Whoaaaa.

First off--pictures from our first home game against Elon that I neglected to upload and didn't realize until now!!

Time is passing by so quickly! I know I say this every time, but I can't believe it's been so long since I last updated. These weeks are seriously going by as if they were single days! Anyway.. on to my week!

Tuesday - I had a reaaally full day! First I had American Politics, where we talked about different parts of the Constitution and states rights, and the professor mentioned something pretty interesting--when he taught at Rutgers, he got in trouble for neglecting to pay the state wage tax even though he had paid the federal wage tax, something he used to explain sovereignty during class. After that, I had my Ethics class, and we started our discussion about Plato's Apology, and we discussed whether what Socrates did should have been unlawful or not. And then we launched into a discussion about similarities and differences between Socrates and Job. Other things we addressed were what it meant to be a good citizen--both in the modern context and in the Athenian community--whether or not being a good citizen was synonymous with being a good man, and more. After that, I met Will for lunch at the Great Hall, and I got Sitar, the Indian food served on campus. It's great because the food is really good value--you get an entree, rice, naan, and a samosa, plus a small drink for $5.99! And it's relatively healthy, which is a definite plus. After that, I headed to my Stats class, where we learned more about probability. Then I went to French, and we just about finished discussing La Joueuse de Go and themes in the novel. (I'll talk more about the book later). After, I had rowing practice, which was good, but since there were only eight rowers and three coxswains (including me), we took turns coxing, and we got to learn from each other, so that was helpful. After I got back, I grabbed dinner with another girl on the novice rowing team, Kristen, and we had Alpine Atrium, which is in the BC and serves wraps, salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and coffee. I got the Smoked Turkey, which was delicious, as usual. Then I got to work finishing up stuff for the next day and then going to sleep.

Wednesday - I had work in the morning again and worked a lot on updating the website and the upcoming Sanford Newsletter. I then grabbed fruits/vegetables from Quenchers, the smoothie place in Wilson Gym. They always have fresh fruit and vegetables, and it's a healthy alternative to McDonald's or other fast food on campus. After eating and resting for a bit, I went to Art History, and we continued talking about Paris and its transformation under Baron Van Haussmann and how that related to the rise of impressionism and art during that time period. After that, I picked up my tennis uniform for club tennis--a white tennis tank that says "Duke" on the front, a navy skirt, and warm-ups. Then, I rested for a bit again before heading to my house course. We talked about three of the articles we had read for the class, and one of them I found particularly fascinating. It talked about how by grouping "third world women" into one category instead of taking them each as individuals (culturally and socially), it was preventing us from moving forward since we treat them as one group that needs a solution versus individual solutions tailored toward a specific community. The house course always serves as a great refresher to a long day, and it passes by really quickly! After that, I worked on some more stuff due for next week and went to sleep. Oh--and some pictures! After Art History, I noticed there were frames with word poetry hanging on the hallway walls, so I took some snapshots!

Also, at work, I saw an exhibit in the hallways of Rubenstein Hall (part of the Sanford School of Public Policy). Check it out!

Thursday - Long class day again! In American Politics, we continued talking about the Constitution and states rights and got started into civil liberties. I find it fascinating when the professor brings up Supreme Court cases relating to the development of law because it's actual people challenging things they believe are unjust or unfair and actually making an impact on the way a law is carried out across the nation. After, we finished up with Plato's Apology in Ethics, and we talked about the hierarchy relating to the soul and the body, beasts and divinities, matter and spirit. We talked more about Athenian virtues, modern-day virtues, and Christian virtues.  Good discussions we had related to whether or not Socrates suffered and if that was relative to the society he was in or our belief in the spirit vs. matter. After that, I grabbed lunch and reviewed La Joueuse de Go. Then I headed to Stats, and we talked about variance and mean more in depth and discrete random variables. After, I headed to French, and we discussed the book and what we thought about it. The novel is split into short chapters, with each chapter narrated from a different character (two main characters total). One is a Japanese soldier, and one is a high school girl, and the novel is set during the Sino-Japanese war, and the girl lives in Manchuria. They both share a passion for the Chinese chess/board game called Go and meet at the central plaza every Sunday to play. They talk very little to each other and both have other lives completely unrelated to each other, but they end up falling in love. At the end of the novel, however, the girl must leave for Peking with a man who loves her but has been changed by the war to escape Manchuria, and she ends up leaving that man, as well, because she is afraid of him and cannot see herself spending the rest of her life with him. The soldier must leave Manchuria as well since the war is advancing, and the two were never to see each other again. But when the girl escapes, she looks for this soldier before being caught by the Japanese, and when she awakens, the soldier whom she loves and who loves her is forced to shoot her. They exchange brief words--including her name--before he shoots her and then turns the gun on himself so they can live together in the afterlife. The novel was very charged with emotion, especially toward the end, and it was a great read, but something I found very deep for an adolescent novel. After French, I had body circuit and erg room training for rowing, and we did a round of exercises, like burpies, side lunges, sprints, tri-dips, etc. We then went jogging for a bit then practiced rowing in the erg room. Following that, I grabbed dinner then headed to the Chronicle to edit some articles since I was associating for the night. After finally ending pretty late at night, I called it a day.

