Week 1 of winter break

Ahhhh...it's good to be home =D

Of course, I miss my roomies and the excitement of all the stuff that happens on-campus, but it's also nice to get more than 8 hours of sleep a night and get some home-cooked food. Besides helping my sister finish up college applications, it's been pretty relaxing - catching up on "fun" reading (I've recently been introduced to the books of Neil Gaiman, who actually came to speak at Yale last spring but I didn't get to go see him), some gift-shopping, some knitting/sewing (modifying the dance handkerchiefs for Phoenix so they spin more easily), and some baking.

This past week we drove up to my aunt's house to see my grandparents, staying a few days since I haven't seen them in a few months. The last day, we went out to the American Museum of Natural History - always an awesome place...

The Origami Tree is a perennial favorite, and not just because I'm somewhat of an Origami fanatic who always has paper on hand in case of boredom. Every year, Origami USA volunteers decorate the tree with thousands of models based on a particular theme - previous years include "Under the Sea" and "Flower Garden" - this year being "Out on Safari." There are also intricate dioramas arranged around the tree, like this one (gotta love the elephant family to the right!):

Another cool thing is that volunteers staff tables around the tree teaching simple models, like my cousin learned how to make a snake and some other kids learned a box. I grabbed a piece of foil paper and made a Kawasaki Rose as a small gift for the volunteer on duty...it's fun making little things (lilies, cranes, etc.) and leaving them to cheer up someone's day =)

The other highlight was this incredible gold exhibit...unfortunately, photographs were not allowed because of the high security required to protect the items. Understandable, since it's really valuable stuff in there, ranging from natural gold crystals and artifacts recovered from central/South American cultures (aka saved from the conquistadors) to old American "double eagle" coins and modern-day Emmy/Golden Globe/Oscar/Grammy awards. Since I don't have photos, check out the official website HERE.

Goals for today: Caplab coding, some YSM work, maybe starting a scarf?

P.S. There's no way I can post all my photos on here, so I've started putting up full albums HERE...enjoy!

Sights and sounds of the season

So even with the stress of finals, we Yalies still find ways to have fun - one of my friends had a small concert at the Calhoun master's house last weekend. It was pretty cool - I didn't know until now that Diana played violin, even after working with her in the Keil Lab all summer.

Several other colleges also seem to have copied Silliman's idea of doing "graham" houses, though they went slightly more overboard, like this model of Bingham that was proudly displayed in the Trumbull dining hall:

The Berkeley dining hall staff seemed to have a lot of fun too, though they actually took the time to make these out of gingerbread and not just use graham crackers.

One night at dinner, a group of people even came in and just started caroling - members of the OTYC and the Women's Slavic Chorus, but also others that just came along for fun.

I stayed a couple extra days to run errands, do some Christmas shopping and finish up some YSM stuff...on one of my explorations around Broadway I came across this new shop, Elm City Artists. It's a cooperative group of artists from New Haven (hence the name) that pooled their resources to showcase their work in this shop as well as in other private galleries. Their work takes all forms, from painting to mixed media to pottery and sculpture. Naturally, there's a lot of Yale-inspired subjects, but I also really liked some of the other pieces:

Mixed media birches, which was cool because the "bark" seemed to have 3-D texture

The top two are Connecticut Hall (left) and the Law School courtyard (right)

Rose Walk between Berkeley and Sterling Memorial Library

I also had a little (too much?) fun with my desk lamp and the Santa hat I got from Master K for helping her out at the Silliman Fellows party...reminds me of the Pixar lamp =P

Anyway, going home tomorrow...happy holidays everyone!

Immense amusement

So this afternoon, I'm finishing up my history paper, and I get an email from YAGS with the subject line "Look guys, we're famous!" and this link:

Thanks to Video, Yale Jugglers are Getting Laid To-Night

Out of curiosity, I then checked the YouTube account and found that the video in question had subsequently been viewed almost 300 times. Thanks IvyGate, I think? I'm actually quite amazed they didn't go further and lampoon my clips from the YCMS concert or at least the Silliman karaoke night. At least in this case, any publicity can't be bad publicity =P

In other news, history paper has been completed and emailed, I had an awesome late dinner at Miya's with Derek and Diana from my Keil lab project (who knew that sweet potato, mango chutney, and pine nuts in sushi could taste so good?!), and now it's on to orgo...

Gingerbread and Groove

Ok, so we didn't make gingerbread houses per se, but graham crackers with icing and lots of candy work just as well for an awesome Fireside Friday study break:

Sillimanders starting their houses

Scott's ridiculous house - he even made a tree out of green gumdrops and icing!

Freshmen counselors Sarah and Mica with their houses

After that I headed to the Off-Broadway Theater to catch the Groove fall show, aptly named "Get Your Groove On" for obvious reasons =P Some videos from the awesomeness (photos will be going up in the near future):

Clips from "Lose Control" and Jeff's solo

Company closing number to Ella Fitzgerald's "Sing, Sing, Sing"

I'm working on my history paper tonight, I swear...

