Giving Thanks…for the Harvest Dinner

You might as well rename the Harvest Dinner  “the pre-Thanksgiving meal before Thanksgiving”.  This is one event that occurs before the break each year, as the Bates Dining Staff work hard to ensure the success of all of its efforts. Not only is a bounty of Thanksgiving-appropriate foods served (such as chowder, lobster-stuffed haddock, cranberry sauce, cheese & crackers, turkey, stuffing, and roast beef), but a cornucopia of desserts, cider, photo booths, and activities filled throughout the rest of the night.

Horses lined up for a strut around campus in the sunset.

Mouthwatering morsels featured from the Harvest Dinner menu.

And if that weren’t enough on your plate, there’s also the Fashion Trashion show, an environmental version of a typical haut couture fashion runway show- usually featuring outfits constructed from recycled materials such as cardboard and garbage bags. (Here’s a look at last year’s winner: http://www.bates.edu/x187289.xml)

Also lined up is the concert a-cappella group Merimanders will be throwing (A few “notes” to take about this group: http://abacus.bates.edu/people/orgs/merimanders/).

In addition to feeding the entire Bates population, the Harvest Dinner is also open to the public. With the exception of the search for free seats and long waiting lines for food, I honestly have to give kudos to the Dining Staff’s joint efforts for piecing all this together. To me, the Harvest Dinner is more than a special occasion thrown by Commons or spiritual culinary celebration, but in the true spirit of Thanksgiving: it’s about being grateful for the close-knit family of friends with whom we’ve gotten to share the Bates experience- of the ultimate four years of our lives.

I’ll leave you to digest all this.

International Coffee House

Last evening was a slew of breath-taking, mind-blowing talent show hosted by the International Club. It truly was a range of variety. Performances included karaoke, Japanese taiko drumming, hilarious songs written by innovative student songwriters, room-shaking Bollywood dances choreographed by students, bold a-cappella singers, and a series of dances showcasing the Latin, Balkan, French hip-hop, and Japanese cultures. To top it off, the MC’s were just as energetic to kindle the night.

Here were a few highlights of the evening:

The Taiko Club performs a complex piece involving extreme hand-eye coordination; they made it seem effortless, as usual.

Bollywood dancers performing their own choreography.

A-cappella group "Northfield" sings a folk tune.

It always frazzles me how often International Coffee House draws in such a diverse crowd. Not only is it an event exclusive to Batesies, but the local community as well. What sets it apart from any other performance of artistic, creative expression here at Bates is that it incorporates and unites students across all different perspectives, backgrounds, and communities to come together to see a melting pot of an interconnected global celebration to unite multiculturalism.

Gaga for Ga-Ga

No, this has nothing to do with pop icon Lady Gaga- but the popular dodgeball game played in Israel. Ga-ga is typically played within an octagonal enclosure or in any wall-surrounded space with a single ball.The mission is to eliminate players by hitting a ball with an open hand into the region below your opponent’s knees. If you succeed, then the person hit is then out.  Touching the ball after it bounces or hits you, or hitting the ball out of bounds leads to elimination.   Any player who commits an act of aggression against his or her opponent, such as pushing or hitting with the ball results in disqualification. However, other versions of ga-ga may use multiple balls, which increases player difficulty as well as chaos galore.

If you’re still trying to envision how Ga-Ga is played, then here’s a tidbit of it in action:

This event is being sponsored by Bates Hillel, a club at Bates that serves to inform Bates about the Jewish culture. (Here’s a more in-depth view on what Hillel does: http://www.wix.com/paseksoccer/hillel)

Game on!

 

We are Family: I’ve Got all my [Sociologists] With Me.

I’d like to forewarn you that what I’m about to write may be on the verge of a love letter, so bear with me. One of the greatest characteristics of attending Bates is that in most humanity-related majors, the classes are small- and therefore more intimate. Not only do you have the opportunity to know your professor inside and out, but you develop a strong bond with your classmates- especially if you take concentration of classes in a certain subject, you’re bound to see the same faces more than a few occasions every semester.

As a sociology minor, I certainly feel the kindred spirit with my fellow sociologists. Maybe it’s just a sociology quirk. (it’s amazing how many jokes can be cracked about societal cohesion..but ah, I digress.) Above all, however, it’s definitely the desire we all share as students to act as leaders to implement social change in the world. Many sociology classes at Bates require “service-learning projects“, which functions like required community service and involves much spending of time collaborating with the local community.From a personal perspective, I’ve always considered volunteering as both a significant part of my life and responsibility to “giving back” to what society has given me. (Most of the time, we work with the Harward Center that establishes opportunities to help out at the soup kitchens, with Somalian youth, gardens, and many more! Click here to find out more on what the Harward Center does: http://www.bates.edu/harward-center.xml) I believe community service strengthens the relationship between you and your community, empowers others, and reveals something about yourself that you’ve never previously discovered.

