Winter...

...is a cold season to be alone.

So, two people: Pinchas Zukerman and Leonidas Kavakos. I saw them both this past week--Zukerman at Carnegie (awesome place) and Kavakos at MSM.

First, Carnegie. I love it. It's such an old place and yet has such a homey feel, kinda like you're in someone's house. The concert hall is more relaxed as well--not as quiet and uptight as Lincoln Center.

Zukerman and his friend Bronfman played violin sonatas--all of them beautiful (Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms! AMAZING!). I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Zukerman really has this way with simple beauty. His timing is perfect too.

Kavakos--I saw him today, and I was sitting a few feet away from him. He was giving a masterclass, and I noticed that he really had a good idea of musical structure. Just awesome--he just GETS music. And his strad is awesome too.

Lately I've been wondering if I've been doing everything right--whether things are the way they should be, whether the things I'm doing are the things I should be doing...so many uncertainties. It's nice to have great friends around and an entire city to explore.

A good song I heard

Oh ! je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes
Des jours heureux où nous étions amis.
En ce temps-là la vie était plus belle,
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié...
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Et le vent du nord les emporte
Dans la nuit froide de l'oubli.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié
La chanson que tu me chantais.

[Refrain:]
C'est une chanson qui nous ressemble.
Toi, tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Et nous vivions tous deux ensemble,
Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais.
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment,
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants désunis.

Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Mais mon amour silencieux et fidèle
Sourit toujours et remercie la vie.
Je t'aimais tant, tu étais si jolie.
Comment veux-tu que je t'oublie ?
En ce temps-là, la vie était plus belle
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Tu étais ma plus douce amie
Mais je n'ai que faire des regrets
Et la chanson que tu chantais,
Toujours, toujours je l'entendrai !

Writing Letters....

...is really mentally draining. It's quite odd.

Well, here at Columbia, everything's quiet. Obviously, of course, because it's fall break. A good time to reflect on my life a little.

I've been having a blast. I have great, loyal friends, and I can't help but feeling so blessed that I have people around me who I can trust. Late night runs to Hamilton Deli (called Ham Deli) and around the clock jam sessions has really made freedom worth living for.

Still trying to find myself of course. I've noticed I've been a lot more self-conscious lately, but it's something I'll live with.

Now, the question is, do I do HW or go find friends?

Well, only God knows the answer.

Meeting with the Chief

Well, I met the Chief of the UN Secretariat of The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today. And, in our maybe 10 minute talk, she told me something that I'll take to heart.

As she says, the center of political science/human rights is the people, something easy to forget in the midst of politics.

It's so easy, I suppose, to forget this. It makes me wonder about myself as well--who am I, what am I doing, and why am I doing it?

Lot's of questions. I'll be thinking about the indigenous people more now.

A Bad day, but a good ending?

I am sitting in JJ's Place, the grease-centered monster of Columbia University. Basically, a late night eatery with a penchant for unhealthy foods. The chicken sandwich I'm eating is pretty good...I feel like I'll regret this later though.

Anyway, what started as a bad day ended as a relatively good one. I think I may be a bit too self-conscious--I need to remember my center on God rather than on people's opinions. Asians can be both difficult and great people--more on this later...

I guess I'm also worried about my future. But who isn't? The freshman transition can be stressful just because of the uncertainties of the initial breakthrough.

It has ended nicely however. I'm with my friends eating burgers. And writing on a blog. At the same time.

Haha...life can be good.

I'll keep this post short for now because I have to do homework. But, an ambivalent day filled with a cloud of priorities.

New Things

Last night, or I suppose this morning too, was a whole compilation of new experiences.

I went to the Rosary Vigil here hosted through the Columbia Catholic Ministry, and I met so many awesome people. They're really a close-knit community, and I'm blessed to have a church community around like that.

Aside from this, I sang in a church choir for the first time (I sang bass! wow...it was a divine experience), did a reading for the first time, prayed (with the others) all 20 decades of the rosary, helped celebrate a midnight Mass, and spoke French in both reciting the rosary and with others outside of a classroom context. God really does work in mysterious ways.

I guess it just got me thinking about myself, my life, where my center is, how I've changed so far at Columbia, and where my life is taking me.

I think it's been all part of the broader picture: who am I, who do I want to be, and what am I doing to get there? Where do I fit into the world?

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."--Mark 10:45

Prayer is a powerful tool, as they say. But it requires sacrifice.

Ups and Downs

If I've learned anything thus far, it's that college REALLY has a lot of ups and downs. This whole transition period's really becoming something I didn't expect.

I guess it's just a matter of establishing yourself in a new place--your whole identity is remade to whatever you make yourself to be, and that can be a bit scary after having been known as one person for your entire life.

Ups and downs--classes can be great but can also be severe downers. What I'm learning--it can be really amazing. But grades, for example--professors are really just not afraid to give you a grade they think you deserve, good or bad. Of course, you can dispute it, but sometimes, you really do deserve it, in the light of their comments on your essay. The subjectivity of essays can throw you in a curve as well....

