By this time of winter, I think we’re all wondering why we didn’t go to school down south. The weekend forecast is cloudy and cold, a foot of snow is supposed to hit us by Friday and, even though more than 36,000 people got them, I don’t have tickets to the Villanova game. But life at SU isn’t all that bad. Syracuse has some hidden secrets that just might brighten up your winter blues.
Free Lunch
Anyone who’s ever told you, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch,” lied. Every Thursday from noon until 1 p.m. in the Noble Room in Hendricks Chapel, Dr. T.E. Koshy and his friendly volunteers serve up homemade salad, rice and meat sauce and an assortment of cakes to anyone interested (a vegetarian alternative is also available). Since 1966, Koshy, a Chaplain for the Evangelical Christian Ministries, has been working to bring together students of all backgrounds and faiths from across campus through a hot meal. I schedule my classes so I’m free for this event. The food may be the same every week, but the outpouring of love and goodwill keeps me coming back for more. Koshy funds these luncheons, which serve around 150 people a week, by himself. “I could have gotten a job and made money,” Koshy said, “but I felt it was a wonderful thing to do to help build relationships for people.” If the free food isn’t enough to make you smile, Koshy’s energetic warmth is sure to do the trick.
Beer Delivery
Running out of beer is a guaranteed way to wreck a party (unless you have handles of hard liquor lying around). Luckily for students, Sabastino’s on Westcott can deliver you from a party emergency. Just give them a call and within 30 minutes they’ll bring your favorite brews directly to your door. While the beer is overpriced, it’s a convenient option for an impromptu party or a rager about to fizz out. A 30 of Keystone is $21.56 and if you want to get fancy, Bud Light’s $27.14 (tax included). They deliver until right around 2 a.m., check your ID when they arrive and charge a dollar delivery charge. So next time you start drawing straws to see who gets stuck with the beer run, just chip in and have it delivered. Oh yeah, they can bring you pizza, too. 315-478-1000
Downtown Dining on a Dime
For the past five years, downtown Syracuse has offered a week of affordable dinners at some of their best establishments. This year, Syracuse extended Dining Week for an extra seven days, giving you until Saturday to take advantage of this deal. 19 local restaurants, including student favorites like Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Pastabilities and Empire Brewery, offer three course meals for $25 or less. Stop sustaining off soup and the dining hall’s wrap bar and get something you’ll actually savor. If you don’t have a car, you can catch the bus at the Connective Corridor to get there. Places like L’Adour, Lemon Grass and Pascale will give you the best deal, because typically their entrées alone average around $25. Peter Themistocles, a junior marketing and retail student, said he’s already been three times. Sometimes you just have to take advantage of a good thing. Go to http://downtownsyracuse.com/static/C2/ to see the full list of participating restaurants.
The newly released details of SU Showcase, formerly known as MayFest, are a reminder of the changes being made this year. For many of us, getting that October email announcing regularly scheduled classes for SU Showcase made for a dark day. As a student body, we’ve organized meetings, wrote articles in protest and used our social networking skills to show our displeasure (the Facebook group Operation Rescue MAYFEST has 5,235 members.)
When the University started making changes to put SU Showcase into an inspiring academic event, I complained too. I can’t pretend like I didn’t love MayFest. After enduring nearly five months trudging to class in a frozen tundra of snow and slush, spending a day frolicking in the sunshine on Euclid was heavenly. In the dead of winter, MayFest was a promise that better days would come. MayFest is one of the reasons I studied abroad in the Fall semester instead of the Spring. But let’s be realistic. MayFest is not a birthright. It’s not even technically a tradition (it was only started five years ago.) Is it really asking too much for the University to expect us to go to class on a Monday?
It sounds like Steve Parks, head of SU Showcase, is really putting thought into what this day will entail. Raising the standards on what work will be displayed at SU Showcase should bring pride to the people chosen to participate in the event, and to the University’s community as a whole for having such talented students and faculty. In addition, even though SU will have less high-school students attend, the students who will be on our campus for SU Showcase will be here because they care about their education and deserve to present their work.
