ISRC named Taylor, to the new gelato shop where between the four of us we had 4 different gelato flavored ice creams: Swiss White Chocolate, Apple Berry, Pumpkin and Cinnamon. It's something you guys can look forward to on your return to Chicago. He helped fix my computer so that I can communicate via internet from my room...a savior. Sometimes we will reminisce just a little about the times.
Rob butler delaney: world traveler meets the swiss abyss: Yes folks, I have not heard much from Rob yet, but here's what he has to offer. He was in Provence, France until October 6th after which point he worked his way to Geneva, Switzerland. He started his journey with an orientation and took some language courses, lit courses and a European history course. His company: Smith college girls. We'll await future developments from Rob. He has promised to post on the blog. I'll keep bugging him about it.
Yiran Liu: artiste, ocean walker. From Chicago to China to DC to England, our friend has been hopping planes like no other. Yup, her China trip sounded fabulous, she said she saw some relatives, did some traveling and I believe at one point met a lama (the religious kind I think) who wanted to exchange postcards with her. (yiran correct me if I'm wrong, I was going to ask you to explain in detail this incident, but never had the chance.) Anyhow, she is in London now, living with her "flatmates" (how English!) and looks forward to the dinners with wine she has with them. In other news, she just began her classes/seminars last week...we will await her response.
Michelle Edelman: certified prankster: Michelley has landed on Oxford soil by now. She said she was looking forward to the "odd and interesting traditions." So far, all I know is that she is taking a Victorian Lit class and must wear robes to dinner, How Harry Potterish! Write more Michelley.
Justin Tackett: J-man and I keep missing the boat with each other. I e-mailed, then called, then he called...it's a long game, but as soon as I hear from him I will update all.
Jeffrey Katz: Spoke to the man today after a long time and he updated me on his summer in India. It was filled with many travel experiences, stopping at some of the many picturesque sites that India has to offer. He lived in a youth hostel and worked with a group reporting on Burmese refugees in India. In the future, he may have plans to continue the study abroad experience by perhaps hitting up areas of Latin America...I await details
Karen Chong: Chong Kong and I just had dinner at california pizza kitchen with Audreen last nite. She's doing great and is currently on a retreat in Wisconsin. She'll be back Sunday. Her cultural exchange-type trip to China this summer was fabulous, she had a great time visiting some of the smaller cities in China. Today she helped me make a grilled cheese sandwich in her sandwich maker. It was delicious; it was dinner.
Audreen Louis: Currently living with Karen in Allison, this little one is up to all kinds of things. Now a senior, Audreen spent the morning moving all her art supplies to her newly acquired studio space in Kresge. She helped finish making my grilled cheese sandwich and fed me a chocolate cookie and cucumbers when I visited her and watched her make a desconstruction art piece with black and white photos a friend gave her. It was looking good when I last left.
Allison Bruce: Our Allie is in London right now. She traveled there for the big Harry Potter midnite party although i haven't heard the details. I spent some time with her at Camp Kesem. She finds London fascinating and is overwhelmed by the amount of things to do there. I have to get back to her and then I will write more.
Julia Merryman: Julia, Julia. is the cutest and is my new ISRC neighbor. The lady is very busy and I look forward to getting to know her better this year. She recently was nominated for a post as ASG senator, exciting.
Dena Trugman: Dean Bean. the deanster and I met up randomly at the library. Her trip to South America sounds definitely like it was a winner. She did blog during that time, so you can check out the details of it on her blog. In other news, dean bean is currently working on trying to figure out how to start a capoeira class at Northwestern. Her new roomie's name is dilpreet and she really likes living with her.
ME: Alrite you guys, the hi-lite of me week has been receiving e-mails from some of you guys, thanks for the replies, going to the gelato shop with brian and julia, eating cpk pizza, watching U2 on Conan. We'll have to watch it as a team when you guys get back. They were great you guys, I was screaming in the Allison lounge where I watched the show with Audreen and Clare on my cell phone. I just declared myself a legal studies minor and am currently taking a class on wrongful convictions, it is so interesting. In addition, I am doing some research stuff with a pysch professor and have been planning events for international awareness with Globe. Other than that, I have been putzing around campus, doing random things and have met up with my family a couple times. Also, I have begun a project on forming a bowling team at Northwestern. Oh ya, for Debsta, eric and I have contacted each other, I might be going to his Harvest Feast, if and when he has one...I haven't seen him face-to-face yet, but will definitely give him our present when I do.
Anyone heard from Mariell-O? It might be difficult for her to e-mail and such, i understand.
That's all folks, keep in touch, please post!!!
Love, komi!
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