Got Milk? (For creative juices that have stopped flowing, that is.)

July 27th was a Wednesday.

At the end of a workday, a bobcat walked to Barnes and Noble’s (which reminds me-I’ll miss my childhood spent at Borders), and met up with a few other Batesies at one of her favorite culinary spots in Chelsea. They took the 6 up to Central Park to see Imelda May in action:

In the time we bobcats roamed last night, we discussed our professional goals (real world talk…). In the never-ending quest to “search for ourselves” as we get older, I now have many young bobcats asking me for career advice. For the ones who haven’t decided yet, I first show them this video:

Then, I remind them that’s what the BCDC‘s for, but I’m afraid I can only offer a simple solution: you have to love what you do. Just as you want a brand or person to be ‘authentic’, only can you be the best at your job. Ever since the age of 9, I knew I always wanted to write ( I’ll probably post a story or two from my early pre-adolescent phase, if I rack up the guts to), analyze something (warning: I am the worst person to see a movie with), and simply, hang around people .

The only advice I give, however, is to really check for cover letter typos (especially when listening to a ’90s party anthem you haven’t heard in a long time). Because there’s nothing more embarrassing than:

“I can be reached at *insert phone # here*. “

and writing instead:

“I can be breached at *insert phone # here*.”

Oh, privacy issues these days….Speaking of which, like many others, I’ve developed a slight obsession with Google-  from Facebook to Google+, and Firefox to Google Chrome (that said: move over, Jersey Shore, because Commercial Kings is in).  Maybe it’s a sign, but the whole world is googling (well, probably except China).

July 27th was a Wednesday. 

At the end of a workday, a bobcat’s story concluded happily.

Wafels & Dinges: We finally meet!

Make ‘em Go “Oh, oh, oh!”, as you Shoot Across the Sky-y-y

Clearly my first post-grad post ( I’m On the Right Track baby, I Was Born this Way ) got me a little too hyped. Instead of going places, I’ve managed to trip first (but baby steps first, right?). It’s only been a little more than a month since graduation, and I’m recovering from a terribly sprained foot  due to a morning run around the neighborhood.

The summer simmers from the heat of the city concrete sidewalks. I’m still familiarizing myself with the new area (above all, the blast of  Hindi pop from speeding car stereos. In my lifetime, it’s been mostly Eurodance, rap, and  country). Yet, there’s still that “Mainer” part of me that whispers ‘home’- evidently, I know this, because apparently my fast-paced strut has slowed to a stroll (there’s nothing more offensive than being mistaken for a tourist, especially for a New Yorker).  If anything, Maine has definitely sharpened my senses for taking the time to note the little details: license plates have yellowed, and I can’t spend the day in libraries anymore.

So how have I been passing the time- besides vegging out to this campaign, watching the Webby Awards (I admit, the only awards show I’ve sat through entirely), and salivating creative juices from this Cannes Lions event (basically, geeking out on the Internet)? Paradoxically, I’ve been out more- like exploring the new Highline and meeting strangers, teaching myself Korean, and learning real estate terms (...real world stuff). And I’ve also developed a plan that may sound a little out of tune: I’m going to take every train from beginning to end, and I’ve invited a few bobcats for the (probably 2-day long) ride.

Hope everyone enjoys the fireworks (I know I will, from my rooftop!), and the food as well. Anyway, please excuse the cliche of this post’s title, but doesn’t the long weekend make everyone  “feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again“?

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine:
Just own the night like the 4th of July.

I’m On the Right Track baby, I Was Born this Way

It’s surreal. I keep catching myself thinking when I’ll have to book my Greyhound tickets and going wait, I won’t be back (anytime soon). Or standing in the corner trying to see if I have cell phone reception and reminding myself that I’m back in the city. Or taking the shuttle every week to Walmart to pick up groceries.

It’s the little things, those “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore” moments that keep replaying in my head. Today even without an alarm, I  woke up at 7 and began to instinctively plan my day around the gym (Merrill, I’ll miss you!). Then at breakfast, I silently and mentally commemorated Commons- especially those meals that were intended to be quick ones, but which ended up lasting for two hours due to the incredible distractions of food and people.

Congratulations!

“Today is your day!”

"You're off to great places!"

“You’re off and away!”

“You have brains in your head.”

“You have feet in your shoes.”

“You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”

“You’re on your own. And you know what you know.”