Syracuse police officers reported to the Post-Standard that an estimated 3,500 students took place in the booze-fest last spring, which is about the same number of local talented, high-school students that came to our campus that day. Busses brought thousands of young intellectuals to see our academic work and what did we show them? How to throw the winning beer pong ball, the art of hooking up with drunk chicks and the formula to be a sloppy mess (add one parts vodka, four Keystones, a pair of jorts and shake). There’s no reason we can’t all move our block party to a Saturday, or perhaps skip class on a day that’s not supposed to celebrate our academic work.
Lauren Thomas, a sophomore magazine major, thoroughly enjoyed her freshman experience of MayFest, but can see the benefit of what the day is really supposed to be about, too. “It’s great that high-school students are given the opportunity to showcase their work and see what we do academically,” she said. “I think it can be a step forward for them in the college process.”
The University’s steps toward refocusing this event and the recently announced details of what SU Showcase will entail can potentially create an enriching experience for SU’s visitors, students and faculty. I’m happy to go to a school that’s known for having fun, but I’m more proud of the prestigious academic reputation of SU. I worked hard to get into this school, and I work hard while I’m here. I agree students should have a day off to unwind, but it doesn’t really make sense to schedule it on a day that’s meant to present our academic achievements. I’m not denying the beauty of day drinking in the spring, and if you really feel the need to fight the power of Nancy Cantor and skip class for your own personal MayFest, no one’s stopping you, but maybe we should be more open to what SU Showcase can offer and reschedule showcasing our keg stand abilities.
See this on the Daily Orange's website here
Crank up Beyonce—it’s the fourteenth again.
Yesterday in Hendricks Chapel, I overheard two girls discussing weekend plans. The one revealed this would be her first single Valentine’s Day in three years. She planned to hibernate with excessive amounts of chocolate to cope. Before you start debating if the cashier at CVS is going to know you’re buying the Russell Stover candies for yourself, stop overreacting about being alone this holiday.
With all the hand-holding, gift-buying outrageous public displays of affection, it may feel like you’re the only single lady (or man) on Valentine’s Day; but trust me, you’re not. Whether you savor your single status or are less than tickled pink, there’s no reason to feel left out this holiday. According to the US Census Bureau, there are 95.7 million single Americans. They might not be at the evening showing of Valentine’s Day in Carousel Mall this weekend, but they’re out there.
Back in the days of Ashlee Simpson and the Ying Yang Twins, my first real boyfriend asked me out at the school’s Valentine’s Day dance. He had roses and I wore pink. It was precious, or nauseating, label as you see fit. For the next few years, I had perfect Valentine’s Days, complete with candlelit dinners, cards, flowers, candy… the works. I pitied those poor single people left alone with their Necco hearts.
And then, I was one of them. Freshmen year, I thought my first real single Valentine’s Day was going to be the worst I’ve ever had. That chilly, Thursday night, I danced around in the dorm before embarking on a sledding expedition on the hill behind Sadler Hall (without a coat or a real sled). I woke up the next morning with a cold, no phone, and a killer headache. It was the best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. I loved every minute of that time with my friends and it’s one of my favorite memories of college. Hangovers will pass, puke can be cleaned, and you know you wanted a cell phone upgrade anyway. I’ve had my Valentine’s Days in and out of relationships, and in my opinion, single makes a much better story.
As long as you’re upbeat about your weekend, I’m sure you can find ways to enjoy V-Day even with your single Facebook status. An article in Cosmopolitan called, “Fun Ways to Celebrate Yourself on Valentine’s Day” suggested going out to a fancy restaurant for dessert… by yourself. Before you start making reservations in Armory Square, let’s think this through. Not only would you be stuffing your face alone surrounded by dozens of happy couples, you’ll also probably have to wait two hours to get your table, and at the end of the whole embarrassing ordeal, you’re going to be the one to pick up the tab! I don’t think I can imagine a worse way to spend my Saturday night.
