Back to Tulane

So here we are again- back at Tulane. It’s now been one week since I came back onto campus, and man has it been a fun one!

I have to say, although I wasn’t thrilled about starting classes again, and studying again, I was thrilled to see all of my New Orleans friends again. We’re a pretty widespread group, scattered all around the world during the summers. I was also thrilled to see my sorority sisters again . . it was great having that support network again. Even though I don’t know all of them as well as I know some of my friends, they still treat me like a sister!

And then of course, the freshmen! I’ve already met quite a few, and I certainly hope all of the them are like the kids I’ve met. They are ambitious and outstanding in their drive to succeed at Tulane. We all knew that a hurricane would change the types of students that would be attracted to Tulane, and now we can see that in one way, its almost helped the character of the incoming classes.

We had our first Activities Expo, TUCP program (LUDACRIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), and even all the frat parties began. It was strange doing it all over again 7 months later . . . but this time, I was a sophomore. This time, I was the one running the stuff at the activites expo. This time, I was in the SECOND ROW at Ludacris, and this time, I knew which frat houses to go to and when.
. . its good to be back!

Russian Fun

So long time no talk, right?

Well in the past month I finished up Lagniappe with pretty good grades, partied a little, and made a lot of new friends . . . . I got close to some peoplpe that I never would have gotten close to otherwise. I guess that’s one thing about Tulane– there are so many different people but if you run into someone once, you’ll probably run into him/her again. So its not like the two of you can just go on with your separate lives and never see each other again. Which brings me to my most recent story . . . .

This summer, I was in two lab classes, one of which was a difficult advanced biology lab. I made friends with another kid, as I didn’t know anyone and was the youngest person in this lab. This kid turned into more than my lab partner . . . he turned into my friend.

And now, 7 weeks after we met, we’re hanging out in Russia together. My family actually lives in Russia, but his uncle works here. So by random coincidence we’re both here at the same time, staying a 12 minute walk away from each other. In fact, just last night we were at a popular expatriot hangout, watching Russian teens dance to techno, and we thought, “man, we New Orleans people need to show them how to dance!”

And so we did!

Me and Clint














Dancing the night away . . . .

Summer Fun

Wow, I can’t even believe that the Lagniappe semester is a third over. I just had my first midterm today in Molecular Biology, and boy was I unprepared!!!!

See, its summertime. And during the summer I’m definitely not inclined to work . . . and study . . . . . rather, I just want to hang out all the time. And New Orleans is the perfect city for that!!! Two weekends ago I went tubing up in Covington . . . . apparently its a college kid thing to do that I never really knew about. It was so much fun! Then last weekend there were parties and barbeques that some of my new friends had- also another source of fun! I’m not even sure what craziness this weekend will bring, but I sure am excited about it.

It’s hard to remember I’m still in school and this is still a semester for me. I’m working or studying usually every day during the week, but its so hard to get into that mindset when you already have a three day weekend, and thus only have a four day week! I am definitely taking this time though to go out and about in New Orleans and do things I’ve never done and see things I’m yet to see. I know during the regular school year this is an opportunity I will no longer have.

And so its hot and humid here . . but its New Orleans, and somehow I don’t think the charm of this place ever wears off!

Hurricanes and all . . .

My friend Shivas, his dad, and me at his bbq









me at Audobon Park









The New Orleans skyline from the bridge over the lake












Girls gone wild at the bbq

Summer Plans

So this is my last blog for a little bit . . . . . its been an amazing adventure this year.

But more adventures lie ahead!!! Of that I am absolutely certain.The end of the year is marked by two important events:
1. The purchase of my OWN digital camera!!!
2. For the first time, I am completely on my own (meaning I have to live within my means)

This summer I’ll be here for Lagniappe, and don’t worry, I’ll let y’all know how hot and humid it is in New Orleans in May and June!!! But after that, I’ll be joining my folks in Moscow, Russia. In August, I’ll be going to India by myself for two weeks. And then I’m TRYING to talk my dad into a trip someplace exotic . . . but we’ll see on that one! Regardless, I think I’ll be travelling enough over the next few months. My goal is to get through Lagniappe with a near perfect GPA and a brand new job at the Freeman Business School and then enjoy a summer without any major worries. Around August I’ll start the 1000 word story that is due in my creative writing class in the fall.

In Russia, I’ll read, write, socialize, shop, and volunteer. (Not in that priority order, of course) It’ll be a rather . . intellectual life. People always ask me what its like living over there, and I always tell them its some kind of freedom. When you become completely disconnected from all the drama and tension in your everyday life, its a sort of freedom. You can live however you choose and there is no one to judge you, no one to tell you no, and no one’s standards you have to meet.

And when I come back full swing in August, oh the tales I’ll have to tell . . . . .!!!

"Hometown"

So today I visited my high school.

And as I walked through the halls, I couldn’t help but feel . . lonely.