Friends and meeting new people--ups and downs here too, but my friends have been absolutely wonderful. I couldn't ask for better ones. My floor is also amazing--so supportive and cool with whatever you do. I guess the problem I run into is with cliques--these can be pretty difficult to deal with here. But, all a part of growing up of course.

Bathrooms--let's leave this topic for maybe another post. Just, college can be fun until you realize that people do get overly drunk.

I'd say that it terms of academics, Columbia is top notch. In terms of people, even higher than top notch. In terms of faculty, excellent. In terms of facilities--Columbia really needs to work on these. Wi-fi, bathrooms, food quality, bureaucracy, practice rooms: they really can become a huge drag and a mess of bureaucratic affairs. But maybe that's just because of the hugeness of the school. I'm willing to handle these inconveniences as long as Columbia keeps its other stuff at the level it's at.

New York? It's a great city to transform in. I really like the city--no problems here.

So Columbia? I enjoy it a lot overall. The experiences I've gone through, such as late night ramen parties, are things I wouldn't trade for the world.

Let's just say that I'm in transition right now--it's difficult, but I'll persevere.

Sorry I haven't posted for so long...

Gosh...it's been great. And I've had absolutely no time to blog! And even now, I don't have time. But at least let me tell you my course schedule so far:

Mon
9:00am-10:50am EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECES (My Literature class)
2:40pm-3:55pm INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIGHTS (Awesome: professor is famous)
Tue
10:35am-11:50am UNIVERSITY WRITING (Class where I learn how to write)
1:10pm-2:25pm CONDUCTING MUSIC (Taught by school's orchestra director! He teaches at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music too)
2:40pm-3:55pm INTERMEDIATE FRENCH I (At the girl's school...cause apparently, language is for girls...in my defense, it is a core requirement, and it was the best one that fit in my schedule. not to mention the fact that it's mostly girls in the class, which can be an awesome plus)
Wed
9:00am-10:50am EURPN LIT-PHILOS MASTERPIECES
2:40pm-3:55pm INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RIG
Thr
10:35am-11:50am UNIVERSITY WRITING
2:40pm-3:55pm INTERMEDIATE FRENCH I

I'll elaborate more on these. But to make this blog post shorter (it's 2:38 am right now), I've noticed an interesting trend--sleep has been something that has been diminishing while the amount I pack into a day is so much more. It's really quite amazing feeling independent, with no one to really watch over your shoulder. I can study whenever and wherever I want (including outside on the grand steps leading up to the central administration center--Low "Library").

And my floor--they're amazing people, like a home away from home. Just the other night, I was talking with a group of friends on my floor into the wee hours of the morning.

I can experiment with who I want to be, what my opinions are, what I think, and everything. Just these few weeks have been an interesting shock out of my home bubble into something so much bigger--for example, I finished the Iliad today, and that's a WHOLE can of worms philosophically, culturally, etc. Also, I got a free haircut from a girl I met here. For free! It's amazing how many DIFFERENT types of people there are here in New York.

More later...just some food for thought for now.

Day before classes...

...and I'm already a bit nervous, excited, and awesome.

Just kidding about that last one.

But in all seriousness, this is gonna be it--the start of the new school year. It's always an anticipatory time, and I hope I can make it through all the hard work! Thank God that there's no math classes this semester (sorry Tiff).

Today was pretty good. I did laundry, which was actually a fun experience this time (trying to figure out the whole quarters and price thing about the laundry machines here), got my textbooks (these books are WAY too expensive), had fun with friends, etc.

Man, it's been a long day, even though it was only a 12 hour day.

Well, in about 10 hours, I'll be sitting in my University Writing class for the first time. Awesome. I love college.

Example: Today, I walk up my stairs to the seventh floor, feeling just a bit dejected. Going toward my room, I see that, at the end of the hall, all my hall mates are standing there having an impromptu hall hangout. We end up talking about colonizing other floors of the dorm, running for President in 2035, and checking out someone's awesome speakers (sorry to those on other floors who are actually trying to sleep!).

Assessment of the day? College has its ups and downs. You meet people that might not like to meet you back, and that can be sad, but always, you know that you can find refuge in people you've come to trust. And you know that those people that you've come to trust will become great friends.

There are so many different types of people: writers, engineers, black, white, hispanic, asian, mixed, musicians, artists, mathematicians, sports players, tall ones, short ones, poets, bloggers, dancers, etc. And in the end, you know that there will be someone to accept you for who you are.

So a toast to those kinds of people. Let tomorrow be a new start, a new day, a new opportunity always. I love Columbia University.

Except for the toughness of its bureaucracy. But look..if you ask, doors are opened to you. So it's all good.

Parties....?

So, I thought it might be interesting to blog on the parties here at Columbia.

Just, I haven't been to one yet. You might be wondering, well why, Kevin, why haven't you been to a party?

I just feel like I don't want to get drunk and I don't need to get drunk to have fun. Having fun in other ways where you're not drunk I think is so much more fulfilling.

For example, today, I went out with a great friend to go get some late night pie. It was a great experience, and we really learned a lot about each other and talked about deep things like faith, life, and friends.