Friday - I had my Stats lab in the morning, where we calculated the distribution and concentration of farms across the nation, and it was pretty interesting figuring out which area was most populated (the South), etc. After, I grabbed lunch with Drew at Grace's again, and I got food from the hot bar, as well as some fruit, and it was delicious! Then I went to my Ethics discussion, where we did a mock trial to see if Socrates should be guilty for corrupting the youth. It brought to light a lot of interesting differences between Athenian society and modern society in terms of rights like free speech and freedom of religion. Then I left for rowing practice, where I coxed one boat and ended up rowing for the next two rounds, which was a good experience, and fairly tiring, too! After all of that, I took a long nap before my friends came by to get me out of bed and go out. There were a couple of parties happening, so we danced for a bit then went to The Loop to grab a couple of burgers. I fell asleep right when I got back for an early day Saturday.

Saturday - Really hectic day!! I had rowing in the morning, which was great, even though I was pretty tired. After I got back at lunch, I grabbed McDonald's and talked with a friend I saw there, and there were tons of Alabama fans here for the game! After finishing lunch and taking a shower, I rushed over to my friend's Junior Piano Recital on East, which was really great! After, we rushed back to West Campus to try and find a parking spot--which was impossible, and we ended up parking on Central--to go to the game. The line was ridiculously long, so we headed to the Armadillo Grill in the BC to watch the game on TV and headed over to Wallace Wade Stadium at halftime. After that and hanging out with my friends, I met up with Stephen's friends to eat some pizza and hang out before heading to Star Karaoke in Raleigh (sorry for the blurry pictures--my phone doesn't have flash!). It was sooo much fun! I have pictures, too! It's kind of dark, but the place was awesome, with disco lights, handheld microphones, and tambourines! It reminded me like the places back home, and it was so much fun! Now, pictures from the recital!

Sunday - I got up for brunch with the girls in my block, and we went to the Refectory. They have awesome food that's super delicious! After that, I went to the Bella Union and did work while watching football on the TV. They have awesome smoothies--I tried the superfruit one (well, not Sunday, but Monday), which is a mix of berries and antioxidants. Soooo delicious, and just the right size at 16oz. I actually got a White Mocha, which was similarly good, and it kept me going for five or so hours reading and doing work! After that, I headed over to the Chronicle office to associate some more and edit stories. Then, I headed to Great Hall where the old Pegram gang all had dinner together! I got fried chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes, super unhealthy, but good. Then I headed back to Chron to do some stuff before heading out to my chapter meeting for Chi Omega. And then back to the room to do some work and sleep!

Monday - Work again, and I edited the website again. I was pretty busy the whole time, but it was all good! Then I had the TexMex wrap from Sanford Deli, which was yummy! And then I headed to the BC to pick up a package my mom sent me with mooncakes (for Chinese Moon Festival tomorrow!) and more food. Then I headed back to Rubenstein for an interview with a professor for the Sanford Newsletter. Then I headed over to East Campus with Gabby to go to Art History, where we learned more about Cabot and some about Monet. After, I called it an early night after doing work and went to sleep!

Tuesday - In American Politics, we learned more about civil rights and specific cases where the status quo was challenged. In Ethics, we finished up talking about Plato's Crito, where Socrates explains why he doesn't want to escape from jail. We discussed whether or not Socrates believed what he was saying or if he merely "dumbed" down his speech so Crito could understand. It was a really interesting lecture to say the least. After that, I visited Wonjo at The Link then went to the Great Hall, where I got Sitar again. Then I went to the BC Plaza and helped table for Chi Omega's Scoop-A-Dish for Make-A-Wish, an event on Friday where the sisters serve Coldstone's Ice Cream with toppings for $4, and all proceeds go toward the philanthropy. I'm super excited for Friday!! After that, I went to Stats and learned more about variance and prepared for our midterm next Tuesday. Then I went to French, and we discussed possible themes for our upcoming essay relating to La Joueuse de Go. After I headed to rowing practice, which was really exciting because we've improved a lot, and I'm getting the hang of coxswaining!! Now I'm back and working on this!