Famous Again

My article!!

Natalie Page wrote a two page spread about me in this month's Haaretz Educational Supplement, about the Building Future Leaders Program. nbd

Reflections on a Week of Living Large

It is not often that I surprise myself with how many things I do. It's my m.o., so I don't like to kvetch about how busy I am because it simply doesn't accomplish anything.

This week, however, I really lived it up. Every step of the way, I was wondering if I was going to be able to fit in my homework and stay awake all day during classes. Now that it is Friday afternoon and Shabbat is imminent, I can safely say I made it through-no naps, no late homeworks, no failures of any kind. In fact, it has been one of the best weeks I've had in my life.

I have already blogged about this, but let's say the week started with Friday (Shabbat, dinner at AD White House, Jesus Camp documentary with Adina) and then Saturday (babysitting, shopping with Adam, partying all over the world, Filthy/Gorgeous), then Sunday (brunch with my research group, biology homework, sorority education, meeting with Risley Residents to talk about the RA Position, International Ethnic Dance), and Monday (blood drive, falafel).

Tuesday began Big/Little Week. This is five days of complete and utter spoiling on the part of my anonymous "Big Sister," who will be revealed on Saturday night.

On Tuesday, I had a biology lecture about invertebrates (every new unit in biology makes me reconsider my career plan...so many great possibilities!!!!!) and a Civil Rights Class about the JFK era. Then I "tabled" at Trillium (translation: I sat with Rachel at a table in a campus cafeteria and gave people buttons and information about diversity in Israel). After tabling, I went to a talk with Dr. Carla Boutin-Foster, an incredible woman/doctor/researcher who works at Weill Medical College in New York. Her speciality is in health disparities related to diversity. The talk was a conversation between her and about 9 students, including me. We picked her brain for an hour and she inspired me so much. She talked about going home to Haiti after the earthquake, after she hadn't been there for over 20 years, and she talked about her path through college and medical school, and she talked about balancing family and work. I want to be her!!!!

After Dr. Boutin-Foster, I went to another lecture-this time by Marc Sacks, the father of my bestie Joshy. Marc was talking about his private equity business that provides pension plans for various groups like police forces and stuff like that. I was in the lecture for 45 minutes, and that's about all I understood. He introduced me to the class and I turned scarlet. I'm not used to a) being in a class with mostly boys (sup Human Ecology), b) getting singled out by a visiting lecturer, c) listening to someone talk about equity for 45 minutes. So it was a new and exciting experience!

Then I got tutoring from Dr. Marty Taylor, the angel who was brought to earth to teach me biology. She makes everything so easy! And she cares about me, which is precious at college. I adore her, I simply do. Then I took my quiz and I got a perfect score! Then I went back to Marty's office and wrote her a thank-you note on the whiteboard on her office door : )

THEN I met Marc Sacks and Jesse at the hotel. We set off for The Heights, an incredible fine-dining experience just north of north campus. I can't wait to take Bob Goodman there. I had a salad with balsamic truffle vinaigrette and gnocchi in some kind of thin, cream sauce. Jesse and I shared a chocolate souffle! Dining with Marc is always an amazing experience. He is incredibly generous and the conversation is always interesting and meaningful and political. We had a ball.

THENNNN I met up with KD girls and we were walked to a mysterious location-a frat party! It wasn't so much a party, but we all just sat on couches in the frat and talked to the boys and they brought us hot chocolate. We played charades. It was adorbs.

When I got home, my room had blue and white streamers everywhere (for Israel!) and a goat pinata, and balloons, and blue gatorades, and apples, and chocolates, and disposable cameras and a stuffed animal and more things I am forgetting. My "big" had left me a surprise!!!!!

On Wednesday, I had Hebrew, and then, in Gerontology, I was surprised again when Maggie brought me a gift bag of all kinds of wonderful goodies. Then I had lunch with Ranan, which was so necessary since I hadn't seen him in literally years. Then more class, then I took my oral test for biology (I had a seriously socially awkward TA giving the test...it was an uncomfortable 35 minutes. He kept fidgeting and kicking and looking around and when I got something right his facial expression didn't change and neither did his voice so the whole time I was just waiting for him to be like "oh well sorry you failed" but he didn't and I passed but it was hard!), then I went to Meinig to talk about our research progress.

After Meinig, Adina surprised me by telling me we were going out to dinner, paid for by my big! It was a great plan. She drove us to the Commons and we ate at Delilah's. We got two things to share-this spicy mac and cheese and an open-faced vegetable melt with sweet potato fries. So delicious!!!!!

After dinner, we went to see NESHAMA CARLEBACH in concert at the State Street Theatre. She was performing with a gospel choir. It was truly a spiritual experience. I can't even describe the happiness. I so wish I could bottle up that feeling of highness and life that I felt that night. Adina and I were standing up and clapping and dancing along with all the characters from Ithaca. So much happiness!

When I got home, I went to the library to do my prelab. I sat with Susu which was great and then she made me feel scared about walking home alone at night so I called Andrew and he came to meet me (THANK YOU ANDREW) and then I wasn't kidnapped. Major success.

The next day, along with classes, I dissected invertebrates for four hours. We cut up clams, squids, snails, earthworms, crayfish, horseshoe crabs, and grasshoppers! It was so crazy! I love animals!!! I did get really tired though, 4 hours is a long time to do anything, especially intense thinking and careful cutting!

Then I had dinner with Adina and did some of my calc homework. Then I showered and dressed and hit the town for the AXO Crush Party! I took a school bus with friends to the location, a club downtown. Then we danced the night away with everyone I know (especially Josh Markovic-don't think I forgot you)! I almost lost my coat, my keys, my phone, and my scarf (all separately), but I found each one of those items eventually!!! Getting on the bus to go home was a mad house, but the soldiers at the bus station in Be'er Sheva prepared me well--I pushed and shoved onto the bus like the best of 'em.

I got home at 1 and was asleep around 1:30. I woke up at 7:30 to do my gerontology assignment. I had to find scientific articles that supported the statement: "we do not have control over how we are aging." Depressing shit, let me tell you. Then we had a debate in section about it. Eat your veggies!!!!!!!

Then I finished my calc homework and I just had lunch at One World Cafe, the organic/local/vegetarian cafe on campus.

After calc, I'm going to see Jesse in a play called Waking Up, and then MAMA IS COMING FOR SHABBAT!!!!!

so much happiness : )