RHA

So here I am now, more than a week later, still procrastinating? Why, you ask? Because I have been blessed with an 8 am organic chemistry lab. Now 8 am is awfully early for a class, and its definitely the only lab at this time. The only thing worse than an 8 am lab on Thursday is a 1-5 lab on Friday . . so here I am, stuck.

But I just got out of an RHA meeting that broke up the monotony of tonight, which consisted of and will continue to consist of my organic chemistry lab report. RHA, or the Residential Hall Association is a national organization for all the residence halls on every single campus. Our personal RHA is marked by funny characters and great people. Every Wednesday at 8, we get together for dinner and to talk about issues before the general body meetings, which consist of every dorm’s own government’s president and vice president. It’s more like a family dinner than an executive board meeting, and its totally different from any other organization I’ve been involved in so far. We threw a party about two weeks ago actually, and had hundreds of people show up. It was an immensely successful program . . . so successful that we want to throw another big event just for students to enjoy themselves with us! It’s definitely a college thing to simply throw a party for publicity, and for people to show up that aren’t even members of that organization. If you’re good, you might even recruit people at such an event . . . my comrades and I certainly put our name out there with our party. We even gave out T shirts that now we see students wearing all over campus.

See, this is what happens when you’re a sophomore. You get to know a lot of different people, and work with a lot of different people, and then, when you decide what you really want to commit yourself too, chances are, you’re going to know who is doing that with you. It’s a great combination and it really works out well when you’re running an organization and managing thousands of dollars with 7 other kids like you.

So here’s my tribute to the RHA!!

This is our t shirt design and unofficial slogan!

Socialization

So now its 11:30 at night and I find myself with several hours of psychology, english, and organic chemistry in front of me. Why? Because instead of doing all these things I was too busy kickin it with friends, running into other friends, and socializing with yet others. I managed to find out somebody in the mail room’s life story, hear about the latest episode of the tv show Divorce Court, and secure myself either an invite to a Grey’s Anatomy party on Thursday or a copy of the show in case I couldn’t be there. All important accomplishments, I thought . . . until I got to my room, saw my textbooks looking at me forlornly, and wondered how it was possible that I had just wasted my entire evening.

When you’re in college, there’s nobody there telling you there will be no tv, no video games, and no friends until you get off your behind and study. Unfortunately, this is a decision we have to make ourselves . . and its a decision most of us are still unwilling to make!

I mean its always great to be socializing and running into people. It’s one of the best things about Tulane. Just taking a short walk to go eat will result in at least four or five different social interactions, some even with the people that work at Bruff. It’s a friendly place.

But at some point you have to draw the line between squandering away an entire evening on those friends and having a good time.

It’s 11:30 . . . . . I think it’s time I draw mine.

AASU Car Wash

So on Sunday was the Asian American Student Union Car Wash.

Now I’ll admit, initially, this idea didn’t sound too appealing. My friends and I were out until about 4 in the morning, and smelling like we’d been out til then too. Getting up at 8 to shower to get dirty again washing cars . . . . . not too fun.

Until we got there of course! Suddenly the sun was shining and we were teaming up to tackle cars and advertise. And though you might think that standing on a street corner yelling, “CAR WASH” is pretty tedious, its actually not. It was interesting to see who would respond to that kind of advertising! And everybody had their own way of going about it as well . . . . one kid rolled up his pants and held the sign with CAR WASH written on it in a way that looked as though he was wearing nothing but the sign. It got a lot of laughs from all of us and even from some total strangers.

I wasn’t terribly efficient at the actual car washing, but I quickly learned the tricks of advertising on the street corner and I was put to use. The others however worked like a machine, with each kid taking initiative to get something done. Most people were pretty pleased with the job we had done with their cars, and tipped us well. This is the kind of thing that encourages you to do it again, to spend a day in the sun getting bugs out of peoples’ grills after having little to no sleep the night before. At least you’re doing it with your friends, right?
And that’s pretty much what you get when you join an organization like the Asian American Student Union. It’s not a huge organization, so everybody gets to know everybody else. It’s the perfect place to meet people that not only have stuff in common with you culturally, but interest-wise. Everyone who joins wants to know something more about Asian cultures, and there’s no better way to learn than to do it together.

So that can make even a car wash after 4 hours of sleep fun . . . . .

Getting Involved . . . Again

so here we are . . .getting involved . . . yet again.

Two days ago, Thursday, was like the DAY for getting involved. Everybody seemed to hold their meetings . . . .which meant I had 6 meetings in one night. Am I slightly overzealous? Perhaps . . . but there are the introductory meetings that will tell you if you’re really interested or not. So far I’ve been to meetings for Tulane DEMS, Science and Engineering Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta, step practice for my sorority Delta Xi Nu, dorm meetings, and the Residential Hall Association. And that’s just a few of the things I’m interested in . . . . .

<<(Me with my sorority sisters at the Activites Expo)

I really thought it would be easier to narrow stuff down as I got older. But I see so many new opportunities and its sort of difficult not to jump on them all. Going to introductory meetings is a nice way of figuring out where my real interests lie. I’m sure within the next couple of weeks I’ll find out for sure. I’m actually a little jealous of the freshman . . .8 months ago I didn’t even have all the opportunities that they have now to get involved. Many different organizations call for freshman representatives so by the time they turn into old people like me they know what they’re doing and can effectively help lead that organization.

So for all you freshman out there . . . . . please don’t sit at home and chill with your peeps and watch tv and talk on AIM and facebook stalk people ALL the time. This sort of stuff is good 4-5 hours a day . . . . with the rest of your time go LOOK around, grab a flyer, go to a meeting or two. You just might be surprised at what you find!

The best treasures are often hidden . . . . .

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