“And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

Maybe it sounds cliched (and Dr. Seuss’ inspirational lines too), but I’m thankful for leaving Bates a different individual: I’ve grown.a pair of spontaneous wings (back-ups in case I need to deal with last minute changes) that have taught me to live more in the moment. I’ve learned to not dwell on the past and to move on. I’ve reverse-evolved from a night owl to an early bird. I’ve developed new interests that I’ve either picked up or abandoned- Professional dancing? Working in fashion? Advertising? Writing for a magazine? Culinary school? Who knows?!

Yet, I think the only thing that hasn’t changed is that restlessness- I still haven’t felt that I’ve taken enough advantage of all the opportunities Bates has (had) to offer. If anything, graduating from Bates has recharged me even more. It’s left me ridiculously super-energized, especially when I start working (and plan to volunteer on the weekends!)

And as I sit in my new apartment single typing this sort-of last will & testament, I can say that Bates has truly killed my fear of flying- whatever I was unsure of before I came here has taught me to build my confidence diving into the unknown. So thank you-to my classmates and professors: for sharing your paths with mine; to my work supervisors: for the kindness and advice you’ve passed to me (and for those gifts!); finally, to Bates, if you were a person, you’d be like the Megazord from the Power Rangers who come together in the ultimate big bang of flavors that do all things unimaginable to the tongue- dance, blanch, julienne, suspend- all to no end.

I’ve left the den. And I hope I can be able to guide those waiting in line. But for now: Oh, the places we’ll go!
(Fun note for those who ever instinctively dissected graduation speeches)

Yours truly,

V for Voracious Bobcat

I’ve got a Golden Ticket!

[Long overdue post] Last week was my final Gala at Bates!

Upon the sight of faculty, current seniors, lower-classmates, and a few grads who stopped by certainly stirred up quite a bit of nostalgia. This year’s theme was Willy Wonka, where everyone received golden tickets to potentially win a prize. Although I went home empty-handed, who isn’t to say that I returned with a handful of memories for souvenirs?

Fondly,

V for Voracious Bobcat

When Life Gives you Footballs, Punt Away!

If you’re trying to grab a TV somewhere, anywhere on campus tonight, good luck with the search. Here, Batesies are big on football (the biggest turnout is at this sport, when literally the majority of the town literally camp out and set up tent to watch our teams play).

I’m more of a baseball fan (I won’t mention which team, since I may get in trouble for it), but even back home,  it’s  been a tradition to watch the Superbowl with friends around a few beers and chips n’ dip. And of course, the highlights are always those ingenious moments of spontaneous hilarity. Here’s one of my many, many favorites:

Curiously enough, I discovered that this rivalry all started between the AFL and the NFL to show who reigned supreme. And so they decided to wage war- how? Through two armies of football teams jostling for Middle-Earth. Somehow the concept stuck like Thanksgiving, where every year Americans get together to spar it out- although this time not with our stomachs, but through the “macho” within us.

For those wondering, the Superbowl starts tonight at 6:30 ET on FOX. Because like millions of others who don’t usually follow football, I googled this as well- ironically a few minutes before stumbling upon this article.

In conclusion, brace yourselves for any bloodcurdling “300“-sounding yells tonight.

Art “Art”-iculated

Map of “Arts Crawl” Event

Congratulations! Bates is presenting its first “Arts Crawl“. Like the smattering of paint onto a blank canvas, the velocity with which arts events are happening also represents the school’s next step in following through with its palate to the art pallet more than ever before. Previously, I felt that the arts had been presented separately (for instance, a dance performance would occur on a different weekend than a poetry reading). But with this junction of venues coming from all of the written, visual, and performing arts, it’s a whole new recipe on the bobcat menu.

What stuck with me the most was the “More than a Rap Sheet” project, featuring an eagle-eye on the life of imprisoned women. Before I formulate my own interpretation of the double message of incarceration via these narratives walking the plank of reality, it hit me how both the camera and the pen liberated these women (and I mean, really hit me- I admit, I got a little wet-eyed after seeing the entire exhibit).

Here are some snapshots (I apologize for the lack of optimal quality; feel free to click on the images):

Cindy Kirlin

Cindy Kirlin’s narrative

Jody Miller

 

Jody Miller’s narrative

Of course, those would question the validity of this exhibit- bringing it yet again back to the ultimate eternal debate of “What is art?” For me, the raw emotion that triggered my response said enough. It is reality, and imperfect as it may seem, there is nothing more artistic than it gets as this.

