It starts as a zit...then it eats your face!

Second semester is more than halfway over. Weird.
Let’s see, where to start?
Classes:
Italian: It’s gotten a little better, actually. I’m kind of enjoying it again. And I’ve decided to go on the summer abroad trip to Siena. I can’t wait! It’s 5 weeks of intensive Italian study, but since it’s all I’ll be focusing on I think it’ll be better than class, which I have to balance with a zillion other things. I’m so excited! We get to take trips to Rome and Venice, too!
Geography: I love this class. We just finished our Cultural Geography unit, which was really amazing. It’s definitely the geography I’m most interested in. Now we’re on Political Geography, which is also interesting. And I got an A on my midterm, so I’m happy.
Stagecraft: Stagecraft was only half a semester, so it’s actually over now. I kinda miss it, but it’s nice to have the extra time. It was a pass or fail class, and I passed, so that’s wonderful (not that I was worried about not passing). Once I finish my other drama class this semester I’ll have all the prereqs I need to get into the 200-level classes.
Theater Making: I’ve never been in a class that promotes b.s.ing until now. Basically, you can take any aspect of any project and interpret it in any way. As long as you have a basis for your claim, it is valid. It’s kind of scary when you put on a project, because you know it’s going to get dissected by everyone in the class, but it’s also very eye-opening to see how even tiny, seemingly insignificant details can lead to long debates about their significance in the theme of the project. Makes you think long and hard about what you’re trying to convey and how it will come off to the audience.
Philosophy: Well. We’ve moved on to real issues and the class hasn’t gotten any more interesting. I really, really do not enjoy this class. It’s disappointing, because I was really looking forward to it. When we break up into small groups and have discussions, it’s great and we talk about really interesting, but the full-class discussions don’t really happen. It’s weird. I can’t really figure it out. I’m counting down the days until it’s over. But I just got a good grade on my midterm paper, which I was not entirely happy with as I was writing it, so that’s good.
Spring Break:
I spent the first week in Philadelphia with Andi, my best friend here, and her family. It was so much fun! We saw her high school perform Les Mis. Their production was AMAZING! It really made me miss all my high school friends, though. I did get to meet a bunch of Andi’s friends, which was great. I am also slowly turning Andi into a nerd, which I’m enjoying. And I think she is, too. For example, she’d only ever seen Star Wars Episode I, which we all know doesn’t count. So I made her watch the fourth one. And then we went into Philly to the Franklin Institute to see the Star Wars exhibit. It was incredible. We saw Luke’s original sandspeeder, a whole bunch of costumes, and an original Yoda puppet. And we got to take a simulated ride in the Millenium Falcon in Light Speed. I was Chewbacca, Andi was Han Solo. I was freaking out, it was so cool!
Then we walked downtown to shop on South Street. We ate a place that served Vegetarian Cheese Steaks, so I ordered one, of course. It was disgusting, which was not exactly surprising, but it was disappointing.
I also forced Andi to watch The Fellowship of the Ring, and half of The Two Towers, because she’d never seen any Lord of the Rings, and it should surprise no one that I felt the need to remedy that. She loved them, so sometime when we’re both free (so probably never…) we’re going to finish the trilogy. I told you I was making her a nerd.
I spent one day down in Washington DC because Andi and her family were going to NYC. I got a ride down with my friend Chris, and then he and I hung out with Janelle, who’s a family friend. It was my first visit to DC and it’s a beautiful city! Janelle took us to a lot of the monuments. Then Chris left to visit friends of his, and Janelle and I went to dinner with Janelle’s boyfriend. I’ve heard a lot about him, so it was good to finally meet him. I stayed overnight at Janelle’s and took a train back to Philly the next day.
I took a train back home on Saturday, and arrived in WI Sunday evening. It’s a long trip. It’s not a terrible way to travel, but it’s not great, either.
I was home for Capri’s birthday, which was perfect. I can’t believe she’s 11! And I got to meet Nemo’s girlfriend! It was an exciting day!
I spent the rest of the week sleeping and hanging out with friends. We celebrated Easter early so that I could participate before getting on my train Saturday night to get back to Vassar by Sunday evening.
The train ride back was again long. But I made a friend. And got no homework done. So it was good and bad.
Extracurriculars:
Fencing: Is over. I miss it, but it’s freed up a LOT of time. So I’m kind of able to have a life again. And I’m definitely planning on doing it again next year. Hopefully still as a saber fencer, but I might get switched to epee. Not entirely sure how I feel about that, I’ve grown to love saber, but I like epee, so I’m not too worried.
Drama: I’m in a student theater show called “Women at 4 O’clock.” It’s a really bizarre show, but really fun and the cast is great! I play an aristocrat, a robot with a cat’s head, a passed out drunk girl, and, my personal favorite, a crazy bag-lady. It’s going to be hilarious. We perform in exactly a week tho, eek!
Also, there is a rumor going around campus that next semester the department is doing “Rent.” I’m almost positive it is accurate. I will die of delight.
Choir/Voice: Both are going well. I don’t think I’m going to do choir next year, tho. I love it, but I need more time, and I refuse to drop anything else. My voice lessons are amazing. I love my teacher, and I really feel like they’re helping. I’m having to unlearn a lot of things tho, which is always really frustrating. Oh well, better to relearn them correctly than damage my voice.
Quidditch: Middlebury came to Vassar on Wednesday for a rematch. We ended up playing three scrimmage games and then two real Vassar vs. Middlebury games, and it was a blast!!!! Vassar lost both games, but we performed MUCH better than at the World Cup. My friend Pablo actually caught the snitch in the first game. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. We were ecstatic! And both Andi and I scored, so the day was definitely a success.
Actually, one of the best experiences of the day was just the sheer number of people who showed up. We had quite a crowd. It was especially gratifying since I was in charge of advertising. And we had kids show up! Some of them played in the scrimmages, and then they were put in charge of scoring during the actual games.
I can’t wait for the world cup next year!