I mean, sure, you don't need to get drunk at a party. But, for now, I'm taking it a bit slower. There's so much more to explore both at Columbia and New York. I think I can do without partying for a little longer.

Anyway, today, we went to the Guggenheim, free because of Columbia's great Arts Initiative. It was pretty awesome--I've never enjoyed modern art before, but today, I gained a new appreciation for it. It was pretty awesome.

And there are some pretty cute girls on campus...just saying... :)

People are great

I just want to do a short post today, because I'm tired, but I just want to comment on the people.

Really, you can be who you want to be. Sure, there are the parties, good and bad. But, really, you don't have to be sucked into anything you don't want to do--there are people like you somewhere, and it's amazing to see that there is a support network.

You can be yourself, and strive with courage toward the person YOU want to be. And that is a gift.

Today, I got to go out to bubble tea and a nice little diner in upper Manhattan with friends I could laugh with without feeling self-conscious. Really reminds me of home.

Just wanted to cast a little light on these amazing people here--diverse, intellectual, strong, and individual.

Oh and I placed into Intermediate French! One year down, one to go!

Music

So, today, the highlight is music.

I love the musical scene here.

While everyone is extremely brilliant, smart, and talented, there are so many people here who play musical instruments: well, too! For example, I met two violinists today who had excellent tone qualities, great technical proficiency, and a handle on musical style.

Another was meeting a flutist who was reinvigorated to play music after we played the second movement of Brandenburg 5 with a Juilliard pianist friend of mine. She had one of the purest flute tones I have ever heard, and it was just amazing to be able to continue playing music at such a high caliber here in New York.

And yet another was a composer who studied at Juilliard with a professor before coming to Columbia--I'm sure I'll find out more on him later, but so far, I know he enjoys composing/conducting and plays the piano and clarinet.

The the pianists--my goodness there are so many of them! It seems like everywhere I turn, someone's playing one of the pianos in the various lobbies Columbia has to offer. And every time I hear that someone is playing an instrument, they seem to always say that they played piano first. Thank God for the public school system, which invited so many of these pianists to play other instruments also! These pianists are also accompanied by guitars, and there's a nice modern music scene here (like..actual modern music, not classical modern). Improv seems to be something enjoyed strongly.

It's just that these people, while so musically talented, are also pursuing other goals, be it Sustainable Development, Art/Architecture, or Neuroscience, while also planning to go audition for the CU Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, etc. So while being musical, they are also smart: qualities I feel go hand in hand toward being the "complete" person.

I'm very optimistic--today's been a great day.

At last, the end of the day....

Finally, it's basically the end of the day. It's been pretty cool--I met new people, met my advisor for the next four years, ate good food, and had attended an awesome lecture.

For one thing, let me address the lecture. It was our first Literature Humanities lecture on the Iliad, and the department head was our instructor for today.

And it was awesome.

She posed questions on morality, the relative context of good within historical constraints, and challenged us to challenge ourselves and our beliefs. She posed Lit Hum and the Core Curriculum as a road to wisdom and a path by which we could slowly but surely examine ourselves and change ourselves for the better.

As I see it, the Columbia Core is this great vehicle by which one can become a better PERSON, as well as a great academic. In essence, Columbia helps you to challenge yourself to become a thinker and really cement your own belief system through a series of inquiries, doubts, and episodes of "intellectual courage."

That's why Columbia is so unique--that though everybody has such a different take on what they want to achieve, each undergraduate goes through the same purification and breaking process so as to emerge a new, wholesome, and better statue of excellence: morally and academically.

But back to the lecture--people were THINKING. Not just whimpering out a few lines of an inaudible cliche--actually THINKING, CHALLENGING, CREATING, RESPONDING, AND CRITICALLY EXAMINING. And that was amazing. I found myself talking to intellectuals, really engaging in the topic, applying the lecture to the discussion material, etc. To think that this will be each of my classes, where there will be a forum of knowledge--that is mind boggling.

I think that was the highlight of my day: oddly enough, a lecture. But that's the power of knowledge I suppose.

Tomorrow's another fun-filled day--let's see what opportunities it holds.

To a New Beginning

It's now 12:32 pm here in the Big Apple, and it's really hot. I can hear the cars outside my window, honking as usual, as well as a bunch of people outside.

My dorm building's relatively quiet, except for the huge lunch line downstairs--but I'm on the seventh floor, so that doesn't matter.

And amidst it all, I love it. New York's such a great place to be, and Columbia University is an awesome university. I mean, seriously, Columbia is an oasis of peace and intellectual vibrancy amidst a large and busy city--this part of Manhattan is quieter though. Who else can step out of their dorm and see a huge classically built building? I still can't believe I'm here.

And I can just step off campus whenever I want to get an opportunity. Not that I need to that much--Columbia itself has so much for me to explore.

The people are friendly, everyone's busy, and each person seems so willing to help you along the way.

Well, I have a lecture in about two hours and gotta get lunch, so this post will be shorter. But, point made--NYC is awesome, I love it here, and I really feel at home.

So, this is to a new beginning. Thanks to you all back home and around everywhere for all your support in helping me get this far. I hope this blog will help you keep up with my daily doings and thoughts!