Instead of taking part in ridiculous activities like this or wallowing in misery alone in your dorm room, go to the bar. Not only are you likely to have fun with your friends, but also you’ll know that every person you meet is available, too. Being single on Valentine’s Day might just be the best way to find yourself a bad romance, if only for the night.
Disagree? http://bit.ly/c0EKXz
Kyle Corea, one of the managers of Funk n’ Waffles, said he wishes he could print a list of everything wrong with chain coffee shops, and how small shops like his are better. Too bad I only have 550 words.
Instead of the corporate-mandated repetition of specially selected tracks, small coffee shops have a sound all their own. Whether it’s an old record, a surprising playlist, or a live band at Funk n’ Waffles DJ Wednesdays, you never know what tune your about to hear. The space to sit and relax at Funk n’ Waffles, Freedom of Espresso, or in the room adjacent to People’s Place is so much more welcoming than the revolving door of customers flowing in and out of chain shops.
More importantly, the goods these shops offer don’t come from a giant warehouse or industrial sized freezer. People’s Place rotates through more than two-dozen different Fair Trade, organic flavors, soaked in different brews to offer calorie-free, syrup-free, good-for-the-world flavored coffee, and Funk n’ Waffles makes every specialty drink by hand. Food is made fresh with local, organic products, and benefits other small business like Byrne Dairy and Liberty Deli.
Elysa Smigielski, a senior studio arts student, said she strays from chains because she believes in helping local businesses, and in these small shops’ mission to do the same. “I bought this mug at Freedom of Espresso for $20,” she said. “I could have gotten one at Target for $5, but I want to help these little places because they have quality products and a great atmosphere.”
Still, the small shops often offer better prices. People’s Place sells the same Tazo teas as Starbucks. The quality is exactly the same, but the price for a large tea at People’s is $0.50, compared to $2.35 at Starbucks. A large mocha is $1 versus $4.15. If you buy one cup of coffee per class day for a semester, that’s $252—which could like, totally pay for a new pair of Uggs and leggings!
But there’s more separating People’s Place, Funk n’ Waffles, or Freedom of Espresso apart from corporate chains than price. These tiny shops are an escape from a materialistic campus with a credit card and an attitude problem. They are tiny havens of caring individuals and caffeinated beverages. As a manger of People’s Place, I know that when we hire employees, we aren’t looking for how many barista jobs they’ve had; we’re looking to see if they’re going to ask customers how their day is, and genuinely care to hear the response.
Before I left to study abroad in London last semester, two of my favorite customers handmade me a coffee mug, as a keepsake of my time at People’s Place. Upon my return, peers, faculty, staff, and people I just know by their coffee orders were giving me hugs, showing me baby photos, and telling me which of my blog posts were their favorites. When you become a regular customer at a small coffee shop, you’re not just getting a quick pick-me-up to get you through a bio lecture. You’re becoming a part of an intimate family who isn’t interested in taking your money (that jar on the PP counter benefits a children’s fund).
I am overwhelmed by the impact these small shops, their staffs, and their customers have made in my time as a Syracuse student. What started as a cheap cup of coffee has made my life a mixture of Comstock and Westcott— a blend between clean-cut prep and something with a little more edge. Moving away from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts changed more than just where I went on a Saturday night or what songs I downloaded to my iPod; It changed how I view myself in this world by exposing me to people who don’t try so hard to fit in. That’s an awfully big result for an 85-cent hazelnut with cream.
Read the other side http://bit.ly/akGjtD
I’ll admit it. I waste an unbelievable amount of time considering the quality of my Facebook profile picture. I search for a photo that says I’m exciting enough to friend request, but safe for employers to hire. I click through my own profile pictures probably more than all of my friends combined. Your profile picture isn’t just another tagged photo; it’s a representation of your identity. It’s a tiny window for the casual Facebook stalker to get to know the real you. But this week, it’s all a lie.
For the past few days, Facebook users worldwide have taken part in doppleganger week: a time to change user profile pictures to that of an actor, athlete, musician, or other quasi-famous person the user may resemble.
This Facebook phenomenon gets it name from the German word doppelganger, deriving from double (doppel) + goer (ganger). Merriam and Webster define doppelganger as a ghostly counterpart of a living person, double, or alter ego. The idea of a figurative double was the theme of Joseph Conrad’s 1912 novel, The Secret Sharer. The term is also the title of a 1993 romantic thriller staring Drew Barrymore, which the International Movie Database claims is up 132 percent in popularity this week (Google searching doppelganger anyone?)
Alejandra Nasser, a sophomore art history student, said one of her friends who changed his picture to Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer) bared a close enough resemblance to the star that she wondered why her friend had a headshot as his photo. Nasser, however, chose not to participate. “As an ethnic person, there aren’t enough really famous minorities,” she said. “People would just ask me why I didn’t use America Ferrera (Ugly Betty).”
Looking through my mini-feed of Syracuse friends I’ve found varying levels of success at my peers’ endeavors. Some people find surprisingly accurate look-alikes— the punky hipster who eerily resembles Ellen DeGeneres, or a messy brunette matched with the perfect phase of Britney Spears’ breakdown. Others took a humorous approach by matching a scrawny white girl with a rags-to-riches rapper, or a devastatingly handsome heartthrob with a nerdy freshman. Some of my personal favorites have come from cartoon character look-alikes like Mulan, Pocohantas, and Tommy Pickles.
Still, not everyone is playing the game right. If your so-called doppelganger has topped Maxim’s Hot 100, you’re single, and you aren’t trying to make a joke, reevaluate your participation before accepting any friend requests.
If you’re struggling to find a twin, a recent article in the NY Daily News suggested readers check out sites like myhertitage.net or use the Facebook application, Face Double to find an accurate portrayal. You could always just pick your idol and hope people think you’re a comedian and not a raving narcissist.
Blogs and online forums seem to have some controversy over when doppelganger week ends, but it seems like you’ve got a few more days. Make the most of your chance to escape reality and image search some B-list celebrities (let’s be real here, folks) for an identity change.
As for me, I’ve enjoyed the relief from my profile picture quest that’s come with having Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) represent me, but I’m ready for this week to end. Facebook stalking is infinitely harder when profile pictures are fakes.
See what students said at http://bit.ly/cvrhJR
Tonight in Schine student center kicks off the Pan-Hellenic Society’s 2010 recruitment season, and pretty soon it’s going to seem like every girl on campus is in a house. Current sisters will be wearing their Greek insignia on the daily. This weekend and next will see record numbers of young women flocking to Walnut and Comstock in a sea of polished locks and perfectly accessorized outfits. As a senior, I’ve seen this all before. Tonight starts a strategic game of smiles, bumping into conversation, of “less eyeliner, more mascara,” and faking friendships until they turn real. It’s an annual event, and a reminder of what I’ve chosen not to be a part of.
It might sound like I’m just another sorority-hater, but freshman year I had never felt so left out. With every girl on campus showing their sorority involvement more than ever, I felt like I was the only one who didn’t rush. I called home to tell my mother I regretted not joining in, and I planned to pledge sophomore year. Sophomore year came and went and I rationalized that rushing wasn’t worth the commitment if I was going to spend a semester abroad and graduate early. Still, with Greek life thrust into the spotlight, I have wondered if I’m missing out by not rushing. Sororities have organized social events and, as my post-graduate unemployment looms in front of me, I’m sure I’d appreciate a network of sisters spread across the nation.
Maria Angelov, a junior policy studies and political science student, said she remembers hearing so many of her classmates talking about rush and feeling like everyone on campus was taking part in Greek life, except for her. But not everyone has felt the same way. “Maybe from time to time I think it would be fun to go through and see what it’s like, but I’ve never really thought I wanted to rush,” said junior Brittany McLaren. “I know it’s not for me,” she said.
As much as I’ve always known I didn’t fit into sorority life, rush week has still always been a hard time to be GDI. But even though for these next two weeks Greek life might seem bigger than ever, sororities and fraternities only comprise of 20 percent of Syracuse University’s student body, according to the student life Web site. For those of you readers who know rush isn’t for you, here’s a reminder that you’re not alone. I’ve loved my time here at SU and I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to leave the friends I’ve made here. It might have taken me a few years to realize, but I know that even though I’m not in a house, I’ve still made a home.
See this on The Daily Orange's web site http://bit.ly/bY3rnr
Ernie Davis dining center’s location is convenient for students living in Booth, Dellplain, Haven, Watson or on Comstock and the proximity to many classroom buildings is especially appreciated during the cold winter months, but I don’t think it’s worth the trek if you have a closer dining center.
Melissa Weston, a sophomore public relations and political science dual major said, “I was expecting the food to be better or different, but it’s all just the same.” Ernie Davis boasts a seating capacity of 500 people, but at rush hour dinnertime it’s still impossible to find a clean empty seat. With Shaw closing earlier and Haven no longer open, the extra space Ernie Davis offers gets eaten up quickly by hungry students. Though well staffed, the center still runs out of trays, forks and food, just like any other dining hall.
I visited Ernie after class Tuesday night and found the new hall cramped with people. I kept losing my friend, even though he’s 6’6’’ and normally pretty hard to miss in a crowd. For 10 minutes I wandered around the buffet labyrinth hoping to find something especially appetizing, but was disappointed to find the same slop I ate all freshman year. The new neon green booths looked comfortable, but they were all filled. I wound up teetering on a flimsy orange stool that looked like it might break if I ate one more of my mystery Chinese chicken nuggets. I’m sure the food at Ernie Davis’s salad bar, wrap station, Edy’s ice cream machine or cereal dispensers taste just great, but the Thanksgiving stuffing still closely resembles vomit.
Overall, I think Ernie Davis dining center is a good addition to campus, giving students a new option that is, for many, closer than any other dining center. Its ability to house so many students is a major plus at such a large school, and the additional staff seems to be working hard to keep the center clean. I’m sure it will look nice when renovations and decorations are completed. Still, expectations of a gourmet meal in a cozy, relaxed environment are unrealistic. I didn’t hate my dinner at Ernie and there’s a chance I will stop in again, but I’m glad I don’t have a meal plan.
Read student feedback online at http://bit.ly/4BBJcK
I’ve been told life in London is much different from life in the rest of Britain, and this weekend I got to find out how.
Host UK is a voluntary organization that matches up international students with willing families to stay for a weekend. SU London pays a portion of the program’s application fee, making it only 20 pounds to participate. Your host family covers all the costs of your visit including every activity you do and all your meals, though you need to pay for transportation to the family’s house. When applying you list your preferences for the area you’d like to stay in, the types of activities you’re interested in doing, and the general family composition you’re looking for. I asked to be in the countryside, preferably on a farm. I wound up in Tiverton, Devon (three hours west of London and near the coast) at a house with a barn and three chickens. It was a perfect match.
On my first night, my host mom, Julia, and her mother-in-law, Patsy, took me to a Christmas fair in town. All the little shops played Christmas music and passed out homemade baked goods and everyone on the streets said hello to me. It was the kind of small town hospitality I rarely see in London and have missed so much while abroad. After a homemade dinner, Julia and her husband Simon sat around drinking tea and talking about the differences in US and Britain with me. I got to ask the questions I’ve been wondering about Britain, like what they think of the National Health System, their thoughts on America’s involvement in foreign wars, and why they don’t like peanut butter. My interest in their lives was matched with their interest in mine and for each question I asked about Britain they asked one about America. I asked how someone becomes a knight and they wanted to know why America is so religious. I had worried we would have nothing to say to one another, but we wound up talking until 2 a.m.
In the next couple days we went out to a proper English tea, visited a nearby national park, drove through the countryside, and watched their favorite British TV shows. Julia showed me how to make her favorite holiday pudding and Simon taught me the meanings of British slang I still haven’t figured out. With Christmas approaching fast, I’ve been feeling torn between never wanting to leave London and missing being with friends and family during the holidays. Reading the newspaper next to a burning fire and listening to the family’s 16-year-old son talk about his weekend plans, I felt at home and homesick all at once. The couple met while studying at Oxford and have traveled all over the world. Their house was a mess of mixed treasures and their stories were from nearly every continent.
Early on in London I learned that most Brits eat a “Sunday roast,” so I started making a weekly trek to the nearest pub. But this Sunday I sat at a packed dinner table in the English countryside and shared a home-cooked meal with a British family. When it was time to go I hugged everyone goodbye without feeling at all awkward. The Bonvoisins weren’t my real family, but they had opened up their doors to me like they were.
SU London offers several weekend trips to different countries throughout the semester to places like Paris, Scotland, Berlin, and Istanbul. These trips allow students to see a different country without the hassle of planning the trip. The school organizes transportation, the hotel, several meals, tour guides, sightseeing, and even provides chaperones in case you need any help. When I traveled to Barcelona by myself, I couldn’t even get the cab driver to take me to my hotel without calling my Spanish-fluent friend and handing over my mobile. I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted, but I wasn’t that sure what to do. Traveling with the school’s group narrowed my itinerary options, but it eliminated the worry of winding up in a foreign country not knowing the language and having no clue what to do.
On Thursday, my class went on a fieldtrip… to Belgium. The beauty of studying abroad in Europe, aside from getting to know a different culture, is that weekend trips to foreign countries are typical. Every Thursday PSC409.1: The European Union studies how the EU and NATO work, but this weekend we saw it first hand. If that sounds slightly boring, consider that Belgium produces around 750 different brews of beer and you can see how this weekend was both educational and entertaining.
Friday morning the group spent an hour or so seeing the main square of Brussels, which was full of old-fashioned buildings and lots of chocolate shops. We saw Manneken Pis, which is to Brussels as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Like the name suggests, it’s a statue/fountain of a tiny boy peeing and for debated reasons has been a national icon since the 1600s.
Later we went to the European Union headquarters and had four sessions with various EU employees who explained their jobs to our class and answered our questions. Being able to discuss Europe’s issues in such a small group was an opportunity no student could have organized on their own. After a quick tour of the EU building we went to NATO headquarters and discussed the organization’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan with NATO and US Mission employees. It was amazing to be able to talk so candidly about such important issues with the people directly involved in them.
On Saturday we toured the quaint city of Bruges and indulged in some of Belgium’s finest products: amazing chocolates and mussels and frites (fries) with mayonnaise. We took a guided tour along cobbled streets, viewed a sculpture by Michelangelo, saw how lace is made and went on a boat tour. It was relaxing to be away from the bustle and busyness of London.
Each night we returned to the hotel before dinnertime and had the nights to ourselves. We paired off into small groups to explore. Belgium is the home of waffles, and they were so fresh, light and sweet I don’t ever want to eat an Eggo again. I hung out in a pub, which had more than two dozen different beers on draft. I tried mango, cherry, Christmas-tree, and honey flavored beers which were all delicious. Belgium beer is a lot stronger than the US with many brews, including the one I drank out of a glass boot, around eight percent alcohol. I had one, small glass of a brew that’s 10.5 percent and minutes later got the best French fries I’ve ever eaten (they originated in Belgium) covered in mayo. It sounds gross, but it’s a Belgian tradition.
The trip allowed me to see great speakers I normally would never have access to, really get to know my class professor, bond with my classmates from other universities, and explore two new cities I never would have thought of visiting. Some of my favorite European cities are ones I didn’t even know were there.
This article was published in The Daily Orange on November 12th.
The evidence of war is more obvious here in Britain than it is in the United States. War memorials and statues of military leaders dot the city, and the area to the right of SU London’s classroom building was flattened by WWII bombing. The casualties of war have been immense in Britain with 908,000 killed and over 2 million wounded in World War 1; 400,000 military dead in WWII and nearly 90,000 civilians killed by wartime bombing of British cities. But this week the memory of war was stronger than ever. November 11th is Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day, and for more than a week leading up to it the country has come together to commemorate those lost in war.
Remembrance Day marks the signing of an armistice to end WWI. At 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918, gunfire ceased on the western front after more than four years of consecutive fighting. Since then, the day is held in honor of Britain’s armed forces and to raise funds for troops and veterans.
About a week or two ago, I started to notice little red artificial poppies all throughout London. They were on people’s jackets, in the lapels of TV broadcasters, stuck on the grill of taxis, and printed on the pages of newspapers. I asked a man on the tube what they were for and after he gave me a brief explanation, I decided to find out more.
Poppy seeds can lay dormant in the ground for years without growing, because the flower needs rooted up soil to germinate. In Belgium, where WWI battles tore up the earth, fields of poppies bloomed in the spring. The tiny red flowers became a symbol of winter’s end, a sign of hope, a reminder of life. Worn by civilians, the poppy shows support for troops. The first poppy day in 1921 raised 106,000 pounds. This year the Royal British Legion raised 4,392,007 pounds, mainly for the armed forces in Afghanistan and veterans.
Last Wednesday as I hustled to grab coffee before my 9 a.m. class, I stopped to buy a poppy from a veteran selling them on the street. I placed the tiny fake flower on my jacket, proud to show my support for the cause. As we approached Remembrance Day, the overwhelming British support only grew. I haven’t seen a group of people so unified since the months immediately following 9/11. I felt like I was one with the supporters. I had researched their cause and donated money. I blended with the British.
But when I turned on the TV Wednesday to watch coverage of Poppy Day, I saw the coffins draped in flags, but I didn’t feel the same emotion. The British flag didn’t evoke the immediate sense of feeling and pride that comes instinctively with our stars and stripes. As much as I understand and support the poppy cause, I realized how strong my own nationalism is. After three months, much of London feels like home to me, but I sincerely doubt if any amount of time could ever make me identify with England’s symbols as strongly as I do with the symbols of America. Even with a poppy on, the faces of British soldiers looked like American soldiers to me.
As the deadline for SU study abroad approaches, I urge students who are still unsure if they’re interested to apply. I know it’s expensive (my bank account dipped to $0.35 last week) and I know you love America and your friends and all that SU has to offer, but trust me, it’s worth it. About once a week my friends and I have the, “I’m so glad we came abroad” talk.
Studying abroad opened my eyes to the wonders of the world. I sunbathed under the Eiffel Tower, stuck my toes in the Mediterranean, looked over the Cliffs of Moher, listened to speakers at the European Union, and cohabitated with the British for four months. I’m still reflecting on my time here, but I know being abroad has shown me how much the world has to offer. These past months have been a glimpse into life beyond the USA, a tiny sample of the people, cultures, and history of the world. It’s made me evaluate what I think it means to be American, and it’s pushed me to adjust to life in a foreign country without any family or close friends.
I’ve learned so much more in this city than I ever thought possible. Being a SU student doesn’t force you to live in the city of Syracuse. Your world at SU can be very small if you let it, expanding no more than a few blocks past Marshall and Euclid. Being abroad, I’ve learned to navigate a huge metropolis and how to take advantage of one of the most famous cities in the world. I came without any of my best friends, and it forced me to form quick but strong friendships with the people I’m with. I’ve met people from Britain, France, Australia, and Germany and hang out regularly with the students in our program from Wake Forest and the University of Colorado at Bolder. It’s been like freshman year all over again, a daze of new friends, too many photos, and lots of memories.
Before this semester, I questioned if I could live in a big city, but now I know better than to impose false limitations on myself. More than that, I learned that people, regardless of the country they call home, are still the same. I find similar mannerisms in any country I visit, and that friendliness is universal. I love SU and I’m excited to get back, but I am so grateful that I decided to go abroad and hope that more students at SU realize the benefits the program has to offer. I’ve learned a lot of lessons in my courses at SU, studying current affairs, evaluating political and religious philosophy, memorizing AP style; but what has triumphed coursework is meeting the challenges of moving away from home, learning to accept and understand others, discovering what I can handle on my own, and growing up.