Our sociology seminar is divided up into 4 groups (one is working with local emergency food providers to analyze community food assessment, another with youth development, the third with local community centers to explore facilitation methods of Internet access to the disadvantaged, and my group is currently collaborating with the organization “College for Maine- Androscoggin” [http://collegeformeandroscoggin.org/] to investigate the low rate of college graduation and what factors affect this phenomenon).

I’d always thought that I’d been sufficiently immersed in the college community. However, it was only after coming to Bates (and especially choosing Sociology as an academic path) that I realized that I identified myself as only a Batesie and not one of the Lewiston(where Bates is located) community. I had thereby contradicted myself by striving for the word “community” yet didn’t grasp the meaning fully. In conclusion, however, I hope to redeem myself through learning more about the Lewiston community and through working with the residents, mature as an individual as well.

(Here is a short film, produced by a Bates graduate, we watched in class that highlights the many accomplishments of the local community fighting for their rights. All I can say is: “Bravo.”: http://www.roundpointmovies.org/roundpointmovies/trailer.html)

Thus concludes my ode to sociology and sociologists (and to Bates for bringing to light this  profoundly sentimental confession).

Love,

Voracious Bobcat

It’s Not Easy Being Green.

It’s a well-established fact that Bates is one of the top 15 “green-est” colleges in the country. (Check out where we rank, according to the Princeton Review: http://www.princetonreview.com/green-honor-roll.aspx)

You’ve probably seen the video of the impromptu dance performed by our Bates environmental activists, in support of the 350 cause, from a few weeks ago (Here it is, if you’ve missed it, or just want to watch the awesome-ness of it again!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_cjmt0EA-o&feature=player_embedded)

For those wondering what 350 stands for, it is the standard safe upper limit for the concentrated amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As our planet is continuously being affected by the crisis of global warming due to burning of fossil fuels, the threat of environmental chaos looms just above the horizon; in fact, we face extinction if we exceed 350.

As a result, the 350 campaign was launched with the aim of reducing our carbon dioxide limits in order to stabilize our planet to get it back on track. With the help of Batesies collaborating with the local Lewiston-Auburn community to promote advocacy of this campaign- with a cyclist parade as well as other action projects. As one brave Batesie has founded a project code-named “Bird’s Eye View”, others around the world will create artwork mainly from recycled materials from October 24th throughout December. (Read more about it here: http://home.bates.edu/views/2009/10/21/350-climate/).

Before 350, I had never been aware of this issue. I admit, although I do attempt to recycle, I am not as environmentally-conscious as I’d like to be. However, I know that I’m not the only one. When you ask someone their greatest worry of concern on their minds, “environment” is hardly a word that ever comes up immediately.

An art exhibit was also created in Commons to showcase and document the efforts of Batesies for 350. Here are some great photographs:

I hope that after seeing the last picture, it’s spurred you enough to visit http://www.350.org/ for more information about this sweet, savory initiative.

Fun in Our Own Backyard

Remember the days when you were young- when every autumn you’d wait patiently for enough fallen foliage to collect in your backyard, rake them up, then off to dive into a sea of colorful, crunchy, and cushy leaves?

Well, Bates is still a kid at heart sometimes; the campus organizes an annual event called “Leaf Jump” where eager Batesies volunteer hours raking the campus. Compared to your average lawn, envision this at least three times more high, deep, and exhilarating. Dozens of students lined up to take their chance to charge..and jump into this campus backyard of fun!

Get ready, set, go!

Brace yourself for the landing!

The final product: Utter satisfaction.

Not only do we have the chance to relive our golden experiences as youth, but the bond as Batesies- and as fellow jumpers, this event truly consolidates the autumn spirit of a well-spent fall semester.

A Scoop of Bates, with A Cherry on Top

Life at Bates is pretty fresh, sweet, and chockful of sugary (and nutty, in a good sense) moments that caramelize in and permanently stick to your memory . We’ve got not just one, no, but mountain loads of cherries on top. As our school is notorious for sustainability in its maintaining local resources  (read more here for what a Batesie did with our yogurt cup lids: http://www.bates.edu/x202873.xml), it’s crucial that we  actively collaborate with our community in Lewiston.

And so- this just in- GELATO IS NOW IN STORE. As if that weren’t enough in addition to our unlimited options of food. Through partnership with local Brunswick company “The Gelato Fiasco”, gelato flavors are now available at Milts to be sold and sampled. This brand’s gelato is not only produced organically:

“made with natural Maine milk and cane sugar; no corn syrup” (http://www.gelatofiasco.com/about-our-gelato/)

As Maine is not only known for spectacular lobster and natural scenery, its blueberries are a decadent reward to all senses.