Unfortunately, as I was unable to “crawl” any farther due to sickness, I didn’t catch the rest of the events. Let’s just say- I can’t help feeling indebted to this exhibit, and maybe just, a glint of contentment knowing that I contributed to this new movement at Bates (and, this as well).

A bit of voracious bobcat home cookin’

Short post:I learned how to make some sushi this weekend!

Sushi with carrot, cucumber, avocado, and artificial crab meat

"Dessert" sushi: chocolate drizzled with honey!

Oh, holy night!

..Oh night divine, indeed. After helping out make latkes for Hannukah the night before, my work supervisor had invited me to her Christmas spectacular, a yearly glam show at the East Auburn Baptist Church. So, what else could I do- besides catch it? We got there just in time, as the entire room was packed to capacity with oh, say, around 700 people, scrambling to get the best seats for the hour-and-a half long performance.

The exhibit started with a bang- of a synchronized Christmas light show to music, and ended with a bigger, better, and badder one. There were nutcracker militia, who seemed very flexible for a tin soldier,  ribbon-dancing and performing gymnastics. Horses decked in jingle bells sauntered across the stage; in fact, the atmosphere was so jovial that one refused to leave the room. In addition to seeing my supervisor as an angel (religiously speaking, as well), my favorite was the cast’s remake of Jesus in a manger: through a webcam broadcast on a live screen, a shepherd in a barn revealed two actual twins lying in a wheelbarrow (although the “Away in a Manger” scene didn’t go as peaceful as expected).

Although I wasn’t actively helping out the community as opposed to last year, I’m grateful that I got this opportunity to once again both feel and be part of a vibrant neighborhood- that I know will leave an impression as homey, warm and sweet as a cup  of hot chocolate resting by the windowpanes of my soul, on a frosty night like this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6klCSRGx8c

Social Media, or “Antisocial” Media?

We live in a social network. Whether it’s which dorm or house you reside on campus, which professors you have, or even where you sit in Commons- instantaneously makes us all part of the “Bates bubble“. We hold this truth to be self-evident: that the velocity regardless of however fast the individual travels, our fate is inevitable. We’re bound to cross paths, and I mean, “worlds collide” {Here’s a “Seinfeld”-ian example that reminds us why we can’t live alone}

It’s only recently that so many people who can’t stop talking (especially businesses to market products) have taken it to a whole new level: the Internet. As we “twitter” and fritter away throughout our lives, it fascinates me that the Web has become a virtual chat-room for all to come and go to express themselves freely- although this certainly does entail harmful “antisocial” consequences as well, like the spawning of the privacy debate on Facebook , the suicide of Tyler Clementi, and most recently, this WikiLeaks controversy.

And of course, as Bates is always a beehive for boundless buzz, a dialogue about dialogue is to be expected. As part of the “Race in a Post-Human World” panel (for those including me who read “post-human” and said, “What in the world is that?”, click here)l, Bates is hosting a series of lecturers who will talk about online identities. This evening, author Lisa Nakamura is to discuss the roles that race and sexuality play in the cyberterrain.

Whether we like it or not, social media is here to stay. After all, I am writing this blog. Because as the storyline goes, “you don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.”

Gobble..dygook

In the spirit of Thanksgiving: amidst the onset of the holiday festivities (not to mention that this is my favorite time of the year)- and before I start gushing forth “I feel it in my fingers,/I feel it in my toes,/Christmas is all around me,/and so the feeling grows” from holiday movies even though we’re still in a recession- here are the top 7 things I am grateful for this year:

7. Harvest Dinner last night (I’m still digesting…)

6. Commons staff making sure doing homework while eating is as comfortable as it gets, when they ALWAYS ask if I need anything

5. Being able to complete my last year at Bates despite financial difficulties

4. (I thought I’d never say this) A growing fondness of country music (I’ve been stuck on this song ever since I heard it on the shuttle that drives through Lewiston and Auburn on the weekends)

3. (although I still find this incredibly eerie) Being recognized on campus by strangers as a result of being part of the monthly Bates website slideshow (in fact, someone I didn’t know came up to me and asked “how it felt to be a Bates celebrity”. I mean, how would you respond?! )

2. Spending my Thanksgiving here, better yet, with a work supervisor who so graciously invited me to dinner!

1. (I’m beginning to realize a pattern here. In the sum of all words..) Bates? Yes, it may all sound like emotional gobbledygook, but to me Bates is more than a school. It’s become my family.

many xoxo’s, thanks, & welcomes

-V for Voracious Bobcat