Reading Week, Part 2

Ahhh, so much happened since last time, and it's only been a few days!

To start things off, some clips from the Silliman Karaoke Night at Yorkside Pizza: the good, the bad, and the groupie =P

Last night was rather social too, even though I should have been writing my history paper. CASA sponsored a family "cultural night" aka an excuse for families to get together and eat dinner at the AACC - it was a good chance for Terrence and I to see all our kids again and get the scoop on exam schedules, final papers, etc. After that we hopped back to his suite to chat some more before all splitting up again, back to our studies. At 10:00 though, Master K sponsored a study break that was also a photography exhibit from several Silliman students who received Sudler funding:

Michael Huang's fashion show photos

Gabe explaining some of his photos and drawings

Some of Gabe's photos/drawings on the staircase wall

Today I got up (relatively) early to volunteer as an usher for the Saybrook College Orchestra's third annual Educational Concert. It's really awesome - they invite students from all over the area to come to Woolsey and hopefully be inspired to take up music from what they hear. This year's program included the John Williams' movie themes from Indiana Jones and Star Wars as well as Pines of Rome...I can never hear that piece without thinking of the whales from Fantasia 2000.

Anyway, time to go study Spanish for my first (official) final tomorrow morning...

Random thoughts of reading week

Found this cool article about the reopened Kahn wing of the Yale Art Gallery:

Restoring Kahn's Gallery, and Reclaiming a Corner of Architectural History, at Yale

I haven't gotten a chance to see the new building yet - last Wednesday was the student preview but I had my Genetics exam Thursday, and Sunday was also rather hectic. Hopefully I'll be able to go sometime next week, maybe in the evening after my orgo final.

Final Caplab meeting was tonight...I kind of freaked out over dinner about last-minute revisions to my paper, but I think it turned out ok. We just went around the table giving final status checks on our projects, talked a bit about future projects, then gave out all these fun "brownie point" prizes - I ended up getting a cute little stuffed monkey, which was promptly dubbed Nick Nack for the tongue sticking out =P

Ok, let's see if this video embedding from YouTube works...

A video montage of clips from last Sunday's YAGS practice, set to "Appalachian Snowfall" by the Tran-Siberian Orchestra

Tonight's schedule: IM volleyball, a friend's holiday party in Trumbull, and possibly the Silliman Karaoke Night at Yorkside...I feel like I deserve a small break before getting back to work on my history paper...

Holiday dinner, DPops, and more

Whew, what a weekend! Didn't get much work done on my papers, but lots to write about =P

Saturday morning started with a Phoenix "photo shoot," pictures that will go on our soon-to-be redesigned webpage, on posters for the spring show, etc. A sneak peak...I'm not sure why some of my photos are looking blurry in the entries, but if you click on it you should get a larger, clearer version.

left to right: 06-07 Artistic Director Betsy in a Daizu pose, Tanya doing ribbon figure eights, Zimo with silk fans (yes, the same ones that are in my profile photo)

After Phoenix came a quick brunch then off to the Mudd library to sift through the government archives for the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other documents relevant to my paper...working on this has opened a whole new world of historical research. There's an incredible amount of material to be gleaned and reading things like Dr. Kelsey's letters to the Merrill drug company (and vice versa) really make the story of thalidomide in the United States seem that much more intimately interesting, as if I was interviewing Dr. Kelsey right after she testified in the Congressional hearings.

Ran back to the room to get ready for the Silliman holiday dinner with my roommates, then we took the mini-bus up to the School of Management dining hall, since ours is under construction. There was an article in the Yale Daily News saying holiday dinners were somewhat excessive, but I personally really enjoy the tradition, especially since I haven't seen a lot of upperclassmen who are living in the Elm Street Annex or off-campus. It was lots of fun seeing everyone dressed up, getting excellent food (especially cheesecake for dessert! =P), and of course, listening to the Silliringers, who, according to Master K, had practiced for exactly 300 minutes total prior to their performance. A few photos:

Regina, me, and Atisha in the common room

The amazing fruit-filled cornucopia in the dessert room =D

The Silliringers preparing for their first piece

The fun continued with an excellent concert from the Davenport Pops Orchestra, playing "Sounds of America" aka cool stuff like the Pink Panther theme and excerpts from West Side Story. Check out their opening piece - Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"- and a few other clips here.

DPops violin section

Today felt equally hectic - holiday musical brunch in the common room until 1:30, an Asian Idol contestant info meeting (I can't believe I'm getting myself into this...), and taking photos at YAGS to start preparing for spring show publicity. I'm horrible at juggling (mainly because I don't practice enough!) but it's awesome what some of these people can do:

Cool view from the upper balcony of pairs juggling

Paul juggling three clubs (he can do more, believe me)

But now, after several hours of editing photos/video and reading ridiculously small print in the government documents, it's time for sleep.

Snowy Street Scene

When I woke up this morning, this is what I saw...

The Grove Street Graveyard looks kinda pretty =)

The snow made the morning commute rather slippery, but thank goodness for the Science Hill bus and the new pilot program to have buses going down at peak times, not just up. Most of it had melted by this afternoon, but I'm sure there'll be more in the near future.

Today was extraordinarily busy...orgo exam at 9:30, Spanish grammar review at 10:30, then last orgo lab at 1:00 and Perspectives on Science symposium at 3:15. I got there just in time to put up my hastily thrown-together poster (I say thrown-together because it was text/photos on a posterboard, not a nice laminated poster since we don't have all the data yet) and talk to a few PoS '10-ers. A lot of them seem more interested in the "hard sciences" e.g. biochem and physics, but saying "I get to play with monkeys!" is usually a good way to start the conversation =P

After that was the first of two Silliman "Fireside Fridays" - this week was s'mores and hot chocolate out in the courtyard. A surprising amount of people braved the cold to come roast marshmallows and sing along with the holiday music blasting from my laptop (thanks to Zach setting up the huge speaker system =)...it was quite amusing to watch the first-time s'mores-makers, especially if their marshmallows unexpectedly caught on fire. Overall it was a good time, and I'm sure next week's Fireside Friday will be mush more popular, especially since it'll be indoors!

Silli-frosh to seniors enjoying s'mores

Tonight was also the second performance of the Opera Theater of Yale College's production "Street Scene," based on the libretto by Elmer Rice and produced by my awesome CASA sister Joyce. A lot of a capella people in it - especially a bunch of my friends in the Duke's Men, though that's not surprising since (1) they're all awesome singers and (2) Ethan, the director, is a former Doox member, so where better to recruit your cast? I was extraordinarily lucky to even get a seat: all the shows were sold out but I was high enough on the waitlist that I got in tonight. A very small selection of photos below - hopefully video will be forthcoming once I get a chance to edit the clips.

Singing about ice cream!

left: Jay and Jakara at the end of their dance number

right: She's telling Mr. Sankey to come upstairs...

Rose, you must listen; I loved her too.

Tomorrow is Phoenix group rehearsal and brunch to wrap up the semester, then some quality time with my primary sources in the Mudd Library government documents archive, then Silliman Holiday Dinner and hopefully the Davenport Pops concert "Sounds of America" in Woolsey Hall which should be awesome. It's going to be a busy weekend - not the least of which will be trying to write significant amounts of my two papers due during reading week - but it'll be good too. Stay posted for more updates with lots of photos!

Concerts and old friends

Managed to fit in two awesome concerts (and other events!) this weekend, despite all the work. Therefore, lots of photos (and hopefully some videos!) coming up =D

First part of the musical weekend was the inaugural concert of the Yale Classical Music Society, which aims to give more of Yale's many excellent musicians a chance to perform as soloists and in small groups without the pressure of having to take formal lessons here and have their own hourlong recitals. Some highlights:

Anne (co-founder of the YCMS) playing two Chopin etudes

left to right: Terrence + Ed + Chris + Nathan = Temple Street Quartet playing Dvorak's "American" string quartet

The other musical part was tonight's Living Water winter concert, which was a lot of fun with the crazy skit and audience participation in the Christmas songs =) It was especially nice to see Lee-Shing's parents since they're like another set of parents to me - they've apparently come up for all of his concerts to hear him sing, and now, to direct the rest of the group as well.

Half of LW - Yale's Christian a capella group

The other half of LW

I also recorded most of 'The Lord Bless You and Keep You," which is their traditional closing song. There's a link HERE because I'm getting strange error messages whenever I try to embed it in the entry, but I'll figure that out eventually.

Finally, the third cool thing was seeing my old friend Dhruva at the Yale Ballroom Dance Invitational. I went to preschool with this kid, found him again at Governor's School 10 years after he moved to another town, then a few days ago he messaged me to say he would be here with the NYU ballroom dance team. I also got to surprise Rose, a high school friend who's now a freshman at Harvard - she was competing in the swing dance events but those were later in the afternoon so I couldn't stay to watch.

Dhruva with his partner in the bronze-level waltz (wearing the lavender gown)

My friend Kirk with his partner in the newcomer-level waltz (he's wearing #271)

A glimpse of the bronze-level quickstep competition

This week is going to be pretty crazy with exams Thursday/Friday plus the Perspectives on Science symposium Friday afternoon, for which I have to make and present a poster about my summer research in the Comparative Cognition Lab. After finishing this semester, I feel like I can take on anything, though I will definitely think twice before taking six credits again =P