Fresh fruits are also thrown in as a kick for flavor into the gelato.

For more information, visit: http://www.gelatofiasco.com/locations/bates/

The website of “The Gelato Fiasco”  beckons:

“Hey Batesies. Life just got a little more delicious.”

In addition to the already scrumptious Bobcat-flavored experience, sprinkled with delectable courses, students, and events? Deliciously gross understatement.

October Break: Touchdown!

October break usually occurs around the last week of the month. It’s short, but playing catch-up with work, friends, and rest have been well-needed! Not much has occurred, as the recess only lasts for 3 days. However, I happened to also catch a a football game that lasted throughout the rainy afternoon yesterday.

Bates Bobcats in maroon engaged in a showdown. *Courtesy of Daryn Slover, 2006.*

Despite the showers, it was quite entertaining with the presence of local residents showing up to rally for the teams. I felt as though I’d been caught in the middle of the live action you’d see on the news, with the little Lewiston kids as the sportscasters instead- roaring and rooting in excitement.

Unfortunately, we lost (read more about it in detail here: http://www.bates.edu/football.xml. )

School will be back in session tomorrow, as I highly expect the pace to pick back up soon!

Team Bobcats Embark on the Breast Cancer Walk 2009 in Portland!

Breast Cancer Walk in Portland, Maine; October 18th, 2009.

As a daughter living with a mother who has been diagnosed with breast cancer for 3 years, I’ve always wanted to participate in the walk for breast cancer. However, I’ve never found the time to. This year despite the mountainload of work I’ve been assigned,  a 10-page paper due in a few days (eek!), and a minor sprained right ankle, I decided to join my fellow Bobcats in helping walk 3 miles to raise money for research that I hope will one day ultimately cure this life-consuming illness.

Although the forecast predicted a 90% chance of rain, fortunately it didn’t. We were each decked out in 4-7 layers, as it was 37 degrees (Fahrenheit). As you may recall, if you’ve read my previous blog about Maine weather (http://vforvoraciousbobcat.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/maine-weather/), the cold gets pretty nippy. In fact, word on the street is that it’s going to snow very soon (but as a Batesie who sees snow almost 3/4 of my time here, it’s no longer a surprise).

Regardless, the cold would have  dampened the spirit, but rather no one seemed to mind. It was pink everywhere: People sported pink fairy wings and pink headbands (with sprouting metal-like antennae; I was unsuccessful in finding one- as they had all run out). I think this individual won the award of Best Dressed:

A dad with a stroller on the walk for breast cancer.

Not only was I surrounded by uplifting fellow participants, but I also got the chance to enjoy the natural scenery as we sauntered down the coastline:

Casco Bay: Along the 2-mile mark.

As this was my first walk, I have no regrets about this experience. As a Batesie, this was definitely a team-bonding moment, as we all got the opportunity to share our family history, thoughts on Bates professors and classes, and skills on how to read map directions of getting there. To me personally, it was kind of a “re-enacting Mother’s Day moment” as I hope I can emotionally support not only my mother but to all those fighting the same battle.

Go Team Bates Bobcats!

We walked in 3 miles in 1 hour. Now there’s a Kodak moment I will never forget.

Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival & MoonCakes

As event coordinator of “Sangai Asia”, one of the cultural clubs here on the Bates campus, we decided to kick off the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival by offering mooncakes to the public. The Mid-Autumn Festival is widely celebrated throughout Asia annually- in Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China. It marks the rising of a full moon, and commemorates moon worship and moon watching.It’s kind of like the equivalent of Groundhog Day.

Chang'E: Goddess of the Moon

The figure above in the picture is Chang’E, the mythical Moon Goddess of Immortality. According to ancient Chinese custom, the Chinese emperor offered sacrifices to the sun in spring and the moon in autumn.

A mooncake.

Traditionally, “mooncakes” are eaten during the festival. Typical mooncakes are sweet round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4-5 cm thick. A thick filling usually made from lotus seed paste is surrounded by a relatively thin crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs.

Did you know? Mooncakes were used as a medium by the Ming revolutionaries in their espionage effort to secretly distribute letters in order to overthrow the Mongolian revolutionaries of China in the Yuan dynasty. Another method of hiding the message was printed in the surface of mooncakes as a simple puzzle or mosaic. In order to read the encrypted message, each of the four mooncakes packaged together were cut into 4 parts each. The 16 pieces of mooncake were then pieced together in such a fashion that the secret messages can be read. The best part: The pieces of mooncake were then eaten to destroy the message.

With the influx of curious Batesies brave enough to venture to try a slice of mooncake and the fragrance of dumplings galore, the food vanished within an hour.

I can safely affirm that without the presence of cultural clubs here, the immersion of cultural exploration wouldn’t be possible. And so: