Don’t Waste New Precious Time; We’ll Dance Inside…

this song..because

there hasn’t been a dull beat or a dance concert I’ve missed here at Bates. This Parents Weekend, I thought I’d be the third wheel along for the ride. Instead, the day proved me entirely wrong. I had initially decided to spend this time staying in, seeing as I was an orphan for the weekend. And yet again, I found myself drifting with the current of parents who temporarily adopted me as one of their own.

The highlight was most definitely the Parents Weekend Dance Concert. A parent courteously allowed me to skip him in line while anxiously awaiting to enter the theater; apparently he had overheard my excitement for the impending student and resident artist-choreographed performances of a variety of genres- step, modern, jazz, hip hop, ballroom, and Bollywood.  Here are a few clips:

After, the throng of bobcats swayed me to catch the football game on the newly renovated Garcelon Field.Unfortunately, I left before they lost to Williams- heading over to the Bates College Chapel for Navratri, a Hindu holiday, to practice some Buddhist meditation and chanting.

Needless to say, it was the longest study break that I’ve taken. I wouldn’t generally categorize myself as a procrastinator, but I’d have to say I’m glad I threw the rulebook out the window today. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have run into acquaintances and professors I haven’t seen lately, friendly strangers, or even my custodian freshman year (who still remembers my name!) I’m reminded that I will never be alone  or even homesick- because this is where I belong.

A Bobcat’s City “Tail”: Commencement

It’s hard to believe that the month of June has already commenced, as well as the bobcats of 2010 have begun as well in the next chapter of their lives. However, that doesn’t mean that the book’s closed yet. Having mentioned in my previous entry, it’s been a joy reconnecting here in the city with alumni, present fellow acquaintances, and classmates I haven’t seen who have recently  returned from their semester-long study abroad. I find it extremely thrilling when I am stopped by a complete stranger who’s noticed my Bates apparel. As I’ve reiterated before, I am missing “home” in Maine more by the day (who knew? The idea of a New Yorker longing for Maine sounds preposterous, but it goes to show the extent of my own transformation through Bates) Of course, besides the campus life, it’s also mainly because the weather there is comparably breezier and less humid. I surprise myself even now when I think of Bates even more than the apartment I  moved out of after having resided there more than 10 years! In fact, I am marking down the calendar until I set foot onto that familiar grassy terrain and of course…Commons.

In addition to commencing research for my thesis, I recently participated in the Tour de Brooklyn, an annual eighteen-mile bike tour throughout the borough. Fortunately, I survived.  Here are pictures from previous years of the event:

Tour de Brooklyn welcomes all and restricts none, from family fun to athlete training.

A long but worth-it train ride with other avid bikers

The roads certainly looked alien, as the road traffic this time was strewn with bikes and not the usual yellow cabs.  Hopefully from a bobcat’s vision, this will be the “commencement” of a concrete path to a more eco-friendly future.

Haiti Update from Bates

This is just a brief catchup on the Haiti disaster.

As you may have seen or heard on the news, Haiti was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on January 13th, 2010, resulting in serious loss of buildings and lives. The effects of the catastrophe weren’t just felt by the people there, but on a worldwide scale- as the presence of its aftermath is felt here at Bates as well. As a number of Batesies have family or acquaintances there, it’s clear that we’ve all been affected in some way. (As a New Yorker who was displaced for a month during 9/11, I sincerely empathize with those who have been impacted in these circumstances)

Students have started rallying for donations and for other aid to help ameliorate the situation abroad. There will also be a chapel service held tonight, Sunday, January 17th at 7 PM, in honor of the victims.

Some images from the tragedy in Haiti, if you’re interested:http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/01/13/world/20100113-HAITIQUAKE_index.html

All the best for a speedy recovery and hope to do all that we can.

-V