I realized that as I walked through those halls . . . . I was a year older, a year wiser . . and a year more experienced in the game of life. This distinguished me from the other students walking in the halls, and it became painfully evident that I just didn’t belong. I mean, I saw my friends and visited my old teachers, and that was definitely rewarding . . . .but something just didn’t feel natural anymore. When I was a senior I spent my time cruising in and out of the school as I pleased, on top of the world and everyone in it. It had been my territory, my domain, and most of all, my home.

And now I was back at Friendswood High School in the small town of Friendswood, Texas, where I spent nearly 10 years of my life, and it just wasn’t the same. Everyone didn’t know me. My friends had lives of their own. And suddenly, I was no longer in the picture. It’s a weird feeling, knowing that just one year ago that girl walking in the debate room or principal’s office was you. It’s a weird feeling knowing you were so close with this teacher or that one and now she barely recognizes you. It’s a weird feeling knowing you’re not there to go to class and meet up with the same people you’ve been around for most of your life.

They say home is where the heart is . . . . and I think all of us are going through experiences now where we realize our hearts are no longer where we left them. For me personally, this year has been a journey all about finding home, and I still don’t know where that is. Is it in Moscow, with my family? Is it in Austin, with my UT friends? Or is it in New Orleans? What about Friendswood, where I spent my most trying years?

Maybe “home” doesn’t really mean anything besides a place where you can be happy.

In that case, my “hometown” of Friendswood is no longer the top contender.

Tulane Routine

So now finals are OVER for everybody on campus. It’s the first official day of summer vacation for Tulanians, and I personally am spending my vacation in Houston.

Except that my vacation is a week long! I’ll be back for Lagniappe, like almost all of my friends. I was talking on the phone with a friend of mine from LSU, and he too was contemplating summer classes. But unlike us, he had been at LSU for the entire year and was getting sick of the campus and of the food. We personally are still enjoying it to the max!!!

I feel like it would be really hard to get sick of Tulane. Although there are places and events that tend to become routine, there are also lots of situations that make them vary every time. For example, this Friday night, we celebrated our friend’s last night here. It was Cinco De Mayo night.

Now being from Houston, I know how Cinco De Mayo is usually celebrated. But I didn’t expect a celebration in New Orleans of all places! That night, I saw literally everyone I knew. From people on the Residential Hall Advisory with me next year to my graduate hall director this year, I saw everybody coming out and having a good time. All the people that were done with finals (and even those who weren’t) were out celebrating.

Now I wish I could tell you that we had a grand adventure in downtown, in the French Quarter, or on Bourbon Street. Nope. We ended up going with our usual routine. But its a routine that’s been tested, and it definitely works. Sometimes, to have fun, all you need is to walk around on the street and do a little dancing and then end up at the Big Easy with everybody else. When I was in high school I had adventures driving out to town to test out this club or this restaurant but here at Tulane, everybody just kinda goes with the flow. And when everybody does it, its always a great time.

Only at Tulane . . . . . . .

(Roshni and me- her last night at the Big Easy!)>>

One Act Plays

So on Thursday night I saw the One Act Plays . . . . . .

I’ll admit that I didn’t want to see them. They were like 3 hours long and they had nothing to do with the final I had to take on Saturday. I was MAD. I wanted to be cramming . . . . . and so I took all my notes and decided to cram during the plays.

Until the first one started. The first play was Leonardo’s Last Supper and it was a play about the family of a burial man. At first, I didn’t know what was going on, but then the plot started to unfold. The main character was a somewhat cranky man who seems really sadistic. I couldn’t figure out if they were cannibals until Leonardo himself came into the picture. The play quickly turned from mildly confusing to hilarious!!! There was also an abundance of humorous song and dance, and both of the students playing the parts of the burial man and his wife were blessed with amazing voices. And then I totally forgot about my genetics notes . . . .

The next play was a series of three by William Donelly. One of my Performance classmates, Lauren, was really brilliant as the secretary in the first dialogue. She played a somewhat disconnected secretary who comes into touch with her religious side when she meets Jesus. The next play was a satire dripping with social commentary. It starts with a worker who finds an accounting error in the books of a large company, and follows her through her home life, the affair she has, and the bosses she goes through. The final play in the set is about two kids who go through life together and what happens when one of them dies and finally is alone. It’s a transition from funny to satirical to touching . . . . a great change in mood to keep my attention!

The next play was WASP, and it brought up a lot of issues about science, religion, and faith. It was actuallykind of sad, because it brought up a wife’s dilemma with her family and the voices in her head. It proves the point that perfection is really superficial. I was surprised to see this play after the first two comical bits. Each of the characters had some sort of aside that represented their true views about their life. And again, I was totally captivated . . . .

The final play was called God, and it was about plays within plays within plays within plays . . . . . and how they all turn out. It was kind of confusing, but everything was framed in each other and it was a pretty exciting turnout. The light part, and the use of my other Performance classmate Liz for asides/prompts offstage was also really interesting!!!

I was enraptured til the very end. It was three hours, but it certainly didn’t seem like it. Which really just proves the point that sometimes you find little treasures in the oddest places . . . . they’re everywhere at Tulane!!!